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Vegetable Science

Course developers

Prior knowledge

LauZ5149, Precision Agriculture II

LauZ6066, Agricultural Biology

LauZ6105, Biology Basic in Horticulture

Replaced course

LaukM002 [GLMEM002] Vegetable Science

Course abstract

Deep understanding of biological processes and their interrelationships depending on environmental conditions and development stage of vegetables, aromatic and medicinal plants and cultivated mushrooms. Review of necessary conditions for formation of biomass. The choice of scientifically and practically based traditional and innovative technological operations for the qualitative yield. The research and conservation of genetic resources of aromatic plants and vegetables. Local cultivars. Scientific basis of technological operations for yield and seed growing in open field and greenhouses.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the course student will have:
• knowledge about biological processes and their interrelationships depending on environmental conditions and development stage of vegetables, aromatic and medicinal plants and cultivated mushrooms, about positive and negative aspects of local cultivars, about the genetic resources of vegetables and aromatic plants, about progressive plant propagation methods – practical work, seminars, test;
• skills to practise the obtained knowledge in vegetable-growing companies and farms, as well as in the research institutions – practical work, test;

• competence to justify scientifically the choice of technological operations for yield and seed growing in open field and greenhouses - test, individual work (pre-written presentations).

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. Primary and secondary centres of vegetable origin, their effects on physiological processes. 2h.
2. The role of organography in breeding technologies, in relation to the biological processes in vegetable production. 2h.
3. The period of peace, its biological justification and the need for renewal or cessation in vegetable production. 2h.
4. An optimal set of ecological factors and their interaction in biomass creation. 2h.
5. Justification of growing technologies in relation to the environmental complex and biological characteristics. 2h.
6. Justification of major technological processes for different species in different environmental conditions. 2h.
7. Background and possibilities of microclimate control in relation to phytoclimate.
8. The terminization of yield of vegetables and herbs, its possible reasons in the frame of phytoclimate.
9. The methods of integrated farming system in vegetable production, their basic principles and theoretical background.
10. Theoretical and practical basis for choosing cultivation technologies in open field and greenhouse.
11. Research and conservation of genetic resources of vegetables and herbs.
12. Alternative growing methods for receiving of high-quality production in vegetable growing.
13. Biological and practical background for seed production of vegetables and herbs.
14. Biology of blooming and insemination, analysis of deviations and their causes in seed production of vegetables and herbs.
15. The main conditions for the production of high-yield and high-quality hybrid seed.
16. Assessment of the efficiency of growing of different vegetable species for seeds in agro-climatic conditions of Latvia.

Practical work plan.
1. Vegetable propagation methods: generative, vegetative, grafting, in vitro. 4x3h
2. Vegetable development phases-3h
3. Determining the quality of vegetables 3x3h
4. Use of non-destructive methods in plant analyzes 2x3h

Seminars.
1. Microclimate, its regulation possibilities - 3h
2. For growing vegetables in the open field. 3h
3. Growing vegetables in greenhouses 3h
4. Growing vegetables in closed chambers. 3h
5. Algae cultivation. 3h

6. Mushroom cultivation. 3h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Practical work has been completed, participation in at least five seminars, tests have been passed, a report has been prepared and presented.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Discussion about the topics included in the course. Analysis of literature about specific questions. Participation in seminars with specific tasks, practical assignments, preparation and presentation of a report (the review of scientific literature on the program topics). An oral exam, which includes a score for the report (presentation).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Practical work, seminars - evaluated with a mark.
Individual work on a specific topic - evaluated with a mark.
The evaluation of the pre-written presentation consists of content organization, presentation skills, use of professional terminology, answers to questions, adherence to time, quality of visual materials, use of references.
The exam grade is averaged out of:
- arithmetic mean of seminars, individual and practical work as well as tests (50%)

- pre-written presentations (50%)

Compulsory reading

1. Dārzeņi un kartupeļi. Kultūraugu attīstības stadijas. Sast. I. Jakobija, M. Bērziņa, I. Bēme, L. Šostaka, A. M. Plukše u.c. Rīga: Valsts augu aizsardzības dienests, 2014. 66 lpp.
2. Gailīte M., Klovāne I. Siltumnīcas. Rīga: Latvijas Mediji, 2018. 215 lpp.
3. Dārzeņkopība: lauka dārzeņu audzēšana. A. Vērdiņa red. A. Dembovskis, I. Drudze, M. Gailīte, E. Mārciņa u.c. Rīga: ZM, 2007. 284 lpp.
4. Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas through the Production and Exploitation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Ed. By Bobit D. M., Ciufu M., Ghinea V., Līcīte L. et al. Jelgava: LLU, 2018. 255 p.
5. Ieviņš Ģ. Augu fizioloģija. Funkcijas un mijedarbība ar vidi. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds, 2016. 607 lpp.

6. Ulmanis J., Nollendorfs V., Kilēvica M. Dārzeņu un sakņaugu audzēšana sēklām. Talsi: SIA “Kurzemes sēklas”, 1997. 239 lpp.

Further reading

1. Lepse L. Morfoloģisko kritēriju un molekulāro marķieru izmantošana gurķu šķirnes ‘Dindoņa zaļie ķekaru’ atjaunošanā: promocijas darbs Dr. agr. zinārniskā grāda iegūšanai. Jelgava: LLU, 2004. 110 lpp.
2. Žola I. Dārzeņu audzēšana lauku un segtajās platībās bioloģiskajā lauksaimniecībā. Rīga: Latvijas Bioloģiskās lauksaimniecības asociācija, 2007. 16 lpp.
3. Вредители и болезни овощных культур. Справочник. А. Вянгеляускайте, Р. Жуклене, Л. Жуклис, С. Пилецкис, Д. Рапшене. Москва: ВО “Агропромиздат”, 1989. 462 c.

4. Шуваев Ю. Теплицы, парники, укрытия для садовых и приусадебных участков: строительство и эксплуатация сооружений. Выращивание овощей в защищенном грунте. Москва: Маркетинг, 1997. 227 с.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Zinātniski praktiskās konferences “Līdzsvarotā lauksaimniecība” rakstu krājumi. ISSN 2500-9443. ISSN 2500-9451 (elektroniskajam izdevumam).
2. ISHS izdevums “Acta Horticulturae”. ISSN: 0567 - 7572.

3. ISVC izdevums "Vegetable Science". ISSN: 0970-6585.

Notes

Study course of limited choice (Part B) for the students of academic master study program "Agriculture".