The effect of cold on plants and adaptations to it. The effect of high temperatures on plants How temperature affects plants

The life and development of indoor plants depends on many factors, and the main one is temperature. The effect of temperature on plants can be either positive or extremely negative. Of course, everything depends on the type of plant and its preferences in the wild, but some species lose their original habits and fully adapt to the conditions of the apartments.

Each type of plant needs a different amount of heat, some of them can tolerate deviations from acceptable temperature conditions, while others suffer and are inhibited in development.

An important factor is not only the amount of heat received by the plant, but also the duration of the heat exposure. At different stages of the plant’s life, the amount of heat required does not rarely vary, so at the stage of active growth, most plants need warm atmospherebut when the plant goes into a dormant period, the amount of heat produced is recommended to be reduced.

A comfortable temperature for each plant is determined based on the values \u200b\u200bof the maximum and minimum temperatures at which the plant normally develops or feels comfortable at different stages of life. A drop in temperature below acceptable values, as a rule, leads to attenuation of all processes, inhibition of development and weakening of the process of photosynthesis. Rising opposite activates and accelerates these processes.

In the cold season, the effect of temperature on plants is slightly different. Plants will be comfortable at lower temperatures, this is due to the fact that most plants in this period go into the dormant phase. At this time, the growth process slows down or stops altogether, the plant seems to be asleep, waiting for more favorable conditions. Therefore, there is no reason to maintain a high temperature during this period, the need for plants in heat is much less than in the summer period.

  • able to withstand sudden changes in temperature
  • thermophilic
  • cool content lovers

The first group includes aspidistra, aucub, clivia, monstera, ficus, tradescantia and even some types of palm trees. To lovers warm conditions in winter, orchids, coleus, and others belong. These plants suffer from a lack of heat and can die, therefore their content must be approached responsibly. The third group includes jasmine, cyclamen, boxwood and others. These plants will feel good in cool rooms at average temperatures of 8-12 degrees.

Typically, representatives of the third group cause difficulties, because in the cold season it is problematic to create cool conditions. Yes, yes, it would not sound funny, but it is. People themselves are heat-loving by nature, and not many of them will want to live in cool conditions for the sake of indoor plants, and besides, heating sometimes fries so open at least windows for plowing \u003d)

To create cool conditions, you can put such plants on window sills, but in this case, you must definitely protect them from the heat of heating systems, for example by fencing with a protective screen or by slightly reducing heating

If the effect of temperature on plants can be different, then sharp jumps in temperature will definitely affect negatively. This often happens, especially in winter. Rapid temperature changes can adversely affect the root system of the plant, supercool the roots and leaves, as a result of which the plant may become sick. Most of all, plants standing on window sills are susceptible to such swings, where they are in the "between the hammer and the anvil" position. On the one hand, the heat from the battery is pushing, and on the other hand, cold when airing and frozen windows.

Of course, tropical plants are most sensitive to differences, but cacti can withstand even strong jumps. By nature, their cacti are in conditions where day and night temperatures can differ by tens of degrees.

When ventilating rooms, plants should be protected, especially those that are on the windowsill. For this purpose, you can use a sheet of cardboard, if there is nothing to protect the plants - it is better to remove them away from the window while airing.

The article is given general informationNaturally, the effect of temperature on plants of specific species can vary greatly. It is better to get acquainted with the recommended temperatures for individual plant species in the catalog.

Completed by: Galimova A.R.

The action of extreme temperatures on plants

In the course of evolution, the plants adapted fairly well to the effects of low and high temperatures. However, these devices are not so perfect, so extreme extreme temperatures can cause some damage or even death of the plant. The temperature range acting on plants in nature is quite wide: from -77ºС to + 55 ° С, i.e. makes 132 ° C. The most favorable for the life of most terrestrial organisms are temperatures +15 - + 30 ° С.

High temperatures

Heat-resistant - mainly lower plants, for example, thermophilic bacteria and blue-green algae.

This group of organisms is able to withstand temperatures up to 75-90 ° C;

The resistance of plants to low temperatures is divided into:

Cold resistance;

Frost resistance.

Cold resistance of plants

the ability of heat-loving plants to tolerate low positive temperatures. Heat-loving plants suffer greatly at positive low temperatures. External symptoms of plant suffering are wilting leaves, the appearance of necrotic spots.

