Morris Arboretum & Gardens is set to break ground this fall on a new Plant Science Lab, aiming to combat threats to native plants caused by climate change.
The lab, to be built at the adjacent Bloomfield Farm, will expand the arboretum's research capabilities in plant molecular biology and anatomy.
Bill Cullina, executive director of Morris Arboretum, called the project "an important first step" in building the institution's research footprint.
"The lab will provide space that our current staff needs to understand the genetics of rare as well as abundant species," Cullina …
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Morris Arboretum & Gardens is set to break ground this fall on a new Plant Science Lab, aiming to combat threats to native plants caused by climate change.
The lab, to be built at the adjacent Bloomfield Farm, will expand the arboretum's research capabilities in plant molecular biology and anatomy.
Bill Cullina, executive director of Morris Arboretum, called the project "an important first step" in building the institution's research footprint.
"The lab will provide space that our current staff needs to understand the genetics of rare as well as abundant species," Cullina said.
Climate change, bringing more frequent heat waves and longer droughts, is stressing regional and national flora. This environmental shift is leading to decreased seed production, invasive species encroachment, and ecosystem alterations.
Dr. Timothy Block, director of plant science at Morris, emphasized the importance of understanding why plant species become rare or threatened.
"To actually practice conservation of the species, we need to understand why they became rare in the first place," Block said. "Understanding the molecular biology of a species is really a critical piece to being able to effectively protect those species."
The new facility will enable researchers to conduct DNA analysis, helping to inform conservation efforts for vulnerable species. Dr. Cynthia Skema, a botanical scientist at Morris, highlighted the lab's potential impact on Pennsylvania's conservation initiatives.
"Any kind of conservation intervention, really, to be done responsibly, needs to have molecular data informing it, and by and large in Pennsylvania, there's very little of that happening yet," Skema said.
Skema's current research focuses on Ripariosida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow), a globally vulnerable species in the cotton family.
The lab's construction is expected to be completed in early 2025, continuing the Morris Arboretum's legacy as a center for botanical research since its establishment as a public garden in 1933.
Native plants play a crucial role in ecosystems, cleaning air and water, providing wildlife habitats, and enriching soil. The new lab aims to bolster efforts to protect these vital species in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
