PSC 1800 Final Exam USU

Propagation is the first step in the production of a crop, if it is done poorly, the crop may never recover.

true

The rule in real estate is location, location, location. What is the rule in plant propagation?

sanitation, sanitation, sanitation

Screening stock plants for diseases isn't important because diseases are not usually propagated with the cuttings, grafts, layers or tissue cultures.

false

Which type of cutting has to produce BOTH adventitious roots AND adventitious shoots?

leaf cutting

Because cuttings no longer have roots, the [ Select ] rates must be kept down to prevent drying out. [ Select ]can also help, but light is still required for photosynthesis. [ Select ]made of plastic can also help, but may overheat if in direct sunlight. Last of all intermittent misting is frequently used to keep temperatures cool and prevent cuttings from drying out.

transpiration, shading, humidity tents, misting

Which type of stem cutting is the easiest to root?

Herbaceous

It does NOT matter which end of a cutting is up or down because the plant already know which end is up and which end is down.

false

The main advantage of layering over cuttings is that when layering ___________________________.

the propagules are still attached to the mother plant

Which of the following is NOT a specialized structure that we can use to vegetatively propagate plants?

seed

Which of the following is NOT a reason for grafting?

maintain genetic diversity in a population

Select all that apply. The correct conditions for storage of a MAJORITY of seeds is:

cool, dry

Which are characteristics of germination that we look at to determine how vigorous seeds are?

uniformity, speed

A tetrazolium (TZ) test is used to determine germination and viability of _________________ seeds.

dormant

internal - immature embryo

after-ripening period

internal - dormant embryo

cold moist stratification

external

scarification

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for germination of a seed?

Mycorrizal association

The characteristics of color, texture, flavor, aroma, nutrition all contribute to the _________________ of a crop.

quality

Which of the following does not cause deterioration of crops postharvest?

Photosynthesis

Most fruits have the best quality if picked at maturity, but many are picked before maturity so they can withstand shipping.

true

Which of the following is NOT an example of physical damage to a crop?

sprouting

For every degree ___ C increase in temperature, deterioration rate increases by __times.

10, 2

Crops should be cooled as soon as possible after picking.

true

Onions and garlic require high humidity storage.

false

One rotten apple really does spoil the barrel.

true

Which crop will benefit the most from lighting during the postharvest period?

leaf lettuce

When is the best time to harvest a crop?

early morning

Which is a way to avoid physical injury to a crop?

all of these

Some crops are intentionally gassed with ethylene to promote their ripening.

true

Prevention of plant pests is crucial.

true

What is a secondary infection?

A fungal or bacterial infection that infects diseased/damaged tissue

Which is the most common cause of plant disease?

fungi

Which most commonly causes spots on plant tissues?

bacteria

Plants usually recover from a viral infection.

false

Viruses are commonly transmitted through seeds.

false

Tiny worms that cause knots, cysts or lesions are called _______________________.

nematodes

Which pest has chewing mouth parts?

caterpillar

An IPM (integrated pest management) program does not use pesticides.

false

It is a violation of Federal law to use a pesticide in a manner that is inconsistent with its label.

true

Providing adequate fertilizer and water to turf grasses to prevent weed growth is an example of which type of control?

cultural

Which of the following is NOT a general characteristic of a hormone?

responses to hormones and their interaction are completely understood

A product called Sucker Punch is advertised to help prevent dormant buds from breaking. This product is supposed to prevent suckers and water sprouts. What is most likely the active hormone ingredient?

ABA

The changes induced in a plant by pinching or disbudding are mediated by which hormone?

auxins

We can apply chemicals that will literally shrink a plant.

false

How do growth retardants work?

they keep the internodes from elongating as much

Seedless grapes, red delicious apples and celery that you buy in the grocery store most likely have been treated with _____________________ to help them elongate more.

gibberellic acid

Ethephon is a chemical used to loosen cherries and citrus fruits that are used for processing to aid in harvest. It's active hormone is ______________.

ethylene

Plant phenotype is an interaction of the genotype and the environment. Changes in a plant's phenotype due to environmental triggers are hormone-driven.

true

Which of the following is NOT a reason for pruning?

change cultivars

Never remove more than ________ of the plants canopy in a single season, when pruning.

1/3

All plants are adapted to shearing.

false

Removing part of the immature new growth of a pine or spruce is called ___________________.

candling

Why is the 3 cut method recommended when removing large branches?

it prevents large bark rips as the limb falls

As a general rule, it is best to avoid making heading cuts for size control unless absolutely necessary.

true

Which is not a shape control method of pruning trees?

open access

A proper hedge should be shaped like ___________.

capital A

The type of pruning where severe cuts that cause flushes of new growth are made is called ________________.

rejuvenation

Root pruning is most common in which setting?

nursery rows

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of mulches?

increases labor

Mulches are often used to keep fruits clean.

true

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of mulches? (separate question)

keep rodents out

Which plastic mulch warms the soil the most?

clear

Mulches are useless in containerized crops.

false

Healthy plants are more resistant to attacks from pathogens or pests, so putting on a lot of extra fertilizer will make them even healthier.

false

There are __________ required elements for plant growth.

