by Eric Hopper
enzymes
IN THE GARDEN
Enzymes play a major role in plant health as they
can increase nutrient uptake and help protect
roots from pathogens. Eric Hopper explains why
these tiny catalysts work so well in the garden.
A
catalyst is defined as a substance that increases the
rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any
permanent chemical change itself. One group of catalysts
is found in every garden and provides countless benefits to
plants. These catalysts are enzymes. Enzymes are highly
selective catalysts made up of amino acids, proteins, or
RNA (ribonucleic acid). Enzymes are biological molecules
responsible for numerous chemical reactions which help
to sustain all life. They differ from other catalysts in their
selective nature as enzymes only react with their specific,
predetermined substrate. The role an enzyme plays in
these reactions is unique because the enzyme itself is not
responsible for the reaction, but rather, the speed at which it
occurs. Essentially, enzymes become a biological regulatory
system for many of the chemical reactions that affect plant
life and are an important connection between minerals,
microbes, and biological creatures.
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Maximum Yield