Gain a Solid Foundation Certificate in Plant Growth
Develop your ability to describe the principles of plant taxonomy, structure, function and growth, the management of plant health, and plant propagation.
Course Duration - approximately 200 hours of self-paced study.
Lesson Structure
There are 15 lessons in this course:
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Taxonomic Classification of Plants
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The Plant Kingdom - flowering & Non Flowering Plants
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Botanical Classification
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Anthophyta - Dicotyledonae & Monocotyledonae
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Bryophytes
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Bryophyte Reproduction
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Plant Families & Differentiating Characteristics
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Hybrids, Varieties & Cultivars
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Groups
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Trading Names, Selling Names, Trade Designations
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Plant Taxonomy & the Binomial System
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History of Nomenclature
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International Code of Nomenclature
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Ranks of Taxa
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Principle of Priority
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Choice, Construction & Spelling Names
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Name Changes
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Nomenclature of Hybrids
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Abbreviations
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Botanical Keys
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Key to plant Phyla
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Structure and Function of Cells and Tissues
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Plant Cells
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Cell Components
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The Cell Wall
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The Nucleus
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Types of plant Cells
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Plant Tissues
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Dermal Tissue
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Vascular Tissue
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Ground Tissue
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Primary and Secondary Growth
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Formation of Vascular Cambium
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Leaves
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Roots
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Stems
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Role of Flowers and Fruit
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Introduction
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Flower Parts - sepals, petals, stamens, carpels
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The Inflorescence
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Reproduction
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Pollination- wind, insects, self pollinating, birds
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Pollination Process
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Adaptations in Plants for pollination
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Floral Diagrams
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Requirements for Successful Pollination by Plant Breeders
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Phases of Plant Reproduction
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F1 Hybrids
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Genotype versus Phenotype
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Male Sterility
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Fruits
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Modification of Fruits
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Main Types of Fruits
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Parthenocarpy
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Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Movement of Water
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Photosynthesis
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Chloroplasts in Photosynthesis
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Light Reactions
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Dark Reactions
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Environmental Factors Affecting Photosynthesis
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Light
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Types of Artificial Lights
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Quantitative and Qualitative Light Responses
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Thernal Screens, Blackout & Shading
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Carbon Dioxide Concentration
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Temperature
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Heating - Hot Air Forces, Hot Water, Steam, Infrared
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Cooling
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Water Balance
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Under Watering & Over watering
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Leaf Age
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Environmental History
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Environment Controllers
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Respiration
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Stages of Respiration
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Glycolysis
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Pyruvate Decarboxylation
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ATP
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Krebs Cycle
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Electron Transport Chain
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Oxidative Phosphorylation
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Respiration Rate
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Compensation Points
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The Role of Water
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Water Movement - Soil to Roots
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Guttation
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The Transpiration Stream
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Translocation of Solutes
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Transport Hypotheses
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Active transport
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Pressure Flow Hypotheses
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Outdoor Planting
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Effects of Tropisms and Plant Growth Regulators
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Plant Hormones
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Tropisms - Phototropism, Geotropism, Thigmotropism, etc
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Thermonasty
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Photonasty
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Thigmonasty
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Endogenous Growth Regulators
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Gibberellins
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Auxins
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Cytokinins
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Abscisic Acid
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Ethylene
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Effects of Different Concentrations of Auxins and Gibberellins on Plant Growth
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Synthetic Growth Modifications
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Synthetic Auxins
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Synthetic Cytokinin
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Synthetic Ethylene
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Light & Measuring Light
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Photoperiodism
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Photoperiodic Responses in Seasonal Flowering Plants
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Detection of Photoperiod
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Critical Photoperiod and Flowering
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Other Photoperiodic Effects
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Physical Properties of Growing Media
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How Soils Develop
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Mechanical & Chemical Weathering
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Factors in Soil Development - parent material, climate, ecosystem, topography, time
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Physical Weathering
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Chemical Weathering
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Geochemical Weathering
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Pedochemical Weathering
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Soil Profile Description - A horizon, A1 Horizon, Bleached Horizon, etc.
