What We Do
The Department of Plant Sciences engages in teaching, research and outreach in all aspects of agricultural and environmental plant science. Our programs cover the full spectrum of the land-grant university tradition of scholarship, ranging from fundamental discovery to application of research findings to delivery of research-based knowledge and new technology to end users. By integrating basic and applied sciences, our teaching, research, and outreach programs are highly effective in training students and addressing theoretical and technological frontiers in plant sciences.
Our Mission
- Develop students into scholars, mentors, and responsible citizens of California, the United States and the world
- Advance, integrate, evaluate and communicate knowledge of plant sciences from lab to field, rangeland, forest, parks, waterways and beyond – using and improving plants to feed, clothe, fuel, restore and beautify the planet
- Seek out, anticipate and lead in addressing the agricultural, ecological and environmental needs of industry, governmental agencies, communities and people throughout our world
Department History
The Department of Plant Sciences was created in 2004 by consolidating the four commodity-based departments of Agronomy and Range Science, Pomology, Vegetable Crops and Environmental Horticulture. This pooling of personnel and resources fostered a better focus on the teaching, research and outreach missions of one of the country's leading academic programs in agricultural and environmental sciences.
Under the umbrella of Plant Sciences, faculty members collaborate on education and research in the emerging programmatic areas of plant and environmental sciences. Fundamental advances in genomics, genetics, plant physiology, evolutionary biology and environmental science have translated into improvements in crop performance and production, postharvest quality, agricultural sustainability, and ecosystem management. These research-based advances are necessary to maintain California's agricultural economy at the forefront of the world, to foster agricultural and environmental sustainability and to ensure a safe and healthy food supply.
Awards and Acknowledgements
Several faculty members are named as fellows of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science):
- Maeli Melotto (2023)
- Valerie Eviner (2020)
- Daniel J. Kliebenstein (2020)
- Dina St. Clair (2019)
- Charlie Brummer (2017)
- Roger T. Chetelat (2017)
- Eduardo Blumwald (2011)
- Johan Six (2010)
- Jagdish Kumar Ladha (2008)
- Jorge Dubcovsky (2004)
- Richard W. Michelmore (2002)
In 2024, five women held endowed chairs, the first time in the department’s history that so many women have attained this prestigious distinction. (Full news release)
- Kassim Al-Khatib - Melvin D. Androus Endowed Professor for Weed Science
- Eduardo Blumwald - Will W. Lester Endowed Chair
- Amélie Gaudin - Endowed Chair in Agroecology
- Bruce Lampinen - UC Cooperative Extension Presidential Endowed Chair for Tree Nut, Soil Science and Plant Water Relations
- Giulia Marino - University of California Presidential Chair for Tree Nut Genetics
- Gail Taylor - John B. Orr Endowed Professor in Environmental Plant Sciences
- Li Tian - John E. Kinsella Endowed Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health
- Leslie Roche - Russell L. Rustici Endowed Specialist in Cooperative Extension in Watershed Rangeland Science
The Barbara D. Webster Scholar Award was created to advance women in Plant Sciences. The inaugural award went to Jennifer Funk, who worked to inspire school children in plant sciences. The second award was given to Louise Ferguson to develop a leadership program that helps our plant science junior faculty achieve their full potential. In 2023, the award went to Amélie Gaudin, Endowed Chair in Agroecology.
