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Horticulture Principles and Practices

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TABLE 2–2<br />

The Five Kingdoms of Organisms as Described by Whittaker<br />

Monera (Have Prokaryotic Cells)<br />

Bacteria<br />

Protoctista (Have Eukaryotic Cells)<br />

Algae<br />

Slime molds<br />

Flagellate fungi<br />

Protozoa<br />

Sponges<br />

Fungi (Absorb Food in Solution)<br />

True fungi<br />

Plantae (Produce Own Food by the Process of Photosynthesis)<br />

Bryophytes<br />

Vascular plants<br />

Animalia (Ingest Their Food)<br />

Multicellular animals<br />

Organisms in the Kingdoms Monera, Protoctista, <strong>and</strong> Fungi include those that are pests<br />

of horticultural plants, namely, bacteria, fungi, <strong>and</strong> viruses.<br />

1. Kingdom Monera. Monera is a kingdom of unicellular (one-celled) organisms.<br />

They are called prokaryotes <strong>and</strong> have no nuclear membrane or<br />

compartmentalization into distinct organelles. They reproduce primarily by cell<br />

division <strong>and</strong> are mostly heterotrophic or lack the capacity to make organic<br />

compounds <strong>and</strong> thus feed on materials made by others. Bacteria are classified<br />

under this kingdom.<br />

2. Kingdom Protoctista. The Kingdom Protoctista includes algae, slime molds, <strong>and</strong><br />

eukaryotes or cells with a nuclear membrane <strong>and</strong> compartmentalization into<br />

membrane-bound organelles.<br />

3. Kingdom Fungi. Fungi are filamentous eukaryotes that lack plastids <strong>and</strong> chlorophyll.<br />

Thus, they feed on dead or living organisms. Most plant diseases are<br />

caused by fungi.<br />

4. Kingdom Animalia. Kingdom Animalia consists of multicellular organisms that<br />

are eukaryotes but without cell walls, plastids, <strong>and</strong> capacity for photosynthesis.<br />

Animals generally ingest their food <strong>and</strong> reproduce primarily by sexual means.<br />

Animals have the highest level of organization <strong>and</strong> tissue differentiation of any<br />

organism in any kingdom. They have complex sensory <strong>and</strong> neuromotor systems.<br />

5. Kingdom Plantae. Organisms in the Kingdom Plantae are photosynthetic. They make<br />

food from inorganic materials. Few plants are heterotrophic, that is, feeding on<br />

organic material from other sources. They are multicellular, have cell walls, <strong>and</strong> live<br />

on l<strong>and</strong>.<br />

2.2.2 DIVISIONS OF KINGDOM PLANTAE<br />

Several divisions are recognized in the Kingdom Plantae (Table 2–3). These divisions<br />

can be divided into two major categories: bryophytes <strong>and</strong> vascular plants. Vascular<br />

plants are large bodied <strong>and</strong> have three primary vegetative organs, stem, leaves, <strong>and</strong> roots,<br />

32 Chapter 2 Classifying <strong>and</strong> Naming Horticultural Plants

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