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Friday, August 1
 

9:45am CDT

Coffee Break
Friday August 1, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am CDT
Empire AB
Friday August 1, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am CDT
Empire AB
  Conference Central Activities

10:00am CDT

Complimentary Seated Massage
Friday August 1, 2025 10:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Take a moment to relax and recharge with a complimentary seated massage in the exhibit hall! Offered exclusively to conference attendees, this refreshing experience is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to stop by early. Whether you need a quick escape from the hustle and bustle or a moment to unwind between sessions, our skilled massage therapists will help melt away tension—leaving you refreshed, reenergized, and ready to make the most of your time at the conference. Don't miss out on this perfect opportunity to treat yourself!
Friday August 1, 2025 10:00am - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB

12:14pm CDT

Friday Poster Session - 7
Friday August 1, 2025 12:14pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Friday August 1, 2025 12:14pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster presentation

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Characterization and Control of Intumescence Development and Leaf Expansion for Capsicum annuum Production in Controlled Environments
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Capsicum annuum (pepper) is an emerging crop for controlled environment production that is susceptible to intumescence. Intumescence is a physiological disorder characterized by unrestricted cellular growth causing protruding lesions, ultimately leading to epidermal rupture. While the causative factor for this disorder remains unknown, water stress is commonly implicated and end-of-day (EOD) lighting has been identified as a potential strategy for mitigating intumescence development. However, the timing of pepper leaf area expansion and intumescence development as well as appropriate lighting strategies for their control have yet to be determined. The objectives of this work were to 1) determine the timing of leaf area expansion to better inform EOD or pre-dawn (PD) lighting applications for intumescence suppression; 2) quantify the impact of low-intensity lighting applications on pepper leaf morphology; and 3) determine the role of water stress in the occurrence of intumescence development for pepper. Pepper ‘Pot-a-Peño’, ‘Spicy Jane’, and ‘California Wonder’ were grown in 15-cm pots in a common greenhouse environment. For Objective 1, three weeks after transplant, one uniform leaf on each plant was tagged and plants were evaluated twice a day (0700 and 1900) for one week. For Objective 2, plants were subjected to 30-minute lighting treatments at an intensity of 25 μmol·m·−2·s−1 for two weeks provided at either EOD with blue (EOD-B; 447 nm), red (EOD-R; 659 nm), or far-red light (EOD-FR; 734 nm), or PD with blue light (PD-B; 447 nm). For Objective 3, plants were either maintained at 70% field capacity (control) or allowed a single event of reaching 40% field capacity prior to watering. Intumescence development was visually monitored twice a day (0900 and 1700) during the water stress event. For Objective 1, leaf area expansion was 46%, 34%, and 94% greater at night (1900-0700) compared to the day (0700-1900) for ‘Spicy Jane’, ‘Pot-a-Peño’, and ‘California Wonder’, respectively. For Objective 2, responses to lighting treatments were cultivar specific. For example, after two weeks, imaged leaf area was lowest under EOD-B for ‘Pot-a-Peño’ and greatest under EOD-FR for ‘Spicy Jane’. For Objective 3, intumescence development was observed on all cultivars subjected to water stress post returning to field capacity, with no incidence of the disorder for control plants. These results will help in the prediction of intumescence development for pepper produced in controlled environments and inform decisions regarding the timing of possible suppression methods to control this disorder.
Speakers
CD

Courtney Dunbar

Colorado State University
NA
Co-authors
JC

Joshua Craver

Colorado State University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Comparative Evaluation of Hydroponic and In-Ground Onion (Allium cepa L.) Bulb Production
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Global demand for high-quality onion bulbs is rising, and there is a need for innovative, resource-efficient cultivation systems that stabilize production while mitigating soil-related limitations. Hydroponic cultivation systems, widely adopted for high-value crops, offer a promising alternative by enabling precise environmental control, optimized nutrient management, and reduced exposure to soil-borne diseases and weed competition. However, hydroponic methods for onion bulb production remain underexplored despite their success in other vegetable crops. Knowledge gaps exist in root-zone aeration dynamics, nutrient uptake efficiency, and the economic scalability of hydroponic systems for onion production. The objective was to determine the growth performance, bulb quality, yield, and financial feasibility of growing onion varieties across these systems. This study evaluated the comparative performance of three onion varieties: Candy Onion (intermediate-day), Walla Walla Onion (long-day), and Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion (long-day), grown under three hydroponic systems (Deep Water Culture (DWC), Kratky, and Drip Irrigation) along with inground production. The study followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Key growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf number, and chlorophyll content, were recorded each week. Yield attributes, including bulb diameter, weight, total fresh and dry biomass, and harvest index, were analyzed after harvest. Moreover, bulb quality parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), sulfur content, and pungency (pyruvic acid concentration) were assessed for consumer acceptability. The economic evaluation considered were the cost of cultivation, gross and net returns, and the benefit-cost ratio to determine the financial viability of hydroponic onion production for small-scale farmers in Kentucky. Despite the higher initial setup cost, hydroponic systems are projected to provide about 25% greater financial returns by reducing labor, pesticide, and fertilizer expenses, making them a sustainable solution for onion production. This study provided insight for farmers, researchers, and policymakers on integrating hydroponic technology for enhanced onion production, economic profitability, and sustainable agricultural practices. Further studies are necessary to validate the findings and guide best-practice recommendations for optimizing onion cultivation and supporting year-round production in Kentucky and beyond.
Speakers
SK

Srijana Kandel

Kentucky State University
Co-authors
JH

James Howard

Kentucky State University
NA
MC

Milon Chowdhury

Kentucky State University
SD

Siddhartha Dasgupta

Kentucky State University
NA
TN

THEONESTE NZARAMYIMANA

Kentucky State University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Enhanced Airflow Improves the Growth and Morphology of the Common Biopharming Plant Nicotiana Benthamiana
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
In recent years, a technology called biopharming, in which plants are used to produce pharmaceuticals, enzymes, and other high-value proteins, has been commercialized. Infiltrating the plants via the stomata, with genes that encode for these proteins, is a critical step in biopharming, but there is limited research on how to manipulate plant morphology to optimise this process. In this study, we investigated how increasing the airflow in a hydroponic system under vertical farm condition affects the growth and morphology of Nicotiana benthamiana, the plant most commonly used in biopharming. The plants were grown in a hydroponic system under vertical farm condition equipped with LED lights, with a photoperiod of 16 hours light/8 hours dark, and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 160-180 µmol m-2 s-1. The growing beds were filled with liquid fertilizer with an electrical conductivity of 1.6 dS cm-1 and a pH of 6.0 ± 0.5. Seeds of Nicotiana benthamiana L. were sown in urethane cubes and transplanted onto the bed. In a preliminary experiment, the fresh weight, plant height, and number of leaves were measured to investigate the growth of Nicotiana benthamiana under hydroponic conditions, and at 30 days after transplanting was determined to be the optimum number of growing days for use as a control regime in the present study. The enhanced air-flow treatment employed a constant wind speed of 0.1 to 0.2 ms-1, and strategically placed air ducts were used to ensure that each plant was evenly exposed. Seven plants (each had 8 to 10 leaves) were harvested, of which the first, third, and fifth leaves were used to measure leaf area and perform stomatal observations. Applying the enhanced air-flow treatment increased the fresh weight and average stomatal aperture of the plants by 1.2 and 1.1-fold, respectively. Leaf area was also increased markedly by 1.8-fold, compared to the control regime. The same results were obtained after three replications, indicating that the method is reproducible. These results suggest that airflow is an important environmental factor that could influence the efficiency of the infiltration process in biopharming.
Speakers
MB

