Growing space crops
NASA funds UD’s Qingwu Meng to study food grown during human space exploration
Landscape architecture exploration
New students experience Delaware spaces through two-day adventure
Improving Kenya's crop yield
UD researchers explore ways to grow more corn despite climate change
Early research experience
Professor Erin Sparks and alumnus Ron Ferriss give students memorable plant science internship
Rebuilding plants' defenses
Erin Sparks investigates plants’ ability to protect against environmental stress
Make the planet proud
Major in plant science, sustainable food systems or landscape architecture
Global Environmental Advocate
Dr. Rodrigo Vargas is the 2022 recipient of the Piers J. Sellers Global Environmental Change Mid-Career Award.
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
Landscape architecture students react to the Bridge Program: youtube.com/watch?v=JlW-XGK7s-w
Latest news
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Growing space crops
November 28, 2022 | Written by Dante LaPentaGrowing food in space is fraught with daunting challenges, including extreme environmental stressors like radiation and microgravity. Qingwu (William) Meng, an assistant professor of controlled-environment horticulture, is an expert on plant growth and light, which, as you’ll remember from your elementary school science or Ms. Frizzle’s Magic School Bus, is an essential component in turning a seed into a mature plant. -
Prof. Don Sparks Named Hagler Fellow
November 21, 2022 | Written by Lauren BradfordRenowned University of Delaware soil chemist Donald Sparks has been named a 2022-23 Fellow of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University. -
Improving Kenya's Crop Yield
November 17, 2022 | Written by Adam ThomasAs climate change continues to impact food production and supply chains in sub-Saharan Africa, it will be critical for the region to address these food security challenges by enhancing agricultural production.
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