PLSCS 4130

Physiology of Crop Productivity

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2021-2022.

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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