Plants for Food and Fibre

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions from the lecture notes on plants for food and fibre.

Fibre

The tissues of a plant from the roots, stem, leaves or seeds.

Tap root

A single prominent plant root with tiny root hairs branching off.

Root hairs

Tiny roots that increase the surface area of main roots for better water absorption.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to even concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane.

Photosynthesis

The process through which plants use the sun's light to make their own food.

Chlorophyll

A pigment in plants that makes it green and helps in the process of photosynthesis.

Selective Breeding

Choosing parent plants with specific characteristics desired in the offspring.

Sexual Reproduction

Two individual sets of genetic material create seeds and fruit.

Asexual Reproduction

When a parent plant produces offspring from a tuber, roots, leaves or stems.

Monoculture

When only one type of crop is grown in a field.

Sustainability

Replacing resources as quickly as they are used and breaking down wastes as quickly as they are made.

Irrigate

The use of pipes and sprinklers to water a crop (not rain).

Erosion

The gradual movement of soil, rocks and minerals from one place to another.

Bioaccumulation

The build-up of toxins in higher-level consumers.

Organic

Food that is grown without chemicals.

Biological Control

Using a pest's natural predator to get rid of it.