plantfysiologi

Plantfysiologi, commonly translated as plant physiology, is a branch of botany that studies the biological functions of plants, focusing on how plants acquire energy, grow, develop, and respond to their environment. It integrates biology, biochemistry, physiology, and ecology to understand processes from the cellular to the whole-plant level. The field encompasses photosynthesis, respiration, water and mineral uptake, transport systems, and signaling that coordinates growth and adaptation.

Key topics within plantfysiologi include photosynthesis in chloroplasts, where light energy is converted to chemical energy; respiration for energy release; transpiration and stomatal regulation to control water loss; nutrient uptake by roots and transport via xylem and phloem; and hormonal signaling that coordinates development. The discipline also covers environmental responses to light, gravity, temperature, drought, and salinity, as well as stress physiology, acclimation, and plant–biotic interactions such as symbioses and defense responses.

Methods used in plantfysiologi range from controlled-environment experiments and gas-exchange measurements to chlorophyll fluorescence, isotopic tracing, and advanced imaging, complemented by molecular biology and biochemistry. Applications include crop improvement, irrigation and nutrient management, and predicting plant performance under climate change. The history of plant physiology traces to early investigations by scientists such as Jan Ingenhousz, Joseph Priestley, Stephen Hales, and Julius Sachs, whose work laid the foundations for understanding photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.