Graduate Courses for Plant Sciences (PLSC)

Schedule of Classes: Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer
(Only current and next semester available)

PLSC 400 Environmental Plant Physiology (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Not open to students who have completed NRSC401. Formerly NRSC401.
An introduction to the basic physical and physiological principles necessary for understanding the interactions between plants and their environment. The overall objective is to understand plant responses and adaptions to the environment and the ecological relevance of these responses.

PLSC 401 Pest Management Strategies for Turfgrass (3 credits)
Prerequisite: PLSC305.
Interdisciplinary view of weed, disease, and insect management from an agronomy perspective. Plant responses to pest invasion, diagnosis of pest-related disorders, and principles of weed, disease and insect suppression through cultural, biological and chemical means are discussed.

PLSC 402 Sports Turf Management (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC305 and PLSC401.
Sports turf management, including design, construction, soil modification, soil cultural techniques, pesticide use, fertilization, and specialized equipment.

PLSC 403 Crop Breeding (3 credits)
Pre- or corequisite: BSCI222 or equivalent or permission of department.
A review of genetic principles and descriptions of contemporary and traditional methods of breeding self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and vegetatively propagated crop plants.

PLSC 406 Forage Crops (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI105. Recommended: BSCI106.
World grasslands and their influence on early civilizations; current impact on human food supply; role of forages in soil conservation and a sustainable agriculture. Production and management requirements of major grass and legume species for silage and pasture for livestock feed. Cultivar development, certified seed production and distribution.

PLSC 407 Advanced Crop Science (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI105 and PLSC101.
A study of principles of production for forage crops, corn, small grains, rice, millets, sorghums, soybeans and other oil seed crops. Their seed production, processing, distribution and the current federal and state seed control programs for these agronomic crops will also be discussed.

PLSC 410 Commercial Turf Maintenance and Production (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC305 or permission of department.
Agronomic programs and practices used in hydroseeding, commercial lawn care, sod production and seed production. Current environmental, regulatory and business management issues confronting the turfgrass industry.

PLSC 420 Principles of Plant Pathology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: CHEM104 or CHEM113 or CHEM271 and CHEM272; and PLSC201 or equivalent. Not open to students who have completed NRSC410. Formerly NRSC410.
An introduction to the causal agents, nature and management of plant diseases with particular attention paid to economically important diseases of horticultural and agronomic crops.

PLSC 430 Water and Nutrient Planning for the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and three hours of discussion/recitation per week. Prerequisite: CHEM131 and CHEM132; or ENST200; or permission of instructor. Recommended: PLSC456 or PLSC432. Not open to students who have completed NRSC400. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC400 or PLSC430. Formerly NRSC400.
Skills will be developed in order to write nutrient management plans for the greenhouse and nursery industry. Completion of this course can lead to professional certification in nutrient planning by the State of Maryland after MDA examinations are passed.

PLSC 432 Greenhouse Crop Production (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC201 (formerly NRSC201) and PLSC202. Pre- or corequisite: BSCI442.
The commercial production and marketing of ornamental plant crops under greenhouse, plastic houses and out-of-door conditions.

PLSC 433 Technology of Fruit and Vegetable Production (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC201, PLSC202, PLSC271, and NRSC411 or equivalent. Corequisite: BSCI442. Recommended: ENST200 or equivalent. Junior standing. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC411 or PLSC433.
A critical analysis of research work and application of the principles of plant physiology, chemistry and botany to practical problems in the commercial production of fruit and vegetable crops.

PLSC 452 Principles of Landscape Establishment and Maintenance (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PLSC202, PLSC253, and PLSC254. For NRSC majors only.
Establishment and maintenance of landscape plants, stressing the physiological determinants of recommended practices.

PLSC 453 Weed Science (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
Weed identification, ecology, and control (cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods).

PLSC 456 Nursery Crop Production (3 credits)
Prerequisites: PLSC201, PLSC202, and PLSC271 or equivalent.
The methods used for producing ornamental plants and an introduction to the different types of commercial nurseries.

PLSC 460 Application of Knowledge in Plant Sciences (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC100 or PLSC101; or permission of instructor. Recommended: ENST200, ENGL393 or equivalent and PLSC389 or PLSC399. Senior standing in Plant Sciences major or in another related major.
A capstone course based on interactions with plant science professionals and student-led class discussions. Students will apply their knowledge and experience to practical issues in the discipline, further development critical thinking ability, and enhance their communication, teamwork, and professional skills. Topics will include nutrient management, integrated pest management, plant interactions with urban and rural ecosystems, planning of public grounds, plant biotechnology, and teaching skills.

PLSC 471 Forest Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI106 or PLSC201.
An understanding of the forest ecosystem, its structure and the processes that regulate it are provided. It also considers changes that occur in forests, the interaction of environment and genetics in promoting ecosystem sustainability, and the role of human influences on urban forest ecosystems.

PLSC 472 Capstone-Urban Forest Project Management (3 credits)
Prerequisites: ENST200, PLSC272, and PLSC471. Senior standing. For NRSC majors only.
Students will synthesize the ideas and information learned from their studies in urban forestry. Working in teams, students will complete projects involving real-world issues. Student projects will use scientific, social, political and ethical considerations in an interdisciplinary approach to provide solutions to their problem.

PLSC 473 Woody Plant Physiology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI442 or PLSC201 or equivalent. Not open to students who have completed NRSC473. Formerly NRSC473.
Concentration is placed on physiological processes important to woody plant growth and development. Emphasis will be placed on current concepts and theories of how woody plants grow and develop, and the critical assessment of current research in woody plant physiology. Course readings will include textbook assignments and selected papers from the current scientific literature.

