You are in the official 2001-2002 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Plant Science
COURSES
- Agriculture (AGRI)
- Crop Science Agronomy and Vegetable Crops (CR SC)
- Fruit Science (FR SC)
- Mechanized Agriculture (ME AG)
- Ornamental Horticulture (OH)
- Plant Health (PLT H)
- Plant Science (PLANT)
- Soil and Water (SW)
- Plant Science (PLANT) --- Graduate Courses
- Agriculture (AGRI) --- In-Service
Courses
Note: Active immunization against tetanus (available
through Student Health Services) is a prerequisite for registration
in any laboratory course in agriculture and for any student employment
within the University Agricultural Laboratory.
Note: Cost to the student of extended field trips varies
each semester depending upon itinerary. The student should ask
the course instructor.
Crop Science -- Agronomy and Vegetable Crops (CR SC)
1. Introduction to Crop Science (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division CR SC courses.
Principles of production for cereal, row, forage and vegetable
crops. Culture, insect and disease control, harvesting, storage,
and marketing.
101. Row Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. The culture of beans,
cotton, sugar beets, and other fiber and oil crops; varieties,
nutrition, insect, disease, and weed control; harvest, storage,
uses, and marketing. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
102. Cereal Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. The culture of barley,
corn, grain sorghum, oats, rice, rye and wheat; varieties, nutrition,
insect disease, and weed control; harvest, storage, uses, and
marketing. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Two 1-day field trips)
103. Forage Crops (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. The culture of alfalfa,
silage, irrigated pasture and range related to livestock feed
enterprises; varieties, nutrition, insect, disease and weed control;
harvesting, uses, and marketing. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
104. Seed Production and Technology (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. The principles of specialized
agronomic seed production; harvesting, mechanical conditioning,
storage, treatment and viability testing. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
(2-3 day field trip fee, $65)
105. Range Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. Identification of range
plants; carrying capacity; methods of range improvement, grazing
management, water development, rodents, fertilization, reseeding,
brush removal; mountain range resources. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
111. Warm Season Vegetables (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. Cultural practices,
harvesting, processing, and marketing of warm season vegetables
of economic importance to California and the San Joaquin Valley.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-3 day field trip fee, $65)
112. Cool Season Vegetables (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CR SC 1. Cultural practices,
harvesting, processing, and marketing of cool season vegetables
of economic importance to California and the San Joaquin Valley.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (2-3 day field trip fee, $65)
Fruit Science (FR SC)
1. Introduction to Fruit Science (3)
Not open to students with credit in upper-division FR SC courses.
Origin and distribution of grape and tree fruit crops. Botanical
and commercial classification of grapes and tree fruits and their
culture in California. (Formerly VTF 1)
110. Fruit Species of California (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or FR SC 1. Fruit and nut species
common to California, their adaptation and uses. (Formerly VTF
110)
112. Principles of Pomology (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or FR SC 1. Pruning, fruit and
vegetative development, pollination, rootstocks; propagation,
and nutrition. Crop cultural practices. (Formerly VTF 112)
113. Citrus and Subtropical Fruits (2)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10 or FR SC 1, 110, or 112. Geographic
distribution, climatic and soil adaptation of subtropical fruit
crops. Fruit and vegetative development and cultural practices
for globally important fruit crops. Emphasis on citrus and olive.
(1 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Formerly VTF 113)
Mechanized Agriculture (ME AG)
Note: Suitable eye protection is required in many
ME AG laboratory classes.
1. Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics (3)
Selection, care, and use of common farm tools, projects of wood
and metal; mechanical skills in the field of agriculture. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours) (Course fee, $25)
3. Farm Tractors and Equipment (3)
Operation and maintenance of farm tractors; operation of farm
tractors and equipment under field conditions; service, maintenance
and minor repair of engines of wheel and crawler type. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours; 5 hours field operation)
5. Power Equipment Safety (1)
Safety training for operation of power equipment. Meets requirements
of Senate Bill 198 and University Agricultural Laboratory (UAL)
for classroom safety instruction on using tractors and similar
power equipment. Satisfactory completion meets safety training
portion requirement of the UAL Tractor License. CR/NC grading
only. (16 hours, meets four consecutive times) (Formerly PLANT
170T)
20. Farm Machinery and Equipment (3)
The study of basic functions and applications of farm machinery
and equipment. Operation, adjustment and maintenance of farm machinery
common to the San Joaquin Valley under field conditions will be
emphasized. Equipment will be evaluated for efficiency and effective
performance. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
50. Metallurgical Processes (3)
(See I T 71.) Fundamentals
of metallurgy; properties and characteristics of metals; survey
of metal welding processes, equipment, and procedures; theory-discussion
and laboratory experience in oxygen-fuel welding, cutting, brazing,
and shielded metallic arc welding. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Course
fee, $7)
53. Electricity and Electronics (3)
(See I T 52.)
103. Electro-Hydraulics (3)
Prerequisites: ME AG 3. Theory and practice in the operation,
service, adjustment, and function of the component parts of fluid
power systems. Design application of systems to agricultural equipment.
Major emphasis is on computerized electronic controls of hydraulic
systems. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
112. Power Systems Technology (3)
Prerequisite: ME AG 3. Principles of the internal combustion
engine; overhauling, repairing, and adjusting of gasoline, diesel,
and LPG farm engines. Practices in repair technology and engine
replacement as well as cost analysis decisions. (2 lecture, 3
lab hours)
113. Power Transmissions (3)
Prerequisite: ME AG 3. Theory and operation of electro-hydraulic
assist transmissions, synchronized transmissions; gear transmissions;
clutches; brakes; final drives, selecting devices, mechanical
front wheel drives, four wheel drive, and rubber/steel track drives.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
114. Small Gasoline and Diesel Engines (3)
Prerequisite: ME AG 1. Theory of operation, maintenance, and repair
of small gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
120. Advanced Farm Machinery (3)
Prerequisite: ME AG 3. Theory, operation, and management economics
of planters, tillage tools, harvesting and spraying equipment.
Managerial responsibilities under State and Federal mandates will
be emphasized. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Ornamental Horticulture (OH)
1. Introduction to Ornamental Horticulture (3)
Planting and maintenance of the home landscape; selection, planting,
fertilization, and pruning of plants; lawn planting and care.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
4. Floral Design (3)
Principles and rules of design and color using plants as a media;
European and Japanese influences; emphasis on American line-mass
and contemporary designs. An assortment of arrangements are made
in lab. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours) (Course fee, $25)
101. Greenhouse Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. The construction,
operation and management of greenhouses; cultural and environmental
techniques used in the production of greenhouse crops. Foliage
plant identification. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours; field trips)
105. Nursery Management (4)
Prerequisite: OH 1. Practices and principles in planning and managing
a retail nursery, flower shop, or garden center; includes some
aspects of production and construction of occasional floral designs.
(3 lecture, 3 lab hours; field trips)
107. Landscape Design (4)
Prerequisites: OH 1, 109. History and development of landscape
design. Landscapes for the modern home, with consideration of
effect on microenvironment. Graphic techniques used in developing
landscape designs. Analysis and solution of landscape design problems
of residential and commercial structures. (3 lecture, 3 lab hours;
field trips)
108. Ornamental Trees (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. Trees grown in California
for landscaping, shade and ornamentation; identification, habits
of growth, cultural requirements, landscape use. (2 lecture, 3
lab hours; field trip)
109. Plant Identification and Botanical Gardens (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. Identification, growth
habits, culture and landscape use of shrubs, vines and ground
covers. Botanical gardens of the U.S. and California with particular
emphasis on their history and design. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours;
2 Saturday field trips)
110. Turfgrass Production and Management (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, OH 1. Production and maintenance
of grass for lawns, public parks, public institutions, playgrounds,
playing fields, golf courses, bowling greens; identification of
turfgrasses and turfgrass seed. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours; field
trip)
Plant Health (PLT H)
1. Introduction to Plant Health (3)
Not open to students with previous credit in upper-division
PLT H courses. Origin, history, and evaluation of protective measures
(chemical, biological, and cultural) for management of insects,
diseases, weeds, and rodents in the field and around the home.