Miyuki Baba

Meiji University
Co-authors
TI

Takashi Ikeda

Meiji university
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Evaluation of seaweed species on growth and physiological responses of tomato seedling exposed to heat stress
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Brown seaweed extracts, particularly Ascophyllum nodosum (AN), have shown beneficial effects on improving plant physiology, flower development and abiotic stress tolerance in various crops. However, limited research has been conducted on other seaweed species, such as Ecklonia maxima (EM) and Macrocystis pyrifera (MP). This study aimed to evaluate the thermotolerance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings in response to the application of three seaweed extracts, AN, EM and MP (1% v/v). ‘Big Beef’ tomato seedlings were root-drenched with seaweed extracts at transplanting and grown for 35 days with weekly foliar application in growth chambers set at 26/19°C (day/night, 16/8 h) for control and 33/26°C for mild heat stress treatments. Under heat stress, AN and EM treatments significantly increased shoot fresh weight by 12.5% and 10.8%, respectively, compared to the control, while MP treatments showed no significant differences. Also, seedlings treated with MP showed a numerical increase in chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’) by 12.8% and a reduction in leaf electrolyte leakage by 19.8% compared to the control under heat stress. However, no significant thermotolerance effects of seaweed extracts were observed in SPAD, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), pollen count and viability. In conclusion, the application of seaweed extracts provided differential response to thermotolerance benefits of tomato seedlings under mild heat stress conditions, with AN and EM enhancing shoot biomass and MP showing potential in mitigating physiological heat stress damage.
Speakers
AS
Co-authors
CL
DL
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Extension of Tomato Production Season in Oklahoma using High Tunnel
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Open field cultivation of specialty crops such as tomato is challenging in Oklahoma due to unpredictable weather. In open fields, early planting of tomato seedlings during spring is hampered due to damaging chill weather conditions. On the other hand, higher temperatures during the summer months severely limit productivity. Furthermore, insect pests and disease pressure are high in open field conditions. As a result, the production cost per unit area is high. With the objective to develop cost effective and profitable production systems, tomato production in high tunnel was evaluated in Oklahoma. Six tomato cultivars including beefsteak and cherry types were evaluated in high tunnel at Langston University, OK during spring-summer season in 2023. High tunnel kept warm during the early seedlings establishment period and allowed early planting in spring by six weeks compared to open field cultivation. Similarly, by covering the roof with 45% shade cloth, a continuous harvest was achieved throughout the summer until third week of September. Study revealed the beefsteak tomato cultivars produced higher marketable fruit yield compared to cherry types. The marketable fruit yield of six evaluated tomato cultivars were in the range of 44.3 ton/ha - 77.12 ton/ha. Similarly, total soluble solid (brix %) content in high tunnel grown tomatoes were in the range of 5.1 % - 6.1%. Our study shows the early growth, season extension, and high yield of tomatoes due to use of high tunnels, and small - medium or limited resources farmers could benefit from it.
Speakers
DK
Co-authors
DJ

David Jones

Langston University
NA
KD

Kamal da Silva

Langston University
NA
LK

Leonard Kibet

Langston University
NA
RB

Richardson Boateng

Langston University
NA
RS

Rose Salomon

Langston University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

CE 2 - Improving Bell Pepper Harvest with Inter-canopy Lighting in Northern Greenhouses
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Heating cost and low light limit greenhouse winter production in the north. Improved technologies can now support more efficient light delivery and interception. The greenhouse bell pepper cultivars Brocanto (yellow), Milena (orange) and Olly (red) were chosen to assess inter-canopy lighting with overhead high-pressure sodium irradiance. In addition to HPS, LED fixtures for in canopy placement were evaluated (GE current Arize® Integral). Plants were grown in a high-wire drip irrigation system using dutch bato buckets (17.7 L volume). The photoperiod was 16-h, day temperature 22 ± 2°C and reduced to 18 ± 2°C during the night. One or two horizontal LED bars were positioned and adjusted within 30 cm of the top of the plants throughout the study. In treatments with two LED bars, the bars were placed 30 cm (12 inches) apart. The intensity (400-700 nm) horizontally from the LEDs and measured at the location of the plant stems averaged 195 ± 30 µmol m-2s-1. Overhead HPS provided ~130 ± 20 µmol m-2s-1, 100 cm below the fixtures. Natural light was seasonally limited during the study. Seeds were sown on 29 Aug and one plant was transplanted into each container 50 d later (17 Oct). Lower leaves were removed as fruit ripened and the study was terminated at a plant height of ~180 to 200 cm. Colored peppers were first harvested 79 d from transplant (4 Jan) and the study was discontinued 8 weeks later. Plants grown with two LED bars produced higher yields than those with one bar or only HPS lighting. Olly produced 1.3 ± 0.09 kg under HPS, 2.2 ± 0.16 kg (one bar) and 3.2 ± 0.02 kg (2 bars) per plant while both Brocanto and Milena yielded 1.6 ± 0.19 kg under HPS, 2.3 ± 0.19 kg with one bar and 2.7 ± 0.09 kg (Milena) or 2.9 ± 0.10 kg (Brocanto) with two LED bars. The LEDs also increased the number of harvested peppers. For Olly, ten peppers were harvested on plants with only HPS and increased to 15 and 20 peppers with the LED bars. Six more peppers per plant were harvested with interlighting for Brocanto and Milena. The pepper size remained similar across treatments for Brocanto (197 ± 12.4 g) and Milena (170 ± 10.0 g). For Olly, the pepper size increased from 129 ± 6.0 g (HPS) to 161 ± 5.4 g with two LED inter-canopy bars.
Speakers
MK

Meriam Karlsson

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 3

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Assessing micropropagated ginger cultivars and generations on growth and rhizome yield in a high tunnel
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Previous research demonstrated that tissue culture (TC) ginger grown in a high tunnel (HT) produced a higher yield than traditionally seed-sprouted ginger. This study further investigated any significant changes between generations of TC ginger in a HT. We studied 6 cultivars (BB, BG, BK, HY, KM, and MD) from two TC generations (TCF1 and TCF2). TCF1 seedlings were initially acclimated in a greenhouse and then transplanted into HT with TCF2 seed in June 2024. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with 3 replications (blocks) per TC generation, 12 plots per block, 8 plants per plot (5 plants for HY) for a total number of 576 plants. Data collected: stem number
Speakers
GY

Guochen Yang

Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, Oversight Coordinator for University Hemp Program, North Carolina A&T State University
Co-authors
DT

