Episode 3
Prof Kathy Willis, director of science at Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, with the omnibus edition of her history of our changing relationship with plants during the early 20th century.
Prof Kathy Willis, Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, with the omnibus edition of her history of our changing relationship with plants during the early 20th century.
Kathy Willis examines how the complete picture of photosynthesis led to new opportunities to manipulate plant growth; the ability of plants to exhibit multiple forms that shed light on why flowering plants evolved so quickly; the legacy of tree diseases during the 20th century; the hunt for wild ancestors of our domestic crops in order to maintain resilience within our future food supplies; and botanical medicines and the hunt for new medicinal cocktails at home and abroad.
Producer Adrian Washbourne.
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Plants: From Roots to Riches - An Ill Wind
Kathy Willis explores the arboreal benefits that emerged from the great storm of 1987.
Plants: From Roots to Riches - The Great Providers
Kathy Willis examines how we are building future resilience into our modern crops.
Plants: From Roots to Riches - Patterns from Crossed Peas
Prof Kathy Willis explores the discovery of new laws to create plant hybrids.
Plants: From Roots to Riches - Capsules of Life
Kathy Willis uncovers the role seedbanking plays in conserving worldwide plant diversity.
Broadcast
- Fri 24 Oct 2014 21:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Delve deeper into plant science and find out more about plants featured in the series
The Power of Plants
Discover a selection of programmes relating to plants.
Podcast
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Plants: From Roots to Riches
Our relationship with plants: a major new history by Kew's science director Kathy Willis.