for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Plant Science
COURSES
- Agriculture (AGRI)
- Crop Science Agronomy and Vegetable Crops (CRSC)
- Horticulture (HORT)
- Mechanized Agriculture (MEAG)
- Ornamental Horticulture (OH)
- Plant Health (PLTH)
- Plant Science (Plant)
- Soil and Water (SW)
- Plant Science (PLANT) --- Graduate Courses
- Agriculture (AGRI) --- In-Service Courses
Note: Active immunization against tetanus (available through Student
Health Services) is a prerequisite for registration in any laboratory course
in agriculture and for any student employment within the University Agricultural
Laboratory.
Note: Cost to the student of extended field trips varies each semester
depending upon itinerary. The student should ask the course instructor.
Crop Science -- Agronomy and Vegetable Crops (CRSC)
CRSC 1. Introduction to Crop Science (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division CRSC courses. Principles
of production for cereal, row, forage and vegetable crops. Culture, insect
and disease control, harvesting, storage, and marketing.
CRSC 101. Row Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. The culture of beans, cotton,
sugar beets, and other fiber and oil crops; varieties, nutrition, insect,
disease, and weed control; harvest, storage, uses, and marketing. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
CRSC 102. Cereal Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. The culture of barley, corn, grain
sorghum, oats, rice, rye and wheat; varieties, nutrition, insect disease,
and weed control; harvest, storage, uses, and marketing. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours) (Two 1-day field trips)
CRSC 103. Forage Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. The culture of alfalfa, silage,
irrigated pasture and range related to livestock feed enterprises; varieties,
nutrition, insect, disease and weed control; harvesting, uses, and marketing.
(3 lecture hours; field trips)
CRSC 104. Seed Production and Technology (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1, CHEM 3A, 3B, or 8. The principles
of specialized agronomic seed production; harvesting, mechanical conditioning,
storage, treatment and viability testing. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-3
day field trip fee, $65)
CRSC 105. Range Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. Identification of range plants;
carrying capacity; methods of range improvement, grazing management, water
development, rodents, fertilization, reseeding, brush removal; mountain
range resources. G.E. Integration IB.(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
CRSC 111. Warm Season Vegetables (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. Cultural practices, harvesting,
processing, and marketing of warm season vegetables of economic importance
to California and the San Joaquin Valley. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-3
day field trip fee, $65)
CRSC 112. Cool Season Vegetables (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CRSC 1. Cultural practices, harvesting,
processing, and marketing of cool season vegetables of economic importance
to California and the San Joaquin Valley. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-3
day field trip fee, $65)
Horticulture (HORT)
HORT 1. Introduction to Fruit Science (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division HORT courses.
Origin and distribution of grape and tree fruit crops. Botanical and
commercial classification of grapes and tree fruits and their culture in
California. (Formerly VTF 1; FRSC 1)
HORT 110. Fruit Species of California (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or HORT 1 or OH 1. Fruit and nut species
common to California, their adaptation and uses. (Formerly VTF 110; FRSC
110)
HORT 112. Principles of Pomology (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or HORT 1. Pruning, fruit and vegetative
development, pollination, rootstocks; propagation, and nutrition. Crop cultural
practices. (Formerly VTF 112; FRSC 112)
HORT 113. Citrus and Subtropical Fruits (2)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or HORT 1, 110, or 112. Geographic distribution,
climatic and soil adaptation of subtropical fruit crops. Fruit and vegetative
development and cultural practices for globally important fruit crops. Emphasis
on citrus and olive. (1 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Formerly VTF 113; FRSC 113)
HORT 114. Postharvest Handling of Perishable Crops
(3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Physiological aspects of fruit maturation
and ripening. Principles of postharvest handling of fruit and vegetables
for the fresh market as they apply to harvesting, packaging, storage, and
transportation. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-day field trip fee, $75) (Formerly
VTF 114; PLANT 114)
Mechanized Agriculture (MEAG)
Note: Suitable eye protection is required in many MEAG laboratory
classes.
