Plant responses to multiple environmental factors

• Published in: Bioscience 1987-01, Vol.37 (1), p.49-57
• Main Authors: Chapin, F.S. III, Bloom, A.J, Field, C.B, Waring, R.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUBSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; allocation; ANALISIS; ANALYSE; ANALYSIS; Biological and medical sciences; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; DISPONIBILIDAD DE NUTRIENTES; ECOLOGIA VEGETAL; Economic plant physiology; ECOSISTEMA; ECOSYSTEME; ECOSYSTEMS; ELEMENT NUTRITIF DISPONIBLE; ENVIRONMENT; Environmental aspects; ENVIRONNEMENT; FONCTION PHYSIOLOGIQUE; FOTOSINTESIS; FUNCION FISIOLOGICA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities; GROWTH; Growth (Plants); Leaves; MEDIO AMBIENTE; Microbiology; Natural resources; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Nitrogen (Chemical element); NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY; NUTRIENT UPTAKE; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; PHOTOSYNTHESE; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; Photosynthesis research; Physiological aspects; PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS; Phytochemistry; PHYTOECOLOGIE; Plant biochemistry; PLANT ECOLOGY; Plant growth; Plant nutrition; Plant roots; Plants; Quaternary ammonium compounds
• ISSN: 0006-3568; 1525-3244
• DOI: 10.2307/1310177

Most plants require a similar balance of resources-energy, water, and mineral nutrients--to maintain optimal growth. Elucidating plant responses to resource imbalance requires a multidisciplinary approach. Most research to date has focused on plant responses and adaptations to single features of the environment, but plants in nature often encounter multiple stresses. Physiological ecology, which combines techniques for assessing the environment, quantifying multiple components of plant responses, and integrating plant responses to the level of ecological success or agricultural yield, is well suited to the study of plant responses to multiple factors. Here, the authors examine resource interactions at levels of organization ranging from the cell to the ecosystem, focusing on carbon (as an index of the energy stored in organic molecules) and nitrogen. They emphasize these resources because they often limit plant growth and because they illustrate the concepts necessary for extending the approach.