Science and the Garden E-Book

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1237

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

Most conventional gardening books concentrate on how and when to carry out horticultural tasks such as pruning, seed sowing and taking cuttings. Science and the Garden, Third Edition 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 do some plants only flower in the autumn? Why do lateral buds begin to grow when the terminal bud is removed by pruning? Why are some plants successful as weeds? Why does climate variability and change mean change for gardeners? But it also goes on to deal with the 'How', providing rationale behind the practical advice.

The coverage is wide-ranging and comprehensive and includes: the diversity, structure, functioning and reproduction of garden plants; nomenclature and classification; genetics and plant breeding; soil properties and soil management; environmental factors affecting growth and development; methods of propagation; size and form; colour, scent and sound; climate; environmental change; protected cultivation; pest, disease and weed diversity and control; post-harvest management and storage; garden ecology and conservation; sustainable horticulture; gardens and human health and wellbeing; and gardens for science.

This expanded and fully updated Third Edition of Science and the Garden includes two completely new chapters on important topics:

• Climate and Other Environmental Changes
• Health, Wellbeing and Socio-cultural Benefits

Many of the other chapters have been completely re-written or extensively revised and expanded, often with new authors and/or illustrators, and the remainder have all been carefully updated and re-edited. Published in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society, reproduced in full colour throughout, carefully edited and beautifully produced, this new edition remains a key text for students of horticulture and will also appeal to amateur and professional gardeners wishing to know more about the fascinating science behind the plants and practices that are the everyday currency of gardening.

Leseprobe

About The Royal Horticultural Society

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening. Its charitable work includes providing expert advice and information, training the next generation of gardeners, creating hands-on opportunities for children to grow plants and conducting research into plants, pests and environmental issues affecting gardeners.

Science and the Garden

The scientific basis of horticultural practice

EDITED BY

David S. Ingram

Daphne Vince-Prue

Peter J. Gregory

THIRD EDITION

This edition first published 2016 © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Published in association with the Royal Horticultural Society.

First published 2002 by Blackwell Science Ltd; Second Edition 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Registered office: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

Editorial offices: 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, USA

For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell.

The right of the author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author(s) have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services and neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Science and the garden : the scientific basis of horticultural practice / edited by David S. Ingram, Daphne Vince-Prue, Peter J. Gregory. – Third edition.    pages cm   Includes bibliographical references and index.   ISBN 978-1-118-77843-2 (pbk.)   1. Horticulture. 2. Gardening. I. Ingram, David S. II. Vince-Prue, Daphne. III. Gregory, P. J.   SB318.S29 2016   635—dc23

2015024749

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

Cover images: Large image [of garden steps and gate; Fig. 1.1 in 3rd edition] - Photograph © David S. Ingram. Top small image [flower with hoverflies; Fig. 18.3c in 3rd edition] - Photograph © and reproduced courtesy of the University of Warwick.

Centre small image [rooted cutting; Fig. 11.5c in 3rd edition] - Photograph © and courtesy of the Royal Horticultural Society. Bottom small image [half flower of Antirrhinum; Fig. 3.5 in 3rd edition] - Scan and © John Bebbington, FRPS.

Contents

Preface to third edition

Preface to second edition

Preface to first edition

Chapter 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

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 2 The plant body: structure and function

Summary

Introduction

Energy flow in the biosphere: photosynthesis and respiration

The leaf: into the labyrinth

The stem: reach for the sky

The root: mining for minerals and water

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 3 Reproduction: securing the future

Summary

Introduction

Vegetative reproduction

Sexual reproduction

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 4 Naming plants

Summary

Introduction

Latin botanical names

Taxonomy: order in diversity

Cultivated plant taxonomy

Why plants change their names

The quest for stability and linking information systems

How to identify a plant

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 5 Selecting and breeding plants

Summary

Introduction: adaptation and design

Genes

Genomes

Mutation

Heterozygosity and homozygosity

Breeding systems

Recombinant DNA technology

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 6 Soils and roots

Summary

Introduction

How soils are formed

Physical properties of soils

Chemical properties of soils

Biological properties of soils

Roots and soils

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 7 Soil cultivation and fertility

Summary

Cultivating the soil

Managing soil nutrients

Sources of the major plant nutrients

Fertilisers

Manures

Composts

Managing soil pH

Managing water

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 8 The plant environment: light and water

Summary

Introduction

Light and photosynthesis

The effects of shade

Water

Physical structures that help to conserve water

Biochemical pathways that help conserve water

Salinity

Too much water

Aquatic plants

Watering in the garden

Choosing plants for particular conditions

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 9 Plants and the seasons

Summary

Introduction

Day-length

Temperature

Direct effects of temperature on flowering

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 10 Growing plants from seed

