Podcast
Questions and Answers
____ crops are members of the Poaceae family and are grown for edible grains like wheat and rice.
____ crops are members of the Poaceae family and are grown for edible grains like wheat and rice.
Cereal
____ crops are members of the Fabaceae family and are grown for edible grains like chickpeas and lentils.
____ crops are members of the Fabaceae family and are grown for edible grains like chickpeas and lentils.
Food legumes / Pulses
A plant is considered herbaceous if it has a succulent and self-supporting stem; for example, tomato, pepper, and ____.
A plant is considered herbaceous if it has a succulent and self-supporting stem; for example, tomato, pepper, and ____.
eggplant
Root crops are grown for their enlarged ____ such as cassava and beet.
Root crops are grown for their enlarged ____ such as cassava and beet.
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Legumes are known for their characteristic of fixing ____ in the soil.
Legumes are known for their characteristic of fixing ____ in the soil.
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Study Notes
Morphological Characteristics of Agronomic Crops
- Grasses feature a single blade, sheath, and ligule, with optional auricles present. Leaves are typically arranged alternately.
- The sheath encases the internode, and major grain crops include wheat, corn, and barley.
- Leaves possess parallel veins, originating from the base to the apex, prominently featuring a midrib.
Legumes Characteristics
- Leguminous plants exhibit trifoliate compound leaves where leaflets connect to the main stem via petioles and petiolules.
- Stipules are leaf-like structures located at the petiole's base where it joins the stem.
- Sessile leaves are those directly attached to the shoot; these typically have netted veins with one or more prominent veins.
- Leaf venation patterns include:
- Pinnately veined: a single midrib with diverging branches.
- Palmately veined: several principal veins branching from the base.
Flower Structures in Grasses and Legumes
- Grass flowers commonly form a terminal inflorescence known as a spike or loose panicle, consisting of a central stem (rachids) with branches (rachillas) supporting spikelets.
- Each spikelet comprises two glumes and may contain one or more florets.
- Legume flowers can occur as solitary blooms or as inflorescences and consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.
Plant Families
- Poaceae family: includes monocotyledons like wheat, barley, corn, and other grasses.
- Fabaceae family: consists of dicotyledons, including chickpea, soybean, and alfalfa.
- The grass family provides grain-bearing crops and forage grasses pertinent to livestock production.
Root Systems in Grasses and Legumes
- Grasses possess a fibrous root system, which effectively anchors the soil and helps mitigate soil erosion.
- Legumes utilize a tap root system, enhancing drought resilience and soil fertility through deeper penetration.
- Certain legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules.
Stem Characteristics
- Grass stems are primarily herbaceous and lack secondary growth; they often appear green due to chlorophyll, with limited photosynthetic efficiency compared to leaves.
- The culm is characterized by distinct internodes that are hollow and separated by nodes, which are solid regions where leaves attach and buds are found.
- Erect, cylindrical stems develop lateral buds that form branches called tillers.
Leaf Functionality
- Leaves are vital for photosynthesis, serving as the principal food production organ.
- They also facilitate transpiration, the process of water movement through the plant.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the morphological characteristics of agronomic crops such as wheat, corn, barley, and legumes like trifoliate compound leaves and stipules. Identify features like single blade, sheath, ligule, and more.