Daniel Tetteh

North Carolina A
NA
HT

Hannah Talton

North Carolina A
NA
JR

Julia Robinson

North Carolina A
NA
RM

Radiah Minor

North Carolina A
NA
TM

Trequan McGee

North Carolina A
WL

William Lashley

North Carolina A
ZM

Zipporia Moore

North Carolina A
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Growing Medicinal Plants in the Arid Southwest
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Water scarcity is one of the largest challenges to agricultural resilience in the increasingly arid Southwest. An important question is if expanding organic systems can support small farms to achieve the water demand reductions needed to preserve cultivation across agricultural valleys while also achieving overall agricultural resilience. Evaluating and selecting high value crops like medicinal plants for drought and heat tolerance might also lead to alternative crops that are suited for this environment. Organic systems and alternative crops could be critical for resilience, and our project’s goal was to identify crops and practices that are culturally relevant to small farmers in the southwest. High value crops with medicinal properties were cultivated using organic farming practices. A replicated split-field design trial of nine plant species including transplanted and seeded were grown for one season and were monitored for establishment, yield, and growth traits. First year data indicates that out of the nine species, only primrose (Oenethera biennis), tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), spilanthes (Acmella oleracea), calendula (Calendula officinalis) and marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) were successfully established after transplanting seedlings in May 2024, however none of the direct seeded plants germinated. Spilanthes medicinal flowers were harvested from August till October, and calendula flowers were harvested from August till December. The perennials that over wintered successfully are producing new growth for a second season are calendula, and marshmallow. Our conclusions after the first year of establishment are that transplanting these high value crops is a better option than direct seeding. In addition, overwintering of perennial plants that have established are a viable option for farmers. For future work, amount of water needed for growth and quality of each species will be measured.
Speakers
avatar for Ivette Guzman

Ivette Guzman

New Mexico State University
Co-authors
CV

Ciro Velasco-Cruz

New Mexico State University
NA
CM

Connie Maxwell

New Mexico State University
NA
KL

Kevin Lombard

New Mexico State University
Kevin Lombard is a Professor of Horticulture and Research Director of the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Farmington, a 250 acre research farm uniquely located on the Navajo Nation. His research encompasses specialty crop evaluations including grapes, fruit... Read More →
KR

Kristen Ramos

New Mexico State University
RH

Robert Heyduck

New Mexico State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Subject Herbs Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Poster # csv
  • Funding Source USDA NIFA ORG GR0007385
  • Funding Option OREl or ORG funded all or part of the research associated with this abstract

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Impact Evaluation of Color Shading on Tissue Culture Ginger Growth, Rhizome Yield, and Physiology
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Ginger requires proper shading for optimum growth and rhizome yield. However, literature on individual color shading’s effects was limited. Under light stress, morphological and physiological traits change. Since 2023, we have studied how different color shading impacts growth, rhizome yield, and phytochemical composition of micropropagated ginger. Tissue culture ginger seedlings (cultivar Madonna) were transplanted in March in a greenhouse, then in June into 50-gallon grow containers, 12 plants per container in a 2:1 metro mix:compost substrate. A completely randomized design was used, with 12 color shade treatments and 12 replications per treatment at NCA
Speakers
WL

William Lashley

North Carolina A
Co-authors
DT

Daniel Tetteh

North Carolina A
NA
GY

Guochen Yang

North Carolina A
HT

Hannah Talton

North Carolina A
NA
JR

Julia Robinson

North Carolina A
NA
RM

Radiah Minor

North Carolina A
NA
TM

Trequan McGee

North Carolina A
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Pot Size Influences Establishment Of Vanilla planifolia In The USVI
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Vanilla planifolia, is a species of vanilla orchid native to Mexico. It is known specifically for its extract known as vanillin, which is used as a flavorful ingredient in food, beverages, cosmetics and perfumes. Vanilla plants, brought in from tissue culture, were planted in 10 or 15-gallon pots in media containing tree bark vermiculite and peat moss (1:1:1). Support for aerial roots involved rolling wired fencing and burlap together and placing eight-inch square mason blocks in each pot. The orchids were measured monthly for length and number of leaves. Results indicate that pot size had a slight influence on the plant growth of the vanilla plants. In the 10-gallon pots, the orchids grew to an average length of 126.5 cm, while the 15-gallon pots grew to an average length of 169.9 cm. The burlap also provided adequate space for the aerial roots to grow into over time. A 15-gallon pot, containing tree bark vermiculite and peat moss (1:1:1) was the most effective pot size to use for establishing vanilla plants. Vanilla p. can be established well in the subtropical climate of the USVI.
Speakers
DR

Daryl Richards Jr

Univ. Virgin Islands
NA
Co-authors
TZ

Thomas Zimmerman

University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture
XW

Xingbo Wu

University of Florida
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Sap Yield of Boxelder and Norway Maple and Syrup Production in Missoula, Montana
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Consumers increasingly demand locally sourced agricultural products and are willing to pay premium prices for novel and unique offerings. Maple syrup is a significant agricultural commodity in the United States, with a total market value of $158.67 million in 2023 and 5.86 million gallons produced in 2024 (USDA NASS, 2024). However, annual maple syrup production timing and yields vary widely by year and region, largely depending on climatic conditions. Expanding maple syrup production to western states could help meet the growing demand while providing additional income for landowners in areas where maple resources have not traditionally been utilized. Boxelder (Acer negundo) is native to the Intermountain West, while Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and other non-native maple species are common in urban and suburban areas of the region. Despite this, limited research has assessed the potential of these species for syrup production, highlighting the need for further study to support this emerging industry. On 10 Feb 2022, 11 Mar 2023, 4 Feb 2024, sap collection bags (18.93 L) were installed for tapping 20 boxelder (diameter at breast height (DBH) = 26.2 ± 3.7 cm) and 20 Norway maple (DBH = 29.5 ± 5.8 cm) trees in Missoula, MT. Sap was collected regularly to determine the yield for each tree from 11 Feb to 24 Mar 2022; 12 Mar to 9 Apr 2023; 5 Feb to 17 Mar 2024. Linear regressions were used to analyze cumulative sap yield over time, comparing data from the two maple species across three years. Maple trees exhibited varying sap yields across different years. In Missoula, MT, boxelder trees had seasonal sap yields of 9.21, 18.86, and 16.81 L during the 42-, 29-, and 42-day tapping periods, respectively. Norway maple trees produced seasonal sap yields of 28.38, 15.45, and 30.15 L during the 42-, 29-, and 42-day tapping periods, respectively. Boxelder trees yielded significantly more sap per day in 2023 compared with 2022, whereas Norway maple trees maintained relatively consistent daily sap yields across three years. Montana Mapleworks, the only commercially licensed maple syrup producer in the Intermountain West, produced 30, 20, 55, and 55 gallons of maple syrup in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.
Speakers
YS

Youping Sun

Dr. Sun is an Associate Professor of Landscape Horticulture whose research focuses on understanding the whole-plant response to water stress, with an emphasis on water conservation, and developing protocols to produce native plants. He is the principal investigator for the ‘Climate... Read More →
Co-authors
DK

David Knudson

Montana MapleWorks
NA
XD

Xin Dai

Utah State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Subject Herbs Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Poster # csv
  • Funding Source USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Acer Access and Development Program, USDA NIFA Hatch Project UTA01666, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, and Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping

