-
Jul 6, 2026
The Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) has initiated a new native plant exploration project supported by a USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant Exploration Grant. The project aims to document and conserve the genetic diversity of Ohio's native herbaceous ornamental plants for long-term preservation within the USDA National Plant Germplasm System.
-
Jun 22, 2026
On May 4–5, approximately 100 second-grade students, from Bishop Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio, participated in a year-end field trip hosted by OPGC that featured hands-on learning opportunities focused on food production and agriculture.
-
Jun 8, 2026
Staff and students from the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) participated in the fourth annual “We Grow Scientists” community outreach event on April 29, 2026. The event, hosted by Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, was part of the COSI Science Festival. The event drew more than 800 attendees who explored interactive stations highlighting STEAM education across CFAES.
-
May 26, 2026
Freddy Mendez Urbano has been awarded the Ushio Sakazaki–Proven Winners® Plant Breeding Scholarship for the 2025–2026 Proven Winners Horticulture Scholarship Program. This prestigious scholarship supports students dedicated to developing innovative plants for the floriculture and nursery industries. Advised by OPGC Director Yu Ma, Freddy conducts research on begonia germplasm conserved at the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC). His research supports the future improvement of begonia, with a goal of advancing cold tolerance through breeding.
-
May 14, 2026
On March 26, 2026, the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center hosted a tour for 16 students and their faculty advisors from the Piney Woods School in Mississippi. During their visit, students learned about plant conservation and the importance of maintaining plant genetic diversity for the future of floriculture. They also explored career opportunities in plant science and horticulture and saw firsthand how plant collections are maintained and used for research, education, and breeding. Founded in 1909 by educator Dr.
-
Apr 27, 2026
The Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) participated in the Family Friday: Buckeye Spring Science Fair on March 13, 2026. Hosted by The Ohio State University Alumni Association, the event brought families together for hands-on science and discovery. At the OPGC station, visitors created colorful pipe cleaner flower rings while learning about pollination and plant conservation. This interactive activity offered an accessible way to connect creativity with scientific concepts, highlighting the vital role of pollinators and the importance of preserving plant genetic diversity.
-
Apr 13, 2026
Dr. Jinjin Song, a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the research program of Dr. Ma, the Director of the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC), is helping unlock the genetic diversity of one of the world’s most remarkable plant groups: Begonia. In a just-published study, she and the research team analyzed 93 Begonia accessions—representing dozens of species from across the Americas, Asia, and Africa—to better understand how their genome sizes vary.
-
Apr 6, 2026
Freddy Mendez-Urbano, an M.S. student advised by OPGC Director Yu Ma, earned first place in the Graduate Student Poster Presentation at the 2026 Plant Science Symposium at The Ohio State University for his research on improving cold tolerance in begonias. His award-winning poster, “Enhancing Cold Tolerance in Begonia: Germplasm Characterization of Begonia grandis Under Cold Stress,” highlights the integration of traditional and high-throughput phenotyping approaches to evaluate plant responses to chilling and freezing conditions.
-
Mar 18, 2026
Students from Dublin Coffman High School’s Environmental Science class visited the OPGC on February 25 for a behind-the-scenes look at how plant genetic resources are conserved for the future. During the tour, students explored several aspects of germplasm conservation, including using bumblebees for seed production, seed cleaning and x-ray technology, and plant propagation through tissue culture. The visit also included hands-on activities—students potted pelargonium cuttings and received a pot of Begonia grandis to take home.
-
Feb 11, 2026
Pelargoniums are popular ornamental plants worldwide, but rising temperatures pose a serious threat to their performance and appearance. In a study recently published in HortScience and led by OPGC Visiting Scholar Dr. Yanxiu Miao, researchers evaluated nine Pelargonium species and cultivars conserved at the OPGC to identify those better able to withstand heat stress.
