HISTORY

The Research Unit at the US National Arboretum, Washington, DC,  has been nationally and internationally recognized for outstanding contributions in plant breeding and taxonomy. The program has emphasized tree and shrub breeding and taxonomy. New introductions of Lagestroemia, Viburnum, Pyracantha, Hibiscus, Ilex, Malus and many others have been widely distributed and popularized by the nursery industry. Tree breeding has resulted in introductions of pest and disease resistant Ulmus and Acer as well as new forms of Magnolia. In addition, research on Ulmus and Acer has been conducted at the Delaware, Ohio research location. The herbarium at the National Arboretum contains more than 500,000 specimens and has assembled and botanically documented many new plants collected by Arboretum scientists and cooperators.

Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit - Today
In the Fall of 1993, the Florist and Nursery Crops Laboratory was combined with the Research Unit at the National Arboretum to become the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit. The purpose of this union was to integrate a wider variety of science disciplines and new biological technologies into both the woody plant shrub and tree program and the floral crop research. This mandate required a reexamination of programs at both the Beltsville and Washington, D.C. locations. Research projects are being reevaluated to assess crop and germplasm collection priorities that should be addressed. These priorities are being assessed in relation to the needs of industry, benefit to the general public and availability of scientific expertise. This approach should bring a wide range of scientific talent to focus on the highest priority problems with the most efficient use of resources.

The more recent addition of the Nursery Crops Laboratory (effective October 1, 1996), located at the Tennessee State University's Nursery Crops Research Station, McMinnville, Tennessee, to the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, has provided additional expertise to the Shrub and Tree breeding programs.

At the present time there are twelve CRIS projects funded with base funds. There are 15 Permanent full-time scientist positions, 9 support scientists and 5 postdoctoral research associates on the staff.

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Last Updated   January 18, 2005 4:33 PM
URL = http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/history&.html