Department of Plant and
Soil Science

Professor Dick L. Auld, Chairperson.

Horn Professor Emeritus Dregne; Thornton Distinguished Professor Emeritus Matches; Horn Professor Nguyen; Leidigh Professor Krieg; Piper Professor Hopper; Rockwell Professor B.L. Allen; Thornton Distinguished Professor V. Allen; Professors Abernathy, R. Allen, Thorvilson and Zartman; Associate Professors Peffley, and Phillips; Assistant Professors Dotray, Durham, Green, and Xu; Adjunct Faculty: Archer, Blum, Burke, Gannaway, Keeling, Lascano, Leser, Mahan, Maunder, Oliver, Peterson, Rosenow, Rummel, Trolinder, Upchurch, Wanjura, Wheeler, and Zobeck.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree programs: CROP SCIENCE, ENTOMOLOGY, HORTICULTURE, and SOIL SCIENCE, Master of Science; AGRONOMY, Doctor of Philosophy. The department also participates in the interdepartmental program leading to the Master of Agriculture degree. Students seeking a master's or doctor's degree in the department should consult the chairperson about their programs before enrolling for any courses.

Before being recommended for admission to a master's degree program with a major in this department, the student may be requested to provide evidence of proficiency in background for graduate work or may be required to take (without graduate credit) such undergraduate leveling courses as may be designated by the department.

If the preliminary examination for admission to doctoral studies reveals weaknesses in the student's subject matter background, the student may be required to take remedial courses designated by the graduate faculty of the department. The student's advisory committee will make recommendations concerning language requirements and basic work in other sciences. A Ph.D. candidate in the department is required to take written and oral comprehensive qualifying examinations prepared and conducted by the graduate committee. The purpose of these examinations is to determine whether or not a candidate possesses a depth of knowledge in their area of specialization, a breadth of knowledge in supporting areas, understanding of the scientific method, and the ability to communicate knowledge in an organized and scholarly manner.

Research, teaching, and scholarship stipends are often awarded to qualified applicants. Nonresident tuition is often waived with the award. Students having this support have special responsibilities in research and/or teaching.

Courses in Plant and Soil Science. (PSS)

5001. Problems in Plant and Soil Science (V1-3). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Selected problems based on the student's needs and interests, not included in other courses. May be repeated for credit with approval of department.

5100. Seminar (1:1:0). Current research in all aspects of plant and soil science including presentations by internationally recognized scientists. May be repeated for credit.

5304. Economic Entomology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PSS 2401 or consent of instructor. A synthesis of the theory and practice of insect control including prediction and implementations of control strategies in agricultural systems. S, odd years.

5306. Advanced Insect Anatomy and Physiology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: PSS 2401. The structure and function of insect organ systems. S, even years.

5307. Pesticides (3:3:0). Advanced study of the registration, development, and legal use of pesticides. S, odd years.

5310. Insect Ecology (3:3:0). The effects of environmental factors on insect abundance. Composition, complexity, and dynamics of insect community systems. S, even years.

5316. Advanced Arboriculture (3:3:0). Advanced principles associated with anatomical, physiological, and chemical changes in woody plants. F.

5317. Advanced Nursery Management (3:2:3). Principles of nursery production, cultural management, and marketing of both wholesale and retail commodities. S, odd years.

5318. Advanced Turfgrass Science (3:3:0). An advanced course in turfgrass science including turf physiology, nutrition, insects, diseases, and weed control. F, odd years.

5321. Plant Breeding Theory (3:3:0). Breeding and plant improvement presented at an advanced level. S, odd years.

5322. Organic Plant Metabolism (3:3:0). Considerations of cellular organization and its relation to cellular metabolism. Bioenergetics and biochemistry of the organic constituents of living systems including their synthesis and metabolism are considered. F, even years.

5323. Environmental Crop Physiology (3:3:0). The plant-environment interaction in relation to growth and production of crop communities. Radiant energy, carbon dioxide, water, and temperature relationships in crop stands. S, odd years.

5324. Mode and Mechanism of Herbicide Action (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Herbicide classification, activity, crop selectivity, and resistant plants. S, even years.

5325. Transgenic and Plant Cell Genetics (3:3:0). Genome organization in plants, interspecific hybridization, cytoplasmic male sterility, self-incompatibility, tissue culture, in-vitro screening, and transformation technologies.

