ASHS 2025 Conference

Cultivar trials are important to ensure that growers have up-to-date information on crop performance, including yield, disease and insect resistance, environmental adaptation, and quality for their region. Crops with lesser planted acreage are often overlooked, as cultivar trials can be expensive, time consuming, and labor intensive. Winter squash is commonly grown in Tennessee and North Carolina, with over 300 and 700 acres grown, respectively; however, there is little cultivar trial information available for many types of winter squash, such as delicata squash. Delicata squash (Cucurbita pepo ssp. texana) is a winter squash originating from North and Central America. This squash can have a vining or bush habit and typically cylindrical fruit that is buff color with green stripes. It is a customer favorite due to its thin, edible skin, for which it’s named, and sweet flavor. The objective of this trial was to compare the yield, fruit characteristics, disease resistance, and storage life of 10 cultivars of delicata squash. The cultivars evaluated were: ‘Bush Delicata,’ ‘Sweet Dumpling,’ ‘Sugar Loaf,’ ‘Honey Boat,’ ‘Candystick Dessert,’ ‘Zeppelin,’ ‘Jester,’ ‘Delicata JS,’ ‘Sweet Lightning,’ and ‘Ugly Dumpling.’ The trials were conducted in Crossville, TN and Waynesville, NC. Squash were direct seeded in 18-foot plots with 3 feet between plants and 6 feet between rows, with four replications per cultivar. Powdery mildew was rated on a 0-5 scale with 0 indicating no powdery mildew and 5 indicating that all plants were symptomatic. Yield calculations were based on 2,418 plants per acre. ‘Delicata JS’ had the highest yield (15,500 lbs. ac-1) and most marketable fruit but also had the highest number of unmarketable fruit. ‘Ugly Dumpling’ also had a high yield but had the highest incidence of powdery mildew. ‘Zeppelin’ had the lowest incidence of powdery mildew. All cultivars tested had a shelf-life of four weeks in cold storage.

Spring broccoli production in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States has become increasingly vulnerable to high temperatures and variable rainfall. To address this challenge, a multistate trial was conducted to evaluate the performance of eight broccoli cultivars across seven states (NC, VA, GA, AL, MA, MI, IN). The objectives were to assess plant growth and yield performance under heat stress and to determine cultivar-specific normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) thresholds that could predict marketable yield. Each trial site implemented a completely randomized block design with four replications and standardized plot dimensions (30 plants per plot in double rows on black plastic mulch). Fertility and irrigation were managed according to site-specific recommendations and monitored through soil testing and evapotranspiration estimates. UAV-based RGB and multispectral imagery was collected biweekly (4–12 weeks after transplanting) at midday under clear-sky conditions. Soil samples, weather data, and pest control measures were recorded at each location. Results showed that each cultivar exhibited a distinct NDVI profile correlated with crown greenness and morphology. Cultivars such as ‘Eastern Magic’ and ‘Green Magic’ maintained acceptable head quality and yield despite elevated temperatures, suggesting suitability for late spring planting. The use of NDVI imaging proved to be a promising tool for identifying cultivar vigor and optimizing management decisions during periods of heat stress.

Current fertilization guidelines for peach production, established decades ago, are gradually being revisited due to emerging challenges – such as rerising fertilizer costs, nitrate leaching, excessive vegetative growth, and declining fruit quality. These guidelines recommend nitrogen applications of 67.25–78.5 kg/ha, may not fully reflect the variability across individual orchards, production goals, or environmental variability. In 2023, 216 peach trees were established in Clanton, Alabama, to evaluate the effects of three nitrogen fertilization levels (0%, 50%, and 100% of guideline rates) and irrigation on early tree development and nutritional status. The experimental design follows a split-split plot structure, with irrigation as the main plot factor (2 levels: irrigated vs. non-irrigated), fertilization levels as the subplot factor (3 levels: 0%, 50%, 100%), and cultivars (3 cultivars: 'AugustPrince', 'FirePrince', and 'RubyPrince') as the sub-subplot factor. Results from 2023 and 2024 indicate that irrigation significantly enhanced tree height and trunk diameter. Trees receiving 50% and 100% nitrogen performed similarly in growth and CO₂ assimilation, both outperforming unfertilized controls. However, nitrogen deficiency was observed in all 0% treatments and some 50% fertilized, irrigated trees, particularly ‘AugustPrince’ and ‘FirePrince’. ‘RubyPrince’ exhibited the longest terminal shoot length and bud density, followed by ‘FirePrince’ and ‘AugustPrince’, a pattern that aligned with cultivar ripening times. While irrigation improved assimilation and growth, its effect on terminal shoot length was not significant. These findings suggest that moderate fertilization, when paired with appropriate irrigation may help support early vegetative growth. Nonetheless regular nutrient monitoring remains critical. Future work will focus on evaluating yield and fruit quality on these treatments.

