Course CodeBSC204Fee CodeS3Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Learn How Plants Grow What causes flowering to occur? What causes fruit to develop? What causes roots to form? What causes plant growth to speed up or slow down? Learn the principles and practices of plant physiology for a deeper insight into how plants function, their growth, factors that promote development and which hinder growth. ACS Student comment: "I find the course quite interesting! At first glance, the reading material and questions look so simple, but they actually require quite a bit of thinking and probing. The course is very well designed!" - Joanne McLeod, Australia - Botany II course. Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: Flower physiology Introduction The flowering response Genes control flowering Physiological age Minimum leaf number Photoperiodism Terminology Phytochrome Light sensing systems Blue light responses Red light responses Other light responses Phytochrome Photoreceptor forms: Pr, Pfr How molecules change Relevance to commercial horticulture Controlling light Terminology Photoperiodism Light Measuring light What wavelengths do plants need Typical photoperiod responses Photoperiodic responses in seasonal flowering plants Photoperiodic classification of plants: short day plants, long day plants, day neutral plants Detection of photoperiod Critical photoperiod and flowering Research facts Other photoperiodic effects Terminology Control of flower bud initiation and development Stages in flower bud growth What can affect flower bud initiation Differentiation Development Anthesis Effect of temperature on growth and flowering Vernalisation Thermoperiodism Research reports or reviews of specific plants Terminology Dormancy Dormancy in plants Abscisic acid and dormancy Breaking dormancy Dormancy in seeds Factors affecting seed dormancy Breaking seed dormancy Terminology Effects of plant associations and competition Introduction Competition Parasitism Coevolution Mutualism Plant herbivore and pathogen interactions Crop spacing and crop yields Crop canopy and plant density Impact of weeds Protected environments Greenhouses Shadehouses Respiration and post harvest physiology Respiration Glycolysis Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Post harvest respiration Terminology Post harvest storage, transport, retailing and shelf life Effect of growing conditions on post harvest life Controlled storage conditions: temperature, atmosphere, humidity Normal atmospheric conditions Controlled and modified atmospheres Effect of oxygen levels Effect of carbon dioxide levels Ethylene Controlling ethylene levels Modified Atmosphere Packaging Commodity transport Retailing and shelf life Endogenous and synthetic growth regulators Nature of plant hormones Auxins: IAA, IBA, NAA Gibberellins: natural and synthetic Cytokinins: over 130 different types Abscisic acid Ethylene Other hormones: anti auxins, growth inhibitors, growth retardants, defoliants, growth Stimulators, non standard hormones Controlled ripening and degreening Waxing Risks involved with plant growth manipulation Commercial risks Human health and safety risks Plant pathology risks Ecological risks Genetic modification Benefits environmental hazards Human hazards Terminology Aims Investigate the physiology of growth development and flowering. Examine the nature of phytochrome and its effect on flowering in the phytochrome reaction. Examine the photoperiodic responses of flowering plants to differing dark and light periods. Examine the effect of temperature on the onset of flowering and flower development. Understand and describe the causes of dormancy in seeds and plants and describe the methods of breaking dormancy. Understand plant associations and competition and their effects on quality and marketable yield. Explain the process of respiration in plant cells and its effect on post-harvest storage and transportation of crops. Describe physiological processes in post-harvest crops in relation to the storage conditions. Investigate the effect on plants of endogenous and synthetic growth regulators. Understand risk assessments relevant to plant growth manipulation. How Do Plants Grow? Plant growth is the process by which a plant increases in size, creating more leaves and stems. Plant development is the process by which plants change from one stage of growth to the next. These stages include juvenility, maturity, flowering and seeding. Plant development involves differentiation of the plant into specialised parts. This may include visible changes such as the structural organisation of the plant and new patterns of growth as well as less visible changes such as localised biochemical and metabolic activity. Growth and development are characteristics not only of the entire plant, but also of each cell within that plant. Active cell division occurs in parts of the plant called meristems. Cell division results in growth in length and diameter of the plant, and in the differentiation of specialised plant organs. Differentiation results in the development of individual plant parts such as stems, leaves, new shoots, flowers, fruits, seed and other structures. WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course is for people who work or wish to work with plants like: nursery personnel technicians researchers science students wishing to further their knowledge in plant physiology. Enrol and study this course for a deeper understanding of how plants grow!