Courses in Plant Biology (PLB)

Lower Division Courses

1. Plants for Garden, Orchard and Landscape (2)

Lecture--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. For non-majors. Hands-on experience with plants cultivated for food, environmental enhancement and personal satisfaction. Topics include establishing a vegetable garden, pruning and propagating trees and vines, growing flowers and ornamental plants, and the role of plants in human health and well-being. Not open for credit to students who have completed Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or Plant Science 1. (Former course Plant Science 1.) (P/NP grading.)--I, III. (I, III.) Marrush

11. Plants and the Biosphere (3)

Lecture--3 hours; one weekend field trip (half-day); term paper. Ethnobotanical and ecological themes are emphasized in examining our dependence on plants, the ecological roles of plants, and the development of botany as a contemporary science. Intended primarily for non-science majors. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.--I. (I.) Falk

12. Plants and People (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: high school biology. Plants as a resource for food, recreation, and environmental enhancement. Emphasis on how our relationship to plants has changed through history and how the growth and development of plants affect their

utility. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 10. (Former course Plant Science 10.) GE credit: SciEng, Div, Wrt.--I, II, III. (I, II, III.) Nevins, Michelmore, Bloom

90X. Plant Science Seminar (1-4)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Examination of a special topic in a small group setting. Not open for credit to students who have completed course Plant Science 90X. (Former course Plant Science 90X.)

92. Internship (1-12)

Internship--3-36 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Technical and/or professional experience on or off campus. Supervised by a member of the Plant Biology faculty. (P/NP grading only.)

98. Directed Group Study (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Primarily for lower division students. (P/NP grading only.)

99. Special Study for Undergraduates (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (P/NP grading only.)

Upper Division Courses

For questions about courses numbered 102 through 125, see the Plant Biology Section Office, 1002 Life Sciences Addition. For questions concerning courses numbered 140 through 188 and 196, see the Plant Science Advising Center, 152 Hunt Hall.

102. California Floristics (5)

Lecture--2 hours; lecture/discussion--1 hour; laboratory--6 hours (includes three one-day, weekend field trips). Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or the equivalent in plant science. Survey of the flora of California, with emphasis on field recognition and identification of important vascular plant families and genera characterizing the major floristic regions. Lectures review the taxonomic diversity, evolutionary relationships, and geographical patterns of California flora.--III. (III.) Potter, Dean

105. Developmental Plant Anatomy (5)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: introductory plant biology (for example, Biological Sciences 1C). Survey of vascular plant structure and development. Current ideas and experimental evidence for developmental concepts.--I. (I.) Canington

108. Systematics and Evolution of Angiosperms (5)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B and 1C. Diversity and classification of angiosperms (flowering plants) on a world scale, and current understanding of the origin of angiosperms and evolutionary relationships and trends within them based on morphological and molecular evidence. (Same course as Evolution and Ecology 108.) GE credit: SciEng.--III. (III.) Doyle

111. Plant Physiology (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C; Chemistry 8B and Physics 7C (either may be taken concurrently); course 105 recommended. The plant cell as a functional unit. The processes of absorption, movement, and utilization of water and minerals. Water loss, translocation, photosynthesis, respiration.--I. (I.) Lucas, Stemler

111D. Problems in Plant Physiology (1)

Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: course 111 concurrently. Discussion of problems and applications relating to principles presented in course 111. Students will be assigned problems each week showing novel applications of principles described in course 111 and will prepare answers to be delivered orally during the class period. (P/NP grading only.)--I. (I.) Lucas, Stemler

111L. Introductory Plant Physiology Laboratory (5)

Lecture/discussion--1 hour; laboratory--9 hours; extensive writing. Prerequisite: course 111 (may be taken concurrently) or 112 or consent of instructor (both recommended). Introduction to basic experimental techniques and instruments used in the investigation of plant physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, water and solute transport, tissue cultures, and detection of hormones.--(III.) Murphy

112. Plant Growth and Development (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C, Chemistry 8B. Introduction to the mechanisms and control systems that govern plant growth and development and the responses of plants to the environment. Strong emphasis on vegetative development of flowering plants. GE credit: SciEng.--II. (II.) Harada

112D. Problems in Plant Growth and Development (1)

Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: course 112 concurrently. Discussion of problems and applications relating to principles presented in course 112. Students will be assigned problems each week showing novel applications of the principles described in course 112 and will prepare answers to be delivered orally during class period. (P/NP grading only.)--II. (II.) Harada

113. Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1C, 101; Biological Sciences 102 recommended. Molecular and cellular aspects of the growth and development of plants and their response to biological and environmental stresses. Primary focus on processes unique to plants. Experimental approaches will be emphasized.--(III.)

