Plants and Society Midterm Study Guide

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Make observation, ask questions, background research, develop hypothesis, test the experiment, analyze results & draw conclusions, and construct another hypothesis if results are false.

What are macronutrients?

Nutrients required in large quantities, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids (fats).

What are micronutrients?

Nutrients required in small quantities, including vitamins and 17 essential minerals.

Name three cereal crops widely consumed around the world.

Rice, wheat, corn.

How much energy transfer efficiency is there in the food chain?

10% of energy transfer efficiency from one level to the next.

What are pseudocereals?

Plants that resemble cereals but do not belong to the grass family, such as quinoa and amaranth.

What are the examples of simple carbohydrates?

Glucose, fructose, sucrose.

Which plants are rich in complex carbohydrates?

Carrots and sugarcane.

What are modified stems and give an example?

Stems that have nodes and internodes that serve as protected food reserves; for example, potato tubers.

What are tuberous roots?

Modified roots that become fleshy and enlarged with food reserves, such as sweet potatoes and carrots.

Why are certain amino acids considered essential for humans?

Because humans cannot produce the nine essential amino acids needed for protein synthesis.

Which macronutrient is abundant in legumes?

Protein.

What are triacylglycerols?

A type of plant lipid that serves as a source of dietary energy for humans.

What is the second biggest contributor to CO2 emissions related to livestock?

Livestock farming.

What is the significance of being a 'locavore'?

Being a locavore means eating local foods.

What are vitamins and their importance?

Essential organic compounds required in small amounts for metabolism, immune function, and overall health maintenance.

What are fat-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What are water-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins C and B.

What are phytonutrients?

Plant-derived chemicals that affect human nutrition and health, also known as phytochemicals.

Name the three major classes of phytonutrients.

Terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, phenolics.

What role do floral pigments play?

They attract plant pollinators.

What are some major floral pigments?

Carotenoids and anthocyanins.

What are phytonutrients like phenolics and carotenoids used for in plants?

Protect plants from high UV radiation.

What are nutraceuticals?

Products that provide long-term health benefits.

What are phytomedicines?

Medicines that target specific health problems.

How have humans acquired knowledge of medicinal plants?

Through trial and error, religious beliefs, and the doctrine of signatures.

What is the concept of allelopathy?

Plants secrete chemicals that suppress germination or growth of other plants to reduce competition.

Describe the process of drug discovery from plants.

Identify potential plants, screen for biological activities, chemically analyze extracts, extract compounds, conduct preclinical research, and clinical trials.

What are the advantages of synthetic drugs over natural compounds?

They can be patented, do not depend on plant availability, and can be produced in controlled manufacturing contexts.

What are key risks threatening medicinal plants?

Overharvesting, habitat destruction, and lack of knowledge transfer to future generations.

What is in-situ conservation?

Conservation that takes place within natural habitats.

What is ex-situ conservation/cultivation?

Conservation that involves storing seeds and cultivating them outside their natural habitat.

What is ethnobotany?

The study of how particular cultures use indigenous plants.

What is Ayahuasca?

A traditional medicine containing the hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine, used in rituals and treatments for emotional disorders.

What does bioprospecting involve?

Scientific studies that search for useful applications or products in nature.

What are the three objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)?

Conserve biological diversity, sustainable use of biological diversity, and share the benefits of genetic resources equitably.

Compare the use of petroleum-based and plant-based materials for industrial chemicals.

Petroleum-based materials are more expensive and polluting, while plant-based materials are cheaper and have unlimited diversity.

What is a biorefinery?

A facility that processes biomass to produce biofuels, chemicals, and other materials.

What are the advantages of using plant tissue cultures for phytochemical production?

Year-round availability of plant material and higher concentration of desired compounds.

What are the benefits of seed dormancy?

It delays germination until conditions are favorable for growth.

What methods can break seed dormancy?

Stratification and scarification.

What is double fertilization in flowering plants?

One sperm fertilizes the egg to form an embryo, and another sperm fuses with polar nuclei to form endosperm.

Give examples of major seed crops worldwide.

Wheat, rice, corn, barley, sorghum, soybean, and common bean.

What nutritional risks arise from relying on a few plant species for food?

Malnutrition and vulnerability to diseases and pests.

What is the role of seed banks?

To collect, preserve, and store seeds for long-term conservation.

Define recalcitrant seeds.

Seeds that do not survive drying or freezing and must be kept in moist conditions.

What are biotic stresses for plants?

Stresses caused by living organisms, such as pests and pathogens.

What are abiotic stresses for plants?

Stresses caused by environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures, floods, and droughts.

What strategies do plants use to escape stress?

Completing their life cycle before stress onset or growing towards favorable conditions.

Why are mineral nutrients important for plants?

They are essential for processes like protein synthesis and energy transfer.

What are potential causes of plant nutrient deficiencies?

Lack of nutrients in soil, competition, and unfavorable soil pH.

How do plants interact with other organisms?

Through mutualism, competition, and cooperation, including symbiotic relationships.

What do legume plants receive from rhizobia?

Legumes receive nitrogen in the form of ammonium.

What do rhizobia receive from legumes?

Photosynthetic products and a protected environment for nodule growth.

Name the different groups of microorganisms that can cause diseases in plants.

Viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes.

What is the plant disease triangle?

The concept that a susceptible host, favorable environment, and pathogen must all coexist for a disease to occur.

What are the principles of plant disease control?

Exclusion, eradication, host resistance, and protection.

What are the advantages and limitations of monocultures?

Monocultures are less resilient to pests and diseases; whereas polycultures increase biodiversity and reduce vulnerability.

Give an example of competitive relationships among plants.

Tall trees shading smaller plants.

What are environmental contaminants?

Substances like pesticides, pollution from human activities, and natural disasters (e.g., volcanic eruptions).

What is biotic migration of contaminants?

The transfer and accumulation of toxic substances along the food chain.

What are environmental risks associated with inorganic fertilizers?

Eutrophication and pollution of water sources.

What is phytoremediation?

A process where plants remove or degrade contaminants in soil and water.

Describe phytovolatilization.

The uptake of contaminants by plants which are then released into the air in volatile form.

What is phytoextraction?

The process where plants take up soil contaminants which then translocate to above-ground parts.

What is phytostabilization?

The process of immobilizing contaminants in soil to prevent their spread.

What is phytodegradation?

The breakdown of contaminants within plants through metabolic processes.