12:15pm CDT

HSMP - Sap Yield of Boxelder Trees in Montana, Utah and Wyoming
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
The value of maple syrup production in the United States was $159 million in 2024, a 17% increase from the previous year. The timing and yield of maple syrup production vary widely between years and regions, depending heavily on climatic conditions. Expanding maple syrup production to western states could help meet the ever-increasing demand for syrup and provide additional income for landowners in areas where maple resources have not traditionally been utilized. Boxelder (Acer negundo), native to the Intermountain West, and other non-native maple species are common in urban and suburban areas of the region. However, limited research has assessed the potential of these species for syrup production in the Intermountain West. On 11 Mar 2023, sap collection bags (18.9 L) were installed to tap 20 boxelder trees (diameter at breast height (DBH) = 26.2 ± 3.7 cm, mean ± SD) in Missoula, MT. On 1 Mar. 2023, buckets (11.4 L) were installed to tap 30 boxelder trees (DBH = 42.6 ± 13.3 cm) in Logan, Providence, and Smithfield, UT. On 27 Feb 2023, buckets (11.4 L) were installed to tap 30 boxelder trees (DBH = 28.4 ± 8.8 cm) at the Sybille Research Site, Wheatland, WY. Sap was collected regularly to determine yield per tree from 12 Mar to 9 Apr 2023, in Montana; 2 Mar to 10 Apr 2023, in Utah; and 2 Mar to 1 May 2023, in Wyoming. Temperature data were obtained from the National Weather Service. A logistic model was used to fit the cumulative sap yield over time, comparing data from the three states. The location of boxelder trees significantly impacted sap yield. Seasonal sap yields were 18.9, 34.4, and 41.1 L per tree in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, respectively, during the 29-, 41-, and 63-day tapping periods. Boxelder trees in Montana produced significantly higher daily sap yields than those in Utah and Wyoming, likely due to the shorter tapping season. With a similar tapping start date in Utah and Wyoming, boxelder trees in Utah began producing sap earlier than those in Wyoming, which may be related to temperature differences. However, boxelder trees in Wyoming yielded a greater total sap volume than those in Utah and Montana.
Speakers
YS

Youping Sun

Dr. Sun is an Associate Professor of Landscape Horticulture whose research focuses on understanding the whole-plant response to water stress, with an emphasis on water conservation, and developing protocols to produce native plants. He is the principal investigator for the ‘Climate... Read More →
Co-authors
AP

Abby Perry

University of Wyoming Extension
NA
BS

Brian Sebade

University of Wyoming
NA
DK

David Knudson

Montana MapleWorks
NA
JM

Jesse Mathews

Utah State University
NA
XD

Xin Dai

Utah State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Herbs; Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Subject Herbs Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Poster # csv
  • Funding Source USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Acer Access and Development Program, USDA NIFA Hatch Project UTA01666, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, and Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) Associated Bacteria Increase Concentrations of Plant Growth Promoting Chemicals in vitro
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Bacteria associate with plants across diverse ecosystems, including agroecosystems, where they often benefit plant growth by increasing nutrient availability and mitigating stress, leading to improved productivity. Cranberries are clonally propagated perennials grown in highly acidic soils, where beneficial bacteria could help reduce the need for synthetic fertilizer and enhance nutrient availability, supporting plant health in the long term. We isolated 102 putative phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria in Pikovskaya’s Agar, and 112 putative plant hormone-synthesizing bacteria in Czapek Dox Agar, and assessed their metabolic function using specific assays: malachite green assay for phosphorus solubilization and a tryptophan-IAA assay for plant hormone synthesis. We found that of our 102 isolated phosphorus bacteria, 29 could solubilize more than 100 μM of phosphorus bound to iron within three days. Of the 112 hormone-synthesizing bacteria, 38 produced more than 20 μg/mL of the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) within three days. Next, we will assess these bacteria in soils associated with plants by inoculating cranberry plants under sterile and non-sterile environments and monitoring plant growth responses. This approach aims to reduce fertilizer costs and environmental impact by enhancing water quality and bolstering cranberry crop health.
Speakers
JR

Jessica Rohde

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Effects of Varying Rates of Irrigation and Potassium Fertilization on the growth of Dendrocalamus asper in Florida.
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Bamboo is a perennial crop cultivated for different purposes such as production of edible shoots, timber and energy, and an effective medium for carbon sequestration. Bamboo production in the United States has gained significant interest over the past two decades due to its many benefits. Despite this progress, there is still a knowledge gap regarding nutrient and irrigation management recommendations for bamboo production for the unique Florida agroecological conditions. Fertilizer and irrigation are important crop management strategies for supplying plants with adequate nutrients and water for plant growth and productivity. Understanding the nexus between plants, water-use efficiency, and nutrient uptake is critical for sustainable bamboo production. A 4 x 4 factorial completely randomized design consisting of four irrigation rates (50% evapotranspiration (ET), 75% ET, 100% ET, and 125% ET) and four potassium application rates (0, 100, 200 and 300 lbs K/acre), replicated 5 times was established under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that different K levels did not have any significant effect on culm height and stomatal conductance. The 125% ET showed the highest culm height in the first month but in the following month, the 75% ET and 100% ET resulted in the greatest heights suggesting that reasonable culm height can still be achieved while conserving water. The 100% ET and 75% ET resulted in higher stomatal conductance compared to 125% ET and 50% ET. This implies that excessive irrigation and low irrigation rates may limit stomatal regulations and overall water use.
Speakers
LA

Labake Agunbiade

Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida
Co-authors
DK

Davie Kadyampakeni

Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida
NA
MN

Marcio Nunes

University of Florida
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Evaluating Nitrogen Mineralization and CO₂ Respiration Responses to Organic Amendments in Soil Incubation
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Understanding how organic amendments influence nitrogen (N) mineralization and carbon (C) respiration is essential for improving soil health and nutrient management in agroecosystems. This study, conducted by the Spring 2025 PSC 5560 Soil Analytical Techniques class at Utah State University, investigated the effects of various organic materials on soil N mineralization and CO₂ respiration through a controlled laboratory incubation. Six treatments were applied to a homogenized loamy soil collected from 0–30 cm depth: Miller compost, softwood compost, hardwood compost, wheat straw, feather meal, and an unamended control. Each treatment was mixed with soil and incubated in sealed mason jars under moist conditions for 35 days. CO₂ evolution was monitored via headspace gas sampling and analyzed with gas chromatography. Inorganic N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻) was quantified on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 35 through KCl extraction and spectrophotometric analysis. Results showed that respiration rates and mineral N release varied by treatment, reflecting differences in organic matter quality. Feather meal, with the lowest C:N ratio (3.8), released the highest levels of mineral N early in the incubation, although it did not fit the first-order kinetic model. Wheat straw, with a high C:N ratio (80.0), showed high cumulative CO₂ evolution, suggesting substantial microbial activity despite limited N mineralization. Compost treatments exhibited intermediate responses. Rate constants (k) for both C and N mineralization differed significantly among treatments, with feather meal and wheat straw showing the fastest rates for N and C, respectively. First-order kinetic modeling provided estimates for potentially mineralizable N (No) and C (Co), highlighting the variability in amendment quality. While No did not differ significantly across treatments due to high variability, k values indicated differing mineralization dynamics. These findings underscore the importance of selecting organic amendments based on crop nutrient demands and decomposition behavior. This work demonstrates the utility of laboratory incubation assays for evaluating compost quality and forecasting nutrient release. Future directions include field-scale validation and microbial community profiling to better understand the mechanisms behind observed differences in decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Speakers
IA

