ASHS 2025 Conference

Introduction and Background: Florida, experiencing rapid population growth with an influx of 1,218 new residents daily, presents abundant opportunities for agricultural diversification, particularly in niche markets. The ceremonial flower industry, catering to cultural and traditional practices, offers a unique avenue for innovation. Marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta), widely celebrated in Asian, Hispanic, and Hindu cultures, hold significant potential as a profitable crop within Florida's burgeoning cut flower sector. The demand for marigolds spans diverse occasions, including festivals, weddings, and religious ceremonies, making them an ideal candidate for market expansion. This study investigates the economic viability of six marigold cultivars by assessing their performance in terms of market potential, yield, and profitability, aiming to provide growers with actionable insights for Florida's agricultural industry. Objectives: (a) Evaluate six marigold cultivars during a spring field trial to identify the top two cultivars suitable for cut flower production in Florida. (b) Assess marketability by analyzing critical factors such as flower size, yield, and profitability. Methods: Six marigold cultivars—Garuda Yellow, Chedi Orange, Garuda Deep Gold, Oriental Deep Gold, Sumati Orange, and Mayan Orange—sourced from Ameriseed®, were evaluated in a spring trial conducted in Lake County, FL. Seeds were sown on 21 February 2023 in 72-cell packs containing a custom growing mix. Transplants were moved to field plots on 28 March 2023. Fertilization strategies combined Miracle-Gro liquid fertilizer with time-release granular fertilizers to ensure optimal plant growth. Flowers were harvested bi-weekly between 18 April and 27 June 2023. Key metrics, including flower size and yield, were subjected to statistical analysis to identify top-performing cultivars. Results: Garuda Yellow, Garuda Deep Gold, and Oriental Deep Gold produced the largest flowers, measuring 7.73 mm, 7.75 mm, and 7.18 mm in diameter, respectively. However, Garuda Deep Gold's yield was the lowest among the cultivars, limiting its profitability. Conversely, Garuda Yellow, Oriental Deep Gold, and Sumati Orange demonstrated robust yields, making them ideal candidates for large-scale production. Implications: This study underscores the viability of marigolds as a profitable crop for Florida's cut flower industry, particularly in niche cultural markets. Cultivating multiple cultivars not only diversifies production but also extends the blooming season, enhancing profitability. By leveraging the cultural significance of marigolds, Florida growers can explore new markets while fostering economic growth and cultural preservation. This research equips farmers with practical recommendations to strengthen Florida's agricultural landscape.

The landscape industry is facing increasing labor shortages and rising operational costs, leading to a growing interest in automation. Autonomous mowing technology has the potential to address these challenges by reducing labor dependency and increasing efficiency. However, there is limited research evaluating the return on investment (ROI) and performance of these mowers in real-world conditions. One of the primary concerns for landscape professionals is whether autonomous mowers can operate effectively across various terrains and obstacle-heavy environments while maintaining efficiency and safety standards. This study assessed the performance of autonomous and manual mowers by measuring mowing time, energy consumption, and adaptability across different landscapes. Two mower types were tested: a manual battery-powered mower and an autonomous gas-powered mower. Testing was conducted on two landscape designs—a simple square plot and a complex plot with obstacles—to analyze variations in efficiency, along with two turf types. There was no significant difference in either mower’s performance on bermuda or ryegrass. Preliminary results indicate that manual mowers perform significantly faster than autonomous mowers, and the autonomous mowing time increases significantly in complex landscapes. The energy consumption of the gas autonomous mower is higher than that of manual battery-powered mowers. Factors such as sensor reliability and obstacle detection remain areas of concern. The collected data provides insight into the operational efficiency of autonomous mowers and their potential impact on the landscape industry. Future research will focus on calculating ROI values by incorporating cost analysis and industry data, as well as investigating safety protocols related to obstacle detection and avoidance to enhance autonomous mowing technology for commercial use.

