Science and the garden [[electronic resource] ] : the scientific basis of horticultural practice / / edited by David S. Ingram, Daphne Vince-Prue, Peter J. Gregory

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910461578303321
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Oxford, U.K., : Blackwell Pub., 2008
• ISBN: 1-4443-6035-3; 1-283-40469-9; 9786613404695; 1-118-30758-5
• Edizione: [2nd ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (368 p.)
• Altri autori (Persone): IngramDavid S; Vince-PrueDaphne; GregoryP. J
• Disciplina: 635.01/5
• Soggetti: Horticulture; Electronic books.
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: "Published for the Royal Horticultural Society by Blackwell Publishing."
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Foreword; Preface to Second Edition; Preface to First Edition; List of Contributors; 1 Diversity in the Plant World; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION; CREATING ORDER OUT OF DISORDER; COLONISATION OF THE LAND; COMMUNITIES AND THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 2 Know Your Plant: Structure and Function; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION; ENERGY FLOW IN THE BIOSPHERE: PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION; THE LEAF: INTO THE LABYRINTH; The manufacturing centre; Cells; Layout of the leaf; Controlling gas and water exchange; Protection against harmful radiation; Palisade tissues: the sites of photosynthesisThe transport system; Movement of water, minerals and hormones in the xylem; Transport of carbohydrates and hormones in the phloem; Producing new xylem and phloem: the cambium; The bundle sheath; Connecting with the stem; Leaf fall; Leaf patterns: phyllotaxy; Variations on a theme; THE STEM: REACH FOR THE SKY; The growing point; Forming new leaves; A tower of strength; Secondary thickening: the formation of wood and bark; ; Bark; Stem modifications; THE ROOT: MINING FOR MINERALS AND WATER; The structure and growth of the root; Storage roots and other modificationsNitrogen fixation; Mycorrhizas; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 3 Reproduction: Securing the Future; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION; VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION; SEXUAL REPRODUCTION; Cones and flowers; Alternation of generations; Floral diagrams and formulae; Seeds and fruits; Other fruits; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 4 Naming Plants; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION; HOW TO IDENTIFY A PLANT; THE MEANING AND STRUCTURE OF NAMES; TAXONOMY: ORDER IN DIVERSITY; The botanical framework; New developments; TAXONOMY OF CULTIVATED PLANTS; Distinctiveness; Uniformity; Stability; WHY PLANTS CHANGE THEIR NAMESTaxonomic changes; Nomenclatural; Misidentification; THE QUEST FOR STABILITY AND LINKING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE; Stability of botanical plant names; Stability of cultivated plant names; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 5 Selecting and Breeding Plants; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION: ADAPTATION AND DESIGN; GENES; Transcription factors; Chromosomes; DNA replication; GENOMES; Gamete formation; Recombination; Allelic variation; MUTATION; Transposons; Somatic and germ line mutations; Chimeras; HETERO- AND HOMOZYGOSITY; Dominant and recessive alleles; BREEDING SYSTEMS; Breeding inbred linesBreeding open-pollinated populations; Clonal propagation; F1 hybrid breeding; Wide hybridisation; Somatic variation; Somatic hybridisation; RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY; Marker-assisted breeding; Genome sequencing; Genetic modification; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 6 Soils and Roots; SUMMARY; INTRODUCTION; Why do plants need soil?; What do plants want from the soil?; HOW SOILS ARE FORMED; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS; CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS; BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS; ROOTS AND SOILS; CONCLUSION; FURTHER READING; 7 Soil Cultivation and Fertility; SUMMARY; CULTIVATING THE SOIL
• Sommario/riassunto: ""A thorough update and the introduction of new topics such as biodiversity and conservation has greatly enhanced this new edition: it is a 'must read' for all interested in horticulture and gardening.""-John MacLeod, RHS Professor of Horticulture Most conventional gardening books concentrate on how and when to carry out horticultural tasks such as pruning, seed sowing and taking cuttings. This book is unique in explaining in straightforward terms some of the science that underlies these practices. It is principally a book of 'Why' - Why are plants green? Why should one cut be