Ornamentals

Course Structure

1. [\'This course will focus on the macro- and micronutrient elements and their function in the growth and development of plants. Emphasis will be placed on the uptake and transport of mineral elements from the soil into and throughout the plant, the role of single elements, interactions/balances between elements, and nutrient deficiency/toxicity symptoms as they affect the physiology of the whole plant.\', \'Presents fundamental concepts underlying the science of crop physiology, including crop phenology, canopy development and light interception, photosynthesis and respiration, and dry-matter partitioning.\', \'Examines critical water issues related to irrigation in urbanizing watersheds, with an emphasis on water quality and quantity. Factors impacting water scarcity and quality will be discussed. Course will help students understand the interrelatedness of correct irrigation practices and water quality/quantity, and will equip them with the necessary career tools to help protect water resources through application of science-based irrigation practices.\', \'Course focuses on the physiological principles and industry practices in the production, moving, care, and maintenance of ornamental trees, shrubs and ground covers. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the career tools to install and maintain woody plants. This goal will be accomplished through the review of the pertinent literature and through class exercises designed to improve students\\x92 skills and knowledge of woody plant physiology, care and maintenance.\', \'Course focuses on diseases of grasses maintained as turf, emphasizing diseases that occur in the northern Great Plains of the U.S. In addition to strategies used in managing the diseases, the biology of the causal organisms and the influence of environmental conditions are examined.\', \'The overall objective is to familiarize advanced students with the current state of knowledge on herbicide modes and mechanisms of action and recent developments by industry and universities in herbicide physiology. In this course, we will integrate plant anatomy, plant physiology, biochemistry, plant breeding, and principles of weed science as they relate to herbicide modes and mechanisms of action. This course is designed to examine how a herbicide molecule is absorbed (uptake) by plants, how it moves within plants (translocation), how it acts within plants (mode and mechanism of action), and the importance of metabolism as a means of selectivity between crops and weeds. This is not a course about weed identification, weed control recommendations, and weed management systems using biological, cultural, and chemical means.\', \'Physiology of plant responses to environmental stresses, with emphasis on current research in selected physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms for tolerance to environmental stresses such as temperature extremes, drought, salt, pathogens and other plants.\', \'Comprehensive, in-depth study of modified rootzones and their applications in the turfgrass and landscape management industries, including applications in current construction techniques. The course focuses on "created" soils for specialized situations, such as golf greens, sports fields, container plants and green roofs.\', \'Students will research a specific agricultural enterprise, then develop and present a business plan using materials from the primary area of interest. Requires the completion of a shadowing assignment and the analyses of case studies.\', \'Comprehensive, in-depth study of weed biology and control as applied to turfgrass and landscape management. The course examines the specifics of weed management and related control strategies, including non-chemical methods. Along with basic terminology and concepts, students learn why weeds appear, persist and dominate in turf and landscapes. Students also acquire skills in identifying weeds, developing cultural programs to limit weed invasion and persistence, and maximizing herbicide efficacy while minimizing environmental impacts.\', \'In this course we will study weeds and weed control methods in agronomic and horticultural crops and turf grass with an emphasis on chemical weed control. The course is divided into lecture and laboratory sections. The lecture portion will count three-fifths (3/5) of your total grade and the laboratory will count two-fifths (2/5). In lecture, we will discuss the history of weed control, weed characteristics, weed competition, and methods of weed control including mechanical, cultural, biological, and chemical. Herbicides will be discussed by family with specific regard to their chemical structure, efficacy, mode and mechanism of action, crop selectivity, soil activity and persistence, and cost. In lab, we will examine the practical aspects of weed control including weed seed and plant identification, sprayer equipment, sprayer calibration, herbicide formulations, herbicide labels, crop/weed response to herbicides and injury symptomology, and Worker Protection Standards.\', \'This course focuses on identification, biology, ecology and management of insect pests of horticultural crops, including vegetables, deciduous fruits and nuts, trees and shrubs, greenhouse crops, turf and ornamentals. Emphasis is on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies employed to maintain pests below damaging levels while minimizing the use of traditional insecticides.\', \'Principles embodied in the implementation of multifaceted tactics designed to successfully manage insect populations.\', \'Principles and practices of using natural enemies and antagonists to manage pests--invertebrates, pathogens and weeds--and reduce economic losses.\', \'Principles of toxicology, insecticide classification, mode of action, metabolism and consequences of insecticide use.\', \'In Pesticide Resistance Management we teach the history, mechanisms and ramifications of pesticide resistance among insects, weeds, and plant diseases; the role of population genetics and gene dominance in predicting the spread of resistance; best management practices to prevent pesticide resistance from occurring; contrasts and similarities among management strategies to prevent resistance among the three types of organisms; understanding pesticide resistance models and their components.\', \'Theory and principles underlying the development and importance of plant resistance in an integrated management program, including environmental impacts, inheritance of resistance and strategies for selecting insect resistance.\', \'Survey of the principles and practices of plant pathology. The main and genetic elements involved in plant disease will be covered. Many of the major diseases, as well as their causes and effects, will be surveyed.\']