Welcome to the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. With expertise ranging from ecosystems services and disease management, to plant breeding, genomics, and food safety, we provide leadership and deliver programs that are internationally recognized and respected and have impact at local, national, and international levels. To provide this leadership, we work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative manner to effectively address complex problems and emerging threats that challenge food production and security. Above all, we value our missions of teaching, extension/outreach, research, international, service, and stewardship. We are home to 70 faculty, 100 graduate students, 86 post-docs and staff members, and 200 undergraduate and certificate students. For more information see our mission statement.
PSM In The News
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PSM / MSU researcher receives $750K grant to examine effects of wildfire burn severity on soil health
Published on February 22, 2022 by MSU Today
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Michigan produced more than 2 billion pounds of potatoes in 2021
Published on February 11, 2022 by Hillsdale Daily News
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Michigan State researchers part of team investigating winter stresses on turfgrass in northern climates
Published on January 26, 2022 by Golf Course Industry
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Nine MSU researchers elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Published on January 26, 2022 by MSU Today
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How do crops cope with stress?
Published on September 22, 2021 by MSU Today
News
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Eric Olson awarded $100K matching funds for purchase of equipment
Published on April 27, 2022
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PSM’s Lisa Tiemann will return to Kenya with her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Published on April 27, 2022
PSM’s Lisa Tiemann will return to Kenya with her Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award -
CANR provides rankings on department, unit initiatives around DEI
Published on April 26, 2022
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announced the 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Badge Awards recipients at the CANR Faculty and Staff Reception on Apr. 21. -
PSM undergraduate students win first place for MSU UURAF presentation
Published on April 11, 2022
2022 MSU UURAF PSM Undergraduates take first place prizes for their presentations Several PSM students present research projects
Eric Olson awarded $100K matching funds for purchase of equipment
Dr. Eric Olson, assistant professor, Wheat Breeding and Genetics, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences recently scored a $100k award from Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) for his proposal, “Strategic Seed Increase of Market-Ready Wheat Varieties,” which will help Olson and team quickly deliver varieties to the soft winter wheat marketplace. These varieties, used for commercial pastry and cereal products, will expand the boundaries of traditional growing regions in Michigan and nearby states, will help secure community and corporate partnerships, as well as align with MSU’s goals to address food security issues.
Currently the MSU wheat breeding program infrastructure is capable of producing small bags (200 lbs.) of seed per variety. To move ahead in the commercial soft wheat market, Olson and his team will put this funding toward new equipment that will make it possible to produce 10,000 lbs. of seed in each of three new wheat varieties, “ready for entry into the soft winter wheat marketplace, expanding market share of MSU wheat varieties in the Eastern U.S.,” Olson says.
“Generating larger seed increases earlier in the breeding process will provide potential commercialization partners with more testing options and lead to more commercialization options for MSU wheat varieties,” Olson says.
This program is made possible by the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Innovation Hub for AgBio with key funding and support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
“We work with Tom Herlache and Julia Miller of the MSU Innovation Center on licensing all of our wheat varieties,” Olson says. “MSUT is a great group of professionals to work with. Its through their efforts that our wheat varieties can have impact.” This effort aligns PSM with national goals to address food security issues
"It is important that we take a holistic approach to ensure that we have an adequate supply of food crops to meet the emerging humanitarian needs,”
says National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule.
“U.S. wheat farmers produce the best, highest-quality wheat and should be supported during this time of global food insecurity."
