Scientists & Staff

Paula M. Pijut
715 West State Street
Current Research
Paula M. Pijut is a Research Plant Physiologist with the Northern Research Station, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) located on the campus of Purdue University, and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Dept. of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Paula received her B.S. in Medical Technology from Maryville College of the Sacred Heart, her M.S. in Horticulture from Murray State University, and her Ph.D. in Horticulture from The Ohio State University. Paula has worked for the USDA Forest Service since 1989, and joined the HTIRC in 2001.
The HTIRC is a collaborative regional research, development, and technology transfer effort between industry, university, private, state and federal entities to advance tree improvement of central hardwoods for increased forest productivity in hardwood restoration and reforestation programs. The national mission of the HTIRC is to advance the science of hardwood tree improvement, genomics, physiology, protection, and utilization in the hardwood region of the U.S. by: developing and disseminating knowledge on improving the genetic quality of hardwood tree species and conserving fine hardwood germplasm; developing elite hardwood trees for restoration and regeneration of sustainable hardwood forests and riparian zones for production of forest products and maintenance of genetically diverse ecosystems; increasing knowledge and developing systems for nursery production and plantation establishment; increasing knowledge and developing strategies for protection, utilization, and marketing of the hardwood resource; and developing recognized and respected science leaders in forest genetics, physiology, regeneration, protection, and utilization.
Research Interests
Paulas research program focuses on plant cell, tissue, and organ culture for tree improvement and production. Her research is applied and fundamental directed toward germplasm improvement to increase resistance or tolerance to biotic or abiotic stressors. Her research interests include the physiological, anatomical, and biochemical bases for defense mechanisms to pathogen infection, development of protocols for in vitro selection, somatic embryogenesis, micropropagation, genetic transformation, clonal propagation, and induction of flowering in forest tree species, with subsequent acclimatization of plant material to the greenhouse and field environments. Current species of interest are black walnut, northern red oak, black cherry, butternut, white oak, and green, white, and black ash. Paula hopes to expand her research program in the near future, to cover species such as elm, chestnut, and beech, by developing collaborative projects with other scientists.
Why This Research is Important
Hardwood trees are economically and ecologically valuable resources in the north-central region of the United States. Hardwood trees are planted for timber production, wildlife habitat, riparian buffers, native woodland restoration, windbreaks, watershed protection, erosion control, and for conservation. Fine hardwood lumber is used for cabinetry, furniture, veneer, paneling, architectural moldings, and flooring. Our research program will improve fine hardwood species for growth rate, form, disease- and pest-resistance, and other wood quality traits.
Education
- The Ohio State University, Ph.D. Horticulture, 1988
- Murray State University, M.S. Horticulture, 1984
- Maryville College of the Sacred Heart, B.S. Medical Technology, 1975
Professional Organizations
- Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) (1989 - Current)
- Indiana Academy of Science (2009 - 2017)
- International Plant Propagators Society (2002 - 2017)
- American Society of Plant Biologists (1991 - 2017)
- International Association for Plant Biotechnology (1991 - 2017)
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society (1988 - 2017)
- American Society for Horticultural Science (1981 - 2017)
- Walnut Council (2012 - 2014)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1992 - 2013)
Featured Publications & Products
- Palla, Kaitlin J.; Pijut, Paula M. 2011. Regeneration of plants from Fraxinus americana hypocotyls and cotyledons. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant. 47: 250-256.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Woeste, Keith E.; Michler, Charles H. 2011. Promotion of adventitious root formation of difficult-to-root hardwood tree species. In: Janick, Jules, ed. Horticultural Reviews. 38: 213-251.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Lawson, Shaneka S.; Michler, Charles H. 2011. Biotechnological efforts for preserving and enhancing temperate hardwood tree biodiversity, health, and productivity. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant. 47: 123-147.
- Du, Ningxia; Pijut, Paula M. 2010. Isolation and characterization of an AGAMOUS homolog from Fraxinus pennsylvanica. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. 28: 344-351.
- Beasley, Rochelle R.; Pijut, Paula M. 2010. Invasive plant species in hardwood tree plantations. FNR-230-W West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Extension Service, Hardwood Tree Improvement Center. 25 p.
