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Course Descriptions

taught at the:

Department of Horticulture
134 A Plant Science Building
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853

For complete course descriptions, requirements and other details, please consult the Course of Study Book.

Distance Learning Opportunities

HORT 101 - Horticulture Science and Systems [Prereq.: High School Bio.]
Fall | 4 credits | I. Merwin
The science and technology of horticultural plants grown for foods and beverages, and ornamental, landscape or recreational purposes. Lectures, labs and field trips involve natural history and evolution of horticultural plants, botany and physiology, sustainable management of soil, water and plant nutrition, breeding and propagation, ecological and landscape functions, and integrated design and management of horticultural plantings and production systems.

HORT 190 - Sustainable Agriculture (also CSS 190)
Fall | 2 or 3 credits | CJ. Peters and J. Mt Pleasant
Designed to be an enjoyable introduction to basic food production resources (soils, crops, and climates) and emphasizes scientific principles of management that conserve or renew those resources for continuing benefit to society. The information is of general value for nonmajors and students new to the field. Laboratories include several field trips and stress hands-on experience with soils, crops, and descriptive climatology. Written assignments are prepared for the web. Extra credit can be earned by participation in team preparation and delivery of a lesson in sustainable agriculture.

HORT 201/203 - The Art of Horticulture
Fall and Spring| 2 credits | M. Eames-Sheavly
Course website.
These introductory courses explores the breadth of the art and beauty of horticulture. They address the symbolic use of plants and gardens in art, the natural history of horticulture as recorded in art, the artist's relationship with the garden, and the use of plant materials in art forms. Students will have ample opportunity to paint, illustrate, photograph, and write about plants and gardens in Hort 201, and will explore, hands-on, fibers and dyes, floral design, and living sculpture in Hort 203. Hort 201 (fall) focuses on plants and gardens as a subject of art. Hort 203 (fall) focuses on plant materials that are used to create art, or that are manipulated as artforms.

HORT 225 Vegetable Production
Fall | 4 credits | L.A. Ellerbrock
Intended for those interested in the production, processing, and marketing of vegetables. Topics included are techniques, problems, and trends in the culture, harvesting and storage of the major vegetable crops. Field trips to conventional and organic farms and hands-on experience in growing vegetables in the laboratory are included.

HORT 235 Plants and Human Well Being
Spring | 3 credits | Jane Mt. Pleasant and Sonja Skelly
This course examines the beneficial effects of plants on human cultures, communities and individuals. We will begin by exploring the historical roles that plants have played in human societies as food, fiber, shelter, and medicine. We will then study contemporary impacts of plants on communities including community gardens, green spaces, farmer's markets, and the use of plants for pollution control, economic development, conflict resolution, and tourism. We will also examine how plants benefit individuals today, in terms of adult cognition, K-12 education, mental health, and personal empowerment. Laboratories will include field trips and exercises to allow students to see first hand and analyze plant-based initiatives aimed at improving human well-being.

HORT 243 Taxonomy of Cultivated Plants (also BIOPL 243)
Fall | 3 credits | M.A. Luckow
A study of ferns and seed plants, their relationships, and their classification into families and genera, emphasizing cultivated plants. Particular emphasis is placed on gaining proficiency in identifying and distinguishing families and in preparing and using analytic keys. Attention is also given to the economic importance of taxa, to the basic taxonomic literature, and to the elements of nomenclature.

HORT 300 - Herbaceous Plant Materials
Fall | 3 credits | W.B. Miller
Identification, use, characteristics, and garden cultural requirements of annual and herbaceous perennial plants, especially those used in northern climates. Practical gardening experiences at selected campus locations. Field trips to nearby specialty nurseries. Garden planting design is not a component of the course.

HORT 301 - Plants for Interiors
Spring | 3 credits | T C Weiler and staff
Study of plants for interiors: identification, design characteristics, and cultural requirements; the interior landscape industry (organization, bidding, installation, maintenance); use of plants as elements of planting design (trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and accent plants (including potted flowering plants and cut flowers). Required 3-day field trip, estimated cost $130.

