The Plant Science Program offers degrees in fundamental and applied topics related to plant production, plant protection, biotechnology, plant physiology and biochemistry, and plant-environment interactions. 

Specific areas of specialization include:

Plant-microbe interaction, bacterial and fungal diseases, plant virology, biological control of pests and diseases, insect physiology, natural insecticides, insect ecology and behaviour, and weed biology, ecology and control; 

Seed physiology, plant nutrition, plant growth analysis, plant-plant interaction, biotic and abiotic stressor resistance, and environmental plant physiology; 

Vegetable culture, ornamental horticulture, plant breeding, and post-harvest physiology; 

Plant biochemistry, tissue culture, genetic engineering, and plant, fungal, and viral molecular genetics; 

Rangeland ecology, and wildlife habitat studies.

• Faculty Members and their Research 
• Research Facilities
• Collaborations and Cross-Campus Links 
• Recent Research Thesis Topics 
• Career Paths of Graduates

Faculty Members and their Research

Ellis, Brian: Plant biotechnology, plant signal transduction, enzymology and metabolism

Isman, Murray: Botanical pesticides, pesticide toxicology, Insect antifeedants, insect behavior and memory

Jovel, Eduardo: Ethnobotany, mycology, natural product chemistry and Aboriginal health

Kronstad, James: Fungal pathogenesis, signal transduction, cereal diseases, sporulation, morphogenesis, molecular genetics

Riseman, Andrew: Ornamental plant breeding, plant tissue culture technologies, biotic and abiotic stress resistance

Upadhyaya, Mahesh: - Graduate Advisor - Weed ecophysiology, effects of environmental stresses, seed dormancy and germination

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Research Facilities

• UBC Botanical Garden & Plant Research Centre: The Centre is the research arm of the UBC Botanical Garden providing world-class research facilities for advancement of topic including plant adaptation, evolution, genomics, plant physiology and biotic interactions, phytochemistry, plant biotechnology and plant breeding.
• Plant Research Lab comprised of several research laboratories equipped for molecular biology, plant physiology, tissue culture, mycology and insect toxicology. Equipment includes: electrophoretic analysis and imaging instrumentation, UV spectrometer, spectrofluorometers, PCR machines, sequencing machines, hybridization oven, incubators, dry bath incubators, water baths, shakers, microcentrifuges, table-top centrifuges, vortex mixers, pH meters, laminar flow hoods and a micro spray tower.
• Greenhouse Complex consisting of a headhouse with associated support facilities, plus various structures for growing plants
• Totem Field includes approximately 15 acres of land available for research and teaching.

For additional details review the Faculty research facilities.

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Collaborations and Cross-Campus Links

Resources include access to the Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research (BGCPR), a research and teaching facility with newly furbished research faciliites. The BGCPR specializes in plant biodiversity research including molecular systematics and evolutionary genomics. It also has programs in plant breeding and phytochemistry.

The Program is enriched through collaboration with colleagues in UBC Graduate Programs such as Food Science, Soil Science, Botany, Zoology, and in agencies such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Land.

Recent Research Thesis Topics 

• Effects of insecticide elimination, cover crops and parasitioid augmentation on apple leafroller populations, parasitism and the general orchard arthropod population
• Transgenic approaches to improved insect resistance in poplar”
• Development of a botanical insecticide from Ambon and surrounding areas (Indonesia) for local use
• Characterization of the chemosensory protein gene family from the eastern spruce budworm
• Ozone- and ultraviolet radiation-induced signaling in plants

Career Paths of Graduates

Graduates of our program have pursued academic positions at universities or colleges, consulting, or careers in the rapidly expanding biotechnology and greenhouse industries. Others have obtained research or management positions with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Land.