Publications & Products
- Lee, Jun Hyung; Pijut, Paula M. 2018. Optimization of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Fraxinus nigra and development of black ash for possible emerald ash borer resistance. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC)
- Stevens, Micah E.; Pijut, Paula M. 2018. Rapid in vitro shoot multiplication of the recalcitrant species Juglans nigra L.. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant
- Stevens, Micah E; Woeste, Keith E; Pijut, Paula M. 2018. Localized gene expression changes during adventitious root formation in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.). Tree Physiology
- Lee, Jun Hyung; Pijut, Paula M. 2017. Adventitious shoot regeneration from in vitro leaf explants of Fraxinus nigra. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture
- Lee, Jun Hyung; Pijut, Paula M. 2017. Isolation and characterization of a floral homeotic gene in Fraxinus nigra causing earlier flowering and homeotic alterations in transgenic Arabidopsis. Plant Gene
- Stevens, Micah E.; Pijut, Paula M. 2017. Origin of adventitious roots in black walnut (Juglans nigra) softwood cuttings rooted under optimized conditions in a fog chamber. New Forests
- Rahmani, Mohammad-Shafie; Pijut, Paula M.; Shabanian, Naghi. 2016. Protoplast isolation and genetically true-to-type plant regeneration from leaf- and callus-derived protoplasts of Albizia julibrissin. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC). 127(2): 475-488.
- Palla, Kaitlin J.; Pijut, Paula M. 2015. Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Fraxinus americana hypocotyls. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 120(2): 631-641.
- Rahmani, Mohammad-Shafie; Pijut, Paula M.; Shabanian, Naghi; Nasri, Mona. 2015. Genetic fidelity assessment of in vitro-regenerated plants of Albizia julibrissin using SCoT and IRAP fingerprinting. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant. 51(4): 407-419.
- Yu, Xiaoqing; Pijut, Paula M.; Byrne, Stephen; Asp, Torben; Bai, Guihua; Jiang, Yiwei. 2015. Candidate gene association mapping for winter survival and spring regrowth in perennial ryegrass. Plant Science. 235: 37-45.
- Lawson, Shaneka S.; Pijut, Paula M.; Michler, Charles H. 2014. Comparison of arabidopsis stomatal density mutants indicates variation in water stress responses and potential epistatic effects. Journal of Plant Biology. 57(3): 162-173.
- Lawson, Shaneka S.; Pijut, Paula M.; Michler, Charles H. 2014. The cloning and characterization of a poplar stomatal density gene. Genes & Genomics. 36(4): 427-441.
- Stevens, Micah E.; Pijut, Paula M. 2014. Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and plant regeneration of the hardwood tree species Fraxinus profunda. Plant Cell Reports. 33(6): 861-870.
- Wang, Ying; Pijut, Paula M. 2014. Improvement of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and rooting of black cherry. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant. 50(3): 307-316.
- Wang, Ying; Pijut, Paula M. 2014. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of black cherry for flowering control and insect resistance. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 119(1): 107-116.
- Wang, Ying; Pijut, Paula M. 2014. Can Prunus serotina be genetically engineered for reproductive sterility and insect pest resistance?. Springer Science Reviews. 2(1-2): 75-93.
- Beasley, Rochelle R.; Pijut, Paula M. 2013. Regeneration of plants from Fraxinus nigra Marsh. hypocotyls. HortScience. 48(7): 887-890.
- Lawson, Shaneka S.; Pijut, Paula M.; Michler, Charles H. 2013. Species selection in hardwoods research: variations in baseline physiological responses of select temperate hardwood tree species. Journal of Forestry Research. 24 (2): 285-292.
- Palla, Kaitlin J.; Beasley, Rochelle R.; Pijut, Paula M. 2013. In vitro culture and rooting of Diospyros virginiana L.. HortScience. 48(6): 747-749.
- Wang, Ying; Pijut, Paula M. 2013. Isolation and characterization of a TERMINAL FLOWER 1 homolog from Prunus serotina Ehrh. Tree Physiology. 33: 855-865.
- Yu, Xiaoqing; Bai, Guihua; Liu, Shuwei; Luo, Na; Wang, Ying; Richmond, Douglas S.; Pijut, Paula M.; Jackson, Scott A.; Yu, Jianming; Jiang, Yiwei. 2013. Association of candidate genes with drought tolerance traits in diverse perennial ryegrass accessions. Journal of Experimental Botany. 64(6): 1537-1551.
- Du, Ningxia; Liu, Xin; Li, Yun; Chen, Shouyi; Zhang, Jinsong; Ha, Da; Deng, Wenguang; Sun, Chunkui; Zhang, Yingzhi; Pijut, Paula M. 2012. Genetic transformation of Populus tomentosa to improve salt tolerance. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 108: 181-189.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Beasley, Rochelle R.; Lawson, Shaneka S.; Palla, Kaitlin J.; Stevens, Micah E.; Wang, Ying. 2012. In vitro propagation of tropical hardwood tree species A review (2001-2011). Propagation of Ornamental Plants. 12(1): 25-51.
- Stevens, Micah E.; Pijut, Paula M. 2012. Hypocotyl derived in vitro regeneration of pumpkin ash (Fraxinus profunda). Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 108: 129-135.