HORT 310 - Production and Marketing of Crops Grown in Controlled Environments
Spring | 4 credits | T. C. Weiler
Basics of establishing and managing agricultural production in environmentally optimized facilities; technology basics, systems and practices, structures, systems and equipment, materials handling, heating and cooling, lighting, fertilizing and irrigation, environmental stewardship, integrated pest management, business management; world centers of production; production of cut, pot, bedding, vegetable, and fruit crops in controlled environments, emphasizing predictive harvesting through environmental, physical, and chemical management of growth and development. Each student grows one or more crops. Required three-day field trip, estimated cost, $130.

HORT 317 - Seed Science and Technology (also CSS 317)
Fall | 3 credits | A. G. Taylor
Study of the principles and practices involved in seed production, conditioning, storage, quality management and stand establishment. Information is applicable to various kinds of agricultural and horticultural seeds. Hands-on laboratory experience.

HORT 330 - Turfgrass Management
Fall | 4 credits | A. M. Petrovic
Study of the scientific principles involved in the management of golf courses, athletic fields, parks and industrial grounds, and commercial sod production. Considerations given to principles of establishment, mowing, irrigation, growth and development, species selection, nutrition in the management of turfgrass sites, and integrated pest management.

HORT 400 - Principles of Plant Propagation
Fall | 3 credits | K. W. Mudge
Sexual (seed) propagation and vegetative (asexual) propagation including cuttage, graftage, tissue culture, layering and specialized vegetative reproductive structures. Physiological, environmental, and anatomical principles are stressed in lecture and hands-on skills in laboratories. Examples include both temperate as well as tropical horticultural, agronomic, and forestry crops.

HORT 401 - The How, When and Why of Grafting - A Distance Learning Approach
Spring | 2 credits | K.W. Mudge
A six week, web-based autotutorial approach to the principles and practices of grafting and budding as applied to plant propagation. Emphasis will be on the role of grafting in modern horticultual practice and on student development of hands on grafting skills. Instruction will involve micro web-based asynchronous presentation of lecture materials (web, cd-rom), asynchronous discussion (e-mail), and hands-on, autotutorial greenhouse laboratory exercises.

HORT 420 - Principles of Nursery-Crop Production
Fall | 4 credits | G. L. Good
Principles of commercial production of nursery crops to marketable stage, including postharvest handling and storage. Term project required. Field trips are made to commercial nurseries.

HORT 425 - Postharvest Biology of Horticultural Crops
Fall | 3 credits | S. Gan
A study of the biological processes controlling physical and chemical changes in harvested yet living horticultural crops and their parts. The theoretical principles and fundamental processes underlying these changes will be discussed. Strategies and practical handling requirements/conditions for storage, transportation, and quality monitoring of harvested horticultural crops will also be discussed.

HORT 426(4260) - Practicum in Forest Farming as an Agroforestry System (also NTRES/CSS 426[4260])
Fall | 2 credits | K. W. Mudge and L. E. Buck.
Students actively take part in the restoration of a 70-year-old nut grove. The MacDaniel's Nut Grove is being developed as a multipurpose forest-farming teaching, research, and extension site. Hands-on activities include: temperate-nut harvest and variety evaluation, mushroom culture, small-fruit and fruit-tree culture, medicinal-herb culture, site evaluation and planning, and field trips to other agroforestry-related sites. Outdoor activities are integrated with selected readings via an online discussion board.

HORT 435 - The Care of Woody and Herbaceous Plants in the Landscape
Fall | 4 credits | G. L. Good
A study of the practices involved in the maintenance of woody ornamental plants in the landscape. The major emphasis will be on post-planting techniques, including water and fertilization management, weed management, pruning, and general tree care. Labs have a hands-on focus.