Isiaka Azeez

Utah State University
Co-authors
JN

Jeanette Norton

Utah State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Fertilizer nitrogen effect on cranberry fruit rot
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Nitrogen (N) is the most important element that influences both vegetative growth and fruiting in cranberry production. While many factors such as cultivar, age and vigor of vines are important, soil fertility is one of the most important factors impacting yield and fruit quality. The high fertilizer N used to support increased yield potential of new cranberry second generation hybrids can result in increased vegetative growth, thus creating a dense canopy resulting in a microclimate with high relative humidity (RH). Humid conditions during the warm summer months encourage the expression of cranberry fruit rot (CFR). The goal of this study was to determine the effect of N application rate on CFR occurrence in ‘Stevens’ and ‘Mullica Queen’ at the UMass Cranberry Station in East Wareham, Massachusetts. To measure biophysical data, we deployed micro climatic sensors in each treatment to measure ambient temperature and RH. Four N rates were used ranging from 46 kg N ha-1 to 112 kg N ha-1 in a replicated RCBD experiment. Fruit samples were collected at harvest from each treatment and used to measure total anthocyanin content (TAcy) by extraction with 0.2 N HCL. Cranberry biomass in both cultivars increased with increase in N rate and so did fruit rot. Fruit yield increased with N rate up to a point then it started to decline as rate increased. High N rate of 112 kg N ha-1 was associated with a low canopy temperature, and high RH compared to 46 kg N ha-1 in both cultivars. Total anthocyanins in the fruit decreased with N rate in both cultivars. Our results seem to suggest that high N rate encourage fruit rot expression.
Speakers
BM

Brian Makeredza

University of Massachusetts
Co-authors
GM

Giverson Mupambi

University of Massachusetts Amherst
PJ

Peter Jeranyama

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Iron Biofortification Of Collard Greens: A Comparative Study To Analyze Efficiency Of Different Iron Fertilizers In Foliar Application
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiency) is a global problem, with iron, zinc and selenium being the highly contributing members. Among these, iron deficiency is the most concerning. Deficiency of iron during pregnancy or in earlier childhood impairs the cognitive and behavioural development of children. Since the loss of iron from human body is minimal, iron deficiency occurs mainly because of insufficient intake. Therefore, increasing the iron content of vegetables (biofortification) is necessary, in order to meet the daily nutritional needs of humans. We conducted a field study in Fall 2024, comparing different iron fertilizers (FESO4, Fe-EDTA
Speakers
BJ

Bhupinder Jatana

Assistant Professor -Horticulture, Clemson University
Co-authors
AK

Arshdeep Kaur

Clemson University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Phosphorus Fixation Dynamics in Quartz, Mixed Media, and Soils of Northeastern Florida and Its Effect on Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Growth and Yield
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient essential for plant growth and development, involved in root formation, photosynthesis, and metabolic processes such as energy transfer, cell division and others. Phosphorus leaching is a crucial concern due to nutrient loss and eutrophication of water bodies. This study aimed to evaluate growth performance, yield, and phosphorus uptake efficiency of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) across three different growth mediums: (1) Quartz Sand, (2) 50% Quartz 50% Soil, and (3) Soil. Additionally, bioavailable orthophosphate content in leachates and the impact of different phosphorus application rates on crop productivity were assessed. Two phosphorus application treatments: (1) a single application of 120 lbs/acre and (2) a split application of 20 lbs/acre applied weekly over a period of six weeks. Leachate samples were collected and analyzed weekly to determine phosphorus availability trends. Growth parameters such as plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, and yield parameters including the number of pods per plant and pod weight were recorded to evaluate crop performance. Phosphorus uptake efficiency was assessed to determine how different growth media and fertilization strategies influence nutrient utilization. Results showed that Quartz retained the least phosphorus, leading to higher orthophosphate concentrations in leachates. The mixed medium of 50% Quartz 50% Soil exhibited intermediate retention, while Soil treatments retained the most phosphorus, resulting in the lowest leachate orthophosphate levels. Overtime, the split application of 20 lbs/acre provided more stable phosphorus availability compared to the single high-dose application, which led to an initial peak followed by a significant decline. Plants under mixed media and split application present the higher crop performance and yield. These findings highlight the role of growth medium composition and fertilization strategy in phosphorus retention and availability. The study suggests that combining appropriate growth media and phosphorus application rates can maximize Snap Bean productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Further research should explore the interactions of these factors under diverse environmental conditions to develop best practices for phosphorus management and sustainable agriculture.
Speakers
EM

Elena Maximo

University of Florida
Co-authors
GL

Guodong Liu

University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Plant Growth and Physiological Responses to Biostimulant Tetradesmus deserticola of Lettuce in Containerized Silica Sand
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Sustainable fresh vegetable crop production using lunar regolith as a growth media is critical for establishing large-scale space farming on the lunar surface. While lunar regolith contains essential mineral nutrients, it lacks organic carbon and nitrogen, which limits mineral bioavailability and nutrient-holding capacity. Tetradesmus deserticola is a terrestrial, photosynthetic algae that self-propagate in minimal media using light and carbon dioxide. It contributes organic matter to marginal soils through photosynthesis and has been used as biostimulant. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of T. deserticola inoculation on the growth, physiological, and morphological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants at ammonium nitrate rates of 0, 1, and 2 mM, and 15N–3.9P–10K controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) at rates from 0 to 8.4 g·L-1 in a containerized silica sand media. Lettuce seeds were sown in the containerized media and inoculated with dried T. deserticola. After seed emergence, plants were irrigated with nitrogen-free Hoagland’s solution supplemented with ammonium nitrate or top-dressed with CRF at rates from 0 to 8.4 g·L-1. Electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in leachate were recorded weekly. Gas exchange rates were measured, and plants were harvested 59 days after sowing to assess growth and morphological responses. Nitrate-nitrogen concentration and EC in leachate increased with increasing levels of ammonium nitrate in the Hoagland’s solution and CRF rates. In addition, the plant growth index and relative chlorophyll content of leaves was enhanced with the increase of ammonium nitrate levels and CRF application rate. Compared with non-inoculated plants, lettuce inoculated with T. deserticola showed higher plant growth index and relative leaf chlorophyll content when receiving nitrogen-free Hoagland’s solutions with 0, 1, and 2 mM of ammonium nitrate. However, the inoculation of T. deserticola did not increase plant growth index and relative chlorophyll content for plants treated with CRF. The T. deserticola inoculation enhanced growth and physiology of the Romaine lettuce at ammonium nitrate levels ranging from 0 to 2 mM. However, T. deserticola did not affect plant development when the plants were treated with CRF. Under the conditions of this study, the effects of T. deserticola inoculation on plant growth differed between fertilizer management.
Speakers
NA

Nintya Avriantari

University of Wyoming
Co-authors
DC

David Claypool

University of Wyoming
DH

Drea Hineman

University of Wyoming
NA
GD

Gioia D. Massa

NASA Kennedy Space Center
NA
JC

Ji-Jhong Chen

University of Wyoming
JS

John S. Oakey

University of Wyoming
NA
MF

Mady Fagan

University of Wyoming
NA
SB

Scott B. Jones

Utah State University
NA
SM

Shawna M. McBride

University of Wyoming
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1
  • Subject Plant Nutrient Management
  • Poster # csv
  • Funding Source NASA EPSCoR Rapid Response Research (R3) Grant#: WY-80NSSC24M0162, University of Wyoming Science Initiative Seed Grant: Living Materials, Wyoming Space Grant Consortium Faculty Research Initiation, University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, & Natural Resources, Office of Research and Economic Development Designated, Department of Plant Sciences. Y-Cross Scholarship. United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Plant Sciences Hatch Funds (WYO-631-22)

