Articles
Ornamental plant breeding and evaluation at The University of Georgia
Article number
1185_15
Pages
101 – 104
Language
English
Abstract
The University of Georgia (UGA) Department of Horticulture is well known for its ornamental plant breeding efforts.
Beginning in the 1990s with faculty such as Will Corley, Michael Dirr, and Allan Armitage, these efforts are being continued today by John Ruter, Donglin Zhang, Matthew Chappell, and Carol Robacker.
Dr.
Ruter works on herbaceous and ornamental plants, including the following genera: Abelia, Abutilon, Acer, Agapanthus, Baccharis, Berberis, Camellia, Cuphea, Cupressus, Distylium, Exochorda, Gardenia, Helianthus, Heliopsis, Hibiscus, Hosta, Hydrangea, Ilex, Kalmia, Lagerstroemia, Loropetalum, Magnolia, Nandina, Pavonia, Platycladus, Prunus, Rhaphiolepis, Schizachyrium, Spigelia, Stokesia, Syzygium, Thermopsis, Thuja Viburnum, and Vitex. Dr.
Ruter also serves as the Director of the Trial Gardens at UGA. Dr.
Zhang’s Woody Plant Research Lab focuses on alternative Camellia species, Distylium, edible landscape plants, Gardenia, Hydrangea, Ilex, Lagerstoremia, Loropetalum, Magnolia, Nandina, ornamental trees, Syzygium, and Viburnum. Dr.
Chappell cooperates with Dr.
Ruter and Dr.
Zhang on the following breeding projects: Acer buergerianum and Acer saccharum var. barbatum, Baccharis, heat tolerant Hosta, and Kalmia. Dr.
Robacker’s work focuses on genera such as Abelia, Exochorda, deciduous azaleas, Schizachyrium, Spigelia, and Vitex. Ornamental breeders currently have over 50 herbaceous and ornamental selections under commercial evaluation for potential release to industry.
Beginning in the 1990s with faculty such as Will Corley, Michael Dirr, and Allan Armitage, these efforts are being continued today by John Ruter, Donglin Zhang, Matthew Chappell, and Carol Robacker.
Dr.
Ruter works on herbaceous and ornamental plants, including the following genera: Abelia, Abutilon, Acer, Agapanthus, Baccharis, Berberis, Camellia, Cuphea, Cupressus, Distylium, Exochorda, Gardenia, Helianthus, Heliopsis, Hibiscus, Hosta, Hydrangea, Ilex, Kalmia, Lagerstroemia, Loropetalum, Magnolia, Nandina, Pavonia, Platycladus, Prunus, Rhaphiolepis, Schizachyrium, Spigelia, Stokesia, Syzygium, Thermopsis, Thuja Viburnum, and Vitex. Dr.
Ruter also serves as the Director of the Trial Gardens at UGA. Dr.
Zhang’s Woody Plant Research Lab focuses on alternative Camellia species, Distylium, edible landscape plants, Gardenia, Hydrangea, Ilex, Lagerstoremia, Loropetalum, Magnolia, Nandina, ornamental trees, Syzygium, and Viburnum. Dr.
Chappell cooperates with Dr.
Ruter and Dr.
Zhang on the following breeding projects: Acer buergerianum and Acer saccharum var. barbatum, Baccharis, heat tolerant Hosta, and Kalmia. Dr.
Robacker’s work focuses on genera such as Abelia, Exochorda, deciduous azaleas, Schizachyrium, Spigelia, and Vitex. Ornamental breeders currently have over 50 herbaceous and ornamental selections under commercial evaluation for potential release to industry.
Authors
J.M. Ruter, D. Zhang, M. Chappell, C. Robacker
Keywords
herbaceous and woody plants, horticulture, plant development, Trial Gardens, plant breeding
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