Transcript Intro Plant Science

Plant Science
Introduction
Standards and Objectives
Original Power Point Created by Nancy Williams
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
June 2002
Definition
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Plant science is first and foremost the
science and technology of the production
of crops.
A crop is any plant used by human beings.
Other related areas
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Agronomy - field crops, wheat, corn, soybeans
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Horticulture - fruits, veggies, woody ornamentals
and floriculture crops
Forestry - wood and pulp production, recreation,
wildlife and watershed management
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Weed science - deal with controlling and
management of unwanted plants.
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!
What crops originated in
America?
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Cranberry
Blueberry
Pecan
Plum
Grape
Strawberry
Why study Plant Science?
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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.
What should we study?
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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.
Major Uses of Plants as FOOD
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Grains
Starchy Foods
Vegetables
Fruits
Sugar Crops
Oil Crops
Nut, Spice and Beverage Crops
GRAINS
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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:
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Corn, oats, rye, barley, millet and grain
sorghum.
STARCHY FOODS
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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)
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.
FRUITS
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Tropical Regions Important Fruit Crops
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Banana
Pineapple
Mango
Papaya
Orange
Lemon
lime
FRUITS cont.
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Popular fruit in temperate zones:
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Apple
Pear
Peach
Cherry
Plum
Apricot
Small fruits
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Grape, raspberry
Strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and currant
Sugar Crops
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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
Oil Crops
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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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Soybean
Sunflower
Peanut
Corn
Cottonseed
Olive
Coconut
Safflower
Certain Palms
Nut, Spice and Beverage Crops
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Other components of a human diet
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Nuts
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Spices
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Walnut
Pecan
Vanilla
Pepper
Allspice
Oregano
Beverages
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Coffee
Chocolate
Tea
Cola
Nonfood Uses of Plants
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Fiber Crops
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Timber, Fuel and Pulp
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Aesthetic Uses (?????)
Fiber Crops
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Plant fibers have been used since prehistoric
times to make cloth.
Major sources:
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Natural fibers have been replaced with synthetics.
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Cotton and Flax
Nylon, rayon, polyester
Common to see a blend of natural and synthetic
fibers together.
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Cotton/polyester blend
Timber, Fuel and Pulp
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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.
Aesthetic Uses of Plants
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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.
Other Plant Products
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Medicines
Drugs
Perfumes
Cosmetics
Insecticides
Industrial chemicals
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
Careers in Plant Science with a 2year (associate's) degree
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Greenhouse manager
Golf course manager
Pesticide dealer
Crop supply salesperson
Greenhouse supply salesperson
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
Graduate level careers in Plant
Science
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Plant geneticist
Plant breeder
Biotechnologist
Genetic engineer
Plant pathologist
Plant physiologist
Statistician
Weed scientist
Review
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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?