horticulture final exam

what type of plants are covered under the studies of landscape horticulture, floriculture, olericulture

herbaceous plants, foliar plants, trees, shrubs; flowering plants; vegetable plant

what is purpose of the university extension service

provides resources to producers about pests/diseases, soil testing, management planning

where would one find employment in turfgrass maintenance and management

golf course

what are two parts of the species name of a plant

genus and species

what is the difference between a variety and a cultivar

variety: naturally occurring; cultivar: cultivated variety, made by humans

what part of a leaf is responsible for gas exchange and water vapor loss

the stomata, open and close along the leaf margin

define dioecious

dioecious plants exist as plants with different sexes; plants with distinct male and female plants

please define monoecious

monoecious plants exist with male and female flowers on the same plant

why is cellular respiration said to be the opposite process of photosynthesis

they are inverse reactions; one makes sugar, the other makes energy

please indicate how long the following types of plants typically live annual, perennial, biennial, monocarp

one season; indefinitely until they succumb to their environment; typically two seasons; indefinitely until flowering

what is the first process in the germination of a seed

water breaks dormancy

explain the difference between pollination and fertilization

pollination: pollen reaches the stigma, does not result in a fruit; fertilization: pollen travels down the germ tube and reaches an egg, results in a fruit

why is it important to know whether a fruit tree is self-incompatible or not

self-compatible varieties do not require other individuals of the same species; if a variety is self-compatible, producers will need a second, unique individual in order to set fruit

responsible for suppressing sprouting of axillary buds

auxin

used to increased the size of table grapes

gibberellins

used in tissue culture

cytokinins

slow elongation of the stems

growth retardants

produced by ripening fruit

ethylene

kill terminal buds

pinching agents

what is a microclimate

a microclimate is a slightly unique climate within a large climate

example of a human-made microclimate vs naturally occurring microclimate

human-made: an east-facing brick wall; naturally occurring: a valley between two mountains

what are the advantages of a vegetative reproduction over sexual reproduction

limited genetic variation and individuals have the same genetics; less time required to make a new individual

what is likely to happen if growing medium to be used for germination is not sterilized

unsterile growing medium are hosts for soil pathogens and weed seeds

what is damping off? how can you manage it?

damping off is a disease complex that causes seedlings to die off at the stems; managed by using well-draining media and reducing soil moisture

explain how you would propagate a shrub by air layering

choose an upright stem, make two cuts between nodes and remove woody tissue, remove phloem, pack with moss, cover tightly with plastic and foil

what is the purpose of budding and grafting

allows producers to choose root stocks different than the stem tissue

does clay soil have a high or low water holding capacity

is a clay or sand soil more likely to compact

clay is more easily compacted

3 advantages of organic matter in the soil

improves aggregation, improves water-holding capacity, improves nutrient cycling

name 2 common types of organic matter

manure, compost

how does the pH of the soil affect plant health

most plants grow at an optimum pH; when pH is too high or low, nutrients become inaccessible; pH also impacts soil life activity

what is meant by the term macronutrient

macronutrients are needed in a % of plant biomass, necessary for overall function

is it usually necessary to give macronutrients to plants? why or why not?

it is usually unnecessary because they are needed in very low quantities; most soils, especially healthy soils, contain high enough accessible micronutrients to sustain plant life

what do numbers on a fertilizer bag stand for

the relative ratio of elements to each other

please describe the difference between signs and symptoms when identifying pests and diseases

signs: the organism causing damage is visible; symptoms: a plant's response to the organism causing damage

please name an insect known for chewing holes in leaves

catepillar

what is a key pest

a pest that is always a known problem for a particular plant

what is a secondary pest

a pest that shows up after a control action for a key pest

provide two reasons why integrated pest management is better than traditional techniques that use pesticide spraying preventatively

IPM is a whole system approach that focuses on rotating action guidelines for prevention or management; traditional techniques do not take into account the environment or utilize biological or cultural controls

name two factors that should be taken into account when selecting a pesticide to use for a pest problem in your garden

the pest that is present, effect on the environment

please name the 3 legs of the disease triangle and explain why knowing this is helpful in developing control and prevention strategies

infectious pathogen, conducive environment, susceptible host

name four common cool-season vegetables

lettuce, broccoli, kale, and radishes

name four common warm-season vegetables

tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and melons

what is meant by the term hardening off and why is it helpful when transplanting vegetable seedlings

acclimating seedlings to the outside environment slowly over time

what would be an advantage of transplants over direct seedling

direct seeded plants have to compete with weeds and uncontrolled environment; transplants are grown in controlled environments with little competition

name two vegetables that require trellising, and state why they should not be allowed to grow on the ground

tomatoes, cucumbers; when the foliage grows along the ground, it is more susceptible to soil-borne diseases and may harbor pests

if you have only a small yard, provide two ways that fruit and nut trees be included in the landscape to save room

espalier and choosing dwarf varieties

provide three qualities you should look for when selecting a fruit tree cultivar

pollination requirements, size-dwarf, chilling requirements

what is the purpose of thinning fruit

to reduce the chance of alternate bearing and increase fruit size

provide two reasons that fruit trees do not produce fruit when they appear healthy

age, rain or frost during flowering

list four fruits and two nuts that can be grown in the northeast missouri

apples, pears, strawberries, elderberry, pecans, walnuts

where in the united states can apples not be grown? why?

apples cannot grow outside zones 4-9; apples have a chilling requirement which they may not meet outside of these zones

please list 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of growing brambles at home

pest resistance, quick growth, relatively easy to grow; require maintenance, may not look good every season, fruit harvested in a timely manner

please describe the soil requirements for successfully growing blueberries

pH 4.4-5.2; high organic matter content; well-draining

how might one go about protecting grapes or other small fruit from bird damage

netting around the plants/structures

please list 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using annual flowers in a landscape

variety in color and size, inexpensive initially, can get multiple flowering periods by deadheading; require deadheading, higher long-term cost, maintenance throughout the season

how might you incorporate spring blooming bulbs into your existing landscape

incorporate bulbs into perennial flower and ornamental grass plantings

describe island flower gardens

formal or informal, focal point/tallest plant may be in the center; exists as its own entity

describe border garden

formal or informal, incorporated along a fence or backdrop

describe formal garden

consistent and planned geometric shapes

describe informal garden

variety of shape and color not planned to make a formal geometric shape

name a fruit native to our region

elderberry

please describe the differences in environmental conditions between plants growing indoor and outdoor

light intensity, humidity, heat, irrigation

please list at least 3 greenhouses glazing materials, describe their relative PAR

glass: most expensive/durable/best par; plastic: less durable and least expensive; polyethylene plastic: more durable that regular plastic with mid-high PAR

please list 3 reasons people might grow plants in protective structures

extended season, some pest/disease control, control of environmental factors like heat and moisture levels

how can we regulate photoperiod in a commercial greenhouse

shade cloths; artificial light sources

what is a leaf shine and what sort of plants it should not be used on

commercial leaf cleaner meant to improve the appearance of plant foliage

pinching is used to elicit this response in houseplants

foliage growth

name 2 factors that affect light intensity indoors

window direction, possible coating on windows

plants with what color of foliage are most able to grow in low light conditions

darker foliage

please list 3 considerations when choosing hardscape materials for your landscape

cost of material; longevity; maintenance or labor required to input and keep looking nice

does clay soil have a high or low water holding capacity

very high