113D. Problems in Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (1)

Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: course 113 concurrently. Discussion of topics and applications related to principles presented in course 113. Assigned topics each week show novel applications of the principles described in course 113; discussion of topics during class period. (P/NP grading only.)--(III.)

116. Plant Morphology and Evolution (5)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: introductory plant biology (e.g., Biological Sciences 1C); plant anatomy recommended (e.g., course 105). Introduction to the form, development and evolution of vascular plants. Emphasis given to the form and development of reproductive structures in ferns and seed-producing plants as a basis for determining evolutionary relationships. GE credit: SciEng.--II. (II.) Jernstedt

117. Plant Ecology (4)

Lecture--3 hours; three to five field trips. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C; course 112; course 102 or 108 strongly recommended. The study of interactions between plant populations or vegetation types and their environment. Special emphasis on California. Students taking course 117 cannot receive credit for Evolution and Ecology 121. (Same course as Evolution and Ecology 117.)--I. (I.)

118. Introductory Phycology and Bryology (5)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A and 1C. Comparative morphology, physiology, development and reproduction of cyanobacteria, the major algal groups, and the bryophytes. Focus on structure-function and evolutionary relationships. Ecological factors and commercial uses are considered. Laboratories include study of living organisms and identification exercises.--II. (II.) Canington

119. Population Biology of Weeds (3)

Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C; introductory statistics recommended. Origin and evolution of weeds, reproduction and dispersal, seed ecology, modeling of population dynamics, interactions of weeds and crops, biological control. Laboratories emphasize design of competition experiments and identification of weedy species. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Biology 121. (Same course as Evolution and Ecology 119.)--III. (III.) Rejmanek

123. Plant-Virus-Vector Interaction (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1C, 101; course 105, Plant Pathology 120, and Entomology 100 recommended. Analysis of the interactions necessary for viruses to infect plants. Interactions among insect vectors and host plants involved in the plant-virus life cycle. Evolutionary aspects of the molecular components in viral infection and modern experimental approaches to the interdiction of viral movement. Offered alternate years. (Same course as Entomology 123/Plant Pathology 123.)--(I.) Lucas, Gilbertson, Ullman

125. Molecular Biology of Plant Development (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C; Biological Sciences 103; Molecular and Cellular Biology 161 or course 111. Gene expression and gene structure and their influence on growth and differentiation of higher plant tissues.--(III.)

126. Plant Biochemistry (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or the equivalent, and Biological Sciences 103. The biochemistry of important plant processes and metabolic pathways. Discussion of methods used to understand plant processes, including use of transgenic plants. (Same course as Molecular and Cellular Biology 126.)--III. (III.) Callis, Abel

141. Principles and Methods of Ethnobotany (4)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory/discussion--2 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or the equivalent; course 108 recommended. Examination of concepts, questions, and methods in ethnobotany, the study of human-plant interactions. Specific topics include traditional and scientific classification systems, uses of specific plants, plant evolution under domestication, and ethical issues related to ethnobotany. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng or SocSci, Wrt.--(II.) Potter

142. Ecology of Crop Systems (4)

Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or Biological Sciences 1C; Mathematics 16A or Physics 1A, or consent of instructor. Ecological processes governing the structure and behavior of managed ecosystems. Emphasis on mechanistic and systems views of the physical environment, photosynthetic productivity, competition, adaptation, nutrient cycling, energy relations and contemporary issues such as climate change. GE credit: SciEng.--II. (II.) Denison

143. Evolution of Crop Plants (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or the equivalent. Origins of crops and agriculture, including methodological approaches, center of origin and diversity, crop dissemination pathways, and differences between wild and cultivated plants. Group studies of individual crops are published on the Internet. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 103. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.--III. (III.) Gepts

144. Trees and Forests (4)

Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C. Biological structure and function of trees as organisms; understanding of forests as communities and as ecosystems; use of forests by humans; tree phenology, photosynthesis, respiration, soil processes, life histories, dormancy, forest biodiversity, and agroforestry. (Same course as Environmental Horticulture 144 and Environmental and Resource Sciences 144.)--I. (I.) Barbour, Berry, Bledsoe

145. Sierra Nevada Flora (3)

Lecture/laboratory--30 hours (total); fieldwork--50 hours (total). Prerequisite: course 102 or 108 or Evolution and Ecology 121 or Environmental Horticulture 105. An introduction to the flora of the Sierra Nevada. Basic plant identification, the principle plant communities and species of the Sierra Nevada. Class offered the first two weeks in July in the Sierra Nevada. Offered in alternate years.--summer

146. Rhizosphere Ecology (3)

Lecture--2 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or Biological Sciences 1C. Effects of plant-microbe interactions on plant growth, soil formation, and agricultural sustainability. Physical, chemical and biological processes that occur at the surface of plant roots. Evolution and modification of the biochemical and genetic bases of rhizosphere ecology.--III. (III.) Phillips

148. Introductory Mycology (5)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C. Introduction to morphology, ontogeny, taxonomy and biology of the fungi. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 119, Botany/Plant Pathology 119.

