Dominic Petrella

Dr. Dominic Petrella
Assistant Professor
he/him/his
[email protected]
342 Alderman Hall
UMN Turfgrass
Google Scholar
Education
  • B.Sc., Youngstown State University, Biology
  • B.Sc. Agriculture, The Ohio State University, Turfgrass Science
  • Ph.D., Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University

Areas of Interest

Turfgrass science; low-input managment; plant response(s) to light; plant stress physiology

Biography

Dominic Petrella is an Assistant Professor of Managed Turfgrass Systems in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. 

His research program aims to better understand turfgrass responses to environmental stress through developing improved screening and evaluation methods that also informs plant breeding. Dominic's goal is to design experiments that not only help us learn more about turfgrass biology, but also helps develop more resilient cultivars.

Teaching

HORT 1001/6001 Plant Propagation*
HORT 4063: Turfgrass Science

*denotes current teaching

Research

My primary research interests revolve around turfgrass and plant response to environmental cues and stresses, with most attention paid to responses to light. I am interested in turfgrass perception and acclimation to altered spectral radiation due to foliar shade and using this information to select and breed for shade tolerant turfgrasses. I am also interested in the response of shaded turfgrasses to other co-occurring stresses such as the effects of ultraviolet light and high-intensity light on turfgrasses under shade.