Elwin Orton

Elwin Orton (January 8, 1930 - September 4, 2025) ^[1] was a plant biologist known for his contributions in plant breeding techniques. ^[2] He was known for saving the U.S. Dogwood plant through introduction of new pet-resistant hybrids, ^[3] for which some were consequently named after him. ^{[4] [5]} His plant breeding work and conservation was recently recognized in the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame. ^[6] Orton was a Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University, where he taught plant biology. ^[7] Orton held 15 patents in dogwood and holly plant hybrid development. ^[2]

Education

Orton held a B.A. in horticulture from Penn State (1952), an M.A. in horticulture from Ohio State (1954), and a Ph.D. in plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin (1960). ^[8]

References

1. https://www.hillsboroughfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Elwin-Ross-Orton-Jr?obId=45117803
2. "Elwin R. Orton Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
3. Raver, Anne (1999-11-21). "CUTTINGS; A Breeder Recalls the Majestic Dogwood to Life". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-01-14.
4. "Rutgers-bred Dogwood Hybrids Formally Named After Legendary Breeder Elwin Orton and Rutgers University". Newsroom. 2015-08-18. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
5. Mattera, Robert; Molnar, Thomas; Struwe, Lena (2015). "Cornus×elwinortonii and Cornus×rutgersensis (Cornaceae), new names for two artificially produced hybrids of big-bracted dogwoods". PhytoKeys (55): 93–111. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.55.9112 . PMC   4547027 . PMID   26312045.
6. "2012 Awardees". NJ Inventors Hall of Fame 2018. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
7. "Dr Elwin Orton Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers SEBS". plantbiology.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
8. "Rutgers Plant Breeder Elwin Orton Inducted into NJ Inventors Hall of Fame". Newsroom. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2020-01-14.