Plant & Soil Science: Commercial Plant Propagation

Principles and practices involved in propagating herbaceous and woody plants by seeds, division, layering, cuttings, budding, grafting, and aseptic culture. Prerequisite: PSS 1100, PSS 1210, one semester Biology, or Instructor permission.

Must register for lab PSS 2380 A01 or A02; Open to Degree and Continuing Education students; Prerequisites enforced by the system: PSS 1100 or 1210; Also acceptable: One semester Bio, or instructor permission; Contact the instructor for override: mark.starrett@uvm.edu

In this course, we will explore the principles and practices involved in propagating herbaceous and woody plants by seeds, division, layering, cuttings, grafting, and tissue culture/micropropagation. Each student will finish the course with MANY plants that they have propagated over the course of the semester that they will get to take home with them!

Each student will: 1.) Become familiar with the principles of plant propagation as it applies to commercial production 2.) Develop practical skills in the art and science of plant propagation during weekly laboratories.

Three exams = 60% Exam format is short answer, crafting diagrams of plant propagation systems and techniques, as well as defining terms that are needed in this field of study. Written/oral report = 10% The report is a 5-page term paper that is on a plant of the student's choosing. The focus of the paper is on the methods that can be used to propagate the plant they have selected. Additionally, an oral presentation on the same topic as the paper will be presented in front of your peers during class using PowerPoint or similar presentation method. Laboratory reports/quizzes = 30% Laboratory attendance is REQUIRED. Each week the labs will showcase a new method/technique used to propagate plants. There will be one term project in the lab and will result in a written report due at the conclusion of the semester. Each week there will be a pre-lab quiz on the material being presented that week in lab, so that the student is prepared for the lab. The lab quizzes are short answer and multiple choice in format.