This textbook presents the foundational concepts and principles of crop physiology, emphasizing the core processes that determine crop yield and quality formation. By integrating disciplines such as genomics, ecology, and plant physiology, it provides a scientific basis for genetic improvement and agronomy, addressing global concerns about sustainable food production.

The chapters cover critical topics including carbon and nitrogen metabolism, source-sink interactions, and plant architecture, offering insights into the physiological mechanisms that underpin crop productivity and resilience. Readers will explore the significance of canopy structure and function, crop phenology, and physiological traits, which are pivotal for understanding modern crop science and technology. The book also highlights current research hotspots and frontiers in biology, enhancing both teaching and scientific research practices in crop physiology.

Designed for postgraduate students specializing in crop science, as well as researchers and practitioners in the field, this book is a must-read for those seeking to understand and apply the latest advancements in crop physiology. It addresses the urgent need for a monograph that captures both the fundamental essence and cutting-edge advancements in the field, providing a structured framework for nurturing high-quality talent. By bridging the gap between classical knowledge and emerging fields like genomics and phenomics, it offers a comprehensive resource for advancing both teaching and research in crop physiology. This volume is an indispensable guide for anyone involved in the sustainable production of food, feed, fiber, and energy.

Zhenghui Liu is a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University and a member of the National Expert Committee for Science Education in Primary and Secondary Schools of the Ministry of Education, China. He is mainly engaged in teaching and research in crop physiology. The course "Crop Physiology" that he teaches has been selected as an excellent postgraduate course in Jiangsu Province. By integrating crop physiology with functional genomics, plant phenomics, and other disciplines, he has made new progress in the exploration and application of excellent physiological traits. He has led 10 research projects, including the National Key Research and Development Program of the 14th Five-Year Plan. He has published a popular science monograph titled Painting Agriculture and has organized the "The Road to a Powerful Country" Huxian Farmer Painting Theme Exhibition.