Blueberry has a high cost of establishment, requiring the incorporation of soil amendments and the use of chemical fertilizer to obtain high fruit yield and quality. Reducing establishment and fertilizer costs in blueberry production without affecting yield and fruit quality is key for blueberry producers. In this project we evaluated the impact of reducing fertilization, using biochar as a soil amendment, and the effect of different pruning techniques on plant nutrient status, plant growth and development, and fruit production and quality. Despite the importance of these cultural practices, there is a lack of research that explores the impact of combining varying fertilization rates, soil amendments, and different pruning techniques in Georgia. To test these three factors an experimental plot was designed in a factorial arrangement with two soil amendments: 1) 33% v/v pine bark and 2) 9% v/v biochar; three fertilization rates: 1) Commercial fertilization (lb/acre): N 90, P 75, K 75; 2) half commercial fertilization N 35, P 35, K 35; and 3) potassium only: N0, P0, K 35, and two pruning treatments: 1) winter hand pruning summer hand - tipping and 2) summer hedge. Each treatment was randomly assigned three replications and four plants per replication. Our results indicated that the highest net income was obtained from the treatment in which the soil was amended with pine bark; plants were treated with half of the fertilizer rate and hedged after harvest. Blueberry plants that were hand-pruned had bigger and heavier berries. Plants that were hedged after the harvest had higher yields and it did not affect plant growth. In addition, reducing the fertilization rate to half did not affect the yield and fruit quality parameters of berries harvested. Furthermore, the treatment in which plants received only potassium fertilizer resulted in notable decreases in berry weight, firmness, and plant growth. The use of biochar as a soil amendment significantly enhanced TSS and anthocyanin content, but the concentration of K, Mg, and Mn in the berries was lower than those of plants in which the soil was amended with pine bark treatment.

Southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars are susceptible to spring frost damage, which can significantly reduce both yield and fruit quality. To mitigate the impacts of frost, alternative production systems, such as high tunnels, have been explored for their potential to improve SHB production. This study evaluated the performance of three SHB cultivars (‘Meadowlark’, ‘Victoria’, and ‘Jewel’) under high tunnels (HTs) and open fields (OFs). Stomatal conductance (SC), stomatal density (SD), stomatal area (SA), fruit quality, and quantity were measured, and weather variables were recorded. Data were analyzed using Proc Glimmix and Tukey’s HSD test was applied for mean separation (p ≤ 0.05). SC varied significantly by cultivars (p < 0.001) and production systems (p < 0.001), with higher SC observed in OFs. ‘Meadowlark’ exhibited the highest SC followed by ‘Jewel’ and ‘Victoria’. SD and SA were significantly influenced by the production systems and leaf stage, with all three leaf stages in OFs showing the highest SD and SA compared to HTs. SD was greater in younger leaves and decreased with leaf age, whereas SA was higher in mature and older leaves. Cultivars also affected SD and SA, with ‘Meadowlark’ showing the highest SD and SA, followed by ‘Victoria’ and ‘Jewel’. The yield was higher in HTs across all cultivars, with ‘Victoria’ producing the highest yield followed by ‘Jewel’ and ‘Meadowlark’. Single berry weight was significantly affected by both cultivars and production systems (p = 0.0004), with ‘Meadowlark’ and ‘Victoria’ producing larger berries in HTs, while ‘Jewel’ had the smallest fruit in both systems. Brix levels were cultivar dependent (p = 0.0005), with ‘Meadowlark’ exhibiting the highest values. Firmness was influenced by cultivars (p < 0.001) and among three cultivars, ‘Meadowlark’ had the highest firmness, while ‘Jewel’ had the lowest. In conclusion, SHB cultivars in HTs likely optimized their water use efficiency by reducing SC, SD, and SA. ‘Victoria’ demonstrated superior yield performance, while Brix value and firmness were higher in ‘Meadowlark’, resulting in better fruit quality. Additionally, HTs enhance total yield, berry weight, Brix, and firmness in SHB cultivars. Overall, this comparison highlights system-specific effects on cultivar performance, emphasizing the practices for southern highbush blueberry production.

