Wu named Crop Science Society Fellow

Wu named Crop Science Society Fellow

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Media Contact: Dean Ruhl | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9152 | [email protected]

The Crop Science Society of America has awarded Dr. Yanqi Wu, a professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, with a 2025 CSSA Fellowship, the society's highest honor for leaders in research, teaching, Extension or administration.

The award recognizes CSSA members with at least seven years of active membership who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievements and service in the field of crop science.

"This award is one of the highest honors given by this society to its members," Wu said. "Approximately only 0.3% can get this honor. So, I feel really excited about this."

Wu holds the Meibergen Family Professorship in Plant Breeding. Most of his research has been focused on developing new bermudagrass varieties, and over a 20-year career at OSU, Wu has introduced several significant varieties. His turf bermudagrass cultivar, Tahoma 31 was released in 2017 and has been produced by 45 sod farms globally. Since its release, the variety has been a popular choice for more than 300 athletic facilities like golf courses, football fields and soccer complexes nationwide.

Cultivars Latitude 36 and NorthBridge were released in 2010 and have had similar success in athletic venues.

Wu's current research focuses on improving and developing new cultivars, as well as genetic and genomic research on important agronomic traits in bermudagrass used for turf and forage, and switchgrass for bioenergy. Wu also works to improve cultivars for water conservation and drought tolerance.

"We have improved the performance traits, we have improved the adaptation traits, adapted to this new, changing climate," Wu said. "So, to be recognized by industry and by colleagues, that is a great honor."

Wu has been awarded eight U.S. patents and has received 36 grants, totaling more than $8 million in funding for his program. He authored 134 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 book chapters and one book. At OSU, Wu teaches courses in plant breeding.

"When we produce new varieties - turfgrass, bermudagrass - we produce high quality," Wu said. "We produce protection mechanisms, like drought tolerance, cold hardiness and disease resistance. I am excited to work on these things at OSU, and we have made good progress."