MEAG 1S. Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics (3)
Selection, care, and use of common tools, projects of wood and metal; mechanical
skills in the field of agriculture. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Course fee,
$25) (Formerly MEAG 1)
MEAG 3. Agricultural Tractors (3)
Study of functions, physical capabilities, applications, economics,
and improvement of tractors. Testing and analysis of tractors in laboratory
and field conditions to maximize efficiencies. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours;
5 hours field operation)
MEAG 5. Power Equipment Safety (1)
Safety training for operation of power equipment. Meets requirements of
Senate Bill 198 and University Agricultural Laboratory (UAL) for classroom
safety instruction on using tractors and similar power equipment. Satisfactory
completion meets safety training portion requirement of the UAL Tractor
License. CR/NC grading only. (16 hours, meets four consecutive times) (Formerly
PLANT 170T)
MEAG 20. Agricultural Machinery and Equipment (3)
The study of functions and applications of machinery and equipment.
Setup, calibration, analysis and adjustment of agricultural machinery common
to the San Joaquin Valley under field conditions will be emphasized. Equipment
will be evaluated for efficiency and effective performance. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
MEAG 50. Metallurgical Processes (3)
(See IT 71.) Fundamentals of
metallurgy; properties and characteristics of metals; survey of metal welding
processes, equipment, and procedures; theory-discussion and laboratory experience
in oxygen-fuel welding, cutting, brazing, and shielded metallic arc welding.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Course fee, $7)
MEAG 53. Electricity and Electronics (3)
(See IT 52.)
MEAG 103. Electro-Hydraulics (3)
Prerequisites: MEAG 3. Theory and practice in the operation, service,
adjustment, and function of the component parts of fluid power systems.
Design application of systems to agricultural equipment. Major emphasis
is on computerized electronic controls of hydraulic systems. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
MEAG 112. Power Systems Technology (3)
Prerequisite: MEAG 3. Principles of the internal combustion engine;
overhauling, repairing, and adjusting of gasoline, diesel, and LPG farm
engines. Practices in repair technology and engine replacement as well as
cost analysis decisions. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
MEAG 113. Power Transmissions (3)
Prerequisite: MEAG 3. Theory and operation of electro-hydraulic assist
transmissions, synchronized transmissions; gear transmissions; clutches;
brakes; final drives, selecting devices, mechanical front wheel drives,
four wheel drive, and rubber/steel track drives. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
MEAG 114. Small Gasoline and Compact Diesel Engines
(3)
Prerequisite: MEAG 1S. Theory of operation, maintenance, and repair
of small gasoline and compact diesel internal combustion engines. Emphasizes
use of small engines in agricultural education. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
MEAG 120. Advanced Farm Machinery (3)
Prerequisite: MEAG 3. Theory, operation, and management economics of
planters, tillage tools, harvesting, spraying equipment, and precision farming
equipment. Managerial responsibilities under state and federal mandates
will be emphasized. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
MEAG 130. Precision Agriculture (3)
Survey of current geo-spatial technologies (GIS) and their application to
agriculture. Theory and application of precision agriculture technologies
such as remote sensing, parallel swathing, yield monitoring, precision navigation,
and variable rate application to California crops. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
(Formerly PLANT 170T)
Ornamental Horticulture (OH)
OH 1. Introduction to Ornamental Horticulture (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division OH courses. Planting
and maintenance of the home landscape; selection, planting, fertilization,
and pruning of plants; lawn planting and care. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
OH 2. Introduction to Landscape Design (3)
History and development of landscape design. Study of the need for landscaping
in the modern human environment. Consideration of landscaping practices
for modern home and their effect on the home microenvironment.
