Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology

06/11/2026

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology will host W**d Science Field Day on June 25 at the Throckmorton Purdue Agricultural Center (TPAC).

06/10/2026

Agave Bloom Update – June 10 | 7:50 AM 🌱
Our agave is now 9.14 meters tall (≈ 30 feet!) and still climbing—though height growth may slow as it shifts energy into flowering.

What you're seeing:
- The tall main stalk is called the peduncle (or quiote)—think of it as the plant’s flowering tower.
- The newest growth at the top is the rachis, where flower clusters are forming
- Those branching clusters are called umbels (nicknamed manitas or “little hands”)

What’s next:
- Expect 20–25 large umbels to develop, opening from the bottom up to create a pyramid shape on the stalk.
- Each umbel can hold hundreds of flowers 🌼
- And each individual flower can last about a month!

Stay tuned—it’s just getting started! Purdue Agriculture Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

06/03/2026

June 3, 9:00 a.m. update 🌵
The agave flowering stalk has now climbed well above the greenhouse roof, and it’s still rising!
We’ll be collaborating with Purdue’s Digital Forestry team in Forestry and Natural Resources to track its growth with regular measurements in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!

06/01/2026

Happening this weekend! 🍄🖤💛

🌱🍄 Science Saturday at Imagination Station! 🍄🌱
Join the Purdue University Herbaria for a hands-on Science Saturday at Imagination Station on June 6, from 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Explore the fascinating world of plants and fungi—learn about different types of mushrooms, see real plant and fungi collections, create your own plant pressing, and enjoy games, puzzles, and more!
Perfect for curious minds of all ages. We hope to see you there! Purdue Agriculture

05/21/2026

🎓🌱 Congratulations, Spring 2026 Graduates! 🌱🎓
We’re proud to celebrate our Botany & Plant Pathology graduates as they celebrate their achievements and look ahead to their next chapter. Your hard work, curiosity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our department—we can’t wait to see what you grow next. 🌿

🎓 BS Graduates
Kay Annunziata, Mark Crooks, Adeline Dering, Kat Dunham, Ethan Fox, Emma Horn, Lindsey Lorenz, Jonathan Lu, Faith McDevitt, Norah Snyder, Emily Whittington, Elena Yu
🎓 Graduate Students
Estevan Cason (MS), Grant Isaacs (MS), Ivis Miranda (MS), Camila Rocco da Silva (PhD), Abigail Rogers (PhD), El
📸 View the full Purdue Agriculture commencement gallery:

Graduates from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture gathered to celebrate commencement, marking the culmination of years of hard work and academic achievement. Family, friends and faculty joined in, hailing the Class of 2026, which awaits new chapters.

05/19/2026

💪Start your season strong with the education your scouts need —join Purdue University at the Field Scout Intern Workshop on May 28 or June 2, 2026. Two great dates to meet your teams training needs! 🏁Register today! https://cvent.me/PyermO

Purdue Agriculture Purdue Extension Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology Department of Entomology Purdue On The Farm Indiana Corn Growers Association Indiana Soybean Alliance Purdue DTC The Crop Protection Network Purdue W**d Science

05/19/2026

Congratulations to PhD student Justice Ruwona and Associate Professor Lee Miller on this outstanding achievement! 👏
Their paper, “Determining the optimal ratio of resistant to susceptible bentgrass cultivars to reduce dollar spot severity,” has ranked in the top 10% most-viewed articles in the International Turfgrass Society Research Journal for 2024.
This recognition highlights the impact of their research within the turfgrass science community.

Monostands of resistant bentgrass cultivars had less dollar spot than a moderately susceptible cultivar. Blending susceptible and resistant bentgrass cultivars results in reduced disease. Dollar spo...

05/14/2026

🌞 🌵 Our agave is greeting the day in sunshine, framed by Creighton Hall and the Ag Alumni Seed Phenotyping Facility—a reminder of how Purdue Agriculture advances plant science through research, learning, and discovery. 🖤💛

05/12/2026

🌵✨ The agave is reaching new heights—literally.
The death bloom continues, and our we**am has a brand‑new view to follow the flowering stalk as it grows above the greenhouse! This dramatic final bloom happens just once in the plant’s lifetime.
🎥 Tune into the livestream
🌱 Join a guided tour
📸 See plant history in the making
Sign up to visit:
👉 http://bit.ly/3Pl2xHR

Our 30-year-old Agave tequiliana is undergoing its death bloom in the greenhouses of the Botany & Plant Pathology Department at Purdue University! This flower will reach over 30 ft tall and result in the death of the plant many in our department has come to know and love. Come learn more about this....

05/12/2026

This timelapse captures a rare moment in plant history 🌿
The agave’s flowering stalk growing rapidly inside the greenhouse during its once‑in‑a‑lifetime death bloom.