Frost resistance

the ability of plants to tolerate negative temperatures. Biennials and perennials growing in the temperate zone are periodically exposed to low freezing temperatures. Different plants have varying resistance to this effect.

Frost resistant plants

Effect on plants at low temperatures

With a rapid decrease in temperature, ice formation occurs inside the cell. With a gradual decrease in temperature, ice crystals form primarily in the intercellular spaces. The death of the cell and the organism as a whole can occur as a result of the fact that ice crystals formed in the intercellular spaces, pulling water from the cell, cause it to dehydrate and at the same time exert mechanical pressure on the cytoplasm that damages the cellular structures. This causes a number of consequences - loss of turgor, increased concentration of cell juice, a sharp decrease in cell volume, a shift in pH values \u200b\u200bin an unfavorable direction.

Effect on plants at low temperatures

The plasmalemma loses semi-permeability. The work of enzymes localized on the membranes of chloroplasts and mitochondria and the processes of oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation associated with them are disrupted. The intensity of photosynthesis decreases, the outflow of assimilates decreases. It is the change in membrane properties that is the first cause of cell damage. In some cases, membrane damage occurs during thawing. Thus, if the cell has not passed the hardening process, the cytoplasm coagulates due to the combined effect of dehydration and mechanical pressure of ice crystals formed in the intercellular spaces.

Adaptation of plants to freezing temperatures

There are two types of adaptations to negative temperatures:

avoiding the damaging effect of the factor (passive adaptation)

increased survival (active adaptation).

When caring for indoor plants, it is important to observe the appropriate temperature regime for them. Indeed, in the wild, each of them grows in a certain climatic zone and is adapted to these conditions of existence.

At home, it is almost impossible to create a climate for the tropics, subtropics or semi-deserts for them, however, you must try to observe a similar temperature regime, otherwise the plant may lose its decorative effect, and even die.

In the article, we consider the effect of temperature on plant growth and their development.

Effect of temperature on plants

If the plant is provided with the temperature to which it is adapted, it grows well, develops and blooms profusely. But often, gardeners have difficulties in ensuring the desired temperature regime.

Despite the fact that many indoor flowers come from the tropics, they do not tolerate high temperatures. In their native climate, summer heat is accompanied by increased humidity, unlike climate middle strip. Therefore, often with increasing temperature, drying of the tip first, and then the entire sheet, is observed.

As well as an increase in temperature, lowering is harmful for many plants.

Low temperatures in the room, accompanied by an increase in humidity, are typical for autumn and spring periods before and after heating is turned off. At this time, cases of decay of the root system of plants become more frequent, and if the temperature drops significantly, their leaves may curl and fall. Plants also respond to a sharp drop in temperature.

High temperature for plants

Not all houseplants tolerate summer heat well. Many of them suffer from high temperature and low humidity in temperate regions. To protect indoor flowers from an unusual temperature for them, apply abundant watering, spraying and shading.

Tropical summer is characterized by high humidity. Moreover, plants easily tolerate temperatures up to 30ºС. A good moisturizing earthen coma and spraying of the leaves of the plant contribute to increased humidity in the room.

For residents of the tropics, in addition to frequent watering, installing a pot in a tray with moistened sand is suitable. Spraying can be carried out daily at room temperature.

Often a plant in the summer suffers not so much from high temperature as from direct sunlight. In order to avoid burns on the leaves, and at the same time reduce the temperature of the air in which the plant lives, you need to remove it in the shade or cover it with white paper from the sun.

The effect of low temperatures on plants

The winter content of indoor plants is always different from the summer.

In winter, most plants need it, because in their homeland the temperature regime changes. Usually, indoor flowers should not grow in winter, and for this they are kept at low temperatures and weak watering.

There are species that are insensitive to temperature changes and do not have a pronounced period of rest. The rest should winter at the temperatures to which they are adapted.

Hardy plants

Some unpretentious species almost do not react to a decrease or increase in temperature. They are very resistant to temperature influences and do not require the maintenance of any specific temperature in winter period.

These are such decorative foliage plants:,. They can be kept in winter at room temperature, but they can withstand its reduction to plus 5-10ºС.

Many coniferous speciesgrowing in withstand even short-term frosts. Pelargonium is also very hardy, which discards leaves only when the temperature drops below 0 ° C.

Consider plant groups in relation to temperature.

Often read with this article:

Heat-loving indoor plants

There are many species that do not tolerate low temperatures. If the air temperature drops to 10-13ºС, their leaves curl and fall off.