12:15pm CDT

PNM 2 - Response of young Dendrocalamus asper to variable rate phosphorus fertilization dynamics in a controlled environment
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Fertilizers are commonly applied to bamboo to enhance quality and productivity. Bamboo is widely used for consumption, construction, and fabrication. Bamboo production has expanded to 690 ha in Florida. However, there are no clear phosphorus (P) fertilization guidelines, despite P playing a crucial role in plant growth and production. This study evaluated the effects of varying P rates on Dendrocalamus asper under greenhouse conditions. Two trials were conducted on one-year-old bamboo plants at different P rates (0, 22.4, 44.8, and 89.6 kg P ha-1) for five months in 2023 and 2024. Growth, physiological parameters, and biomass accumulation were assessed. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with a linear mixed model for repeated measures. Results showed that P fertilization significantly influenced bamboo growth, culm biomass accumulation, culm production, and chlorophyll content across both years. The highest biomass in culms, total biomass, number of culms, and clump height occurred at 22.4 and 44.8 kg P ha-1 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Higher P rates (44.8 and 89.6 kg P ha-1) increased below-ground biomass. The highest P rate (89.6 kg P ha-1) increased soil P by 74% in 2023 and 84% in 2024 from the initial concentration. Soil P positively correlated with Ca in 2023 and K in 2024. Although no clear optimal P rate was established, moderate P application (22.4-44.8 kg P ha-1) benefited young bamboo growth. These findings provide a foundation for developing P fertilization guidelines in Florida. Further field-scale studies are needed to determine the optimal application rate.
Speakers
avatar for CYRUS JANUARIE

CYRUS JANUARIE

Graduate Research Assistant, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Soil nutrient managementStatistical data analysisField research 
Co-authors
DK

Davie Kadyampakeni

University of Florida
NA
JV

Joao Vendramini

University of Florida
NA
LS

Lakesh Sharma

University of Florida
Dr. Lakesh Sharma is an assistant professor of soil fertility and sustainable agriculture at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Lakesh has been farming since he was a child on his own farm. His academic school journey started in 2000. He is currently working on nutrient... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Plant Nutrient Management 1

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Agrivoltaics: How Solar Panels Affect Summer Squash 'Multipik' Production
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Agrivoltaics is a production system that allows for dual land use through the deployment of solar panels for energy production while maintaining agricultural production underneath and/or between solar panels. This study was conducted at the Alliant Solar farm at Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Treatments included summer squash (Cucurbita pepo ‘Multipik’) grown between and outside (open-field) the solar panels. For the solar panel treatment, two raised beds with white plastic mulch were created on each side of the single-axis solar tracking panels. Each bed was 19.5m long. Two beds on each side were spaced 1.5m (center to center). Two rows of open-field summer squash served as the control treatment. Control beds were 6.7m long. All treatments were replicated three times. Summer Squash was transplanted on May 31, 2024 at 0.6m spacing, single row. HOBO soil temperature, air temperature, and light intensity sensors were installed on the same day. Mustang MAXX® AND PyGanic® were sprayed to manage spotted cucumber beetles and squash bugs. A total of 31 harvests occurred throughout the season every 2 to 3 days between July 1 and September 20. Plants between the solar panels yielded 49.5 kg per row while the open-field yielded 36.5 kg, a 26% increase in the solar treatment. Between June, July, and August, the air temperature was cooler than the control on average by 3 degrees Fahrenheit while the soil temperature was 2 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. Light intensity decreased by 34% under the solar panels. Based on first year results, summer squash shows promise within an agrivoltaics production system. More data will be collected in the coming years on plant growth characteristics, soil moisture, and postharvest quality of summer squash.
Speakers
RW

Raymond Wilmes

Iowa State University
Co-authors
AN

Ajay Nair

Iowa State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Assessment of Rhizoma Perennial Peanut under Agrivoltaic System in Georgia
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Solar energy production has been rapidly expanding in the Southeast; in Georgia alone, acreage has increased from under 500 to over 25,000 acres in the last decade. Agrivoltaics and ecovoltaics have emerged as strategies to ease land competition between Large-Scale Solar (LSS), agriculture, and natural resources. Agrivoltaic systems co-locate solar panels with row crops or livestock agriculture, thereby “stacking” the production of energy and agricultural products on the same land. LSS sites are typically seeded with Bahia and Bermuda grasses to control erosion while vegetation height is maintained by mechanical mowing. However, one of the most common and successful agrivoltaic applications is grazing livestock – typically sheep, which benefit from a high-protein diet, such as a legume. Rhizoma Perennial Peanut (RPP) is an emerging forage crop grown predominantly in southern areas with sandy soils and permissive winter temperatures. Most LSS are located in mid- and South Georgia where soils may have higher clay content. We set out to explore feasibility of RPP as a land cover under solar system in South Georgia. RPP ‘EcoTurf’ was planted between solar panels and outside the solar array. We implemented two experimental treatments: three seeding rates (100, 140, or 160 bushels/acre), and fertilization at planting or at mid-season. We measured canopy spread, leaf chlorophyll content and fluorescence. We also counted blooms and made aerial sweeps to assess arthropod abundance and diversity. In addition to being a potential grazing source, RPP matures well below the leading edge of the solar panels, thus eliminating the need for mowing even without livestock. If left uncut, RPP produces attractive yellow blooms which may serve as floral resources for pollinators and other beneficial insects. In this way, RPP can provide ecosystem services, including biodiversity and wildlife habitat, a potential win-win opportunity for LSS development and natural ecosystems in the Southeast USA. Given the selection of low growing ground cover that requires less frequent mowing (or no mowing), the implementation of RPP could also lead to lower inputs and reduced operation costs of the LSS in the long term.
Speakers
SP

Simona Pitardi

University of Bari
NA
Co-authors
JS

Jason Schmidt

University of Georgia
NA
LL

Leynar Leyton

University of Florida
SP

Svoboda Pennisi

University of Georgia
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Developing Artichoke as a New Winter Crop in a Subtropical Climate
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) belongs to the sunflower family and is cultivated for its edible flower buds. Being adapted to Mediterranean climates, artichoke requires adequate winter chilling for flower bud induction but is susceptible to freeze damage, limiting its commercial production in the United States almost exclusively to California. In tropical and subtropical climates, despite minimal freeze risk, insufficient winter chilling presents a major constraint to artichoke production. This study was initiated in 2015 to evaluate the potential for establishing artichoke as a viable winter crop in Florida. First, we developed a protocol for artificial bud induction using the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA₃). When applied at the optimal rate and developmental stage, GA₃ effectively promotes bud formation independently of natural winter chilling. From 2016 to 2020, we evaluated seven cultivars based on earliness, yield, and bud quality and selected two promising cultivars, ‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Green Queen’. We also evaluated planting dates from early September to early December and determined that early to mid-October is the optimum planting window, yielding up to 17.3 and 11.8 t ha–1 for ‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Green Queen’, respectively. From 2022 to 2025, we tested additional 16 hybrids and identified three promising cultivars, ‘20-063’, ‘22-017’ and ‘23-057’. Our current artichoke production guide includes recommendations on GA3 application, cultivars, planting configurations, plastic mulch, and basic pest management. In 2023, artichoke was grown on about 12 hectares in Florida using this production guide. Ongoing research focuses on assessing nutritional values and postharvest quality to enhance the viability of artichoke as Florida’s new winter crop.
Speakers
AK