PLSC 474 Physiology of Maturation and Storage of Horticultural Crops (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Pre- or corequisite: BSCI442.
The physiological and biochemical changes occurring during storage of horticultural commodities. Application of scientific principles to handling and storage of fresh produce.

PLSC 475 Silviculture (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PLSC100 or BSCI106; or permission of instructor. Recommended: PLSC253 or PLSC254. Junior standing.
Silviculture is the science of forest stand dynamics and the biotic and abiotic factors affecting it. Issues addressed will be related to forest stand development, from regeneration to harvesting and the sustainable management for multiple uses. Topics covered will be related to natural and managed stands in both rural and urban environments.

PLSC 489 Special Topics in Plant Science (1-3 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
A lecture and or laboratory series organized to study a selected phase of Plant Science not covered by existing courses. Credit according to time scheduled and organization of the course.

PLSC 601 Plant Genomics (3 credits)
Not open to students who have completed AGRO601. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO601, NRSC601, or PLSC601. Formerly NRSC601.
An advanced course in plant genomics which is the study of genes of plant chromosomes. It will cover current topics in gene mapping, molecular markers, QTLs, gene sequencing, and genetic engineering with special focus on agriculturally important traits.

PLSC 602 Advanced Crop Breeding II (2 credits)
Prerequisite: PLSC601 and a graduate statistics course.
Quantitative inheritance in plant breeding including genetic constitution of a population, continuous variation, estimation of genetic variances, heterosis and inbreeding, heritability, and population movement.

PLSC 608 Research Methods (2 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO608, NRSC608, or PLSC608. Formerly NRSC608.
An overview of research methods and applications related to plant sciences. Topics covered include current research advances, professional conduct and ethics, and preparation of grant proposals, manuscripts, and scientific presentations.

PLSC 609 Integrated Pest Management (1-4 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Repeatable to 10 credits if content differs. Also offered as ENTM609. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: ENTM609, NRSC609 or PLSC609. Formerly NRSC609.
A modular course with an interdisciplinary approach to the theory and practice of integrated pest management. Topics of modules, each 3-4 weeks long, vary each semester over a three year time frame, with the first module serving as a prerequisite for all other modules. See www.EntmClasses.umd.edu for description of modules.

PLSC 682 Methods of Plant Science Research (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT682, NRSC682, or PLSC682. Formerly NRSC682.
The application of biochemical and biophysical methods to problems in biological research with emphasis on plant materials.

PLSC 683 Light and Plant Development (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI442 or permission of instructor. Recommended: PHYS263, PHYS406, BSCI435. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT683, NRSC683, or PLSC683. Formerly NRSC683.
Photobiology including: photochemistry, photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis. How light (UV, visible and near infrared) interacts with plants to regulate physiological responses such as stomatal function, carbon fixation, phototropism and flowering.

PLSC 685 Advanced Plant Ecophysiology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: one coure in plant physiology. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC685 or PLSC685. Formerly NRSC685.
Growth, productivity and survival are intimately linded to a plant's ability to adjust to its environment. The information provided in this course is designed to provide an introduction to the basic physical and psysiological principles necessary for understanding the interactions between plants and their environment. The overall objective of this course is to understand plant responses and adaptations to the environment and the ecological relevance of these responses.

PLSC 689 Special Topics (1-3 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT689, NRSC689, or PLSC689. Formerly NRSC689.
Credit according to time scheduled and organization of the course. Organized as a lecture series on a specialized advanced topic.

PLSC 782 Physiology, Biochemical and Molecular Biology of Herbicides and Plant Growth Regulators (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI442 or NRSC401. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC782 or PLSC782. Formerly NRSC782.
In this class we will study natural and synthetic chemicals which regulate the growth and development of plants. The mechanism by which herbicides and plant growth regulators express their activity on plants and the impact of these chemicals on the environment will be a primary focus of this course. The interaction of these chemicals with biotechnology advances will also be examined.

PLSC 783 Molecular Aspects of Plant Environment Interactions (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI442. Not open to students who have completed HORT783. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: HORT783, NRSC783, or PLSC783. Formerly NRSC783.
A study of the interactions between abiotic environmental factors and plants. The course will emphasize the molecular aspects of how plants perceive, tranduce, and respond to environmental factors.

PLSC 785 Advanced Post-Harvest Physiology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BCHM461 and PLSC474 (formerly HORT474); or permission of department. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC785 or PLSC785. Formerly NRSC785.
Physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of senescence of detached plant organs, such as fruits, leaves and flowers.

PLSC 789 Advances in Research (1 credits)
Repeatable to 7 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO789, NRSC789, or PLSC789. Formerly NRSC789.
Discussion of advances in plant science research based on classic and current scientific literature.

PLSC 798 Graduate Seminar (1 credits)
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO798, HORT798, NRSC798, or PLSC798. Formerly NRSC798.
First and second semester.

PLSC 799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 credits)

PLSC 802 Epidemiology and Plant Disease Mangement (3 credits)
Prerequisite: NRSC410 or equivalent. Recommended: BIOM402 or equivalent. Not open to students who have completed AGRO802. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AGRO802, NRSC802, or PLSC802. Formerly NRSC802.
An in-depth advanced course for graduate students in plant pathology, agronomy, entomology and horticulture emphasizing the principles of effective plant disease management in the agroecosystem.

PLSC 805 Advanced Crop Physiology (2 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI442 or BOTN642; plus advanced training in plant sciences. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: NRSC805 or PLSC805. Formerly NRSC805.
Major emphasis will be on physiological processes affecting yield and productivity of major food fiber and industrial crops of the world. Topics such as photosynthesis, respiration, photorespiration, nitrogen metabolism will be related to crop growth as affected by management decisions. Topics of discussion will also include growth analysis and the use of computer modeling of crop growth by plant scientists.

PLSC 898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 credits)

PLSC 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 credits)