Critical study of the physiological factors and processes involved in determining economic yield in grain crops. The focus will be on factors operating at the whole plant and plant community level as opposed to physiological processes at the cellular or subcellular level. A logical, analytical description of the process of economic yield production by grain crops will be developed and related to historical changes in crop yields and the potential for increasing yields in the future.

Recognition and identification of plant diseases and their causes and development. The course is designed to give students practical experience in dealing with a wide array of plant diseases, symptom expressions, causal agents and interactions with environmental factors encountered in the difficult task of identifying plant diseases. May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits. Lecture, one hour; laboratory, six hours.

Opportunities for spatial and temporal monitoring strategies, the diagnosis and analysis of spatial and temporal agricultural and ecosystem processes are taught. Methodology is based on Statistical Time Series Analysis and Geostatistics.

Study of nutrient cycles as linked to energy and water in terrestrial ecosystems. Effects of agricultural production and management on nutrient and energy flows at local, regional, and global scales.

Special topic or experimental course in cross science, horticulture, plant physiology or soil science for advanced graduate students. Special title required and must be approved by the chairpersons of the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture. A particular title may be offered twice, at most, under PLS 697. Students may not repeat under the same title. May be repeated to a maximum of six hours.

Half-time to full-time work on thesis. May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters.

May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters.

Residency credit for dissertation research after the qualifying examination. Students may register for this course in the semester of the qualifying examination. A minimum of two semesters are required as well as continuous enrollment (Fall and Spring) until the dissertation is completed and defended.

Residency credit for dissertation research after the qualifying examination. Students may register for this course in the semester of the qualifying examination. A minimum of two semesters are required as well as continuous enrollment (Fall and Spring) until the dissertation is completed and defended.