PURDUE AGRICULTURE
HORTICULTURE &
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

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Purdue Agriculture > Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Michael V Mickelbart

Associate Professor of Horticulture

Department: Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Phone: 765.494.7902
Fax: 765-494-0391
Office: Hort 316
E-mail: mmickelb@purdue.edu

Area of Expertise: Plant Physiology
Curriculum Vitae

Courses currently taught:

HORT 42000, Ornamental Plant Production
HORT 49100, Total Crop Management

Our lab is focused on both applied and basic aspects of plant water and nutrient physiology and management. The nursery and landscape industry is the largest horticultural sector in Indiana and is comprised of commercial and retail nurseries and landscape design, installation, and maintenance companies. In the last decade, this industry has undergone major changes in production practices, primarily driven by new innovations, rising input costs, and an increasing emphasis on environmental stewardship.

Plant water use and stress physiology

Our group uses a number of model species to identify the genetic basis for improved water use efficiency (WUE) in plants (Yoo et al., 2009). Recent work (Plant Cell, in press) provides exciting evidence for the role of stomatal development on WUE and water stress tolerance in plants. Ongoing projects in the lab are focused on the identification and characterization of flowering time transcription factors that may also regulate WUE, identification of WUE genes in the model species Thellungiella halophila, the identification of QTL associated with WUE in maize, and the effect of transpiration rate on nutrient uptake in plants.

Industry publications

Mickelbart, M.V. and M. Jenks. 2010. The need for drought tolerant trees. American Nurseryman 210(6):30-33.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2009. Roots and freezing. INLN 69(2):32.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2008. Use of ABA to delay wilting in ornamentals. INLN 68(5):34.

Picture of the week: Leaf characteristics of drought tolerant plants

Picture of the week: salt spray

Refereed publications

Mickelbart, M.V., P.M. Hasegawa, and D.E. Salt. 2010. Responses and Adaptations to Abiotic Stress. In: L. Taiz and E. Zeiger (eds.). Plant Physiology, 5^th Ed. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.

Yoo, C.Y., H.E. Pence, J.B. Jin, K. Miura, M.J. Gosney, P.M. Hasegawa, and M.V. Mickelbart*. 2010. The Arabidopsis GTL1 transcription factor regulates water use efficiency and drought tolerance. Plant Cell 22:4128-4141.

Orsini, F., M.P. D’Urzo, G. Inan, S. Serra, D.-H. Oh, M.V. Mickelbart, F. Consiglio, X. Li, J.C. Jeong, D.-J. Yun, H.J. Bohnert, R.A. Bressan, and A. Maggio*. 2010. A comparative study of salt tolerance parameters in eleven wild relatives of Arabidopsis thaliana. Journal of Experimental Botany 61:3787-3798.

Peel, G.J., M.V. Mickelbart*, and D. Rhodes. 2010. Choline metabolism in glycinebetaine accumulating and non-accumulating near-isogenic lines of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor. Phytochemistry 71:404-414.

Yoo, C.Y., H.E. Pence, P.M. Hasegawa, and M.V. Mickelbart*. 2009. Regulation of transpiration to improve crop water use. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 28:410-431.

Baxter, I.R., P.S. Hosmani, A. Rus, B. Lahner, J. Borevitz, B. Muthukumar, M.V. Mickelbart, L. Schreiber, R.B. Franke, and D.E. Salt*. 2009. Root suberin regulates water relations and mineral nutrition in Arabidopsis. PLoS Genetics 5(5):e1000492. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000492.

AbuQamar S., H. Luo, K. Laluk, M.V. Mickelbart and T. Mengiste*. 2009. Crosstalk between biotic and abiotic stress responses in tomato is mediated by the AIM1 transcription factor. The Plant Journal 58:347-360.

Mickelbart, M.V.*, S. Melser, and M.L. Arpaia. 2007. Salinity-induced changes in ion concentrations of ‘Hass’ avocado trees on three rootstocks. Journal of Plant Nutrition 30:105-122.

Mickelbart, M.V.*, P. Chapman, and L. Collier-Christian. 2006. Endogenous levels and exogenous application of glycinebetaine to grapevines. Scientia Horticulturae 111:7-16.

Mickelbart, M.V.*, G. Peel, R.J. Joly, D. Rhodes, G. Ejeta, and P.B. Goldsbrough. 2003. Development and characterization of near-isogenic lines of sorghum segregating for glycinebetaine accumulation. Physiologia Plantarum 118:253-261.

Yang, W.-J., P.J. Rich, J.D. Axtell, K.V. Wood, C.C. Bonham, G. Ejeta, M.V. Mickelbart*, and D. Rhodes. 2003. Genotypic variation for glycinebetaine in Sorghum bicolor. Crop Science 43(1):162-169.

