Plant Science and Technology

Leon Schumacher

June 25, 2021

Leon Schumacher Receives 2021 Provost’s Award for Leadership in International Education

Leon Schumacher, professor and agricultural systems technology program coordinator, received the 2021 Provost’s Award for Leadership in International Education. This award recognizes MU faculty who have provided outstanding leadership in strengthening MU’s international dimension. Schumacher’s research focuses on topics such as precision agriculture, smart farm initiative, Internet of Things (IOT), automated farming systems and energy conservation including biodiesel, biomass and ethanol, as well as curriculum-related issues associated with agricultural systems technology.

June 25, 2021

Felix Fritschi Receives 2021 Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity

Felix Fritschi, C. Alice Donaldson Professor in Bioenergy Crop Physiology and Genetics in the Division of Plant Sciences, received the 2021 Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity.
Two triennial events, the 11th Symposium of the International Society of Root Research (ISRR11) and the ninth International Symposium on Root Development (Rooting2021), offered the root research community a closer look at projects from around the globe. In 2021, more than 700 participants from 52 countries had the opportunity to virtually attend both events as a joint venture. The event, which was held May 24-28, was organized to provide as much live interaction among participants as possible.

June 3, 2021

Root Biology Never Sleeps

Two triennial events recently offered the root research community a closer look at projects from around the globe.

May 10, 2021

Senior Spotlight: Tanner and Sean Allen

As legacy students growing up in Columbia, Mo., the University of Missouri held a special place for twin brothers Sean and Tanner Allen. After four years at Mizzou, the brothers will walk away with degrees in agricultural systems technology (AST) and agribusiness management, as well as multiple memories from their time as Tigers. “We grew up in Columbia, so Mizzou was always where I saw myself going,” Tanner said. “I loved the atmosphere of campus and the traditions my dad taught me from his time as Mizzou.” “Tanner and I are legacy students, and our mother works as a programmer…

May 10, 2021

Senior Spotlight: Abby Schmidt

The Missouri 4-H organization instilled a strong passion for agriculture in Abby Schmidt. She took that passion to the University of Missouri, where she has double majored in plant sciences and agribusiness management. In all, Schmidt said she will graduate in May with nearly 160 credit hours. “It took a lot of organization to make it work, but because I started early on, it was doable in four years,” Schmidt said. “I had 20-plus hours some semesters so that I could cruise along at only 12 credit hours in this final semester.” Schmidt, who is from Foristell, Mo., worked very…

May 10, 2021

Senior Spotlight: Michelle Maile

When Michelle Maile transferred to the University of Missouri, her love for the outdoors led her to select biological sciences for her area of study. Once she got to Mizzou, though, she realized that there were multiple degree programs that hit on her true interests, which are related to natural resources and plant sciences. “At the community college I was at, they didn’t have any natural resource programs,” Maile said. “I honestly didn’t even know they existed. I figured biology was close to what I was interested in, but when I came here, almost everyone was pre-med or pre-vet. I…
Heike Buecking

April 5, 2021

Heike Buecking

Plants are metaorganisms that engage in intimate associations with a wide diversity of microorganisms. Many of these microorganisms are beneficial and help plants to overcome a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses. In our research, we focus particularly on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and nitrogen fixing rhizobia bacteria. AM fungi played a significant role during land plant evolution and form close interactions with the roots of 70% of land plants, including many agronomically important species, such as corn, soybean, or wheat. AM fungi increase the nutrient acquisition of for example phosphate, nitrogen, sulfur, and potassium from the soil, and improve…
Katherine Hagely

Feb. 9, 2021

Katherine Hagely
A medium-skinned woman with medium-length black hair wears glasses and a grey blazer while standing in front of a green houseplant and smiling.

Dec. 11, 2020

So-Yon Park

Host-Parasitic plant interaction is a fascinating model to study Plant-Plant interaction. Park is interested in how mobile RNAs and proteins are exchanged, transferred, and functional in other organisms through the host-parasite interaction. Cuscuta (stem parasitic plant) and Phelipanche (root parasitic plant) growing on Arabidopsis, tomato, and soybean are major parasites used in Park lab. We are also interested in how small RNAs are transported and suppress target genes under drought stress in soybeans. Educational Background B.S., Dankook University, South KoreaPh.D., Seoul National University, South Korea…
Jacob Washburn

Dec. 2, 2020

Jacob Washburn

Educational background Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Missouri M.S., Plant Breeding, Texas A&M University B.S., Biology, Brigham Young University…