A Acession: a sample of seeds
from a vaiety held in storage in a seed bank Aerobic: aprocess that requires
the presence of oxygen. Allelopathy:
suppression of one plant species by another, through the secretion
of phytotoxic exudates. Anaerobic:
a process that does not require free oxygen, or a condition in
which free oxygen is excluded. Annual: a plant
that completes its life cycle in a year. Anther: pollen bearing
structure supported by a filament, which together form the stamen of
a flower Asexual reproduction:
non-sexual reproduction, such as grafting, cuttings and tubers Auxin: plant hormones that
control fruit and flower development.
B Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt):
a bacteria that kills insects due to a protein, called the Bt-toxin.
The genes responsible for the production of the toxin have been used
to create insect poisoning crops through genetic engineering Biennial: a plant
that completes its life cycle in two years. Bioavailable: something
that is easilily assimilated by life forms Biodiversity: Variabilty
within living organisms and their environments Biopiracy:
the collecting and patenting of life forms formally held in common and
their exploitation for profit. Biosphere:
the part of the earth's surface and atmosphere inhabited by life Biotechnology: technologies
that use living organisms and biological systems to make or modify products. Blanching: covering a plant
to prevent sunlight from turning leaves and stalks green Bolting: development
of seed stalk Brassica: group
of plants which includes Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Turnip,
Rapeseed, Mustard and Brussels Sprouts
C Carbonation:
water combines with carbon dioxide. In soil formation this forms
carbonic acid in which lime, soda and potash become soluble Carbon nitrogen ratio:
the proportion of carbon to nitrogen by weight in any organic matter.
The optimum level for biological activity in raw organic matter is between
20 and 30 parts carbon to 1 nitrogen. Caustic lye: corroding
chemical obtained by leaching. Chelate: a chemical compound whose molecules
contain a closed ring of atoms of which one is a metal atom Clone: plant produced
from a genetically identical parent by asexual propagation Compost: a process that uses
any one of several methods to speed up the decomposition of raw organic
matter, usually by pilling, aerating, and moistening. Also, the crumbly,
nutrient-rich product of this process. Companion planting:
the grouping of plants for their mutual benefit Cross pollination:transfer
of pollen from one plant to the flower of another plant resulting in
fertilisation and the crossing of two varieties Cultivar: a cultivated variety
usually having its own name.
D DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid):
the molecule thought to encode all genetic information in plants and
animals Decomposer: organism, usually
soil bacteria, that derive nourishment by breaking down the remains
or wastes of other living organisms into simple organic compounds. Dioecious: a species that
produces male flowers and female flowers on separate plants Dormancy: a state
during which seeds,tubers or buds will not sprout regardless of favourable
conditions
E Exotic: not native Exude:to release
through pores
F F1: the
first filial. The first offfspring of a cross between two distinct varieties
which have been selfed F2: the second generation of
hybrid plants Family: a large group of plants
that share similar botanical characteristics; such as flower and fruit
structure. It's the 1st of a 3 part clasification that is used to identify
plants; the 2nd and 3rd being genus and species. Fertilization: Union of pollen
with the ovule, which eventually produces seed Fertilizer: any
material added to the soil for the purpose of poviding essential nutrients
to plants. Fixation: the binding
of a nutrient into a more stable form that may be either less available
to plants or more available to plants.
G Genera: a group
of plants that shares close morphological similarities. Germplasm: total
of hereditary materials within a species preseved in seeds, cuttings
and tubers for reproduduction Green manure: vegetation
grown to be used as fertilizer for the soil, either by direct application
of the vegetation to the soil, by composting it before soil application,
or by leguminous fixing of nitrogen in the root nodules of the vegetation. Gymnosperm:a plant
which produces seed without producing flowers
H Heavy feeder:
a plant that requires lots of nitrogen because of its speedy
growth eg. squash, potato, tomato Heritage seeds / Heirloom Varieties:
non-hybrid seeds of old varieties that have been passed from generation
to generation Humified: organic
matter transformed into humus. Humus: the fragrant, spongy,
nutrient-rich material resulting from decomposition of organic matter. Hydration: water combining itself
with other molecules. Hydrolysis: water reacting with
one compound to create another, such as igneous rock to form clay Hybrid: the fist
generation offspring of two distant and distinct parental lines.