OH 4. Floral Design (3)
Principles and rules of design and color using plants as a media; European
and Japanese influences; emphasis on American line-mass and contemporary
designs. An assortment of arrangements are made in lab. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours) (Course fee, $25)
OH 101. Greenhouse Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. The construction, operation
and management of greenhouses; cultural and environmental techniques used
in the production of greenhouse crops. Foliage plant identification. (2
lecture, 3 lab hours; field trips)
OH 105. Nursery Management (4)
Prerequisite: OH 1. Practices and principles in planning and managing a
retail nursery, flower shop, or garden center; includes some aspects of
production and construction of occasional floral designs. (3 lecture, 3
lab hours; field trips)
OH 107. Landscape Design (4)
Prerequisites: OH 1, 109. History and development of landscape design. Landscapes
for the modern home, with consideration of effect on microenvironment. Graphic
techniques used in developing landscape designs. Analysis and solution of
landscape design problems of residential and commercial structures. (3 lecture,
3 lab hours; field trips)
OH 108. Ornamental Trees (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. Trees grown in California for landscaping,
shade and ornamentation; identification, habits of growth, cultural requirements,
landscape use. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours; field trip)
OH 109. Plant Identification and Botanical Gardens (3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 106. Techniques for diagnosis of specific diseases in
California and selection criteria for control strategies. Students will
practice diagnostic techniques and select preventative, cultural, biological,
physical, and chemical disease control strategies for major plant diseases.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
OH 110. Turfgrass Production and Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. Production and maintenance of grass
for lawns, public parks, public institutions, playgrounds, playing fields,
golf courses, bowling greens; identification of turfgrasses and turfgrass
seed. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours; field trip)
Plant Health (PLTH)
PLTH 1. Introduction to Plant Health (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division PLTH courses. Origin,
history, and evaluation of protective measures (chemical, biological, and
cultural) for management of insects, diseases, weeds, and rodents in the
field and around the home.
PLTH 102. Pesticides (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 3B or 8. Typical uses, modes of action, mechanisms of
selectivity, environmental interactions, and user safety of insecticides,
herbicides, fungicides, nematocides, rodenticides, and plant growth regulators.
Emphasis on effective and safe use of agricultural chemicals by reading
labels and following laws and regulations.
PLTH 103. Economic Entomology
(3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or ZOOL 10. Biology, ecology, management
and taxonomy of economically important arthropods, with special emphasis
on agricultural ecosystems in California. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLTH 105. Weeds (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CHEM 3A, 3B, or 8. Vegetation management
in California. Identification of common weeds. Fundamentals of preventive,
cultural, biological, physical, and chemical weed control methods. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
PLTH 106. Plant Pathology (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Study of the causal agents, disease cycles,
and control of plant diseases. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLTH 107. Biological Control (3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 103. Study of the action of parasites, predators, and
pathogens on the population dynamics of their host/prey organisms; focus
on arthropods, with additional emphasis on microorganisms, weeds, nematodes,
and vertebrates. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLTH 108. Integrated Pest Management (3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 103. Concepts and principles of integrated pest management.
Insect and mite pest problems; sampling techniques; biology and ecology
of major agricultural crop pests; integration of control measures for management
of economic pests. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLTH 109. Diagnosis and Control of Plant Diseases
(3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 106. Techniques for the diagnosis of specific diseases
in field, greenhouse, and laboratory settings. Students will practice diagnostic
techniques for the major plant diseases occurring in California. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
Plant Science (PLANT)
PLANT 1. Introduction to Plant Science (3)
Principles of plant structure, heredity, physiology and climate in relation
to growth, adaptation and management of crops. Emphasis is placed on food
and fiber crops.
PLANT 80. Undergraduate Research (1-4; max total 4)
Open to freshmen and sophomores with permission of instructor. Exploratory
work on a suitable agricultural problem in plant science. Approved for RP
grading.
PLANT 99. Introduction to Biometrics (3)
Prerequisite: ELM requirement met. Introduction to experimental methods
and statistical procedures with particular emphasis on applied biological
systems. Design of experiments; statistical analysis and interpretation.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 105. Food, Society, and Environment (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Areas B. Linkages among food
production systems, human social behavior, and environmental quality. Basic
principles of environmental and agricultural sciences as applied to interrelationships
among social value systems, agricultural activities and environmental resources.
G.E. Integration IB.
PLANT 107. Plant Propagation (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10; CHEM 3A. Principles and practices of propagating
plants, sexual and asexual. Seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting, budding,
and tissue culture. Propagation media and rooting aids. (3 lecture, 3 lab
hours; field trips)
PLANT 108. Micropropagation (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10; and BOT 130 or CHEM 150 or permission
of instructor. Principles of plant propagation by aseptic cell and organ
culture as a means of rapid cloning, elimination of systemic plant diseases,
production of somatic hybrids, ploidy change, and other genetic variants
for use in plant breeding. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Formerly PLANT 102)
PLANT 110W. Dimensions in Agriculture (3)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of the ENGL 1 graduation requirement.
