Environmental Plant Science and Natural Resources Courses

Theoretical and applied aspects of soil fertility emphasizing ion transport, nutrient availability, and root absorption in soils-plant environments. May be taught concurrently with AGN 405. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 405 and AGN 605.

The history and policies surrounding management of soil and water resources will be considered, but the majority of class time will be used addressing the processes of erosion and nutrient loss, and the practices used to conserve natural resources and sustain productivity/function of cropland, pasture, urban, and wild landscapes. May be taught concurrently with AGN 335. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 335 and AGN 635.

This course will examine natural tree and stand development, as well as fundamentals of forest stand dynamics, site productivity, stand density and tree growth. As such, this course will provide a scientific and practical basis for concepts such as regeneration techniques, density management, wildlife habitat management and other silvicultural principles. May be taught concurrently with AGN 543. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 543 and AGN 643.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 465. Pedogenetic processes, macromorphology, micromorphology, redoximorphic features, and classification as related to soil taxonomy, with GIS applications for use of soil survey information discussed, if time allows. May be taught concurrently with AGN 455. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 455 and AGN 655.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 215. Application of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties influencing agriculture, natural resources, and environmental science. Students will determine site suitability for agricultural and engineering purposes using information from onsite evaluations, soil survey, and other appropriate resources. May be taught concurrently with AGN 465. Cannot receive credit for both AGN 465 and AGN 665.

Special study in an identified area of natural resources not treated in other courses. Recent advances and new research techniques will be discussed. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGN 465. Field interpretation of physical and chemical properties, water relationships, and soil landscape relationships.

An advanced topic in natural resources will be addressed via faculty lectures and student projects. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or AGN 115 or BIO 101 and 111 or BIO 121. Horticultural concepts and their application to the growth and maintenance of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals common to most homes. Will not count toward the Environmental Plant Science major or Horticulture minor. May be taught concurrently with AGP 303. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 303 and AGP 603.

Grapevine growth, development and adaptation of grape species and hybrids is covered. Focus is on vineyard establishment and management for wine production. Concepts relate to all wine growing regions with emphasis on grape production in the Midwest and Eastern United States. May be taught concurrently with AGP 511. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 511 and AGP 611.

Identification, life histories and control methods of insects affecting gardens, ornamental plants, orchards and forests. May be taught concurrently with AGP 513. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 513 and AGP 613.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 and AGP 104 and AGN 405 and AGP 453. This course focuses on the "growing" industry of hydroponics, and includes the different methods and systems used to grow plants without soil, and the science of plant nutrition and production. In the hands-on lab, students plan, build, and manage hydroponic systems for growing plants and apply entrepreneurial strategies for associated business plans. Field trips include visiting local hydroponic growers. May be taught concurrently with AGP 425. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 425 and AGP 625.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 323. General, stress-related and post-harvest physiology of horticulture and agronomic crops in relationship to their environments. May be taught concurrently with AGP 453. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 453 and AGP 633.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or AGN 115 or BIO 101 and 111 or BIO 121. Methods of commercial vegetable production with an emphasis on using sustainable production techniques to optimize yield and quality of vegetables. The purpose of this course is to expand knowledge in commercial vegetable production. May be taught concurrently with AGP 441. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 441 and AGP 641.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or AGN 115 or BIO 101 and 111 or BIO 121. Site selection, design, construction, management, and production methods of crops grown in high tunnels. Sustainable production methods are emphasized. May be taught concurrently with AGP 444. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 444 and AGP 644.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or BIO 101 and 111 or BIO 121. A scientific approach to the physiology of turfgrass in response to the environment, and the selection, establishment, maintenance and pest management relevant to utility, lawn and sports turf. Field trips required. May be taught concurrently with AGP 353. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 353 and AGP 653.

This course encompasses detailed coverage of nucleic acids, plant genomes, gene structure and expression, DNA replication and repair, and cell reproduction. Students will also be exposed to the major molecular underpinnings of plant survival with topics from primary literature, such as regulation of photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, drought response, and cold tolerance. Bioinformatics will also be introduced. May be taught concurrently with AGP 455. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 455 and AGP 655.

