Department Information
The Horticultural Sciences Department is a team of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to improving fruit and vegetable production for the benefit of farmers and consumers. Florida’s climatic diversity and the facilities at UF provide opportunities for cutting-edge research in plant breeding & genetics, plant and environmental physiology, fruit & vegetable production, postharvest physiology, biochemistry, and other disciplines.
Website
CONTACT
Email | 352.392.1928
P.O. Box 110690
2550 Hull Road
FIFIELD HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0690
Map
Curriculum
Courses
EVR 3323 Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Restoration theory and planning, disturbed land reclamation, woodland/wetland/river restoration, invasive species, community involvement, and monitoring, and emphasizes plant selection, establishment and maintenance.
Corequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010, or instructor permission.
FRC 1010 Growing Fruit for Fun and Profit 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Especially for non-majors who desire a concise mini-course in fruit growing and marketing. Fruit crops include citrus, pecan, blueberry, strawberry, peach, grape, apple, mango and avocado.
FRC 3212 Introduction to Citrus Culture and Production 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Citrus botany, scion and rootstock selection, site selection, fruit quality grove design, and production practices.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C.
FRC 3252 Tropical and Subtropical Fruits 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Culture and management of important tropical and subtropical fruit, including avocado, banana, mango, papaya, loquat, persimmon, pineapple, coffee, and others.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C.
FRC 3274 Tree and Small Fruit Production 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Current principles and cultural practices in deciduous tree, bush, and vine crops. Emphasizes practical aspects of production.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or equivalent.
FRC 3802 Viticulture for Table Grapes and Wine 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Teaches current practices for establishing a vineyard and maintaining its health and productivity into the final quality of the grape. Topics covered include grape varietal selection, site selection and preparation, vine growth, training and trellis systems, and equipment used in vineyard and wine production.
FRC 4905 Special Problems 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Special Problems
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
HOS 1014 Vegetable Gardening 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Primarily for non-majors who desire to learn the basic principles of vegetable gardening. A garden is required of each student.
HOS 2002C Introductory Medicinal Plants 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Survey series of plants across the globe used in traditional and modern medicines to improve human health; learn about ethnobotany, several examples of plant-derived drugs and their metabolite classes at a basic level for non-experts along with underlying scientific evidence. Hands-on-activities demonstrate medicinal properties of plant extracts and tours of medicinal plants around UF main campus and greenhouses to experience live plants.
HOS 2333 Fighting Food Waste and Loss 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
This class is a biological science general education class designed for all students who are interested in learning and reflecting upon the major future challenges of food and agriculture. Students will learn about postharvest biology, environmental and food sciences, and communication technology in reducing food waste. This course affords students the ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.
Attributes: Quest 2, General Education - Biological Science, General Education - International
HOS 3020C Principles of Horticultural Crop Production 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces concepts and practices used to produce fruit and vegetable crops in Florida, the U.S., and globally. Topics covered include production regions, crop biology, crop nutrition, types of fruits and vegetables, disease and pest management, and marketing. Includes a hands-on practicum.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or equivalent.
HOS 3222C Greenhouse and Protected Agriculture 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices of crop production in protected structures. Emphasizes structure type, media, fertilization, and pest control practices.
Prerequisite: HOS 3020C.
HOS 3281C Organic and Sustainable Crop Production 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Concepts and techniques of organic and sustainable production of horticultural crops, including soil/water management, pest control, harvest, handling, and marketing.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
HOS 3285 The Organic Debate: Organic Agriculture Development & Regulations 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Organic farming is a rapidly developing production system. This introductory course provides a critical analysis of organic agriculture growth, consumer perceptions, and regulations at the national and international level. This course also focuses on organic agriculture transdisciplinary innovations and challenges in advancing environmental, economic, and social sustainability of food production.
Prerequisite: BSC 2005 or equivalent.
HOS 3305 Introduction to Plant Molecular Biology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces plant molecular biology and genetic engineering, emphasizing plant genes and genomes, transformation of plants and basic molecular biology.
HOS 3430C Nutrition of Horticultural Crops 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Study and discussion of physiological, biochemical, and environmental factors influencing nutritional status and productivity of horticultural crops.
Prerequisite: SWS 3022.
HOS 3513C Breeding and Production of Medicinal Plants and Herbs 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Focuses on current and emerging breeding and cultivation practices used to produce high–value medicinal plants and herbs. Additionally, provides a critical analysis of health effects and therapeutic claims of plant-derived physiologically-active products.
Prerequisite: BSC 2010 or BSC 2011 or BOT 2010C or BOT 2011C.