Avninder Kaur

University of Florida
Co-authors
SA

Shinsuke Agehara

University of Florida
TL

Tie Liu

University of Florida
WW

Weining Wang

University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Evaluating the impact of intercropping vegetables and cut flowers on economics and conservation biological control
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Vegetable production is highly susceptible to yield and quality loss due to insect pests leading to increased management intensity. Use of conservation biological control practices such as intercropping offers potential benefits to environmental sustainability while also maintaining economic profitability. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of intercropping bell pepper (Capsicum annuum ‘King Arthur’) with cut flowers including zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant White’), sunflower (Helianthus annus ‘Soraya’) and dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Chabaud Benigna’). Data collected included insect and disease pressure ratings, marketable and unmarketable yield, economic return, and insect population diversity. Pepper yield was positively impacted in treatments including dianthus, while economic return was greatest where bell pepper was intercropped with zinnia.
Speakers
AI

Alliance Igiraneza

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NA
Co-authors
KK

Katja Koehler-Cole

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NA
RS

Ronald Stephenson

Plant Sciences Hall
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Exploring Regenerative Vegetable Systems on the California Central Coast
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Regenerative farming practices focus on improving soil health and creating resilient agricultural systems, offering long-term sustainability and environmental benefits compared to conventional organic methods. This study investigated the effects of an in-season cover cropping practice on insect and weed density and crop yield on California’s Central Coast. Two field trials compared regenerative and standard organic systems. Weed populations were assessed biweekly using 50cm x 50cm quadrats, while insect populations were monitored with yellow sticky cards and direct counts. Yields were measured in kilograms per hectare and categorized as fresh marketable, processed marketable, and unmarketable. Both treatments were planted on 80-inch beds using certified organic inputs and methods. The regenerative treatment featured a cereal cover crop in the bed center, with two rows of transplants on either side. The first trial took place at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Organic Farm (Jan–May 2024) with cabbage and sudan grass (three replicates). The second was at a grower’s field near San Ardo, CA (Feb–June 2025) with sweet baby broccoli and ryegrass (four replicates). In Trial 1, weed coverage was not significantly different between treatments (19.6 ± 5.3% for standard organic, 14.9 ± 0.7% for regenerative). Flea beetles were the most common pests, with no significant differences in pest densities (370.67 ± 24.17 vs. 403.11 ± 23.27). Predator and parasitoid insect counts were similar, and no pollinators were observed. Total yields were 5730.91 ± 5688.32 kg/ha for standard organic and 4929.50 ± 4890.27 kg/ha for regenerative. Fresh marketable yields were comparable (3169.77 ± 3139.50 vs. 3237.02 ± 3204.51). Although both treatments experienced high weed pressure, regenerative plots had fewer weeds, suggesting the grass cover crop may aid suppression. Insect density was numerically higher in regenerative plots, which also had slightly lower yields—possibly due to the grass strip. In the second trial, effective weed management led to no observed weeds. Higher insect densities were found in regenerative plots. These findings indicate that regenerative practices, such as incorporating a grass cover crop, may influence weed suppression and insect activity, though they may also slightly reduce yields. Continued research is needed to better understand these trade-offs and optimize regenerative system design for both productivity and ecological benefits.
Speakers
UO

Una O'Connell

Cal Poly SLO
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Humic Acid: Effects on Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthetic Capacity
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
The current marketing of humic acid products to potato growers indicates that incorporating these materials at planting will lead to improved nutrient uptake, increased soil health, vigorous growth, and increase in yields. Humic acids are composed of long chained, organic molecules that can be naturally or industrially made. In 2024, the in-furrow application of humic acid was evaluated in Pennsylvania on the cultivar ‘Lehigh’. Plots were evaluated for nutrient uptake and photosynthetic capacity as impacted by use of Black Label Zn, Duo Maxx, Fertiactyl, Humi-Flex FA, Hydra-Hume, and Monty's Carbon. Preliminary data show no statistically significant difference between applied products and an untreated control for macro and micronutrients analyzed by plant tissue sampling. No statistically significant differences were observed for stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, or electron transport rate. These preliminary data suggest that there is no positive return on investment with using humic acid products in-furrow at the time of planting. As part of a three-year study, data from 2023 supported a similar conclusion.
Speakers
RS

Ronald Stephenson

Plant Sciences Hall
Co-authors
DL

Donald Lee

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NA
JP

Jonathan Price

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NA
MS

Meghan Sindelar

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Impact of Soil Fertility Amendments and Cover Cropping on Soil Health in Vegetable Production
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Organic farming systems face inherent limitations in nutrient management, particularly when plant nutrient demand exceeds available supply. This multi-year study examined the effectiveness of various soil amendment strategies and cover cropping systems on soil health indicators and pepper yields across three Purdue Agriculture Research Centers in Indiana (Wanatah, Lafayette, and Vincennes). Our experimental design compared conventional, organic, and mixed soil amendment approaches using standardized nutrient targets across treatments. Soil amendments included conventional and organic nutrient sources, plant and manure-based, or mixed (leaf mold and manure) compost applications. Summer cover crops (mustard for biofumigation, sunn hemp for nitrogen fixation, and sorghum-sudangrass for biomass production) were planted in Year 1, while a mix of cereal rye and hairy vetch served as fall/winter cover crops throughout the study. Buckwheat was seeded in bed row middles during Years 3 and 4. Soil health was assessed using the Haney test on composite samples from fifteen 15 cm deep soil cores per experimental unit. Initial challenges from nutrient losses due to heavy rainfall and significant weed pressure in 2021 necessitated management adaptations, including preplant herbicide application and plastic mulch protection of soil amendments. Soil health metrics improved dramatically at the Lafayette location in 2022 (67-202% increase) but showed minimal improvement at Wanatah and Vincennes. By 2023, average soil health declined by 14% across sites, primarily due to decreased water-extractable organic nitrogen (WEON) and slight reductions in water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), resulting in reduced microbial activity. Our findings demonstrate that summer cover crops combined with fall/winter cover crops produced comparable benefits to high-rate compost applications for both crop yield and soil health improvements. However, high compost applications, particularly at Lafayette, led to extremely high P₂O₅ levels that required adjustment of fertility management. Soil respiration emerged as a reliable predictor of overall soil health, with statistical analysis indicating that a 10-point increase in soil respiration corresponded to soil health improvements of 1.0, 1.1, and 1.3 units at Wanatah, Lafayette, and Vincennes, respectively. This research provides evidence-based guidance for integrated soil fertility management that balances immediate crop nutrient needs with long-term soil health objectives, offering sustainable strategies for both organic and conventional production systems.
Speakers
PL

Petrus Langenhoven

Purdue University
Co-authors
NS

Nathan Shoaf

Purdue University
Nathan Shoaf earned his M.S. in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from Purdue University, specializing in horticulture and soil microbial ecology. With over two decades of experience, he has expertise in urban farms and specialty crop production, fostering impactful collaborations... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Soil Health in Fitotolodo’s in the Colca Valley Peru: Impact of Time and Management Practices
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
The Colca River Valley is an important agricultural and touristic region in southern Peru ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 meters above sea level. Many of the challenges associated with farming in this hyper-arid region were overcome through the establishment of unique terraces on the steep hillsides centuries ago, which have improved soils and help retain water and heat. However, the cold temperatures in this region prevent farmers from growing many warm-season crops such as tomatoes and zapallo, which bring high returns in larger cities like Arequipa. Fitotoldos are temporary greenhouse like structures created using earthen bricks and a plastic covering. Much like high tunnels or polyhouses in the U.S., these structures can help extend the growing season and allow farmers to grow new warm season crops that bring higher returns. In the past five years, many initiatives from the Peruvian government and several non-governmental organizations have provided funds to establish fitotoldos in the Colca River Valley. However, the farmers recieved little guidance on how to effectively manage soils and crops in these structures. This has led to poor quality crops and the abandoment of many of these structures. To help overcome this challenge, we conducted a survey of soils and farming practices in these structures. Soil samples were subject to several tests to quanitify soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and determine how these properties were impacted by the farmer’s management practices. Results were shared with farmers and used to design training programs that will help local farmers better manage these structures and their crops over the long-term.
Speakers
LH