(Former course 119, Botany/Plant Pathology 119.) (Same course as Plant Pathology 148.)--I. (I.) MacDonald, Rizzo

150. Plant Natural Product Chemistry (3)

Traditional biochemical and modern genetic approaches for studying plant-derived compounds such as isoprenoids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. The impact of plant-derived compounds on biological processes in ecology, evolution and nutrition.

151. Plant Genetic Resources for Global Crop Production (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1B or 10. Biological and social factors that influence availability of plant genetic resources for discovery of useful new substances and improvement of cultivated plants. Effects of ethical issues, property rights and biological systems on conservation strategies in local and global contexts. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.--I. Potter

152. Plant Genetics (4)

Lecture--3 hours; discussion/laboratory--1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A or consent of instructor. Basic principles of transmission genetics, cytogenetics, population and quantitative genetics, and molecular genetics. Practical aspects of genetic crosses and analysis of segregating populations. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 105. (Former course Plant Science 105.)--I. (I.) Wilkins

153. Plant, Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (4)

Lecture--2 hours; discussion--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or Agricultural Systems and Environment 2. Basic and applied aspects of plant tissue culture including media preparation, micropropagation, embryogenesis, anther culture, protoplast culture and transformation. Offered in alternate years. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 107. (Former course Plant Science 107.)--II. (II.) Sutter

154. Introduction to Plant Breeding (4)

Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 152, Biological Sciences 101 or consent of instructor. The principles, methods and applications of plant breeding and genetics to the improvement of crop plants. Illustration of how plant breeding is a dynamic, multidisciplinary, constantly-evolving science. Laboratory emphasizes hands-on experience in the basics of breeding through experiments. (Former course Plant Science 113.)--II. (II.) St. Clair

157. Physiology of Environmental Stresses in Plants (4)

Lecture--2 hours; discussion--2 hours. Prerequisite: course 112 (may be taken concurrently) or the equivalent. Stress concepts and principles; physiological, developmental and morphological characteristics enabling plants to avoid or tolerate environmental stresses; mechanisms of acclimation common to many stresses; responses of wild and cultivated species to drought, flooding, nutrient deficiencies, salinity, toxic ions, extreme temperatures.--II. (II.) Silk, Lauchli

158. Mineral Nutrition of Plants (4)

Lecture--3 hours: laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 111 or the equivalent. Evolution and scope of plant nutrition; essential and other elements; mechanisms of absorption and translocation; mineral metabolism; deficiencies and toxicities; genetic and ecological aspects of plant nutrition. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Biology/Plant Science 135. (Former course Plant Biology/Plant Science 135.)--III. (III.) Richards, Brown

160. Principles of Plant Biotechnology (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A and 101. Principles and concepts of plant biotechnology including recombinant DNA technology, plant molecular biology, plant cell and tissue culture, and crop improvement. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 140. (Former course Plant Science 140.)--II. (II.) Dandekar

161A. Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory (4)

Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: course 152 and/or 160. Techniques of genetic analysis at the molecular and organismal levels, including segregation and linkage analysis, cytogenetics and recombinant DNA. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 141A. (Former course Plant Science 141A.)--I. (I.) Dandekar, Dubcovsky

161B. Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory (4)

Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: course 152 and/or 160. Advanced techniques of genetic analysis at the molecular and organismal levels, including transformation, gene expression, analysis of transgenic plants and QTL analysis. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 141B. (Former course Plant Science 141B.)--II. (II.) Harada

171. Plant Propagation (4)

Lecture--2 hours; discussion--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or Biological Sciences 1C. Principles and practices of propagating plants covering anatomical, physiological, and practical aspects. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 109. (Former course Plant Science 109.)--III. (III.) Sutter

172. Postharvest Physiology and Handling of Horticultural Commodities (3)

Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: general plant science background recommended (e.g., Agricultural Sysems and Environment 2, course 12 or Food Science and Technology 2); concurrent enrollment in course 172L recommended. Physiological processes related to the maturation and senescence of fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals; fundamentals involved in handling, transportation, storage, and marketing practices, e.g., temperature and humidity control, protective treatments, controlled atmospheres. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 112. (Former course Plant Science 112.)--I. (I.) Kader, Reid, Saltveit

172L. Postharvest Physiology and Handling Laboratory (2)