HORT 440 - Restoration Ecology
Fall | 3 credits | T. H. Whitlow
An inquiry based treatment of the principles and methods of ecology, conservation biology, hydrology, soil science and related disciplines applied to the restoration of degraded terrestrial ecosystems. Weekly labs, four weekend field trips, and a semester-long project provide many opportunities for experiential learning. Substantial commitment outside of the classroom is expected.

HORT 442 - Berry Crops: Culture and Management
Fall | 3 credits | M. P. Pritts
A study of the evolution breeding history and physiology of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and other minor small fruit crops, and of cultural practices that influence productivity, fruit quality, and pest damage. Marketing and economics will be considered, and alternative production practices for both commercial and home gardeners will be discussed.

HORT 444 - Applied Viticulture
Fall | 3 credits | R. Pool
Grape production and post-production practices with emphasis on the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes regions. We will examine grape varieties, site selection, and vine management as affected by geography, meteorology and vine anatomy/physiology. Protection of vines and grapes from injury by cultural, chemical, and natural means will also be explored. Laboratory exercises and field trips offer hands-on experience in vineyard practices, marketing and processing.

HORT 445 - Ecological Orchard Management
Spring | 3 credits | I.A. Merwin
The ecology and technology of deciduous tree-fruit production. Topics include basic tree and fruit physiology, orchard renovation and design systems, nutrition, irrigation and freeze protection practices, tree pruning and training, post-harvest fruit storage, marketing and economic spreadsheet models, monitoring and decision systems for integrated pest management, and efficient use of orchard equipment. Emphasis is on the agroecology of perennial crop systems, with labs providing hands-on experience in orchard management. Previous coursework in horticulture and other plant sciences is suggested, and introductory biology is a prerequisite.

HORT 449 - Green Signals and Triggers - The Plant Hormones (also BIOPL 449)
Fall | 1 credits | P. J. Davies
A study of the plant hormones and how they regulate plant growth and development. Topics include the discovery, role in growth and development, mode of action and practical uses of the plant hormones auxin, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene, and brassinosteroids.

HORT 455 - Mineral Nutrition of Crops and Landscape Plants (also CSS 455)
Spring | 3-5 credits | H. C. Wien and staff
A modular course on principles of plant mineral nutrition and nutrient management. A mandatory module on pinciples is followed by others on agronomic crops, vegetables, floriculture, and fruit crops. Each module carries one credit; a minimum of three credits must be taken in one semester. By the end of the course, students should understand the principles of mineral nutrient function in crop plants; should be able to diagnose deficiencies by symptoms and tissue tests and devise organic and conventional nutrient management schemes that maximize productivity and mineral nutrient quality.

HORT 460 - Plant-Plant Interactions
Spring | 3 credits | D.W. Wolfe
This course utilizes our basic understanding of plant ecology and physiology to evaluate the mechanisms by which plants perceive "neighbors" and compete or positively interact with each other in natural and managed ecosystems. The emphasis is on agricultural systems, from tropical home garden polyculture, to pastures, to intensive row-crop monoculture. In laboratory exercises the effects of plant density and environmental factors such as light and fertility on plant interactions are quantified, and students gain first-hand experience in techniques such as isolation of allelochemicals and determination of weed thresholds.

HORT 462 - Physiology of Vegetables and Flowers
Spring | 4 credits | H.C. Wien
Study of the physiological principles that govern growth, development and production of reproductive structures of vegetable crops and herbaceous ornamental plants. Processes of flower induction, fruit and seed set, and the balance of vegetative and reproductive growth, especially in perennials are emphasized. Practical hands-on greenhouse experiments and small group discussions illustrate the lecture material.

HORT 466 - Soil Ecology and Research (also CSS 466)
Spring | 4 credits | J. Thies and L. Drinkwater
Activities of the soil biota are critical for the continued functioning and renewal of soil systems. Through study of the soil as an ecosystem, students gain an understanding of the diversity of soil organisms and the vital roles that microbes and their interactions play in agricultural production and environmental protection. Through a small independent research project, students also gain competencies in developing research questions, formulating hypotheses, planning appropriate methods for gathering and interpreting data, and summarizing research work.

