This book explores the field of plant physiology – the study of all biological, biophysical and chemical processes of plants, from the cellular to molecular levels – explaining how plants live, function, and grow. Different life processes, such as plant water relations, absorption and transport of water and nutrients, transpiration, photosynthesis, respiration, bioenergetics, phytochemistry, dormancy, seed germination, hormone functions, movements, photoperiodism, vernalization, photomorphogenesis, circadian rhythms, growth, development, and environmental stress physiology, are described in the light of the latest research data. Climate change and the consequent physiological adaption of plants, as well as the role of transgenic HYV crops to manage food supply for the ever-increasing world population, are just some of the other important topics covered. This book will be of particular interest to university students.
Man-made climate change poses a new crisis: how do we feed 10 billion people in a climate hostile to food security? This book explores the threat to our “daily bread” and argues that we are not without hope, offering solutions that can lead to a better future for humankind.