Such heat-loving tender plants include:,, fittonia. The optimum temperature of their wintering is 15-20ºС.

Plants requiring coolness

Cool wintering is needed mainly for flowering plantswhich, after a period of rest, begin to grow intensively and bloom. It , .

Among wintering in cool there are decorative foliage plants.. These are some types of ficus, ferns, Kalanchoe. All these plants are recommended to be kept in the winter at a temperature of 8-15ºС.

Plants requiring a cold room

Among indoor flowers there are those grown at low room temperature. These are mainly succulents, which should not grow in winter. The growth of succulents with a shortened daylight leads to stretching. They weaken, lose decorative lookDo not bloom.

Almost all types of cacti require wintering at a temperature of 5-8 ° C with very rare watering once a month or less. At the same temperature, some species, aeoniums winter.

Agave can also be kept at lower temperatures - up to 0ºС.

Many onion crops and gloxinia tubers also contain in winter at temperatures around 8 ° Cthat stimulates their growth and flowering in the spring.

We examined the classification of plants with respect to temperature.

Protect colors when airing

Ventilation is necessary for indoor plants, as they need fresh air. They especially experience this deficiency in winter, when the windows are closed due to winter cold. However, winter ventilation should be carried out very carefully so as not to reduce the temperature in the room sharply and not to harm the plants.

You can do a gradual ventilation of the room through an intermediate room, the air of which has already been updated.

In this case, fresh air will gradually move into the room with plants and will not lead to a strong decrease in temperature.

The easiest way to ventilate the room is to take flowers to another room.

Especially you need to take care of those plants that are closer to the window, because there the temperature can reach their limit values. It is recommended to bring them back only after the temperature regime returns to normal.

In addition to lowering the temperature during ventilation, there is a risk of drafts. Many species react negatively to drafts, dropping leaves, and this can occur even in summer. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that indoor flowers are not in a draft, to clean them when opening windows.

Adapting plants to high temperatures

The ability of plants to adapt and tolerate exposure to high temperatures is called heat resistance. Heat-loving flowers can withstand prolonged overheating, while moderately heat-loving flowers can withstand short-term.

To protect against high temperatures, plants use different kinds adaptation.

Morphological and anatomical devices are a special structure that helps prevent overheating. These features include:

  • The shiny surface of leaves and stems, reflecting sunlight;
  • Thick pubescence of the plant, which enhances the ability of the leaves to reflect and gives them a light color;
  • The meridional or vertical position of the leaves, which reduces the surface that absorbs the sun's rays;
  • General reduction of leaf surface.

All these features also help the plant lose less water.

Among physiological devices can be identified:


Resistance to low temperatures

There are no special properties of plant adaptation to low temperatures. However, there are devices that protect against a complex of adverse conditions - wind, cold, the possibility of desiccation. Among them are:

  • Pubescence of renal scales;
  • Thickening of the cork layer;
  • Pubescence of leaves;
  • Thickened cuticle;
  • Renal salinization in winter in conifers;
  • Special forms of growth and small sizes, for example, small leaves, dwarfism, close internodes, horizontal form of growth;
  • The development of thick and fleshy contractile roots. At the end of autumn, they dry out and decrease in length, drawing bulbs, roots, wintering buds into the ground.

Physiological devices help lower the freezing point of cell juice and protect the water from freezing. These include:

  • Increased concentration of cell juice;
  • Anabiosis is the ability under extreme conditions to suspend life processes in a plant and reduce productivity.

What plants are dangerous temperature fluctuations

Both throughout the year and throughout the day, natural temperature fluctuations occur. How do different plants tolerate such swings?

Most indoor flowers do not tolerate severe temperature fluctuations.. So when the temperature drops by 6-10 degrees, the leaves of Dieffenbachia begin to turn yellow and wither, and growth stops. The same "symptoms" can be observed in other plants. Therefore, when airing a room in winter, it is better to clean the flowers from the windowsill.

It is important to know that a gradual change in temperature, at a speed of no more than 0.5 degrees per hour, can be carried by most plants.

However, there are plants that normally tolerate even large fluctuations in temperature. These include aloe, sansiviera, clivia, aspidistra, and others.

The most heat-loving, and accordingly poorly tolerating severe temperature extremes, are flowering and decorative-deciduous representatives of the families of aroid, begonia, mulberry and bromeliad.

The most thermophilic are variegated guests from the tropics: caladium, kodieum.

