Growth is an issue of central importance in plant physiology and agriculture. Growing cells expand by generating an internal hydrostatic pressure – the turgor. A thorough revision of over 40 years of research suggests that turgor results from a steady-state between passive water uptake via aquaporins driven by an osmotic gradient (which is generally accepted) and by a secondary active water secretion, including a cotransport of water and solutes.

The study on the effect of Al stress on the absorption of NO₃^– N in soybean could provide a scientific basis for N management in acid soil. The results showed that Al stress could significantly inhibit the absorption of NO₃^–N in soybean; however, Mg and ascorbic acid could reduce the inhibition of NO₃^– N uptake by Al stress. The inhibition of nitrate uptake in soybean in acid soil is expected to be alleviated by applying Mg and ascorbic acid.

Seed-transmitted viruses are a major threat in tropical and subtropical fields, hindering the benefits of applying Rhizobium inoculants in legume crops. We developed an easy, 100% effective protocol to promote the infection of germinating seeds with a legume virus. This protocol will enable further research beyond our findings with Phaseolus vulgaris L. for improving cultural practices to reduce the incidence of viruses in tropical and subtropical legume crops.

Modern polyploid wheat has diploid and tetraploid ancestors that may harbour beneficial drought resistance genes lost during domestication and subsequent breeding. We compared the morpho-physiological and biochemical responses to drought of eight accessions of wild and domesticated wheat differing in ploidy level, and show that modern polyploid wheat invests less biomass in roots and more in leaves and reproductive organs, particularly under drought.

In a search for a convenient and rapid screening method for drought tolerance, barley genotypes were evaluated for a range of physiological and agronomical measures. Leaf chlorophyll fluorescence F_v/F_m ratio and the relative root growth rate of polyethylene glycol-treated seedlings were found to be the most suitable proxies for quantifying drought tolerance.

Alterations in climate factors such as rising CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]), warming and reduced precipitation may have significant impacts on plant physiology and growth. Cotton was grown in the glasshouse at two [CO₂] treatments (C_A, 400 µL L^–1; C_E, 640 µL L^–1) and two temperature treatments (T_A, 28°C :17°C day : night; T_E, 32°C : 21°C day : night), and subjected to two progressive water deficit cycles, with a 5-day recovery period between the water deficit periods. C_E may provide positive growth and physiological benefits to cotton under T_A if sufficient water is available but C_E will not mitigate the negative effects of rising temperature on cotton growth and physiology in future environments.