Faculty and Staff

TR

Thomas Ranney

J.C. Raulston Distinguished Professor | Program Leader of the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab

828-585-3579 [email protected]

NL

Nathan Lynch

Research Specialist

828-435-2009 [email protected]

AN

Andra Nus

Research Specialist

828-585-3549 [email protected]

IP

Irene Palmer

Research Specialist, Alumni, Former Intern

828-435-2008 [email protected]

JN

John Nix

Research Specialist

[email protected]

Alumni

Research Scholars/Associates

• Dr. Zenaida Viloria. 2004-2005. Area of specialization: Plant tissue culture, plant breeding and genetics.
• Dr. Darren Touchell. 2005 – 2024. Area of specialization: Plant tissue culture, micropropagation, plant breeding, molecular biology, and bioenergy crops. 
• Dr. Mitch Sewell. 2010 – 2012. Area of specialization: population and evolutionary genetics, plant genomics, quantitative genetics, and molecular genomics.

Research Specialists

• Everett Whitman. 1991-1998. From heirloom apples to modern nursery crops, Everett was a passionate horticulturist who reveled in the world of horticulture.
• Joel Mowrey. 2003-2017. Joel started as a beatnik kid with dreds and transformed into a keen plantsman, father, and awesome coworker. Now a successful entrepreneur, see Joel and his family at Smoking J’s Fiery Foods.
• Thomas Eaker. 1998-2023 (MCI Lab). Tom is a legendary NC State employee with 45 years of service – an exceptional individual who set the bar for integrity, work ethic, fellowship, and character.

Graduate Students

• David L. Curtis, 1995. M.S. Thesis: Rooting and subsequent overwintering survival of stem cuttings of Stewartia ovata.
• Patrick J. McGuigan, 1995. M.S. Thesis: Micropropagation of Stewartia pseudocamellia and propagation of selected species of Quercus by stem cuttings.
• Hunter L. Stubbs, 1996. M.S. Thesis: Propagation by stem cuttings and nitrogen nutrition of containerized Cupressus arizonica var. glabra ‘Carolina Sapphire’.
• Clifford Ruth, 1996. M. HS.  Special Topic: Differential tolerance of holly taxa to flooding and poor drainage.
• Cindy A. Patton, 1997. M.S. Thesis: Host plant resistance to Japanese beetles: Role of endogenous allelochemicals in plant defense. Awards: 2^nd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 1996.
• Amy F. Fulcher, 1997. M.S. Thesis: Host plant resistance among Malus taxa to Japanese beetle, European red mite, and two spotted spider mite. Awards: 3^rd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 1997.
• J. Dale Witt, 1998. M.S. Thesis: Biorational plant protectants for controlling adult Japanese beetles.
• Jason J. Griffin, 1999. M.S. Thesis: Vegetative propagation and culture of Thuja ‘Green Giant’, Magnolia virginiana ‘Santa Rosa’, and Quercus phillyraeoides ‘Emerald Sentinel’.
• Bradley T. Holland, 2002. M. HS. Special Topic: Evaluating recovery of Cupressaceae taxa after flooding at contrasting temperatures.
• Jason J. Griffin, 2002. Ph.D. Dissertation:  Interactive effects of environmental stresses on photosynthesis.
• Andrew C. Bell, 2004. Ph.D. Dissertation: Host plant resistance to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) in the Rosaceae subfamily Maloideae. Awards: 2^nd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Ph.D., 2002; 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Ph.D., 2000.
• Richard T. Olsen, 2006. Ph.D. Dissertation: Utilizing polyploidy for developing improved nursery crops.  Awards: ASHS, Krezdorn Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research and Writing, 2007; 1st Place, ASHS Warren S. Barham Ph.D. Graduate Student Paper, 2005; 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Ph.D., 2005; 1^st Place, Southern Region IPPS, Student Research Competition, 2005; 3^rd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Ph.D., 2003.
• Ryan N. Contreras, 2006. M.S. Thesis: Azaleodendrons: Investigating parentage, fertility, and effects of polyploidy among hybrids of deciduous azaleas and evergreen rhododendrons.  Awards: 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2006; 1^st Place, ASHS Southern Region Norman F. Childers, M.S., Research Competition, 2006.
• Jeff  R. Jones, 2008. M.S. Thesis: Investigating prevalence, induction, and fertility of polyploid Rhododendron L. and the development of protocols for vegetative propagation.
  Awards: 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2007; 2^nd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2008.
• Elisabeth M. Meyer, 2009. M.S. Thesis. Evaluation, propagation, and improvement of Gordoniae trees and an insterspecific Hypericum hybrid. Awards: 3^rd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2008; 1^st place. SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2009.
• Clara E. Trueblood, 2009. M.S. Thesis:  An invasive species assessment system for the North Carolina horticultural industry.  Awards: 1^st place. Southern Weed Sci. Soc. Annual meeting, M.S. student presentation, 2009.
• Kevin Parris, 2011.M.S.Cooperative program with Clemson University.
  Thesis:  Micropropagation and cytogenetics of Magnolia. Awards: 1^st place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S, 2009; 1^st place, SNA Research Conference, M.S., 2010.
• Todd Rounsaville, 2011. M.S. Thesis: Cytogenetics, micropropagation, and reproductive biology of Berberis, Mahonia, and Miscanthus.
• Kelly Oates, 2011. M.S. Thesis: Genetic improvement of Rudbeckia and evaluation of a new triploid Campsis cultivar. Awards:  1st Place, ASHS Southern Region Norman F. Childers, M.S., Graduate Student Research Competition, 2011. NCSU Outstanding Teaching Assistant, 2011.
• Jason Lattier, 2012.M.S. Thesis: Tissue culture, cytogenetics, and breeding of selected nursery crops. Awards: Horticultural Research Institute Spring Meadow Nursery Scholarship, 2011; Syngenta Glenn Goldsmith Breeding Excellence Scholarship, 2011; 2^nd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2012; 1^st place, SRASHS Norman F. Childers MS Student Competition.
• Irene Palmer, 2013. M.S. Thesis: Breeding and evaluation of perennial grasses for landscape and bioenergy applications. Awards: 3^rd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Undergraduate, 2007; 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, Undergraduate, 2008; 1^st Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2012.
• Dominic Gillooly, 2016. M.S. Thesis: Genome sizes and ploidy levels in the genus Kalmia and in vitro polyploid induction of Ophiopogon planiscapus. Awards: 2^nd Place, SR-ASHS Norman F. Childers, M.S., Research Competition, 2014. 2nd Place, SNA Student Research Conference, M.S., 2015.
• Whitney Phillips, 2016. M.S. Thesis:  Reproductive biology, tissue culture, and taxonomy of Selected Nursery Crops.
• Will Hembree, 2018. Thesis: Breeding and cytogenetics of Camellia and Deutzia.
• Nathan Maren, 2020.Ph.D. student. Dissertation: Characterization and improvement of novel bioenergy grasses (Tripidium spp.).
• Lauren Deans, 2021. M. Hort.  Thesis: In vitro induction and characterization of polyploid Hydrangea macrophylla and serrata.
• Lauren Redpath (Co-Advisor). 2021. Dissertation: Genome-wide association mapping of fruit quality-related traits in a diversity panel of blueberries.
• Davis Harmon (Co-Advisor).2022. Thesis: Tissue culture, transformation, and cytogenetics of Rosa hybrida.

