Measurement of plant growth

Plant growth measurement is a simple procedure that can be completed quickly. If you want to know how fast your house plants are growing or need to calculate the growth rate of lab specimens, you can do so with little effort. To track the plant’s growth rate, you only need a few simple supplies and some time.

What is Plant growth?

Growth is one of the most basic and visible characteristics of living organisms. Growth is defined as an irreversible increase in a living organism’s mass, weight, and size. In most cases, it results in an increase in dry weight and protoplasm. Cell division, enlargement, and differentiation are all aspects of growth in higher plants. The development of an organised plant cannot be explained solely by an increase in the number and size of cells. When a seed is sown, it does not grow into a larger seed, but rather as a seedling. 

As a result, differentiation is always associated with growth. Differentiation is the process by which identical cells transform into different tissues.Tissues are classified into different types based on the plant’s structural, functional, and physiological requirements. Growth and differentiation result in development, which leads to the plant’s gross form. Meristematic cells are found in the plant body, specifically the root.

Measurement of plant growth

You are already aware that the lengthening of the plant is caused by the activity of the apical region of the shoot and root. As a result, the length growth of any plant can be measured in an ordinary measuring scale at regular intervals. A device known as a ‘Lever Auxanometer’ is used for precise measurement. It calculates the plant’s growth rate in terms of length is limited. The auxanometer is made up of a movable pointer connected to a pulley and a graduated arc mounted on a stand. A thread is wound around the pulley. The thread is tied at one end to the growing tip of the potted plant. The opposite end is attached to a small weight.The pulley rotates as the plant grows in length, and the needle attached to the pulley moves down the scale. This allows the plant’s length to be measured at regular intervals of time.

The actual length growth of a plant is measured as follows.

Plant growth substance

Plant growth is controlled by gene action and environmental factors. Plants produce substances that regulate their growth as well as a variety of physiological and biochemical activities. These are referred to as plant growth substances. Hormones are molecules that are frequently used in the chemical regulation of plant growth.

Plant growth substances are classified into three types based on their origin and biological activities: growth regulators, phytohormones, and growth inhibitors.

1. Growth regulator

It is a synthetic organic compound that resembles a hormone. It modifies growth and development in small amounts by either promoting or inhibiting growth. Naphthalene acetic acid, for example (NAA).

2. Phytohormones

These are organic substances that the plant produces. They are only present in trace amounts. They are produced in one part of the plant and then transported to another, where they influence specific physiological, biochemical, and morphological changes. Auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, and abscisic acid are the five major classes of phytohormones.

3. Growth Inhibitors

Natural growth inhibitors accumulate in huge numbers in the tissues of buds and seeds in autumn, when the plant’s development activities stop and it enters a dormant condition. The concentration of growth inhibitors reduces dramatically in the spring, prior to the opening of buds and seed germination.

Weighing plants: Fresh Vs. Dry weight

Measuring Fresh weight: 

It is a technically possible to the measure that is the fresh weight of plants without harming them, the simple act of removing a plant from its growing “medium” can cause trauma and the affect and the ongoing growth rate. Measuring plant fresh weight is difficult and should probably be saved as a final measure of growth at the end of the experiment. The following is the procedure for determining fresh weight:

• Plants should be removed from the soil and any loose soil should be washed away.

• Gently blot plants with a soft paper towel to remove any free surface moisture.

• Weigh right away (plants have a high composition of water, so waiting to weigh them may lead to some drying and therefore produce inaccurate data).

Measuring dry weight: 

Because plants have a high water content and the amount of water in a plant depends on the amount of water in its environment (which is difficult to control), measuring dry weight as a measure of plant growth is more reliable. This data can only be collected once as a final measure at the end of your experiment.

• Take the plants out of the soil and wash away any loose soil.

• Using a blotting motion, remove any free surface moisture from the plants.

• Overnight, dry the plants in a low-heat oven (100° F).

• Allow the plants to cool in a dry environment (a Ziploc bag will keep moisture out) – plant tissue will absorb water in a humid environment. Weigh the plants on a scale after they have cooled.

• Because plants are mostly water, make sure you have a scale that goes down to milligrammes, as a dry plant will not weigh much.

Conclusion

Plant growth measurement is a simple procedure that can be completed quickly. Measurement of plant growth calculates the plant’s growth rate in terms of length is limited. The thread is tied at one end to the growing tip of the potted plant. The pulley rotates as the plant grows in length, and the needle attached to the pulley moves down the scale. Natural growth inhibitors accumulate in huge numbers in the tissues of buds and seeds in autumn, when the plant’s development activities stop and it enters a dormant condition. The concentration of growth inhibitors reduces dramatically in the spring, prior to the opening of buds and seed germination. Growth and differentiation result in development, which leads to the plant’s gross form.