Overview

My academic interests lie in floriculture, greenhouse cropping systems and the physiology of ornamental plants. My research and extension efforts in flower bulb forcing and use are substantially supported by the Dutch flower bulb export industry as well as US companies and Foundations. Findings from my research group have been adopted by many in the floriculture industry worldwide. I also provide leadership for the Seeley Conference, a major floral industry think tank held annually in Ithaca, and I teach courses in herbaceous plant materials and greenhouse management and crop production.

Research Focus

My research is focused on floriculture and ornamental crop physiology, especially carbohydrate metabolism, partitioning, and utilization of stored reserves. I also do near-market research on flower bulbs and perennials, including uses for both forcing, dry sales, and landscape use. Examples of such work include cultivar trials, use of growth regulators, and post-harvest physiology and handling practices.

Outreach and Extension Focus

I communicate my research findings through a newsletter and the Flower Bulb Research Program website. In addition to talks to grower groups, I also provide leadership for the annual Seeley Conference, and collaborate on the annual Cornell Floriculture Field Day.

Instruction Focus

In addition to contributing guest lectures to other courses, I teach HORT 300 (Herbaceous Plant Materials) and HORT 310 (Greenhouse Crop Production and Management).

Additional Links

• Bluegrass Lane Annual Flower Trials
• Bluegrass Lane Perennial Trials
• Cornell Flowerbulb Research Program
• Cornell Greenhouse Horticulture
• Seeley Conference
• Using Alcohol to Reduce Growth of Paperwhite Narcissus
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• Legnani, G. C. B. Watkins and W. B. Miller. 2006. Tolerance of dry sale lily bulbs to elevated carbon dioxide in both ambient and low oxygen atmospheres. Postharv. Biol. Technol. 41:198-207.
• Miller, W. B. and E. Finan. 2006. Root zone alcohol is an effective growth retardant for paperwhite narcissus. HortTechnology. 16(2):294-296.
• Chang, Y. -C. and W. B. Miller. 2005. The development of upper leaf necrosis in Lilium `Star Gazer`. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 130:759-766.
• Okubo, H., W. B. Miller and G. A. Chastagner (eds). 2005. Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Flower Bulbs. Vol. 1 and 2. 780 pages.
• Ranwala, N. K. D., A. P. Ranwala and W. B. Miller. 2005. Paclobutrazol and uniconazole solutions maintain efficacy after multiple lily bulb dip events. HortScience 15:551-553.
• Legnani, G., Watkins, C. B. and W. B. Miller. 2004. Light, moisture, and atmosphere interact to affect the quality of dry sale Asiatic hybrid lily bulbs. Postharv. Biol. Technol. 34:93-103.
• Miller, W. B. Commercial Flower Production Methodology. 2003. In: B. Thomas, D. Murphy and B. Murray (eds). Encyclopedia of Applied Plant Sciences. Elsevier. pp. 942-948.
• Chang, Y.-C. and W. B. Miller. 2003. Growth and calcium partitioning in Lilium cv. Star Gazer in relation to leaf calcium deficiency. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 128(6):788-796.
• Kamenetsky, R., H. Zemah, A. P. Ranwala, F. Vergeldt, W. B. Miller, H. van As and P. Bendel. 2003. Water relations and carbohydrate balance in tulip bulbs during their transition from dormancy to active growth. New Phytologist 158:109-118.
• 42. Albano, J. P. and W. B. Miller. 2003. Ferric Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (FeEDTA) photodegradation in a commercially produced soluble fertilizer affects iron uptake in tomato. HortTechnology 13 (2):289-292.
• Ranwala, A. P. and W. B. Miller. 2000. Purification and characterization of an endoamylase from tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) bulbs. Physiol. Plant. 109:388-395.
• Ranwala, A. P. and W. B. Miller. 2000. Ancymidol drenches, reversed greenhouse temperatures, post-greenhouse cold storage and hormone sprays affect post-harvest leaf chlorosis in Easter lily. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125:248-253.
• Ranwala, A. P. and W. B. Miller. 2000. Preventive mechanisms of gibberellin4+7 and light on dark low temperature-induced leaf senescence in Lilium cv. Stargazer. Postharvest Biology and Technology 19:85-92.
• Ranwala, A. P. and W. B. Miller. 1998. Gibberellin 4+7, benzyladenine and supplemental light improve postharvest leaf and flower quality of cold-stored ?Stargazer' hybrid lilies. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 123:563-568.
• Ranwala, A. P., W. V. Baird and W. B. Miller. 1998. Organ-specific localization and molecular properties of three soluble invertases from Lilium longiflorum flower buds. Physiol. Plant. 103:551-559.
• Ranwala, A. P. and W. B. Miller. 1998. Sucrose cleaving enzymes and carbohydrate pools in Lilium longiflorum floral organs. Physiol. Plant. 123:541-550.
• Miller, W. B., Ma. E. Peralta, D. R. Ellis, and H. H. Perkins, Jr. 1994. Stickiness potential of individual insect honeydew carbohydrates on cotton lint. Textile Res. J. 64:344-350.
• Miller, W. B. and A. P. Ranwala. 1994. Characterization and localization of three soluble invertases from Lilium longiflorum flower buds. Physiol. Plant. 92:247-253.
• Miller, W. B. 1993. Lilium longiflorum. p. 391-422. In: A. A. De Hertogh and M. Le Nard (eds.). Physiology of Flower bulbs. Elsevier Scientific Publ. Co. Amsterdam.
• Tarczynski, M. C., D. N. Byrne, and W. B. Miller. 1992. HPLC analysis of carbohydrates of cotton phloem sap and of honeydew produced by Bemisia tabaci feeding on cotton. Plant Physiol. 98:753-756.
• Miller, W. B. 1992. Production of Easter and Hybrid Lilies. 120 pp. Growers Handbook Series. Timber Press, Portland, OR. (out-of-print by 1996).
• Trusty, S. E. and W. B. Miller. 1991. Postproduction carbohydrate levels in pot chrysanthemums. J. Amer Soc. Hort. Sci. 116:1013-1018.
• Bates, R. B., D. N. Byrne, V. V. Kane, W. B. Miller, and S. R. Taylor. 1990. NMR characterization of trehalulose from the excrement of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Carbohydrate Research (Amsterdam). 201:342-345. (authors listed alphabetically by unanimous agreement at the time of manuscript preparation).
• Byrne, D. N. and W. B. Miller. 1990. Carbohydrate and amino acid composition of phloem sap and honeydew produced by Bemisia tabaci. J. Insect Physiol. 36:433-439.
• Miller, W. B. 1989. Identification of free mannose and partial characterization of a mannose-6-phosphate isomerase from Lilium longiflorum bulbs. Physiol. Plant. 77:123-128.
• Miller, W. B. and R. W. Langhans. 1989. Carbohydrate changes in Easter lilies during growth in normal and reduced irradiance environments. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 114:310-315.
• Miller, W. B. and R. W. Langhans. 1989. Reduced irradiance affects dry weight partitioning in Easter lily. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 114:306-309.

[top]