Recommended Prerequisite: 12 hours of AGN or AGP courses. An overview of the theory and application of site-specific techniques used in agriculture and natural resources with emphasis on precision agronomy. Techniques will include: guidance systems, remote sensing, drone operation, variable rate application, and yield monitoring. May be taught concurrently with AGP 460. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 460 and AGP 660.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103. Factors involved in site-selection, construction and management of greenhouses and other controlled-environment structures for production of floriculture and food crops. Sustainable production methods are emphasized. May be taught concurrently with AGP 543. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 543 and AGP 663.

Adaptation, production, and utilization of the major grain crops for human and animal (livestock and wildlife) consumption and energy production. May be taught concurrently with AGP 365. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 365 and AGP 665.

Adaptation, production and utilization of the major forage crops for grazing, hay, and silage production, as well as their effects on environmental quality and wildlife. May be taught concurrently with AGP 370. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 370 and AGP 670.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103; and AGN 115 or BIO 121; and CHM 107 or CHM 116 or CHM 160. Practices employed by fruit and ornamental plant producers in propagation of plants, including seeds, cuttings, layerings, grafting and micropropagation. May be taught concurrently with AGP 573. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 573 and AGP 673.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 103 or AGN 115. Application of genetic principles to the improvement of crop plants. Includes self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and asexually-propagated crops. May be taught concurrently with AGP 575. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 575 and AGP 675.

Laboratory activities related to plant breeding and genetic improvement of crop plants. May be taught concurrently with AGP 576. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 576 and AGP 676.

This course provides lecture and hands-on exposure to more in-depth concepts in plant biotechnology, including DNA and RNA extraction, cloning and sequence analysis of DNA fragments, detection of plant viruses by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and generation of genetically-modified plants. May be taught concurrently with AGP 580. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 580 and AGP 680.

Recommended Prerequisite: 9 hours of plant science (AGP). Continued study into diseases and physiological disorders of fruit, vegetables, agronomic crops and ornamental plants. Emphasis is placed on the interactions between plants and pathogenic organisms, on environmental factors that cause plant diseases, and on disease control methods that reduce or eliminate the need for chemical applications. Students will gain insight into the techniques to manage plant diseases, and the impact plant diseases have on humans and the environment. May be taught concurrently with AGP 583. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 583 and AGP 683.

Recommended Prerequisite: AGP 353 or AGP 365 or AGP 370 or AGP 393 or AGP 441. Ecology, physiology and impacts of invasive plants and crop weeds and methods for their control in natural and agroecosystems. May be taught concurrently with AGP 585. Cannot receive credit for both AGP 585 and AGP 685.

The culture and management of perennial fruit crops adapted to temperate climates. Physiology, technology, and research as it applies to modern production practices will be emphasized. May be taught concurrently with AGP 393. Students cannot receive credit for both AGP 393 and AGP 693.

Special study in an identified area of plant science not treated in other courses. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

A series of oral presentations on new developments in plant science. Presentations to be made by faculty members, students, and guest speakers from industry and academe. May be repeated, but not more than two hours may be counted toward the MS degree.

Recommended Prerequisite: BIO 310. The course will study the chemistry, microbiology, and technology of modern wine production.

Laboratory techniques in assessing wine production methods and quality.

An advanced topic in plant science will be addressed via faculty lectures and student projects. Examples of proposed topics include: Improved Disease Resistance in Viticulture, and Application of Field Collected Data to Computer Analysis. Variable content course. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours provided the same topic is not duplicated.

Principles, methodology, and commercial applications of plant biotechnology. Includes brief introduction to nucleic acid structure, gene regulation, and genome organization in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.

The effects of environmental stresses on plant physiological functions and plant growth, plus cultural methods to help plants adapt to stress.

The role of natural and synthetic plant hormones and related compounds in the growth, reproduction and cultivation of plants.