Dr. Michelle Jones

I grew up in Iowa and was introduced to floriculture during an undergraduate internship program at Iowa State University.

Microbe-containing products for enhancement of floriculture crops

• We are utilizing the plant rhizosphere microbiome to identify microorganisms that may be beneficial to floriculture crops. These beneficial microbes may enhance plant health (act as biostimulant) by increasing root elongation, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance.
• There are an increasing number of biological products marketed as plant growth enhancers or biostimulants. One barrier identified by Greenhouse industry stakeholders to the use of biostimulants has been the lack of a single, non-bias resource that contains biostimulant products available for use on greenhouse floriculture crops. We have created an interface that is a compilation of products that (1) contain microorganism(s), (2) are advertised as biostimulants (i.e., enhance plant growth), and (3) can be used in a greenhouse and/or on flowering plants. 

Molecular and biochemical regulation of senescence in plants

• The senescence or death of leaves, flowers and whole plants occurs naturally as part of the last stage of plant development, but it can also be accelerated by ethylene and environmental stress. We are interested in senescence because it reduces the postproduction quality and marketability of ornamental plants. Senescence is genetically controlled and we are using proteomic and genomic approaches to identify pathways involved in the initiation and execution of the senescence program in petals. Functional analysis of senescence associated genes is conducted using virus-induced gene silencing in Petunia.

In college, I studied biochemistry but did my honors research project in the Horticulture Department on ethylene regulation of flower senescence in cut carnations. I decided to go to graduate school in Horticulture at Purdue University to work with Dr. Randy Woodson so that I could continue to study how ethylene regulates senescence. After receiving my PhD, I was fortunate to get a faculty position at Colorado State University where I taught and did research in Floriculture. In 2001, I moved to The Ohio State University. 

None currently

I like to attend Cultivate, which is the premier Greenhouse trade show in the United States. It has a nice combination of talks, industry networking opportunities and showcasing of new products and plants.

I am excited to see the implementation of changes to our graduate curriculum and to see us fill so many faculty vacancies.

Attending my daughters tennis matches and other activities, mentoring high school science fair projects, and gardening.