11/21/2024 7:25:28 AM	AGRI 20 Course Outline as of Fall 2015	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AGRI 20	Title:  INTRO TO PLANT SCIENCE
Full Title:  Introduction to Plant Science
Last Reviewed:4/11/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 51

Catalog Description:

An introductory course in plant ecology, the fundamentals of botany and the taxonomy of plants with emphasis on plant structure and function. The principles and practices of horticultural crop production as they relate to plant, soil and climatic relationships will be stressed.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introductory course in plant ecology, the fundamentals of botany and the taxonomy of plants with emphasis on plant structure and function. The principles and practices of horticultural crop production as they relate to plant, soil and climatic relationships will be stressed.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B2	Life Science		Fall 1981
	B3	Laboratory Activity
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5B	Biological Sciences		Fall 2019
	5C	Fulfills Lab Requirement
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AG - PS 106L	Introduction to Plant Science (with Laboratory)	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AGRI20

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

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

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the significance of plants to humans and animals.

2. Describe the non-food uses of plants by humans.

3. List examples of the primary food crops: cereals, roots and tubers, sugars, oils, fruits and vegetables.

4. Identify major crops grown in the USA, California and Sonoma County.

5. Describe the economic value of agriculture and horticulture.

6. List the levels of classification within the plant kingdom.

7. Apply the rules of botanical nomenclature to identify various crop plants.

8. Describe the characteristics of gymnosperms and angiosperms, monocots and dicots.

9. Identify and describe the components of the plant cell.

10.  Describe the principle plant tissues and their functions (meristematic, fundamental).

11.  Describe the morphology and function of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and modified structures.

12.  Compare the processes of photosynthesis and respiration and their role in the carbon cycle.

13.  Compare and contrast the cell divisions in plant growth and development.

14.  Compare and contrast the different plant growth regulators.

15. Apply Mendelian genetic principles to predict inherited traits in F1 hybrid crosses and F2 generations.

16. Discuss the significance of genetically modified crops in agriculture.

17. Dissect, identify and describe the morphology and function of monocot and dicot seeds, seedlings and plants.

18. Propagate plants by sexual and asexual methods.

19. Describe production cycles for cool season and warm season crops.

20. Describe the effects of climate and environmental factors (light, moisture, temperature).

21. Analyze soil physical properties that influence plant growth (fertility, water holding capacity, aeration) and chemical.

22. Describe the relationship of tillage systems and cover cropping to crop production.

23. Use library and internet resources to research economic, production and marketing data for a selected crop.

Topics and Scope

I. Agriculture and Humanity

      A. Significance of plants to humans and animals

      B. Early agricultural activity

      C. Nonfood uses of plants

II. Crop Distribution

      A. General crop pattern of the USA

      B. Influence of environment in determining where crops will grow profitably in the US

      C. General crop pattern of California and Sonoma County

      D. Economic value of agriculture and Horticulture in California and Sonoma County

      E. Regulatory agencies: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and County Agriculture Commissioner

III. Crop Morphology and Physiology

      A. Structure and function of the plant cell

      B. Simple and complex tissues

      C. Root, stem, leaf and flower

      D. Conductive tissues and translocation (osmosis, diffusion, transpiration)

      E. Basic physiology of plant growth and food manufacture (photosynthesis and respiration)

      F. Classification of fruits

 IV. Crop production, Tillage, and Cover cropping

      A. Crop rotation in weed, disease and insect control

      B. Value and limitations of cover crops

      C. Local crop production practices

      D. Tillage systems and effects on soil quality

  V. Major Weed Pests and Control Methods

      A. Weed classification

      B. Biological, mechanical and non-chemical control methods

      C. Herbicide types and terminology

VI. Seed (sexual) Propagation

      A. Morphology of monocot and dicot seeds

      B. Factors affecting seed germination

      C. Seed Certification and label

VII. Vegetative (asexual) Propagation

      A. Characteristics of asexual propagation

      B. Methods: cuttings, layering, budding, grafting

      C. Micropropagation (tissue culture)

VIII. Crop Improvement and Plant Breeding

      A. Concepts and terminology

      B. Objectives and methods of crop improvement

      C. Mendelian genetic principles

      D. Impact of genetically modified crops

IX. Soil Environment of Plants

      A. Physical, biological and chemical characteristics of soil

      B. Improving soil conditions for plant growth

      C. Soil conservation practices

X. Fertilizers and Soil Fertility

      A. Factors affecting fertilizer use and selection

      B. Common terms in fertilizer industry

      C. Elements required by plants and their effect on plant growth

      D. Fertilizer label

XI. Climate Effects on Crop Production

      A. Influence of temperature, soil moisture, light intensity

      B. Accumulation of heat units

      C. Adaptation of crops to regions within California

      D. Effects of latitude and altitude

      E. Cardinal growth temperatures for representative crops

      F. Frost protection

XII. Sustainable and Organic Crop Production

      A. Comparisons with conventional production

      B. Certification regulations

      C. Consumer trends

Assignments:

1. Plant collection of crop and weed plants.

2. Crop report (6 to 8 pages) on production of selected crop.

3. Lab activities.

4. Lab write-ups: drawing and labeling plant specimens, describing the morphology and function of dissections of seeds.

5. Reading, 20-30 pages per week.

6. Quizzes, midterm and final exam.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 50%
Lab reports, crop report
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 50%
Lab activities and plant collection.
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Quizzes, midterm, final exam: Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, essay, short answers
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Plant Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants, 5th edition. McMahon, Kofranek, Rubatzky. Prentice Hall, 2011

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