5326. Advanced Seed Science (3:3:0). In-depth study of seed and seedling anatomy, the sequence of events and factors affecting germination and emergence, and the characteristics of dormancy and vigor. S, odd years.

5327. Soil-Plant-Animal Interrelationships in Grazing Lands (3:2:2). Ecological and nutritional principles of livestock grazing are established. Mineral cycling, antiquality factors, limitations to intake, and research methodology in forage-livestock systems are presented. S, even years.

5331. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (3:3:0). Not open to students having had PSS 4335. Evaluation and application of theory to soil fertility and fertilizers; a study of nutrient needs and nutrient reactions in soil; and predicting nutrient need and response. F.

5332. Pedology (3:3:0). Processes of rock weathering with associated soil formation. Genesis of clay minerals. Soil forming factors and their interrelationships. S, even years.

5333. Soil and Plant Relationships (3:3:0). Selected topics in soil-plant relationships. Cause and effect, management, and control of factors influencing plant growth in the soil. S, odd years.

5334. Soils and Crops in Arid Lands (3:3:0). Potentials for utilizing soils, rainfall patterns, and plant characteristics for crop production in arid lands. F, odd years.

5335. Soil Physics (3:3:0). Physical characteristics of soils and porous media and principles underlying flow and distribution of water, air, and heat in soils. S.

5336. Soil Mineralogy (3:3:0). The mineralogical makeup of sand, silt, and clay. The relation of physical and chemical soil properties to mineralogy. S, odd years.

5337. Advanced Soil Classification (3:2:3). A study of the taxonomic System of Soil Classification as used in the United States. F, even years.

5401. Advanced Insect Taxonomy (4:3:3). Taxonomy, keys, descriptions, biology, and literature for all insect orders will be discussed. Sight identification of over 200 families is stressed in laboratories. A specific taxon will be assigned for detailed study, and a collection is required.

5414. Advanced Agricultural Biotechnology (4:3:2). Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Principles of biotechnology and genetic engineering. Genetic manipulations applied to problems in agricultural research and practice. S, odd years.

5415. Advanced Floriculture (4:3:3). Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Principles of floricultural crop production and greenhouse construction presented at an advanced level. F, even years.

5425. Advanced Agricultural Plant Pathology (4:3:2). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Identification of causal agents of plant diseases (fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and viruses). Emphasis will be placed on diagnostic methods, isolation, and inoculation. F, odd years.

5426. Advanced Plant Diseases Epidemiology (4:3:2). Use of mathematical equations to describe plant pathogen life cycles and spatial and temporal dynamics of plant disease.

5429. Advanced Principles of Weed Science (4:3:2). Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Weeds, weed control, plant identification, and equipment presented at an advanced level. F.

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

6001. Selected Topics in Plant and Soil Science (V1-3). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Individual study of advanced topics in plant and soil science. May be repeated in different areas for credit.

6131. Advanced Environmental Soil Science Laboratory (1:0:3). Corequisite: PSS 6331 or consent of instructor. Discussion of current problems in environmental soil science and remediation options. Field trips required.

6200. Teaching Practicum (2:0:3). Prerequisite: Graduate student in the program and concurrent or previous higher education teaching methods course. Supervised teaching at the university level.

6322. Advanced Plant Breeding (3:3:0). Qualitative and quantitative inheritance, heterosis, selection theory and breeding methodology for crop plant improvement, genotype by environment interaction, and application of cellular and molecular techniques to plant breeding. S, odd years.

6323. Plant-Water Relations (3:3:0). Comprehensive understanding of biophysical factors affecting water status of plant tissue and resultant physiological responses. S, even years.

6324. Molecular Genetics (3:3:0). Genome organization in plants and other organisms, gene structure and expression, recombinant DNA technology, gene isolation and DNA sequencing methods, molecular genetic mapping, and gene manipulation. F, odd years.

6331. Advanced Environmental Soil Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: PSS 2432 or equivalent, graduate standing, or consent of instructor. Applications of soil chemical, physical, and biological principles to environmental issues. S, odd years.

6332. Advanced Soil Chemical Properties (3:3:0). Soil chemical properties and their influences on soil processes with emphasis on reactions of plant nutrients and metals. S, even years.

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).


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