Study about plant physiology and its implications for crops; post harvest management and more.  This course explains the principles and processes of plant physiology and their practical applications. It builds on prior studies in Botany A, plant physiology or other courses from the careerline range in Agriculture, Horticulture or Science.

Best studied with Introduction to Botany.

Course Aims:

• Investigate the physiology of growth development and flowering.
• Examine the nature of phytochrome and its effect on flowering in the phytochrome reaction.
• Examine the photoperiodic responses of flowering plants to differing dark and light periods.
• Examine the effect of temperature on the onset of flowering and flower development.
• Understand and describe the causes of dormancy in seeds and plants and describe the methods of breaking dormancy.
• Understand plant associations and competition and their effects on quality and marketable yield.
• Explain the process of respiration in plant cells and its effect on post-harvest storage and transportation of crops.
• Describe physiological processes in post-harvest crops in relation to the storage conditions.
• Investigate the effect on plants of endogenous and synthetic growth regulators.
• Understand risk assessments relevant to plant growth manipulation.