NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 植物生長調節劑與生物刺激素(2119)
	(Eng.) Plant Growth Regulators and Biostimulants
Offering Dept	Department of Horticulture
Course Type	Elective	Credits	2	Teacher	Syuan-You Lin
Department	Department of Horticulture/Undergraduate	Language	English	Semester	2025-FALL
Course Description	This EMI course will explore plant growth regulators (PGR) and biostimulants, focusing on their research and agricultural applications. The course will emphasize practical aspects rooted in a comprehensive understanding of plant physiology and molecular biology. Additionally, we will examine the production, marketing, and current trends in research and development within the PGR and biostimulant industries. By the end of the course, students will have gained valuable insights into the practical utilization of PGR and biostimulants in agriculture, as well as a broader understanding of the associated industries.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
Upon completion of this course, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes: 1.Recognize and classify the key types of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and biostimulants that are widely employed in agricultural practices 2.Explain the various modes of action by which PGRs and biostimulants exert their effects on plants, considering their physiological and molecular mechanisms 3.Comprehend the factors that influence plant responses to PGRs and biostimulants, including environmental factors, plant species, and developmental stages	1.To develop the skills in understanding natural and biological science 3.To understand horticultural industry, cultivation technologies, and their environmental, social and global impacts and to develop the skills and habit of ongoing self-learning 4.To develop global perspectives in horticulture 5.To understand the profession's ethical standards and social responsibilities	40 40 10 10	topic Discussion/Production Discussion Lecturing	Quiz Oral Presentation Assignment
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 Course introduction / PGR and biostimulant industries/ Pre-course survey (Sept. 10) Week 2 Auxin (Sept. 17) Week 3 Gibberellins (Sept. 24) Week 4 Abscisic acid (Oct. 1) (Instructor’s personal leave; watch the lecture video on iLearning) Week 5 Cytokinins (Oct. 8) (Instructor’s personal leave; watch the lecture video on iLearning) Week 6 Ethylene (Oct. 15) Week 7 Jasmonates and salicylates (Oct. 22) Week 8 Brassinosteroids, strigolactones (Oct. 29) Week 9 Mid-term (Take-home exam) (Nov. 5) Week 10 Schedule discussion about oral presentation by appointment (no class) (Nov. 12) Week 11 Non-microbial biostimulants (Nov. 19) Week 12 Microbial biostimulants (Nov. 26) Week 13 Student’s oral presentation (Dec. 3) Week 14 Student’s oral presentation/ After-course survey (Dec. 10) Week 15 Field Trip (TBD) (Dec. 17) Week 16 Final (Take-home exam) (Dec. 24) self-directed learning    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
1.Take-home Mid-term and Final Exams (30%+30%) The two exams in this course will collectively account for 60% of the final grade. These exams will assess students' understanding of the most recent lecture material through short-answer and long-answer questions and problem-solving discussions. Open-book referencing will be permitted during the exams; however, it is expected that all work is completed independently. Students have the option to answer the exam questions in either English or Chinese. 2.5 min Oral Presentation (20%) The oral presentation component of the course aims to awaken the innate connection between nature and confident self-expression in English. This opportunity to showcase your abilities in a public speaking encourages you to believe in your capabilities and embrace the power of effective communication. The instructor will evaluate the presentation based on its content, structure, the ability to address questions, and English pronunciation. While the evaluation acknowledges the importance of clear speech and pronunciation, the emphasis lies on the content, organization, and delivery of ideas rather than speech speed or accent. 3.Assignments (20%) There will be two problem-solving assignments throughout the semester, each worth 10 points. These assignments will allow students to apply their knowledge and skills to solve practical problems. While completing the assignments, students can refer to their personal notes, slides, and other relevant reference materials. However, it is important to note that all work must be completed independently unless the instructor explicitly grants permission for collaboration on specific course tasks. Students can answer the assignments in English or Chinese, catering to their preferred language of expression.
Textbook & other References
高景輝. 2006. 植物荷爾蒙生理. 華香園出版社. 台灣台北市. Arteca RN. 1995. Plant Growth Substances: Principles and Applications. Chapman & Hall, NY, NY Basra AS. 2000. Plant growth regulators in agriculture and horticulture. Haworth Press, Inc., New York, London, Oxford. Davies PJ. 1995. Plant Hormones: Physiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. 2nd Ed Kluwer, Norwell MA . Teaching Tools in Plant Biology. 2011. Introduction to Phytohormones. ＜ http://www.plantcell.org/content/ttpb6＞. Youssef R. 2020. Biostimulants for sustainable crop production. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, Cambridge, UK.
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
There is no required text or external reading for this course, nor specialized software
Office Hours
Thursday 1-3PM
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)
11.Sustainable Cities and Communities   13.Climate Action include experience courses：N

Please respect the intellectual property rights and use the materials legally.Please respect gender equality.
Update Date, year/month/day：2025/08/14 18:57:32	Printed Date, year/month/day：2025 / 8 / 19
The second-hand book website：http://www.myub.com.tw/