FOUNDATION CERTIFICATE IN PLANT GROWTH FOR HORTICULTURE LEVEL 3 VHT041

COURSE CONTENT

Course Duration: 200 hours.

Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.

Lessons: The course comprises 15 lessons:

1.  Taxonomic Classification of Plants
The Plant Kingdom - flowering & Non Flowering Plants
Botanical Classification
Anthophyta - Dicotyledonae & Monocotyledonae
Bryophytes
Bryophyte Reproduction
Plant Families & Differentiating Characteristrics
Hybrids, Varieties & Cultivars2
Groups
Trading Names, Selling Names, Trade Designations
Plant Taxonomy & the Binomial System
History of Nomenclature
International Code of Nomenclature
Ranks of Taxa
Principle of Priority
Choice, Construction & Spelling Names
Name Changes
Nomenclature of Hybrids
Abbreviations
Botanical Keys
Key to plant Phyla

2.  Structure and Function of Cells and Tissues
Plant Cells
Cell Components
The Cell Wall
The Nucleus
Types of plant Cells
Plant Tissues
Dermal Tissue
Vascular Tissue
Ground Tissue
Primary and Secondary Growth
Formation of Vascular Cambium
Leaves
Roots
Stems

3.  Role of Flowers and Fruit
Introduction
Flower Oarts - sepals, petals, stamens, carpels
The Inflorescence
Reproduction
Pollination- wind, insects, self pollinating, birds
Pollination Process
Adaptations in Plants for pollination
Floral Diagrams
Requirements for Successful Pollination by Plant Breeders
Phases of Plant Reproduction
F1 Hybrids
Genotype versus Phenotype
Male Sterility
Fruits
Modification of Fruits
Main Types of Fruits
Parthenocarpy

4.  Photosynthesis, Respiration, and Movement of Water
Photosynthesis
Chloroplasts in Photosynthesis
Light Reactions
Dark Reactions
Environmental Factors Affecting Photosynthesis
Light
Types of Arificial Lights
Quantitative and Qualitative Light Responses
Thernal Screens, Blackout & Shading
Carbon Dioxide Concentration
Temperature
Heating - Hot Air Forces, Hot Water, Steam, Infrared
Cooling
Water Balance
Under Watering & Over watering
Leaf Age
Environmental History
Environment Controllers
Respiration
Stages of Respiration
Glycolysis
Pyruvate Decarboxylation
ATP
Krebs Cycle
Electron Transport Chain
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Respiration Rate
Compensation Points
The Role of Water
Water Movement - Soil to Roots
Guttation
The Transpiration Stream
Translocation of Solutes
Transport Hypotheses
Active transport
Pressure Flow Hypotheses
Outdoor Planting

5.  Effects of Tropisms and Plant Growth Regulators
Plant Hormones
Tropisms - Phototropism, Geotropism, Thigmotropism, etc
Thermonasty
Photonasty
Thigmonasty
Endogenous Growth Regulators
Gibberellins
Auxins
Cytokinins
Absisic Acid
Ethylene
Effects of Different Concentrations of Auxins and Gibberellins on Plant Growth
Synthetic Growth Modifications
Synthetic Auxins
Synthetic Cytokinin
Synthetic Ethylene
Light & Measuring Light
Photoperiodism
Photoperiodic Responses in Seasonal Flowering Plants
Detection of Photoperiod
Critical Photoperiod and Flowering
Other Photoperiodic Effects

6.  Physical Properties of Growing Media
How Soils Develop
Mechanical & Chemical Weathering
Factors in Soil Development - parent material, climate, ecosystem, topography, time
Physical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Geochemical Weathering
Pedochemical Weathering
Soil Profile Description - A horizon, A1 Horizon, Bleached Horizon, etc.
Soil Classification and Description
Soil Colour
Alluvial Soils
Lithosoils
Grey Brown & Red Clays
Black Earths
Sodic Soils
Red Brown Earths
Podzolic Soils
Lateritic Podzolic Soils
Range of Soils Found on Parent Materials
Classification of British Soils
Six Types of Horizon
Surface Water Gleys
Ground Water Gleys
Peat Soils
Soil Types & Plant Growth
Iron Pan Podzol
Brown Earth Rendzina
Gleys
Properties of Soil
Organic Matter
Colloids
Mineral Components
Physical and Chemical Properties of Growing Media
Assessing Soil - Texture, structure
Components of Growing Media - Loams, Sands, Pine Bark, Sawdust, Peat, Lignite, Coir, Scoria, Grit, Vermiculite, Perlite
Problems with Using Organic Materials - Peat, etc
Soil Characteristics Relative to Plant Growth
PH Effect
Cation Exchange Capacity
Soil/Media Collection