Current agricultural problems and developments; nature of agricultural industries
in a changing world. Interrelationships among agriculture, government, labor,
and the public. Meets the upper-division writing skills requirement for
graduation
PLANT 115. Computer Applications in Plant Science (4)
Overview of computer hardware. Basics of PC operating systems. Software
applications for plant science. Word processing, spreadsheet analysis and
modeling, database management, geographic information systems, remote sensing,
surveying, and scientific data visualization technologies related to plant
science. Hands-on instruction. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 134. Microclimatology (3)
(See GEOG 114.)
PLANT 150. Crop Improvement (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Application of genetic, cytological and
environmental principles to improvement of plants; heredity and variation
in plants, effects of environmental factors, biotechnology, self- and cross-fertilization,
principles and results of selection and hybridization in plant improvement.
PLANT 170T. Topics in Plant Science
(1-4; max total 6 per discipline if no topic repeated)
Prerequisite: junior standing. Selected topics in plant science, agronomy,
horticulture, and other associated areas. Topics may require lab hours.
PLANT 180. Undergraduate Research (1-4; max total 4)
Open to juniors and seniors. Exploratory work on a suitable agricultural
problem in plant science. Approved for RP grading.
PLANT 190. Independent Study
(1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement-- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
PLANT 194. Agricultural Internship (1-8; max total 8)
Prerequisite: junior standing; approval of faculty adviser and department
chair. Field experience in your career specialty that integrates with classroom
instruction. Written reports of knowledge and experience gained are required.
CR/NC grading only.
PLANT 196. Crop Projects (1; max total 4)
Prerequisite: MEAG 3, appropriate production course, UAL Tractor License,
and permission of instructor. Knowledge gained from classroom instruction
applied to field conditions. Students will participate in growing and marketing
a crop using the University Agricultural Laboratory. Approved for RP grading.
Soil and Water (SW)
SW 1. Introduction to Irrigated Soils (3)
Interpretation of physical and chemical properties of biological and mineral
matter for the management of soils in irrigated agriculture. Emphasis on
soil/plant and plant/water relationships.
SW 2. Agricultural Water (3)
Water resources and problems in California; water requirements for agricultural
and ornamental crops; irrigation scheduling and application methods. (2
lecture, 3 lab hours)
SW 100. Soils (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3A, intermediate algebra. Physical, chemical, and biologic
properties of soils as a medium for plant growth and as a natural body,
factors that influence soil formation; food and fiber production; fertilizer
and soil amendment use and environmental impact; soil's role in the biosphere.
SW 100L. Soils Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 100 (may be taken concurrently). Physical, chemical, and
biological analysis. Interpretation of field and laboratory data. (3 lab
hours) (Saturday field trip)
SW 101. Crop Nutrition (4)
Prerequisite: SW 100. Evaluation of nutrient elements in soils; application
of fertilizers and organic waste to meet nutrient requirements; soil and
plant tissue analysis and interpretation; fertilizer recommendations for
different crops. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
SW 104. Soil and Water Management (3)
Prerequisites: SW 2, 100 (may be taken concurrently). Management of irrigated
soils with particular emphasis on crop water requirements, irrigation scheduling,
salinity, and other physical and chemical soil problems of field crops,
permanent crops and landscapes.
SW 111. Irrigation Systems (3)
Prerequisite: SW 2. Principles of planning, installation and evaluation
of irrigation systems for field crops, permanent crops and ornamental horticulture.
Pressurized systems (sprinkler and drip irrigation) emphasized. This course
may be supplemented with optional labs in agricultural systems (SW 111AG)
or landscape systems (SW 111OH).
SW 111AG. Agricultural Irrigation Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 111 (may be taken concurrently). Field experience in planning,
installing, and evaluating irrigation systems for agricultural applications.
