Biology: Science for Life - Chapter 25 Feeding the World

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary terms and concepts from chapter 25 on plant biology and sustainable agriculture.

GMO

Genetically modified organism; an organism whose DNA has been altered through genetic engineering.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce energy-storing seeds within fruit.

Double fertilization

A process where one sperm fertilizes the egg to form a diploid embryo, and another sperm fuses with two nuclei to form a triploid cell, developing into endosperm.

Meristematic tissue

Plant tissue located at the tips of roots and stems, responsible for cell division and growth.

Xylem

Vascular tissue in plants that carries water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that transports food (sap) from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Fertilization

The union of sperm and egg to form a zygote in plants.

Eutrophication

The process by which water bodies receive excess nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

Crop rotation

An agricultural practice that varies crops planted over time to maintain soil fertility.

Sustainable agriculture

Farming practices that meet current needs without compromising future generations' ability to produce food.

Nutrient cycling

The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Macronutrients

Elements required by plants in large amounts, such as nitrogen and potassium.

Micronutrients

Nutrients required by plants in smaller amounts, such as iron and boron.

Fertilizers

Substances added to soil to provide nutrients to plants; can be organic or inorganic.