Louisiana Horticulture Test Study Guide

Louisiana Horticulture Test Study Guide What is the difference between a cultivar and variety? - ANS Cultivar- A plant or grouping of plants selected for desirable characteristics that can be maintained by propagation Variety- A naturally occurring subgroup of a species which has some distinguishing characters Who is Linnaeus? What system of naming plants did he create? - ANS Linnaeus is a Swedish Botanist who developed the Binomial System of Nomenclature(Genus + Species) Why is it important to know common and scientific names of plants? - ANS So that you can communicate with others without confusion about the identity of a plant What are some origins of botanical names? - ANS Country of origin, Names of Explorers, and Descriptive Latin Terms What are some typical groupings for plants when they are classified by growth characteristics? - ANS Life Span, Leaf Retention, Growth Habits, Light, Size List the functions of a root system. - ANS Absorption, Anchorage, Conduction, Storage What are two kinds of root systems? - ANS Fibrous and Taproot List the functions of the stem of a plant. - ANS Support; Conduction; Storage Define xylem and phloem. - ANS xylem- the transport vessel for water and minerals from root to leaf phloem- the transport vessel for manufactured food from leaf to stem What is the difference between monocots and dicots? - ANS monocots- plants that have a single seed leaf(corn; grass; lilly) dicots- plants that have two seed leaves(trees; shrubs; annuals) What are nodes and internodes? - ANS nodes- the area on stems where leaves emerge internodes- the area on stems in between where leaves emerge List the types of specialized stems and roots commonly found in plants. - ANS Bulbs; Corms; Rhizomes; Tubers; Tuberous Roots What are the two main functions of leaves? - ANS Photosynthesis and Transpiration Define angiosperms and gymnosperms. - ANS Angiosperms- plants that bloom and develop fruit which encloses the seed Gymnosperms- plants that have no true flowers or fruit, but make seeds in cones List the parts of a complete flower. - ANS Stamen(Anther & Filament) Pistil(Stilma; Style; Ovary) Petal Sepal Locule Ovule Placenta Receptacle Peduncle List the priority in which plant parts receive food manufactured by the leaves. - ANS 1)Flower 2)Seed 3)Leaves 4)Stems 5)Roots List three primary elements for essential plant growth. - ANS Carbon; Hydrogen; Oxygen List the three macronutrients essential for plant growth. - ANS Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Potassium List the seven Micronutrients needed for optimum plant growth. - ANS Boron; Copper; Chlorine; Iron; Manganese; Molybdenum; Zinc How is light intensity commonly measured? - ANS Foot Candles: The amount of light falling on one square foot one foot away from a standard candle List three functions of water in a plant. - ANS 1)Ingredient of Photosynthesis 2)Solvent for nutrients 3)Gives the plant tissue rigidity Define permanent wilting point. - ANS when all gravitational water and the available water are gone and only the graivable water remains Define microclimate. - ANS describes areas with certain consistent variation in light, temperature, and moisture in a garden List three ways heat travels. - ANS 1. Conduction 2. Convention 3. Radiation Define soil texture. - ANS determined by the relative proportion of its mineral particles and is classified as sand, silt, and clay Define soil structure. - ANS the way various particles are arranged determine soil structures(sandy or clay soils) Soils can be classified as ________ or ________. - ANS fine or coarse ________ is commonly added to acid soils to raise pH. - ANS Lime ________ is commonly added to alkaline soils to lower pH. - ANS Sulpher Most ornamental plants prefer a soil pH of ________. - ANS 5.5 - 7.0 Acid loving ornamental plants prefer a soil pH of _________. - ANS 5.0 - 5.5 True or False. Nutrient availability is regulated by soil. - ANS True List the four physiological changes in the reproductive phase of sexual propagation. - ANS 1. Cone Bud Induction 2. Flower and Bud Initiation and Development 3. Flower 4. Fruit and Seed Production What is the main disadvantage of sexual propagation? - ANS Produces offspring that are not uniform What are the two most critical environmental requirements pertaining to seed germination? - ANS Water and Temperature Vegetative propagation is also referred to as ____________ propagation. - ANS Asexual List some examples of ways to vegetatively propagate a plant. - ANS Layering; division; separation Strawberry runners are commonly propagated by ________. - ANS Layering Define grafting. - ANS The process of joining a scion (shoot) into a stock so that cambium layers grow together and for a union of two plant parts What steps should be followed when accepting an order at a retail garden center? - ANS 1. Check the order to be correct 2. Inspect the product to be healthy 3. Examine for pests What are three indicators of a plant needing irrigation. - ANS 1. Root ball is not wet 2. Media has shrunk away from the pot 3. Weight of the pot is light and foliage