Plant Growth & Development

measuring doug firPlant Growth and Development involves study of the control and coordination of processes in cells, organs, and/or whole plants, including, for example, changes in gene expression in response to environmental conditions such as climate change. Students will develop research skills and knowledge about the regulation of plant growth and development, metabolism, structure and function of macromolecules (i.e. enzymes, storage proteins, and nucleic acids), and whole plant physiology.

Link to catalog

Advising Checklist

Examples of thesis titles:

  • Potential of Eradicating Noxious Weed Seeds from the Soil with Heat and Carabid Seed Predators. Nikki Marshall. Mentor: Dr. Ed Peachey, Horticulture.
  • Effect of crop level on fruit composition of Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Northern and Central Willamette Valley, Oregon. Patrick Taylor. Mentor: Dr. Carmo Candolfi, Horticulture.
  • Micropropagation of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in a double-phase culture medium. Leah Gross. Mentor: Dr. William Proebsting, Hort. Dept.
  • Physiological responses of cyanolichens to photosynthetic partners. Puja Bichel Mentor: Dr. Ray Seidler, US EPA
  • Genetic analysis of interaction between the plant hormones auxin and ethylene. Kristi Barckley. Mentor: Dr. Terri Lomax, BPP Dept.