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Horticulture

Course developers

Course abstract

Growth and development of horticultural plants, yield formation, endogenous and exogenous factors influencing it. Plant ontogenesis, morphology, genetics and breeding, reproduction, propagation peculiarities and possibilities.. Periodism in plant life, its regulation. Horticultural stress physiology. Factors influencing the growth, development, yield formation and its quality of certain groups of horticultural plants. Yield forecasting options. Storage of horticultural products, biochemical changes in fruit and vegetables after harvest. Growing technologies that reduce environmental risk.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Doctoral students acquire in-depth knowledge of vegetable growth, development, crop formation in different growing conditions.
Is able to find the necessary scientific literature, analyze and evaluate its applicability.
Can find, analyze and summarize scientific literature and present it.
Able to analyze and evaluate the productivity of horticultural plants, their limiting factors.
Knowledge, skills and competences are assessed in the final exam, which consists of: a report, its presentation and lectures for master students.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Horticultural science, its development in Latvia and in the world, future prospects. Horticultural plants, their classification.
2. Growth and development of horticultural plants (their groups) and cultivated mushrooms, factors influencing them. Productivity and factors influencing it, possibilities of yield regulation and forecasting.
3. Stress physiology of horticultural plants and cultivated mushrooms, possibilities to increase endurance, periodisms, yield quality of horticultural crops and factors influencing it.
4. Storage of horticultural plant and cultivated mushroom crops and physiological and biochemical processes after harvesting and during storage.
5. Propagation biology of horticultural plants and cultivated mushrooms, vegetative and generative propagation of horticultural plants, quality of planting material.
6. Acclimatization and introduction of horticultural plants (woody and herbaceous plants), influence of ecological factors on the ontogenesis period of introduced plants.
7. Technologies for growing of horticultural plants’ groups (fruits, berries, vegetables) and cultivated mushrooms in different conditions (covered areas and closed growing systems, technologies for reducing environmental risks, etc.).
8. Reduction of pollution in the cultivation of horticultural plants and cultivated mushrooms.
9. Inventory, description, and preservation of horticultural plants, including genetic resources, parks, dendrological plantations and arboretums.

10. Risk analysis (imported and invasive plants, pests, genetically modified organisms, etc.) in horticulture.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Exam (oral) consisting of:
- report and presentations

- lectures for master students.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Studies of scientific literature.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Report on a specific topic, coordinated with the respective lecturer and supervisor of the dissertation.
The report shall be submitted for evaluation at least 5 working days before its public defence.
Public presentation of the prepared report (20-30 minutes long) and discussion in the presence of examination commission.

Prepared and conducted at least 2 lectures for master's students, agreeing on topics with the responsible lecturer in advance.

Compulsory reading

1. Physiology of Vegetable Crops. Edited by: H.C. Wien, Cornell University, USA, H. Stützel, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany CABI, 2020, 496 p.
2. Vegetable production and practices / Gregory E. Welbaum, Ph.D., Visiting Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, Seed Biotechnology Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA and Professor, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. , 2015, 478 p.
3. Container nursery production and business management manual (2014) Julie P. Newman, tech. ed., California: University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 345 p.
4. Krüssman G. (1997). Die Baumschule. Berlin: Parey Buchverlag, 982 S.
5. Fundamentals of Temperate Zone Tree Fruit Production. Ed. by J. Tromp, A.D. Webster, S.J.Wetheim. Leiden: Backuys Publishers, 2005. 400 p.
6. Improving the health-promoting properties of fruit and vegetable products. F.A.Tomas-Barberan, M.I.Gil (ed.). England: Woodhead Publishing, 2008. 559 p.
7. Valero, D., & Serrano, M. (2010). Postharvest biology and technology for preserving fruit quality [elektroniskais resurss] / Daniel Valero and Maria Serrano. Boca Raton, Fla.: Taylor & Francis Group. – 287 p.

Further reading

1. Doolan D.W. Vegetable seedling production manual 1999, 63 p.
2. Augu fizioloģija: funkcijas un mijiedarbība ar vidi. Ģ Ieviņš, Rīga, LU, 2016, 607 lpp.
3. Pārtikas organiskā ķīmija. V. Kreicbergs 2018.
4. Temperate and subtropical fruit production. D. I. Jackson, N. E. Looney (ed.). 2nd edition. UK: CABI Publishing, 2006. 332 p.
5. 3. The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. J. Janick, R.E. Paull. (ed.). Wallingford, UK; Cambridge, MA: CAB International, 2008. 954 p.
6. 3.4. Augļkopība. Red. L. Ikase. Dobeles novads: LV Augļkopības institūts, 2015. 544 lpp.

7. Wills R.B.H., McGlasson W.B., Graham D., Joyce D.C. Postharvest. (5th edition). An introduction to the physiology and handling of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals. 5th edition. UK: CABI Publishing, 2007. 227 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. ISHS izdevums "Acta Horticulturae" ISSN: 0567-7572 http://www.actahort.org/
2. Horticulturae https://www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae

3. Zinātniskie raksti atbilstoši tēmām

Notes

Doctoral study program "Agriculture".