AG-086 Micro-propagation and Nursery Practice

Course Description: 

This course introduces the basic principles and skills regarding techniques, practices and procedures of plant tissue culture (micro-propagation), asepsis, laboratory plan, equipment and facilities, and greenhouse growing.

A.  PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs): 

Students will be able to:

1.   Demonstrate an overall knowledge of the crop production process.

2.   Practice good agriculture management and marketing skills.

3.   Identify and demonstrate the fundamentals of food processing, preparation techniques, the relationship between scientific principles and cooking procedures.

4. Identify and demonstrate basic skills and principles of swine and poultry production techniques including breed selection, feed, housing, management techniques, and animal health.

5. Apply the basic skills and knowledge of nursery micro-propagation practices, transplanting, harvesting and maintenance.

6. Identify the proper use of land for agriculture purposes, local ornamental, and turf management.

 

B.  STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs) - GENERAL:

Students will be able to:

1.      Define and explain the concept of micro propagation and its importance in agriculture

2.      Describe plant growth processes in the tissue culture environment

3.      Explain the importance of growing media use in tissue culture

4.      Describe and demonstrate basic micro propagation and nursery techniques

 

SLO	PLO1	PLO2	PLO3	PLO4	PLO5	PLO6
1					I
2					ID
3					ID
4					ID

 

I = Introduced

D = Demonstrated

M = Mastered

 

C.  STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs)-SPECIFIC: 

      The student will be able to: 

 

      General SLO 1. Define and explain the concept of micro-propagation and its importance in agriculture.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
1.1 Define micro propagation	Pre-test, Post test
1.2  Explain the biological and commercial importance of micro propagation	Pre-test, Post test

 

      General SLO 2.  Describe plant growth processes in the tissue culture environment.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
2.1 Describe how photosynthesis transpiration and respiration are relevant to plant tissue culture	Post – test
2.2 Describe the stages of plant growth during micro propagation of a selected plant	Post-test

 

General SLO 3. Explain the importance of growing media use in tissue culture.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
3.1 Explain the roles of the major and minor nutrients in tissue culture	Post test
3.2 Explain the functions of the different components, nutrients, carbohydrates, vitamins and plant growth regulators	Post test

 

General SLO 4. Describe and demonstrate basic micro propagation and nursery technique.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
4.1 Describe the basic steps in producing a plant by micro propagation	Quiz
4.2  Describe a method of sterilization in micro propagation	Practice in lab
4.3 Demonstrate how to prepare plant tissue for micro propagation	Practice in lab
4.4 Demonstrate to prepare a growing media for micro propagation	Practice in lab
4.5 Describe how to move a micro propagation plant to open culture	Practice in lab
4.6 Design a simple greenhouse and nursery for micro propagation plants	Demonstration and evaluation of design

 

D.  COURSE CONTENT

Lecture:

1.      Introduction and Terminology of plant tissue culture

2.      Plant Nutrients and their importance in plant tissue culture

3.      The Tissue culture laboratory

4.      Micro-propagation Techniques

5.      Plant growth regulators

6.      The tissue culture environment

7.      Commercial Application

8.      Hardening of tissue cultured plants

9.      Commercial applications

 

Laboratory

A.    Part I: General laboratory techniques

a.       Laboratory safety

b.      Maintenance of aseptic conditions

c.       Laboratory equipment handling

d.      Selection, cleaning and preparation of glassware

e.       Sterilization procedures

B.     Part II  Media Formulation

a.       Media components and preparation

b.      Stock solutions

c.       Plant growth regulators

d.      Calculations

e.       pH adjustment

f.       autoclaving

g.      filter sterilization

h.      storage of media

C.     Part III Micro propagation

a.       Selection of ex-plants

b.      Collection, storage and transport

c.       Surface sterilization methods

d.      Initiation of cultures

e.       Establishments of cultures

f.       Multiplication/proliferation of cultures

g.      Rooting in vitro

D.    Part IV Nursery Technicians

a.       Rooting ex-vitro

b.      Hardening and transfer to soil

 

E.  METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

1.      Lectures:

a.       An individual paper on a specify crop species (50% of the final grade) and a final (comprehensive, 50% of the final lecture grade)

2.      Laboratory:

a.       A field project will be conducted which accounts for 100% of the lab grade (lab report by group assignment determine by instructor

3.      Final Grade:

4.      Participation in lectures and lab + project is considered very important and will account for 10% f the final grade, as state above

 

F.  REQURIED TEXT(S) AND COURSE MATERIALS

Kyte, L. and J. Kleyn., Plants from Test Tubes: An Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture, 3^rd Edition. Portland, USA (or most recent edition).

 

G.  REFERENCE MATERIALS

Hudson, T. T., D. E. Kester, F. T. Davies, Jr. and R.L. Graves. (2002). Hartman and Kester’s Pant Propagation: Principles and Practices, 7^th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education (or most recent edition).

Trigiano, R.N., and D.J. Gray. Plant Tissue Culture Concepts and Laboratory Exercises. 2^nd Edition (2002). Education (or most recent edition).

 

H.  INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS

Laboratory Note book

Calculator

1 small bottle rubbing alcohol or antibacterial hand sanitizer

 

I.   EVALUATION

None

 

J.   CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

None