The global increase in ornamental crop production has driven horticultural researchers to better understand the efficiency and sustainability of production input. Soilless substrates serve a crucial role in supporting outdoor nursery-grown plants, where container substrates must maintain sufficient moisture supply to the rootzone and continuously sustain shoot water loss. Nursery producers regularly face a changing climate, where unprecedented droughts, prolonged and increased air temperatures, and subsequent mandated water application restrictions present challenges for profitable harvests and yields. To date, there are little to no means in predicting container nursery stock performance, especially when grown in substrates with different water supply capacities (i.e., water storage and hydraulic transfer properties). Models have been used to predict plant responses to water stresses in soil systems based on dynamics of hydraulic conductance in the soil-plant-atmospheric-continuum (SPAC); though, no SPAC models have been applied to horticultural plants grown in soilless substrates. To better prepare for climate-challenges in nursery production systems, new methods of understanding substrate capabilities to withstand harsh growing conditions are needed. The study herein uses predictive tools (i.e., SPAC models) derived from measured data, namely substrate and plant hydraulic characteristics, to understand how plants respond (i.e., physiological output; water loss) when grown in harsh growing conditions (e.g., drying substrate and atmosphere). Plants were grown in four differing bark particle diameters: (1) 6.3 mm. Substrate water potential were maintained between -50 and -100 hPa to produce plants at similar water availabilities. Substrate hydraulic conductivity decreased as particle size increased, highlighting different water transfer properties across substrates at similar water availabilities. Plants produced in finer textured substrates had greater root and shoot morphological development, including greater fine root growth and aerial biomass. No differences were detected in root and shoot hydraulic conductance. The SPAC models showed that plants grown in finer textured substrates were able to maintain physiological function longer under drying substrate or atmospheric conditions, while plants grown in substrates with lower water transfer properties sharply decreased physiological output (i.e., faster stomal closure). The hydraulic models applied herein can inform growers that producing plants in finer textured substrates, or substrates that have greater hydraulic conductivity, can enable plants to maintain physiological functions even in harsh growing conditions.

Florida Medallion™ ‘FL 16.30-128’ strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa; hereafter referred to as Medallion; U.S. Patent PP33,451) was released from the University of Florida in 2020. By 2024 this cultivar occupied approximately 15% of acreage in central Florida. The unique characteristics of this cultivar, in particular its early yields and fruity flavor, point to the breeding strategy employed in its development. Medallion originated from a 2016 cross between two unreleased selections. Marker-assisted selection was applied to this cross using a PCR-based marker for the FaFAD1 gene controlling production of gamma-decalactone, a volatile imparting fruity flavor. Seedlings homozygous for the functional allele were retained. At the advanced selection stage, trials of Medallion were conducted at the research plots of the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Wimauma, FL and fruit were harvested for sensory and chemical analyses over five seasons. The increased dosage of the FaFAD1 gene resulted in high production of gamma-decalactone. Trained sensory panels perceived improved sweetness and strawberry flavor intensity of Medallion to be above the current industry standard ‘Florida Brilliance’. Additional background and data will be presented illustrating the early yield of this variety and other characteristics making it suitable for the central Florida industry and suggesting future breeding strategies for improving strawberry flavor.

