agri 31 - minerals

Genotype

sets the limit for phenotype

environment

modifies the expression of the phenotype

weather

atmospheric conditions in any area at

any time, with regards to sun, cloud, temperature,

wind and rain, etc.(deviation from pattern)

climate

the long-term weather pattern of an

area, including temperature, precipitation, and

wind or weather averaged over long period of

time (seasonal pattern)

climate

major

determinant of

geographic distribution

solar radiation

Rate at which a surface absorbs radiation (Watt/m2)

red and blue

where photosynthesis is most efficient

far red and red

where photoperiodism is most efficient

solar constant

Amount of solar radiation that reaches the outer

limits of the earth's atmosphere

heliophythes

sun-loving

sciophythes

shade loving

albedo

reflected radiation/total incident light.

Reflects how fast and what degree surface is

heated

50-60%

albedo in polar regions

20-30%

albedo in tropical equatorial regions

daylength

different between day and night and

increases as latitude from equator increases

photoperiodism

Plant response as conditioned by daylength

photoblastism

germination response with respect to daylength

temperature

Important in every chemical, physiological and biochemical processes in

plants

degree day

measurement of departure of the

daily mean temperature above the minimum

threshold temperature for the plant (base temp)

precipitation/rainfall

Water in some form (Rain , drizzle, fog, mist,

snow, hail) falling out of the air, and settling

on the surface of the earth

dew

condensation at the surface and thus is not a

form of precipitation

xerophytes

desert plants

hydrophytes

aquatic plants

mesophytes

land plants

air circulation

affects seasonal distribution of precipitation

topography

affects amount and distribution of rainfall

moisture

influences the phytogeographic distribution of plants

infrared radiation

The electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer

than visible light and shorter than microwaves. It is felt

as heat.

green house gases

efficient in absorbing IR

lightt

climate change

Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases produce an increase in the

average surface temperature of the Earth over time

• Rising temperatures may, in turn, produce changes in precipitation

patterns, storm severity, and sea level

carbon cycle

movement ("flux") of carbon between the atmosphere

and the land and oceans -dominated by natural processes,

eg PS.

Koppen's classification

climate classification wherein:

Based on precipitation and temperature

• PHL is classified as tropical and rainy

Thornthwaite's classification

climate classification wherein:

• Based on the difference between the mean

Modified Corona classification

climate classification wherein:

• based on precipitation

• PHL has four basic types of climate

texture

size and relative proportions of various

size groups in a given soil

structure

arrangement of soil particles into

groups or aggregates

soil depth

top and sub-soil

topography

physical configuration of the soil

surface (drainage, run-off, erosion)

soil structure

refers to the grouping of particles of sand, silt,

and clay into larger aggregates of various sizes and shapes

sandy soils

difficult to maintain aggregate stability due to

low organic matter, clay content and resistance

of sand particles to cementing processes

soil depth

Refers to the thickness of soil materials which provide

structural support, nutrients, and water for plants

soil permeability

a measure of the ability of air

and water to move through it

relief

component of topography that refers to the

difference in height between the hills and depressions

in the field

slope

incline or gradient of a surface (%)

soil pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a

soil

liming materials

materials that increase soil pH

ammonium

result in the decrease of soil pH

cation exchange capacity

a measure of the quantity of cations that can

be adsorbed and held by a soil

cation exchange capacity

dependent upon the amount of organic

matter and clay in soils and on the types of clay

macrofauna

Mice, moles, etc.; Earthworms and other worms; Ants,

beetles, termites, spiders

mesofauna

Nematodes, arthropods (mites, centipedes, and springtails),

mollusks

microfauna

protozoa

pollinator

biotic

agent (vector) that moves

pollen from the male anthers

of a flower to the female

stigma of a flower to

accomplish fertilization or

syngamy of the female

gamete in the ovule of the

flower by the male gamete

from the pollen grain

decomposers

They break

down dead organisms into nutrients, and these nutrients

are then returned to the soil

predators

insects that catch and eat other

insects and bugs

parasitoids

• insects that lay eggs in, on or around other insects so

that the larva that hatches will have the host to feed

on

braconid wasp

preys on caterpillars, flies,

woodboring beetles, weevils, leafminers, true bugs and

ants

scoliid wasp

prey mainly green June and

Japanese beetle grub

tachinid flies

lay eggs near or on the bodies of

caterpillars

allelopathy

refers to the chemical inhibition of one species by another.

The "inhibitory" chemical is released into the environment where it affects

the development and growth of neighboring plants

drought

insufficiency of rainfall/moisture

absolute drought

29 consecutive days without

rainfall of at least 0.25 mm

partial drought

15 consecutive days without

rainfall of at least 0.25mm

lahar

mudflow composed of pyroclastic material and water that

flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley

'lahar' originated in the Javanese language of Indonesia

genotype

the totality of the genetic make-up of an

organism; affected by environment to produce the

phenotype

variety

group of plants within a particular cultivated

species

cultivar

distinct variant selected by

someone who believed it was uniquely different from any

plant already in cultivation

clones

cultivars that are propagated by vegetative means

lines

propagated by seeds

ex situ

conservation outside the natural habitat ex.

seed & field genebanks

in situ

conservation in the natural habitat

selection

selecting the best looking plants/seeds and saving them

to plant for the next year's crop

traditional plant breeding

modifying the genetic composition of plants by making

crosses and selecting new superior genotype

combinations

genetic engineering

type of genetic modification, involving the purposeful

addition of a foreign gene or genes to the genome of an

organism.

biotechnology

use of living organisms or their parts to

make or modify products, or improve plants,

animals and microorganisms

modern biotechnology

allows direct introduction of genes from

one species to another through DNA

manipulation (recombinant DNA technology)

autotrophic

Capable of making all necessary organic

compounds from inorganic compounds and

elements in the environment

nutrient

any substance that can be metabolized by an

organism to give energy and build tissue

structural

important components of biomolecules (e.g. N, P, Ca, Mg,

S)

catalytic

as co-factor of enzymes (e.g. most micronutrients)

osmotic

regulation of cellular hydration (e.g. K)

macronutrients

Required in relatively large

quantities like one to 10 milligram

per gram of dry

matter

micronutrients

Required in minute quantities

like 0.1 mg per gram of dry

matter

beneficial elements

Elements which promote plant growth in many plant species but

are not absolutely necessary for completion of the plant life cycle

soil erosion

physical loss and displacement of the fertile topsoil

nutrient deficiencies

occur when the concentration

of a nutrient decreases below its typical range

chlorosis

yellowing of the leaves due to

chlorophyll degradation

necrosis

death of leaf tissue

mobile

nutrient is ____ when the deficiency is seen in old leaves

immobile

nutrient is ____ when the deficiency is seen in young leaves

development

The attainment of size by virtue of growth and

architectural style by morphogenesis

(differentiation of cells into tissues, organs and

organisms)

growth

the irreversible increase of cell number, and

essentially its dry mass or weight

differentiation

Reflects the orderly processes by which genetically identical

cells become different, forming specialized tissues and

organs

differentiation

The reflection of change in the cell's biochemical program,

controlled by developmental genes

organization

orientation and integration of differentiated cells in

space together with regulated growth

morphogenesis

orientation and integration of differentiated cells in

space together with regulated growth, and the consequent

attainment of form and structure of the complete organism.

meristems

growth is restricted to certain embryonic regions called

restricted

growth is blank in these certain embryonic regions

meristems

Site of repeated cell division of unspecialised cells

embryo

Cotyledons, shoots and root apical meristems