Graduate Student Committees

• Mark C. Starrett, 1992. M.S. Thesis: Sexual propagation and micropropagation of Pieris floribunda (mountain andromeda) and initial growth of seedlings of Rhododendron maximum (rosebay rhododendron) as influenced by day/night temperature.
• Mack Thetford, 1993. Ph.D. Dissertation: Effects of uniconazole on morphological, anatomical, and physiological development of Forsythia ×intermedia ‘Spectabilis’.
• Mark C. Starrett, 1996. Ph.D. Dissertation. Isolation, storage, and use of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi for improved acclimatization and subsequent growth of micropropagated Pieris floribunda.
• Laura G. Jull, 1998. Ph.D. Dissertation: Seed germination, seedling growth, and heat tolerance of Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides).
• Lyn A. Gettys, 2000.  M.S. Investigations of optimum seed germination conditions, reproductive biology, and genetic relatedness between cultivars of Stoke’s aster [Stokesia laevis (J. Hill) Greene].
• Amy N. Wright, 2002. Ph.D. Dissertation: The physiology of landscape establishment of Kalmia latifolia.
• F. Todd Lasseigne, 2004. Ph.D. Dissertation: Physiological responses of selected taxa of Salvia, Taxus, Cephalotaxus, and Syringa to heat and/or flooding. Under the direction of Drs. Stuart L. Warren and Frank A. Blazich. 
• Jeffrey A. Adkins, 2005, Ph.D. Dissertation: Characterization and expression of FLORICAULA/LEAFY homologues in Buddleja davidii.
• Jessica G. Barb, 2007, Ph.D. Dissertation:  Biochemical, genetic, and cytogenetic studies of Stokesia laevis (Stoke’s Aster).
• Cary J. Hebert, 2010, M.S. Thesis: Seed germination of five populations of Rhododendron vaseyi, ploidy manipulation of Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum Improved’ and the effects of S-ABA on the physiology and marketability of various container-grown taxa during short-term desiccation.
• Stephanie Haines, 2011, M.S. Thesis: Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition of Miscanthus ×giganteus.
• Anushadevi Panneerselvam, 2012. M.S. Thesis: Bioprocessing pretreatment of perennial grasses for cellulosic ethanol.
• Yu Gu, 2015. M.S. Breeding and genetics of Zinnia.
• David Roberts, 2015, M.S. Thesis: Genome size determination and inheritance and allelism of morphological traits in Cercis.
• Kelly Moore,2016, M.S. Thesis: Evaluation of Miscanthus and Arundo germplasm for nutrient removal ability.
• James Duduit, 2020, M.S. Thesis. Thesis: Gene regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in tomato.
• Emily Brooks,2022, M.S. student. Thesis: Bioinformatic-assisted Determination of Novel Soybean Cis-Regulatory Elements.
• Anna Nelson, 2023, M.S. student. Thesis: An Efficient Suspension Culture System for In Vitro Rose Regeneration.
• Luke Owen, 2023, M.S. student.  Thesis: Bioengineering of hemp.
• John Nix, 2023, M.S. student. Thesis: Accuracy and precision of flow cytometry methods.
• Trevor Pougnet, 2024, M.S. student.  Thesis: Hemp transformation.
• Ramsey Arram, 2024, M.S. student. Thesis: Induced polyploidy of Lindera.
• Justine Mulig, 2025, M.S. student. Thesis: Transformation of Tripidium.
• Rick Shih, 2026. M.S. student. Thesis: Autotetraploid induction of four Arachis species, ploidy survey and manipulation in Loropetalum and validation of interspecific hybrid Cercis by ITS marker.
• Trevor Pougnet, current student. PhD. Dissertation: Cercis genomics and biotechnology.
• Greg Cote, current student. PhD. Plant biotechnology

