WORLD OF PLANTSWORLD OF PLANTS Many uses for plants:Many uses for plants: - (a) Source of food- (a) Source of food - (b) Medicines (25% have plant - (b) Medicines (25% have plant

material)material)– Poppy plant - morphine for pain reliefPoppy plant - morphine for pain relief– Foxglove - digitoxin for heart diseaseFoxglove - digitoxin for heart disease– Penicillium (fungus) - antibiotic Penicillin Penicillium (fungus) - antibiotic Penicillin

- (c) Raw Materials (e.g timber, - (c) Raw Materials (e.g timber, cotton)cotton)

Plants for foodPlants for food Can you think of examples where the Can you think of examples where the

following parts are edible:following parts are edible: - leaves- leaves - roots- roots - fruits- fruits - beans/seeds- beans/seeds - stems- stems - flowers- flowers

Specialised PlantsSpecialised Plants CottonCotton - Seed oil & protein used for animal feed- Seed oil & protein used for animal feed - Fibres used to make cloth- Fibres used to make cloth SeaweedSeaweed (produce alginates) (produce alginates) - for gels, thickeners, emulsions- for gels, thickeners, emulsions - useful for toothpaste, jelly, - useful for toothpaste, jelly,

handcream, clingfilm, ice cream ……..handcream, clingfilm, ice cream ……..

Future use of PlantsFuture use of Plants Food SourcesFood Sources 20 plants feed 90% of world population20 plants feed 90% of world population BUT: over 75,000 edible plants existBUT: over 75,000 edible plants exist Some could be used to replace basic crops Some could be used to replace basic crops

(rice, potato)(rice, potato) Genetic StorehouseGenetic Storehouse Wild plants can be bred with domestic plants Wild plants can be bred with domestic plants e.g. wild corn (e.g. wild corn (resistant to disease) + +

domestic corn (high food yield)= perfect domestic corn (high food yield)= perfect cropcrop

Timber ProductionTimber Production Conifer Trees grown for their timberConifer Trees grown for their timber - Land Preparation: - Land Preparation:

– High sloping land used. Drainage High sloping land used. Drainage trenches dug.trenches dug.

- Planting & Managing: - Planting & Managing: – Young nursery trees planted in rowsYoung nursery trees planted in rows– All weeds clearedAll weeds cleared– Poor growing trees removed (‘thinning’)Poor growing trees removed (‘thinning’)– Lower branches prunedLower branches pruned– Pesticides used for diseasePesticides used for disease

Timber ProductionTimber Production After 50 years:After 50 years: Harvesting & Marketing:Harvesting & Marketing:

– - Scots pine - telegraph poles, chip-- Scots pine - telegraph poles, chip-board, paper etc.board, paper etc.

– - Norway spruce - furniture-making, - Norway spruce - furniture-making, interior joineryinterior joinery

Future use of Plants (ctd.)Future use of Plants (ctd.) Medicines:Medicines: Over 2000 plants might be useful for Over 2000 plants might be useful for

medicines (anti-cancer or antibiotics)medicines (anti-cancer or antibiotics) Only 40 plant species currently usedOnly 40 plant species currently used New drugs have to go through trials:New drugs have to go through trials: human cellshuman cells animalsanimals human volunteershuman volunteers