601. Physiology of Plants. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Advanced physiology of higher plants includes water relations, mineral metabolism, biochemistry, growth, development, hormones, environmental signals and stress physiology. Emphasis on current literature and research trends; cellular and sub-cellular mechanisms related to whole plant behavior. Prerequisites: MEPS 313 and BICH 410 or approval of instructor.
605. Plant Biochemistry. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Major metabolic pathways in plant metabolism; emphasis on biochemistry unique to plants. Prerequisites: MEPS 313; BICH 410.
610 - Plant Stress Response. (3-0). Credit 3, I
The overall objective of the course is to provide the student with the tools
to understand the molecular and physiological consequences caused by
environmental factors (abiotic and biotic) on plant growth and development
and the mechanism of adaptation to stress. The course will also cover some
of the methodologies to measure stress conditions in plants, such as
pressure chamber, gas exchange analyzer, chlorophyll fluorescence, and
osmommeter. Cross-listed with HORT 655.
611. Plant Nutrition. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Inorganic nutrition of plants; solute absorption, accumulation and translocation, growth in artificial media, physiological roles of various elements, and biophysical/molecular aspects of solute transport; genetic regulation of mineral nutrition and transport. Prerequisite: MEPS 313 or equivalent.
612. Phytohormones and Plant Growth Regulators. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Biosynthesis, mechanisms of action and developmental roles of the classes or groups of plant hormones; uses of hormones and synthetic growth regulators in plant production. Prerequisite: MEPS 313.
630. Post-Harvest Biology, Physiology, and Genetics of Plants. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Overview of the biological, physiological, and genetic mechanisms which impart phenotypes associated with quality and value of plant products; current emphasis in the areas of ripening, senescence, fruit and flower development and relevant applications of biotechnology will be the focus of this course. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Cross-listed with HORT 630. Offered in odd-numbered years.
650. Plant Cell Culture for Crop Improvement. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Focus on techniques in plant cell culture which can be applied to all crop plants, including agronomic crops, horticulture, and forestry crops for germplasm improvement. Prerequisites: MEPS 313; CHEM 101, graduate classification.
654. Analysis of Complex Genomes. (3-0). Credit 3. II
History and current status of genetic and molecular analysis of higher eukaryotic genomes; coverage of techniques for dissection of genomes into manageable parts; investigations in genetics, breeding and evolution; emphasis on quantitative inheritance, genetic mapping, physical mapping, map-based cloning, with examples drawn from a wide range of organisms. Prerequisite: GENE 603. Cross-listed with GENE 654 and AGRO 654.
655. Analysis of Complex Genomes--Lab. (0-7) Credit 3. II
Laboratory methods in molecular genetic techniques for genetic mapping, physical mapping, and map-based cloning of both qualitative and quantitative phenotypes. Prerequisites: Concurrent registration in MEPS 654; approval of instructor. Cross-listed with AGRO 655.
673. Environmental Mechanisms of Plant Growth. (4-0). Credit 1. I
Analysis of physical and molecular mechanisms of whole plant responses to environment. Prerequisites: MEPS 313 and BICH 410 or concurrent registration or approval of instructor. (Four weeks)
676. Solute Transport and Utilization in Plants. (4-0). Credit 1. II
Analysis of inorganic nutrient uptake, long distance transport and genetic control of nutrient acquisition. Prerequisites: MEPS 313 and BICH 410 (or concurrent registration) or approval of instructor. (Four weeks)
677. Plant Growth and Development. (4-0). Credit 1. II
Analysis of mechanisms of hormone action during vegetative and reproductive development, gene expression during development, photomorphogenesis and photoperiodism, dormancy and tropisms. Prerequisites: MEPS 313 and BICH 410 or concurrent registration or approval of instructor. (Four weeks)
681. Seminar. Credit 1 each semester. I, II
Professional development for students pursuing careers in plant physiology; oral and poster presentations, writing skills, grantsmanship, job search and the promotion and tenure process. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester. I, II, S
Individual problems or research not pertaining to thesis or dissertation. Prerequisites: MEPS 313 and graduate classification.
689. Plant Cell Structure and Function. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Course designed to provide an overview of basic plant cell organization and function for students in the agricultural and plant sciences. Course goals are to equip students with an understanding of plant cell structure and function to provide a framework for incorporating whole plant processes with sub-cellular molecular and genetic mechanisms. Prerequisites: MEPS313 or equivalent; graduate classification, or permission of the instructor.
691 Special Topics in…Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified area of plant physiology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor and graduate classification.
691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester. I, II, S
Original investigations in support of thesis or dissertation. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
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Undergraduate Studies
201. Social and Environmental Aspects of Plant Physiology. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Environmental and social issues related to plants and their impact on human populations, such as nutrition, sustainability, biotechnology, landscape, medicine, clothing and building. A wide array of information will be linked in such a way that the information is usable to students in business, political science, education, liberal arts and biology.
291. Research. Credit 1 to 4.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in molecular and environmental plant sciences. May be repeated 3 times for credit.
Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.
313. Introduction to Plant Physiology. (3-0). Credit 3. II
General course dealing with principal life processes of higher plants; influence of environmental factors on these processes. Agricultural and ecological significance of life processes of plants. Prerequisites: BOTN 101; CHEM 102 or 104, 222, or 228. (See MEPS 489 for alternative course to satisfy MEPS 313 requirement)
316. Introduction to Theory and Practice of Plant Physiology. (2-3). Credit 3.
Theory of plant physiology related to purposeful practices for improving plant adaptation, productivity and quality and for protecting and remediating environments in agriculture; laboratory experiments of physiology of plant structure, components and culture; water relations and stress; nitrogen and mineral nutrition; gas exchange; hormonal regulation.
Prerequisites: BOTN 101; CHEM 101; junior or senior classification.
411. Biotechnology for Crop Improvement. (3-0). Credit 1. II
Use of biotechnology to improve agricultural, horticultural and forest crops; techniques and methods used and case studies where biotechnology has been used to alter traits such as pathogen resistance, protein or oil consumption, ripening, fertility and wood properties. Prerequisite: BIOL 113 or equivalent. Cross-listed with GENE 411.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester. I, II, S
Individual problems or research not covered by other course work. Report required. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and prior approval of instructor or department head.
489. Special Topics in…Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified area of plant physiology. May be repeated for credit.
489. Special Topics in Theory and Practice of Plant Physiology. (2-3). Credit 2. I
Theory of plant physiology related to purposeful practices for improving plant adaptation, productivity, and quality and for protecting and remediating environments in agriculture. Laboratory experiments concern physiology of plant structure, components, and culture; water relations and stress; nitrogen and mineral nutrition; gas exchange; and hormonal regulation. Prerequisites: CHEM 101, BOTN 101. (Acceptable as substitution for MEPS 313)
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