Interns

• Jon Roethling.2006. Project: Breeding new nursery crops.
• Irene Palmer. 2007-2010. Project: Crossability, cytogenetics, and reproductive pathways in Rudbeckia subgenus Rudbeckia.
• Jason Lattier. 2009. Project: In vitro regeneration and polyploid induction of Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’.
• Kim Shearer. 2011-2013. Projects:1) Interspecific and interploid hybridization among sympatric azaleas in the southern Appalachian Mountains. 2) Ploidy levels and relative genome sizes of species, hybrids, and cultivars or dogwood.
• David Roberts. 2012. Project: Ploidy manipulation of interspecific dogwood hybrids.
• Dominic Gillooly. 2013. Project:Survey of ploidy levels and relative genome sizes in Kalmia sp.
• Winston Beck. 2013. Project:Ploidy Levels and interploid hybridization in panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata).
• Will Hembree. 2014. Project:Determining ploidy and relative genome sizes in Deutzia spp.
• Laura Kaderabek. 2014. Project:Influence of induced polyploidy on fertility and morphology of Hydrangea macrophylla.
• Tracy Thomasson. 2015. Project: Breeding and genetics of Aucuba.
• Connor Ryan. 2015. Project: Cytogenetics of Illicium.
• Lauren Deans. 2016. Project: Breeding Hydrangea and Illicium.
• Kristen Neill. 2016. Project: Breeding Punica and Aucuba.
• Hailey McCleneghen. 2017. Project: Breeding and cytogenetics of Verbena.
• John Nix. 2018. Project: Somatic embryogenesis in Rudbeckia and breeding Magnolias.
• Owen Washam. 2018. Project: Somatic embryogenesis in Hydrangea and breeding Fragaria.
• Heather Kiser. 2019. Refining embryogenic regeneration systems for Rudbeckia.
• Davis Harmon. 2019. Developing embryogenic regeneration systems for Rosa.
• Luke Owen. 2020. Genetic enhancement of Hemerocallis.
• William Baldwin. 2020. Biotechnology applications for hemp.
• Luke Owen. 2021. Genetic enhancement of hemp.
• Davis Upchurch. 2021. Propagation of bioenergy grasses.
• Jerry Yu. 2022. Study of auxin formulations and concentrations for rooting woody softwood cuttings.
• Trace Fulbright. 2022. Breeding and cytogenetics of Spiraea.
• Tanner Hamerling. 2022. Micropropagation of Tripidium.
• Micaela Willet. 2023. Vitex breeding.
• Katie McKinney. 2023. Anemone breeding.
• Evan Villani. 2024. Distylium breeding.
• Thomas Morgan. 2024 and 2025. Plant breeding methods.
• Ryan Schiller, 2024 and 2025. Carex and native plant breeding.
• Greg Marshall, 2025. Euonymus breeding.
• Marisa Deem. 2025/2026. Arctostaphylos breeding.
• Norma Hernandez-Cruz. 2026. Climbing Hydrangea breeding.
• Molly McKay. 2026. Plant tissue culture and cytogenetics.