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

Charred tree trunks, with no branches, rise up from hilly terrain that has lots of low, green bushy plants. Clouds in a hazy blue sky.

Shrubs can help or hinder a forest’s recovery after wildfire

by Emily Dooley
December 16, 2024

In hotter, drier areas where natural regeneration is weaker, well-timed tree planting can boost post-fire forest recovery by up to 200 percent, according to research by Andrew Latimer and Derek Young, in the Department of Plant Sciences.

A broad pasture with mountains in the background and dramatic clouds in a blue sky. A man wearing a white cowboy hat holds a shovel in his hand and is stooped down, looking at the ground.

Ask a rancher: Surveys reveal hard-won wisdom for surviving drought

by Trina Kleist
December 11, 2024

Research shows ranchers benefit from planning for extreme weather, but climate-smart strategies alone aren’t enough. A new $990K USDA grant will support training, outreach, and resources to help ranchers adapt to drought and climate change.

Image of a computer screen. Green background and a small image of a small leafy green plant on the ground. Title says, "Randon weed of the day." There is line where the bot writes, "Hello! Tell me about your weed-related question."

WeedChat: An AI-powered chatbot answers thorny questions

by Emily C Dooley
December 10, 2024

Mohsen Mesgaran, at the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, and team are developing a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence to help growers, backyard gardeners, landowners and others identify and treat weeds. The state Department of Food and Agriculture is funding the project with a grant of nearly $430,000. The development is expected to take two years.