Describe the stages in plant growth.

Describe the stages of the life-cycle of a plant: seed, juvenile (vegetative), adult (reproductive), senescence, death and their significance for horticulture.

SEED Seed is formed from the ovule after fertilisation (often enclosed within the fruit, e.g., apple pip). The EMBRYO of a new plant Natural regeneration of the plant, a means of distribution and protection of the embryo, may impose dormancy (hard seed coat: Lathyrus or immature embryo: Ginkgo), give rise to a new plant.

JUVENILE (LIFE CYCLE) The non-reproductive stage of plant life cycle, prior to ADULT

ADULT (LIFE CYCLE) The life cycle stage of a plant in which it is capable of SEXUAL REPRODUCTION. Follows the JUVENILE (LIFE CYCLE) stage and preceeds SENESCENCE.

SENESCENCE The stage of a plant life cycle when it begins to die. Fruiting an flowering cease. Autumn leaf colour is an example of plant senescence

DEATH (LIFE CYCLE) The final stage of plant lifecycle at which metabolic processes cease and cells die

• EMBRYO is enclosed in a TESTA
• Has a FOOD STORE in the COTYLEDONS or ENDOSPERM
• Plant is DORMANT
• Plant has LOW RESPIRATION
• Method of DISTRIBUTION

• Can be short or long period before germination

• Period of VEGETATIVE GROWTH
• NON-FLOWERING
• NON-SEXUAL
• Can have different characteristics from Adult

Plant starts to FLOWER, and produce FRUIT and SEED (SEXUAL REPRODUCTION)

• Often the stage for which the plant is grown (Enjoy flowers, harvest fruit)

• Adult material can be grafted onto juvenile root stock to speed development ( e.g. Wisteria sinensis)

• FLOWERING and FRUITING CEASE

• LEAVES show AUTUMN COLOUR

• METABOLIC PROCESSES CEASE (PHOTOSYNTHESIS, RESPIRATION)
• CELL DEATH