is wilted Why is cold damage common on container-growth ornamental plants at temperatures of 20-25 degrees. - ANS Because these plants are grown above ground where the root systems are not insulated What is the optimum planting time for adding container-grown plants to a landscape? Balled and burlapped plants? Bare-rooted plants? - ANS Container Plants- best planted in Fall Balled and Burlapped Plants- best planted Oct thru Mar Bare Rooted Plants- best planted Dec thru Feb Should organic amendments be added to a planting hole when planting an individual tree? - ANS Research has shown that amendments do not significantly enhance the growth of ornamental plants What are advantages of using mulches? - ANS Uniform soil moisture, insulate roots from temperature extremes, reduce soil burn, disease on foliage, and prevents weeds What N/P/K ratio is recommended for fertilizer used on ornamental trees and shrubs? - ANS 4:1:2 Why prune? - ANS 1. To eliminate dead, diseased, dying or wounded limbs 2. to improve the form and balance of a plant 3. to guide the growth habit 4. to stimulate new growth 5. to rejuvenate older plantings 6. to maintain a geometric shape (formal hedge, topiary, etc.) What is the hormone in the terminal bud of plants that directs bud growth along the stem? - ANS auxin Define thinning out and heading back. - ANS Thinning out refers to the complete removal of branches back to a lateral branch or main trunk. Heading back removes the terminal portion of twigs back to an axillary bud or node. True or False. Most broadleaf shrubs respond well to rejuvenative type pruning. - ANS True Are pruning paints recommended to promote wound healing on trees? - ANS No When should spring-flowering shrubs be pruned? - ANS Just after they flower When should summer flowering trees and shrubs be pruned? - ANS When they are dormant Describe pruning procedures recommended for nandina and mahona. - ANS As the plants age, thin out older canes by cutting them 6" to 8" above the ground level. Old overgrown plants can be severely pruned to ground level. Because the berries are often used for holiday decoration, prune nandina after the Christmas season. List five factors that affect interior plant growth. - ANS Light; Temperature; Water; Fertilizer; Media Define footcandle. What are ideal daytime and nighttime temperatures for most house plants? - ANS Foot Candles: The amount of light falling on one square foot one foot away from a standard candle Daytime- 70 to 80 degrees Nighttime- 60 to 65 degrees What are some foliage and flowering house plants that can be easily propagated from seed? - ANS These include such plants as schefflera, false aralia, tree philodendron, many palms, cacti, and succulents. What common group of plants is propagated from spores? - ANS Ferns What are these spore structures called? - ANS Sori List key identifying characteristics of insects. - ANS 1. Three body regions 2. three pairs of legs 3. one pair of antennae 4. one or two pairs of wings What are an insects three body regions? - ANS 1. Head 2. Thorax 3. Abdomen What are three different types of insect mouthparts? - ANS Chewing, sucking, piercing-sucking, lapping and sponging What are two types of plant diseases? - ANS Non-pathogenic and pathogenic What are some environmental factors that contribute to plant diseases? - ANS Moisture, Temperature, Stage or Plant Growth, Disseminating Agents, Duration of Spore Release, What three factors are required for a pathogenic disease? - ANS 1. A susceptible host 2. a parasitic organism 3. environmental conditions favorable to the development of the pathogen Are any fungi beneficial? - ANS Yes, they rot leaves, cause fermentation in the manufacture of alcohol and cheese and are a derivative for medicines Describe the reproductive process of fungi - ANS 1. Inoculation 2. Penetration 3. Infection 4. Incubation 5. Invasion 6. Reproduction 7. Over wintering What are some ways in which a fungus enters a plant? - ANS 1. Direct Penetration 2. Penetration through Stomates 3. penetration through wounds How do bacteria differ from fungi? - ANS Fungi- a multicellular organism which has no roots, stems, or leaves and cannot make its own food. In the process of obtaining food from higher plants, fungi injure roots, stems, leaves and fruit. All fungi, however, do not cause disease. Bacteria- a very primitive, minute one-celled plant closely related to fungi. Bacteria do not produce spores. They reproduce by simple cell division. What are nematodes, and how can they cause plant disease? - ANS They're very tiny, eel-shaped worms which live in the soil. They feed on plant roots, causing root injury which interferes with the uptake of nutrients and water in the plant. What is damping-off? - ANS Destruction of a seedling's stem near the soil line, resulting in the seedling falling over on the ground. Explain the difference between the terms chlorotic and necrotic. - ANS Chlorotic- lack of iron Necrotic-dead and discolored Which of the following can be used to control garden snails? Rodenticide, Acaricide, Miticide, Molluscicide - ANS Molluscicide What is an example of