HOS 4241C Genetics and Breeding of Vegetable Crops 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Traditional and molecular breeding methods for vegetable crops and the influence of scientific research, government policies, industry needs, and consumer preferences on vegetable crop improvement.
Prerequisite: AGR 3303.
HOS 4283C Advanced Organic and Sustainable Crop Production 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Intensive examination of the methods and techniques necessary for organic and sustainable production and marketing of horticultural products.
Prerequisite: HOS 3281C.
Attributes: Artificial Intelligence
HOS 4304 Horticultural Physiology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Basic concepts and processes of physiology as they relate to plant growth and development.
HOS 4313C Laboratory Methods in Plant Molecular Biology 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Hands-on laboratory experience in plant molecular biology. Utilizing current techniques for isolation, purification and cloning of plant DNA, students learn many basic techniques in plant biotechnology.
HOS 4332C Principles of Postharvest Horticulture 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Biological principles involved in harvesting, grading, packaging, transportation, and marketing horticultural crops, and their effects on quality maintenance. Commercial postharvest practices explained in relation to general procedures and technologies as well as the recommended postharvest best handling practices and optimum postharvest conditions for different types of horticultural crops.
Prerequisite: HOS 4304.
HOS 4341 Advanced Horticultural Physiology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Environmental effects (light, temperature and water) on physiology, growth and development of plants.
Prerequisite: HOS 4304.
HOS 4900 Supervised Extension Experience in Horticultural Sciences 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic extension experiences in agricultural and life sciences under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
HOS 4905 Independent Study in Horticultural Science 1-6 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Selected research topics in molecular biology, physiology, and/or genetics of horticultural crops.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
HOS 4911 Supervised Research in Horticultural Sciences 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic research in horticultural sciences under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery, or application.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
HOS 4915 Honors Thesis Research in Horticultural Sciences 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Independent research in horticultural sciences leading to an honors thesis. Student will be mentored by a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application.
Prerequisite: junior standing, upper division GPA of 3.75 or higher and completed honors thesis proposal on file.
HOS 4918 Capstone Planning in Horticultural Sciences 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: S/U
Focuses on planning service learning, scientific research, cooperative extension, or industry liaison projects for the Horticultural Sciences capstone. Also fosters reflection of academic and professional development in the major.
Prerequisite: HOS 4933.
HOS 4921 Horticultural Sciences Capstone 2-4 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Focuses on executing service learning, scientific research, cooperative extension, or industry liaison projects designed during capstone planning. Perfect professional portfolios and present the outcomes of the capstone project.
Prerequisite: HOS 4918.
HOS 4932 Special Topics in Horticultural Sciences 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Critical review of selected topics in specific areas not covered in other horticultural sciences courses.
Prerequisite: instructor permission.
HOS 4933 Professional Development in Horticulture 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Professional skills development, including job searching, resume writing, interview skills, professional etiquette, communications, and salary negotiations.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
HOS 4941 Practical Work Experience in Horticultural Sciences 1-4 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Practical work that must be a new experience and related to the field of study.
Prerequisite: advisor arrangement and permission.
IDS 2151 Plants for Human Medicine 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Pressing question(s): can plants cure human diseases? Can plants provide solutions to societal human health problems? Human beings and plants have had an intricate relationship since the beginning of their joint evolutionary history. We will learn about the ethnobotanical use of plants and examples of plants that provided modern medicines that help to fight some of humankind’s deadliest medical conditions, including cancers, heart disease, and pain.
Attributes: Quest 2, Satisfies 2000 Words of Writing Requirement
LDE 3410C Residential Landscape Design 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Basics of residential landscape design including preparation, evaluation and implementation of simple landscape plans. Emphasizes the use of ornamental plants for functional and aesthetic improvement of home environments. Expect to attend one or two Saturday field trips.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C.
LDE 4404C Advanced Residential Landscape Design 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Sustainable landscape design concepts and practices to create regenerative and resilient residential landscapes that demonstrate advanced design skills and knowledge.
ORH 1030 Plants, Gardening and You 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
A non-majors overview of environmental horticulture that emphasizes the art and science of growing, installing and maintaining plants used to enhance and improve the human environment indoors and outdoors. Gain familiarity with the science and the industries associated with environmental horticulture.
ORH 1283 Survey of Orchids 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Overview of the complexities of the orchid family, how selected genera are produced and the potential these plants offer to commercial nursery operators and hobbyists for profit or enjoyment.
ORH 2540 Ethnohorticulture - A Coevolution of Plants and People 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Ethnohorticulture is the chain of events that determines the global uses of plants once they are collected from the wild and have become a commodity. In this course, you will explore how human and plant coevolutionary relationships formed, focusing on several crops and their roles in world cultures as food, spices, fiber, building materials, and cosmetics. Topics are many, including tomatoes, corn, and even beer. You will learn how humans shaped iconic plants, which then traveled the globe.
