Plant Science Introduction Standards and Objectives Original Power Point Created by Nancy Williams Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June 2002
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.
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.
Where did our crops originate? • 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? • Cranberry • Blueberry • Pecan • Plum • Grape • Strawberry
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.
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.
Major Uses of Plants as FOOD • Grains • Starchy Foods • Vegetables • Fruits • Sugar Crops • Oil Crops • Nut, Spice and Beverage Crops
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.
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)
VEGETABLES • Sweet corn • Snap bean • Pea • Bean • Lettuce • Tomato • These all contribute variety to the human diet as well as vitamins and minerals.
FRUITS • Tropical Regions Important Fruit Crops • Banana • Pineapple • Mango • Papaya • Orange • Lemon • lime
FRUITS cont. • Popular fruit in temperate zones: • Apple • Pear • Peach • Cherry • Plum • Apricot • Small fruits • Grape, raspberry • Strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and currant
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
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: • 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 • Vanilla • Pepper • Allspice • Oregano • Beverages • Coffee • Chocolate • Tea • Cola
Nonfood Uses of Plants • Fiber Crops • Timber, Fuel and Pulp • Aesthetic Uses (?????)
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
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.
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.
Other Plant Products • Medicines • Drugs • Perfumes • Cosmetics • Insecticides • Industrial chemicals
Careers in Plant Science - (with a high school diploma) • Greenhouse caretaker • Plant propagator • Orchard Care Taker • Pesticide Applicator • Groundskeeper • Tractor Operator • Combine harvester
Careers in Plant Science with a 2-year (associate's) degree • Greenhouse manager • Golf course manager • Pesticide dealer • Crop supply salesperson • Greenhouse supply salesperson
4-year degree job opportunities in Plant Science • Crop marketing specialist • Crop production specialist • Fertilizer technologist • Erosion control scientist • Soil conservationist • Seed technologist • Turf grass specialist
Graduate level careers in Plant Science • Plant geneticist • Plant breeder • Biotechnologist • Genetic engineer • Plant pathologist • Plant physiologist • Statistician • Weed scientist
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?