Summary

Introduction

Seed production and germination

Seed storage

Dormancy

Germination

Some practical considerations

Collecting seeds, and F1 hybrids

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 11 Vegetative propagation

Summary

Introduction

Characteristics of vegetative propagation and its value to gardeners

How plants regenerate

Practical propagation

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 12 Size and form

Summary

Introduction

How size is controlled

Form and size can be manipulated by the gardener

Conclusions

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 13 Colour, scent and sound in the garden

Summary

Introduction

Colour in plants

Variegation

Environmental factors influencing colour

The use of colour in the garden

Scent and flavour

Scent wheels

Sound

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 14 Climate and weather

Summary

Introduction

Temperature

Precipitation

Wind

Pressure

Light

Seasonality

Climate

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 15 Climate and other environmental changes

Summary

Global environmental change

Changes in atmospheric composition

Climate change and climate variation

Changes in nutrient cycles

Other environmental changes

Conclusions

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 16 Protected cultivation

Summary

Why protect plants?

What are the benefits?

Principles of protection

Cladding materials

Types of protection

Systems to be added

Does protection have disadvantages?

Crops grown under protection

Conclusions

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 17 The diversity of the undesirables

Summary

Introduction

Pests

Diseases

Weeds

Intraspecific diversity

Deciding whether an organism is a problem

Poisonous and irritant plants

Conclusion

Further reading and sources of information

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 18 Controlling the undesirables

Summary

Introduction

Keeping out the undesirables

Know your enemy

Control

Conclusions

Further reading and sources of information

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 19 Maturation, ripening and storage

Summary

Introduction

Changes in metabolism and ethylene synthesis

Maturation and ripening

Pre-harvest influences on storage quality

Harvesting, handling and preparation for storage

Post-harvest treatments

The storage environment

Trends in commercial storage

Non-commercial storage

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 20 Garden ecology

Summary

Ecology and ecosystems

Habitats

Biodiversity

Conclusions

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 21 Garden wildlife and conservation

Summary

Natives and aliens

Gardens and the wider environment

Conservation in gardens

Conclusions

Websites and further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 22 Low-input and low-impact gardening

Summary

Introduction

Conservation of resources in the garden

Wildlife

Carbon and greenhouse gas emissions

Conclusions

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Chapter 23 Health, well-being and socio-cultural benefits

Summary

Gardens and ecosystem service provision

Why garden?

Gardens and green therapy

Restorative landscapes

Horticultural therapy

Health risks

Crime and antisocial behaviour

Social and educational opportunities

Children and green space

Encouraging a balanced diet

Gardening and attitudes to the wider environment

Conclusions

Further reading

Author and affiliations

Chapter 24 Gardens for science

Summary

Introduction

Botanic gardens

The gardens of horticultural societies

Private and small commercial gardens

Universities and independent research institutes

Conclusion

Further reading

Authors and affiliations

Glossary

Index

EULA

List of Tables

Chapter 1

Table 1.1

Table 1.2

Table 1.3

Table 1.4

Chapter 2

Table 2.1

Chapter 4

Table 4.1

Chapter 6

Table 6.1

Table 6.2

Table 6.3

Chapter 7

Table 7.1

Table 7.2

Table 7.3

Table 7.4

Table 7.5

Table 7.6

Table 7.7

Chapter 8

Table 8.1

Table 8.2

Table 8.3

Chapter 9

Table 9.1

Table 9.2

Table 9.3

Table 9.4

Table 9.5

Table 9.6

Table 9.7

Table 9.8

Table 9.9

Chapter 10

Table 10.1

Table 10.2

Chapter 13

Table 13.1

Table 13.2

Chapter 14

Table 14.1

Table 14.2

Table 14.3

Table 14.4

Table 14.5

Chapter 15

Table 15.1

Chapter 16

Table 16.1

Chapter 17

Table 17.1

Table 17.2

Table 17.3

Chapter 19

Table 19.1

Chapter 20

Table 20.1

Table 20.2

Table 20.3

Table 20.4

Table 20.5

Table 20.6

Chapter 21

Table 21.1

Chapter 22

Table 22.1

Table 22.2

Chapter 23

Table 23.1

Chapter 24

Table 24.1

Table 24.2

Table 24.3

Table 24.4

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1

Figure 1.1

‘The most remarkable thing about plants is that they are green.’ Entrance to the ‘Professor’s Garden’ at Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria. Photograph by David S. Ingram.

Figure 1.2

It is the usual experience that inanimate things, left to themselves, like this VW Beetle, eventually reach a state of disorder. In contrast, living things, like the plants of oilseed rape that surround it, are able to create order out of disorder, assembling atoms and molecules to form tissues and bodies of great complexity and sophistication. Photograph by David S. Ingram.

Figure 1.3

A chain of cells of the cyanobacterium (blue-green)

Anabaena

. Light microscope photograph by Patrick Echlin.

Figure 1.4

Chloroplasts in the cells of a moss leaf. Light microscope photograph by Patrick Echlin.