LIST OF CURRENT AVAILABLE GRADUATE COURSES

505 General Plant Pathology (1st sem)

Causes, nature, and control of plant diseases. Diagnosis of plant diseases. Mechanisms, biochemistry, and genetics of plant disease induction, development, and control. Prerequisite: a course in plant biology. Credit, 4. Dr. petit

510 Management and Ecology of Plant Diseases (2nd sem)

The ecology of plant, microbe, and human interactions in plant diseases, from wilderness to industrial farms. Epidemics, traditional farming, environmental impacts, and sustainability issues. Ways in which agriculture, particularly plant production and plant disease management, change ecosystems. Independent project. BIOLOGY 100 or equivalent recommended. Credit, 3. Dr. Cooley

515 Microbiology of the Soil (2nd sem, odd yrs)

Microbial processes in the soil and sediment environment; ecology of the various microbial communities; the decomposition of organic matter, carbon transformation, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and other mineral transformations. Chemistry of these reactions and their biogeochemical implications. Biological equilibrium, the rhizosphere, and microbial associations. Prerequisites: basic biology and chemistry courses. Consent of instructors other than juniors and seniors. Also listed as ENVIRSCI 515. Credit, 3. Dr. Simkins

520 Physiology Crop Yield (1st sem)

Physiology of crop plants, carbon fixation, partitioning, growth and development, competition in crops, environmental factors, and yield relationships of crops. Credit, 3. Dr. Herbert

523 Plant Stress Physiology (1st sem)

Major topics and recent advances in plant stress physiology. Discussion of environmental stresses addresses the methodology used for stress tolerance evaluation as well as assessment of current research areas in plant stress physiology. Credit, 3. Dr. DaCosta

530 Plant Nutrition (1st sem)

With lab. The acquisition, transport, translocation, distribution, and function of the essential inorganic elements in plants. Genetic control of plant nutrition and ecological adaptation to nutritional variables. Diagnosis of nutritional disorders. Credit, 4. Dr. Barker

575 Environmental Soil Chemistry (1st sem)

With lab. Chemical reactions that occur in soils. Topics include the nature and properties of soil minerals, cations exchange, soil acidity, and chemical relations in soils of plant nutrients and soil amendments. Credit, 4. Dr. Xing

580 Soil Fertility (2nd sem).

Crop responses to fertilizers and other soil amendments; soil reaction, nutrient deficiencies, and toxicities; environmental impact of soil fertility management practices; modeling; tillage; livestock and soils. Prerequisites: STOCKSCH 105 and STOCKSCH 108 and either CHEM 110 or CHEM 111 or equivalent courses. Credits. 3. Dr. Barker

581 Integrated Pest Management (1st sem)

With the lab. Theory and application of the principles of insect, disease, and weed pest management; emphasis on insects. Focus on pest and natural enemy sampling techniques, properties of available control strategies, underlying ecological and behavioral principles, model pest management systems, and societal concerns. Prerequisite: STOCKSCH 326 or 505. Credits, Dr. Pinero.

585 Inorganic Contaminants in Soil, Water (2nd sem, even yrs)

Physical, chemical, and biological factors involved in the fate and effects of heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants in soils, sediments, and groundwater. Bioleaching, acid mine drainage, and environmental bioremediation are also covered. Credit, 3. Dr. Xing

587 Phyto/bioremediation (1st sem)

The use of hyper-accumulator and transgenic plants, and their associated microbes with the purpose of environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments, and water. Various strategies for a wide range of toxic pollutants, both organic and elemental, with emphasis on toxic metals. Credit, 3. Dr. Dhankher

590M Microbe-Mineral-Organic Matter Interactions in Soils (2nd sem)

This course discusses fundamental interactions between microbes, minerals, and organic matter responsible for carbon cycling, mineral weathering, and nutrient dynamics in soils. Through a combination of lectures and in-class discussions, we will examine the importance of these interactions for soil development, carbon storage, and fertility. Credit, 3. TBD

