Welcome to Plant Sciences at Cornell!
Cornell University is arguably the best single institution in the United States, if not the world, for offering a broad range of studies in plant sciences. Graduate study in plant sciences is organized into five fields, as listed below:
Horticulture
The Field of Horticulture includes the study of fruits, vegetables and landscape plants for the purpose of sustaining the environment, enhancing economic vitality, and improving the quality of life of individuals and their communities.
Plant Biology
The Field of Plant Biology encompasses all aspects of plant biology research from the molecular biology and genomics to the ecosystem but with a particular emphasis on research that addresses fundamental biological questions.
Plant Breeding
The Field of Plant Breeding is dedicated to the genetic improvement of crop plants for the benefit of society. Our programs range from the molecular/bioinformatic study of crop plant genomes to field evaluations in diverse New York, U.S. and global locations .
Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
The Field of Plant Pathology focuses on all aspects of plant diseases and the biology of plant-microbe interactions
at the molecular to ecosystem levels of organization. This Field is also the home for studying the biology, genetics and evolution of fungi and oomycetes.
Soil and Crop Science
The Field of Soil and Crop Science brings together faculty with expertise in the highly integrated disciplines of production agriculture, crop biotechnology, seed science, soil science and environmental information sciences. The two concentrations of particular interest to students interested in plant sciences are: Field Crop Science and Agronomy.
Prospective students are encouraged to look at all fields before deciding which one best matches their interests. Applicants who want to be considered by more than one field should indicate this option clearly on the application. In addition, it would be helpful to communicate this directly to the Directors of Graduate Studies for the fields of interest.
Click on links to each field for more information, or Contact us.
Horticulture
Breeding of Horticultural Crops; Horticultural Crop Management Systems; Physiology and Ecology of Horticultural Crops; Human-Plant Interactions.
Plant Biology
Cytology; Paleobotany; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Cell Biology; Plant Ecology; Plant Molecular Biology; Plant Morphology, Anatomy, and Biomechanics; Plant Physiology; Systematic Botany.
Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
Plant Pathology; Plant-Microbe Biology; Fungal and Oomycete Biology.
Soil and Crop Science
Environmental Information Science; Field Crop Science; Soil Science; Agronomy.