Plant Institute

Plant Institute

Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in all aspects of plant-based scientific investigation

Growing Scientific Excellence for a Better World

The Penn State Plant Institute cultivates a vibrant ecosystem of plant-focused innovation, collaboration, and impact. Our research, education, and outreach mission spans diverse disciplines, uniting students, staff, postdocs, and faculty across the entire Penn State system. We seek to cultivate:

  • Transdisciplinary Excellence: We foster interdisciplinary research by developing cutting-edge facilities, equipping researchers, and facilitating collaborative activities. Our goal is to bridge disciplines, engage stakeholders, and amplify the global beneficial impacts of plant science at Penn State
  • Engagement and Visibility: The Institute showcases the achievements of its members. We engage with the general public, Penn State administration, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States government, global stakeholders, and corporate partners. We promote the critical role of plant science in addressing societal challenges
  • Inspiring the Next Generation: We are passionate about attracting and supporting the next generation of plant scientists. By promoting the excitement and relevance of our field, we encourage students to explore plant science as a rewarding career path
  • Strategic Synergy: We strategically leverage existing programs that align with our goals. This collaborative approach ensures efficiency and maximizes our collective impact

News

Huck names Leadership Fellows for 2026-27

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has selected three faculty members to serve as Huck Leadership Fellows for the 2026-27 academic year. The competitive program prepares faculty for future leadership roles while engaging them in strategic initiatives that advance interdisciplinary research at Penn State.

Q&A: New text to serve as reference for advances in plant development

Hong Ma, professor of biology and J. Lloyd Huck and Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair in Plant Reproductive Development and Evolution at Penn State, is the co-editor of a new book, Regulation of Plant Development, recently published by Springer Nature. The book presents a synthesis of recent advances in plant vegetative growth and diverse aspects of reproductive development; serves as a comprehensive resource for students, postdocs and researchers in plant development; and provides an integrated reference for scientists advancing genetic improvement of crop plants for sustainability, according to Ma and co-editors.

Common protective soybean seed treatment may not increase profitability

Many soybean farmers use seeds treated with fungicides to ward off disease, but the profits from these increased yields might not offset the cost of the treatment in most cases, according to a study published in Scientific Reports by researchers at Penn State.

Q&A: What can plant evolution teach people about breeding better crops?

May 22 is United Nations International Day for Biological Diversity, drawing attention to a critical resource for developing crops that are resilient or resistant to extreme weather and other threats to their health, according to Jesse Lasky, associate professor of biology at Penn State.