Plant Science

09/28/2026

Join us today at 12:00 PM for Fall 2026 seminar series, featuring Dr. Hong Qiao from University Texas at Austin.

Dr. Qiao will present "Metabolism meets chromatin: Integrating hormone signaling and environmental adaptation."

See more details on the flyer.

09/23/2026

🌱Congratulations to our First Look Fair Plant Giveaway Winners!

We hope your new plant grows right alongside your academic and personal success this year.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by at our table during the UMD First Look Fair. We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll grow this year!

09/14/2026

Join us today at 12:00 PM for our first Fall 2026 seminar series, featuring Dr. Eric Olson from Michigan State University.
Dr. Olson will present "Integrated genomic, phonemic and conventional breeding approaches to
accelerating genetic gain for yield and disease resistance in soft winter wheat."

See the attached flyer for more details.

09/10/2026

🌱 We are all set up at the First Look Fair!

Come visit our table!

09/09/2026

Birds, Beds & Beyond! 🐦

Plant Science undergraduate Andrew Heffner helps maintain a mini-biodiversity hotspot of native plantings by the UMD Community Learning Garden, where insects and other beneficial species multiply as tasty treats for visiting birds.

Heffner intends to turn UMD into a sanctuary for our feathered friends with a little help from the University of Maryland Arboretum and Botanical Garden, fellow students, and the National Audubon Society. https://go.umd.edu/birdbedsagnr

08/28/2026

From Graduate Students Orientation to our Welcome Back Reception and staff recognition, our department is all ready for an amazing academic year!
We kicked off the Fall 2026 semester with good vibes and meaningful connections!

08/28/2026

Plant Science researchers contributed to a study led by USDA-ARS and Kansas State that breaks through a 50-year barrier to clone a gene that makes wheat resistant to predation by Hessian fly larvae and demonstrated its direct interaction with a protein produced by the insect. The research is a big step forward in understanding and engineering pest resistance in wheat.

“This is very exciting study because it is the first time anyone has been able to clone pest resistance genes in wheat and demonstrate the direct interaction between the gene and the specific insect pest protein it reacts with,” said Nidhi Rawat, coauthor of the paper, along with Vijay Tiwari.

University of Maryland researchers Nidhi Rawat and Vijay Tiwari contributed to breakthrough research led by Subhashree Subramanyam at USDA-ARS, West Lafayette, Indianna, and Bikram Gill at Kansas State University on cloning of a hessian fly resistance gene in wheat that makes wheat resistant to pred...

07/31/2026

Celebrating Excellence in Agricultural Education!

Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Leiden Welsh, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Agricultural Science and Technology program at the University of Maryland!

Dr. Welsh has been honored with the prestigious NACTA Educator Award by the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture during their annual conference in Starkville, Mississippi.

This peer-reviewed award recognizes higher education leaders who demonstrate the highest standards of teaching, instructional innovation, and student mentorship. From hands-on experiential learning to global educational exchanges, Dr. Welsh continues to empower the next generation of agricultural educators, Extension agents, and industry leaders across Maryland and beyond.

"Agricultural education shapes the future of our food systems, environmental stewardship, and rural communities. My goal has always been to empower students to think critically, lead passionately, and bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and real-world application."-Dr. Melissa Leiden Welsh

👉 Read more about this incredible achievement here: https://psla.umd.edu/news/dr-melissa-leiden-welsh-honored-nacta-educator-award/

06/08/2026

A time lapse of our Giant Co**se Flower at the UMD Research Greenhouse Complex.

Unfortunately, our co**se flower ended its bloom after the spadix collapsed. We don't yet know why, but it is not uncommon, and the fragile nature of these plants is what makes a successful bloom really special.

This plant will return to its leaf form, and may try to bloom again in a few years. We have others in the collection that could flower also, giving many possibilities of rare blooms in the future!

Once any of these complete a successful bloom, they will be named. We just have to wait and see, and hope the next one succeeds.

06/05/2026

This Giant Co**se Flower has spent 12 years living happily at the University of Maryland Research Greenhouse Complex, and this year, it is about to bloom for the first time!

It could happen any day, and the bloom will only stay open for 24 to 48 hours.