C-ID Descriptor
Introduction to Plant Science

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1. The role of higher plants in the living world
1. Fossil fuels
2. Food web
3. Industrial products
4. Ancient plant life
5. Terrestrial ecosystems and global cycles
2. Structure of higher plants
1. The life cycle of a plant
2. The cell
3. Cell structure
4. The plant body
3. Naming and classifying plants
1. Climate
2. Botanical names
3. Botanical classifications
4. Plant taxonomy
4. Origin, domestication, and improvement of cultivated plants
1. Origin of cultivated plants
2. Domestication of plants
3. Crop plants
4. Germplasm
5. Genetic concepts in plant improvement
5. Propagation of plants
1. Sexual propagation
2. Vegetative propagation
6. Vegetative and reproductive growth and development
1. Vegetative growth and development
2. Reproductive growth and development
3. Plant growth regulators
7. Photosynthesis, respiration, and translocation
1. Photosynthesis
2. Plant respiration
3. Electron transport system
4. Assimilation
8. Soil and soil water
1. Factors involved in soil formation
2. Physical properties of soil
3. Chemical properties of soil
4. Soil organisms
5. Soil organic matter
6. Soil water
7. Water quality
9. Soil and water management and mineral nutrition
1. Land preparation
2. Irrigation
3. Mineral nutrition and fertilizer
4. Soil conservation
10. Climatic influences on crop production
1. Climatic factors affecting plant growth
2. Climatic requirements of some crop plants
3. Weather and climate
4. Climatic influences on plant diseases and pests
11. Crops/ Harvest Practices
1. Crops grown in region
2. Harvest practices
3. Post-harvest practices
12. Biological competitors of useful plants
1. Weeds
2. Plant diseases
3. Plant pests
4. Nematodes
5. Rodents
6. Pesticide use
7. Biological control of pests
13. The scientific method
1. Developing a hypothesis
2. Scientific design
3. Application to plant/soil problems

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Categorize the roles of higher plants in the living world.
• Describe the structural components of higher plants.
• Explain the standard plant propagation methods.
• Describe sexual and asexual reproduction in higher plants.
• Explain photosynthesis, respiration, and translocation in higher plants.
• Describe the physical and chemical properties of soils and soil erosion problems.
• Describe the climatic influences on plant growth and development.
• Categorize the biological competitors of higher plan
• Describe the scientific method and explain its application in solving problems in plant and soil science.

Comprehensive Quizzes and Exams

Written Critical Thinking Scenarios

Problem Analysis and Solution

Research and Term Papers

McMahon, M.E., A.M. Kofranek, and G.E. Rubatzky, Plant Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants. Prentice-Hall, NJ 

Parker, Introduction to Plant Science Tompson/Delmar

Stern, Bidlack, Jaksky. Intoductory Plant Biology