ITHACA, N.Y. -- Mark P. Bridgen, Cornell University professor of horticulture, has been appointed director of the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center at Riverhead, N.Y., by Susan Henry, dean of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Bridgen succeeds Joseph Sieczka, who recently retired.

Before joining the Cornell faculty in January 2002, Bridgen was professor of horticulture and head of the Plant Tissue Culture and Micropropagation Facility at the University of Connecticut.

At Riverhead, Bridgen will oversee the construction of a new research laboratory and develop a five-year plan to expand the center's facilities. He will supervise experiments involving the development of new crops, propagation techniques and resistance to diseases and pests.

Bridgen received his bachelor's degree in horticulture from Pennsylvania State University (1977) and his master's degree from Ohio State University (1979). After earning a doctorate in plant physiology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1984), he joined the faculty of the University of Connecticut.

Cornell's Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center will celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Programs there provide research and extension support for floriculture, ornamental horticulture, viticulture and vegetable development. The center also focuses on creating integrated pest management strategies against diseases, weeds and insects.

Related World Wide Web sites: The following site provides additional information on this news release.

o The Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center:

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/department/facilities/lihrec/

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