Glossary 223
Ripening: The composite of the processes that occur from the latter stages of growth
and development through the early stages of senescence and that results
in characteristic aesthetic and/or food quality, as evidenced by changes in
composition, colour, texture, or other sensory attributes.
Root: Vegetative plant part that anchors the plant, absorbs water and minerals in
solution, and often stores food.
Rooting hormone: A growth hormone in powder or liquid form, which promotes the
formation of roots at the base of a cutting.
Scion: Desirable tissue or a short length of stem, taken from one plant which is then
grafted onto the rootstock of another plant.
Scorch: Injury to plant parts due to burning by hot wind or water loss. Sometimes it
is also used as a synonym of scald and sun burning.
Seed: A fertilised ripened ovule that contains an embryo or a ripened plant ovary
capable of germinating to produce another plant. Plant embryo with
associated stored food encased in a protective seed coat.
Seed borne disease: Disease that is carried either within the seed, i.e. internally
seed borne or on the seed, i.e. externally seed borne or both.
Seedling: A young plant grown from a seed.
Self: To cross a plant with its own flowers or one of identical type; said of flowers of
one colour as opposed to a bicolour.
Self-fertile: A plant capable of producing viable seeds with its own pollen.
Self-fertilisation: Union of an egg with a sperm from the same flower or from
another flower on the same plant or within a clone.
Self-pollination: Transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma of the same flower
or another flower on the same plant or within a clone.
Senescence: That process follows physiological maturity or horticultural maturity
and lead to death of tissue.
Sepal: Structures that usually form the outermost whorl of the flower, collectively,
the calyx.
Sib: Short hand for sibling or sister/brother in a seedling population.
Sibbing: Cross between plants from the same population. Generally, pollen is
collected from several plants from the same population, bulked and
crossed onto sister plants of the same population.
Slow-release fertiliser: A fertiliser that is made by coating the particles with a wax
or other insoluble or very slowly soluble material to provide a predictable,
slow release of the encapsulated materials.
Soil: The outer, weather layer of the earth’s crust that has the potential to support plant
life. Soil is made up of inorganic particles, organic matter, microorganisms,
water and air.
Soil drench: A media treatment to kill fungi.
Soil management: The practices used in treating a soil, which may include various
types of tillage and production systems.
Species: A natural group of plants composed of similar individuals that can produce
similar offspring, usually including several minor variations. A unit of
botanical classification capable of reproducing itself.
Stamen: The male part of a flower composed of the anther and the filament.