Home | Department of Plant Sciences

Undergraduate Programs

Plant Sciences offers three diverse majors that prepare students for a broad range of exciting post-graduate jobs or graduate school.

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Graduate Programs

Plant Sciences manages two graduate programs and is involved with eight campus graduate groups leading to Ph.D. and master's degrees.

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Research and Facilities

Our faculty works to advance, evaluate and communicate knowledge of plant sciences from lab to field, rangeland, forests, waterways and beyond.

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Outreach Programs

We partner with growers, ranchers, consumers and communities to understand regional and global needs and provide research-based solutions.

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Latest News

Woman stands on top of wagon in a field of almonds. She is holding a shovel and smiling at the camera.

Salas wins thousands for almond research from Miller award

by Grace Fruto
August 11, 2025

Graduate student Aileen Salas, in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, will use her $3,000 grant from the Miller Plant Science Award to research ways to boost yield and fight pests in almond orchards.

A group of five people standing on a lawn by some buildings.

New plant breeding certificate deepens grad student skills

by Trina Kleist
August 04, 2025

A new certificate program in plant breeding recognizes the skills and experience gained by graduate students taking advanced courses in this area. The first cohort of students earned their certification this spring, signaling their expertise to potential employers. They discuss their research and plans for the future.

A large machine in a field. Behind the machine are rows of small, green plants. The rows the machine is on are bare dirt in wide flat mounds. Hills in the distance, hazy sky above. A man stands next to the machine.

Fennimore’s advice: Invest at the intersection of ag and engineering

by Trina Kleist
July 29, 2025

Steve Fennimore has retired as professor of Cooperative Extension, based in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, He looks back at 27 years in weed science and calls for the University of California and the federal government to get serious about investing in research to develop agricultural technology for weed control.

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