horticulture

the cultivation of plants

The Latin words ''hortus'' (garden plant) and ''cultura'' (culture) together form horticulture, classically defined as the culture or growing of garden plants. Horticulture is, however, much more. Horticulturists work in plant propagation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic engineering, plant biochemistry, plant physiology, and the storage, processing, and transportation of fruits, berries, nuts, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs, and turf. They improve crop yield, quality, nutritional value, and resistance to insects, diseases, and environmental stresses. Genetics is also used as a valuable tool in the development of plants that can synthesize chemicals for fighting disease (including cancers). Horticulture involves five areas of study. These areas are floriculture (includes production and marketing of floral crops), landscape horticulture (includes production, marketing and maintenance of landscape plants), olericulture (includes production and marketing of vegetables), pomology (includes production and marketing of fruits), and postharvest physiology (involves maintaining quality and preventing spoilage of horticultural crops). Horticulturists can work in industry, government, or educational institutions. They can be cropping systems engineers, wholesale or retail business managers, propagators and tissue culture specialists (fruit, vegetables, ornamentals, and turf), crop inspectors, crop production advisors, extension specialists, plant breeders, research scientists, and of course, teachers. College courses that complement Horticulture are biology, botany, entomology, chemistry, mathematics, genetics, physiology, statistics, computer science, and communications. BotanyPlant science and horticulture courses include: plant materials, plant propagation, tissue culture, crop production, post-harvest handling, plant breeding, pollination management, crop nutrition, entomology, phytopathologyplant pathology, economics, and business. Some careers in horticultural science require a masters (MS) or doctoral (PhD) degree.

See also -

Agriculture

Viticulture

Royal Horticultural Society

History of gardening

External links -

wcoh.ac.uk - Welsh College of Horticulture.

postharvest.com.au - Horticultural crop names and alternate names.

greenmediaonline.com - a Free online resource on Horticulture industry trends and !events.Category:Horticulture!*Category:BotanyCategory:Garde ningCategory:Agronomybr:Luorzh iñde:Gartenbaues:Horticultura fr:Horticulturenl:Tuinbouw

International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)
The International Society for Horticultural Science, dating from 1864 and formally constituted in 1959, is the world's leading independent organization of horticultural scientists and publisher of Acta Horticulturae, Chronica Horticulturae, and Scripta Horticulturae
http://www.ishs.org/

Ravenroost Books
Used, rare and collectible books. We specialize in scarce, out-of-print, antiquarian and hard to find books and ephemera in many disciplines, with particular emphasis on non-fiction, science books, botany, gardening, landscape design, orchid culture and general horticulture
http://www.ravenroostbooks.com/

ALLtech Research and Development
ALLtech Research and Development is a leading provider of agricultural and related research solutions in the United States. ALLtech Research and Development has dedicated a team of resources to provide our customers with innovative research technology, so that our customers can provide new chemistries and solutions that meet the challenges of today's agricultural industry.
http://www.alltechrandd.com/

Aggie Horticulture
Texas A and M University combined horticulture information resources including teaching, extension, and research. Search the site with the PLANTanswer Machine.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/

Horticulture Online
Gardening articles from Horticulture magazine. Covers floriculture, garden design, flower gardening, hydroponics, vegetable gardening.
http://www.hortmag.com/