Natural temperature fluctuations at home

In nature, there is a rhythmic change in temperature: at night it decreases, and during the day it rises. The same changes occur throughout the year, when the seasons smoothly alternate one after another.

Plants in the natural environment adapt to such changes. Indoor flowers that are in natural conditions grow in temperate latitudes, tolerate changes in the amount of heat well, whereas for visitors from the tropics such temperature fluctuations are more painful.

Therefore, in the cold season tropical plants a pronounced period of rest sets in. For them, it is very important, since it positively affects further growth and development.

It is important to know that indoor plants will have a beneficial effect when the temperature in the daytime is several degrees higher than at night.

The temperature of the soil or artificial medium has great importance when growing plants. Both high and low temperatures are unfavorable for the vital functions of the root. At low temperatures, root respiration is weakened, as a result of which the absorption of water and nutrient salts is reduced. This leads to sagging and stunting of the plant.

Cucumbers are especially sensitive to lower temperatures - lowering the temperature to 5 ° C ruins the seedlings of cucumbers. Leaves of adult plants at a low temperature of the nutrient solution in sunny weather wither and get burns. For this culture, it is not necessary to lower the temperature of the nutrient solution below 12 ° C. Usually in winter, when growing plants in greenhouses, the nutrient solution stored in the tanks has a low temperature, and it should be heated at least to ambient temperature. The most favorable temperature of the solution used for growing cucumbers should be considered 25-30 ° C, for tomatoes, onions on feathers and other plants - 22-25 ° C.

If in winter it is necessary to heat the substrate on which the cultivation is going on, then in summer, on the contrary, plants can suffer because of its high temperature. Already at 38-40 ° C, the absorption of water and nutrients stops, the plants wither and may die. It is impossible to allow the heating of solutions and substrate to such a temperature. The roots of young seedlings are especially affected by high temperature. For many crops, a temperature of 28-30 ° is already fatal.

If there is a danger of overheating, it is useful to wet the surface of the soil with water, upon evaporation of which the temperature decreases. AT summer time In the practice of greenhouse farming, glass spraying with lime mortar is widely used, which scatters the direct rays of the sun and saves the plants from overheating.

Sources

  • Growing plants without soil / V.A. Chesnokov, E.N. Bazyrina, T.M.Bushueva and N.L. Ilyinskaya - Leningrad: Publishing House of the Leningrad University, 1960. - 170 p.

Temperature is the most important factor determining the possibilities and timing of crop cultivation.

The biological and chemical processes of transformation of nutrients in the soil are directly dependent on the temperature regime. The heat supply of crops is characterized by the sum of average daily air temperatures above 10 ° C during the growing season. Both high and low temperatures disrupt the course of biochemical processes in the cells, and thereby may cause irreversible changes in them, leading to the cessation of growth and death of plants. Raising the temperature to 25-28 ° C increases the activity of photosynthesis, and with its further growth, respiration begins to prevail over photosynthesis, which leads to a decrease in plant mass. Therefore, most crops at temperatures above 30 ° C, wasting carbohydrates for respiration do not usually give yield growth. Lowering the ambient temperature from 25 to 10 ° C reduces the intensity of photosynthesis and plant growth by 4-5 times. The temperature at which the formation of photosynthesis products is equal to their respiration rate is called the compensation point.

The highest photosynthesis rate in temperate plants is observed in the range of 24-26 ° С. For most field crops optimum temperature during the day is 25 ° C, at night - 16-18 ° C. When the temperature rises to 35–40 ° C, photosynthesis ceases as a result of a violation of biochemical processes and excessive transpiration (Kuznetsov, Dmitrieva, 2006). A significant deviation of temperature from the optimum in the direction of increasing or decreasing significantly reduces the enzymatic activity in plant cells, the intensity of photosynthesis and the supply of nutrients to plants.

Temperature has a big effect on root growth. Low (< 5°С) и высокие (> 30 ° C) soil temperatures contribute to the surface location of the roots, significantly reduces their growth and activity. Most plants have the most powerful branched root system formed at a soil temperature of 20-25 ° C.

When determining the timing of fertilizer application, it is important to consider the significant effect of soil temperature on the supply of nutrients to plants. It has been established that at temperatures below 12 ° C the use of phosphorus, potassium and trace elements from soil and fertilizers is significantly deteriorating, and at temperatures below 8 ° C, the consumption of mineral nitrogen is also significantly reduced. For most crops, a temperature of 5-6 ° C is critical for the intake of essential nutrients in plants.

