Plant physiology scientists and their contributions

General Agriculture for Competitive Exams for TGT, PGT, TA, STA, IBPS AFO, etc.

Photosynthesis and Biochemistry

Melvin Calvin – Discovered the Calvin cycle (C3 pathway) of photosynthesis.
Andrew Benson – Worked with Calvin on the carbon fixation pathway.
Hatch & Slack – Discovered the C4 pathway in plants.

Plant Water Relations and Transpiration

Dixon & Joly (1894) – Proposed cohesion-tension theory for water movement in xylem.
Dixon – Studies on xylem transport.
Priestley (1771) – Discovered oxygen and the role of plants in producing it.
Darwin & Darwin (1880) – Studied phototropism and auxin movement in coleoptiles.
F. W. Went (1928) – Discovered auxin (IAA) as a growth hormone.

Plant Hormones

Thimann & Skoog (1930s–1940s) – Identified auxins, cytokinins, and their roles in plant growth.
Kübler & Cramer – Work on gibberellins and stem elongation.
Went & Thimann – Demonstrated role of auxins in cell elongation and apical dominance.
C. S. van Overbeek – Early research on plant hormone effects on rooting.

Seed Dormancy and Germination

Lang (1965) – Introduced the concept of dormancy in seeds.
Bewley & Black – Extensive studies on seed physiology, germination, and dormancy.
Bradford (1990s) – Studies on water uptake, metabolism, and germination kinetics.

Nutrient Physiology

Arnon (1949) – Defined essential macronutrients and micronutrients in plants.
Marschner – Research on mineral nutrition and physiological role of elements.
Hoagland & Arnon (1938) – Formulated nutrient solutions for hydroponic culture.

Plant Growth Indices and Yield Physiology

Watson (1947) – Introduced concept of relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR).
Hunt (1978) – Crop growth analysis and modeling dry matter accumulation.
Sinclair & Muchow – Studies on radiation use efficiency and biomass partitioning.

Photoperiodism and Flowering

Garner & Allard (1920) – Discovered photoperiodism in plants (Nicotiana and Xanthium).
Bünning (1936) – Proposed circadian rhythm theory of photoperiodic flowering.
Chailakhyan (1936) – Proposed florigen concept – the flowering hormone.
Thomas & Vince-Prue (1997) – Studies on phytochrome-mediated flowering.

Plant Hormone Signaling and Regulation

Koornneef & Meinke – Work on Arabidopsis mutants for hormone signaling.
Finkelstein & Rock – ABA signaling and its role in stress responses.
Kende – Ethylene biosynthesis, gibberellin action, and elongation physiology.

Respiration and Photosynthesis

Calvin, Benson, Bassham – Elucidated C3 photosynthetic pathway (Calvin cycle).
Hatch & Slack (1966) – Discovered C4 photosynthetic pathway.
Blackman (1905) – Separation of light and dark reactions in photosynthesis.

Water Relations and Transpiration

Dixon & Joly (1894) – Proposed cohesion-tension theory for water ascent in xylem.
Steudle (1990s) – Studies on root water transport and hydraulic conductivity.
Tyree & Zimmermann (2002) – Modern research on xylem cavitation and water potential.
Darwin & Darwin (1880) – Phototropism and role of auxin in growth towards light.

Seed Physiology and Dormancy

Bewley & Black – Pioneer studies on seed germination, dormancy, and storage physiology.
Lang (1965) – Introduced concepts of primary and secondary dormancy.
Bradford (1990s) – Mechanisms of water uptake, metabolism, and germination kinetics.
Bewley (1997) – Hormonal regulation in seeds, including ABA and GA roles.

Mineral Nutrition and Nutrient Physiology

Arnon (1949) – Defined essential plant nutrients.
Marschner (1995) – Plant mineral nutrition and physiological roles of nutrients.
Hoagland & Arnon (1938) – Developed Hoagland solution for hydroponics.

Growth Analysis and Crop Yield Physiology

Watson (1947) – Developed concepts of relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR).
Hunt (1978) – Crop growth analysis, dry matter accumulation, and partitioning studies.

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