PLANT PHYSIOLOGY The Plan of the Treatise
T h e treatise is p l a n n e d in three m a i n sections, as follows:
Section on Cell Physiology and Problems Relating to Water and Solutes
T h e purpose of this section is to present the properties of cells, their e n e r g y relations ( V o l u m e I ) a n d behavior toward w a t e r a n d solutes w i t h t h e closely related problems of t h e m o v e m e n t of solutes w i t h i n the p l a n t body a n d the economy of w a t e r in plants (Volume I I ) .
T h e u n d e r l y i n g t h e m e of Volumes I a n d I I is t h e basis of p l a n t physi- ology in cell physiology.
Section on Nutrition and Metabolism
I n this section t h e detailed facts a n d knowledge of nutrition a n d metabolism are presented, first w i t h reference to t h e need for, a n d utilization of, inorganic n u t r i e n t s ( V o l u m e I I I ) , a n d second w i t h re- spect to the processes of organic nutrition (Volume I V ) . T h e t r e a t m e n t of organic n u t r i t i o n leads to a reconsideration of photosynthesis a n d respiration at t h e level of organs a n d organisms. V o l u m e I V describes the i n t e r m e d i a r y metabolism of carbon a n d nitrogenous compounds a n d presents a brief comparison of plants in health a n d in disease.
T h e m a i n t h e m e of Volumes I I I a n d IV is the nutrition, organic a n d inorganic, of plants a n d t h e biochemical steps b y w h i c h these processes are achieved.
Section on Growth and Development
T h e purpose of the last section is to present the problems of p l a n t physiology as seen t h r o u g h t h e analysis of growth a n d development, m a i n l y w i t h reference to flowering plants. T h i s entails ( V o l u m e V ) a reappraisal of t h e m a i n events of growth a n d development from the standpoint of morphology a n d leads to a consideration of growth of cells a n d of organs. Tropisms a n d t h e role of hormones a n d t h e effects of synthetic growth regulators are discussed. I n V o l u m e V I the attention is focused u p o n the quantitative analysis of growth a n d development, the physiology of reproduction, the development of fruits a n d seeds, the problems of d o r m a n c y a n d perennation. T h e role of e n v i r o n m e n t a l factors in the control of growth a n d development merits separate treat- ment. F i n a l l y t h e problems of growth a n d development a r e examined
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÷ T H E P L A N OF T H E TREATISE
from the standpoint of genetic control a n d from the interpretation of a b n o r m a l growth as seen in the formation of tumors. T h r o u g h o u t this t r e a t m e n t t h e controlling mechanisms of growth are evaluated.
T h u s t h e last section of t h e w o r k provides a synthesis of knowledge about plants since all their physiological processes converge u p o n growth a n d development.
T h e fulfillment of these objectives is possible only t h r o u g h the co- operation of m a n y authors. T h e scope a n d t r e a t m e n t of individual chapters reflects t h e special interests of the contributors. W h i l e each volume is a complete unit, w i t h its o w n table of contents a n d indexes, it is also a n integral p a r t of the whole plan.
Outline of the Plan
Section on Cell Physiology and Problems Relating to Water and Solutes V o l u m e IA. Cellular Organization a n d Respiration
Volume IB. Photosynthesis a n d Chemosynthesis V o l u m e II. Plants in Relation to W a t e r a n d Solutes
Section on Nutrition and Metabolism Volume III. Inorganic N u t r i t i o n of Plants V o l u m e IV. Organic N u t r i t i o n a n d Metabolism
Section on Growth and Development V o l u m e V. Analysis of G r o w t h
V o l u m e VI. T h e Physiology of Development
