I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Plant Physiology

2. Course Prefix & Number:
AGRO 1120

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course covers the basics of plant physiology principles. Through this course students will learn about photosynthesis, plant growth and development, plant stressors, and nutrient uptake.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

PLSC380 Principles of Plant Physiology – 3 Credits – North Dakota State University, HORT30100 Plant Physiology – 3 Credits – Purdue University

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Agronomy Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Write a report on how a specific nutrient affects plant functions.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Read assigned documents and listen attentively to complete course quizzes.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Use critical thinking skills to identify plant stress and determine what is causing the stress factor.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Ability to label plant characteristics;
• Demonstrate understanding the roles nutrients play in plant growth;
• Analyze plants to identify stress factors;
• Identify plant growth stages;
• Label plant reproduction stages;
• Describe the relationship between respiration and photosynthesis;
• Understand how plants uptake water and transfer it through the plant;
• Compare plant development among different species; and
• Understand how growth hormones affect plant development.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Physiological Characteristics
   • Plant parts (Broadleaf vs Grasses)
   • Genetic differences among varieties/cultivars
2.  Respiration
   • Process of respiration in plants
   • Relationship between respiration and photosynthesis
   • Environmental factors that affect respiration
3. Harvesting Sunlight
   • Photosynthesis
   • Relationship of sunlight, CO2, and H2O
   • Photosynthesis affects transpiration
4. Plant Water Relations
   • Plant water balance
     • Soil moisture
     • Plant water need
     • Atmospheric pressure
   • Variety of specific plant water use
   • Plants uptake of water
5. Nutrient Uptake
   • Plants uptake of nutrients
   • Plant functions of nutrients
     • Nitrogen
     • Potassium
     • Phosphorus
     • Micro-Nutrients
   • Relationship of fungi and nutrient uptake
6. Plant Growth Regulators
   • Hormones related to plant growth
     • Auxin
     • Cytokinin
     • Gibberellins
   • Types of growth regulators
     • Growth promoter
     • Growth inhibitors
     • Rooting hormones
   • Commercial growth regulators vs. natural
7. Plant Growth Development
   • Germination
   • Root development
   • Vegetative stages
   • Plant growing point
8. Reproduction and Fruit Development
   • Different plants reproduction
   • stages of reproduction
     • Flowering
     • Pollination
     • Fruit development
   • Types of pollination
   • Environmental factors that affect reproduction
9. Stress Factors
   • Abiotic vs. Biotic stress factors
   • Stress affects on plant development
   • Critical periods of crop growth and related stress factors