PLSCS 4130

Physiology and Ecology of Crops

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2019-2020.

Study of processes involved in the conversion of solar energy into harvested plant products and environmental constraints on crop productivity. Topics include photosynthesis and essential processes that utilize photosynthetic energy, including nitrogen assimilation, phloem translocation and partitioning; canopy-scale influences on solar radiation use efficiency; regulation of growth processes in leaf, root, and floral/fruit/grain sinks in response to environment; seed and fruit set; water transport and stomatal regulation; root architecture and function, and behavior in water-limited situations. Examples come from the full spectrum of crops and model-plant systems. Students develop an ability to identify processes that could be improved through optimization of crop cultural practices or genetic change.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: course work in plant physiology or molecular biology or biochemistry, or advanced plant science.

• Describe the cellular and organismal processes of plants and relate those processes to evolution, diversity and ecology.
• Convey to professional and lay audiences information about the impact of weather, climate, and soil factors on crop production.
• Conduct experiments in field and laboratory.
• Express scientific questions as testable hypotheses based on a synthesis of current understanding and resources.
• Debate the biological and ethical consequences of future advances in Plant Science, especially in the areas of genetic engineering, biofuels, and climate change.
• Describe the impact that crop physiology and ecology have on crop production in the face of climate change and increased human population.

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