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Plant Science: Growth, Development, and Utilization of Cultivated Plants, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (August 27, 2019) © 2020

  • Margaret J McMahon Ohio State University

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For introductory courses in plant science.

An in-depth look at plant cultivation, for learners of all levels

Plant Science is the premier resource on the basic principles of ecological relationships and their impact on cultivation. Comprehensive and engaging, Plant Science addresses all relevant topics, from the fundamentals of botany to complex cultivation strategies and sustainability concerns. Its breadth of topics makes this text ideal for most plant science courses.

The 6th Edition has been updated with a wealth of new information, images and features. It now draws a stronger connection between natural, agricultural and horticultural ecosystems.

Hallmark features of this title

A clear, logical approach to teaching plant science

  • All-encompassing content covers plant cultivation from multiple angles, including the history of cultivation, horticulture's relationship with nature, and specifics for notable major crops.
  • Coverage of both agronomy and horticulture gives learners a solid foundation no matter which field they pursue.
  • UPDATED: Connections between natural, agricultural and horticultural ecosystems have been further clarified, helping students leverage natural systems when growing plants.

Self-assessment opportunities

  • Knowledge Check questions accompany each chapter, letting students test their understanding as lessons progress.
  • Open-ended questions in each chapter encourage students to think critically about chapter content.

New and updated features of this title

Text-wide content revisions

  • UPDATED: Discussion of photosynthesis and respiration has been strengthened. It now includes photorespiration, giving students a better understanding of these critical processes (Ch. 11).
  • REVISED: Conversations on tilling have been revised to put less emphasis on traditional methods and more on conservation methods to better reflect industry trends (Ch. 14).
  • EXPANDED: Chapter 23, Floriculture, has been renamed Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). It now includes information on cultivating ornamental, edible and medicinal/recreational crops in hydroponic and aquaponic scenarios.

Learning aids

  • UPDATED: All figures and tables have been updated or replaced to reflect updated data.
  • REVISED: Most individual chapters have been reviewed or revised by experts, ensuring that only the most accurate and current information is shared.
  • UPDATED: Each chapter's Further Exploration section has been updated to include the most detailed and current resources available.

UNIT 1: ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE CULTIVATION AND UTILIZATION OF PLANTS
1. History, Trends, Issues, and Challenges in Plant Science
2. Terrestrial Ecosystems and Their Relationship to Cultivating Plants
3. Growing Plants for Human Use
4. Climate
5. Soils

UNIT 2: PLANT STRUCTURE, CHEMISTRY, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, GENETICS, BIODIVERSITY, AND PROCESSES
6. Structure of Higher Plants
7. Plant Growth and Development
8. Plant Chemistry and Metabolism
9. Genetics and Propagation
10. Cultivated Plants: Naming, Classifying, Origin, Improvement, and Germplasm Diversity, and Preservation
11. Photosynthesis and Respiration
12. Water Relations
13. Mineral Nutrition

UNIT 3: PLANT PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION SYSTEMS
14. Soil, Water, and Fertility Management
15. Integrated Management of Weeds, Insects, Diseases, and Other Pests
16. General Considerations for Production, Harvest, Postharvest Handling, and Marketing
17. Field Crops Grown for Food, Fiber, and Fuel
18. Forage Crops and Rangelands
19. Vegetable Production
20. Temperate Fruit and Nut Crops
21. Tropical and Subtropical Crop and Crop Production Systems
22. Nursery Production
23. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
24. Turfgrasses
25. Landscape Plants
26. Constructed Landscapes and Landscape Design Considerations

About our author

Margaret (Peg) McMahon is a fourth-generation horticulturist who grew up on the family farm, which she still co-owns. While growing up, she worked in the ornamental and tomato greenhouses her family owned and operated. She earned her BS in agriculture with a major in horticulture from The Ohio State University in 1970. After graduation, she worked as a grower and propagator for Yoder Bros., Inc. (now Aris Horticulture, Inc.) at their Barberton, OH, Salinas, CA, and Pendleton, SC, locations.

While in South Carolina, she earned her MS in horticulture and PhD in plant physiology from Clemson University in 1988 and 1992, respectively. Her research included early detection of chilling injury in tropical and subtropical foliage plants and the use of far-red absorbing filters as a potential technology to reduce stem elongation in greenhouse-grown ornamentals.

In 1994, she started a faculty position at The Ohio State University in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. She retired in 2015 but continued teaching classes until 2017. The undergraduate classes she taught included both the introductory and senior capstone classes in horticulture and crop science, basic irrigation, basic and advanced greenhouse crop production, indoor gardening, and interiorscape, a field experience in floriculture. The graduate-level classes she taught included advanced greenhouse crop production, photomorphogenesis and teaching methods.

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