Publisher Description

Understanding the physiology of plants is fundamental to horticultural studies and practice. Aimed at undergraduates, this major textbook covers applied aspects of physiology related to horticultural crops. The author discusses specific physiological processes in relation to horticultural management, maintaining a focus throughout on how horticultural practices influence plant productivity and quality. Principles of Horticultural Physiology begins by guiding students through the basics of plant physiology; plant anatomy and plant classification, before covering plant hormones, growth and development, and factors related to the external environment including water, light, temperature and soil. Greenhouse culture is also discussed, as well as practical management techniques including seeding, pruning and grafting. The book concludes with real-world horticultural considerations of harvesting crops, packaging and transportation, postharvest physiology and marketing plant products, as well as a fascinating chapter on plants and human nutrition. One of the text's chief virtues is the accessible way the author conveys sometimes complex information in an easy to follow style. An ideal resource for undergraduate students of horticulture, this book will act as a guide throughout the entire course.

Author Biography

I received my BS in Horticulture from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, my MS in Horticulture from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, and my Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. I joined the Horticulture Department at Rutgers in 1986 and conducted tree fruit physiology research, including peach flower bud cold hardiness, rootstock - scion interactions in peach and apple and consumer acceptance of disease resistant apple cultivars. From the late 1990's through 2005 my research focused on photoperiod and temperature conditioning of strawberry plug plants for off-season production. From 2006 - 2016 my research program was placed on hiatus to serve as Director of the Student Sustainable Farm at Rutgers, a student-run 5-acre CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm with 50 to 175 shareholders that provided experiential learning of organic vegetable, herb and flower production for students at Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey. In 2016 I returned to my roles in teaching and research, investigating alternative strawberry production systems and plant conditioning and goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) as a new fruit crop for North America. I teach or have taught 'Applied Plant Science Statistics', 'Applied Physiology of Hort Crops', 'Agroecology Practicum', 'Fruit Production', 'Seminar in Horticulture' and 'Perspectives on Agriculture & the Environment'.

Table of Contents

1: Horticulture – Whole Plant Integration of Many Disciplines 2: The Plant Hormones 3: Growth, Development, and Plant Movement 4: Physiology of Growth in Specific Organs: Roots, Stems, and Leaves 5: Physiology of Growth in Specific Organs: Flowers, Fruit, and Seeds 6: Some Abiotic Plant Stressors – Oxygen, Minerals, and Salt 7: Water and Plants 8: Light Energy and Plant Function 9: Temperature Effects on Growth and Development of Plants 10: The Soil and its Environment 11: The Greenhouse Environment 12: Seeding and Seedling Establishment 13: Pruning, Training, Growth, and Plant Size 14: Grafting and Rootstocks 15: From Harvest to Market 16: Postharvest Physiology 17: Human Nutrition, Phytonutrients, Nutraceuticals, and Horticulture

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