Final answer:
Horticulture is the practice of garden cultivation and management, and horticulturists enhance plant growth through scientific knowledge and techniques in various employment settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of horticulture is the practice of garden cultivation and management. Horticulture is distinguished from other forms of plant cultivation by its focus on garden management and the enhancement of plant growth for crops, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Horticulturists advance the field by combining traditional gardening practices with scientific knowledge about plant responses to environmental stimuli, genetics, and plant physiology.
By employing various advanced techniques, horticulturists can now effectively manipulate plant growth irrespective of the seasons, to optimize leaf, fruit, or flower production. This science and practice require an educational background in a variety of disciplines, including botany, plant physiology, plant pathology, landscape design, and plant breeding, as well as knowledge in economics, business, computer science, and communications.
Horticulturists often find employment in numerous and diverse settings, such as laboratories, greenhouses, and botanical gardens, as well as in fields directly related to the production or research of plants.