Strawberries rank among the most economically significant horticultural crops in the United States, with a production value of approximately $3.4 billion in 2023. Year-round demand and widespread popularity necessitate extensive efforts to improve fruit quality, yield, and production in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). As part of these initiatives, optimizing runner production for the year-round availability of planting materials is crucial. The importance of photoperiod and light intensity in runner production has been highlighted previously; however, a thorough exploration of the relationship between the total light quantity received during the entire experimental period and runner production is lacking. This study assessed the responses of strawberry genotypes to sunlight and high-performance LED lighting in runner production. Continuous measurements of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and daily light integral (DLI) provided an accurate assessment of light exposure during the cultivation period across eight strawberry accessions. In a glasshouse under sunlight, plants experienced variable light conditions due to fluctuating weather, with an average DLI of approximately 10 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, whereas under LED lighting in a growth chamber, a stable DLI of 44.1 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ was recorded. No runner formation was observed under sunlight over 44 days, whereas minimal production in two accessions, PI 551445 and PI 616509, was observed within 12 days following the previous 44-day experimental period, with each accession producing one runner. In contrast, stable and high DLI led to significantly higher runner production. When an ANOVA test was conducted using only runner count data from the stable and high DLI conditions, significant differences in runner formation were observed among the tested strawberry accessions (F value = 2.91, p = 0.03). Accessions PI 616509 and PI 679822 produced the most runners, averaging 6.5 and 4.5, respectively, whereas PI 551692 and PI 551445 produced none and one runner, respectively. These results suggest that strawberry runner production depends on cumulative light exposure and genetic makeup. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into optimizing strawberry runner production in CEA, demonstrating that stable, high-intensity LED lighting can effectively overcome the limitations of variable natural light and enhance year-round production efficiency.

Plant breeding is a lengthy and demanding research. Traditional strawberry breeding requires many man-hours to manually measure plant characteristics, record data, and evaluate various desired traits. Also, human biases and prior perceptions or expectations can play a role in skewing the results. Thus, the plant breeding program at the University of Florida has developed AI tools to assist in different stages of breeding research. Developed AI models have offered accurate and quick data analysis to identify and quantify plant phenome (anatomical characteristics and traits). This reduction in the number of manhours to manually measure, record data, and perform destructive sampling, has greatly increased the ability to screen more breeding lines with fewer resources (time, plants, and money). These AI models can accurately with a high level of consistency measure the size of plant canopy, flowers, runners, and fruit maturity repeatedly throughout the season to create an individual profile of each tested breeding line. Five YOLOv8 based (computer vision) models were trained for strawberry runner detection including GI, UL-AI, SL-AI, Hybrid I (GI SL-AI), and Hybrid II (GI SL-AI UL-AI). Hybrid II model achieved 91% precision accuracy and 83% mAP50 (mean average precision at IoU of 50%). The use of AI image and video analysis has been reducing the time and resources needed to develop new varieties.

Powdery mildew (PM) is a significant fungal disease in controlled environment horticulture (CEH). PM damages are increasingly being reported in fungicide-untreated and late planted open fields. Both field and protected systems in the major production regions of the world are facing heightened challenges due to the increasing disease occurrences. While PM has been efficiently managed by spraying chemical fungicides in field production, frequent use increases the risk of resistance development in pathogens. Additionally, fungicidal sprays may not be feasible to all CEH farms due to infrastructural restrictions or organic mode of production. The expansion of CEH production in Texas has created opportunities to extend strawberry cultivation from coastal regions to inland areas. However, PM management needs to be addressed given the conducive growing conditions in CEH. To study the prevalence of the disease, we evaluated 24 and 12 strawberry accessions arranged in a completely randomized design in two replications in the greenhouse and growth room conditions, respectively. In the absence of fungicide treatments, natural infections led to PM development within two weeks after transplanting. Disease ratings revealed incidence rates of 72% in the growth chamber and 49% in the greenhouse. The correlation between the two replications was 0.88 and 0.87, respectively. Accessions that exhibited little to no PM symptoms may be valuable for understanding host resistance mechanisms and could be utilized in breeding resistant cultivars in the future.

Fresh market tomato is one of the most valuable crops in the US. However, production relies heavily on manual labor, which can account for over 30% of the total per-acre cost, with a large portion attributed to harvesting. In the southeast US, most tomato plants are staked and tied, and fruit are hand-harvested multiple times as they mature, increasing labor costs and operational inefficiencies. Compact Growth Habit (CGH) tomato varieties have a shorter stature that does not need to be staked and allow for more labor-efficient harvesting options, providing a promising alternative to traditional production. A key breeding objective for CGH tomato is to develop lines with a more concentrated fruit set (CFS), defined as a higher proportion of fruits reaching maturity synchronously. This trait would enable once-over harvesting, substantially reducing labor inputs while improving operational efficiency. Furthermore, the successful implementation of once-over harvest strategies in CGH tomatoes may facilitate the adoption of mechanized harvesting systems, addressing labor shortages and enhancing scalability in fresh market tomato production. This study aims to develop a computer vision model to automate detecting and quantifying tomato fruits and flowers in CGH breeding trials. High-resolution RGB images of top-view canopies were collected from experimental plots during the spring and fall seasons of 2024, capturing phenotypic variability across diverse environmental conditions and growth stages. The dataset is undergoing preprocessing, annotation, and augmentation to enhance model robustness. A YOLO-based object detection model will be trained to classify and quantify flowers and fruits. Model performance will be assessed using standard evaluation metrics, including precision, recall, and F1-score. By accurately detecting and quantifying fruits and flowers across developmental stages, this system will enable breeders to analyze flowering progression and identify CGH tomato lines with improved CFS, supporting the selection of varieties optimized for once-over harvesting. Preliminary model training using 1,370 training images, 116 validation images, and 335 test images in roboflow using YOLOv11 yielded promising results, with a mAP@50 of 94.7%, precision of 85.1%, and recall of 91.0%, demonstrating the model's potential to support phenotyping for concentrated fruit set. Future research will focus on enhancing detection accuracy, expanding dataset diversity, and integrating multispectral imaging techniques to optimize model performance and applicability across different environments.