Mickelbart, M.V.* and M.L. Arpaia. 2002. Rootstock influences changes in ion concentrations, growth, and photosynthesis of ‘Hass’ avocado trees in response to salinity. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 127(4):649-655.

Plant nutrition

Nursery production is a 40-million-dollar per year industry Indiana (2007 Census of Agriculture, USDA). Our work on plant nutrition is undertaken to provide science-based recommendations to growers in Indiana and throughout the U.S. Published research has resulted in refined protocols for tissue (HortSci, 2010) and container (HortTech, 2009) nutrient sampling, and ongoing research has provided the basis for reducing container production fertilizer rates. As a body of work, this provides strong evidence for reducing fertilizer application to produce salable plants with enhanced landscape performance and reduced environmental pollution.

Industry publications

Lopez, R.G., M.V. Mickelbart, and C. Pasian. 2010. Alkalinity management in soilless substrates.

Lopez, R.G., M.V. Mickelbart, and C. Pasian. 2010. Manejo de la alacalinidad en sustratos hidropónicos.

Camberato, D.M., R.G. Lopez, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2009. pH and electrical conductivity measurements in soilless media.

Camberato, D.M., R.G. Lopez, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2009. Medición de pH y conductividad eléctrica en sustratos.

Lopez, R.G., C. Pasian, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2010. Alkalinity in soilless substrates. GPN 20:34, 36, 38.

Torres, A.P., M.V. Mickelbart, and R.G. Lopez. 2010. Measuring pH and EC of large containers. GPN 20:52-55.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2008. Field nutrition. American Nurseryman 208(7):28-31.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2010. Using the pour-through method to check pH and EC in large containers. INLN 70(4):22.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2010. Controlled release fertilizers. INLN 70(1):25.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2008. Container plant nutrition. INLN 68(4):30-31.

Picture of the week: Fertilizer burn

Picture of the week: Micronutrient deficiencies in red maple

Refereed publications

Torres, A.P., M.V. Mickelbart*, and R.G. Lopez. 2010. Leachate volume effects on pH and electrical conductivity measurements in containers obtained using the pour through method. HortTechnology 20:608-611.

Mickelbart, M.V.* 2010. Variation in leaf nutrient concentrations due to leaf position and petiole inclusion. HortScience 45:428-431.

Native plant evaluations

There is a growing interest in using natives in the landscape, but very little proper evaluation in replicated trials has occurred. We are currently evaluating about 15 species at the Meigs Purdue Agricultural Center, but we have focused on two species in particular: Spiraea alba and Spiraea tomentosa. Both are native to the Midwest, but not very commonly grown in the landscape. We have now published on the pruning management (HortTech 20:700) and light requirements (HortSci, in press) of these species and ongoing work includes determination of the pH range for these species in containers and in the landscape.

Industry publications

Stanton, K., M.V. Mickelbart, B.D. Lee, and D. Jones. 2008. Landscaping over septic systems with native plants.

Picture of the week: Steeplebush

Refereed publications

Stanton, K.M., S. Weeks, M.N. Dana, and M.V. Mickelbart*. 2010. Effect of light level on growth of Spiraea alba and Spiraea tomentosa. HortScience 45:1912-1916.

Stanton, K.M., S. Weeks, M.N. Dana, and M.V. Mickelbart*. 2010. Pruning of meadowsweet and hardhack. HortTechnology 20:700-704.

Weed control

Weed control is a major issue in the nursery and landscape industry due to reduced growth and high labor input for weed removal. There are very few post-emergent herbicides that can be used in container crops without causing phytotoxicity. Therefore, pre-emergents are the primary form of weed control. Trials conducted in our lab (in conjunction with other regional trials) have resulted in label expansion for pre-emergent herbicides including Freehand, Snapshot, Gallery, Tower, Certainty, Lontrel, Dimension, Showcase, Tenacity, Pendulum, and Pennant magnum.

Industry publications

Mickelbart, M.V. 2011. New tools for weed control: 2010 Herbicide safety trials at Purdue. INLN 71(1):14-17.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2010. Cultural practices to reduce weed growth in containers. INLN 70(5):26.

Other publications

Nursery and landscape

Caplan, L., R. Ballard, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2010. Dealing with landscape soils. INLN 70(2):26-28.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2010. Green waste compost. INLN 70(2):35-36.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2009. Use of commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in nurseries and landscapes. INLN 69(4):34.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2008. Container mulches. INLN 68(3):34.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2007. Warm winter consequences for plants. American Nurseryman 206(10):20-23.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2007. Horticulture and global warming. INLN 67(4):32.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2007. Is vitamin B1 useful when transplanting? INLN 67(3):34.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2007. Pruning and tree caliper. INLN 67(2):36.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2006. Tree planting depth and mulch. INLN 66(4):34.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2006. Is there enough bark to meet landscape demands? INLN 66(3):36.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2006. How do plants respond to warm winters? INLN 66(2):38.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2006. Deer control in nurseries and landscapes. INLN 66(1):34.

