The Light Root

The Light Root

Author: Ralf Roessner with Clemens Hildebrandt

Publisher: Temple Lodge Publishing

Published: 2014-06-03

Total Pages: 49

ISBN-13: 1906999635

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‘This plant is the only one which is in a position to store light ether; this will be indispensable for people in future.’ – Rudolf Steiner Koberwitz, Whitsun 1924: Rudolf Steiner had just completed his momentous lecture course on biodynamic agriculture and was waiting for a car to take him to the station. Suddenly he was approached by two of his pupils with an urgent question: Would his new indications for treating soil and vegetables be sufficient to provide, ‘...nutrition appropriate to our times and in accordance with the spirit?’ Steiner’s frank response was somewhat surprising: ‘It will not be sufficient even in the most favourable circumstances. What should be done is to cultivate the Dioscorea batatas in Europe so that it can take over from the potato as the staple diet.’ In the many decades since that conversation, various attempts have been made to cultivate Dioscorea batatas – the ‘light root’ – in Europe, initially by Steiner’s close colleague Guenther Wachsmuth. More recently, biodynamic farmer Ralf Roessner began to research the plant and its background, but soon discovered problems with the specimens available in Europe. Unsatisfied with the standard of the plants, in 2002 he travelled to the original growing areas of Dioscorea batatas in China, where he was able to form a comprehensive picture of the best planting methods and conditions. ‘The nodules which I found and brought back with me’, he writes, ‘showed similar light ether characteristics to the original plants of Wachsmuth’s’. Having successfully cultivated and marketed this light root, Roessner presents some carefully assembled introductory materials based on his experiences and those of a colleague. This small book, illustrated with colour images, is intended for people who wish to discover more about the plant’s being and spiritual mission as a ‘helper of progress’. Roessner explains how the light root stores ‘light ether’ in a unique manner, making it not only a valuable food, but also a ‘carrier of the spirit’. This light root could even ‘...decisively influence the development of humanity and the earth’. Aside from studying esoteric aspects, he gives answers to frequently-asked practical questions about the plant and its cultivation.


Lucia and the Light

Lucia and the Light

Author: Phyllis Root

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9780763622961

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One winter in the Far North the sun disappears and Lucia, accompanied by her milk-white cat, braves the freezing cold and trolls who want to eat her, trying to find the sun and bring it back.


General Biology II

General Biology II

Author: Dennis Holley

Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing

Published: 2017-06-14

Total Pages: 1018

ISBN-13: 1457554046

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GENERAL BIOLOGY is an introductory level college biology textbook that provides students with an understandable and engaging encounter with the fundamentals of biology. Written for a two-semester undergraduate course of biology majors and presented as a bound set of two distinct volumes, this reader-friendly textbook(s) is concept driven vs. terminology driven. That is, the book(s) are based on the underlying concepts and principles of biology rather than the strict memorization of biological terms and terminology. Written in a student-centered and conversational style, this educational research-based book(s) connects students to all aspects of biology from the molecular to the biosphere. End-of-chapter questions challenge students to think critically and creatively while incorporating science process skills and biological principles.


SEBS 30 Root Development and Function

SEBS 30 Root Development and Function

Author: P. J. Gregory

Publisher: CUP Archive

Published: 1987-04-24

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 9780521329316

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First published in 1987 this book looks at root development and functions. Besides affecting the development of roots directly, the physical environment also influences the organisms associated with roots and thus affects their function. The papers presented in this volume pay equal attention to root development and root function in relation to the whole range of environmental factors including temperature, light, water, aeration, gravity and the mechanical strength of the soil. Consideration is also given to the effects of some of these factors on mycorrhizae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The final chapter reviews some of the main themes raised in the volume and indicates the way that research at the cellular and tissue levels may progress in the future.


Biology of Adventitious Root Formation

Biology of Adventitious Root Formation

Author: Tim D. Davis

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-11

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1475794924

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Charles E. Hess Department of Environmental Horticulture University of California Davis, CA 95616 Research in the biology of adventitious root formation has a special place in science. It provides an excellent forum in which to pursue fundamental research on the regulation of plant growth and development. At the same time the results of the research have been quickly applied by commercial plant propagators, agronomists, foresters and horticulturists (see the chapter by Kovar and Kuchenbuch, by Ritchie, and by Davies and coworkers in this volume). In an era when there is great interest in speeding technology transfer, the experiences gained in research in adventitious root formation may provide useful examples for other areas of science. Interaction between the fundamental and the applied have been and continue to be facilitated by the establishment, in 1951, of the Plant Propagators' Society, which has evolved into the International Plant Propagators' Society, with active programs in six regions around the world. It is a unique organization which brings together researchers in universities, botanical gardens and arboreta, and commercial plant propagators. In this synergistic environment new knowledge is rapidly transferred and new ideas for fundamental research evolve from the presentations and discussions by experienced plant propagators. In the past 50 years, based on research related to the biology of adventitious root formation, advances in plant propagation have been made on two major fronts.


Root Physiology: from Gene to Function

Root Physiology: from Gene to Function

Author: Hans Lambers

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-02-03

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13: 1402040997

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In the last decade, enormous progress has been made on the physiology of plant roots, including on a wide range of molecular aspects. Much of that progress has been captured in the chapters of this book. Breakthroughs have been made possible through integration of molecular and whole-plant aspects. The classical boundaries between physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology have vanished. There has been a strong focus on a limited number of model species, including Arabidopsis thaliana. That focus has allowed greater insight into the significance of specific genes for plant development and functioning. However, many species are very different from A. thaliana, in that they are mycorrhizal, develop a symbiosis with N2-fixing microsymbionts, or have other specialised root structures. Also, some have a much greater capacity to resist extreme environments, such as soil acidity, salinity, flooding or heavy-metal toxicities, due to specific adaptations. Research on species other than A. thaliana is therefore pivotal, to develop new knowledge in plant sciences in a comprehensive manner. This fundamental new knowledge can be the basis for important applications in, e.g., agriculture and plant conservation. Although significant progress has been made, much remains to be learnt. It is envisaged that discoveries made in the recent past will likely lead to major breakthroughs in the next decade.


Understanding Primary Science

Understanding Primary Science

Author: Martin Wenham

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2009-12-09

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 144620345X

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Now in its Third Edition, this text provides the background knowledge primary teachers need to plan effective programmes of work and answer children′s questions with confidence. The new edition links explanations of scientific concepts with children′s everyday experiences to help teachers and trainees foresee how they will present the subject knowledge to their pupils. Shaped by the National Curriculum, this text explains key scientific theories and concepts which pupils at primary level, including very able children, need in order to understand the observations and investigations they undertake. A CD ROM of 200 science investigations for young students is included with the new edition, allowing teachers to explore the practical application of topics covered in the book. This is an essential book for teachers, student teachers and anyone interested in the roots and growth of science education.


Root Ecology

Root Ecology

Author: Hans de Kroon

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2003-05-21

Total Pages: 424

ISBN-13: 9783540001850

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In the course of evolution, a great variety of root systems have learned to overcome the many physical, biochemical and biological problems brought about by soil. This development has made them a fascinating object of scientific study. This volume gives an overview of how roots have adapted to the soil environment and which roles they play in the soil ecosystem. The text describes the form and function of roots, their temporal and spatial distribution, and their turnover rate in various ecosystems. Subsequently, a physiological background is provided for basic functions, such as carbon acquisition, water and solute movement, and for their responses to three major abiotic stresses, i.e. hard soil structure, drought and flooding. The volume concludes with the interactions of roots with other organisms of the complex soil ecosystem, including symbiosis, competition, and the function of roots as a food source.