Papaya ringspot disease caused by papaya ringspot virus P (PRSV-P), is restricting the commercial cultivation of papaya worldwide. Several measures have been taken to control the disease, including the application of aphicides, identifying host plant resistance, and transgenics. However, only genetically engineered papayas carrying the viral coat protein have been found to effectively control the disease. Transgenic papayas are not cultivated worldwide due to ethical regulations. Assessing the diverse papaya germplasm for resistance to PRSV could be a suitable alternative. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess PRSV resistance in 96 accessions, including 36 commercial accessions and 57 wild accessions. To identify novel resistant sources, the accessions were mechanically inoculated with PRSV under controlled conditions. The inoculated plants were continuously monitored for the appearance of PRSV-like symptoms and scored for disease severity, ranging from 0-5. Among all the accessions tested, only two accessions, HCAR 46 (Vasconcellea pubescens) and HCAR 177 (V. stipulate), did not show any symptoms. To further assure that no virus is present in these plants, an RT-qPCR was performed with PRSV coat protein-specific primers. The accession HCAR 46 showed the presence of a faint amplicon of 950 bp. However, no PSRV-specific amplicon was observed in HCAR 177. To further confirm the presence of PRSV, the amplified products were sequenced and showed over 95% sequence similarity with PRSV. The PRSV-resistant genotype identified in the present study could be used to breed PRSV-resistant cultivars.

Verifying Parentage of Offspring from Crosses of the Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Cultivar ‘Sunflower’ and the Cultivars ‘Susquehanna’ and ‘KSU-Chappell’ using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Markers Nabin K. Adhikari, Dr. Kirk W. Pomper, Jeremy Lowe, Dr. Srijana Thapa Magar, and Sheri Crabtree College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a North American tree fruit in the early stages of commercialization, is typically found in clonal patches in forest understories. Cultivated pawpaws exhibit superior size, flavor, and appearance compared to their wild counterparts. Pawpaw is generally considered self-incompatible due to its protogynous flowers, though anecdotal evidence suggests self-compatibility in the ‘Sunflower’ variety. Previous research at Kentucky State University used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, a class of co-dominant genetic markers that target hypervariable regions of the genome, to confirm that ‘Sunflower’ is capable of self-pollination. However, there is little information on optimal pollinizer relationships and which cultivars serve to promote fruit set in cross-pollinations. This study aims to verify the parentage of offspring from crosses between ‘Sunflower’ and the cultivars ‘Susquehanna’ and ‘KSU-Chappell’, as well as the advanced selection 7-90 using simple sequence repeat markers. Leaves of parent trees and offspring were collected for DNA extraction. Young leaves were collected and were frozen (-15 ºC) until DNA extraction. DNA extraction was carried out using a DNAMITE Plant Kit (Microzone Ltd. Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK). PCR was performed using SSR markers developed by Pomper et al., 2010. PCR products will be separated using a SeqStudio (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) capillary electrophoresis system, and genotyping will be performed with GeneMapper software (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Parentage verification will be determined by looking for the presence or absence of alleles from the purported parents in the offspring. Offspring were categorized as self-pollinated if only alleles from the pollen recipient parent were present in the offspring, expected cross-pollinated if alleles from both parents were present, or unexpected if unknown alleles were detected.

