Biology and uses of economically important crops. Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Research techniques and methodologies in plant sciences (phylogenetic tree/ dendograms). Phenotyping. On-the-farm biodiversity. Ecosystem Services. Germplasm conservation. Gene Banks. Plant Variety Protection Act. Environment manipulations for crop growth and development. Vegetative and reproductive growth physiology. Functions, requirements and uptake of essential plant nutrients; chemical and microbial processes affecting nutrient availability. Plant growth substances. Growth kinetics. Plant growth analysis. Yield determination and crop productivity. Seed physiology. Seed germination and dormancy. Light and plant development: photo-morphogenesis and photoperiodism. Source-sink relationship. Photosynthate partitioning in relation to yield. Senescence. Stress physiology. Basic crop modelling.
