Plant fibres include seed hairs, such as cotton; stem (or bast) fibres, such as flax and hemp;leaf fibres, such as sisal; and husk fibres, such as coconut. (FAO. 2009. Profiles of 15 of the world's major plant and animal fibres https://www.fao.org/natural-fibres-2009/about/15-natural-fibres/en/)
Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to benign tumors or warts in animals. They can be caused by various parasites, from viruses, fungi and bacteria, to other plants, insects and mites. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gall)
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are chemical compounds that alter plant growth and development by modifying natural hormonal action. Some PGRs are naturally occurring hormones, while others are synthetic hormones that mimic or interfere with the action of natural plant hormones. PGRs can be used to increase or retard plant height, prolong or break dormancy, prolong flower and plant shelf-life, prevent leaf yellowing, abort flowers, or promote rooting, branching, and flowering. (University of Connecticut. New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide. Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs). https://greenhouseguide.cahnr.uconn.edu/sectionD.php.)
Manure produced by housed livestock. Usually a mixture of faeces and urine with or without bedding material, depending on the type of animal housing system. (RAMIRAN Glossary of terms on livestock and manure management 2011)
Introduction of plants which have been translocated by human agency into lands or waters where they have not lived previously, at least during historic times. (Adapted from https://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/en/concept/10660)
Plant nematodes are small (0.5 mm long by 20 mm wide) obligate parasites. The parasitic stages live inside plant roots. Plant parasitic nematodes are a major limitation on crop yield and quality. (Adapted from Curtis RH. Plant parasitic nematode proteins and the host parasite interaction. Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic. 2007 Mar;6(1):50-8. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elm006. Epub 2007 May 24. PMID: 17525074.)
Area where young plants, trees or vines are propagated for the purpose of transplanting. (FAO. 2017. World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2020. Volume I Programme, concepts and definitions. https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/i4913e)
Plant pathology or phytopathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). (Wikipedia, 2024. Plant pathology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_pathology)
Plant population refers to the number of plants per unit area of land (KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 2026. PLANT POPULATIONS & PLANT SPACINGS https://www.kzndard.gov.za/images/Documents/Horticulture/Veg_prod/plant_populations_plant_spacings.pdf)
Plant propagation is the process by which new plants grow from various sources, including seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts. Plant propagation can refer to both human-made and natural processes. (Adapted from Wikipedia, 2024. Plant propagation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_propagationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_propagation)
Preventing the spread and introduction of pests and diseases of plants and plant products, and promoting appropriate measures for their control. (FAOLEX. 2025. Glossary https://www.fao.org/faolex/)
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.) is a nutritionally rich grain legume crop indigenous to Africa. It is tolerant to drought stress and has become adapted to grow under low input and marginal agricultural production systems in Africa and Asia. (Majola, N. G., Gerrano, A. S., & Shimelis, H. (2021). Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.) Production, Utilisation and Genetic Improvement in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agronomy, 11(7), 1345. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071345)
