2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Thomas Bjorkman’s pedigree in plant physiology and development reads like a chapter out of a textbook. He has used fundamental understanding of the biology of plants to improve vegetable production and agricultural sustainability for growers across the Eastern US.

Thomas received his BS in Biochemistry at UC Davis and Ph.D. in Botany at Cornell with Carl Leopold. After postdoctoral training with Cleland at University of Washington, he took a faculty position in Horticulture at Cornell in 1990 and has worked his way up the ranks with his current appointment a split of research and extension. His research has contributed to our understanding of floral development gene regulation in broccoli and cauliflower, stimulated by a sabbatical leave with Robert Goldberg at UCLA.

He currently leads a large multi-disciplinary project funded by the USDA aimed at developing new broccoli cultivars for the Eastern US, developing markets for those and educating growers on their production. He has been a leader in the optimization of cover cropping systems for vegetable production in the Northeast US, as well as the development of buckwheat cultivars adapted to regional conditions. In other areas relating to crop sustainability, Bjorkman has studied the effects of the fungus Trichoderma on root physiology and plant growth, with results leading to commercialization and utilization in cropping systems. He has also conducted research on phosphorous utilization leading to management insights particularly relevant to organic systems.

Bjorkman has authored more than 60 extension fact sheets and production guides and over 40 peer reviewed publications. His service to ASHS has been significant and has been sustained throughout his academic career. Although he has had an impact as well as leadership roles in many important ASHS activities and working groups through the years, his leadership in promoting and service with the ASHS National Issues Task Force/Committee is his signature accomplishment. This group has worked to expand funding to the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative as well as raising the profile of horticultural science research nationally. In summary, his commitment to translating his research into results that meet the needs of industry has earned the respect and praise of growers and extension educators, while his service to ASHS is exemplary.