SCSC 105 Exam 1 Review
Agriculture Today
Graph American Agriculture in the 1600-1700s, 1800s,1900s-2000s using:
Farm size
1600-1700s: Small farm size
1800s: Small to medium farm size
1900s-2000s: Larger farm size (200 acres)
% of labor force in agriculture
1600-1700s: 90% of US labor force
1800s: 58% of US labor force
1900s-2000s: 38% of labor force
What is the name and acronym of the agency that represents agriculture interests in the US Federal Government?
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Compare the dictionary definition of a farm to the USDA definition.
Dictionary: Any plot of land devoted to agriculture and to the raising of crops and domesticated animals
USDA: Any place which $1000 or more of agriculture products are sold annually
How many farms are in the US and what is the average size?
2 Million farms - Average size of 446 acres (185.5 hectares)
1 Acre = 43,560 ft squared = .404 ha 1ha = 2.47 A
List the 3 types of financial assistance provided by the USDA
Commodity Payments - Direct payments or price supports
Conservation Payments - Reduce production on environmentally sensitive lands
Disaster Payments - Emergency payments, low or no yield
List the top 5 crops: Worldwide, in the United States, and in Texas (Highest to lowest)
Worldwide: Sugarcane, corn, rice, wheat, potatoes
US: Corn, cotton, fruit, tree nuts, rice
Texas: Cotton, hay, corn, wheat, sorghum
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Plant Morphology and Anatomy
What is the difference between morphology and anatomy of a plant?
Morphology: The form and structure of the plant
Seeds, leaves, stems, roots, flowers
Anatomy: The internal tissues of the plant
Dermal tissues, vascular system, meristems, ground tissues
Compare and contrast monocots and dicots in terms of: # of cotyledons, leaf structure, type of root system, and type of germination
Monocots
# of cotyledon: 1
Leaf structure: Linear with parallel lines
Root system: Fibrous
Germination: Hypogeal
Dicots
# of cotyledon: 2
Leaf structure: Netted or branched venation
Root system: Taproot
Germination: Epigeal (usually)
List the 5 general morphological structures in plants
Seeds, roots, leaves, stems, flowers
Briefly describe the function of each structure
Seeds: Unit of reproduction for a flowering plant (embryonic plant)
Roots: Anchor the shoot in the soil and support upright growth; absorb minerals and water from the soil; provide storage of energy reserves
Leaves: Where photosynthesis and transpiration occur
Stems: Provide vertical support
Flowers: Reproductive structures in plants
List the 4 types of anatomical plant tissues
Dermal tissues, vascular (xylem and phloem), ground tissues, meristems
Briefly describe the function of each tissue
Dermal Tissues: epidermis- outer protective cell layer on the stem and leaves of plants, covered by cuticle, contain stomata (small openings in epidermis of leaf and stem)
Vascular Tissues: Moves water, nutrients, and photosynthate through the plant
Ground Tissues: Provide structure, storage, and support in the plant
Meristems: Areas of actively dividing cells- growth; produce cells that differentiate and form other tissues
Why are legumes unique in the plant world?
Form symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria Rhizobia
FIX NITROGEN
Name 5 crops and their scientific names (spelling counts for this question)
Corn: Zea mays
Hemp: Cannabis sativa
Sorghum: Sorghum bicolor
RIce: Oryza sativa
Soybean: Glycine max
Physiology and Growth
What is photosynthesis? Write the general equation that represents the process.
Process by which plants use sunlight water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar (glucose)
Carbon dioxide + water —--> (Photosynthesis) —-> Glucose + Oxygen
What is respiration? Write the general equation that represents the process.
Conversion of sugar to energy (ATP) for use in metabolism by living cells
Glucose + Oxygen —--> Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy
Compare and contrast the equations, products, and reactions of photosynthesis and respiration.
Photosynthesis and respiration are opposite reactions
What is transpiration and which direction does it occur?
Transpiration moves water and nutrients (in the xylem)
Along gradient from roots to leaves
Upward direction
What is photoperiodism?
Developmental responses of plants to the length of day (light and dark)
Describe the general pattern of dry matter partitioning for early, mid, and late season plant growth.
Early plant growth
DMP goes to vegetative growth
Mid season
DMP shifts from vegetative to reproductive growth
Late season
DMP to mostly reproductive growth but maintains some vegetative growth
Describe the following growth cycles: annual, biennial, perennial
Annual: Complete cycle in one year
Biennials: Complete in two years
Perennials: Plants that persist for three or more growing seasons
Feeding the World
What is the current world population? What is the projected future for world population (2050)? WILL NOT BE ON TEST!!!
Current population: 8.0 Billion
Projected (2050): 9.7 Billion
What are the 4 components in the “package of practices” that caused Green Revolution crops to have higher yields?
High Yielding Varieties
Synthetic fertilizers
Pesticides
Irrigation
Name 3 of Norman Borlaug’s major accomplishments
Father of Green Revolution
Developed semi- dwarf wheat varieties
Saved a BILLION people
Awarded the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize
What factor causes 9.9% of the world's population to face food insecurity?
