NPLK14011U Tropical Botany B

Volume 2019/2020
Education

MSc Programme in Environment and Development
MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture (Agris Mundus)
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management

Content

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.

Learning Outcome

Learning outcome
The overall learning outcome is to provide students with the necessary skills and competences through ex-situ experiences to study tropical agriculture, forestry, horticulture, crop protection in the tropics, tropical plant pathology, animal husbandry, tropical landscape architecture or other tropical and Third World subjects.

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.
- of selected tropical plant families and their origin and ecology
- of the correct scientific and English names of tropical plants
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological factors in tropical regions

Skills
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological factors in tropical regions
Comprehends adequate botanical/ecological knowledge of tropical crops, tropical timbers, tropical forages and weeds as a prerequisite to study and/or work economic botany within the fields of agriculture, forestry with cultivation, breeding and technological problems within the fields of agriculture, forestry, horticulture incl. crop protection, and animal husbandry in the tropics

Competences
Is aware of:
- tropical plants as a genetic resource and the importance of maintaining tropical biodiversity
- can reflect on problems and risks in relation to development of tropical regions
- can identify problems in sustainable tropical plant production, can respond, reflect, and is able to discuss the choice of preferable crops

Literature

Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A. & Seberg, O. 2007. Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Kranz, J., Schmutterer, H. & Koch, W. (eds.) (1978). Diseases, pests, and weeds in tropical crops John Wiley & Sons. Chichester. 666 pp.
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.Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (1993): Timber trees: Major commercial timbers. PROSEA vol. 5(1). Pudoc, Wageningen.

Basic botany

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
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.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 12
  • Exam
  • 2
  • Guidance
  • 20
  • Lectures
  • 15
  • Practical exercises
  • 27
  • Preparation
  • 65
  • Project work
  • 50
  • Theory exercises
  • 15
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Individual
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 min
Written assignment
Oral exam accounts for app. 50% and the written course assignment (prepared during the course) for app. 50% towards to the total mark. An overall assesment is made. No preparation time before the oral examination.
Exam registration requirements

Student presentation of chosen 'crop(s)'

Aid
Without aids

No aids for the oral examination.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Én intern bedømmer
Re-exam

As the ordinary exam.

If the requirements are not met the student must do the presentation of chosen 'crop(s)' to the course coordinator two weeks before the reexamination at the latest.

Criteria for exam assesment


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.
- of selected tropical plant families and their origin and ecology
- of the correct scientific and English names of tropical plants
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological factors in tropical regions