I Indole: crystalline
heterocyclic compound. Intellectual Property Rights:
system of patents which allows ownership over the applications
of research Isolation: separating
one plant or group of plants from another to prevent rossing
J
K
L Landrace:
present varieties grown and bred for millenia from farm-saved seed Leaching: the downward
movement through soil of chemical substances dissolved in water. Legume: any plant
belonging to the leguminous family. Characterised by pods as fruits
and root nodules enabling the storage of nitrogen. Lithosphere:
the rigid outer layer of the earth which averages 75km in depth Livefoods: many
studies, using such techniques as kirlian photography, have shown that
all living things have an energy field around them. It is widely believed
that eating such extremely fresh or live food, allows absorbtion of
the energy field as well, confering health benefits.
M Monoecious: a species
that forms both male and female flowers on the same plant Monoculture: the
continuous growing of a single crop over vast tracts of land
Monocult: the cult of uniformity which has enveloped agriculture
and our culture as a whole, sweeping the globe, laying the earth bare
and denying diversity. Mulch: organic material
such as leaves or straw spread on the ground around plants to hold moisture,
smother weeds, and feed the soil.
N Nitrogen fixing:
the useful transformation in plants (mostly legumes) of air in the soil
into fertiliser with the aid of symbiotic bacteria NPK analysis: the
ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in an organic
soil amendment.
O Open pollinated:
non-hybrid varieties which produce viable second generation seed suitable
for farm saving and breeding O.E.C.D. United Nations Organisation
for Economic Coperation and Development, club of the world's richest
nations Organic matter: the remains,
residues, or waste products of any living organism. Oxidation: oxygen
combines with iron, magnesium, copper etc, to make them rust.
P Pathogen: a disease causing
organism such as bacterium, fungus or virus Perennial: an everlasting
plant (as opposed to annual or biennial) Permaculture: A
contraction of permenent agriculture where the inputs equal the outputs Phosphorus: good
for fruit formation flowering fruiting and ripening. Found in bonemeal,
bird manure, rock phosphate and vetch. Plumule: the fist
leaves to emerge from a germinating seed Pollen: dust sized
particles of reproductive material produced by male flowers Potash: important for the
formaion of flow fruit, leaves and growing tip and can be found in kelp,
wood ash and seaweed Primal seeds: locally grown
and adapted seed produced totally free of chemicals and outside of corporate
control
Q
R Radicle:
embryonic portion of a seed that develops into the fist root Raw manure: manure that has
not yet decomposed, containing highly soluble nitrogen and potassium. Rhizobia: Nitrogen-fixing
bacteria that live in symbiosis with legumes. Rhizome: an underground
stem that enables plants reproduce asexually Reductionism: science that
reduces everything in to component parts and overlooks the whole, such
as complex interactions between organisms and their environment
S Sacrificial crop:
crop planted to distract pests Selfing: the transfer
of pollen from one flower to another flower on the same plant Self-Pollination:
see selfing above Sibing: transfer
of pollen between different plants of the same variety Slurry: a suspension
of solid particles in a liquid. Species:
a species is a subdivision of a genus, and is the 2nd word in
its Latin name used for clasification. All plants within a species will
interbreed with each other. Members of a particular species are further
subdivided into cultivars or varieties. Spore: a reproductive body,
an evolutionary precursor to seeds, produced by some protozoans and
many plants, that develops into a new individual. Stamen: male portion
of a flower which produces the pollen grains Stigma:
portion of female flower that recieves the pollen grains during
fertilisation Symbiosis: closely
associated plant or animal species that are dependent on each other
T Taxonomy:
the system of arranging plants into related groups, in descending
order from the largest classification: division, class, order, family,
genus and species Threshing: breaking
the seeds free from the seedpods and other fibrous material Transgenic: an organism
produced by genetic engineering Thermophilic: organism
that thrives under warm conditions, or able to generate high temperatures.
U Uniformity:
lack of diversity within and between plant species apparent in
modern cultivars
V Variety:
a sub-division of species. Closely related plants with nearly
identical characteristics, that are distinguishable from other members
of the same species. Vegetative propagation:
reproduction by asexual methods Vernalization: a period of
cold weather that is necessary before some plants are able to form flowers Viable: capable of normal
germination and development Volunteer: plants
that have self seeded
W Wholistic: an approach that
understands that everything is interconnected
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