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.

Learn more

Graduate Programs

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

Learn more

Research and Facilities

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

Learn more

Outreach Programs

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

Lean more

Latest News

Black-and-white image of a young man in a lab setting with a glass beaker, doing something with it.

Former pomology chair Durzan remembered for work in tree biochemistry

by the Durzan family
April 22, 2025

Dr. Donald J. Durzan was chair of the former UC Davis Department of Pomology from 1981 to 1985. He is remembered for groundbreaking research in conifer biochemistry and his contributions to the forestry industry, as well as to advances in fruit and nut crops.

In a slightly foggy field, a brown bull faces off with a dark wolf.

One wolf can cost ranchers up to $162K, novel study shows

by Emily C. Dooley
April 21, 2025

First-of-its-kind research on the impact of California's resurgent population of protected gray wolves shows rising predation and costs to cattle ranchers. It underscores the need to move “toward some kind of coexistence,” rangelands specialist Ken Tate says.

Close-up of bud-like structures on a tree branch, against a background of trees with yellow-green leaves just starting to come out.

Central Valley trials ask walnut trees: When do you need to be irrigated?

by Trina Kleist
April 15, 2025

Walnut trees don't need water early in the season. Supported by a $1.3-million USDA grant, UC Davis scientists are field-testing a new method that lets the trees tell farmers when to start irrigation, saving time, money and a precious resource.