Discussion--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 172 (may be taken concurrently). Demonstrations and exercises following the subject matter of course 172. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 112L. (Former course Plant Science 112L.)--I. (I.) Saltveit

173. Biological Applications in Fruit Tree Management (2)

Lecture--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or the equivalents. Physiology, growth, development and environmental requirements of fruit trees and cultural practices used to maintain them. Emphasis on the application of biological principles in the culture of commercially important temperate zone fruit tree species. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 115. (Former course Plant Science 115.)--II. (II.) DeJong

174. Biological Applications in Fruit Production (2)

Lecture--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1C or Agricultural Systems and Environment 2; course 173 recommended. Reproductive biology of tree-crop species. Biological principles of fruit production, tree nutrition and orchard management. Laboratories emphasize hands-on work with orchard tree systems.--III. (III.) DeJong, Polito

175. Applied Plant Biology (4)

Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: course 111, and Biological Sciences 101 or course 152. Advanced concepts of plant biology with reference to the uses of plants for food, fiber, and environmental enhancement. Current research, applications, and issues in crop improvement, production and biotechnology will be presented and discussed. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 145. (Former course Plant Science 145.)--II. (II.) Brown, Labavitch, Rains

176. Introduction to Weed Science (3)

Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Agricultural Systems and Environment 2 or Biological Sciences 1C. Principles of weed science including mechanical, biological, and chemical control methods. Weed control in crop, pasture, range, brush, forests, aquatic, and non-crop situations. Types of herbicides. Application of herbicides. Sight identification of common weeds and demonstrations to illustrate the principles. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 120.--II. (II.) Bayer

177. Action of Herbicides (3)

Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 176; Soil Science 100; courses 111, 111D recommended. Influence of plants and soils on the action of herbicides. Absorption, translocation, fate, mechanism of action and symptoms of herbicides in plants. Effects of herbicides on plant populations. Physical and molecular fate of herbicides in soils. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 122. (Former course 122.)--III. (III.) Bayer, Fischer, Falk

178. Biology and Management of Freshwater Macrophytes (3)

Lecture--3 hours; two field trips. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C, Chemistry 8B; course 111 or Hydrologic Science 122 recommended. Brief survey of common fresh water macrophytes, their reproductive modes, physiology, growth (photosynthesis, nutrient utilization), development (hormonal interactions), ecology and management. Offered in alternate years. Not open for credit to students who have completed former course 150. (Former course 150.)--(I.) Anderson

188. Undergraduate Research: Proposal (3)

Lecture/discussion--3 hours. Prerequisite: upper division standing and consent of instructor. Through lectures, class discussion and individual mentoring, students will define a problem, identify objectives, conduct a literature survey, generate testable hypotheses, design experiments, plan data analysis, prepare an outline, and write a scientific proposal. (Same course as Biotechnology 188.) (P/NP grading only.)--III. (III.) Yoder

189. Experiments in Plant Biology: Design and Execution (3)

Laboratory/discussion--6 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C or the equivalent courses in plant sciences, and consent of the instructor. Provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to formulate experimental approaches to current questions in plant biology and to carry out their proposed experiments. May be repeated for credit for a total of 12 units. (P/NP grading only.)--I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

190C. Research Conference in Botany (1)

Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: upper division standing in botany or related discipline; consent of instructor. Introduction to research methods in botany. Design of field or laboratory research projects, survey of appropriate literature, and discussion of research by faculty and students. May be repeated for credit. (P/NP grading only.)--I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

192. Internship (1-12)

Internship--3-36 hours. Prerequisite: upper division standing; consent of instructor. Technical and/or professional experience on or off campus. Supervised by a member of the Plant Biology Section faculty. (P/NP grading only.)

194H. Special Study for Honors Students (1-5)

Prerequisite: open only to majors of senior standing on honors list. Independent study of selected topics under the direction of a member or members of the staff. Completion will involve the writing of a senior thesis. (P/NP grading only.)

196. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops (3)

Lecture/discussion/demonstration--5 days; field trip--5 days. Prerequisite: upper division or graduate student standing. Intensive study of current procedures for postharvest handling of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and ornamentals in California. Scheduled first two weeks immediately following last day of spring quarter. Considered a spring course for preenrollment. Not open for credit to students who have completed Plant Science 196. (Former course Plant Science 196.) (P/NP grading only.)--III. (III.) Mitcham

197T. Tutoring in Botany (1-5)

Tutoring--1-5 hours. Prerequisite: upper division standing and consent of instructor. Designed for undergraduate students who desire teaching experience. Student contact will be primarily in laboratory or discussion sections. (P/NP grading only.)

198. Directed Group Study (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (P/NP grading only.)

199. Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5)