1. AGRO/HORT 100G -- Introduction to Plant Science
Fall 2003/ MWF 12:30-1:20 GT 337
Instructor: Carol Potenza, PhD
 Office Hours: Monday: 1:30-12:20, Tues. 8:30-9:30; Skeen Hall N333
Textbooks: Introductory Plant Biology, K. Stern 9th Ed. 2003
Introduction to Horticulture and Agronomy: Lab Manual, K. Lombard, A. Wagner, J. Mexal, R. Mostafavi (available in Ag Communications office GTH173) –Dr Chris Cramer will be overseeing the lab. Lab will start the first week of class.
Supplemental information is provided in the class.
Course Objective: To teach students the scientific method as it is applied in the discipline of plant science. At the end of the course students will have learned the basic chemical, physical and biological principles that govern plant growth in different environments and be able to design experiments to test hypotheses based on these principles.
Catalog Description: Lecture and laboratory. Introductory course presenting the physical, biological, and chemical principles underlying plant growth and development in managed ecosystems. In the laboratory portion of the class, students perform experiments demonstrating the principles covered in lecture. The course uses economic plants and agriculturally relevant ecosystems to demonstrate basic principles. Appropriate for non-science majors.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

2. Comprehensive final exam 250
Grading: The final grade for this course will be based on 1000 points. Students should note that only ~40% of the grade is based on tests, 30% of the grade is based a paper, an oral presentation and homework, and 30% of the grade is based on lab reports and lab attendance, reflecting the importance of the laboratory portion of this course. Attendance at lab is mandatory.
Quizzes (7)—25 pts each
175
Comprehensive final exam
250
Homework problem sets (5)
125
Essay assignment
100
Oral presentation in debate 50
Laboratory reports
300
Total
1000
You will be expected to keep track of your points and grade throughout the semester. You can me for periodic updates and point comparisons.
Quizzes will take up the last minutes of class time and can cover anything presented in lecture or in the assigned text chapters and will not include the lecture presented on quiz days. Students may make up missed quizzes if taken before the next scheduled class period. Homework is worth 25 points per assignment. You are encouraged to study and work with others, but not copy others’ answers. Homework with identical answers will get zero points for those questions. Late homework will be accepted but will suffer a penalty (Loss of a whole grade per day late, starting 10 minutes after start of class on the due date). Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A >900 points; B points; C points; D points; F < 600 points.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

3. Essay TopicGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture:
Writing assignments:
There are several different types of writing assignments in this class: an essay; short essay questions in homework problem sets and final exam, and lab reports.
The essay assignment is really a two-part assignment, a written presentation worth 100 points and an oral presentation of the written report and a defense of the conclusions of the essay worth 50 points. You MUST submit a written report to participate in the oral debate.
Essay assignmentPlease give an educated overview and select one of the crops (a-d) to research historically and as a genetically modified crop in production now. Include pros/cons and conclude with your specific opinion on GMOs as a separate final paragraph.
Essay TopicGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture:
(choose one of the listed crops to research)
corn/maize
rice
soybeans
papaya
You will select which of the crops you wish to research and sign-up on September 5th. The written portion of the assignment is due Friday November 14, There are to be at least 8 well-cited references from These may include up to four web references. The document is to be typed and at least 4 pages double-spaced and no more than 10 pages. The oral presentations will be on November 19, on November 21 and on November 23. I will select which students present on which days.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

4. Grading Policies: Any missed assignments/quizzes/papers will receive zero points without a valid excuse given BEFORE you miss the assignment. I will make rare exceptions for specific hardships as long as you have validated notes or letters from doctors/faculty advisors etc. Valid/invalid excuses will be determined at the discretion of the instructors or your lab T.A.
Academic misconduct/Plagiarism: Please read the NMSU Student Handbook, especially the sections pertaining to academic misconduct, as they will strictly apply in this course. Additional comments about plagiarism: Plagiarism includes copying sentences or paragraphs from a scientific paper/references/fellow students when writing a report. This means that students must use their own words. Any information gathered from an outside source must be referenced and stated in your own words. Reports will be checked for acts of plagiarism. A single plagiarized sentence will result in a zero for that assignment. The instructors will strongly enforce these rules.
Students with Disabilities: If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to the office for Services for Students with Disabilities, located at Garcia Annex ( ). Appropriate accommodations may then be provided for you.
If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency, or which may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/or the director of Disable Student Programs. If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), call
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

