1. Plant biology, perhaps the oldest branch of science, is driven by a combination of curiosity and need curiosity about how plants work need to apply this knowledge judiciously to feed, clothe, and house a burgeoning human population.

2.  What does a plant need to survive? 9 macronutrients (required in large quantities) C, H, N, O, P, S, K, Ca, Mg 8 micronutrients (required in small quantities) Fe, Cl, Cu, Mn, Zn, Mo, B, Ni  usually serve as cofactors of enzymatic reactions

4.  Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric N 2  plants absorb ammonium (NH 4 + ), nitrate (NO 3 - ) Atmosphere N2N2 Soil N2N2 N2N2 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria Organic material (humus) NH 3 (ammonia) NH 4 + (ammonium) H + (From soil) NO 3 – (nitrate) Nitrifying bacteria Denitrifying bacteria Root NH 4 + Soil Atmosphere Nitrate and nitrogenous organic compounds exported in xylem to shoot system Ammonifying bacteria

5. The most common deficiencies are those of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus Phosphate-deficient Healthy Potassium-deficient Nitrogen-deficient

6.  Remove only one macronutrient to see effects on plant

7.  Texture and Composition Texture depends on size of particles sand-silt-clay loams: equal amounts of sand, silt, clay Composition Horizons-living organic matter  A horizon: topsoil, living organisms, humus  B horizon: less organic, less weathering than A horizon  C Horizon: “parent” material for upper layers Soil conservation issues  fertilizers, irrigation, erosion

8.  A mixture of mineral particles, decaying organic material, living organisms, air, and water, which together support the growth of plants

9.  Symbiotic Relationships symbiotic nitrogen fixation  Legume root nodules contain bacteroids (Rhizobium bacteria)  mutualistic relationship  Crop rotation Mycorrhizae  symbiotic associations of fungi and roots  mutualistic relationship  Ectomycorrhizae - mycelium forms mantle over root  Endomycorrhizae - does not form mantle; hyphae extend inward Parasitic plants  plants that supplement their nutrition from host  mistletoe, dodder plant, Indian pipe Carnivorous plants  supplement nutrition by digesting animals

10. Staghorn fern, an epiphyte EPIPHYTES PARASITIC PLANTS CARNIVOROUS PLANTS Mistletoe, a photosynthetic parasite Dodder, a nonphotosynthetic parasite Host’s phloem Haustoria Indian pipe, a nonphotosynthetic parasite Venus’ flytrap Pitcher plants Sundews Dodder Venus flytrap Pitcher plant

11.  Poplars remove nitrates  Mustard removes uranium

13. Pesticide Levels (ppb) in Ground Water Before & After Phytoremediation Activities