Ryan Contreras

Ryan Contreras is Professor and Associate Head of Horticulture at Oregon State University's College of Agricultural Sciences. His research develops sterile landscape plants through ploidy manipulation, mutagenesis, and hybridization techniques. The program integrates genomics, cytogenetics, and traditional breeding to create commercially viable, environmentally resilient cultivars.

Contreras investigates fundamental genetic mechanisms underlying plant traits while developing practical solutions for nursery and landscape industries. Key research areas include polyploidy induction, disease resistance breeding, and genomic analysis of ornamental species.

His publications reflect diverse applications of breeding technologies across genera including Acer, Hibiscus, and Cotoneaster, with emphasis on reducing invasiveness through sterility.

Awards include:

• ASHS Outstanding Publication Award (2021)
• Western Region Teaching Award (2018)
• Multiple Oregon Nursery Association awards

Contreras directs an active research program supervising graduate students investigating reproductive biology, disease resistance, and polyploidy in woody ornamentals. He has released commercial cultivars like Swan Song® Styrax and Cascade Jewel® Huckleberry. Courses taught include Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops and Plant Propagation.