Evaluating cultivars is of such importance that the California almond industry has funded four generations of variety trials over the last several decades. These multi-site field trials have evaluated all the varieties that are now the most widely planted in California. Field evaluation trials are helpful for revealing which varieties are promising. Thirty named cultivars and numbered breeder selections were planted in three replicated commercial orchards across California’s Central Valley in 2014 (third generation trial). Of these 30, thirteen varieties continue to be evaluated through 2025. The thirteen varieties being evaluated through the 12th season show at least moderate yield and do not possess a fatal flaw such as low yield, lack of breeder interest, extremely early bloom timing, or poor harvestability. Additional evaluation measures have included intercepted canopy photosynthetically active radiation, hull split timing, and disease susceptibility. From these thirteen varieties and selections one numbered selection ‘Y116-161-99’ from the USDA has been commercially released as ‘Yorizane’. This self-fertile variety has been gaining industry interest and is beginning to be planted more widely. A second self-fertile USDA numbered selection ‘Y117-91-03’ with high yield, few kernel defects, and no major flaws documented after eleven years of evaluation is slated to be named and released to nurseries for propagation in late 2025. Two of the eleven remaining varieties, are industry standards, including the top yielding, and nearly 150-year-old variety ‘Nonpareil’. Potential for adoption remains for some of the remaining nine varieties under evaluation, particularly as pollinizers for ‘Nonpareil’.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a nutrient-dense leafy green from Brassicaceae family, rich in secondary metabolites, including phenolics that contribute to its antioxidant and disease-preventing and/or health-promoting properties. Magnesium was identified as a nutrient that stimulates secondary metabolic pathways including synthesis of phenolic compounds in leafy greens from Brassicaceae family. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different supplemental magnesium fertilization rates on phenolic accumulation in watercress grown hydroponically under a controlled environment condition. A split-plot design with four treatments: magnesium concentrations (100 mg/L, 150 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 250 mg/L) was applied using a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic system with constant monitoring of environmental parameters such as temperature, light y, pH, and electrical conductivity to ensure optimal watercress growth. light, temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity. Different extracts of harvested watercress tissues (roots, stem and leaves) were analyzed and quantified including total phenolic content (TPC) using spectrophotometer and High-Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, fresh and dry biomass yield was recorded. The preliminary results revealed a positive correlation between magnesium application and phenolics, with the increase in concentration rate significantly enhancing total phenolic content and biomass production. These results have practical implications for hydroponic growers aiming to improve leafy greens nutritional quality and productivity through nutrient optimization in hydroponic systems. In summary, watercress exhibits strong antioxidant properties and contains phenolic compounds that may hold potential biological interests. Keywords: Watercress, Phenolics, Antioxidant, Magnesium, Controlled environment.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is committed to developing and delivering integrated pest management (IPM) related programming for the commercial nursery, professional landscape industries, and their customer base, home horticulturalists. Here the tactics utilized to develop and deliver IPM programming are highlighted in efforts to assist horticulture professionals navigating an ever-tightening academic personnel climate. The Extension Cycle approach of stakeholder needs assessments, securing funding, educational program development with deliverables, and evaluation has led to significant impacts. In the last year alone, over 300 surveyed stakeholders, representing over 6K acres managed, indicated that they gained knowledge about IPM practices and science-based tools, and nearly 100% plan to adopt these practices, with early-adopters realizing cost savings/profits over $1M. This is important due to size of these industries as the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties, indicated $13.8B in sales for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crop goods, while supporting the $153B landscape industry, which provides over 1M jobs nationally (NALP). New Jersey currently ranks fifth in the nation for nursery stock sales ($296M) and third in potted flowering plants ($77.5M), locally supporting around 10K jobs and driving $950M in annual economic impacts (Sullivan & Schilling, 2020). US ornamental industries have unique needs in terms of IPM due to the shear complexity of pests associated with the number of crops grown and diversity of systems. Needs assessments were required to identify key IPM program targets and were compiled through post-program /twilight surveys, state-wide ornamental IPM and native plant needs assessments, and communication with stakeholders. Notable pests emerged and led to the development of educational programs coupled with deliverables including the Rutgers Pest Scouting Guides –Growing Degree-Days, Redheaded Flea Beetle - Predictions, [pictorial] Reference Guide to Common Boxwood Pests and Diseases, Oomycete Material Options, Diagnostic Education Series, and IPM Essentials for Ornamentals. In the last year over 250 education sessions on IPM related topics have been delivered to 15K stakeholders by Rutgers Nursery working group personnel, encompassing over 50 academic, grower/manager, home horticulture, and regulatory groups. Multiple streams of funding were secured to support this work (over $400K in 2024). Dissemination of information has taken many forms; hardcopy monthly newsletters, digitally through listservs and Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory blog, and bi-weekly in-season lunch hour webinars that address contemporary IPM related topics. Taken together, personnel limited programs are often the norm, thus creatively leveraging the Extension Cycle and homing in on key needs has led to significant impacts.