Despite an increase in asparagus production in Michigan, which has surpassed California since 2015, national production has declined by 75% since 2000, while imports have surged from 159 million pounds to 580 million pounds. This shift has placed increasing pressure on domestic production, with Michigan growers facing challenges from high labor costs and import competition. By 2022, only 6% of the fresh asparagus supply in the U.S. came from domestic production, with imports accounting for the remaining 94%. As a result, Michigan's asparagus growers are vulnerable to price fluctuations caused by import competition, compounded by a very short six-week harvest season. Consumer demand remains high after the harvest season, driving market prices up by as much as 28% post-harvest, yet growers are unable to capitalize on this price increase. To address these challenges, this study explores the potential of extending the storage life of asparagus, particularly through controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage. This method could help mitigate the impact of price fluctuations on growers' revenues by enabling producers to allocate surplus produce to the market based on demand, while reducing produce losses. A comprehensive bioeconomic model was developed to simulate the economic impact of extending storage. This model integrates yield capacity and annual average costs per acre for Michigan growers, with data derived from interviews and focus groups with local asparagus producers. The model analyzes production costs and yield capacities over a 14-year lifecycle, with peak yields of 5,500 pounds per acre occurring between years 5 and 12. Despite high initial costs, positive net returns are anticipated from years 4 through 12 of the production cycle. The study evaluates four scenarios with varying post-harvest storage durations (i.e., immediate marketing, one-week storage, two-week storage, and three-week storage) and demonstrates that extending storage can capitalize on post-season price increases, thereby enhancing annual revenue, particularly during peak harvesting years. The results suggest that Michigan growers can improve profitability by adopting CA storage for two weeks, aligning storage strategies with market price fluctuations to optimize revenue.

Jumping worms (Amynthas spp.), an emergent invasive species native to East-central Asia, threaten the health of temperate ecosystems and the vitality of the plant production industry in the United States. Aptly named due to their characteristic and distinctive ability to thrash, these invasive annelids contribute substantial alterations to soil structure, texture, and nutrient dynamics in temperate forests and with potted plants. Their impact on the physical and chemical properties of native soils result in plant health decline and lead to biodiversity loss of flora and fauna. An unintentional, yet predominant, vector of the spread of jumping worms throughout the U.S. is through horticultural materials such as mulch, potting media, compost, and potted plants. While controlling the spread of these invasive worms is a forefront goal of producers and regulatory authorities in the green industry, there is surprisingly little knowledge about consumer awareness of the worms and their willingness to purchase horticultural products infested with, or treated for, jumping worms, which may help inform green industry production management. The objectives of this study were to examine how purchasing decisions are impacted by consumer awareness and jumping worm treatment information. To achieve this, an online survey was conducted with a diverse sample of consumers in the U.S. to gauge their awareness and knowledge of jumping worms, gardening habits, and demographic information. How jumping worm treatment impacts consumers' value for potted plants in different US regions are also explored. The results revealed a notable decrease in willingness to buy and value for untreated potted plants after participants were informed about the negative effects of jumping worms. Further, consumer willingness to buy treated potted plants increased when participants were informed about potential jumping worm treatment options. The findings highlight the influence of consumer education and transparent communication from plant producers and retailers in shaping consumer decisions regarding potted plant purchases. The results of consumer valuation of treated plants have important implications for pricing strategies of jumping worm treated potted plants. These insights are essential for formulating effective communication and treatment strategies to mitigate the impact of jumping worms on ecosystems and the green industry.

Native plants are defined as species present in North America before European settlement which have coevolved with local flora and fauna. Demand and popularity of native plants in landscaping have increased in the U.S. partially due to a rise in awareness of their ecological benefits. Various factors such as income, education, native labeling, and perceptions of wildlife welfare have been linked to consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for native plants. However, fewer studies have explored how different types of wildlife influence these preferences. In this study, we conducted an online survey of 2,011 U.S. consumers. Mixed logit models were used to estimate willingness-to-pay for different wildlife benefits and customer segments were identified using Latent Class Analysis (LCA). Overall, consumers were generally willing to pay a premium for native plants over exotic species, particularly when the plants attracted birds or pollinators. In contrast, plants associated with deer or offering no wildlife benefit required a discount to be considered. Four customer classes were identified with varying levels of interest in attracting songbirds, pollinators and deer. Marketing implications will be discussed based on class membership.

