University of Science and Technology of Southern

Philippines - Claveria
Claveria, Misamis Oriental 9004 Philippines
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Unit 2.1
Classification of Crop Plants
Botanical and Agricultural Classification
Week 3: September 10-16, 2020 | 1st Semester, S.Y. 2020-2021

Introduction

Did you know that in the kingdom Plantae, no two species

are exactly alike? They are unique to each other, some are very
the same while others are so different from one another. The
similarities and differences of crop plants are the reason for the
classification.
In this module, we will learn different ways of classifying
crop plants.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the learners shall be able to:

1. Familiarize the different types of crop plants.
2. Learn the various ways of classifying crop plants.

I. Classification of Crop Plants

Plant taxonomy is the science that deals with classification,

nomenclature and identification of plants (oldest branch of
Botany).
Theoprastus (Father of botany) – the first scientist who worked
on botanical system of classification. He classified plants by gross
morphology (form, size, and texture).
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Carolus Linnaeus (1707-78) - a Swedish physician credited for
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his work by giving two-part scientific names (binomial system –
Genus and species name) to organisms.

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 Plants are classified in three ways: 1) Botanical, 2) Descriptive,
and 3) Agricultural Classification.

A. Botanical Classification
The botanical systems are under the systematic botany or
plant systematics, which deals with the scientific classification of
plants. There are a lot of specified methods of classification under
this Broad scheme. The phylogenetic system is the modern way
of classification in which plants are identified and grouped based
on as many characters as possible such as size, shape, color,
flower characteristics, and known genetic relationships.
The botanical is based on relationship, there may be a
change in the group to which a plant belongs, or in the scientific
name of the plant. This thing is possible due to the discovery of
facts that points toward or away from any relationship. The
changes in the classification of crops follow the rules and
recommendations of the International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (ISBN) as founded by botanists worldwide.
Example of a Botanical Classification of Mango
Kingdom – Plants
Division – Anthophyta
Class – Magnoliopsida
Order – Sapindales
Family – Anacardiaceae
Genus – Mangifera
Species – indica
Variety – Carabao Mango
According to Class, plant can either be a monocot (Class
Liliopsda) or Dicot (Class Magnoliospida). The difference between
dicot and monocot are as follows:
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 Characteristic Monocot Dicot
Leaf venation Veins are parallel to Veins branch out from
each other central vein or
midvein, forming a
distinct network
Flower Parts Usually in three and Usually in four or five
fused at the base
Root system Fibrous, with or without Has taproot
taproot often with
modified roots
Vascular bundles Scattered through In a single cylinder
pithy tissue of stem
Cambium No cambium or has a Present. A new layer or
pseudo-cambium ring of cambium is
added each growing
season or year.

Figure 1. Comparison of Monocotyledon and Dicotyledon

Seeds
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 Figure 2. Comparison of Monocotyledon-grass leaf and a
Dicotyledon-legume Leaf

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 Figure 3. Comparison of Monocotyledon and Dicotyledon
Flowers

Figure 4. Comparison of Fibrous and Taproot systems

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 The generic name (genus) plus the specific name (species)
make up the scientific name. In our example above, the carabao
mango is known botanically as Mangifera indica. The scientific
name comes from Latin, and it is accepted internationally, unlike
the common name that varies from locality to locality and from
country to country, e.g. Mangga in the Philippines and Mamuang
in Thailand.
The abbreviation or name that usually follows a scientific
name is that of the person who first named and described that
species correctly. For an instance, Mangifera indica L. (also Linn.)
referring to Linnaeus.
If some of the species are adequately different in
appearance from others in the same species, it is classified with
different kinds called variety. It is referred to as a group of plants
within a species that are distinguished by the same or similar
characteristics. This is called the botanical variety and is
designated by the abbreviation var following the scientific name.
For example, Celery is Apium graveolens var dulce.
B. Agricultural Classification
i. Agronomic Classification
Agronomy - science of field crop production and management.
- derived from Greek words “agros” (field) and
“nomos” (to manage)
Agronomic Crops or Field Crops. These are annual herbaceous
plants that are grown on the farm under a system of “extensive”
or large-scale culture. They are grouped or classified based on the
manner by which they are utilized.
a. Cereal or grain crops –belonging to the grass family, which are
utilized as staple. The word “cereal” is derived from the name
of the most important grain deity; the Roman Goddess “Ceres”.
b. Seed legumes or pulses of the family Leguminosae, which are
consumed in the dry seed form. The legumes are rich sources
of protein. The plants possess the ability to fix nitrogen from
the air in symbiotic association with Rhizobium bacteria. The
COURSE major legume crops are mungbean, peanut, and soybeans.
MODULE c. Fiber crops – are sources of fiber. Ex. kenaf, jute, ramie and
cotton

