Question: why do plants get stressed

Ross Alexander answered on 18 Mar 2020:

Hi Tom,
Plants get stressed when they do not get enough of the things that need to survive (pretty much the same as us). For them this would be not enough sunlight / water or nutrients in the soil. When they lack oany of these things they start to get sick and eventually die. We say there are two major types of plant stressers. These are abiotic and biotic.

Abiotic: these come from the surrounding environment of the plant. One of the most important abiotic factors affecting plants is water stress. A plant requires a certain amount of water for optimal growth, too much water can cause plant cells to swell and burst, whereas too little water can lead to them drying out. Temperature stresses can also negatively impact a plants growth and livelihood. Cold weather may affect the amount and rate of uptake of water and nutrients, and hot weather can affect the permeability of plant membranes. Abiotic factors come in other forms as well such as wind, toxins, and light.

Biotic: can cause damage to plants through living organisms that may cause disease. Soil is filled with fungi and bacteria – 1 teaspoon of soil can hold billions of microorganisms. Just like microorganisms found in humans, some can be beneficial, and others can be detrimental. Healthy soil biological systems showcase an appropriate, harmonious balance between beneficial microorganisms that protect against biotic stresses and detrimental microorganisms – that if not held in check can result in biotic plant stresses. Examples of common biotic plant stress factors include pathogens, insects, and weeds but the exact types of factors depend on the environment and differ from region to region.