The goals and objectives of the course are as follows: (1) To gain an understanding of the language of plant growth substances. (2) To understand relationships between members within and among groups of growth substances. (3) To gain an understanding of the movement and action of plant hormones. (4) To learn interactions between endogenous and exogenous plant growth substances.

The grading of the course will be determined as follows:

Grading                                                                    Points
Exam I                                                                     100 (given on: 10 September 2003)
Exam II                                                                    100 (given on: 8 October 2003)
Exam III                                                                   100 (given on: 5 November 2000)
Paper                                                                       50 (Due 1 December 2003)
Final Exam                                                               200 (Tuesday, 9 December, 12:50-2:50 pm)
Total points                                                              550

Grading scale:

>89.9%     =  A
80-89.9%  =  B
70-79.9%  =  C
60-69.9%  =  D
<60%        =  F

TEXTBOOK: Srivastava, L.M. 2002. Plant growth and development. Hormones and Environment. Academic Press, Amsterdam.772 pp.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Date                                               Subject                                                                   Readings

August 19                                       Introduction, basic terminology                               Chap. 5

           20                                       Introduction to auxins                                              Chap. 6

           21                                       Auxin identification                                                  Section III

           26                                       Types of auxins, synthesis

           27                                       Auxin activity

           28                                       Auxin transport                                                       Chap. 22

September 2                                  Auxin receptor molecules

                 3                                  Auxin conjugation, balance; review auxins

                 4                                  Introduction to Gibberellins, activities                       Chap. 7

                 9                                  Plant sensitivity, GA biosynthesis interconversions

               10                                  EXAM I

               11                                  GA mechanism of action                                         Chap. 24, pp 592-607

               16                                  GA balance, review

               17                                  Introduction to cytokinins, activities                         Chap. 8

               18                                  Cytokinin biosynthesis, mechanism of action            Chap. 24, pp 607-611

               23                                  Cytokinin review

               24                                  Introduction to brassinosteroids                              Chap. 9

               25                                  Brassinosteroid biosynthesis, mechanism of action   Chap. 24, pp 611-615

               30                                  Brassinosteroid review

October 1                                     Introduction to ethylene/activities                             Chap. 11

              2                                    Fruit ripening                                                           Chap. 17

              7                                    Ethylene biosynthesis

              8                                    EXAM II

              9                                    Ethylene mechanism of action, review of ethylene     Chap. 21

            14                                    Introduce inhibitors and ABA                                  Chap. 10

            15                                   ABA activities, identification                                     Chap. 16

            16                                   ABA biosynthesis, review

            21                                   Jasmonates                                                              Chap. 12

            22                                   Jasmonate biosynthesis, mechanism of action            Chap. 24, pp 615-618

            23                                   Jasmonate review

            28                                   Uptake of plant growth regulators

            29                                   Wetting agents, roots and uptake

            30                                    Finish uptake

November 4                                Dormancy                                                              Chap. 19, pp 447-451, pp 462-469

                 5                                EXAM III

                 6                                Dormancy

               11                                Dormancy, interactions among plant growth substances

               12                                Apical dominance                                                   Chap. 14, pp 319-328

               13                                Apical dominance, internal control

               18                                Apical dominance, external control

               19                                Growth retardants

               24-26                           THANKSGIVING VACATION

December 2                                Growth retardants

                 3                                Finish growth retardants

                 4                                Growth promotion

Time permitting: Flowering, Sex Expression, Pollination Fertilization, Fruit and seed development

                 9                                FINAL EXAM, 12:50-2:50