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 d. Root and tuber crops – are rich sources of carbohydrate. Ex.
Cassava, sweet potato and potato
e. Forage legumes and grasses - for animal fodder. Ex. Grasses –
Napier (elephant grass), guinea grass, para grass, pangola
grass, Alabang X, legume forages - centro, ipil-ipil, townsville
stylo, siratro.
f. Crops for industrial processing Ex. sugarcane, tobacco, castor
bean.
Special purpose classification of field crops
A. Soiling crop or zero grazing – one that is cut green and
fed to livestock.
B. Cover crops/cash crops – crops grown to maintain a plant
cover on the land to prevent erosion and leaching, when
turned under it becomes a manure crop hence, improved
soil condition.
C. Catch crop – a crop planted on land where other crops
have failed, usually a quick growing one.
D. companion crop – a crop planted simultaneously with the
main crop.
Green manure – a crop grown and plowed under
to improve the soil.
Silage – forage that has been preserved in
succulent condition by partial fermentation.

ii. Horticultural Classification

Horticulture – derived from Latin words - “hortos”
(garden) and “cultura” (cultivation)
Horticultural Crops – are annual and perennial species
which are grown under a system of “intensive” culture which
means they usually require special care. They are grouped
in relation to the manner they are utilized.
a. Pomological or Fruit Crops
1. Tree fruits. Fruits borne on trees such as mango, lanzones,
durian, orange, etc.
2. Nut fruits. Fruits borne on trees but which are enclosed by
a stony structure, such as Talisay, cashew, and pili.
3. Small fruits. Fruits borne not on trees but on herbaceous
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plants, such as pineapple, strawberry, and vine plants such
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as grapes.

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 b. Vegetables - vegetable crops are classified based on similarities
in the method of culture.
1. Leafy vegetables - crops grown mainly for their leaves, such
as malungay, pechay, kangkong and saluyot.
2. Cole crops or Crucifers - crops that belong to the crucifer
family specifically cabbage, cauliflower and chinese
cabbage.
3. Root, Tuber, and Bulb Crops - crops with swollen
underground stems or roots, such as sweet potato, onion,
radish and potato.
4. Legumes - crops belonging to the legume family, like sitao,
cowpea, lima bean, pigeon pea, chick pea, and winged bean
5. Solanaceous Crops - crops belonging to the solanaceous or
nightshade family (Solanaceae) whose economically useful
parts are the fruits, such as tomato, eggplant, and sweet
pepper.
6. Cucurbits - crops belonging to the cucurbit family
(Cucurbitaceae) such a cucumber,muskmelon, squash,
watermelon, ampalaya and chayote.
7. Tree vegetables – Maluggay and Katuray
8. Other Crops – sweet corn, okra and asparagus
c. Ornamentals. Ornamentals can be classified according to their
special uses or aesthetic value.
1. Cut flower or florist crop - plants grown for their flowers,
such as daisies, rose, gladiolus, carnation, chrysanthemum,
anthuriums, sampaguita, orchids.
2. Cut foliage or florist greens - plants whose foliage provides
background in floral arrangement such as ferns and
asparagus use for corsages, bouquets, and wreaths.
3. Flowering pot plants - plants grown in containers for their
beautiful flowers, usually for display purposes.
Chrysanthemum, poinsettia, santan, bougainvillea
4. Landscape plants - almost all ornamentals are use for
landscaping purposes.
5. Foliage plants - grown for their attractive foliage, they are
sometimes called indoor plants ex. Begonia, philodendron.
6. Turf - grasses used for lawns (grass for golf courses) ex.
Manila grass
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d. Plantation crops - are classified according to their useful
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components. They may have different cultural practices but
their principal products can be substituted for one another.

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 1. Oil crops - are grown for their oil content such as coconut,
african oil palm, lumbang, castor bean.
2. Fiber crops - grown for their fibers used for textiles, corsage
pulp, paper twines, sacks, bags, mats, etc.
3. Beverage crops - use for brewing, non-alcoholic drinks, ex.
cacao, tea, coffee.
4. Spices, Condiments and Essences - used to provide special
flavor, scents, and color to food, perfume, soaps, and body
dressings (sprays, splashes, rubbing ointments), such as
black pepper, vanilla, lemon grass (tanglad), ilang-ilang.
5. Latexes and Resins - crops where products of the sap (latex)
tapped from the back are obtained, such as rubber.
6. Medicinal and biocidal crops – are sources of pharmaceutical
and insecticidal compounds eg. lagundi (Vitex negundo),
yerba Buena (Mentha cordiflora), sambong (Blumea
balsamifera).

Activiy/s
- Download and answer Laboratory Activity 1 – Classification of
Crops available at USTeP.

Your activities should be uploaded to USTeP and it should be MS or

WPS Word Document (.doc) with the following file name:
SectionSurnameFirstLetterofFirstname_ActivitityNo.doc. For
example, BSA2aReyesG_Activity1.doc

RESOURCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Bautista, O.K. 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture.
2nd Edition. SEAMEO and UPLB
Pava, H.M. 2003. Introduction to Crop Science. CMU
University Town, Musuan Bukidnon

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