220 Glossary
Leaching: The downward movement of nutrients or salts through the soil profile in
soil water. Leaching accounts for nutrient losses but can also be beneficial
in ridding a soil of excess salts.
Leaf spot: One of many types of fungal or bacterial diseases causing round marks.
Loam: A rich soil composed of clay, sand and organic matter.
Male sterile: Describes the complete or partial failure of a male plant to produce
mature reproductive pollen cells.
Manure: Organic matter that is excreted by animals and used as a soil amendment
and fertiliser.
Maturation: The stage of development leading to the attainment of physiological or
horticultural maturity.
Mature: A later phase of plant growth characterised by flowering, fruiting and
reduced rate of size increase.
Media/soil media: Any substrate used to hold plant roots.
Microclimate: Variations of the climate within a given area and a very local or
small-scale climate such as valley or woodland.
Micronutrient: An essential nutrient that is needed in small amounts and also called
a trace or minor element.
Mixed cropping: Two or more than two crops are grown in mixed stand either as
mixture or in separate rows in different proportion. When any of the crops
in mixed stand gets vitiated due to one reason or other, the other crop may
act as an insurance against complete loss or other.
Monoculture: Growing only one particular type of plant.
Monoecious: A species with unisexual flowers, having both male and female sexes
on the same plant.
Morphology: The study of structure or forms.
Mother block: A certified group of plants used to derive propagation tissues or scion.
Moulds: Multicellular organisms that form fuzzy or powdery patches (mycelium) on
organic matter such as fruits and vegetables. A type of fungus that grows
on decaying plant tissue.
Mulch: A material applied to the surface of a soil for a variety of purposes such as
conservation of moisture, stabilisation of soil temperature, suppression of
weed growth, and so on.
Mutation: A sudden change in the expected genetic or tissue makeup of a plant
resulting in an altered individual, generally disadvantageous to the mutated
p l a n t ’s s u r v iva l.
Native plant: Native means original to an area. Any plant that occurs and grows
naturally in a specific region or locality.
Naturalised: Thoroughly established but originally from a foreign area.
Nematode: Thread-like round worms that live in soil and water but also live in plants.
Niacin: Type of vitamins that dilates blood vessels, thus increasing circulation and
reducing high blood pressure. It significantly lowers blood cholesterol
and triglycerides. It improves resistance to stress, regulates blood sugar,
treats dizziness and ringing in the ears.
Node: The point where a leaf or other structure meets a stem node or part of a stem
from which a leaf or new branch starts to grow.