A large number of public elective courses of plant have been set up in domestic colleges and universities,which are well favored by students.Firstly,this article analyzes the characteristics of the course,the teaching content,the form of practice,the characteristics of the teachers and elective students.Next,we discussed the teaching reform of public elective courses in plants from the aspects of trying new teaching mode,transforming teaching organization,changing teaching methods,integrating ideological and political education,strengthening teaching management,collecting students'feedback information and so on.Furthermore,this article puts forward specific countermeasures,in order to provide reference for improving the teaching quality of public elective courses of plants.