- Beasley, Rochelle R.; Pijut, Paula M. 2010. Adventitious shoot regeneration of Fraxinus nigra Marsh. In: Michler, Charles H.; Ginzel, Matthew D., eds. 2010. Proceedings of symposium on ash in North America; 2010 March 9-11; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-72. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 58.
- Liu, Xiaomei; Anderson, Joseph; Pijut, Paula. 2010. Cloning and characterization of prunus serotina AGAMOUS, a putative flower homeotic gene. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter. 28: 193-203.
- Liu, Xiaomei; Pijut, Paula. 2010. Agrobacterium-medicated transformation of mature Prunus serotina (black cherry) and regeneration of trangenic shoots. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 101: 49-57.
- Palla, Kaitlin J.; Pijut, Paula M. 2010. Adventitious shoot regeneration and rooting of Fraxinus americana. In: Michler, Charles H.; Ginzel, Matthew D., eds. 2010. Proceedings of symposium on ash in North America; 2010 March 9-11; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-72. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 63.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Beasley, Rochelle R.; Palla, Kaitlin J. 2010. Genetic transformation of Fraxinus spp. for resistance to the emerald ash borer. In: Michler, Charles H.; Ginzel, Matthew D., eds. 2010. Proceedings of symposium on ash in North America; 2010 March 9-11; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-72. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 18-19.
- Du, Ningxia; Pijut, Paula M. 2009. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Fraxinus pennsylvanica hypocotyls and plant regeneration. Plant Cell Reports. 28: 915-923.
- Vengadesan, G.; Pijut, Paula M. 2009. In vitro propagation of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant. 45: 474-482.
- Vengadesan, G.; Pijut, Paula M. 2009. Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 97: 141-149.
- Woeste, Keith; Pijut, Paula M. 2009. The peril and potential of butternut. Arnoldia. 66(4): 2-12.
- Barnd, Bradley D.; Pijut, Paula M.; Ginzel, Matthew D. 2008. Insects affecting hardwood tree plantings. In: Pijut, P.M., ed. Planting and care of fine hardwood seedlings. FNR-227-W. West Lafayette, IN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, and Purdue University, Extension. 17 p.
- Du, Ningxia; Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Regeneration of plants from Fraxinus pennsylvanica hypocotyls and cotyledons. Scientia Horticulturae. 118: 74-79.
- Liu, Xiaomei; Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Plant regeneration from in vitro leaves of mature black cherry (Prunus serotina). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 94: 113-123.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Carpinus L.. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 328-332.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb. ex A. Murr.) Koidz. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 618-619.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Cotinus P.. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 438-441.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Colutea L. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 426-427.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Cedrus Trew. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 357-362.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2008. Laburnum Medik. In: Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P., eds. Woody plant seed manual. Agric. Handb. 727. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 631-633.
- Michler, Charles H.; Woeste, Keith E.; Pijut, Paula M. 2007. Black Walnut. In: Kole, Cittaranjan, ed. Genome mapping and molecular breeding in plants, Vol. 7, Forest trees. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag: 189-198.
- Morse, Alison M.; Tschaplinski, Timothy J.; Dervinis, Christopher; Pijut, Paula M.; Schmelz, Eric A.; Day, Wendy; Davis, John M. 2007. Salicylate and catechol levels are maintained in nahG transgenic poplar. Phytochemistry. 68: 2043-2052.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Woeste, Keith E.; Vengadesan, G. 2007. Technological advances in temperate hardwood tree improvement including breeding and molecular marker applications. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Plant. 43: 283-303.
- Espinosa, Ana Carolina; Pijut, Paula M.; Michler, Charles H. 2006. Adventitious shoot regeneration and rooting of Prunus serotina in vitro cultures. HortScience 41(1):193-201.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2006. Planting and care of fine hardwood seedlings: diseases in hardwood tree plantings. FNR-221. Hardwood tree improvement and regeneration center. West Lafayette, IN. Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 16 p.
- Michler, C. H.; Meilan, R.; Woeste, K. E.; Pijut, P. M.; Jacobs, D.; Aldrich, P.; Glaubitz, J. 2005. Hardwood genetics and tree improvement - A Midwest USA perspective. In: Colombo, S.J. (comp.) 2005. The Thin Green Line: A symposium on the state-of-the-art in reforestation Proceedings. Thunder Bay, ON. 26-28 July 2005. Ont. Min. Nat. Resour. Ont. For. Res. Inst. Sault Ste. Marie, ON. For. Res. Inf. Pap. No. 160. 169 p. Pp. 69-74.
