Understand the events involved with cell enlargement and the factors required for cell enlargement to occur

Understand why both cell division and cell enlargement are required for growth

Understand the five structural components of cell walls

Understand the role of the cell wall in defense responses of plants to pathogens

Be able to locate and describe the function of meristems involved in growth of monocot and dicot plants.

Understand why plant recovery from damage (i.e., hail, defoliation) is developmentally and species dependent

Understand how environment (i.e., light intensity, photoperiod, fertility, defoliation,...) influences meristem function

Be able to explain how function of one meristem can alter the response of other meristem (i.e., leaf intercalary meristem and axillary meristem) and the impact on crop growth

Understand that plant genotype influences meristem function and crop growth.

Understand the role of photoperiod in flowering

Understand quantitative and absolute forms of flowering responses in plants

Understand what phytochrome is and how mediates flowering responses in plants

Understand the role of light quality in phytochrome responses

Understand the concept of vernalization.

Understand how temperature and time interact in order to vernalize plants

Explain the concepts of florigen and vernalin

Understand floral evocation and its role in floral development

Understand the concept of senescence vs. necrosis

Be able to explain monocarpic senescence, and its role is plant agriculture