Mark Bridgen

My primary research interests are in the areas of new plant development and breeding, plant environment interactions, plant cell and tissue culture, in vitro plant breeding, genetic modifications for plant improvement, plant propagation, and plant growth and development of floricultural and ornamental plants. Specific in vitro breeding techniques include somaclonal and gametoclonal variation, embryo culture, somatic embryogenesis, mutation breeding, meristem culture for the production of pathogen free plants and in vitro fertilization. Specific applied studies focus on herbaceous ornamental plants, field-grown cut flower production, use of high tunnels for season extension, plant propagation, greenhouse crop production, and cultivar evaluations. Since coming to Cornell, I've developed and patented two ornamental Alstroemeria cultivars: 'Tangerine Tango' (2012) and 'Mauve Majesty' (2007).

Selected Journal Publications

• Bridgen, M.P., J.E. Keach, and V.A. Zayas. 2024. Breeding impatiens for resistance to impatiens downy mildew (Plasmopara obducens). Acta Hort. Accepted in press.
• Stephen, C., Zayas, V.A., Galic, A., & Bridgen, M.P. 2023. Micropropagation of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), HortScience, 58(3):307-316.https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/58/3/article-p307.xml 
• Bridgen, M.P., C. Stephen, V. Zayas, and A. Galic. 2022.  Examining the stages of micropropagation for hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).  Acta Hort. 1359:73-80.
• Aros, D., M. Suazo, C. Rivas, P. Zapata, C. Úbeda, and M. Bridgen. 2019.  Characterization of new hybrids of Alstroemeria originated from A. caryophylleae scented lines. Euphytica 215:93-104.
• Sax, Miles Schwartz., Nina Bassuk, Mark Bridgen. 2019. Tissue Culture Clonal Propagation  of Hybrid White Oak Cultivars for The Urban Environment.  HortScience 54(12): 2214–2223
• Nor Hisham Shah, N.K.A. and M. Bridgen.  2018. Inducing mutations in vitro of the Chaste Tree,Vitex agnus-castus, with the herbicide, Oryzalin (Surflan).  Combined Proceedings International Plant Propagator's Society. Vol. 68. 
• Miller, C.T., K. Snyder, and M.P. Bridgen.  2017. The 2017 National Floriculture Forum: Engaging young people in the industry.  HortTechnology 27(6):754-756. 
• Bridgen, M.P. 2016. Using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on greenhouse ornamental plants for growth regulation. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 1134:49-56.

View profile and publications on Google Scholar.

• 2024 -Citizen of the Year Award from the Long Island Farm Bureau.
• 2023-American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Distinguished Achievement Award for Ornamental Plant Breeding.
• 2020-present. National president for the honor society for the plant sciences and horticulture, Pi Alpha Xi.
• 2019-Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education from the Society of American Florists.
• 2018- Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Innovative Teaching Award.
• 2018-Elected national president of Pi Alpha Xi (national honor society for plant sciences).
• 2017-Elected President of the Long Island Flower Growers Association.
• 2013-Fulbright Fellow. Council for International Exchange of Scholars.  
• 2011-Patent of Alstroemeria 'Tangerine Tango' US Patent Office.
• 2008 -Herbert Medal from the International Bulb Society.
• 2008-The New York Farmer's Medal, The New York Farmer's Club.
• 2006-Academic Excellence Award from the Perennial Plant Association.
• 1999-Fulbright Scholar Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

Plant propagation, the multiplication of plants, is both a science and an art. This class introduces the principles, practices and techniques of sexual and asexual propagation of horticultural plants. The science of plant propagation is taught by explaining plant physiology, cultural practices and characteristics of plants. The art of plant propagation is learned by completing laboratory exercises. Seed propagation, cutting propagation, grafting & budding systems, layering, specialized plant structures (bulbs, corms, etc.), and tissue culture for micropropagation are discussed and practiced.

• PLHRT 4000: Principles of Plant Propagation
• PLSCI 4900: Reflection on Plant Sciences Experiential Learning
• PLSCI 4940: Special Topics in Plant Sciences
• PLHRT 8900: Thesis Research, Master of Science