PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1978-1983 Assistant Professor
1983-1988 Associate Professor
1989-2004 Full Professor
2004- present - Emeritus Professor Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

Phi Kappa Phi, Colorado State University - 1975
Alpha Xi, Colorado State University - 1975
Gamma Sigma Delta, Colorado State University - 1975
The Kenneth Post Award, American Society for Horticultural Sciences - 1980
Sigma Xi, Michigan State University - 1988
Futura Award, Bedding Plants, Inc. - 1988
The Alex Laurie Award, The Ohio Florists' Association - 1989
The ASHS Ornamentals Publication Award, American Society for Horticultural Sciences - 1992
The Alex Laurie Award, Society of American Florists - 1996
Board of Education, Bath Community Schools - Trustee, 1995 - 1997; Treasurer, 1997;Vice President,1998, President, 1998 - present
Certified Professional Horticulturist, ARCPACS - 1997
Fellow fo the Society, The American Society for Horticultural Sciences - 1998
The ASHS Ornamentals Publication Award, American Society for Horticultural Sciences - 1999
Professional Perennial Growers Academic Award - 1999
Distinguished Faculty Award, Michigan State University, 2000-2001

OTHER MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

At Michigan State University, Dr. Heins teaches a greenhouse environmental physiology course. He advises both undergraduate students and graduate Masters and Ph.D. students. He has an active research program studying the physiology of flowering potted and bedding plants. Twelve students have received their Masters degree and/or Ph.D. with Dr. Heins as their thesis advisor.

Dr. Heins has authored or co-authored 110 scientific articles or conference proceedings, and over 225 extension and grower articles. He has spoken at over 155 grower meetings and 25 scientific meetings.

COURSES TAUGHT

HRT 401 (Spring Semester) Physiology and Management of Herbaceous Plants

EXAMPLE RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF STUDENTS

Modeled the growth and development of several flowering plants including Easter lily, chrysanthemum, poinsettia, hibiscus, African violet and several herbaceous perennials. From the modeling research on chrysanthemum and Easter lily, determined that the DIFerence between day temperature and night temperature (DIF = DT - NT) strongly controlled stem elongation in most plants. The use of the DIF concept has gained wide acceptance as a method to control height of flowering plants either without the use of growth regulators or with minimal use.

Determined that leaf unfolding in the Easter lily is a linear function of average daily temperature in the temperature range of 50 to 85^oF. This information is being used in combination with the DIF concept to accurately time Easter lilies while controlling plant height.

Developed a mathematical function describing stem elongation in poinsettia and chrysanthemum from pinch to flower. This model was developed into a grower management tool called graphical tracking. In graphical tracking, actual plant height is plotted against predicted plant height. DIF and growth regulators are modified as needed to keep the actual plant height near the predicted plant height so plants finish within a window of specified heights.

A similar relationship for Easter lily elongation has been developed from emergence to flower. The use of graphical tracking of Easter lilies is now common.

The graphical tracking decision-support techniques were incorporated into a commercial computer program called the Greenhouse CARE system. Modules for graphical tracking of chrysanthemum, poinsettia, and Easter lily were developed. Decision-support modules were developed for poinsettia and Easter lily.

Developed commercial recommendations for methods of mixing and applying silver thiosulfate to flowering plants, especially geranium, for the prevention of flower petal abscission. Showed the application of silver thiosulfate to geraniums infected with Pythium but appearing healthy caused the death of the plant due to the Pythium. Determined fungicidal recommendations to prevent the plant death.

Determined that the type of pinch given a poinsettia influences initial rate of stem elongation and final plant characteristics. Lateral shoots on plants given a soft pinch (roll out type of pinch) initially develop slower than lateral shoots on plants given a hard pinch or a soft pinch with the immature leaves being removed. Increasing temperature above 70^oF on these crops delays development instead of promoting rate of development.

Quantified impatiens, petunia, pansy, geranium, fibrous begonia, tuberous begonia, New Guinea impatiens, salvia, ageratum, alyssum, and tomato plug response to dark and light storage for up to 6 weeks in the 0 to 12.5^oC temperature range.

Developed a model relating time to flower in African violet to leaf size and inflorescence stages of development.

Developed the juvenility, cold, and photoperiod requirements for a wide range (over 100) of herbaceous perennials. Time to flower as a function of temperature and growth regulator responses for height control have also been developed.

Showed that a combination of BA and GA_4&7 is effective in preventing foliar chlorosis of Easter lily when grown under high density conditions. Prevention of foliar chlorosis carries over even after cold storage of plants.

Selected  Publications:

• Heins, R.D. and H.F. Wilkins. 1979. Effect of soil temperature and photoperiod treatments on Alstroemeria 'Reginal' vegetative and reproductive growth. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 104(3):359-365.
• Thimijan, R.W. and R.D. Heins. 1983. A review of conversion constants and procedures for photometric, radiometric, and quantum light units of measure. HortScience 18(6):818-822. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. lll:ll4-l2l.
• Erwin, J.E., R.D. Heins, and M.G. Karlsson. 1989. Thermomorphogenesis in Lilium longiflorum. Am. J. Bot. 76:47-52.
• Hausbeck, M.K., C.T. Stephens and R.D. Heins. 1989. Relationship between silverthiosulfate and premature plant death of seed-propagated geraniums caused by Pythium ultimum. Plant Disease 73:627-630.
• Berghage, R.D. and R.D. Heins. 1991. Quantification of temperature effects on poinsettia stem elongation. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 116:14-18
• Moe, Roar, Royal D. Heins and John Erwin. 1991. Stem elongation and flowering of the long-day plant Campanula isophylla Moretti in response to day and night temperature alternations and light quality. Scientia Horticulturae 48:141-151.

