Anyone who has marveled at the growth from seed to sprout and bud to bloom, relished the aroma of herbs, or found themselves calmed in the presence of greenery, can understand the restorative power of plants. But professor and Bergen County agricultural and natural resources agent Joel Flagler (CC ’74), a registered horticultural therapist, has […]
Plant Biology
Humble Pond Plant Duckweed May Help Researchers to Develop Better Crops
Rutgers-led study puts the spotlight back on the rapidly growing aquatic species In the age of climate change and a booming global population, duckweed, the world’s fastest growing plant, is an excellent laboratory tool for scientists to discover new strategies for growing more sustainable crops, a Rutgers-led study finds. “There is a need for new […]
Boots on the Ground: Citizen science combines recreation with data collection
This article was reprinted from the Summer 2021 issue of Explorations, SEBS alumni magazine. Do you have a smartphone or computer, and a love for science? Researchers at Rutgers are looking for you. Why? Researchers can’t be everywhere. That’s why they rely on citizen scientists all over New Jersey and beyond to observe the world […]
SEBS Research: Extending the Strawberry Season
Reprinted from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education 2020 Annual Report. The Northeast strawberry season is the epitome of the phrase, “short and sweet.” On average, the average harvest lasts only three to four weeks, but consumer demand is strong (strawberries are the most consumed berry in the U.S.) and increasing, especially for local berries. […]
Symbiotic Bacteria In Root Cells May Be Key To Producing Better Crops, Rutgers Study Finds
A Rutgers study finds that symbiotic bacteria that colonize root cells may be managed to produce hardier crops that need less fertilizer. The study appears in the journal Microorganisms. Bacteria stimulate root hair growth in all plants that form root hairs, so the researchers examined the chemical interactions between bacteria inside root cells and the root cell. […]
Mark Robson Named Recipient of University’s 2021 Daniel Gorenstein Memorial Award
Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor Mark Robson (CC’77; GSNB’79, ’88; SPH’95), has been named the 2021 recipient of the university’s Daniel Gorenstein Memorial Award, which will be presented this fall. Robson was nominated for this award by Joanna Burger, Distinguished Professor of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, and affiliate faculty in the Department […]
Distinguished Professor Joan Bennett Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Joan W. Bennett, a Distinguished Professor of plant biology and pathology at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. She joins neurosurgeon and CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center atmospheric scientist Ann Thompson and media entrepreneur and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey. “Receiving this honor would not have been […]
Change of Leadership at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension
Announcement by Laura J. Lawson, Interim Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Interim Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Dear colleagues, Nicholi Vorsa (CC ’76, GSNB ’85), professor in the Department of Plant Biology and director of the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research […]
Mel Henninger Honored for Distinguished Service at 2021 NJ Virtual Ag Convention
Long-time Rutgers professor and extension specialist Mel Henninger was recognized with a Distinguished Service to Agriculture Citation by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture during the virtual New Jersey State Agricultural Convention recently. “Mel Henninger’s significant contributions to New Jersey agriculture have made major impacts on how we grow produce,” said New Jersey Secretary […]
James Murphy Appointed to Ralph Geiger Chair by Rutgers University Board of Governors
On Feb. 23, the Rutgers University Board of Governors appointed extension specialist James A. Murphy, who is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top scientists in turfgrass management, to the Ralph Geiger Chair in Turfgrass Science. His term began July 1, 2020. Murphy is renowned for developing environmentally sound management practices, recently leading a national […]