Note: This is the 2023–2024 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
This specialization emphasizes the study of plants from the cellular to the organismal level. The structure, physiology, development, evolution, and ecology of plants will be studied. Most courses offer laboratory classes that expand on the lecture material and introduce students to the latest techniques in plant biology. Many laboratory exercises use the excellent research and field facilities at the Morgan Arboretum, McGill Herbarium, Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre, the Horticultural Centre and the Plant Science greenhouses as well as McGill field stations. Students may undertake a research project under the guidance of a member of the Plant Science Department as part of their studies. Graduates with the specialization may continue in post-graduate study or work in the fields of botany, mycology, molecular biology, ecology, conservation, or environmental science.
For information on academic advising, see:
Required Courses (9 credits)
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PLNT 353 Plant Structure and Function (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : The general anatomy and physiology of vascular plants with emphasis on how physiological processes influence function.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Gélinas Bélanger, Jérôme (Winter)
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PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Beauregard, Frieda (Fall)
A 4-day field week is held the week preceding the start of classes
Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
A $92.68 fee is charged to all students registered in this course, which has a fieldwork component prior to the beginning of classes in August. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, a hand lens, instructional handouts and identification aids. Students who have already received a hand lens may request a reimbursement of a portion of this charge through their department.
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PLNT 426 Plant Ecophysiology (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : This course investigates the complex interactions between plants and their environment, focusing on the mechanisms underlying plant physiological processes. Plasticity of plants to their ecological environment; topics include phytoremediation, plant stress responses, plant-symbiosis and plant-insect interactions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
15 credits of complementary courses selected from:
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ANSC 326 Fundamentals of Population Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Cue, Roger (Fall)
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BINF 511 Bioinformatics for Genomics (3 credits)
Overview
Bioinformatics : Bioinformatics methods and reasoning in relation to genomics, proteomics and metabolomics strategies with an emphasis on functional genomics data. The course will cover introduction to UNIX, Perl programming, data processing and integration, file parsing, relational database design and implementation, angled towards solutions relevant for genomics.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Stromvik, Martina; Dhiman, Jaskaran (Winter)
Prerequisite: Understanding of cell and molecular biology (equivalent to a cell or molecular biology course) or permission from instructor.
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ENVB 313 Phylogeny and Biogeography (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : Topics in the interface of evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography, including tree thinking, phylogeny estimation, and the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. The major scientific discoveries that demonstrated how Earth’s history affects the evolution of organisms, including the unheard voices of evolutionary biology.
Terms: Fall 2023
Instructors: Gillung, Jessica (Fall)
Prerequisite: AEBI 212
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PLNT 304 Biology of Fungi (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : This course describes the various groups of fungi and explores in depth their biology and physiology, their ecological niches and the role in various ecosystems and their benefits and uses in industry and biotechnology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Restriction: U2 or above, or permission of instructor.
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PLNT 305 Plant Pathology (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : The theory and concepts of plant pathology, including the disease cycle, infection, symptoms, resistance, epidemiology and control. The biology and taxonomy of pathogens will be studied, including fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. Techniques of inoculation, isolation of pathogens from diseased plants, disease diagnosis and pathogen identification will be demonstrated.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
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PLNT 310 Plant Propagation (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : Principles and practical aspects of plant propagation are examined. The course consists of two parts. The first third deals with sexual propagation; the production, processing storage certification and analysis of seeds. The remaining two-thirds deals with vegetative propagation; cutting, budding, grafting, layering, and tissue culture.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Gravel, Valérie (Winter)
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
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PLNT 435 Plant Breeding (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : Principles and practices of plant breeding, including reproduction of crop plants; plant hybridization; sources of genetic variation; selection methods used for self- and cross-pollinated crops and for clonally reproduced crops; breeding for diseases and pest resistance; applications of biotechnology in plant breeding.
Terms: Winter 2024
Instructors: Hoyos-Villegas, Valerio (Winter)
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PLNT 460 Plant Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.
3 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or permission of instructor.
This course carries an additional charge of $170.00 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences—2023-2024 (last updated Sep. 12, 2023) (disclaimer)