102. Pesticides (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 3B or 8. Typical uses, modes of action, mechanisms
of selectivity, environmental interactions, and user safety of
insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematocides, rodenticides,
and plant growth regulators. Emphasis on effective and safe use
of agricultural chemicals by reading labels and following laws
and regulations.
103. Economic Entomology (3)
(Same as ZOOL 122). Prerequisite: BOT 10 or ZOOL 10. Biology,
ecology, management and taxonomy of economically important arthropods,
with special emphasis on agricultural ecosystems in California.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
105. Weeds (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10, CHEM 3A. Vegetation management
in California. Identification of common weeds. Fundamentals of
preventive, cultural, biological, physical, and chemical weed
control methods. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
106. Plant Pathology (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Study of the causal agents, disease
cycles, and control of plant diseases. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
107. Biological Control (3)
Prerequisite: PLT H 103. Study of the action of parasites, predators,
and pathogens on the population dynamics of their host/prey organisms;
focus on arthropods, with additional emphasis on microorganisms,
weeds, nematodes, and vertebrates. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
108. Integrated Pest Management (3)
Prerequisite: PLT H 103. Concepts and principles of integrated
pest management. Insect and mite pest problems; sampling techniques;
biology and ecology of major agricultural crop pests; integration
of control measures for management of economic pests. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
109. Diagnosis of Plant Diseases (3)
Prerequisite: PLT H 106 or concurrently. Techniques for the diagnosis
of specific diseases in field, greenhouse, and laboratory settings.
Students will practice diagnostic techniques for the major plant
diseases occurring in California. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
Plant Science (PLANT)
1. Introduction to Plant Science (3)
Principles of plant structure, heredity, physiology and climate
in relation to growth, adaptation and management of crops. Emphasis
is placed on food and fiber crops.
80. Undergraduate Research (1-4; max total 4)
Open to freshmen and sophomores with permission of instructor.
Exploratory work on a suitable agricultural problem in plant science.
Approved for SP grading.
99. Introduction to Biometrics (3)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion of an intermediate algebra
course or ELM. Introduction to experimental methods and statistical
procedures with particular emphasis on applied biological systems.
Design of experiments; statistical analysis and interpretation.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
102. Micropropagation (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 10 or BIOL 10; and BOT 130 or CHEM 150 or permission
of instructor. Principles of plant propagation by aseptic cell
and organ culture as a means of rapid cloning, elimination of
systemic plant diseases, production of somatic hybrids, ploidy
change, and other genetic variants for use in plant breeding.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
105. Food, Society, and Environment (3)
Prerequisites: General Education Areas B1, B2, and D completed
(or concurrent enrollment). Linkages among food production systems,
human social behavior, and environmental quality. Basic principles
of environmental and agricultural sciences as applied to interrelationships
among social value systems, agricultural activities and environmental
resources. G.E. Integration IB.
107. Plant Propagation (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Principles and practices of propagating
plants, sexual and asexual. Seeds, cuttings, layering, grafting,
budding, and tissue culture. Propagation media and rooting aids.
(3 lecture, 3 lab hours; field trips)
110W. Dimensions in Agriculture (3)
Prerequisites: satisfactory completion (C or better) of the ENGL
1 graduation requirement; to be taken no sooner than the term
in which 60 units of coursework are completed. Current agricultural
problems and developments; nature of agricultural industries in
a changing world. Interrelationships among agriculture, government,
labor, and the public. Meets the upper-division writing skills
requirement for graduation.
114. Postharvest Handling of Perishable Crops (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Physiological aspects of fruit
maturation and ripening. Principles of postharvest handling of
fruit and vegetables for the fresh market as they apply to harvesting,
packaging, storage, and transportation. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
(2-day field trip fee, $75) (Formerly VTF 114)
115. Computer Applications in Plant Science (4)
Overview of computer hardware. Basics of PC operating systems.
