The physiology of vegetable crops

Abstract This book on the physiology of vegetable crops focuses on the activities and functions of vegetables, defined as herbaceous plants that are harvested for edible parts that can be consumed fresh or with little preparation. Physiology deals with the growth and development processes of these plants, and while this book is focused primarily on the organ and whole-plant level, brief mention of cellular and genetic events is made for some crops. The initial chapters cover processes common to most vegetables, such as the germination of seeds and the processes governing development of plants from small seeds, in preparation for transplanting into their final growth environment. The rapid advances in…