The Chemistry of Plant Life

A book by Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher. In preparing this book, the author considered two objectives. First, it is hoped that it will serve as a text or reference book for plant science students seeking a solid foundation on which to build scientific knowledge about how plants grow. Second, the author's objectives will not be fully realized unless the book also serves as a catalyst for further research in an area of interest. Even a cursory reading of its many chapters demonstrates how limited our current understanding of the chemical changes by which plant cells carry out the many processes that result in the production of so many substances essential for human comfort and pleasure is. Many important discoveries in animal chemistry have implications for human life and health. The material in this book was derived from a series of lecture notes used in connection with Phytochemistry courses offered to students of the Plant Science Group at the University of Minnesota over a number of years. Each chapter includes a list of references as well as articles that appear from time to time in various scientific journals.