How does temperature affect plant metabolic processes?

Higher temperatures can indeed increase metabolic rates in plants because temperature is a key factor influencing the rate of biochemical reactions within plant cells. As temperature rises, enzymatic activities, which drive metabolic processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, typically increase due to higher kinetic energy, allowing reactants to more readily interact. However, there's a critical balance; if temperatures exceed certain thresholds, plants can experience heat stress. This stress can lead to denatured proteins, impaired photosynthesis, and ultimately reduced growth and yield. Therefore, while elevated temperatures can enhance metabolic rates, they also pose the risk of damaging plant health if excessively high.

In contrast, lower temperatures generally slow down metabolic processes rather than speeding them up, and temperature does affect metabolic processes significantly—contrary to what some options imply. It's important for plant health to maintain an optimal temperature range, as both extremes can be detrimental to growth and development.