Plant Propagation and Nursery Management in Vegetables, Flowers and Medicinal Crops
Course Overview
Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.
Course Objectives
i. Study of biology and types of propagation, tissue culture and physiology of seed, seed storage and dormancy ii. Knowledge of nursery management, nursery establishment and nursery techniques for plant propagation iii. Propagation from specialized structures in major vegetable, flower crops, medicinal and aromatic plants
Theory Syllabus
Nursery management practices for vegetables, flowers and medicinal crops, Biology of plant propagation, Sexual and Asexual plant propagation, physiology of seed, seed storage and dormancy, physiology of cutting, layering, grafting, budding. Tissue culture, Maintenance of elite germplasm and mother stock. Propagation from specialized modified plant parts, crop specific plant propagation practices in commercial vegetables and flowers. Nursery techniques and crop specific propagation methods of medicinal crops.
Practical Syllabus
Identification of planting material, commercial varieties of vegetable, flowers and medicinal crops. Propagation and multiplication, seed production. Potting, repotting and maintenance of houseplants. Practices in manuring, drip and fertigation, foliar nutrition, growth regulator application, pinching, disbudding, staking. Harvesting techniques. Crop-specific plant propagation practices. Visit to local nurseries and florist centers. Marketing requirements and strategies for sale of important crops.
Suggested Readings
1. Hartmann and Kester. 2002. Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices. (7th Edn.) Prentice Hall.
2. Kumar Tarai Ranjan. 2020. Plant Propagation and Nursery Management. New India Publishing Agency.