a synthetic organic pesticide? - ANS Sevin, Malathion, and Maneb These are man-made pesticides. They contain carbo, hydrogen, and one or more elements such as chlorine, phosphorus and nitrogen. How can too much pesticide be harmful? - ANS If too much is used, they can harm or even kill the plant or animal to be protected, as well as initiate tolerance or resistance to the pest. In pesticide terminology, what is meant by the abbreviations EC, G and WP? - ANS EC - Emulsifiable Concentrates G - Granules WP - Wettable Powders List three things found on all pesticide labels. - ANS 1. Brand, Trade, or Product Names 2. Common Name 3. Type of Formulation The rest of the labeling requirements are: 4. Ingredient Statement 5. Type of Pesticide 6. Name and Address of Manufacture 7. Registration and Establishment Numbers 8. Signal Words and Symbols 9. Precautionary Statement 10. Practical Treatment 11. Directions for Use 12. Storage and Disposal Directions 13. Misuse and State Statement What type of minimum body protection should be used each time pesticides are applied? - ANS Long-sleeved buttoned shirt and buttoned color, long-legged trouser, or a coverall garment. What is the best source of information on using pesticides? - ANS The label Describe the differences between the words DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION on the pesticide label. - ANS DANGER - Highly toxic. A teaspoon could kill an average adult if swallowed WARNING - Moderately toxic. A teaspoonful to a tablespoonful could kill an average adult if swallowed. CAUTION - Slightly toxic. An ounce to a pint or more could kill an average adult if swallowed. What basic steps can be followed to manage pest populations? - ANS - Prevention - Early Detection - Correct identification of the pest - Proper selection of control materials - Correct Water PH - Correct application methods List three things that one can do to reduce pest populations without spraying. - ANS 1. Site Selection 2. Early Removal of Vegetation 3. High Quality Seeds and Transplants Others: - Resistant Cultivars - Early Planting - Physical Barriers - Black Light Traps - Sticky Coatings - Companion Planting (Isn't definitive) What is meant by companion planting? Give an example. - ANS Compainion Planting - using one type of plant to protect or enhance the growth of another. Example: Planting a solid patch of Marigolds (French Marigolds are the best) in the garden for one entire season to reduce nematodes. What are three biological insecticides? - ANS 1. Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) - Toxic to Caterpillars 2. Pyrethrum - Causes rabid paralysis of most insects, but the insects usually recover unless it is used with a synergist (activator). 3. Rotenone - highly toxic to fish and many insects, moderately toxic to mammals, harmless to plants, and leaves no harmful residues on crops. What are some beneficial insects? - ANS Lady Beetles, praying mantis, green lacewings, syrphidfly larvae, assassin bugs, and ground beetles What are some ways weeds are classified? - ANS Monocots, Dicots, Growth Habit and How They Reproduce Why is it important to identify weeds before attempting to control them? - ANS Some herbicides kill one species of weed, but not another. How can weeds be controlled by crop rotation? - ANS This can be done because some crops offer more competition to certain weeds than others do. What is the difference between a preemergent and a postemergent herbicide? - ANS Preemergent - prevents weed seeds before they emerge Postemergent - Kills weeds after they've emerged What herbicides can be used to control wild garlic in turf and when should they be applied? - ANS Imazaquin and it should not be applied on Fescue or on warm-season grass during the green up in spring List the warm-season turf grasses according to their texture (fine to coarse); wear resistance; shade tolerance; rate of establishment; drought resistance; method of establishment; and mowing height. - ANS Bermudagrass - fine texture, very good wear resistance, very poor shade tolerance, excellent rate of establishment, excellent drought resistance, vegetative method of establishment, 0.25"-1" mowing height Zoysiagrass - Med-fine texture, Excellent wear tolerance, good shade tolerance, poor rate of establishment, excellent drought resistance, vegetative method of establishment, 0.5"-1" mowing height St. Augustinegrass - very coarse texture, intermediate wear tolerance, excellent shade tolerance, good to intermediate rate of establishment, fair drought resistance, vegetative method of establishment, 1.5"-2.5" mowing height Centipedegrass - coarse texture, poor wear tolerance, intermediate to fair shade tolerance, poor rate of establishment, poor drought tolerance, seed or sod method of establishment, 1.0"-2.0" mowing height Carpetgrass - very coarse texture, intermediate to poor wear tolerance, intermediate to fair shade tolerance, intermediate rate of establishment, poor drought resistance, seed or sod method of establishment, 1.0"-3.0" mowing height Bahiagrass - very coarse texture, good wear tolerance, good shade tolerance, intermediate