7.  Chemical Properties of Growing Media and Role of Air and Water
Role of Air & Water in Soil
Effect of Soil Properties on Air and Water 
Soil Colour as an Indicator of Soil Moisture
Maintaining Soil Moisture at Level for Plant Growth
Role of Irrigation
When to Irrigate
Infiltration & Drainage
Water Deficiency & Excess
Gravitational Water
Capillary Water
Hygroscopic Water
Calculating Field Capacity
Calculating Wilting Point
Available Moisture Range
The Tensiometer
Rooting Depths for Selected Plants
Estimating Water Requirements
Drainage & Improving Drainage
Surface & Sub Surface Drains

COURSE AIMS

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major divisions of the plant kingdom and an understanding of the taxonomic hierarchy and its relevance to horticultural practice.
  
• Identify and describe the different types of plant cells and tissues, their structure, and function.
  
• To understand the role and function of the reproductive parts of the plant and the seed in the plant life cycle.
  
• Understand the mechanism and role of photosynthesis and respiration in the metabolism of plants, the role of water in the plant, and the movement of water, solutes, and assimilates through the plant.
  
• To develop an understanding of the effects of tropisms and other plant movements on growth and development.
  
• Understand the physical properties of growing media and their significance in relation to plant growth.
  
• To understand basic chemistry of soils and other growing media, and the relationship between their air and water content and plant growth.
  
• To understand the role of living organisms in the biological processes of soils and other growing media.
  
• To understand how nutrients affect plant growth and describe a range of fertilisers and their applications.
  
• To determine appropriate management programs for different soils in horticultural situations.
  

HOW THE COURSE WORKS

You can start Foundation Certificate in Plant Growth for Horticulture Level 3 at any time.

It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies.  Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way.  If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.

Each lesson includes set tasks, and is completed with an assignment which the student submits to their course tutor.  The tutor will mark the assignment and return this to the student with comments and suggestions for further reading.

WHY CHOOSE ACS?

• Service – We put the student first.  Tutors and administration can be contacted 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year, by phone or email.
  
• We provide Better Learning – We’ve been delivering distance education for over 3 decades, and we understand how people learn by home study.
  
• Our methods are unique, developed through experience with a focus squarely on helping you learn.
  
• Up to Date – We are continually revising and updating courses. We listen to our students feedback and we always improve the course if a change is identified that will help significantly improve your learning.
  
• More Choice – Graduates need a set of skills that will set them apart and give them an advantage over competition in the world after study. We have a wide variety of study choices, and give you lots of options to choose different paths throughout a course. Doing this has meant our graduates very successful.
  
• No Short Cuts –You can’t take short cuts in learning, and that is why our courses are often longer than you will find elsewhere. You could choose to study a short course, quickly sit an exam (while the information is fresh) and pass, but if you want to really understand something and retain it, that takes time.
  
• More than just Learning Facts – We understand that success in the workplace or business requires you to not only learn things, but also build networks, understand the commercial world, be able to solve problems, communicate with people, and have an attitude that will function in your chosen industry.
  

ACS courses are designed to develop all of these things.


BENEFITS OF STUDYING THIS COURSE
Graduates will feel confident that they can be assured they will stand in good stead for employment opportunities in a range of horticulture areas including:

• Propagation and nursery
  
  
• Garden retail
  
  
• Garden maintenance
  
  
• Garden establishment
  
  
• Soft landscaping
  
  
• Parks and gardens
  

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
" Thanks for the videos, they are great! I got a lot of information from them. The Turf Management video is practical and easy to understand. Plant Propagation is a video every student should watch because out here in the real world no-one would give out such information. The Rose Growing Tape was very beneficial to me as I have about 60 odd roses. I thought I knew a little about them but this tape is a real eye-opener."
Kelvin

ANY QUESTIONS?

It's easy to enrol - simply go to the enrolment box at the top right-hand side of this page. If you have any QUESTIONS, please do get in touch with us - our horticulture tutors would love to hear from you; connect with them using our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE.

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