PLANT MICROBIOMES
Explore plant associated microbial communities (the plant microbiome), methods used to study them, and how we can use them to improve plant and ecosystem health in the face of challenges to agricultural and natural systems. Examples will be drawn from annual crop, grassland, and forested ecosystems. Use current molecular, bioinformatic, and statistical approaches to characterize rhizosphere microbiomes from samples collected as part of on-going research projects.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: ( ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 and 102 , BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 , or BIOCORE 381 ) and ( STAT 301 or 371 ), or Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the major members of plant microbiomes and their functions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Compare and contrast current and past approaches to studying plant microbiomes. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Use evidence to critically evaluate claims and test hypotheses. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Propose potential ways in which plant microbiomes may be utilized or manipulated to achieve societal goals. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Perform laboratory, bioinformatic and statistical protocols to characterize microbiome composition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Propose, test, and interpret hypothesis about the structure of root associated microbial communities. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Evaluate scientific literature related to plant microbiomes and situate research results in the context of current literature. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the major members of plant microbiomes and their functions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Compare and contrast current and past approaches to studying plant microbiomes. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Use evidence to critically evaluate claims and test hypotheses. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Propose potential ways in which plant microbiomes may be utilized or manipulated to achieve societal goals. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Perform laboratory, bioinformatic and statistical protocols to characterize microbiome composition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Propose, test, and interpret hypothesis about the structure of root associated microbial communities. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Evaluate scientific literature related to plant microbiomes and situate research results in the context of current literature. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027