Attributes: Quest 2
ORH 2752 Sensory Gardening 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Hands-on, multidisciplinary approach to environmental horticulture delivered through the context of the human senses. Class activities, assignments, and projects enhance awareness and understanding of how horticulture relates to the natural and built world, as well as the ways in which people perceive those worlds.
ORH 3253C Introductory Nursery Management 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces the principles of planning, organizing, and managing nursery operations. Emphasizes interactions between growing medium components, plant nutrition, and irrigation. Covers nursery layout, growing structures, materials requirements, and business practices. May require weekend field trips.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 3324 Palm Short Course 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Overview of how palm plants grow and how to diagnose and interpret problems with palm plants.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or instructor permission.
ORH 3513 Environmental Plant Identification and Use 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, growth characteristics, culture and use of common landscape and greenhouse plants. Materials include trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, lawn grasses and floriculture crops. Emphasizes temperate plants. Taught off campus.
Corequisite: ORH 3513L.
ORH 3513C Environmental Plant Identification and Use 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Combines lecture and laboratory for identification, growth characteristics, culture, and use of common landscape and greenhouse plants. Materials include trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, lawn grasses, and floriculture crops. Emphasizes temperate plants. Taught on UF campus.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 3513L Environmental Plant Identification and Use Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introductory, upper-division environmental laboratory course. Identify commonly used landscape plants, their use and their characteristics. Taught off campus.
Corequisite: ORH 3513.
ORH 3773 Public Gardens 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Operation and management of public gardens, including community and amusement parks, nature preserves, botanical gardens, arboreta, and zoological gardens. Explore issues relevant to principles and practices of management and psychological and sociological benefits of gardens and green spaces.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C.
ORH 3773L Public Gardens Laboratory 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
First-hand observation and evaluation of public gardens and parks to illustrate the management of such, as was discussed in ORH 3773. Consists of field trips to various botanical gardens, zoos and amusement parks.
Corequisite: ORH 3773.
ORH 3815C Florida Native Landscaping 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
An upper-division, environmental horticulture course designed to introduce students with a plant science background to the nomenclature, effective utilization and design elements of plants native to Florida.
Prerequisite: junior standing.
ORH 4236C Ornamental Landscape Management 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Provide foundational knowledge and the skills needed to successfully manage and maintain residential and commercial landscapes. Additionally, provides students with a greater understanding of the landscape management industry and familiarizes students with sustainable landscape management techniques.
Prerequisite: ORH 3222C.
ORH 4256 Nutritional Management of Nursery Crops 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Techniques for determining, interpreting, and managing the nutritional status of container grown greenhouse and nursery crops. Includes water quality, substrate physical and chemical parameters, irrigation, and fertilization practices.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4264 Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices used for commercial production of economically important environmental horticulture crops.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4264L Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Advanced hands-on laboratory growing a wide range of greenhouse plants through the application of crop cultural practices discussed in lecture.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C;
Corequisite: ORH 4264.
ORH 4280 Orchidology 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices involved in the production of orchid plants and flowers, including nomenclature, breeding, seed culture, harvesting and handling.
ORH 4804 Annual and Perennial Gardening 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, selection, use and management of annuals, perennials, vines, ornamental grasses and ground covers in the landscape. Hands-on care for plants in the outdoor laboratory. Learn the irrigation, fertilization, pruning and cultural needs of these popular plants. Laboratory complements lecture.
ORH 4804C Annual and Perennial Gardening 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identification, selection, use and management of annuals, perennials, vines, ornamental grasses and ground covers in the landscape. Hands-on care for plants in the outdoor laboratory. Learn the irrigation, fertilization, pruning and cultural needs of these popular plants. Laboratory complements lecture.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
ORH 4804L Annual and Perennial Gardening Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Taxonomy of ornamental landscape annuals and perennials. Site evaluation, diagnostics, preparation, installation and maintenance of the color portion of commercial and residential landscaping.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010;
Corequisite: ORH 4804.