to poor rate of establishment, excellent drought resistance, seed or sod method of establishment, 1.5"-2.5" mowing height Discuss five ways to vegetatively establish turfgrass. - ANS Stolonizing - Bermuda and Zoysia are commonly stolonized. It is when you shred sod to obtain stolon sections. The stolons are then spread over a prepared area. Sprigging - Most warm-season grass can be established by sprigging. It is when stolons are planted in rows so that about 1/4 of their length is above ground. Plugging - Small soil plugs can be used to establish all warm-season grasses. plugs are just small sections of the turfgrass. Plugging requires less plant material than sodding, but establishment rate is generally slower than sprigging or stolonizing. The closer the plugs the more rapid the cover Sodding - Sodding is advantageous for it provides an "instant lawn" with few weed problems. It is the most expensive type of vegetative establishment Strip Sodding - Strip sodding is sometimes done on golf course fairways particularly with zoysiagrass. Sod is laid in strips rather than as a solid cover. Stolons and rhizomes then grow out from each strip over time to fill in surrounding area. This is less expensive than sodding but quality is low until complete cover occurs. Discuss the steps in establishing a turf area. - ANS 1. Control persistent weeds by application of non-selective herbicides. 2. Remove rock and debris 3. Remove desirable topsoil and stockpile. Establish desired rough grade 4. Provide adequate subsurface drainage 5. Return topsoil and improve with the addition of organic matter or sand 6. Firm and level. Water heavily to allow settling 7. Rototill soil 6" to 8" in depth 8. Establish final grade 9. Add a starter fertilizer 10. Seed, plug, sprig, stolonize or sod 11. Cover seed or sprigs by topdressing to prevent drying 12. Water to meet needs 13. Mow as soon as turf reaches a height that requires mowing 14. Most herbicides cannot be used on newly established turf Discuss the steps in renovating a turfgrass. - ANS 1. Determine the cause of deterioration 2. Eradicate undesirable species 3. Remove thatch 4.Cultivate 5. Apply lime and/or starter fertilizer 6. Seeding or vegetative establishment 7. Topdress and mulch 8. Irrigation List fertilizer types, examples of each and their characteristics. - ANS Synthetic Inorganic: Examples: Ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, urea - Relatively cheap, water soluble, fast release, and quick turf response; N prone to leaching, high burn potential Synthetic organic: Examples: formaldehyde (UF), IBDU, Coron, sulfur coated urea (SCU) - Relatively expensive, slow release with longer residual, slow turf response, low water solubility, low burn potential Natural Organic: Examples: milorganite, bone meal, other organic materials - Relatively expensive, slow release, slow turf response, not water soluble, high bulk needed because of low N content, low burn potential What is the "1/3 rule" for mowing frequency? - ANS Mowing frequency is dependent upon cutting height. Generally. no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade should be removed in one cutting. Should grass clippings be returned or collected during mowing? - ANS Turfgrass clippings contain substantial levels on N and K and should be returned. Of course, there are times when collecting clippings is preferred to returning them, such as: a) on high quality turf areas such as putting greens and tees, b) when children or animals track clippings into the house, or c) when clippings are used for mulch in gardens. When and why do lawns need dethatching? - ANS Detatching should be done when the thatch layer exceeds 0.5". This is done because thatch is spongy and will cause mowers to sink in causing the effective cutting height to be lower then what is desired. Thatchy turf is easily scalped. Also Insects and diseases find thatch an ideal place to live until populations reach a level or environmental conditions are correct to damage turf. Turf with excessive tatch is more susceptible to environmental stresses than turf with little thatch. These are the reasons for dethatching Discuss the life cycles of the following turfgrass weed groups winter annuals summer annuals perennials - ANS Winter Annuals - An annual that grows during the cool portions of the season. (Ex. annual bluegrass - Poa Annua) Summer Annuals - An annual that grows during the warm portions of the season. (Ex. Large Crabgrass - Digitararia sanguinalis) Perennials - A weed that grows indefinitely, and will be present year after year. (Ex. Dallisgrass -Paspalum dilatatum) List turf insect pests and classify them as foliar, root, or nuisance pests. - ANS Foliar Feeders - Armyworms, Sod webworms, Cutworms, Southern Chinch Bug Root Feeders - Mole crickets, May beetles, Japanese beetles, Green June Beetle, Hunting Billbugs Nuisance Pests - Fire ant, Ticks, Earwigs List the hot weather, warm weather, and cool weather diseases. - ANS Hot weather - Pythium Blight, Gray leaf spot Warm weather - Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Rust Cool weather - Spring dead spot