Bryan Peterson

Associate Professor of Environmental Horticulture

Degree: Ph. D. 2013, Iowa State University
Phone: 207.581.2918
Email: bryan.j.peterson@maine.edu
Location: 418 Deering Hall

Professional Interests: Woody plant propagation, nursery production, evaluation of native taxa, invasive plants and their impacts, population genetics, phylogeography, systematics.

Teaching: PSE 325 Turf and Grounds Management, PSE 410 Plant Propagation, PSE 424 Nursery Management

Research: The broad objectives of my research are to identify, evaluate, and develop promising ornamental plants for New England landscapes, with a focus on the protection and responsible use of indigenous flora. I seek to characterize genetic diversity within high-priority taxa, to evaluate
ecological and genetic security of natural genetic resources in relation to challenges like biological invasions, and to work toward the responsible selection, development, and release of new ornamental horticulture crops for New England’s nursery and landscape industry.

Recent Publications:

Burnett, S.E., B.J. Peterson, I. Oliveira, and T. Bowers. 2023. Production of dahlias for cut flowers in the northeastern United States. HortTechnology 33:419-424.

Burnett, S.E. and B.J. Peterson. 2022. Propagation of herbaceous and woody perennials in submist and overhead mist systems. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 40:164-169.

McMurchie, E.K., B.J. Peterson, T.D. Leandro, X. Londoño, and L.G. Clark. 2022. A revision of Chusquea sect. Serpentes (Bambuseae, Bambusoideae, Poaceae) including two new species from South America. Systematic Botany 47:363-396. Rihn, A.L., M.J. Knuth, B.J. Peterson, A.P. Torres, J.H. Campbell, C.R. Boyer,

M.A. Palma, and H. Khachatryan. 2022. Investigating drivers of native plant production in the United States Green Industry. Sustainability 14:6774. doi:10.3390/su14116774

Rihn, A.L., C.R. Hall, B.J. Peterson, A.P. Torres, M.A. Palma, and H.
Khachatryan. 2021. Changes in production practices by green industry growers from 2009 to 2019. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 39:123-130.

Moran, R.E., B.J. Peterson, G. Fazio, and J.A. Cline. 2021. Low temperature tolerance of apple shoots following exposure to warm temperatures in late winter. HortScience 56:642-649.

Burnett, S.E., B.J. Peterson, and M. Peronto. 2021. Propagation of five species in a commercial-scale submist system. HortTechnology 31:274-179.

Sanchez, O., S.E. Burnett, and B.J. Peterson. 2020. Environment,
photosynthesis and adventitious rooting of Manchurian lilac cuttings propagated in overhead mist, submist, and combination systems. HortScience 55:78-82.

Peterson, B.J., G.J.R. Melcher, A.K. Scott, R.A. Tkacs, and A.J. Chase. 2020. Propagation of sweetgale, rhodora, and catberry by stem cuttings. HortTechnology 30:38-46.

Hayes, D.J. and B.J. Peterson. 2020. Growth of Lonicera caerulea across fertility and moisture conditions: Comparisons with Lonicera villosa and invasive congeners. HortScience 55:149-155.

Hayes, D.J. and B.J. Peterson. 2019. Vegetative propagation of mountain fly honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa) by overhead mist and subirrigation. HortScience 54:916-919.

Peterson, B.J. and R.E. Moran. 2019. Plant growth and development. In: Dai, W. (ed.). Stress physiology of woody plants. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Moran, R.E., B.J. Peterson, G. Fazio, and J. Cline. 2018. Genotypic variation in apple rootstock low temperature tolerance during spring and fall. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 143:319-332.

Peterson, B.J., S.E. Burnett, and O. Sanchez. 2018. Sub-mist is effective for propagation of Korean lilac and inkberry by stem cuttings. HortTechnology, 28:378-381.

Peterson, B.J., L. Stack, and D.J. Hayes. 2018. What do we know about the invasive potential of Lonicera caerulea cultivars in North America? Acta Horticulturae 1191:129-137.

Peterson, B.J., S.E. Burnett, O. Sanchez, and D.J. Hayes. 2018. Comparison of four systems for propagation of coleus by stem cuttings. HortTechnology 28:143-148.