Download Plant Science

Plant Science
Introduction
Standards and Objectives
Original Power Point Created by Nancy Williams
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
June 2002
August 2008
Definition
• Plant science is first and foremost the
science and technology of the production
of crops.
• A crop is any plant used by human beings.
August 2008
Other related areas
• Agronomy - field crops, wheat, corn, soybeans
• Horticulture - fruits, veggies, woody ornamentals
and floriculture crops
• Forestry - wood and pulp production, recreation,
wildlife and watershed management
• Weed science - deal with controlling and
management of unwanted
plants.
August 2008
Where did our crops originate?
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Southwestern and central Asia
Mediterranean region
Southwestern Asia
Highlands of tropical America
Why is this important to know?
So, as research continues they can use
the plants origin to improve its genetics!
August 2008
What crops originated in
America?
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Cranberry
Blueberry
Pecan
Plum
Grape
Strawberry
August 2008
Why study Plant Science?
• List on your own sheet of paper 5 reasons
explaining in detail why you as a high
school Ag student are studying plant
science.
• Be prepared to share these with the class.
August 2008
What should we study?
• As a class we have determined why we
should study plant science, but now list 5
things that we should study.
• Be prepared to share your list with the
class.
August 2008
Major Uses of Plants as FOOD
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Grains
Starchy Foods
Vegetables
Fruits
Sugar Crops
Oil Crops
Nut, Spice and Beverage Crops
August 2008
GRAINS
• Grain yielding grasses are a major source
of human food.
• In temperate regions, WHEAT is primary
source.
• Warmer regions, RICE is primary source.
• Other major grain crops in grass family:
– Corn, oats, rye, barley, millet and grain
sorghum.
August 2008
STARCHY FOODS
• In addition to cereal grains, starchy roots
and other plant parts have served as a
food staple for centuries. EXAMPLES:
• Potatoes
• Sweet potato
• Cassava
• Yam
• Banana (in tropical regions of the world)
August 2008
VEGETABLES
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Sweet corn
Snap bean
Pea
Bean
Lettuce
Tomato
These all contribute variety to the human diet as
well as vitamins and minerals.
August 2008
FRUITS
• Tropical Regions Important Fruit Crops
– Banana
– Pineapple
– Mango
– Papaya
– Orange
– Lemon
– lime
August 2008
FRUITS cont.
• Popular fruit in temperate zones:
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Apple
Pear
Peach
Cherry
Plum
Apricot
Small fruits
• Grape, raspberry
• Strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and currant
August 2008
Sugar Crops
• In spite of its lack of protein, vitamins and
minerals, sugar is a major dietary component,
especially in developed countries.
• Sugarcane - grown in tropical and subtropical
climates
• Sugar beet - grown in temperate climates
• Many other plants contain starch that can be
converted to sugar such as CORN SYRUP
August 2008
Oil Crops
• Because of the relationship between heart
disease and animal fats, plant oil crops
especially soybean production has
skyrocketed in the last 50 years
• Major sources of oil crops are:
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August 2008
Soybean
Sunflower
Peanut
Corn
Cottonseed
Olive
Coconut
Safflower
Certain Palms
Nut, Spice and Beverage Crops
• Other components of a human diet
• Nuts
– Walnut
– Pecan
• Spices
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Vanilla
Pepper
Allspice
Oregano
• Beverages
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August 2008
Coffee
Chocolate
Tea
Cola
Nonfood Uses of Plants
• Fiber Crops
• Timber, Fuel and Pulp
• Aesthetic Uses (?????)
August 2008
Fiber Crops
• Plant fibers have been used since prehistoric
times to make cloth.
• Major sources:
– Cotton and Flax
• Natural fibers have been replaced with
synthetics.
– Nylon, rayon, polyester
• Common to see a blend of natural and synthetic
fibers together.
– Cotton/polyester blend
August 2008
Timber, Fuel and Pulp
• Forests provide us with timber for lumber
products.
• Forest Management has been a major
concern in the past 20 years.
• Forests provide for recreation such as
hiking, camping, 4-wheeling, hunting.
• Forests stabilize watershed areas, which
affect fishing and boating activities.
August 2008
Aesthetic Uses of Plants
• Aesthetic = the way something looks
• Using plants for beauty dates back to the
dynastic EGYPTIANS.
• Today, we use cut flowers, turf grasses,
green foliage.
• All of these take into account other
aspects of plant science such as seeds,
fertilizer, equipment and care.
August 2008
Other Plant Products
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Medicines
Drugs
Perfumes
Cosmetics
Insecticides
Industrial chemicals
August 2008
Careers in Plant Science (with a high school diploma)
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Greenhouse caretaker
Plant propagator
Orchard Care Taker
Pesticide Applicator
Groundskeeper
Tractor Operator
Combine harvester
August 2008
Careers in Plant Science with a
2-year (associate's) degree
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Greenhouse manager
Golf course manager
Pesticide dealer
Crop supply salesperson
Greenhouse supply salesperson
August 2008
4-year degree job opportunities
in Plant Science
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Crop marketing specialist
Crop production specialist
Fertilizer technologist
Erosion control scientist
Soil conservationist
Seed technologist
Turf grass specialist
August 2008
Graduate level careers in Plant
Science
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Plant geneticist
Plant breeder
Biotechnologist
Genetic engineer
Plant pathologist
Plant physiologist
Statistician
Weed scientist
August 2008
Review
• WHAT IS PLANT SCIENCE?
• IN WHAT WAYS DO PLANTS AFFECT
YOU ON A DAILY BASIS?
• WHAT ARE SOME JOBS IN PLANT
SCIENCE?
• WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF
AGRICULTURE AND THE PLANT
SCIENCE INDUSTRY?
August 2008