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University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences

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University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences

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Academic programs in the Department of Plant Sciences span the art, science and technology of plant use in society. Undergraduate students receive preparation for careers in plant science and beyond with six concentrations: Horticulture Science and Production, Organic Production, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Public Horticulture, Sustainable Landscape Design and Turfgrass Science and Management. The Department of Plant Sciences also offers graduate level education and research opportunities.

05/20/2026

🌱 Join us for the upcoming Green Industry Field Day! Taking place June 11th, 2026, at the UT Gardens Knoxville and on campus, this event hosted by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association offers members of the green industry a special opportunity to hear firsthand from UT experts who are researching practical solutions to the industry’s latest challenges.

The event features three outdoor sessions followed by lunch and four indoor classroom-style sessions. Sessions will touch on a variety of topics including turf and landscape w**d management, pest management for herbaceous and woody plants, and herbicide and fertilizer application.

Registration is open here: https://tnla.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php

We hope to see you there!

Tennessee Nursery Landscape Association
Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

05/13/2026

🏅 Award Winners: Congratulations to the UTIA Hurricane Helene Flood Recovery Team which recently received the Success in Multidisciplinary Research Award from the Provost. This team includes Drs. Bruno Pedreira, Annette Wszelaki, Emine Fidan, Forbes Walker, Shawn Hawkins, Andrea Ludwig, Shelli Rampold, Aaron Smith, Annette Engel, and Haochen Li. In addition to those listed above who won the award, several staff members and graduate students also make up the team which helped assess the damage and develop a comprehensive recovery plan for East Tennessee after the storm.

To find out more about the project and for a look at flood resources, click here: https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/utia-hurricane-helene-flood-recovery-team-receives-success-in-multidisciplinary-research-award/

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Office of the Provost, UT Knoxville

05/11/2026

🏅 Award Winners: Congratulations to Nathan Tucker, Jacob Weston, and Jacob Wittmer, three undergraduate students in the Department of Plant Sciences who recently received EUReCA awards! Nathan Tucker won second place for his project “Effect of Light Quantity on Morphology and Physiology of Hydroponic Basil” under the supervision of Dr. Kellie Walters, Jacob Weston won third place for his project “RUBY as a Superior Visual Marker for Transformation of Switchgrass Cell Cultures” under the supervision of Dr. Reggie Millwood, and Jacob Wittmer received an honorable mention for his project “Optimizing Organic Corn Production Using Legume Living Mulches” under the supervision of Dr. Renata Nave Oakes. Congratulations!

https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/three-plant-sciences-students-receive-eureca-awards/

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

05/08/2026

🏅 Award Winner: Congratulations to Lily Cooper, an undergraduate student in the Department of Plant Sciences, who recently received two awards for her work as an undergraduate researcher. Lily received the 2026 Edward Neal Duncan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in the Herbert College of Agriculture and the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year Award from the Provost for her research in plant pathology.

Find out more about the details of Lily’s research here: https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/plant-sciences-undergraduate-student-wins-two-research-awards/

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

05/04/2026

🏅 Award Winner: Congratulations to Plant Sciences graduate student, Jacob Friedrich, who recently received two awards for his work as a graduate teaching assistant! Jacob was named a “Volunteer of Distinction in Recognition of Outstanding Teaching” and received the "Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit in the Herbert College of Agriculture” for his work as a graduate teaching assistant in PLSC 333 Plant Physiology and Nutrition and PLSC 430 Greenhouse Management.

Congratulations, Jacob!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

04/29/2026

🌳 Class Spotlight: PLSC 122 Community Gardens

Earlier this spring Dr. Annie Vogel, UT Extension's Fruit Crop Specialist, taught the students in PLSC 122 some best practices for pruning fruit trees. Students had a great time getting hands-on experience caring for the apples and stone fruit growing at the Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum's orchard. Thank you to Dr. Vogel for your time and expertise, and many thanks to the Knoxville Botanical Garden for letting our students practice pruning your fruit trees!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

04/27/2026

🫜 Class Spotlight: PLSC 122 Community Gardens

The students in PLSC 122 spent the last several weeks planting and caring for cool season vegetables in our plot at the UTK Grow Lab. At the final visit, students planted their warm season veggies and some of the herbs and flowers they'd started at the beginning of the semester. They also harvested some of their cool season crops! The folks at the Grow Lab will continue to harvest the class's broccoli, chard, peas, potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and corn to donate to the UTK Big Orange Pantry as they ripen and mature.

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

04/24/2026

🌳 Class Spotlight: PLSC 210 Horticulture Principles and Practices

The students in PLSC 210 recently learned from our campus' arborist Sam Adams. After a lesson on best practices for pruning and planting trees, they explored the landscape around our classroom to examine health problems including competing leaders and girdling roots. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with our class Sam!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

04/22/2026

🌱 Class Spotlight: PLSC 431/531 Field Crop Production

Last week students in PLSC 431/531 had the opportunity to get some hands-on experience in prepping the hopyard for this year! Students were taken up in the manlift 20 feet by Dr. Mitchell Richmond to tie strands of coconut coir to the trellis — a necessary step for guiding hop plants upward throughout the growing season. On the ground students secured the bottom of the coconut coir next to the hop plant using a 'W' clip and applicator with the help of Ms. Alyssa Counce and Dr. Dave Lockwood. Throughout the class students learned about the different types of research that are being conducted at the hopyard and gained experience working with a specialty crop right here in Tennessee! Way to go!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

04/20/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Casey Barickman, who was awarded today the Annual Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Barickman graduated in 2014 and presented a special seminar today titled "Vegetable Resilience: Physiology-Driven Approaches to Abiotic Stress and Productivity". Congratulations, Dr. Barickman!

Herbert College of Agriculture
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Address

301 Agriculture And Natural Resources Building 2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN
37996

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/

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