The heat supply of the vegetation period largely determines the structure of the sown areas and the possibility of growing more productive late-ripening crops, which for a long time can use solar energy to form a crop or re-sow after early harvested crops.

In the conditions of the non-chernozem zone of Russia, a direct dependence of crop productivity on the sum of temperatures is observed. In the forest-steppe and steppe zones, in irrigated conditions, no reliable relationship between the number of positive temperatures and crop yields has been established. In the central and southern regions of the country, an increase or decrease in temperature by 2-3 ° C does not have a significant effect on plant productivity.

A great influence is also exerted by temperature on the vital activity of soil microflora, which determines the mineral nutrition of plants. It was established that the highest intensity of ammonification of organic residues in the soil under the influence of microorganisms occurs at a temperature of 26-30 ° C and soil moisture 70-80% of HB. Deviation of temperature or humidity from the optimal values \u200b\u200bsignificantly reduces the intensity of microbiological processes in the soil.

A great influence on the intensity of photosynthesis and the effectiveness of fertilizers is exerted by the moisture supply of plants. The degree of opening of stomata, the rate of CO 2 release into leaves, and the release of O 2 depend on the turgor state of plants. Under conditions of drought and excessive humidity, the oyster usually closes and the assimilation of carbon dioxide (photosynthesis) ceases. The highest intensity of photosynthesis is observed with a small deficit of water in the leaf (10-15% of full saturation), when the oyster is maximally opened. Only under the optimal water regime, the root system of plants exhibits the highest activity of the consumption of nutrients from the soil solution. A moisture deficit in the soil leads to a decrease in the speed of movement of water and nutrients along the xylem to the leaves, the intensity of photosynthesis and a decrease in plant biomass.

It is important not only the amount of precipitation, but also the dynamics of their distribution during the growing season in relation to individual crops. The productivity of crops is largely determined by the availability of moisture in the most critical phases of plant growth and development.

For the Non-Chernozem zone, a dark correlation was established between productivity and rainfall in late May – early June for cereals, and in July – August for potatoes, corn, root crops, and vegetables. The lack of moisture during these periods significantly reduces plant yield and fertilizer efficiency.

The use of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers significantly increases the moisture deficit, since in proportion to the increase in productivity of the aboveground mass, water consumption also increases. It has been established that in the fertilized fields the withering effect of plants on the soil begins to appear earlier and to a greater depth than in non-fertilized ones. Therefore, with moisture deficiency, fertilized fields are sown as early as possible, so that by the time of drought and desiccation of the upper soil layer, the roots reach lower, more humid horizons. The most important measure of moisture accumulation in the steppe regions is snow retention, early harrowing to close moisture and early sowing.

In the forest-steppe and dry-steppe zones, moisture availability is one of the most important factors in crop productivity.

In areas of sufficient and excessive moisture, the flushing water regime has a great influence on the supply of plants with nutrients, since a significant amount of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and soluble humic substances are removed from the root layer of the soil with a downward flow of water. Such a regime is created, as a rule, in autumn and early spring.

A great influence on crop productivity, fertilizer efficiency, lines and agrotechnical methods of field work is exerted by the exposure and field topography, since the slopes of different exposures and steepness significantly differ in the content of humus, nutrients in the soil, thermal and water conditions and the responsiveness of agricultural plants to fertilizers. The soils of the northern and northeastern slopes are usually more humus-rich, better provided with moisture, higher snow cover, later thawed compared to the southern slopes and, as a rule, of heavier particle size distribution. The soils of the southern and southwestern slopes are warmer than the northern ones, they thaw earlier, are characterized by intense flood runoff of melt and storm water, hence, as a rule, they are more eroded and contain less mud particles. In the soils of the southern slopes, the mineralization of crop-root residues and organic fertilizers proceeds more intensively; therefore, they are less humus-rich. The higher the snow cover, the smaller the depth of soil freezing, it absorbs spring melt water better and floods less damage the soil.

It is important to take into account the characteristics of soils of different exposures when planning the timing of field work and the need for fertilizer equipment, since after completion of field work on the southern slopes it is used in the fields of northern exposure.

Despite the great dependence of the growth and development of plants on their moisture and heat supply, the decisive role in the formation of crop yields in the Non-Chernozem zone and in many other regions belongs to soil fertility and the use of fertilizers.

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