Address

462 Alderman Hall
1970 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Appointment

67% Research, 0% Teaching, 33% Extension 

Education

Ph.D. Michigan State University – East Lansing, 1989, Horticulture
M.S.  Michigan State University – East Lansing, 1986, Horticulture
B.S.   Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, 1983, Ornamental Horticulture                                                                                  

Research Program

My primary research activities advance our understanding of temperature effects on flowering and photosynthesis to increase high and/or low temperature tolerance.  I also strive to develop novel methods for plant breeders to screen for high temperature tolerance. My research also focuses on how to increase natural plant defenses to decrease pesticide use.  Short term efforts focus on 1) controlling plants flowering, 2) identifying ways to reduce inputs or energy, and 3) identifying new heat or drought tolerant ornamental plants. Taken together, my research aims to enhance temperature tolerance, reduce chemical and pesticide application, identify new floriculture products, and reduce production inputs to allow local growers to compete effectively in a worldwide market.

Extension Program

1989-2005 Editor, Minnesota Commercial Flower Growers Bulletin 

Teaching Responsibilities

HORT 5052            Specialty Greenhouse Crop Production (offered fall every other year)
HORT 8084            Manipulation of Crop Growth and Development (Team taught course offered every other spring)

External Activities 

1996        Elected ASHS, Floriculture Working Group Chair
2000        Elected - International Society of Horticultural Sciences, Ornamentals Section Vice-Chair (2006: Re-elected)
2000       Elected Seward Neighborhood Board
2002       Elected Citywide Commissioner, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
2006      Appointed:  Committee on Minneapolis Sustainable Development Plan, Committee on Community Leadership for Minneapolis
1994      Greenhouse Crop Consultant (approx. 10-15 greenhouse companies outside MN)

Awards/Special Recognition 

Alex Laurie Award – Outstanding research paper related to floriculture production
Futura Award – Outstanding contributions through teaching and research
Educational Media Award – Outstanding educational media tool
Honorary State FFA Degree – Outstanding contributions to the state FFA.
Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award
Diplomacy Award – Bridging differences in politics for the greater good of Minneapolis. 

Publications

• Cutlan, A., J. E. Simon, L. Bonilla, and J.E. Erwin.  2000.  Variation in parthenolide content among feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.).  Plant Medica., 66:612-617.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2001. Variation in floral induction requirements of Hibiscus spp.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 126:262-268.
• Erwin, J.E., A. Smith and R. Warner.  2002.  Interaction between photoperiod, GA₃ and vernalization time on flowering of Raphanus sativus.  Physiol. Plant., 115:298-302.
• Erwin, J.E., and R.M. Warner.  2002.  Determination of photoperiodic response group and effect of supplemental irradiance on flowering of several bedding plant species. Acta Hort., 580:95-99.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2002.  Photosynthetic responses of heat-tolerant and heat sensitive cultivars of Impatiens hawkeri and Viola wittrockiana to high temperature exposures.  Acta Hort., 580:215-219.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2002.  Estimation of total canopy photosynthetic capacity of roses grown under two canopy management systems. Acta Hort., 580:89-93.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2003.  Effect of photoperiod and daily light integral on flowering of five Hibiscus L. spp.  Scientia Hort, 97:341-351.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2003. Effect of plant growth retardants on Hibiscus spp. stem elongation.  HortTech., 13(2):293-295.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2005.  Naturally-occurring variation in high temperature induced floral bud abortion across Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Plant, Cell and Environ, 28:1255-1266.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2005.  Prolonged high temperature exposure and daily light integral impact growth and flowering of five herbaceous ornamental plant species.   J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 130(3):319-325.
• Mattson, N., and J.E. Erwin.  2005.    The impact of photoperiod and irradiance on flowering of several herbaceous ornamentals.  Scientia Hort. 104:275-292.
• Van Gaal, T., and J.E. Erwin.  2005.  Diurnal variation in thigmotropic inhibition of stem elongation.  Hortech., 15(2):291-294.
• Erwin, J.E., C. Rohwer, and E. Gesick.  2006. Red:far red and photosynthetically active radiation filtering by leaves differs with species.  Acta Hort. 711:195-200.
• Rohwer, C., and J.E. Erwin.  2006.  Impact of irradiance and photoperiod on methyl jasmonate production in Artemesia spp.  Acta Hort 711:375-380.
• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2006.  Prolonged High Temperature Exposure Differentially Reduces Growth and Flowering of Twelve Viola × wittrockiana Gams. cvs. Scientia Hort. 108:295-302.
• Zanin, P., and J.E. Erwin.  200?. Responses of Salvia spp. To photoperiod and irradiance at different times in a production cycle.  Acta Hort. (in press).

Book Chapters

• Warner, R., and J.E. Erwin.  2001.  Temperature.  In Tips on regulating growth of floriculture crops.  C.A. Buck and S.A. Carver Eds, Ohio State Univ. Pub., pp. 10-17.
• Erwin, J.E.  2004.  Using Day length to control flowering.  In: Lighting up your profits.  Eds P. Fisher and E. Runkle.  Greenhouse Grower Mag.
• Erwin, J.E. 2005.  Flower induction in ornamental plants.  In.  Flower Seeds:  Biology and technology.  Ed. M.B. McDonald and F.Y. Kwong Eds.CABI Publishing, Cambridge, MA , USA.  Pp. 87-116.
• Erwin, J.E.  2006. Flower induction of ornamental plants.  In.  Flower Breeding and genetics:  Issues, challenges. Anderson, N. Ed. 7-48.
• Ascough, G., J. Van Staden, and J. Erwin.  2006.  Watsonia.  A. Teixeira da Silva (Ed.), Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology: Advances and topical issues, Global Science Books, London. Pp.