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Horticulture faculty members explore the frontiers of molecular biology, genomics, and fundamental plant processes in the laboratory and field, and plant function in large-scale landscapes and watersheds. Advances in genomics, robotics, and nanotechnology increase both the challenges and the rewards of scientific achievement. Our blend of scientific breakthroughs and horticultural research create new applications that move science and industry to greater productivity and sustainability while contributing to our teaching and Extension programs.

Research emphases in horticulture involve:

• plant genes, genetics, and genomics to improve horticultural crops
• plant product quality, disease resistance, and post-harvest improvement
• seed physiology
• soil and environmental health
• horticultural landscape ecology

Teaching

Students seeking advanced degrees in horticulture or related sciences take graduate courses and conduct thesis research in collaboration with faculty both on and off campus. Professional activities include seminars, presentations at professional meetings, grant writing, and writing peer-refereed publications. Our graduates become professional faculty members and educators at universities in the United States as well as researchers and leaders in their respective countries or private industry.

Research accomplishments

Some of the research projects conducted by horticulture faculty include:

Plant-insect interactions

• discovery of bruchins, an insect-derived regulator of plant cell division, defense mechanism to prevent insect attack
• discovery of an arcelin seed storage protein that prevents bean seed weevils

Human nutrition and health

• determination of the antioxidant potential of carotenoid and anthocyanin mutants of tomato

Stress and disease resistance

• creation of freeze-tolerant potatoes with C-repeat binding factor gene regulation
• development of cold- and salt-resistant tomato lines
• identification of DNA markers for eastern filbert blight resistance in hazelnuts
• discovery of a plant toxin that kills plant cells from white mold fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
• mapping of the tomato genome for resistance against Botrytis cinerea

Ecology of managed ecosystems

• an “ecosystem services calculator” that values horticultural green space or environmental function for trading or investment purposes
• managing invasive species and beetle banks to improve ecological studies at a landscape or watershed scale

Evolutionary genomics

• identification of evolutionary scenarios under which plant resistance genes evolve
• evolution of genes resonsible for invasive success of weeds
• discovery of genes responsible for pathogenicity of Botriytis cinerea through genome-wide searches for natural selection

Commercial tissue culture

• discovery of phenylurea compounds (thadiazuron and derivatives) for commercial tissue culture

Seed production and quality

• explanation of hormonal balance of gibberellin/abscisic acid in pea and corn seed development
• characterization of seed germination markers in tomato and carrot

Tillage and soil management systems

• discovery that hairy nightshade seeds are more dormant and less vigorous when buried near the surface during winter, thus reducing their emergence in no-till systems
• verification that reduced tillage increases seed predation of wild proso millet
• alternation of soil community structure and nitrogen uptake provides
• alternative orchard floor management systems
  

New directions

• Study regulation or genetic enhancement of secondary metabolites such as antioxidants.
• Determine genetic control mechanisms for disease resistance in vegetables and hazelnuts.
• Investigate seed and bud dormancy or germination to improve plant performance.
• Explore reproductive biology involving flowering, pollination, and seed or fruit development.
• Investigate soil health and biology in various cropping systems, i.e., vegetables and tree fruits.

Benefits

• Currently, 25 graduate students from a dozen countries are enrolled in horticulture.
• Research faculty leverage state funds into an additional $3 million per year from external grants.
• Fundamental research creates ideas and applications that improve horticultural enterprises.
• Oregon industries and OSU research are known nationally and internationally.  
• Faculty members integrate and apply knowledge to a thriving horticultural industry.