Plant Biotechnology Journal Club (both sem)

This course will familiarize students with concepts and current status of plant genetic engineering for crop improvement and health applications, covering with wide range of topics for engineering plants for abiotic and biotic stresses, metabolic engineering for nutrient enhancement, and risk assessment of engineered crops. Credit, 1. Dr. Dhankher

597M Topics in Turf Pathology (2nd sem)

Review and discussion of concepts and issues related to turfgrass diseases. Weekly readings of scientific papers and trade journals required. Guest speakers from the turfgrass industry present many of the topics and lead subsequent class discussions. Credit, 2. Dr. Jung

597O Organic Contaminants in Soils, Waters, and Sediments (1st sem, even yrs)

Transport and fate of manmade compounds in natural and managed environments: abiotic and biotic effects including partitioning, interfaces, concentration, biodegradation and biotransformation. Examination of specific examples of compounds and classes of contaminants in affected environments, such as haloorganics and petroleum products in soil and ground water. Dr. Simkins

597V Special Topics in Integrated Turf Management (2nd sem)

Integrates material from several turf courses. Concepts of Integrated Pest Management, including stress management and pest management, emphasized. Each student develops an ITM plan for a turf setting. TBD

597W Artificial Treatment Wetlands (1st sem, even yrs)

Aquatic plant selection, sizing, and design techniques. Pollution parameters of primary concern include BOD, suspended solids, nutrients, heavy metals, pathogens, organics. Treatment applications include primary and secondary effluents and sludges; storm water and agricultural runoff; solid and hazardous waste leachates, liquid industrial wastes. Field trips, student projects.

602 Research Literature

A critical review of the scientific literature in an area of specialization. (up to 3 credits, Advisor of the Graduate Student)

650 Global Challenges in Agriculture and Environment. (2nd sem) (required Course)

This course will address topics related to the challenges imposed by climate change and environmental contamination on plant growth and production, ecosystem integrity, soil health and ecology, and the sustainability of landscapes. Credit, 3. Group teaching

687 Phyto/bioremediation (1st sem)

The use of hyper-accumulator and transgenic plants, and their associated microbes with the purpose of environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments, and water. Various strategies for a wide range of toxic pollutants, both organic and elemental, with emphasis on toxic metals. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 100 or 103, or Instructor's permission. Credit, 3. Dr. Dhankher

690S Soil Ecology (1st sem)

Biological processes found in the soil are essential to life on Earth. This course will introduce students to soils as their own ecosystem. Throughout the course, we will weave together descriptions of the diversity of life found within soils, plant-soil interactions, and biogeography to paint a mosaic of soil life, its complexity, and global importance. The final portion of the course will address the global challenges facing soil ecosystems and the potential of the soil health movement. There is also a field component. Credit, 3. Dr. Keiser

691A Research Proposal Presentation

Master’s and Ph.D. candidates attend and present their research proposals in a regular seminar meeting open to all Plant and Soil Sciences graduate students. Credit, 1.

691M Special Topic in Plant-Soil-Microbe Journal Club (2nd sem)

Credit, 1. TBD

691S Special Topics in Sustainable Soil Management Journal Club (2nd sem)

Credit, 1.

692A Special Topics in Plant-Pathogen Interactions

Credit, 1.

696 Independent Study
selected research problems not related to a candidate’s master’s thesis. Credit, 1-6. (Graduate student choice of instructor)

699 Master’s Thesis

Credit, 6-10.

830 Advanced Soil Chemistry (2nd sem, every 3-4 years, depending on students’ enrollment)

The course discusses in depth the chemical processes affecting the fate, bioavailability, and redistribution of both organic and inorganic chemicals in soils, and the state of-the-art knowledge, theories, and research in Soil Chemistry. Research methodology including advanced analytical instruments is also covered. Credit, 3. Dr. Xing

896 Independent Study

Selected research problems not related to a candidate’s doctoral dissertation. Credit, 1-6. (PhD student choice of instructor)

899 Doctoral Dissertation

Credit, 10.