ORH 4848 Landscape Plant Establishment 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Techniques for selecting and installing plants, building decks and patios, walls, trellises, landscape lighting, irrigation, water gardens, and other landscape elements. Prepare balance sheets, bid specifications and contracts, and perform landscape installations from completed landscape plants.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
ORH 4900 Supervised Extension Experience in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic extension experiences in agricultural and life sciences under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4905 Independent Study of Environmental Horticulture 1-5 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Three topics for independent study: a research investigation and review of literature, drafting of proposal, conducting an experiment, collection of data, summation and interpretation of results and preparation of a report; a library or studio assignment, including analysis of several sources of information on a specific topic with a written evaluation and list of conclusions; or assist in teaching a laboratory of selected courses in environmental horticulture.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4911 Supervised Research in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Firsthand, authentic research in environmental horticulture under the supervision of a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery, or application.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4915 Honors Thesis Research in Environmental Horticulture 0-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Independent research in environmental horticulture leading to an honors thesis. Student are mentored by a faculty member. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application.
Prerequisite: junior standing, upper division GPA of 3.75 or higher and completed honors thesis proposal on file.
ORH 4932 Special Topics in Environmental Horticulture 1-4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Topics of current interest concerning environmental plants.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ORH 4941 Practical Work Experience 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Practical work must be a new experience and related to student's field of study. A written and oral report is required.
Prerequisite: previous arrangement with advisor and department chair and dean permission.
PLS 2830 World Herbs and Vegetables 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Introduces students to a variety of vegetables and culinary herbs. Emphasis placed on genetic, phytochemical and botanical diversity and importance of food phytochemicals and role of vegetables in nutrition. This course affords students the ability to critically examine and evaluate the principles of the scientific method, model construction, and use the scientific method to explain natural experiences and phenomena.
Attributes: General Education - Biological Science
PLS 3080 Introduction to Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examine the profession and practice of horticultural therapy including its history, current state, and relevant literature and theories. Explore people/plant relationships, therapeutic methods and benefits, and populations served, as well as being introduced to existing programs and the role of therapeutic gardens.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher.
PLS 3223 Plant Propagation 2 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles, practices and physiological aspects of the propagation of horticultural and agronomic crops by cuttage, graftage, seedage, micropropagation and other methods.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010;
Corequisite: PLS 3223L.
Attributes: Artificial Intelligence
PLS 3223L Plant Propagation Laboratory 1 Credit
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Methods of propagating by seeds, bulbs, divisions, layering, cuttings, budding, grafting and micropropagation in a hands-on environment.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or BSC 2010.
Attributes: Artificial Intelligence
PLS 3421C Hydroponic Systems 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
This course offers students foundational information and hands-on experience on hydroponic and soilless cultivation of horticultural crops. Production practices, growing systems, new technologies and current challenges are discussed.
PLS 3800C Vegetable Production 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Principles and practices of successful commercial vegetable production, including crop requirements, growth patterns, and production techniques along with consumption/marketing patterns and US/Florida production areas.
Prerequisite: BOT 2010C or (BSC 2010 & BSC 2010L) or (BSC 2011 & BSC 2011L).
PLS 4081 Techniques in Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Examine the effectiveness of horticultural therapy across a diverse range of client populations, programs, and environments, and the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial implications. Explore therapeutic, vocational, and social modalities employing plants, as well as task analysis, activity analysis and tool and site adaptations.
Prerequisite: PLS 3080 with a minimum grade of C.
PLS 4082 Program Management in Horticultural Therapy 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Learn to develop, manage, and evaluate horticultural therapy programs in diverse environments. Explore strategies for program proposals and funding, along with recruitment of clients and required regulations and documentation. Discuss staff and volunteer management, as well as plant materials, gardens, and other program resources.
Prerequisite: PLS 3080 and PLS 4081 with minimum grades of C.
PLS 4242C Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops 4 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Lectures and laboratory exercises emphasizing the practical application of plant tissue culture for the clonal propagation of horticultural crops. Emphasis on aseptic technique, culture methodology and micropropagation systems development.
Prerequisite: ORH 3513C recommended.
PLS 4630 Organic Weed Management 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Apply ecological principles in agroecosystems to manage weeds sustainably. Emphasizes alternative weed management approaches that are less dependent on herbicides and utilize ecological processes detrimental to weeds and their propagules. Learn actively by critically analyzing pertinent literature and participating in discussions of supplemental reading.
PLS 4941 Practical Work Experience 1-3 Credits
Grading Scheme: S/U
Practical, hands-on experience in the plant sciences through a paid internship in the industry. This must be a new experience and related to the student's field of study. One month of full-time work is required for each credit.
Prerequisite: Plant Science major of junior standing or higher.
PLS 4950 Plant Science Capstone 3 Credits
Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
Identify a problem or topic in plant sciences and develop a poster presentation about this problem or topic. This course discusses the following topics: how to develop a hypothesis, how to complete a reliable literature review, the importance of peer review and how to present results and findings.
Prerequisite: PLS 3004C and PLS 4941 One year of employment experience in plant science may be substituted for PLS 4941 with instructor permission.