Crop, forage, and turfgrass physiology and biochemistry faculty investigate processes affecting crop growth and development; plant resistance to stresses such as heat, drought, pests and atmospheric pollutants; and the chemistry and biochemistry underlying those processes. Physiological processes being studied include nutrient assimilation, transport, partitioning, and utilization; plant water relations; secondary metabolism and its role in plant pest resistance and quality; plant growth regulation; seed germination; root and vegetative growth; and flowering and fruiting.

A variety of environments are available for field, greenhouse, and growth chamber studies, including the NCSU Phytotron. These facilities are complemented by a complete range of modern laboratory facilities and instrumentation for studies at the whole-plant, tissue, cellular and molecular levels.