As the environment temperature increases, plant growth does what?

• A. Remains the same
• B. Decrease
• C. Increases
• D. Is terminated

Answer: (C)

As temperature rises within a plant’s comfortable range, metabolic processes speed up and cell activities occur more quickly, so growth tends to increase. Enzymes and respiration work more efficiently at warmer temperatures, leading to faster development and elongation up to an optimum point. After that optimum, heat stress can slow or stop growth because enzymes can become less efficient, water loss increases, photosynthesis drops, and tissues may be damaged. So, in the typical range, increasing temperature generally promotes greater growth.