Eco-Physiology of Horticultural

Eco-Physiology of Horticultural Crops
Plant Sciences 486/686 Spring Semester 2007		Monday, Wednesday 8:00-8:50 a.m. Loftsgard 102

Instructor Dr. Joe Zeleznik Office: 270D Loftsgard Hall Office hours: M, W 9-10:30 a.m., or by appointment Phone: 231-8143 (O), 730-3389 (C) e-mail: joseph.zeleznik@ndsu.edu

Syllabus
Course Objectives
Readings and schedule


Course objectives
(From the course catalog): Influence of environmental factors, stress and hardiness on plant growth and development, and their relationship to production practices.

The goal of this course is to give upper level undergraduate and graduate students an understanding of physiological principles and events involved in the responses that are critical for successful growth and reproduction of important horticultural species in stressful environments. Specifically, after completing this course students will be able to (1) recognize the visible symptoms that plants exhibit in stressful environments, (2) understand the physiological events underlying those symptoms, and (3) be able to manipulate plants and/or their environment to minimize those stresses and maximize plant production. We will study plant responses at all levels – molecular, cellular, tissue-level and whole-plant responses.

/3 Temperature stress I – Cold
Photosynthesis and respiration:
            Fitter and Hay. 2002. p.205-207 (available on Blackboard)
Dormancy and cold hardening of woody perennials
            Kozlowski et al. 1991. p. 204-205
            Fitter and Hay. 2002. p. 225-228
            Seasonal coldhardiness of grapes – Washington State University:
                        http://fruit.wsu.edu/Grapeweb/frigid.html

/4 Temperature stress I – Cold
Chilling injury to sub-tropical plants
Chilling requirements (Vernalization and stratification)

/5 Temperature stress I – Cold
Yield and storage of commodities
Relationship to drought
Dehardening, frost injury and sunscald

/6 Temperature stress II – Heat
Photosystems (and photosaturation)
Respiration, transpiration

/7 Temperature stress II – Heat
Natural heat-reducing mechanisms

/8 Temperature stress II – Heat
Fruit development and management considerations

/10 Water stress I – Drought
Hormonal factors
Relationship to cold tolerance

/12 Water stress II – Flooding and compaction (oxygen stress)
Respiration, transpiration and photosynthesis

/13 Water stress II – Flooding and compaction (oxygen stress)

/14 Water stress II – Flooding and compaction (oxygen stress)

/17 Nutrient stress II – Toxicities
Macronutrient excesses
Interactions with cold tolerance and insect resistance

/18 Nutrient stress II – Toxicities
Heavy metals – Toxicities, tolerance and phytoremediation

/19 Nutrient stress II – Toxicities
Management approaches, including breeding and biotechnology

Week	Date	Day	Topic	Reading
1	Jan.10	W	Course introduction Review I: Plant structure, growth and development	/1
2	Jan.15	M	No class – MLK Holiday
2	Jan.17	W	Review II: Photosynthesis, transpiration, respiration and cellular metabolism	/2
3	Jan.22	M	Temperature stress I – Cold Photosynthesis and respiration Dormancy and cold hardening of woody perennials	/3
3	Jan.24	W	Chilling injury to sub-tropical plants Chilling requirements (Vernalization and stratification)	/4
4	Jan.29	M	Yield and storage of commodities Relationship to drought Dehardening, frost injury and sunscald	/5
4	Jan.31	W	Temperature stress II – Heat Photosystems (and photosaturation) Respiration, transpiration	/6
5	Feb.5	M	Natural heat-reducing mechanisms	/7
5	Feb.7	W	Fruit development and management considerations	/8
6	Feb.12	M	Water stress I – Drought Effects on growth and metabolism	/9
6	Feb.14	W	Exam I
7	Feb.19	M	No class – Presidents Day Holiday
7	Feb.21	W	Hormonal factors Relationship to cold tolerance	/10
8	Feb.26	M	Effects on yield and fruit quality	/11
8	Feb.28	W	Water stress II – Flooding and compaction (oxygen stress) Respiration, transpiration and photosynthesis	/12
9	Mar.5	M	Effects on yield and quality	/13
9	Mar.7	W	Salt accumulation and management considerations	/14
	Mar. 12-16		Spring Break
10	Mar.19	M	Nutrient stress I – Deficiencies Introduction N, S, P, K	/15
10	Mar.21	W	Deficiencies continued: Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe Treating deficiencies	/16
11	Mar.26	M	Nutrient stress II – Toxicities Macronutrient excesses Interactions with cold tolerance and insect resistance	/17 Hand out poster session assignment
11	Mar.28	W	Exam II
12	Apr.2	M	Heavy metals – Toxicities, tolerance and phytoremediation	/18
12	Apr.4	W	Management approaches, including breeding and biotechnology	/19
13	Apr.9	M	No class – Spring Holiday
13	Apr.11	W	Salt stress Relationship to water stress	/20
14	Apr.16	M	Sodium toxicity	/21
14	Apr.18	W	Salt-tolerant crops – Breeding and biotechnology	/22
15	Apr.23	M	No class – Prep for poster presentations
15	Apr.25	W	No class – Prep for poster presentations
	Apr.25	W	Student poster presentations, 7-9p.m.
16	Apr.30	M	Wind stress	/23
16	May 2	W	Review
Finals	May7	M	Exam III