As sustainable agricultural practices become increasingly important, the use of supplemental lighting technologies—particularly light-emitting diodes (LEDs)—is gaining momentum in greenhouse and indoor farming systems. While LEDs offer advantages in terms of energy efficiency and plant growth potential, consumer perceptions of crops grown under artificial lighting remain uncertain. This study explores how consumers respond to vegetables—specifically lettuce and bell peppers—produced using different lighting sources, including LED, high-pressure sodium (HPS), and natural sunlight, along with other product attributes such as production origin, organic certification, price, and point of purchase. A nationwide online survey was conducted to assess consumer awareness, preferences, and willingness to pay for produce grown under various lighting and production conditions. Participants were randomly assigned to different informational treatments that presented either positive, negative, or no information about LED lighting. A choice experiment was used to simulate real-world purchasing scenarios, allowing researchers to examine how these informational messages influenced consumer decision-making. The findings indicate that both production methods and the way information is communicated can significantly impact consumer preferences. Lighting source, in particular, emerged as a key factor, but its influence varied depending on the context in which it was presented. These insights underscore the need for thoughtful messaging and education strategies when introducing new agricultural technologies to the market. Understanding consumer attitudes toward lighting and other production attributes is essential for supporting the broader adoption of sustainable practices in modern food systems.

Perceptions of production agriculture vary from unconcerned to concerned. These positive and negative perceptions can be greater for green industry firms given many firms locate near urban areas. Using a nationally representative survey of 4,000 U.S. residents, this study examines respondent concern level for living near a food and plant producing greenhouse. Furthermore, we examine the role distance a respondent lives from a greenhouse plays in their concern level. We then breakdown concern levels for different production practices (e.g., water usage, energy use, noise pollution, light pollution, etc.) by distance a respondent lives from a greenhouse. Results indicate that distance lived plays a role in greenhouse concern level. Demographics also play a role in concern level. Greenhouse producers can use these results to better understand how their "neighbors" view their operations and what types of educational efforts may be needed when interacting with their community.

As the human population grows in number and in urban locations, global food production will need scale to demand while concurrently minimizing its environmental impact. One possible answer for sustainably meeting future food demand is the adoption of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems. CEA includes indoor, greenhouse, and other types of growing systems that allow for the control of light intensity and duration, temperature, and humidity. As a horticultural approach, CEA has the ability to reduce water use by 95% while occupying 90% less land than traditional field agriculture. CEA also improves growers’ control over crop quality, which contributes to premium prices, while improving yield and reducing waste. Despite this promise, the emergent CEA industry faces a critical challenge: achieving economic feasibility while improving its systemic environmental sustainability; a problem underscored by the energy-intensive nature of the controlled environment. Our study integrates production efficiency with economic and environmental evaluation using a combination of a bioeconomic modeling approach followed by a strategic profitability analysis as well as a life cycle analysis (LCA). A case study was used to develop the spatiotemporal model, integrating three modules: production, labor and economic performance. The model employs a mathematical framework to represent interactions between biological systems, technological settings, and the economic systems that exploit them, which allow for the identification of relationships and production patterns amongst variables. The model’s economic output was then evaluated using the DuPont equations: measures of asset turnover (return on assets [ROA]), leverage (return on equity [ROE]), and profitability (net income/sales). These key performance indicators framed our analysis of the sample farm’s financial health. Finally, the LCA evaluated the farm's externalities across environmental impact multiple categories. The LCA evaluates CEA’s built environment as well as production resource use. The analysis focused on 4 different varieties: romaine, pak choi, red radish and basil. Results show that economically, labor is the most significant operating expense (41%) and environmentally, the crop production stage is the most significant contributor environmentally (due to lighting and HVAC energy use). These results conclude that deployment of automation could improve the financial viability of CEA farms; while investing in energy efficient lighting could reduce CEA’s environmental impact.

Loropetalum chinense, is a popular ornamental shrub known for its distinctive flowers and foliage color. Due to its aesthetic appeal and adaptability, Loropetalum is widely used in landscaping and has become an important crop for U.S. nurseries. However, limited understanding of genetic diversity among cultivars presents challenges for breeding efforts, as genome size and ploidy levels play a crucial role in hybridization success and in determining phenotypic traits such as flower size, color, and plant vigor. This study aimed to measure the ploidy levels and relative genome sizes of a wide range of Loropetalum cultivars in the U.S. to inform future breeding strategies. Flow cytometry was used to determine genome size and estimated ploidy, and chromosome countings were performed to validate the ploidy data. A total of 33 accessions were inspected, with 32 found to be diploids and one triploid. The 1Cx genome size ranged from 2.42 to 3.06 pg across cultivars. These results provide a foundational knowledge on ploidy and genome size variation in the Loropetalum germplasm that would benefit future Loropetalum breeding decisions.