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Soil Classification and Description
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Soil Colour
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Alluvial Soils
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Lithosoils
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Grey Brown & Red Clays
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Black Earths
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Sodic Soils
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Red Brown Earths
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Podzolic Soils
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Lateritic Podzolic Soils
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Range of Soils Found on Parent Materials
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Classification of British Soils
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Six Types of Horizon
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Surface Water Gleys
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Ground Water Gleys
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Peat Soils
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Soil Types & Plant Growth
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Iron Pan Podzol
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Brown Earth Rendzina
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Gleys
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Properties of Soil
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Organic Matter
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Colloids
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Mineral Components
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Physical and Chemical Properties of Growing Media
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Assessing Soil - Texture, structure
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Components of Growing Media - Loams, Sands, Pine Bark, Sawdust, Peat, Lignite, Coir, Scoria, Grit, Vermiculite, Perlite
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Problems with Using Organic Materials - Peat, etc
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Soil Characteristics Relative to Plant Growth
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PH Effect
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Cation Exchange Capacity
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Soil/Media Collection
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Chemical Properties of Growing Media and Role of Air and Water
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Role of Air & Water in Soil
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Effect of Soil Properties on Air and Water
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Soil Colour as an Indicator of Soil Moisture
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Maintaining Soil Moisture at Level for Plant Growth
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Role of Irrigation
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When to Irrigate
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Infiltration & Drainage
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Water Deficiency & Excess
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Gravitational Water
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Capillary Water
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Hygroscopic Water
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Calculating Field Capacity
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Calculating Wilting Point
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Available Moisture Range
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The Tensiometer
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Rooting Depths for Selected Plants
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Estimating Water Requirements
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Drainage & Improving Drainage
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Surface & Sub Surface Drains
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Biological Processes in Growing Media
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Action of Soil Microorganisms
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The Nitrogen Cycle - Ammonification, Nitrification, Denitrification, Nitrogen Fixation, Immobilisation, Ammonium Fixation
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Nitrogen Fixation
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Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes
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Rhizobium Bacteria
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Carbon Cycle
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Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio
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Compost Materials
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Mycorrhizae
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Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM)
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Producing VAM Inoculums
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Nutrients and Plant Growth
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Nutrition
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The Nutrient Elements - macro and micro nutrients
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Nitrogen
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Phosphorus
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Potassium
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Magnesium
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Calcium
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Sulphur
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Minor Elements - Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Molybdenum, Boron, Chlorine, Cobalt, Silicon, Aluminium, Selenium, Sodium
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Total Salts
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Diagnosing Nutritional Problems
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Quick Guide to Nutrient Deficiencies
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Factors Affecting Nutrient Availability
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Soil Organisms - Earthworms, Bacteria, Mycorrhizae, Arthropods, Algae, Nematodes, Protozoa
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Soil Texture
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Leaching
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Air, Water, Temperature
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Fertilisers
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Types of Fertiliser
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Fertiliser Management
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Fertiliser Solubility and Application Rates
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Liquid Fertilisers
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Salinity Problems with Fertilisers
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Soil Sodicity
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Soil Acidification
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Organic Techniques and Soil Management
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Introduction
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Organic Certification
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Organic Gardening
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Organic Principles and Soil Management
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Organic Principles & Plant Nutrition
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Natural Sources of Nutrient Elements
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Laing Mulch
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Adding Organic Matter & Associated Water problems
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Problems with Organic Systems
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Organic Fertilisers
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Poultry Manure
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Blood & Bone
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Ashes
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Hay, Sawdust, Weeds, Seaweed, etc
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Liquid Organic Fertilisers
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Mineral Rock Fertilisers & Soil Conditioners
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Determining Kind & Quantity of Fertiliser
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Crop Rotation
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Cover Crops
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No Dig Growing
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Organic Weed Control Techniques
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Organic Pest & Disease Control.
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Plant Pests, Diseases and Disorders Part A
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Introduction
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Insect Lifecycle
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Diseases and Disease Terminology
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Diagnosis of Problems
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Conducting an Inspection
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Common Garden Pests
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Fungal Biology
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Symptoms of Fungal Diseases
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Lifecyle of a Disease
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Common Fungal Diseases
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Viruses
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Molluscs, Nematodes, Crustaceans
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Environmental Problems
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Identifying Weeds
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Plant Pests, Diseases and Disorders Part B
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Integrated Pest Management
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Cultural Control
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Biological Control of Pest and Disease
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Biological Control of Weeds
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Physical Controls
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Chemical Controls
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Legal Controls
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What about Companion Planting
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Summary of Pesticides
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Breeding Plants for Resistance
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Soil Treatments to Control Diseases
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Common Weed Control Methods - Suffocation, Cultivation, Grazing, Mowing, etc.
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Regulation of Chemicals and Storage Procedures
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Understanding Pesticides
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Safe Pesticide Storage
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Using Chemicals
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Basic First Aid with Chemicals
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Mister, Duster Blowers
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Sprayer Maintenance & Cleaning
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Selecting a Spray Tank & Pump
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Keeping Records
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Tree Injection
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Environmental Damage
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Biosecurity
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Seed Propagation
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Propagation Introduction
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Germination
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Seed Structure
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Scope of Commercial Seed Production
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Seed Growing Methods
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Preparing soil for sowing
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Soil Crusting
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Seed Growing in Controlled Environments
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Greenhouses
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Difficult Seeds
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Dormancy Factors
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Germination Treatments - Soaking, Stratification, Bog Method, Fire, Smoke
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Seed Sources
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Maintaining Genetic Identity in Seed
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Hybrid Seed Production
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Seed Storage
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Controlling Disease in Seed
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Germination Testing
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Growing/Germination Media
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Aftercare of Seedlings
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Vegetative Propagation
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Aseptic Propagation Methods
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Cuttings
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Avoiding or Maintaining Juvenility
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Genotype versus Phenotype
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Types of Cuttings
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Efficiencies in Cutting Propagation
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Layering
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Division
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Stock Plants
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Grafting
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Types of Grafts
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Establishing Rootstocks
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Double Working
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Tissue Culture
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Specialised Stems & Roots
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Propagating Media
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Rockwool
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Hormone Applications
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Using Artificial Light in Propagation
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Other Chemical Treatments
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Other Treatments to Improve Cutting Success
Aims
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Demonstrate knowledge of the major divisions of the plant kingdom and an understanding of the taxonomic hierarchy and its relevance to horticultural practice.
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Identify and describe the different types of plant cells and tissues, their structure, and function.
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To understand the role and function of the reproductive parts of the plant and the seed in the plant lifecycle.
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Understand the mechanism and role of photosynthesis and respiration in the metabolism of plants, the role of water in the plant, and the movement of water, solutes, and assimilates through the plant.
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To develop an understanding of the effects of tropisms and other plant movements on growth and development.
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Understand the physical properties of growing media and their significance in relation to plant growth.
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To understand basic chemistry of soils and other growing media, and the relationship between their air and water content and plant growth.
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To understand the role of living organisms in the biological processes of soils and other growing media.
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To understand how nutrients affect plant growth and describe a range of fertilisers and their applications.
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To determine appropriate management programs for different soils in horticultural situations.
