Unit

Topic

No. of Lectures/Hrs

1

Introduction: Scope and importance, Branches of horticulture; Role in rural economy and employment generation; Importance in food and nutritional security; Urban horticulture and ecotourism.

4

2

Ornamental plants: Types, classification (annuals, perennials, climbers and trees); Identification and salient features of some ornamental plants [rose, marigold, gladiolus, carnations, orchids, poppies, gerberas, tuberose, sages, cacti and succulents (opuntia, agave and spurges)] Ornamental flowering trees (Indian laburnum, gulmohar, Jacaranda, Lagerstroemia, fishtail and areca palms, semul, coraltree).

4

3

Fruit and vegetable crops: Production, origin and distribution; Description of plants and their economic products;

Management and marketing of vegetable and fruit crops; Identification of some fruits and vegetable varieties (citrus, banana, mango, chillies and cucurbits).

4

4

Horticultural techniques: Application of manure, fertilizers, nutrients and PGRs; Weed control; Biofertilizers, biopesticides; Irrigation methods (drip irrigation, surface irrigation, furrow and border irrigation); Hydroponics; Propagation Methods: asexual (grafting, cutting, layering, budding), sexual (seed propagation), Scope and limitations.

8

5

Landscaping and garden design: Planning and layout (parks and avenues); gardening traditions - Ancient Indian, European,

Mughal and Japanese Gardens; Urban forestry; policies and practices.

6

6

Floriculture: Cut flowers, bonsai, commerce (market demand and supply); Importance of flower shows and exhibitions.

6

7

Post-harvest technology: Importance of post-harvest technology in horticultural crops; Evaluation of quality traits;

Harvesting and handling of fruits, vegetables and cut flowers; Principles, methods of preservation and processing; Methods of minimizing loses during storage and transportation; Food irradiation - advantages and disadvantages; food safety.

10

8

Disease control and management: Field and post-harvest diseases; Identification of deficiency symptoms; remedial measures and nutritional management practices; Crop sanitation; IPM strategies (genetic, biological and chemical methods for pest control); Quarantine practices; Identification of common diseases and pests of ornamentals, fruits and vegetable crops.

8

9

Horticultural crops - conservation and management: Documentation and conservation of germplasm; Role of micropropagation and tissue culture techniques; Varieties and cultivars of various horticultural crops; IPR issues; National,

international and professional societies and sources of information on horticulture.

10