HORT 475 - Golf Course Management
Fall | 2 credits | A. M. Petrovic
Advanced study in the management of golf course operations including selection of root zone materials, fertilization practices, integrated pest management practices, irrigation systems, environmental based decision making, personnel management and financial operations. Analysis of a central New York golf course will provide the basis for discussion.

HORT 476 - Practical Problem-Solving Skills in Horticulture
Fall | 2 credits | C. P. Mazza
Foundation for extension or similar career oriented students. Application of horticultural science principles to practical situations. Techniques of synthesizing information from various scientific disciplines. Classes led by staff in several departments. Topics are interdisciplinary, drawing from expertise in horticultural science (landscape and food), entomology, plant pathology, natural resources, and Cornell Plantations.

HORT 480 - Plantations Seminar Series
Fall | 1 credit | D. A. Rakow
A 10-week series of seminars given by prominent speakers on a variety of horticultural, natural sciences, and human cultural themes. More information.

HORT 485 - Public Garden Management
Spring | 3 credits | D. A. Rakow
The course will explore the history of public gardens, types of contemporary public gardens, and the operation of botanical gardens and arboreta. Included will be separate units on: collections curation, design of collections, management of landscapes and natural areas, educational programming, interpretive programs, research, financial management, and staffing.

HORT 491 - Creating the Urban Eden: Woody Plant Selection, Design, and Landscape Establishment (also LA 491)
Fall | 4 credits | N. L. Bassuk, P. J. Trowbridge
This course focuses on the identification, uses, and establishment of woody plants in urban and garden settings. By understanding the environmental limitations to plant growth, students can critically assess potential planting sites, select appropriate trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers for a given site, and learn about the principles and practices of site amelioration and plant establishment. Design followed by written specifications and graphic details is produced to implement these practices. A project where students implement what they have learned by creating a new landscape serves to integrate theory, principles, and practices.

HORT 492 - Creating the Urban Eden: Woody Plant Selection, Design, and Landscape Establishment (also LA 492)
Spring | 4 credits | N. L. Bassuk and P. J. Trowbridge
The second half of this course continues focus on the winter identification, uses and establishment of woody plants in urban and garden settings. Issues of site assessment and soil remediation are emphasized in addition to soil volume calculations, drainage and surface detailing, and planting techniques. Students critically assess potential planting sites, select appropriate trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers for a given site. Design for specific sites followed by written specifications and graphic details are produced to implement these proposals. Students implement in a hands-on manner, site remediation and planting techniques they have learned by creating new landscapes that serve to integrate theory, principles, and practices. Together, HORT/LA 491 and 492 constitute an integrated course. Attendance limited to Horticulture and Landscape Architecture majors or permission of the instructors.

HORT 494 - Special Topics in Horticulture
Fall or Spring | 4 credits max
The department teaches "trial" courses under this number. Offerings vary by semester, and will be advertised by the department. Courses offered under the number will be approved by the department curriculum committee, and the same course will not be offered more than twice under this number.

HORT 495 - Undergraduate Seminar
Section 2: Fall | 1 credit
Undergraduate participation in weekly departmental seminar series.

HORT 496 - Internship in Horticultural Sciences

HORT 497 - Independent Study in Horticultural Sciences
Independent study in horticultural sciences under the direction of one or more faculty members

HORT 498 - Undergraduate Teaching Experience
Fall or Spring
Designed to give qualified undergraduate students teaching experience through actual involvement in planning and teaching horticultural sciences courses under the supervision of departmental faculty members. This experience may include leading discussion sections; preparing, assisting in, or teaching laboratories; and tutoring.

HORT 499 - Undergraduate Research
Fall or Spring
Undergraduate research projects in horticultural sciences.