• Heins, Royal D., Nathan Lange and Thomas F. Wallace, Jr. 1992. Low-temperature storage of bedding-plant plugs. Transplant Production Systems, p.45-64. In: K. Kurata and T. Kozai (eds.), Transplant Production Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.

• Erwin, John, Peter Velguth and Royal Heins. 1994. Day/night temperature environment affects cell elongation but not division in Lilium longiflorum Thunb. Journal of Experimental Botany 45(276):1019-1025.

• Karlsson, Meriam G. and Royal D. Heins. 1994. A model of chrysanthemum stem elongation. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 119(3):403-407.

• Shimizu, H. and R.D. Heins. 1995. Computer-vision-based system for plant growth analysis. ASAE 38(3):959-964.

• Erwin, John E. and Royal D. Heins. 1995. Thermomorphogenic responses in stem and leaf development. HortScience 30(5):940-949.

• Fisher, Paul R., Royal D. Heins, J. Heinrich Lieth. 1996. Quantifying the relationship between phases of stem elongation and flower initiation in poinsettia. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 121(4):686-693.

• Faust, J.E. and R.D. Heins. 1996. Axillary bud development of poinsettia 'Eckespoint Lilo' and 'Eckespoint Red Sails' (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) is inhibited by high temperatures. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 121(5):920-926.

• Heins, R.D., A.C. Cameron, W.H. Carlson, E.Runkle, C. Whitman, M.Yuan, C. Hamaker, B. Engle, and P. Koreman. 1997. Controlled flowering of herbaceous perennial plants, p. 15-31. In: E. Goto et al. (eds.). Plant production in closed ecosystems. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.

• Fisher, Paul R., Royal D. Heins, Niels Ehler, J. Heinrich Lieth. 1997. A decision-support system for real-time management of Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb.) Scheduling and Height - I. System Description. Agricultural Systems 54(1):23-37

• Fisher, Paul R., Royal D. Heins, Niels Ehler, J. Heinrich Lieth. 1997. A decision-support system for real-time management of Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb.) Scheduling and height - II. Validation. Agricultural Systems 54(1):39-55.

• Faust, E. James, and Royal D. Heins. 1998. Modeling shoot-tip temperature in the greenhouse environment. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 123(2):208-214.

• Yuan, Mei, William H. Carlson, Royal D. Heins, and Arthur C. Cameron. 1998. Determining the duration of the juvenile phase of Coreopsis grandiflora, Gaillardia xGrandiflora, Heuchera sanguinea, and Rudbeckia fulgida. Scientia Horticulturae 72:135-150.

• Whitman, Catherine M., Royal D. Heins, Arthur C. Cameron, William H. Carlson. 1998. Lamp type and irradiance level for daylength extensions influence flowering of Campanula carpatica Blue Clips' Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise', and Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 123(5):802-807.

• Runkle, Erik S., Royal D. Heins, Arthur C. Cameron, and William H. Carlson. 1998. Flowering of Leucanthemum x superbum 'Snowcap' in response to photoperiod and cold treatment. HortScience 33(6):1003-1006.

• Funnell, Keith A. and Royal D. Heins. 1998. Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Postproduction Leaf yellowing of Potted Asiflorum Lilies. HortScience 33(6):1036-1037.

• Runkle, Erik S., Royal D. Heins, Arthur C. Cameron, William H. Carlson. 1999. Cold treatment modifies the photoperiodic flowering response of Lobelia x speciosa. Scientia Horticulturae 80 (1999) 247-258.

• Shimizu, Hiroshi, Royal D. Heins. 2000. Photoperiod and the difference between day and night temperature influence stem elongation kinetics in Verbena bonariensis. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(5):576-580.

• Shimizu, Hiroshi, Royal D. Heins. 2000. Estimating cuticle resistance of seedling shoot tips based on the Penman-Monteith model. Transplant Production in the 21^st Century, pp 59-62 (printed in the Netherlands).

• Niu, Genhua, Royal D. Heins, Arthur C. Cameron, William H. Carlson. 2000. Day and night temperatures, daily light integral, and CO2 enrichment affect growth and flower development of pansy (Viola x wittrockiana). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(4)436-441.

• Moe, Roar, Royal D. Heins. 2000. Thermo- and photomorphogenesis in plants. Advances in Floriculture Research, Agricultural University of Norway, Report no. 6, pp. 52-64.

• Niu, Genhua, Royal D. Heins, Arthur C. Cameron, William H. Carlson. 2001. Day and night temperatures, daily light integral, and CO2 enrichment affect growth and flower development of Campanula carpatica `Blue Clips'. Scientia Horticulturae (87)1-2, pp. 93-105

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