Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Glossary
active transport
movement of a substance into a cell across the cell membrane against a
concentration gradient. It requires energy and substances are taken up
selectively
adult growth
reproductive growth
adventitious buds
buds which do not arise from a stem
adventitious roots
roots which do not derive from the radicle of the embryo
aerobic respiration
process by which sugars are broken down in the presence of oxygen to yield
energy, the end products being carbon dioxide and water
air filled porosity (AFP)
percentage of air in a growing medium immediately after it has stopped
draining having been saturated with water
alternate host
a shrub/weed/garden plant that harbours a pest or disease
anaerobic respiration
respiration in the absence of oxygen, with the release of energy, carbon
dioxide and ethanol
androecium
the male part of the flower consisting of the stamens
angiosperms
seed bearing flowering plants
annual
a plant that completes its life cycle within a growing season
apical meristem
area of cell division at the root and shoot tips responsible for increase in
length
asexual reproduction
the formation of new individuals without fusion of gametes
autotroph
see producer
Available Water Content (AWC)
the water held in the soil between field capacity and the permanent wilting
point
base dressing
fertilizer that is applied to the soil and worked into the seedbed, or
incorporated in composts, before sowing/planting
binomial
a two part name made up of a generic epithet and a specific epithet
biodiversity
encompasses the genetic variation within a species, the total number of
species present and the variety of habitats they live in
biological control
the use of a natural enemy to reduce the damage caused by a pest or
disease
biomass
the weight or volume of living plant and animal material in an ecosystem
biome
a group of communities with their own type of climate, vegetation and
animal life. It covers a large geographical area
bitter pit
small spots on apple fruits resulting from insufficient calcium and boron in
the fruit
blossom end rot
black lesions produced on tomato fruit, caused by insufficient watering
buffering capacity
the ability of the soil to retain nutrients including lime against loss by
leaching
bulb
an underground modified shoot which mainly consists of food storage leaves
(scale leaves)
calcicoles
plants that are adapted to grow on calcareous soils
calcifuges
plants that are adapted to grow on acid soils below pH 5.5
