Course Description
Effects of environmental factors on growth and physiology of horticultural plants and modification of the plant's environment to improve crop production.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be assigned reading material consisting
of primary scientific literature on topics related to the class
material and need to demonstrate on the exams that they can
discuss and criticize this scientific literature. Lab reports
written by graduate students will need to include a statistical
analysis of the collected data, as well as citations to recent
scientific papers. Graduate students will need to discuss how
their findings compare to the current state of scientific
knowledge.
Athena Title
ENV PHYSIOLOGY
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in BTNY 3830-3830L or BTNY 8890-8890L, PBIO 8890-8890L or CRSS 3300 or PBIO 3830-3830L
Prerequisite
(CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L and BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1103L and BIOL 1104 and BIOL 1104L) or (BIOL 1107-1107L and BIOL 1108-1108L) or (PBIO 1210 and PBIO 1210L and PBIO 1220 and PBIO 1220L)
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
HORT(CRSS) 4430/6430
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
HORT 4440/6440 is designed to: 1. improve one's understanding of the environmental physiology of plants 2. encourage application of physiological concepts to everyday horticultural problems 3. demonstrate how plants modify microclimate, and conversely, how the microclimate of horticultural settings can be modified to optimize growth and reduce environmental stresses 4. reinforce physiological concepts, and develop problem solving, scientific literacy, and small group communication skills through laboratory projects.
Topical Outline
Week 1 Course overview; Water - functions and properties Diffusion, osmosis, mass flow; Water potential Root water uptake, root distribution Week 2 Xylem water flow - cavitation and embolism Stomata & transpiration Plant water uptake simulation Week 3 Phloem transport Drought stress Week 4 Irrigation scheduling Week 5 Irrigation systems Week 6 Salt stress Exam I Week 7 Light - properties, effects on plants Phytochrome and photomorphogenesis Photoperiodism Week 8 Sun/shade adaptations Photosynthesis Photosynthesis and CO2 enrichment Week 9 Radiation stresses - visible, UV, shade Global climate change I - overview Week 10 Global climate change II - impact on agriculture High temperature stress Week 11 Exam II Low temperature stress I - chilling injury Week 12 Low temperature stress II - freezing injury Cold hardiness, acclimation Frost protection Week 13 Dormancy, chilling requirement Wind, mechanical stress Windbreaks Week 14 Air pollution I - major gaseous pollutants Air pollution II - Acid rain Week 15 Post harvest physiology Week 16 Use of growth regulators in agriculture Final Exam