(3 lab hours)
SW 111OH. Ornamental Horticulture Irrigation Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 111 (may be taken concurrently). Field experience in planning,
installing, and evaluating irrigation systems for landscape and other ornamental
horticultural applications. (3 lab hours)
SW 114. Pumps and Motors (3)
Operation and study of centrifugal and deep well turbines; testing of pumps
and motors under operating conditions to determine efficiency; installation,
protective devices, maintenance, and proper selection of single- and three-phase
motors used on the farm. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
GRADUATE COURSES
The following graduate courses are open to students who have been accepted
in to the graduate program. Final semester senior undergraduate students
may petition the Division of Graduate Studies to enroll in graduate courses.
The petition form, which is available in the department office, must be
accompanied by GRE scores to be considered.
Agriculture (AGRI)
AGRI 200. Biometrics in Agriculture (3)
Prerequisites: PLANT 99, AGEC 71, or MATH 101, or permission of instructor.
Advanced concepts in the design of agricultural experiments. Emphasis is
placed on the selection of appropriate designs to meet the objectives of
well-planned experiments. Relative merits of various designs and topics
in analysis, interpretation, and regression are covered.
AGRI 201. Agricultural Laboratory Techniques (3)
Prerequisite: One of the following courses: BOT 130; CHEM 105, 109, 151;
ENOL 115 or FSC 115. Agricultural problem solving through the application
of advances in laboratory technology, crop management, foods, nutrition,
soil and water quality. Theory and practice operation of scientific instruments
and techniques are taught. Student defined project and report required.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
AGRI 220. Research Methodology and Communications (3)
Critical literature review, quantitative and qualitative research design,
scientific writing, questionnaire design and use, and presentation of research
results. Ethical research issues examined. Approved for RP
grading.
Plant Science (PLANT)
PLANT 250T. Topics in Plant Science (3; max total 12)
Prerequisites: upper-division plant science appropriate to study topic;
permission of instructor. Advanced studies in a given area: crop physiology,
plant breeding, plant pathology, plant nutrition, or economics. Topics may
require lab hours.
PLANT 252. Plant Nutrition (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Mineral requirements of plants; the acquisition and
translocation of nutrients by higher plants and the role of nutrient elements
in plant development. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 253. Soil-Water Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: SW 100. Soil and water relationships influencing agricultural
production and environmental quality. Soil quality concept and the role
of organic matter; management alternatives for salinity, drainage, and trace
element problems; irrigation water quality and the use of wastewaters for
irrigation. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 254. Plant Hormones and Regulators (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 130, CHEM 8. History of discovery, chemical nature, extraction,
and identification of naturally occurring hormones. Physiological and biochemical
effects of plant growth substances and hormones. Mechanism of action of
auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, inhibitors (A.B.A.), ethylene, and other
hormones. Agricultural impacts of growth regulators. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 256. Plant-Water Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Physicochemical properties of water and solutions;
movement of water, solutes, and growth regulators in plants; study of moisture-sensitive
periods of various crops; factors affecting water absorption and retention.
PLANT 257. Physiology of Cultivated Plants (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Plant cell structure and function. Response of cultivated
plants to the environment. Physiology and hormonal control of flower induction,
fruit set, and development. Review of pertinent current publications.
PLANT 258. Plant Disease Epidemiology and Control (3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 106. Principles of plant disease control. Methods and
theory used in application of chemicals, biological control and breeding
for resistance. Insight into industrial research and development of control
measures. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
PLANT 261. Advanced Pest Management (3)
Prerequisite: PLTH 108 or permission of instructor. Comprehensive study
of anthropod, disease, and weed pest problems in important California cropping
systems. Examination of complex relationships among crop plants, herbivores,
and other components of these agro-ecosystems leads to design of management
programs that are both economically viable and ecologically sound.
PLANT 270. Seminar in Plant Science (1; max total 4)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Reviews of published and/or original
research in the broad areas of crop science, soil and water relations, and
plant health.
PLANT 290. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
PLANT 299. Thesis (3 or 6)
Prerequisite: prior advancement to candidacy. See Criteria
for Thesis and Project. Preparation, completion, and submission of an
acceptable thesis for the master's degree. Oral defense of thesis required.
Approved for RP grading.
IN-SERVICE COURSE
(See Catalog Numbering System.)
Agriculture (AGRI)
AGRI 300. Topics in Agriculture (1-3; max total 6)
Topics may require lab hours. In-service professional training in selected
areas of agriculture.
Plant
Science Degrees