IX. Graduate Programs

Plant Agriculture

The MSc and PhD programs in the Department of Plant Agriculture offer specialization in three broad fields of the Plant Sciences: 1) plant genetics and breeding; 2) plant physiology and biochemistry; and 3) crop production systems.

• Plant Genetics and Breeding has long been a key focus of our faculty and students. Through breeding and biotechnology, Guelph researchers have helped society by developing new field-crop, fruit, ornamental and vegetable cultivars that are grown in Canada and worldwide. In addition to developing new plant cultivars, Plant Agriculture faculty and students seek to understand the fundamental mechanisms that enable plant improvements and to discover novel methodologies and technologies that will be the foundation for future advances.

• Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is a broad discipline. Faculty and students in this area study the response of plants to environmental change and plant development at the ecosystem, whole plant, and molecular levels. Students in this area investigate ecologically friendly management strategies, studying the underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms that regulate plant development, and investigate how plant performance can be optimized in the field or enclosed environments.

• Crop Production Systems research develops agricultural management strategies. Production systems research includes yield improvements and development of economically and environmentally sound production practices in field and horticultural crops such as ornamentals and turf. Faculty and students in this area assist producers and industry in the control of weeds, insects and plant diseases, and investigate new management protocols for production of high quality crops.