DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES
We have excellent teaching, research, and outreach programs in the areas of plant biology (cellular, genetics, genomics, microbial, molecular and physiology), agronomy (including pathology, soil management and weed science), horticulture (sustainable landscapes, fruits and vegetables), landscape architecture and environmental soil sciences (biogeochemistry, hydrology and plant-soil interactions). We have a distinguished faculty, known nationally and internationally for their research and outreach, and within UD for their excellence in teaching, advising and mentoring students.
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Featured video
Innovation at UD: Harsh Bais: youtube.com/watch?v=ZMsIF6rPcek
University of Delaware inventor Harsh Bais is a plant biologist, known for his research developing a beneficial bacterium that can help boost plant defenses, water retention and more. Here, Bais—who was named an Innovation Ambassador at UD earlier this year—shares some of what he’s learned about invention along the way.
Read the UDaily feature.
Latest news
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Alpine garden intern
September 04, 2025 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photos courtesy of Jackson FoxUD landscape architecture student gets hands-on experience with Colorado horticulture. Jackson Fox, University of Delaware Class of 2027, a Wilmington native, interned nearly 2,000 miles west of home at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, Colorado. His internship focused on saving and showcasing alpine plants. The environment he worked in was very different from Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, where he works seasonal jobs. -
Innovation ambassador: Harsh Bais
September 02, 2025 | Article by Karen B. Roberts | Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Evan Krape | Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase | Video by Ally Quinn and Sam KmiecHarsh Bais, professor of plant biology at the University of Delaware, was named an Innovation Ambassador at UD earlier this year. It’s part of the University’s effort to help other inventors and entrepreneurs drive on the innovation highway. The role enables Bais to share his own experience as a researcher as well as support others on their own research translation journey. -
Sprouting Cities: 2025’s Best Cities for Urban Gardening
August 20, 2025 | Written by Sav Maive (Lawn Starter)Where can urban gardeners grow a bountiful harvest? To find out, LawnStarter ranked 2025’s Best Cities for Urban Gardening, and continue reading for a Q&A with UD's own expert, Sue Barton!
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