Plant science

Renowned plant scientists at MSU conduct research in a range of areas—from the alteration of plant genetics for addressing nutritional deficiencies to the development of biofuels and biomaterials.

MSU is home to one of North America’s premier inland biological stations and the Plant Research Laboratory, which serve as training grounds for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists

Research could lead to eco-friendly car tires

MSU News, May 15 2012

The world’s rubber supplies are in peril, and automobile tire producers are scrambling to seek alternative solutions.

Tom Sharkey, chairperson of the Michigan State University biochemistry and molecular biology department, believes isoprene, a gas given off by many trees, ferns and mosses, could be a viable option. Some plants use it as a mechanism to tolerate heat stress as opposed to most crops, which stay cool through evaporation.

Michigan wines benefit from partnerships

The Engaged Scholar E-Newsletter, Apr 26 2012

The next time you reach for a glass of Michigan wine, chances are you'll be enjoying an excellent beverage courtesy of a widespread collaboration. The Viticulture Research and Extension Program in the MSU Department of Horticulture, led by Paolo Sabbatini, assistant professor, works with growers, winemakers, industry experts, research colleagues, and students to produce and expand healthy, high quality, and abundant grape yields in Michigan.

Plant scientists find mechanism that gives plants ‘balance’

MSU News, Apr 23 2012

When a plant goes into defense mode to protect itself against harsh weather or disease, that’s good for the plant, but bad for the farmer growing the plant. Bad because when a plant defends itself, it turns off its growth mechanism.

But now researchers at Michigan State University, as part of an international collaboration, have figured out how plants can make the decision between growth and defense, a finding that could help plants strike a balance -- keep safe from harm while continuing to grow.

Profiling plants to identify new high-value substances

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Mar 2 2012

In the emerging field of metabolomics Michigan State University is a pioneer. The mass spectrometer, which is an analytical instrument in MSU AgBioResearch scientist A. Daniel Jones’ (below, right) laboratory, is busy working 24 hours a day measuring the unique chemical fingerprints left behind by cells.

Using plants to protect water and health

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Mar 1 2012

Plants are commonly viewed as a source of food or medicinal ingredients, or as ornamentals that add beauty and color to our surroundings. For Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientist Dawn Reinhold, plants are also a crucial component of natural treatment systems that can be used to protect both the environment and human health.

Managing grasslands in commodity-producing landscapes

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Feb 28 2012

As the world population balloons to an estimated 9.3 billion people by 2050 (U.S. Bureau of Census data), enormous pressure will be placed on grasslands. Understanding the relationship of people to grassland systems is part of a three-pronged project being undertaken by Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientist Carolyn Malmstrom.

Growing profits with new berry varieties

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Feb 28 2012

Summer is a “berry” good season for Michigan fruit. The state leads the nation in growing blueberries, producing 109 million pounds in 2010. Michigan’s strawberry production will never outpace California’s production, where more than 80 percent of the U.S. crop is grown, but Michigan farmers produced 2.9 million pounds of strawberries in 2010, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Getting to the root of soil-borne diseases

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Feb 28 2012

About 90 percent of the 2,000 major diseases of the principal crops in the United States are caused by soil-borne plant pathogens. They result in losses to farmers estimated at $4 billion a year, according to published research. For root diseases of mature crops, there currently are few effective and economical post-plant strategies for disease control. Statistics like these are inspiring Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientist Jianjun “Jay” Hao in his work with managing plant-microbe interactions in soil.

Spilling the beans: finding answers for organic growers

MSU AgBioResearch 2011 Annual Report, Feb 14 2012

Demand for organic products is growing, and as a result, the need for information to help organic farmers improve production is increasing. Michigan is the top organic dry bean producing state in the United States, accounting for 37 percent of the acres planted and 47 percent of the sales, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists, aided by two doctoral students, are working with organic bean growers to maintain that status.

MSU blueberries licensed in Korea

Feb 8 2012

A small blue orb is bringing a bit of MSU green to the southern Korean Peninsula.

Four blueberry varieties -- Draper, Liberty, Aurora, and Huron -- have been sublicensed by Goodman Partners, LLC, a South Korean company, through Hortifrut, the company that holds the exclusive license on the varieties in Asia. This is the first time that MSU blueberries will be grown in Korea.