HORT 500 - Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture) Project
Fall or Spring | 1-6 credits
A comprehensive project emphasizing the application of principles and practices to professional horticultural teaching, extension, and research programs and situations.

HORT 600 - Professional Colloquium Series
Fall and Spring | 1 credit | Staff
Weekly seminars consist of graduate student research project reports, faculty research topics, as well as guest speakers from other universities and/or industry. Required of graduate students majoring or minoring in horticulture. Undergraduate students register under HORT 495.

HORT 615 - Quantitative Methods in Horticultural Research
Spring -- weeks 1 - 7 | 2 credits | D.W. Wolfe.
This course provides experience in applying statistics principles to real-world agricultural research problems. Examples of lab, greenhouse, and field studies from the published literature are utilized. Other quantitative methods are explored. Topics include: approaches to controlling and analysis of variation; common block and incomplete block designs; selecting an appropriate significance level; designing on-farm experiments and demonstration plots; regression methods in relation to mechanistic models and path and principal components analysis; and plant growth analysis techniques.

HORT 618 - Breeding for Pest Resistance (also PL BR 618)
Fall | 2 credits | P. Griffiths
A multidisciplinary examination of the challenge of incorporating disease and insect resistance into crop plants. Topics covered include national and international germplasm collections, identification of sources of resistance, resistance mechanisms in plants, monogenic and polygenic control of resistance, approaches to breeding for resistance, stability of genetic resistance mechanisms, and the use of biochemical, physiological, and molecular tools in breeding for pest resistance.

HORT 620 - Woody Plant Physiology
Spring | 4 credits | T. H. Whitlow
An examination of physiological processes in woody plants emphasizing whole plant integration and how these processes affect plant growth under both natural and cropping systems. Topics include evolution of the woody plant form, structure and function of the root and shoot, growth pperiodicity, dormancy, growth analysis, carbon balance and allocation, root symbioses, and physiological responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Faculty from Geneva and Fruit and Vegetable Science collaborate in teaching.

HORT 625 - Advanced Postharvest Biology
Spring | 3 credits | S. Gan and C.B. Watkins
Section 1. Emphasis on the physiological and biochemical aspects of growth and maturation, ripening, and senescence of harvested horticultural plant parts.
Section 2. Emphasis on advanced existing and emerging technology and practice for handling, monitoring, and storage of horticultural crops after harvest.
Section 3. Introduces molecular biology and its applications in postharvest research. Topics include gene expression and regulation associated with physiological and biochemical changes in maturing, ripening, senescing, or harvested horticultural plants or parts. use of various molecular markers in monitoring harvested products and genetic manipulation of postharvest processes will also be discussed.

HORT 635 - Tools for Thought
Fall | 1 credit | T. H. Whitlow
A discussion of readings from Kuhn, Popper, Waddington and others emphasizing application of the philosophy of science to the real world practices of scientists.

HORT 636 - Current Topics in Horticulture
Fall or Spring| 1 credit | staff
A seminar series on current topics chosen by participating students and faculty, on a rotating basis. Format consists of weekly discussion groups, with each participant presenting at least one oral report based on independent reading and/or experimentation relating to the chosen topic. Interested students should contact the designated instructor(s) for each term.

HORT 694 - Special Topics in Horticulture
Fall or Spring | variable credit | staff
The department teaches "trial" courses under this number. Offerings vary by semester, and are advertised by the department before the semester starts. Courses offered under the number will be approved by the department curriculum committees, and the same course are not offered more than twice under this number.

HORT 700 - Graduate Teaching Experience
Fall or Spring | credit variable
Designed to give graduate students teaching experience through involvement in planning and teaching courses under the supervision of departmental faculty members. The experience may include leading discussion sections, preparing, assisting in, or teaching lectures and laboratories; and tutoring.

HORT 800 - Thesis Research, Master of Science
Fall or Spring | credit to be arranged

HORT 900 - Thesis Research, Doctor of Philosophy
Fall or Spring | credit to be arranged