The Language of the Green
Industries
Category E Turf and Ornamentals
Pesticide Applicator Training Manual
Chapter 1
Introduction
• In order to communicate with other
professionals you need to understand:
– Plant structure.
– How plants grow.
– Plant nomenclature and classification.
Terms
• Angiosperm—plant that produces seeds within the pistil
(ovary).
• Corm—a type of a bulb that develops from a swollen base
of a main stem e.g. gladiolus and crocus.
• Fruit—the mature or “ripened” ovary and ovules of an
angiosperm.
• Gymnosperm—a plant that produces seeds in open
scales, usually in cones, such as pine, fir, and spruce.
• Herbaceous plants—any annual or perennial plant with a
non-woody stem that dies back to the roots in winter.
• Hybrid—a plant produced by controlled cross-fertilization of
two related angiosperms.
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Terms
• Organ—a unique combination or arrangement of plant
tissues that performs a major function in a plant.
• Organelle—a structure within an individual plant cell that
performs a major function within the cell.
• Pollination—the sexual propagation of a plant, resulting
when pollen (sperm) enters the pistil (ovary) of a flower.
• Rhizome—an underground stem that spreads to produce
new above ground shoots.
• Woody plants—plants whose basic stem structures are
perennial with annual growth rings visible in cross section
of the stem.
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Terms
• Translocation—the movement of water and nutrients
through the organs of a plant.
• Microclimate—a small area with a climate distinctly
different from the surrounding climate, caused by slight
differences in exposure, elevation, slope, shade, or even
soil mulch.
Category E--- Chapter 1 The Language of the Green Industries
The Parts of a Plant
The Cells
• The cell is the building
block for plants.
• Structures within cells
that perform a major
function are
organelles.
The Parts of a Plant
The Cells
• Tissues—groups of cells related by
structure or function.
• Tissues form organs
–
–
–
–
Roots
Stem
Leaves
Reproductive structures
The Parts of a Plant
The Stem
• Nodes—the leaf attachment
points on the stem.
• Internode—the portion of stem
between two leaves.
The Parts of a Plant
The Meristems
• Meristems—cells that
retain the ability for rapid
cell division (growth).
• Areas of the plant that
contain meristems:
– Root apex
– Terminal and lateral
shoots
– Vascular cambium
– Leaf margins
• Apical meristem—the
growing tip at the end of
the stem.
The Parts of a Plant
The Vascular Cambium
• Vascular cambium—divides and is responsible for the
increase in caliper (girth). Is a secondary meristem.
• The vascular cambium produces the tissues which become:
– Xylem—conducts water and nutrients, the dead inner
layers of xylem are ‘sapwood.’
– Phloem—translocates carbohydrates produced in the
leaves and other mobile inorganic nutrients.
The Parts of a Plant
The Cork Cambium
• Cork cambium—spongy, cells outside the
secondary phloem containing suberin, a water
repellant substance.
The Parts of a Plant
The Leaves
The Parts of a Plant
Leaf Arrangements
• A simple leaf consists of a
blade, a petiole, and
stipules.
The Parts of a Plant
Leaf Arrangements
• A compound leaf
consists of 2 or more
leaflets.
The Parts of a Plant
Compound Leaf Veination
Palmate
Pinnate
The Parts of a Plant
Roots
• The roots anchor
the plant to the
ground and absorb
nutrients and water
from the soil.
The Parts of a Plant
Root Systems
Taproot---one
main root from
which branch
roots extend
Fibrous roots--many branching
roots
The Parts of a Plant
Flowers
• Typical flower parts:
– Receptacle
– Sepals (collectively
calyx)
– Petals (collectively
corolla)
– Stamen
– Pistil
The Parts of a Plant
Flowers
• Flowers that contain both
stamens and pistils are
said to be perfect or
complete.
• Species that have
incomplete flowers on
different parts of the same
plant are monoecious.
• Species that male and
female parts on different
plants are dioecious.
The Parts of a Plant
Fruit and Seeds
• In botany fruit means a ripened ovary.
• Seed consists of:
– Seed coat
– An dormant embryo
– Stored food (usually)
• Food is stored in the cotyledon/s/ and in
endosperm.
• Monocots (monocotyledonous) seeds that have 1
seed leaf (cotyledon) e.g. grass.
• Dicots (dicotyledonous) seeds that have 2 seed
leaves.
The Parts of a Plant
Fruit and Seeds
• Monocots
(monocotyledonous)
seeds that have 1
seed leaf
(cotyledon) e.g.
grass.
• Dicots
(dicotyledonous)
seeds that have 2
seed leaves.
Example of ‘seed leaves’ on a
tomato
How Plants Grow
Seed Germination and Cuttings
• Propagation—the reproduction of plants by sexual or
asexual means.
• Sexual reproduction by seeds
– Germination—begins when specific light, temperature, moisture,
and pre-germination requirements are met. Seeds begin to take
up moisture.