Mickelbart, M.V. and J. Beckerman. 2006. What you need to know about P. ramorum. American Nurseryman 204(10):20-23.

Mickelbart, M.V. 2006. Managing for minimal losses in the event of Sudden Oak Death infestation. INLN 66(6):30-31.

Dennis, J.H. and M.V. Mickelbart. 2006. Risk management principles IV: Financial risk. INLN 66(4):26-28.

Dennis, J.H. and M.V. Mickelbart. 2006. Risk management principles III: Human risk. INLN 66(3):34-35.

Dennis, J.H., B. Taylor, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2006. Risk management principles II: Marketing risk. INLN 66(2):32-34.

Dennis, J.H., B. Taylor, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2006. Risk management principles I: Production risk. INLN 66(1):32-33.

Dennis, J.H. and M.V. Mickelbart. 2006. Decreasing marketing risk. Ohio Florists Assn Bulletin Number 896.

Picture of the week: Trunk girdling roots

Picture of the week: Root disturbance in large trees

Picture of the week: Holding nursery stock

Other refereed publications

Mickelbart, M.V.* 2010. Cyclanilide differentially affects branching in red maple cultivars and hybrids. Journal of Environmental Horticulture (in press).

Mickelbart, M.V.*, G.S. Bender, G.W. Witney, C. Adams, and M.L. Arpaia. 2007. Effect of clonal rootstocks on ‘Hass’ avocado yield components, alternate bearing, and nutrition. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 82:460-466.

Teixeira, E.I.*, D.J. Moot, and M.V. Mickelbart. 2007. Seasonal patterns of root C and N reserves of lucerne crops (Medicago sativa L.) grown in a temperate climate were affected by defoliation regime. European Journal of Agronomy 26:10-20.

Mickelbart, M.V.* and D. James. 2003. Development of a dry matter test for olive. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 31(3):269-276.

- Recent Publications

Mickelbart, M. V., Hasegawa, P. M., & Salt, D. E. (2010). Responses and Adaptations to Abiotic Stress. In Plant Physiology (Vol. 5th, p. 26). Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer.

Yoo, C. Y., Pence, H. E., Jin, J. B., Miura, K., Gosney, M. J., Hasegawa, P. M., & Mickelbart, M. V. (2010). The Arabidopsis GTL1 transcription factor regulates water use efficiency and drought tolerance.. The Plant Cell, 22, 4128-4141.

Yoo, C. Y., Pence, H. E., Hasegawa, P. M., & Mickelbart, M. V. (2009). Regulation of transpiration to improve crop water use.. Critical Reviews in Plant Science, 28, 410-431.

Orsini, F., D'Urzo, M. P., Inan, G., Serra, S., Oh, D. H., Mickelbart, M. V., . . . Maggio, A. (2010). A comparative study of salt tlerance parameters in eleven wild relatives of Arabidopsis thaliana.. Journal of Experimental Botany, 61, 3787-3798.

Peel, G. J., Mickelbart, M. V., & Rhodes, D. (2010). Choline metablolism in glycinebetaine accumulating and non-accumulating near-iosgenic lines of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor.. Phytochemistry, 71, 404-414.

Baxter, I. R., Hosmani, P. S., Rus, A., Lahner, B., Borevitz, J., Muthukumar, B., . . . Salt, D. E. (2009). Root suberin regulates water relations and mineral nutrition in Arabidopsis. PLoS Genetics, 5(5), 1000492.

AbuQamar, S., Luo, H., Laluk, K., Mickelbart, M. V., & Mengiste, T. (2009). Crosstalk between biotic and abiotic stress responses in tomato is mediated by the AIM1 transcription factor.. The Plant Journal, 58, 347-360.

Mickelbart, M. V. (2010). Variation in leaf nutrient concentrations due to leaf position and petiole inclusion.. HortScience, 45, 428-431.

Torres, A. P., Mickelbart, M. V., & Lopez, R. G. (2010). Leachate volume effects on pH and electrical conductivity measurements in containers obtained using the pour through method.. HortTechnology, 20, 608-611.

Mickelbart, M. V., Bender, G. S., Witney, G. W., Adams, C., & Arpaia, M. L. (2007). Effect of clonal rootsotcks on 'Hass' avocado yield components, alternate bearing, and nutrition.. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 82, 460-466.