Plants have evolved many elegant strategies for passing their genetic information from one generation to the next either precisely intact, or (re)combined with information from another plant. Without specific intent, many vertebrates and invertebrates play a direct role in these processes, as do natural events including floods, windstorms, wildfires, etc.
It’s been suggested that agriculture - "the deliberate cultivation of crops and animals for use by humans," originated when nomadic tribes started harvesting and consuming the fruits, nuts and tissues of plants originating from seed and other plant parts emerging from communal dung heaps.
Observation of how these plants grew likely led to the first intentional efforts by humans to manipulate their regeneration simply by carrying seed from one camp to the next, then tossing them into the new heap. Hence, the origin of the art and science of plant propagation - "the deliberate, directed reproduction of plants using plant cells, tissues, and/or organs," more than 10,000 years ago.
Fast-forward to the present, the efficient propagation of plants allows for the controlled production of food, fiber, fuel, habitat, and ornamental plants intimately connected to practically all areas of study/endeavor on the SUNY ESF campus. Just a few examples include the production of biofuels from hybrid willow propagated by hardwood cuttings, the rescue/restoration of plant species thought to be lost from habitats throughout the state, and the development of disease-resistant chestnut and elm trees through genetic engineering.
Looking to the future, in your career and/or personal life you may find it necessary to develop and/or evaluate protocols for the successful propagation of a wide range of woody, herbaceous, succulent and/or aquatic plants materials. It is my goal to provide you with the skills to accomplish these tasks efficiently and with confidence.
So, please feel free to explore this website at your convenience. And, hopefully, we’ll see you in class during the 2023 spring semester!