Plant physiology is the branch of botany that studies how plants work — that is, how their parts function and carry out life processes.
In simple words, it explains the functions and activities that happen inside plants to keep them alive, such as how they grow, make food, transport water, and respond to the environment.
Main areas of plant physiology:
- Photosynthesis – how plants make food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
- Respiration – how plants use oxygen to get energy from food.
- Transpiration – how plants lose water through tiny pores (stomata) in leaves.
- Water and nutrient transport – how roots absorb water and minerals and how they move through the plant.
- Growth and development – how plants grow, form new parts, and respond to light, gravity, and hormones.
In short:
Plant physiology explains how plants live, grow, and function — much like physiology in animals explains how their bodies work.