Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology

Purdue Botany and Plant Pathology Advancing and teaching the disciplines of Plant Biology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science C. The very first Ph.D.

The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology had its beginning with the appointment of Dr. J. Arthur as the first Botanist of the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station in 1887. Much of the early research was in the classical botanical areas, but time was devoted to identification and control of noxious weeds, fungicides and their applications, and other applied problems of Indiana agri

culture. The various missions of the Department have changed over the years, and in the 1930’s, the department name was changed to The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. However, the emphasis on the more fundamental aspects in not only plant pathology, but also genetics, plant physiology, mycology, virology, weed science, and other areas has been a central theme in the history of the research, teaching, and service of the department. degree awarded from Purdue University was to a student in the Department of Botany in 1897. Teaching within the department traditionally has been strong in the graduate arena; however, in 2012, our three undergraduate majors (Crop Protection, Plant Science, and Environmental Plant Studies) were consolidated into one all-encompassing major called Plant Science. Students can choose between three major concentration areas: Plant Health Management, Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, and Plant Ecology and Environment.

🎓🌱 Congratulations, Spring 2026 Graduates! 🌱🎓We’re proud to celebrate our Botany & Plant Pathology graduates as they cel...
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

Congratulations to PhD student Justice Ruwona and Associate Professor Lee Miller on this outstanding achievement! 👏Their...
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...

🌞 🌵 Our agave is greeting the day in sunshine, framed by Creighton Hall and the Ag Alumni Seed Phenotyping Facility—a re...
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. 🖤💛

🌵✨ The agave is reaching new heights—literally.The death bloom continues, and our we**am has a brand‑new view to follow ...
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.

📘 New in Print: A new resource by Fred WhitfordAuthored by Purdue expert Fred Whitford, Pesticide and Nutrient Managemen...
05/11/2026

📘 New in Print: A new resource by Fred Whitford
Authored by Purdue expert Fred Whitford, Pesticide and Nutrient Management: Application-Based Problem Solving in Agriculture offers practical, real-world guidance that bridges science and application for today’s agricultural challenges.

Publication titles Pesticide and Nutrient Management: Application-Based Problem Solving in Agriculture, Volume 1 Pesticide and Nutrient Management: Application-Based Problem Solving in Agriculture…

🌱 What a difference a day makes! These two photos of the agave flowering stalk were taken just 24 hours apart. Blink and...
05/08/2026

🌱 What a difference a day makes! These two photos of the agave flowering stalk were taken just 24 hours apart. Blink and you’ll miss it—this one is growing fast! It has now officially outgrown the 16‑foot‑tall greenhouse roof! Follow along hour-by-hour here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/WebCam/cam98/?view=recent and keep an eye on this page next week - we will soon be opening up for public tours!

🌱🍄 Science Saturday at Imagination Station! 🍄🌱Join the Purdue University Herbaria for a hands-on Science Saturday at Ima...
05/07/2026

🌱🍄 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

Address

915 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette, IN
47907

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Friday 8am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+17654944614

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