Software applications for plant science. Word processing, spreadsheet
analysis and modeling, database management, geographic information
systems, remote sensing, surveying, and scientific data visualization
technologies related to plant science. Hands-on instruction. (3
lecture, 3 lab hours) (Course fee, $15)
134. Microclimatology (3)
(See GEOG 114.)
150. Crop Improvement (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 10 or BIOL 10. Application of genetic, cytological
and environmental principles to improvement of plants; heredity
and variation in plants, effects of environmental factors, biotechnology,
self- and cross-fertilization, principles and results of selection
and hybridization in plant improvement.
170T. Topics in Plant Science
(1-4; max total 6 per discipline if no topic repeated)
Prerequisite: junior standing. Selected topics in plant science,
agronomy, horticulture, and other associated areas. Topics may
require lab hours.
180. Undergraduate Research (1-4; max total 4)
Open to juniors and seniors. Exploratory work on a suitable agricultural
problem in plant science. Approved for SP grading.
190. Independent Study
(1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement-- Independent
Study. Approved for SP grading.
194. Agricultural Internship (1-8; max total 8)
Prerequisite: junior standing; approval of faculty adviser and
department chair. Field experience in your career specialty that
integrates with classroom instruction. Written reports of knowledge
and experience gained are required. CR/NC grading
only.
196. Crop Projects (1; max total 4)
Prerequisite: ME AG 3 or equivalent, appropriate production course
and permission of instructor. Knowledge gained from classroom
instruction applied to field conditions. Students will participate
in cultural practices using the University Agricultural Laboratory
in growing and marketing a crop. Approved for SP grading.
Soil and Water (SW)
1. Introduction to Irrigated Soils (3)
Prerequisites: introductory chemistry and/or physics. Interpretation
of physical and chemical properties of biological and mineral
matter for the management of soils in irrigated agriculture. Emphasis
on soil/plant and plant/water relationships. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours)
2. Agricultural Water (3)
Water resources and problems in California; water requirements
for agricultural and ornamental crops; irrigation scheduling and
application methods. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
100. Soils (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3A, intermediate algebra. Physical, chemical,
and biologic properties of soils as a medium for plant growth
and as a natural body, factors that influence soil formation;
food and fiber production; fertilizer and soil amendment use and
environmental impact; soil's role in the biosphere.
100L. Soils Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 100 or concurrently. Physical, chemical, and
biological analysis. Interpretation of field and laboratory data.
(3 lab hours) (Saturday field trip)
101. Crop Nutrition (4)
Prerequisite: SW 100. Evaluation of nutrient elements in soils;
application of fertilizers and organic waste to meet nutrient
requirements; soil and plant tissue analysis and interpretation;
fertilizer recommendations for different crops. (3 lecture, 3
lab hours)
104. Soil and Water Management (4)
Prerequisites: SW 2, 100 (may be taken concurrently). Management
of irrigated soils with particular emphasis on crop water requirements,
irrigation scheduling, salinity, and other physical and chemical
soil problems of field crops, permanent crops and landscapes.
(3 lecture, 3 lab hours)
111. Irrigation Systems (3)
Prerequisite: SW 2. Principles of planning, installation and evaluation
of irrigation systems for field crops, permanent crops and ornamental
horticulture. Pressurized systems (sprinkler and drip irrigation)
emphasized. This course may be supplemented with optional labs
in agricultural systems (SW 111AG) or landscape systems (SW 111OH).
111AG. Agricultural Irrigation Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 111 or concurrently. Field experience in planning,
installing, and evaluating irrigation systems for agricultural
applications. (3 lab hours)
111OH. Ornamental Horticulture Irrigation Lab (1)
Prerequisite: SW 111 or concurrently. Field experience in planning,
installing, and evaluating irrigation systems for landscape and
other ornamental horticultural applications. (3 lab hours)
114. Pumps and Motors (3)
Operation and study of centrifugal and deep well turbines; testing
of pumps and motors under operating conditions to determine efficiency;
installation, protective devices, maintenance, and proper selection
of single- and three-phase motors used on the farm. (2 lecture,
3 lab hours)
GRADUATE COURSES
The following graduate courses are open to students who have
been accepted in to the graduate program. Final semester senior
undergraduate students may petition the Division of Graduate Studies
to enroll in graduate courses. The petition form, which is available
in the department office, must be accompanied by GRE scores to
be considered.
