Plant Biology
19 definitions in this category
Apical Dominance The phenomenon where the main central stem of a plant grows more strongly than lateral branches, suppressing their growt... Auxin A plant hormone that regulates growth, particularly cell elongation. Auxin gradients direct plant growth toward light (p... Chlorophyll The green pigment in plants that captures light energy for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light, refle... Fibrous Root System A root system with many similarly-sized roots spreading out from the base of the stem, without a dominant central root.... Gibberellin A class of plant hormones that promote stem elongation, seed germination, flowering, and fruit development. Named after... Imbibition The absorption of water by a seed, the first step in germination. Water uptake triggers metabolic reactivation after dor... Meristem Plant tissue consisting of undifferentiated cells capable of division and growth. Meristems are the growing points of pl... Phototropism The growth of a plant in response to light direction—typically bending toward light (positive phototropism) to maximize... Pollen Microscopic grains containing male reproductive cells of seed plants. Pollen must reach female plant parts for fertiliza... Pollination The transfer of pollen from male to female plant parts, enabling fertilization. Pollination can be self (same plant) or... Rhizome A horizontal underground stem that sends out roots and shoots from nodes. A method of vegetative reproduction that allow... Scarification The process of weakening or breaking a seed coat to promote germination. Can occur naturally (fire, animal digestion, we... Stolon A horizontal stem that grows along the ground surface, producing new plants at its nodes. Also called a runner. A method... Stomata Microscopic pores on leaf surfaces that open and close to regulate gas exchange and water loss. The primary interface be... Stratification A period of cold, moist conditions required by some seeds before they can germinate. Simulates the passage of winter. Taproot A large, central, dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Taproots grow deep into the soil, providing sta... Transpiration The process by which water evaporates from plant leaves through stomata. Transpiration drives water movement from roots... Tropism A growth movement of a plant in response to an environmental stimulus. The direction of growth is determined by the dire... Vernalization The process by which prolonged cold exposure enables a plant to flower. A mechanism ensuring plants don't flower until w...