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Sustainability in the Curriculum – A Case Study in HorticultureAmy N. Wright
Professor, Horticulture
HORT 3000 GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURAL PLANTS
Required for all undergraduate Horticulture students Basic Plant Physiology with applications to
Horticulture Production
Landscape
Turf
3 credit lecture course Canvas for posting notes, assignments, study guides,
and grades Optional text books
Course Objectives
Gain knowledge of plant structures and their development.
Understand physiological processes of plant development.
Use physiological principles to predict and describe plant behavior during production and in the landscape.
Understand applications of plant physiological principles for sustainable horticulture.
Texts
Introduction to Plant Physiology, 3rd ed. 2004. William G. Hopkins and Norman P.A. Huner.
Principles of Ecology in Plant Production. 1998. Eds. T.R. Sinclair and F.P. Gardner.
The Ecology of Plants, 2nd ed. 2006. J. Gurevitch, S. Scheiner, and G. Fox.
Lecture Topics
Invasive Plant Biology Green Roof Plants Plant Stress
Greywater Reuse, Phytoremediation, Flooding, Pollution, Drought
Secondary Plant Metabolites Medicinal, human health
LID Landscaping (Low Impact Development) Alabama Ecosystems and Biodiversity Native Plants
Survey Questions
Something you hope to learn from this class: How would you define plant physiology? What do think sustainable horticulture involves?
Written Assignment
Select a native horticultural plant. Give its scientific and common name and state whether the plant is a monocot or a dicot, a perennial or an annual, and if perennial, whether evergreen or deciduous. Also discuss whether it prefers sun or shade, its growth habit, its growth rate, and its hardiness zone.
Describe your plant’s native habitat in terms of other vegetation typically present, soil type, topography, and geographic distribution. Discuss its uses (at least 2) in the landscape or garden. Discuss one way your plant could be used to promote sustainability in the landscape or garden. Discuss at least one tolerance or susceptibility to an environmental stress for your plant.
Links
Alabama Plant Atlas
Alabama Smart Yards
Alabama Invasive Plants Council
Alabama's 10 Worst Invasive Weeds
Alabama Invasive Plant list
United States National Arboretum
National Arboretum Invasive Plant List
Low Impact Development
Minor in Sustainability Studies at AU
US Drought Monitor
Additional Course Dimensions
Increased awareness of sustainability issues in the landscape and in production
Increased connectivity to natural environment Understanding physiology
Plants as part of ecosystem
Scale up from cell level to ecosystem level
Illustrate ways to contribute personally to landscape sustainability
Additional Course Dimensions
Sense of pride in major Role Horticulture can play in sustainability efforts
Value of Horticultural plants as a natural resource Shift focus from ornamental to ecosystem services Emphasis on biodiversity
Sustainability
“Meeting human needs now and in the future in a fair, just, and equitable way while protecting and maintaining healthy ecosystems in perpetuity.”
AU Office of Sustainability
Many diverse components; plants are just one (but important!) component
Sustainability in the Curriculum – A Case Study in HorticultureAmy N. Wright
Professor, Horticulture