- Michler, C.H.; Pijut, P.M.; Jacobs, D.F.; Meilan, R.; Woeste, K.E.; Ostry, M.E. 2005. Improving disease resistance of butternut (Juglans cinerea), a threatened fine hardwood: a case of single-tree selection through genetic improvement and deployment. Tree Physiology. 26:121-128.
- Pijut, P.M.; Espinosa, A.C. 2005. Development of a rooted cutting propagation method for Prunus serotina. International Plant Propagators' Society, Combined Proceedings (2004). 54: 335-339.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2005. Native hardwood trees of the central hardwood region. FNR-218. Purdue University School of Forestry and Natural Resources. West Lafayette, IN. 16 p.
- Wichman, J.; Hawkins, R.; Pijut, P.M. 2005. Straw mulch prevents loss of fall-sown seeds to cold temperatures and wildlife predation. Native Plants Journal 6(3):282-285.
- Michler, C. H.; Pijut, P.M.; Van Sambeek, J.; Coggeshall, M.; Seifert, J.; Woeste, K.; Overton, R.; Ponder, F., Jr., eds. 2004. Black walnut in a new century, proceedings of the 6th Walnut Council research symposium; 2004 July 25-28; Lafayette, IN.. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-243. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 188 p.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2004. Comptonia peregrina. In: Francis, John K., ed. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories. Thamnic. Vol. 1. Gen. Tech. Rep. IITF-26. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry: 237-239.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2004. Acer spicatum. In: Francis, John K., ed. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: thamnic. Vol. 1. Gen. Tech. Rep. IITF-26. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry: 27-29.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2004. Vegetative propagation of butternut (Juglans cinerea) field results. In: Michler, C.H.; Pijut, P.M.; Van Sambeek, J.W.; Coggeshall, M.V.; Seifert, J.; Woeste, K.; Overton, R.; Ponder, F., Jr., eds. Proceedings of the 6th Walnut Council Research Symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-243. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 37-44
- Pijut, Paula M. 2004. Cornus sericea. In: Francis, John K., ed. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories. Thamnic. Vol. 1. Gen. Tech. Rep. IITF-26. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry: 249-251.
- Michler, Charles H.; Bosela, Michael J.; Pijut, Paula M.; Woeste, Keith E. 2003. The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center: its strategic plans for sustaining the hardwood resource. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 460-465
- Pijut, Paula M. 2003. Planting and care of fine hardwood seedlings: Planting hardwood seedlings in the Central Hardwood Region.. FNR-210. Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Lafayette, Indiana. 8 p.
- Pijut, Paula M. 2002. Eastern White Pine Flowering in Response to Spray Application of Gibbrellin A4/7 or ProconeTM. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 19(2): 68-72.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Moore, Melanie. 2002. Early Season Softwood Cuttings Effective for Vegetative Propagation of Juglans cinerea. HortScience 37(4): 697-700
- Ostry, M. E.; Pijut, P. M. 2000. Butternut: An Underused Resource in North America. HortTechnology 10(2): 302-306
- Pijut, Paula M. 2000. Cedrus - The True Cedars. Journal of Arboriculture 26(4): July 2000
- Pijut, Paula M. 1999. Somatic embryogenesis from immature fruit of Juglans cinerea. In: Jain, S.M.; Gupta, P.K.; Newton, R.J., eds. Somatic embryogenesis in woody plants. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer: 415-429.
- Barker, Melanie J.; Pijut, Paula M.; Ostry, Michael E.; Houston, David R. 1997. Micropropagation of juvenile and mature american beech. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 51: 209-213.
- Pijut, P. M. 1997. Micropropagation of Juglans cinerea L. (Butternut). Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 39 High-Tech and Micropropagation V (ed. by Y.P.S. Bajaj) Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997. pp 345-357
- Ostry, M.E.; Pijut, Paula M.; Skilling, D.D. 1991. Screening larch in vitro for resistance to Mycosphaerella laricina. Plant Disease. 75: 1222-1224.
- Lineberger, R. Daniel; Sticklen, M.B.; Pijut, P.M.; Kroggel, Mark A.; Fink, C.V.M.; Domir, S.C. 1990. Use of protoplast, cell, and shoot tip culture in an elm germ plasm improvement program. Acta Horticulturae. 280: 247-253.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Domir, Subash C.; Lineberger, R. Daniel; Schreiber, Lawrence R. 1990. Use of culture filtrates of Ceratocystis ulmi as a bioassay to screen for disease tolerant Ulmus americana. Plant Science. 70: 191-196.
- Pijut, Paula M.; Lineberger, R. Daniel; Domir, Subhash C.; Ichida, Jann M.; Krause, Charles R. 1990. Ultrastructure of cells of Ulmus americana cultured in vitro and exposed to the culture filtrate of Ceratocystis ulmi. Phytopathology. 80: 764-767.