Botany & Plant Pathology
Purdue scientist sending tomatoes into space to study plant defense
Wednesday, October 16th, 2019
By Brian Wallheimer Any trip to Mars, likely to take a year or longer, will require astronauts to grow at least some of their own food along the way since it can cost $10,000 to send a pound of anything just as far as Earth’s orbit. Astronauts will need the nutrients provided by fruits, leafy…
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Wrestling and plant genetics a perfect pair for student
Monday, September 30th, 2019
By Chad Campbell Ethan Smiley always looked forward to his science classes, but with a police officer for a father, a nurse for a mother and an older brother in law school, a career in agriculture never crossed his mind. If not for Purdue, Ethan Smiley says he never would have considered a career in…
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Ag scientist next in line to continue decades-long forest research
Thursday, September 5th, 2019
Gordon McNickle and Morgan Ritzi at the Ross reserve. Photo by Tom Campbell By Brian Wallheimer Gordon McNickle uses game theory to understand forest dynamics, from the ways in which a single plant might compete against its neighbors for resources to the complex interactions among hundreds or thousands of plants in an ecosystem. The equations…
Read MoreNew technology for protein complex discovery holds promise for biotechnology and crop improvement
Thursday, August 1st, 2019 • University News Story
Living cells survive and adapt by forming stable protein complexes that allow them to modulate protein activity, do mechanical work and convert signals into predictable responses, but identifying the proteins in those complexes is technically challengi…
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Triple major is in a league of his own
Wednesday, May 29th, 2019
By Cheyenne Dunn Every morning Alex Angel wakes up at 6 a.m. Before heading out the door for his first class, he thinks about his schedule for the day. Classes all morning. A lab and a meeting with his advisor in the afternoon. Two club meetings in the evening. As busy as he is, he…
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How one fern can soak up so much arsenic – and not die
Thursday, May 16th, 2019 • University News Story
Arsenic-contaminated soil and groundwater pose risks to millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Cleaning up the toxic metal is a laborious and expensive process, with some remediations of arsenic reaching into the hundreds o…
Read MoreIn the weeds: A new approach to keeping crops, people safe
Thursday, February 28th, 2019 • University News Story
Weeds cause tremendous damage in yield and productivity of crop plants. Losses from weeds account for more than $40 billion in annual revenue for corn and soybean crops alone in North America, according to the Weed Science Society of America.
Read MoreProper pesticide to highlight forest owner workshop
Monday, February 25th, 2019 • University News Story
There are safe and effective ways to use herbicides to manage forests and fend off invasive species. That’s the message Fred Whitford, director of Purdue Pesticide Programs, wants to communicate to forest owners at the upcoming Ohio River Valley Woodlands and Wildlife Workshop.
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Behind the Research: Anna Olek
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019
About the feature Many people are involved in the remarkable range of programs, services and facilities that undergird research in the College of Agriculture. Collectively they’re integral to the college fulfilling its research mission. “Behind the Research” explores their individual roles. Each academic year, we profile six people whose work supports the six strategic themes…
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Seed grants advance basic plant biology
Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
An innovative seed grant program in its second year is meeting its goal of encouraging collaboration among researchers. Purdue Center for Plant Biology faculty have selected five teams to receive approximately $50,000 each for varied projects aimed at advancing basic plant biology. The award recipients are: Gyeong Mee Yoon, assistant professor of botany and plant pathology and Dan…
Read MoreLegal hemp raises questions about pesticides
Thursday, December 20th, 2018 • University News Story
The legalization of industrial hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill is good news for farmers – especially tobacco growers dealing with declining demand for their crop. The bad news? If they find pests or disease damaging hemp crops, there are no pesticides that are considered safe or legal to protect them.
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10 Most Read Stories of 2018
Wednesday, December 19th, 2018
Purdue celebrates dedication of new animal sciences complex In March, Purdue formally dedicated its new 123,000 square-foot animal sciences complex, boosting the university’s commitment to Indiana’s vital food animal production industry. “These wonderful state-of-the art classrooms, laboratories, and interactive spaces bring together students, faculty, and staff in ways that will foster collaboration, spark new ideas,…
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Technology distilled to grow the hydroponics industry
Friday, November 16th, 2018
By Chad Campbell When Horticulture Assistant Professor Krishna Nemali joined Purdue in July 2016, he immediately began to develop a program as new to the school as he was. Nemali studied agriculture in India before earning his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and spending nine years as a scientist in controlled environment crop physiology…
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Purdue fungus researcher might help save your morning brew
Wednesday, October 10th, 2018
By Brian Wallheimer If you believe the memes, one-liners on T-shirts and the long lines outside a Starbucks in the morning, most Americans wouldn’t know how to get through a day without a cup – or three – of coffee. All that caffeine can get some people a little jittery, but they might also get…
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Agricultural Career Fair Showcases Great Demand
Monday, October 8th, 2018
By Chad Campbell Purdue University’s College of Agriculture Fall Career Fair provides students and employers a one-of-a-kind opportunity. “We’ve been told by recruiters across the nation that we may not be the largest fair, but we are the best as far as students being prepared,” said Sherrelyn Meyer, Purdue’s assistant director of Career Services. The…
Read MoreCollege of Agriculture hits milestone undergrad enrollment
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 • University News Story
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture welcomed 2,803 undergraduate students this fall, marking its largest undergraduate enrollment since 1980. Hoosier students make up 76 percent of those enrolled, and 60 percent are female students.
Read MoreStudy sheds light on stem cell proliferation that may one day boost crop yields
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018 • University News Story
A Purdue University study has uncovered mechanisms that lead to stem cell formation and maintenance in plants. The findings may one day allow scientists to manipulate stem cell production to increase biomass that can be used for biofuels or grain yield…
Read MoreStudy finds key to plant growth control mechanism
Thursday, July 19th, 2018 • University News Story
A Purdue University study has mapped a complex series of pathways that control the shape of plant cells. The findings are an important step toward customizing how plants grow to suit particular agronomic needs and improving the quality of the cotton gr…
Read MorePurdue Plant Science symposium focuses on food security
Thursday, June 7th, 2018 • University News Story
Purdue University graduate students will discuss the ‘Future of Food Security’ at the third annual Purdue Graduate Student Plant Science Symposium Aug. 2. The event is part of the Plant Science Symposia series sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, the agri…
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