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Crop Sciences

College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

CPSC 518: Crop Growth and Development

Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program

Course Description CPSC 518 is an advanced course on the physiological processes involved in the growth and development of crop plants and the interaction of these processes with the environment to influence productivity. The course is designed to meet the needs of future and current agricultural professionals by increasing their general agricultural knowledge and by enhancing their ability to integrate scientific concepts and interpret biological data. This class would be beneficial for students in plant breeding, horticulture, crop production, weed science, plant patholgy, soil science, or molecular biology. All materials will be provided on detailed handouts, giving students the chance to familiarize themselves with the topic of discussion before class and to concentrate on the presentation rather than on taking extensive notes during lecture. Dr. Below has taught this course since 1986. Credit: 4 hours
Instructor Dr. Fred E. Below,
Professor of Plant Physiology, Department of Crop Sciences.
Office: 322A ERML (Edward R. Madigan Laboratory ).
Phone: 217-333-9745 E-mail: fbelow@uiuc.edu
Course Meetings Spring 2006: Course was offered in Urbana.
Fall 2002: Course was offered in Springfield.
Fall 2001: Course was offered at Kishwaukee College, Malta
Spring 2001: Course was offered at the University of Illinois, Urbana
Fall 2000: Course was offered at the Okaw Area Vocational Center, Vandalia
Spring 2000: Course was offered at BlackHawk Junior College, East Campus, Kewanee
Fall 1999: Course was offered at Joliet Junior College, Joliet
Course Outline
Basic Concepts of Crop Growth and Development
  • Cell Structure, Function, and Growth
Physiology Associated with Crop Growth and Productivity
  • Important Biological Compounds
  • Water and Water Relations
  • Photosynthesis and Crop Growth
  • Assimilate Partitioning
  • Plant Growth Regulators
Progression of Crop Development
  • Crop Growth Stages and Maturity Indicators
  • Seed Germination
  • Vegetative Growth and Development
  • Reproductive Growth
  • Senescence
External Influences on Crop Growth and Development
  • Water
  • Temperature
  • Light
  • Mineral Nutrition
  • Nitrogen
Course Credits

All courses offered through the Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program provide Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisers. This course provides the following credits:

Nutrient Mgt.
6 hrs
Soil and Water Mgt.
3 hrs
Integrated Pest Mgt.
2 hrs
Crop Mgt.
22 hrs

In addition, this course is approved as biological science credit for adding biology endorsement to the standard teaching certificate for teaching agriculture at the high school level.