Agriculture (AGRI)
200. Biometrics in Agriculture (3)
Prerequisites: PLANT 99, AG EC 71, or MATH 101, or permission
of instructor. Advanced concepts in the design of agricultural
experiments. Emphasis is placed on the selection of appropriate
designs to meet the objectives of well-planned experiments. Relative
merits of various designs and topics in analysis, interpretation,
and regression are covered.
201. Agricultural Laboratory Techniques (3)
Prerequisite: One of the following courses: BOT 130; CHEM 105,
109, 151; ENOL 115 or FSC 115. Agricultural problem solving through
the application of advances in laboratory technology, crop management,
foods, nutrition, soil and water quality. Theory and practice
operation of scientific instruments and techniques are taught.
Student defined project and report required. (2 lecture, 3 lab
hours)
220. Research Methodology and Communications (3)
Critical literature review, quantitative and qualitative research
design, scientific writing, questionnaire design and use, and
presentation of research results. Ethical research issues examined.
Approved for SP grading.
Plant Science (PLANT)
250T. Topics in Plant Science (3; max total 12)
Prerequisites: upper-division plant science appropriate to study
topic; permission of instructor. Advanced studies in a given area:
crop physiology, plant breeding, plant pathology, plant nutrition,
or economics. Topics may require lab hours.
252. Plant Nutrition (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Mineral requirements of plants; the acquisition
and translocation of nutrients by higher plants and the role of
nutrient elements in plant development. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
253. Soil-Water Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: SW 2. Effect of irrigation water quality on soil
properties and plant growth. Management alternatives for salinity
and toxicity problems. Suitability of using waste waters for irrigation.
(2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
254. Plant Hormones and Regulators (3)
Prerequisites: BOT 130, CHEM 8. History of discovery, chemical
nature, extraction, and identification of naturally occurring
hormones. Physiological and biochemical effects of plant growth
substances and hormones. Mechanism of action of auxins, gibberellins,
cytokinins, inhibitors (A.B.A.), ethylene, and other hormones.
Agricultural impacts of growth regulators. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
256. Plant-Water Relationships (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Physicochemical properties of water and
solutions; movement of water, solutes, and growth regulators in
plants; study of moisture-sensitive periods of various crops;
factors affecting water absorption and retention.
257. Physiology of Cultivated Plants (3)
Prerequisite: BOT 130. Plant cell structure and function. Response
of cultivated plants to the environment. Physiology and hormonal
control of flower induction, fruit set, and development. Review
of pertinent current publications.
258. Plant Disease Control (3)
Prerequisite: PLT H 106. Principles of plant disease control.
Methods and theory used in application of chemicals, biological
control and breeding for resistance. Insight into industrial research
and development of control measures. (2 lecture, 3 lab hours)
261. Advanced Pest Management (3)
Prerequisite: PLT H 108 or permission of instructor. Comprehensive
study of anthropod, disease, and weed pest problems in important
California cropping systems. Examination of complex relationships
among crop plants, herbivores, and other components of these agro-ecosystems
leads to design of management programs that are both economically
viable and ecologically sound.
270. Seminar in Plant Science (1; max total 4)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Reviews of published and/or
original research in the broad areas of crop science, soil and
water relations, and plant health.
290. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for SP grading.
299. Thesis (3)
Prerequisite: prior advancement to candidacy. See Criteria
for Thesis and Project. Preparation, completion, and submission
of an acceptable thesis for the master's degree. Oral defense
of thesis required. Approved for SP grading.
IN-SERVICE COURSE
(See Course Numbering System.)
Agriculture (AGRI)
300. Topics in Agriculture (1-3; max total 6)
Topics may require lab hours. In-service professional training
in selected areas of agriculture.
Plant
Science Degrees