250044 Tropical Botany B

Details
Department of Ecology   64 %
Forest & Landscape   18 %
Department of Agricultural Sciences   18 %
Earliest Possible YearBSc. 2 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
Course LevelJoint BSc and MSc
The course is open to students on all programmes and to external students
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination and oral examination


No aid allowed

Description of Examination: Evaluation of course report. Oral examination in chosen families.

Weight: 50% Project report 50% Oral examination



13-point scale, internal examiner
 
Requirement For Attending ExamProject report completed
 
Organisation of TeachingLectures, practicals and local excursions
 
Block PlacementBlock 2
Week Structure: C
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
Basic Science
Knowledge of tropical plants of agronomic, forestry and horticultural importance, and the specific utilised parts of each plant, e.g. seed(s), legumes/pods, roots/tubers, grains, etc.
Knowledge of the origin and ecology of tropical plants
Knowledge of the correct scientific and English names of tropical plants
Knowledge of selected tropical plant families
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological factors in tropical regions

Applied Science
Comprehends sufficient botanical/ecological knowledge of tropical crops, tropical timbers, tropical forages and weeds as a prerequisite to study and/or work with cultivation, breeding and technological problems within the fields of agriculture, forestry, horticulture incl. crop protection, and animal husbandry in the tropics

Ethics and Values
Is aware of tropical plants as a genetic resource and the importance of maintaining tropical biodiversity
Is aware of and can reflect on problems and risks in relation to development of tropical regions
 
Course Objectives
The objective is to provide the student with an enlarged botanical knowledge of tropical agricultural, forestry, horticultural crops, tropical forages, tropical weeds and ornamentals. The taxonomy of each genus will be reviewed as will the genetic diversity, the nomenclature (scientific and English), origin, distribution, ecology (incl. vegetation type), morphology, pollination biology, germination, uses and the possible contents of toxic/anti-nutritional compounds.
 
Course Contents
The various genera will be reviewed in groups according to use/type: Timbers, cereals, pseudo-cereals, root and tuber crops, pulses, oil plants, sugar plants, vegetables, stimulant (incl. medicinal)plants, spices, fruits, technical plants, forages, and the most common pantropical weeds. Also commonly used ornamentals will be studied.
The course is addressed to students who plan to study tropical agriculture, forestry, horticulture, crop protection in the tropics, tropical plant pathology, animal husbandry in the tropical, tropical landscape architecture or other tropical and Third World subjects. The course will be a necessary prerequisite to all who expect to be working with tropical agriculture, forestry, agro-forestry, horticulture, animal husbandry in the tropics and food and nutritional technology. Students contemplating a career within agencies or institutions in the developing countries will find the course to be of relevance.
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
During the initial two thirds of the course lectures reviewing the syllabus and one weekly tutorial will be conducted. During the final third of the course the participants will be expected to work in groups with subjects/problems of their own choice resulting in the presentation of a report. The course will be concluded by an oral examination in the most important genera. The course aims to provide a thorough knowledge of an individually chosen number of plant families equal to approx. 60 textbook pages. The relevant families may be identified according to agricultural, forestry or horticultural interest. During the course time allotted for lectures and tutorial will be used for a combination of group work with supervision/instruction within the chosen number of plant families and in preparation of the course report. In the group work dried/live plant material, textbooks, floras, reference books as well as internet site and other illustrative material will be used. For the oral exam both the individually chosen plant families as well as the course report will be included in the examination requirements. A single mark for the combined evaluation of oral examination and the course report will be given. Field trips to the Botanical Garden will be included.
 
Course Litterature
Heywood, V. (ed.) (1993): Flowering Plants of the World.
Batsford.Koch, W. (ed.) (1978): Weeds in tropical crops  i: Diseases, pests and weeds in tropical crops. John Wiley & Sons.
Rehm, S. & Espig, G. (1991): The Cultivated Plants of the Tropics and Subtropics. Verlag Josef Margraf.
Skerman, PI, Cameron, D.G. & Riveros, F. (1990): Tropical forage legumes. 2nd ed. FAO Plant Production Series No. 2. Fao, Rome.
Skerman, PI. & Reveros, F. (1990): Tropical grasses. FAO Plant Production Series No. 23. Fao, Rome.S
oerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (1993): Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. PROSEA vol. 5(1). Pudoc, Wageningen.
 
Course Coordinator
Marten Sørensen, ms@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Botany, Phone: 35332815
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures15
theoretical exercises15
practicals27
Colloquia12
project work50
supervision20
preparation65
examination2

206