Tag: tobacco

  • Chap 10 Spices, slavery, smoking, Stalinism, and sugar: A darker side to plants and people

    Chap 10 Spices, slavery, smoking, Stalinism, and sugar: A darker side to plants and people

    The relationship between humans and plants, particularly regarding cash crops like sugarcane, tobacco, and cotton, reveals a complex history of exploitation and suffering. The industrial-scale cultivation of these plants has ties to slavery and has contributed to modern health issues, while simultaneously shaping ideologies such as communism and capitalism.

  • Chapter 6 The intelligent plant(?)

    Chapter 6 The intelligent plant(?)

    This chapter explores the controversial concept of plant intelligence, examining how plants utilise other organisms for vital processes like pollination. It discusses debates surrounding definitions of intelligence and the potential for plants to influence human behaviour. ‘Plant neurobiology’ is discussed, in the hope of prompting reevaluation of plant capabilities and…

  • Can seaweed boost tobacco photosynthesis?

    Can seaweed boost tobacco photosynthesis?

    Researchers are working to increase photosynthesis efficiency in plants to support the growing global population. With insights into the structure of RubisCO in a red seaweed they have genetically-altered that enzyme in tobacco and improved its photosynthetic efficiency and enhanced its growth. It is anticipated that development of this approach…