5. AGRO/HORT 100G Lecture scheduleFall 2003
AGRO/HORT 100G Lecture scheduleFall 2003
NOTE: The information in this syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Students will be notified of any changes in the syllabus during the semester.
Date
Topic/Reading Assignment
Aug 18
Introduction/Chapt. 1
Aug 20
History of Agriculture/suppl
Oct 15
Plant Classification/16
Aug 22
Chemical Nature of Life/2
Oct 17
Meiosis/12
Aug 25
Oct 20
Meiosis/12--Genetics/13
Aug 27
Cells/3
Oct 22
Genetics/13
Aug 29
Oct 24
Plant Breeding/5
Sept 1
Holiday (Labor Day)
Oct 27
Evolution/15
(problem set 4 due; quiz 5)
Sept 3
Tissues/4 (problem set 1 due)
Oct 29
Genetic Engineering/14
Sept 5
Roots/5 (quiz 1)
Essay Sign-up
Oct 31
Sept 8
Stems/6
Nov 3
Biological Pests/suppl
Sept 10
Leaves/7
Nov 5
Biological Pests/Pest Control/suppl
Sept 12
Flowers/8
Nov 7
Pest Control/suppl
Sept 15
Fruits and seeds/8 (problem set 2 due)
Nov 10
Water Management/suppl
Sept 17
Water in plants/9 (quiz 2)
Nov 12
Water Management/suppl (quiz 6)
Sept 19
Water in plants/9
Nov 14
Mineral Nutrition and Fertilizer/suppl (essay due)
Sept 22
Soils/5 and suppl
Nov 17
Medicinal Plants/suppl (problem set 5 due)
Sept 24
Nov 19
Student Presentations #1
Sept 26
Plant Physiology/10
Nov 21
Student Presentations #2
Sept 29
Plant Physiology/10 (quiz 3)
Nov 24
Student Presentations #3
Oct 1
Nov 26-28
Thanksgiving
Oct 3
Dec 1
NM crop production/suppl
Oct 6
Dec 3
Oct 8
Growth/11 (problem set 3 due)
Dec 5
Global Hunger/suppl (quiz 7)
Oct 10
Asexual Propagation/14 (quiz 4)
Oct 13-14
Fall Break
Dec 8
(1:00 to 3:00) FINAL EXAM
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

6. I WANT YOU… To think about plants as a career.
(We did and look how happy we are…)
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

7. What Is Plant Biology ? Chapter 1
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

8. Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Botany as a Science
Outline
Human and Animal Dependence on Plants
Botany as a Science
Scientific Method
Diversification of Plant Study
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

9. How Important are plants to life as we know it?
Plant life constitutes over 98% of the total biomass on earth
(Biomass in the total dry weight of living organisms)
*Plants/ “green” organisms have the EXCLUSIVE ability to produce oxygen
*Plants remove large amounts of carbon dioxide given off by all living organisms
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

10. For example…
A Lower-Emission Leonardo DiCaprio. By Tom Cunneff. Leonardo DiCaprio is now "carbon neutral." Working with an environmental group called Future Forests, the eco-friendly actor is helping offset global carbon emissions (which exacerbate the greenhouse effect) by sponsoring the planting of 1,000 trees. Actually, according to Future Forests, it only takes 15 trees to "neutralize" DiCaprio, whose carbon dioxide emissions are about half of an average American's since he drives an electric car.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

11. Human and Animal Dependence on Plants
Plants are the source of multiple products of human society:
Food
Perfumes
Dyes
Beverages
Lumber
Paper
Clothing
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

12. At first, interest in plants was practical.
Botany As A Science
At first, interest in plants was practical.
Centered around the production of food, fibers, fuel, and medicine.
Eventually, an intellectual interest arose.
Science involves the observation, recording, organization, and classification of information.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

13. Hypothesis - Tentative, unproven explanation of an observation.
Scientific Method
Hypothesis - Tentative, unproven explanation of an observation.
Experiment - Test to determine if a hypothesis is correct.
Variables - Aspects of the experiment that can be changed or held constant.
Control - All variables held constant.
Data - Results from the experiment.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

14. Hypothesis: Natural Herb induces Weight Loss
BioShape is a unique blend of the highest quality, vegetable source, crystalline amino acids, plus a research-backed blend of natural ingredients to help you lose weight! Only $ for a 40 day supply!!
Experimental Design
BioShape!
ControlPlacebo
Same Diet,
Same Exercise
What Else?
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

15. ControlPlacebo BioShape! Before… After
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

16. Principle - Useful generalization derived from experimental data.
Scientific Method
Principle - Useful generalization derived from experimental data.
Theory - Grouping of related principles.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

17. Diversification of Plant Study
Plant Anatomy
Chiefly concerned with internal structure of plants.
Plant Physiology
Concerned with plant function.
Plant Taxonomy
Plant Systematics - System of classification and naming.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

18. Diversification of Plant Study
Plant Geography
Study of plant distributions.
Plant Ecology
Study of interaction between plants and their environments.
Plant Morphology
Study of the form and structure of plants.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

19. Diversification of Plant Study
Genetics
Science of Heredity
Enormous potential for further development of better agricultural, medicinal, and other useful plants.
Cell Biology
Science of cell structure and function.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

20. Diversification of Plant Study
Economic Botany and Ethnobotany
Examines practical uses of plants and plant products.
Still vast amounts of botanical information yet to be discovered.
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

21. Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Botany as a Science
Review
Human and Animal Dependence on Plants
Botany as a Science
Scientific Method
Diversification of Plant Study
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies

22. Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display
Stern - Introductory Plant Biology: 9th Ed. - All Rights Reserved - McGraw Hill Companies