Food Distribution
List 4 reasons that International Agricultural Research institutes are needed
Improve locally important crops
Improve production practices
Train scientists
Maintain genetic diversity (seed banks)
Name one International Agricultural Research Institute (acronym is acceptable)
IRRI (International Rice Research Institute)
IIMI (International Irrigation Management Institute)
List the 6 solutions to ensuring sustainable agriculture production in the future
Preserve existing land
Practice water conservation
Use ALL approaches to crop production
Increase funding for agricultural research
Maintain genetic diversity (seed banks)
Reduce fossil fuel reliance
Improving Plants
What are the 2 reasons for the significant advances in crop production over the last 100 years?
We understand the fundamental principles of genetics (Mendel)
Understand trait inheritance
What % of yield improvements can be attributed to these reasons?
50%
Name the ancestor of modern corn.
Teosinte
Define the following terms:
Self- pollination: Pollen transferred to stigma on the same flower or another flower on the same plant. Parents are the same genotype.
Cross- pollination: Pollen fertilizes the ovule on another plant. Combining two different genotypes.
Homozygous: Same allelic form on both homologous chromosomes
Heterozygous: Different (or both) allelic forms on homologous chromosomes
Phenotype: Physical expression of the genotype. What you see.
Genotype: Total genetic makeup of the plant (genome)
Selection: Process by which breeders recognize and select individual plants with superior characteristics from a larger, variable population
List 2 self- pollinating crops, 2 cross- pollinating crops, and 2 crops that use both methods of pollination.
Self pollinating: Corn, carrot
Cross pollinating: Tomato, watermelon
Both Methods: Wheat, potatoes
Compare and contrast qualitative traits and quantitative traits in terms of:
How many genes control expression
Qualitative: Controlled by one or few genes
Quantitative: Controlled by many genes
How expression occurs
Qualitative: Distinct classes
Quantitative: Continuous spectrum of expression
Give an example
Qualitative: Flower color
Quantitative: Plant height, yield
Briefly describe the two steps involved in hybridization
Develop inbred lines: To self pollinate selected corn plants
Cross two inbred lines: First hybrid typically has superior traits to either inbred parent. Superior traits are called hybrid vigor or heterosis
GMOs 1
List the 11 GMO approved crops available in the US
Corn, Soybeans, Cotton, Potatoes, Papaya, Alfalfa, Apples, Sugar beets, Canola, Squash, Pink pineapple
List how they are modified
(IR) insect resistant
Corn, Soybeans, Cotton, Potatoes
(HT) herbicide tolerant
Corn, Soybeans, Cotton, Alfalfa, Sugar beets, Canola
(VT) virus resistant
Potatoes, Papaya, Squash
Identify 4 techniques used for modifying plants
Selective Breeding, Grafting, Mutagenesis, Genetic Engineering
Describe the process, the time required for development and indicate if it is a true GMO or not.
Selective Breeding: Science of changing the genotype of plants to express a desired trait. Time: 10- 12 years. Not a GMO
Grafting: Plant tissues of two different genotypes are joined to grow together. Time: NA. Not a GMO
Mutagenesis: Exposing plants or seeds to mutagenic agents which induces random changes in the DNA sequence. Time: 5-10 years. Not a GMO
Genetic Engineering: Adding a gene into the plant DNA to transfer a specific trait at an intended and specific change in the plant genomes. Time: 5-10 years. True GMO
What is the newest GMO available in the US markets?
Arctic Apples
Organic
Define organic agriculture
A production system with certain restrictions
No synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
Organic fields have had no prohibited substances for 3 years
What are the top 3 myths about organic production? Briefly describe each.
It does NOT use pesticides
It is healthier for you
It is better for the environment
What percentage of total cropland in Texas is organic certified? In the US?
Texas: 1.1 %
United States: 1.0%
Food Evolution Discussion
Identify the two main crops discussed in the documentary, what pests threatened them, and where were they grown?
Match the primary individuals featured in the documentary to their qualifications/ associations and their position on GMOs
Food Evolution
Identify the two main crops discussed in the documentary, what pests threatened them, and where they were grown.
- Papaya: Ringspot Virus, Hawaii
- Banana: Banana wilt (virus), Uganda
- Match the primary individuals featured in the documentary to their qualifications/associations and their position on GMOs.
- Margaret Wille - Hawaii County - Council Member - M.Ed Education JD Law - AGAINST GMOs
Jefferey Smith - Institute for Responsible Technology - Author/filmmaker - Attended Maharishi Univ of Management - AGAINST GMOs
Zen Honeycutt - Moms Across America - Founder of MAA - B.A. Fashion design - AGAINST GMOs
Vani Hari - "The Food Babe" - Author/Advocate - B.S. Computer Science - AGAINST GMOs
Charles Benbrook - Previous (U of Wash) - Former Professor - PhD ag economics - AGAINST GMOs
Andrew Kimbrell - Center for Food Safety - Executive Director - JD Law - AGAINST GMOs
Dennis Gonsalves - Cornell University - Professor Emeritus - PhD Plant Pathology - FOR GMOs
Alison Van Eenennaam - U of California Davis - Professor/Science communicator - PhD Plant Biology - FOR GMOs
Pamela Ronald - U of California Davis - Professor - PhD Plant Biology - FOR GMOs
Robert Fraley - Monsanto - Chief Technology Officer - PhD microbiology and biochemistry - FOR GMOs