Foundation Certificate in Plant Growth for Horticulture Level 2
Study Serious Horticulture!
This course covers everything the budding botanist or propagator needs to know to satisfy their immediate hunger for knowledge. It begins by explaining the binomial naming system of plants and helps students with methods of plant identification before going on to deal with all aspects of plant growth.
Learn about cell structures and processes in different plant parts from roots to shoots and flowers. Find out how plants reproduce and how to create your own plants through sexual or asexual methods. Discover how plants feed, the significance of different chemical nutrients and how things can go wrong for plants.
What this Course Covers
Ten Lessons
1. Classification of Plants and the Plant Naming System
Botanical and Horticultural Nomenclature: common names, scientific names
The Binomial System
Botanical Classification levels
Horticultural Groups
Plant Families and their distinguishing characteristics
Species, Hybrids, Varieties, Cultivars
Review of significant Dicotyledon and Monocotyledon families
Plant Lifecycles
Stages in Plant Development
Plant Collection Reviews
2. The Internal Structure of Higher Plants
Plant Cell Structure
Cell Components
Cell Division; mitosis and meiosis
Types of Plant Cells; Parenchyma, Collechyma, Sclerenchyma, Xylem, Phloem, Epidermal
Internal Structure of Dicotyledon Stems: Epidermis, endodermis, cortex, vascular bundles, etc
Structure of Monocotyledon Stems
External Differences between Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons
Anatomical features of leaves and stems in cross section
Plant Tissues
Primary and Secondary Growth
Terminology
Botanical Keys and their use
3. The External Structure of Higher Plants, Roots, Leaves, Stems and Buds
Stems; the framework, functions of the stem
Stem modifications
Leaves
Functions of leaves
Respiration, transpiration and photosynthesis
Leaf shapes
Compound leaves
Leaf modifications
Buds: adventitious, apical, flower, vegetative
Root Structure
Types of Root Systems
Root Modifications
Morphological Changes due to Maturation
4. Identification and Function of the Reproductive Parts of the Plant
Parts of a flower: Sepals, Petals Stamens, Carpel
The Inflorescence
Flower Structure
Types of Fruits
Fruit and Seed Terminology
Modification of Fruits -dry fruits, succulent fruits, composite fruits, false fruits
Key to Main Fruit Types
5. Pollination and Fertilisation in Higher Plants
Pollination Processes
Self Pollination, Cross pollination
Pollination Mechanisms
Compatibility
Fertilisation, Embryo and Seed Formation
Post Fertilisation
F1 Hybrids
Genotype versus Phenotype
Male Sterility
Parthenocarpy
Hybrid Seed Production
Terminology
Seed and Fruit Development
Seed Structure
Seed Germination
Fruit Set, Growth and Development
6. The Fundamental Physiological Processes in Plants, Plant Growth and Developmental Relationships
Importance of Photosynthesis
The Light Reactions
The Dark Reactions
Chloroplasts in Photosynthesis
C3, C4 and CAM Plants
Rate of Photosynthesis
Chemistry of Respiration
Rate of Respiration
Stages of Respiration
Aerobic versus Anaerobic Respiration
Transpiration and Translocation of Water
Osmosis
Diffusion
Mechanisms of Nutrient Uptake
How Water, ions and metabolites move through a plant
Tropisms; Phototropism, Geotropism, Thigmotropism, etc
Chemical Growth Modification; Auxins, Gibberellins, AA, Ethylene, Cytokinin, etc
Effects of Chemical hormones
Light factors in plant growth
Artificial Light
7. Soils and the Root Environment
Soil Profile
Importance of Soil
Soil Composition
Texture
Structure and soil types
Soil Horizons (A, B, C and R)
Naming the Soil
Improving Soil Structure
Soil Sampling
Improving Fertility
Organic Matter
Benefits of adding Organic Matter
Soil Water and it's Value to Plants
Water Loss from Soils
Improving Water Retention
Hygroscopic Water, Gravitational Water, Field Capacity and other terminology
Saturation
Rate of Watering
Plant Health and Drainage
Symptoms of Poor Drainage, Improving surface and subsurface drainage
Tensiometer
Soil pH
Nutrient Availability and pH
Calcifuges and Calcicoles
Adding Lime
Adding Acidic Materials to Lower pH
Conservation Issues: Peat
Terminology
8. Plant Nutrition
Soil Life: Earthworms, Mycorrhizae, Nitrogen Fixing
Nitrogen Cycle; Ammonification, Nitrification, Detritrification, Nitrogen Loss
Forms of Nitrogen
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Carbon Cycle
The Nutrient Elements
The Major Elements
The Minor Elements (Trace Elements)
Total Salts
Diagnosis of Nutrient Problems
Fertilisers
Types of Fertilisers
Applying Fertilisers
Natural Fertilisers
Manures, Rock Dusts, Seaweed
Composting Methods: sheet composting, Indore method, 14 day method, compost bins, trench composting, etc
Green Manures
Mulch and Mulching
Cultivation Techniques
Cultivation Tools and Equipment
Improving Water Infiltration into Soil
Non Dig Growing Method
Soil Problems
Soil Rehabilitation
Properties of Growing Media
Potting Media: Components and mixes
Choosing Growing Media
Air Filled Porosity
Hydroponics defined
9. Plant Health Problems
Factors Affecting Plant Health and Growth
Types of Problems
Conducting an Inspection
Determining and Recommending Treatments
Responding to Difficult to Diagnose Problems
Plant Pests -major groups
Pest Treatments - Sanitation, Physical control methods, Resistant varieties, Biological controls, Chemical controls, Soil drenches
Insect Biology; structure, lifecycles, etc
Review of Major Pests and their Treatments
Review of Major Diseases and their Treatments
Review of Environmental Problems and their Control
Types of Weeds
Identifying Weeds
Weed Control Methods; suffocation, burning, cultivation, grazing, mowing, solarisation, chemicals, etc
10. Plant Propagation Principles and Practice
Sexual Propagation
When to Sow Seed
Why Some Seeds Don't Germinate
Dormancy Factors in Seed -Hard Seed Coat, Chemical Inhibitors, Undeveloped Embryos etc
Difficult to Germinate Seeds
Treatments to Break Seed Dormancy
Seed Sources
Seed Saving; Seed Storage
Sowing Seed Indoors
Seed Sowing: Germination, Temperature Control Hygiene
Seed Propagating Media
Sowing Seed Outside
Handling and caring for Seedlings
Potting Up
Propagation after care
Propagation from Cuttings
Succeeding with Cuttings
Types of Cuttings
Softwood, Semi Hardwood and Hard wood Cuttings
Variations on Cuttings: nodal, heel, tip, etc
Leaf Cuttings, Leaf bud cuttings, Root Cuttings, Bulb Cuttings, etc
Stock Plants for Cuttings
Layering
Propagation from Specialised Stems and Roots; Offsets, Division, etc
Propagating Tools: Secateurs, How to Cut, Knives
Grafting
Propagating Plants in a Greenhouse
Cold Frames
Heated Propagators
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 130 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site may be relevant supplementary reading for this course:
- Plant Language
- Animal Health
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification with vegetable growing, will impress others, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
This course is valuable to those who want to expand their horticultural knowledge whether fro their own personal development or for employment purposes.