Magnesium deficiency
Cactus grower terms
A diseased condition of a plant caused by a shortage of magnesium in the soil.
Glossary of terms
A reference section with categories and short explanations.
Matting
Cactus grower terms
Entangling, sticking together, clumping of the pubescence of areoles under the action of water that has fallen on them.
Mechanism of negative phototropism
Cactus grower terms
The ability of a plant or its parts to grow in a direction opposite to that of the sun's rays, i.e., to grow into the "dark".
Meiosis
Cactus grower terms
(From Greek meiosis - diminution) - a special type of cell division that results in a reduction (decrease) in the number of chromosomes and the transition of the cell from the diploid state to the haploid state.
Meristem
Cactus grower terms
Formative plant tissue capable of cell division and producing new cells that ensure additional growth. Distinctions are made between the primary meristem in the region of the shoot apex or root tips, the secondary meristem located in the c…
Mesophytes
Cactus grower terms
(From Greek metos - middle, intermediate and phyton - plant) plants that live in conditions of more or less sufficient, but not excessive, moisture (an intermediate position between xerophytes and hygrophytes).
Method of propagation
Cactus grower terms
A method of increasing the size of a population. In the cultivation of cacti, two methods of propagation are distinguished: generative propagation (seed propagation) and vegetative propagation: cuttings, offsets, and micropropagation.
Microflora
Cactus grower terms
The community of microorganisms present in the soil.
Micropropagation [micropropagation, cloning]
Cactus grower terms
A method of vegetative propagation by culturing isolated tissues or cells in artificial media.
Micropyle
Cactus grower terms
(From Greek mikros - small, pyle - entrance, opening) - a narrow channel in the integuments of the ovule of seed plants, through which the pollen tube penetrates to the nucellus, the pollen entry.
Mimicry
Cactus grower terms
Resemblance of particular plant organs to various objects of the surrounding environment.
Mineral constituents
Cactus grower terms
Inorganic compounds of macro- and microelements that are introduced to or present in the soil, mostly phosphate, sulfate and carbonate salts of potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium.
Mineral substrate
Cactus grower terms
Substrate that does not contain organic components (organic matter).
Modifications
Cactus grower terms
Changes in an organism's phenotype not associated with changes in its genotype.
Monoculture
Cactus grower terms
Cultivation of a single plant species.
Monotypic genus
Cactus grower terms
A genus represented by only one species.
Monstrose form
Cactus grower terms
A growth anomaly that leads to the formation of peculiar ("deformed") specimens consisting of many unevenly growing shoots.
Morph
Cactus grower terms
(From Greek morphe - kind, form) - a group of phenotypes within a species or population that is markedly distinct in appearance. Species and populations that have different morphs are called polymorphic.
Morphological character
Cactus grower terms
Characteristic of any plant organ that allows it to be distinguished from others and assigned to a particular group in classification.
Mother (parent) plant ("mother plants")
Cactus grower terms
The term, widely used among collectors, designates mature fruiting plants, or their "stumps", that serve as a source for obtaining cuttings and daughter shoots from which new full-fledged plants are obtained for their subsequent rooting or…
Mutagen
Cactus grower terms
(From mutation and Greek genes - generating) - a physical or chemical factor that increases the frequency of occurrence of mutations.
Mutation
Cactus grower terms
An abrupt, discontinuous, heritable and stable change affecting the characteristics of plants.
Mycoplasmas
Cactus grower terms
Microorganisms possessing characteristics of both bacteria and viruses. They are causal agents of various diseases of plants and animals, including humans.