The University of Hawaii's anthurium breeding program established a partnership with floral design professionals, transitioning from informal collaboration in 2016 to a formalized Professional Advisory Team (PAT) in 2021. This collaboration integrates established phenotypic selection practices with artistic design expertise to enhance new variety development. The PAT, comprising influential floral designers and growers, provides essential feedback on spathe and spadix color, conformation, and size at the early flowering stage, directly influencing breeding decisions, such as advancement to cloning and field evaluation, thereby ensuring market relevance. By incorporating designer insights from the seedling stage through advanced testing, the program prioritizes selection based on perceived market demands. Grower feedback during field testing focuses on plant vigor, pest and disease resistance, ease of shipping and customer acceptance. The breeding program released three new cultivars developed with the model, at national floral design events, including the AIFD symposium and Fresh Floral Expo; social media and trade publications covered the varietal release events. Integrating grower feedback, a long-standing practice, with the new design-focused evaluations strengthens the breeding program’s ability to produce new varieties which meet the needs of growers, designers, and consumers.

Gladiolus(-i), Gladiolus ×hybridus (Iridaceae), is a tetraploid, asexually-propagated, herbaceous perennial floricultural crop. Gladiolus is in the top five cut flower crops in the world for use in floral design. Despite their ability to widely intercross with dwarf stature wild type species, gladiolus have not been developed for the potted plant market. The objective of this analysis is to identify potential genetic marker(s) related to dwarfism to direct future breeding efforts towards the gladiolus potted plant market. In this study we examine 2,662 unique gladiolus cultivars and numbered selections using DNA marker-based analysis. Samples were collected from the public (University of Minnesota) and private (Meyer, Otto) sector gladiolus breeding programs in Minnesota and elsewhere in Europe. A total of 194 dwarfs (90cm) genotypes were identified in our analysis. Dwarfs were defined as being less than 90cm in height of the entire plant including inflorescence at first bloom. Population genetic diversity was analyzed using 17,556 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) low-density markers using DArTseq technology. After filtering call rates at the 95% level a total of 2,026 SNPs remained, separating genotypes into 177 dwarfs and 2,235 standard individuals. No private alleles were found when comparing dwarfs to standards. When we narrowed the definition of dwarf to those

Roses are among the most important ornamental crops globally. Major fungal diseases affecting this crop in East-Central Texas are Cercospora leaf spot (Rosisphaerella rosicola Pass.) and black spot (Diplocarpon rosae F.A. Wolf). This study aims to uncover the genetic basis of resistance to these diseases using three biparental F1 autotetraploid rose populations derived from the following crosses: ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ × ‘Morden Blush’ (MoHxMB, N=196), ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ × ‘Morden Fireglow’ (MoHxMF, N=180), and ‘Morden Blush’ × ‘Brite Eyes’ (MBxBE, N=182). The populations, planted in a randomized complete block design with two replications, were scored for disease severity monthly from May to November over two years (2023 and 2024) at the Texas A

Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is a medium sized street tree grown for its durability in challenging environments. Unfortunately, it has escaped cultivation from prolific seed production and is banned in multiple regions. To breed for reduced fertility, a ploidy series was developed including 3x, 4x, and 5x genotypes. As part of the evaluation for fertility, phenology of field plants including the range from diploid to pentaploid were evaluated between 2020 and 2023. Reproductive traits included first flower, 50% flowering, full flower, seed set, seed abortion, and seed ripening. Vegetative traits included first leaf, full leaf, first fall color, full fall color, and leaf drop. There were no differences in phenology of any reproductive or vegetative traits relative to ploidy, and across all genotypes there was a high degree of consistency in timing of all observed traits. Confirming simultaneous flowering of all genotypes will provide confidence in future data collected on relative fertility of accessions to facilitate cultivar release. Additionally, this study confirmed that ploidy does not alter early or late season events that may expose plants to more damage from frost events during these periods.