– Germination is complete when the embryonic root (radical) and the
primary shoot are visible.
• Asexual (vegetative) reproduction from cuttings
– Cuttings—portions of root, stem, or leaf tissue used for asexual
reproduction (vegetative).
– Shoots arising from root, stem, or leaf portions are called
adventitious because they arise from an “unexpected” location.
How Plants Grow
Photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis—the conversion of light to energy.
• Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts the organelles that
contain chlorophyll.
• Pigments in the chloroplast
– Chlorophyll ‘A’ captures light (antennae chlorophyll) and converts
light to chemical energy (photosensitive chlorophyll).
– Chlorophyll ‘B’ helps capture light for Chlorophyll ‘A’ does not
convert light.
– Carotenes help capture light and protect light destruction of
chlorophyll.
How Plants Grow
Photosynthesis and Respiration
• Photosynthate—the products of photosynthesis, primarily
glucose.
• Glucose can be converted to starch in the chloroplast or it
may be transformed into sucrose.
• Sucrose is the major sugar translocated via the phloem.
• Aerobic respiration
– All cells continuously convert glucose, sucrose or
starch into energy needed to maintain the plant’s
metabolism and growth
– The process is aerobic because oxygen is consumed.
– Carbon dioxide and water are produced in this process.
How Plants Grow
Cell Growth
• Cell division—mitosis increases the numbers of cells in
meristems (shoots, roots, buds, leaf margins).
• Cell enlargement—new cell growth increases length
(elongation) or girth.
• Cell differentiation—new cells change structure or
function to produce organelles e.g. chloroplasts or xylem.
How Plants Grow
Plant Growth Hormones
• Plant growth hormones—regulate and control plant
growth. They are effective in very small concentration and
are translocated from the site of production to where they
are used.
• 5 groups of plant hormones:
– Auxins are responsible for apical dominance, when the
apical meristem is removed lateral buds will begin
active growth.
– Gibberellins promote cell enlargement, can stimulate
seed germination for some species.
How Plants Grow
Plant Growth Hormones
• 5 groups of plant hormones:
– Cytokinins are translocated from roots—promote cell
division, help regulate stomatal closure, and may
prevent senescence (aging) in some plant parts.
– Ethylene inhibits, is naturally produced by ripening
fruits. Synthetic ethylenes are available.
– Abscisic acid inhibits growth, keeps seeds dormant.
How Plants Grow
Environmental Factors
• Plant growth can controlled (to a degree) by
modifying light, water, temperature and nutrients.
• The 3 essential nutrients to plant growth
– Nitrogen—is responsible for vigorous growth and dark
green color. The 2 forms of nitrogen for plant uptake
are nitrate and ammonium.
– Phosphorous—is important for root growth, flowering,
and plant vigor.
– Potassium—is important for protein production
(synthesis), metabolic functions, water relations.
• Perform soil tests to determine actual fertilizer
needs.
Plant Nomenclature and
Classification
• System of nomenclature was developed in the 1700’s by
Carl Linneaus.
– A specific plant can have only one scientific name.
– Latin binomial (two part) scientific names—
• Genus (capitalized) and
• species (not capitalized).
• The system also includes categories with the species
– variety (abbreviated var.)
– subspecies (abbreviated ssp.)
• Cultivar (abbreviated cv.) derived from ‘cultivated variety.’
• Hybrids are genetic crosses of 2 or more species. In most
cases hybrids are shown as genus X cultivar.
Plant Nomenclature and
Classification Examples
Genus
Species
Common Name
Viburnum
trilobum
American Highbush Cranberry
Genus
Species
Botanical variety
Common Name
Clematis dioscoreifolia
var. robusta
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Genus
Species
Cultivar
Common Name
Acer
rubrum
‘Northwood’
‘Northwood’ Red Maple
Genus
Species
Cultivar
Common Name
Malus
X
‘Radiant’
‘Radiant’ Flowering Crabapple
Plant Nomenclature
Legal Protection to Plant Breeders
• Contracts—producers produce and sell a cultivar under
the contract name and pay royalties.
• Patents—legal monopolies (17 years) that prohibit
propagation or sale unless royalties are paid to the
breeder.
• Trademarks—producers/seller must pay a royalty to use
the trademark. Trademarks do not expire.
Plant Classification
Life Cycles and Growth Habits
• Annuals complete their
lifecycle in 1 year.
• Biennials produce
vegetative growth the
1st year and bloom the
2nd year.
Plant Classification
Life Cycles and Growth Habits
• Perennials live more than 2 years
– Woody perennials have persistent stems
– Herbaceous perennials die back to the ground
• Growth habit—how a plant tends to grow
– Groundcovers present horizontal effect
– Shrubs—more than 1 stem and height less than
20 feet
– Trees—usually a single stem and height more
than 20 feet.