Join us for a rich discussion with our distinguished guest, Ryan Contreras, a leading expert in ornamental horticulture from Oregon State University. Ryan shares his incredible journey from the fields of eastern North Carolina to becoming a renowned professor, revealing pivotal moments and key mentorships that shaped his career.

Step into the world of invasive plant species and biotechnology with Ryan as he unpacks the significant ecological threats posed by plants like Scotch broom and English ivy. Learn about the origins and impacts of these species and how new biotechnological tools like CRISPR are revolutionizing plant breeding. Ryan's insights shed light on the potential of precision tools in maintaining desired plant traits while eliminating undesirable ones, making this a must-listen episode for anyone passionate about plant science and environmental conservation.

Explore groundbreaking developments in drought-resistant plant varieties and the collaborative efforts in bioinformatics and genomics aimed at tackling climate change. Ryan discusses his innovative work on Hibiscus syriacus and other ornamental plants, sharing the excitement around new technologies like the Plant Array system for drought stress evaluation. This episode promises to inspire and educate, offering a glimpse into the dynamic and ever-evolving field of plant science through the eyes of one of its most dedicated experts.

See below for more information about Ryan Contreras and his work:
https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/47/9/article-p1210.xml
https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/57/4/article-p558.xml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxRnV4cDhT8&ab_channel=OregonAgricultureintheClassroom

Learn more about the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) at https://ashs.org/.
HortTechnology, HortScience and the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science are all open-access and peer-reviewed journals, published by the American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS). Find them at journals.ashs.org.

Consider becoming an ASHS member at https://ashs.org/page/Becomeamember!

You can also find the official webpage for Plants, People, Science at ashs.org/plantspeoplesciencepodcast, and we encourage you to send us feedback or suggestions at https://ashs.org/webinarpodcastsuggestion.

Podcast transcripts are available at https://plantspeoplescience.buzzsprout.com.

On LinkedIn find Sam Humphrey at linkedin.com/in/samson-humphrey. Curt Rom is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/curt-rom-611085134/. Lena Wilson is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-wilson-2531a5141/.

Thank you for listening!

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