chemist’s corner
A monthly look under the microscope at the
biochemical underworld of our gardens.
by Andrew Schell
Vitamins & Plants
Getting a Daily Fix
Vitamins are complex organic compounds required by all living organisms in
small amounts for healthy day-to-day functioning. Let’s take a closer look.
There are 13 compounds currently
identified as vitamins. With the exception of vitamin B12, plants are capable
of synthesizing vitamins in small
amounts when they are required.
Plants also receive vitamins from fungi
in the symbiotic mycorrhizal associations in their roots. Commercially bred
crops can use more vitamins than are
supplied by nature, so su