17

Plant minerals are taken up by both passive and active processes.

true

Which of the following is NOT a function of soil in terms of plant growth?

provide carbon to the plant

Soils with finer texture and soils with more organic matter or both tend to be more fertile because they hold onto nutrients well. This is called:

cation exchange capacity

Nutrient deficiency symptoms of a mobile nutrient show up in [ Select ] ["younger", "older"] leaves first, while deficiency symptoms of a non-mobile nutrient show up in [ Select ] ["older", "younger"] leaves first.

older, younger

SInce micronutrients are used in such small supply, a plant can get along pretty well without them.

false

Of the 3 macronutrients, two ( [ Select ] ["Nitrogen", "Manganese", "Calcium", "Chlorine"] and [ Select ] ["Nickel", "Potassium", "Boron", "Phosphorus"] ) come from the break-down of organic matter and their availability relies on soil microbial activity. The other macronutrient [ Select ] ["Nitrogen", "Potassium", "Copper", "Iron"] comes mostly from the weathering of minerals in a soil over time.

nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

What is the best way to know how much fertilizer to apply?

soil/tissue analysis

The C:N ratio of a compost or organic residue isn't important. The main thing is just adding organic matter!

false

If I have 100 lb bag of a 10-10-10 fertilizer, how many pounds of nitrogen does the bag contain? (Enter only a number with no units)

10

Which of the following is not a method of fertilizer application?

balancing

Foliar applications are more commonly used for micronutrient deficiencies than for other nutrient deficiencies.

true

A large organic molecule that encloses a metal like iron or zinc and prevents it from being tied up in the soil is called a:

chelator

If hydroponics is so great, why aren't more plants grown using hydroponics?

all of these

In order to be considered an organic soil, how much organic matter must be present?

at least 20%

Which of the following is NOT a function of soil in terms of plant growth?

provides carbon

Which is NOT one of the three particle sizes used to determine the texture of a mineral soil?

dust

Which soil pH range is the best for providing all of the necessary plant nutrients?

6.2-6.8

Which of the following is NOT true about soil pH?

Soil pH has very little impact on nutrient availability

What are some ways that horticulturists can reduce or prevent soil erosion?

all of these

There is no way to improve drainage in a soil.

false

Why does the media used for containers rarely contain actual field soil?

too poorly drained

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good plant container?

Must be made of an earth-friendly material

Which of the following is NOT true about girdling roots?

Circling roots only occur if you leave plants in containers for way too long

If 70% of the Earth's surface is water, why is it the most limiting factor for plant growth in many areas?

most water is too salty

Even woody plants are usually at least 50% water by weight.

true

Water has a [ Select ] ["low", "high"] specific heat which means it takes [ Select ] ["a lot", "very little"] of energy to heat it. Because of this property, water often [ Select ] ["stabilizes", "intensifies"] temperatures.

high, a lot, stabilizes

Water is a [ Select ] ["isometric", "polar", "ionic", "catatonic"] molecule. It has a positive charge at one end of the molecule and a negative charge at the other end. Because of this water sticks to itself through hydrogen bonding which is called cohesion . Water also sticks to surfaces in a process called [ Select ] ["adhesion", "cohesion"] . These two phenomenon give water the property of surface tension.

polar, cohesion, adhesion

[ Select ] ["transpiration", "translocation", "translation", "transition"] is the process by which water moves up through a plant and evaporates out into the atmosphere. This process is essential because it [ Select ] ["warms the plant", "cools the plant"] and [ Select ] ["clears out toxins", "transports nutrients"] .

transpiration, cools the plant, transports nutrients

_________________ is the total water loss from plants and the soils surface.

evapotranspiration

temporary loss of turgor pressure on hot afternoons even when the soil is wet; caused by physical limitation to how fast water can move

incipient wilting

extreme loss of turgor pressure where the plant wilts and cannot recover; usually about -15 bars or -1.5 MPa

Permanent wilting point

Which of the following is NOT a way that plants have adapted to reduce transpiration?

reduced waxing of cuticles

Which of the following is most likely to be a closed irrigation system?

ebb and flow

Why do overwatering and drought stress display similar symptoms in a plant?

because even though the mechanism causing it is different, the result is that the plant cannot take up water in either case

Which of the following is the most correct statement about water stress for plants?

different plants/crops has different critical periods where water stress is the most damaging