Study of the normal functioning of plants and plant cells
8
votes
1answer
122 views
What is the maximum potential sucrose concentration of plant sap? What keeps plants below this potential?
I am interested in identifying the maximum potential dissolved sucrose (%w/w) that plant sap could have, and which (biological, physical, chemical) factors constrain the observed sucrose ...
2
votes
2answers
95 views
Would a plant need light if the chemicals gained by photosynthesis were given through the roots?
If you took the chemicals a plant gains through photosynthesis and put it through the plants' roots or by a shot, would the plant need light? If so, how would it respond to the treatment?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
How would a plant sprout and grow in a zero gravity environment?
Have any experiments been carried out involving sprouting and growing plants in a zero gravity environment? If so, what was the outcome? How did the plants sprout out of the soil without gravity? Did ...
9
votes
1answer
215 views
Why can you graft two unrelated cacti successfully, but you cannot do this on garden trees?
Any cactus can be grafted onto any other cactus, and even the most unlike of them grow together. My latest graft was a Schlumbergera truncata scion on an Opuntia microdasys rootstock. This kind of ...
3
votes
1answer
605 views
Why did the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) evolve its leaf-closing mechanism?
Why did the sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica, evolve its leaf closing mechanism? Does it heip in a heavy storm? Does it scare off whatever animals might think it a good meal?
7
votes
1answer
148 views
How do plants 'tell time' for circadian rhythms based on a ~24 cycle?
I've read that many plants have some sort of circadian rhythm where they perform a certain action on a cycle of about 24 hours, like the mimosa plant opening and closing its leaves. Obviously this is ...
5
votes
1answer
453 views
How does water move throughout plants?
I haven't yet found a decent explanation for how water moves throughout plants. It does seem to travel more efficiently upward than out or down. Why is that? How does it travel through the plant?
11
votes
1answer
787 views
How does a plant grow before photosynthesis is possible?
During photosynthesis, a plant translates CO2, water and light into O2. I assume the carbon C is further used for the growing process. I wonder how the plant grows before the time where photosynthesis ...
9
votes
1answer
397 views
Why do some plant species have lobed leaves, while similar species in the same habitat don't?
Some plants have lobed leaves, like the English oak (Quercus robur), while other plants growing the same deciduous woodland habitats, and very often growing alongside oaks, such as the European beech ...
21
votes
1answer
258 views
How long will a vegetable live for after being harvested?
I understand this might depend on the types of vegetables, but is there an average or studied specifics? Does it die immediately? Is there a way to precisely diagnose death in plants? If so, what are ...
1
vote
1answer
249 views
Why do plants have pith and how is it useful to them?
Many plants have pith, from walnut trees to corn to ragweed, but I can't think of anything it does them. What is pith and how is it useful to them?
20
votes
4answers
972 views
Do plants produce any heat?
Many plants (e.g. roses, palms) can be protected from frost during the winter if shielded with an appropriate coat that can be bought in garden shops. Do plants produce any heat that can be kept ...
