UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences tomato crops grown in the greenhouses
Plant Sciences

Plant-centered research for a resilient future

Federal Funding Matters

Federal research funding turns lab work into real help. Continued funding means faster treatments, cleaner air and water, safer families and stronger businesses. When funding freezes, progress slows and costs rise. Learn more about the many UC Davis research programs dependent on federal funding at the From Labs to Lives website.
From Labs to Lives

Academic Employment Opportunities

Plant Sciences is recruiting for faculty positions:
Associate/Full Professor of Tree Breeding and Genetics
Assistant Professor of Postharvest Horticulture
The department also has a variety of other academic positions available.
See all of the academic job announcements
Michelle from International Agricultural Development

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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Plant Sciences graduate student working in the field.

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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plant sciences research in a fume hood

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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Group of visitors at field day

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

Sheep graze on green plants nearly up to their shoulders, while two men walk behind them. On the near horizon, dramatic mountains, clouds above and a rainbow.

California’s response to climate change offers a model for the world

  • by Trina Kleist
Problems faced by agriculture amid climate change are closely intertwined with non-ag issues. Solutions often have downsides. We have to embrace the complexity, talk to each other, innovate, use technology and be flexible to find solutions that feed us without causing harm to people and while improving and protecting the environment.
Eleven young people and their professor, standing in a room.

“Redesign” alfalfa? Brummer urges just that

  • by Trina Kleist
Alfalfa expert Charlie Brummer says it's time to "think about redesigning the alfalfa plant from first principles," after 40 years of frustrated efforts to increase yield. He made the remarks at a recent meeting of the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Students also presented their research, including trials to grow the crop with less water.
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