Lori Hoagland

Purdue Univ - West Lafayette, IN
Co-authors
DM

Dennis Macedo

University of Saint Augustine
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

VCM 3 - Timing of Seeding is an Effective Ecological Weed Control Strategy for Edamame: Preliminary Results from a Greenhouse Study
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a specialty crop with untapped potential in the Midwest. Adoption of edamame in the Midwest has potential due to similarities in production practices to grain soybean and the potential for higher return per acre. Additionally, USA is experiencing expanding market opportunities and rising consumer interest in locally grown edamame. Despite these benefits, limited research exists on suitable edamame varieties for this region, and effective weed control remains crucial for Midwest edamame adoption. Our research aimed to identify currently available varieties of edamame with rapid germination response, with and without weed competition. Six readily available varieties of edamame (Chiba green, Sayamusume, BeSweet 292, Midori Giant, Tohya, and Karikachi) were grown with and without velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) competition. Weed seeds were planted using three timing treatments: two weeks before edamame planting (PRE), simultaneously with edamame (SIM), and two weeks after edamame planting (POST). Two control treatments without weeds (‘Control 1’ and ‘Control 2’) were also incorporated. This study was designed as an RCBD split-plot design with three replications, with variety as the main plot and timing of weed competition as the split-plot under greenhouse conditions. Edamame emergence rate, plant height, LA (leaf area), and dry weight for both edamame and weed were measured. At 5 and 9 DAS (days after seeding), edamame emergence was significantly higher without weed competition (71.76% and 95.37% in ‘Control 2’ treatment) compared to when weeds had a head start (46.53% and 72.69% in ‘PRE’ treatment). At 9 DAS, edamame emergence was significantly higher when edamame had a head start (93.06% in ‘POST’ treatment) compared to when weeds emerged first (72.69% in ‘PRE’ treatment). In terms of emergence rate, Karikachi showed superiority (78.89%) compared to Midori Giant (39.17%) at 5 DAS, but there was no difference among varieties at 9 DAS. Timing of weed planting affected edamame height, LA, and edamame dry weight. Edamame height and dry weight were reduced by 11.67% and 5.71 % by weed competition when weeds were planted two weeks earlier than edamame. Edamame competition significantly reduced weed dry weight by 93.94% when weeds were planted two weeks later and by 84.85% when planted the same day, compared to weeds established two weeks before edamame. Weed competition reduced edamame LA by 29.189 cm² when weeds were planted simultaneously with edamame compared to two weeks after edamame planting (241.582 cm² in ‘SIM’ vs 270.771 cm² in ‘POST’).
Speakers
MM

MD MOYEED HASAN TALUKDER

Purdue University
Co-authors
MB

Moriah Bilenky

Purdue University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Crops Management 3

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - Chemical Mowing: A Prospective Sustainable Weed Management Strategy For Christmas Tree Production
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
The Christmas tree industry is a million-dollar industry in the United States. Like all crop production systems, Christmas trees are also affected by weeds. Noxious plants such as Canada thistle, horsenettle, poison ivy, and pokeweed compete with Christmas trees not only for light, space, moisture, and nutrients but also harbors pests and pathogens. Additionally, they attract wild animals like deer which are detrimental to this tree production. Large weed species create significant difficulty in crop management practices and intercultural operations. Christmas trees are more prone to damage from weeds in the seedling beds and the first three years in the field after transplantation. Young trees often suffer moisture stress due to weeds and succumb to drought. Once established, weeds are very difficult to manage, particularly the management of vining and woody weeds without damaging the Christmas trees is almost impossible. In severe cases, they devastate the whole production system and cause unbearable losses to growers. The most commonly used method for weed management in Christmas tree production is the application of chemical herbicides. Herbicides can cause severe injury to Christmas trees if applied inappropriately and can cause environmental issues. In addition, repeated use of the same herbicides can trigger herbicide resistance in weed species. Chemical mowing is a weed control technique that has been implemented in Florida citrus production, and it has been successful. Chemical mowing consists of the use of sublethal rates of postemergence herbicides in conjunction with mechanical mowing. However, there is no data or research showing whether this can be implemented in the flat land Christmas tree production system. How can chemical mowing help prevent weed shifts and herbicide resistance from developing? These significant knowledge gaps have led to the development of this master’s research proposal. Hence the objectives of this research proposal are: Developing a chemical mowing strategy in Christmas tree production by evaluating the efficacies of three different postemergence herbicides at lower rates combined with mechanical mowing; Evaluating their phytotoxic effects on two different varieties of Christmas trees; Determining the optimal moisture range for efficient chemical mowing. The preliminary results showed that an effective weed control can be achieved in Christmas tree production at sublethal rates of postemergence herbicides. Also, no significant injury was observed in Christmas trees due to chemical mowing.
Speakers
ST

Shailendra Thapa

Michigan State University
Co-authors
DS

Debalina Saha

Michigan State University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - Evaluating Emergence of Two Container Nursery Weed Species Through Rice Hull Mulch When Applied at Two Different Growth Stages
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Weeds are a continual, year-round threat to nursery profitability due to their negative impact on crop growth, quality, and marketability, as well as the increased need for pesticide use and manual labor. In recent years, many nurseries have adopted parboiled rice hulls mulch as an alternative to herbicides. Rice hulls are lightweight, easy to apply, transport, and hydrophobic, making them an effective mulch for container-grown ornamentals. Previous research has demonstrated that rice hulls can provide excellent weed suppression when applied at sufficient depths. However, mulch is often applied 2–3 weeks after potting, during which time weed seedlings may emerge. There is a lack of research on the survivability of small weed seedlings that emerge prior to mulch application, and whether mulching at this stage could serve as a viable alternative to manual weeding. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of rice hull mulch depth on the emergence of eclipta (Eclipta prostrata) and phyllanthus (Phyllanthus tenellus) at two growth stages. Square 1.7 L nursery containers were filled with a substrate composed of pine bark, peat, and sand (80:10:10 v: v: v), amended with dolomitic lime (target pH 5.5) and a controlled-release fertilizer [Osmocote® Plus 21-4-8, (8–9 month)]. Containers were seeded with either eclipta or phyllanthus which were allowed to grow, reaching one of two developmental stages including the cotyledon to 1-leaf or 2–4 leaf stage, using staggered sowing dates. Seedlings were then thinned to five weed plants per container, and mulch was applied at depths of 0, 0.6, 1.3, 2.5, and 5 cm. Weed emergence was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after mulching, and shoot dry weight was measured at trial conclusion. All containers were maintained in a greenhouse and received 0.7 cm of daily overhead irrigation. Results indicated that weed seedling survival and final biomass decreased as mulch depth increased. Rice hull mulch at depths of 1.3 cm or greater significantly reduced emergence and biomass of both weed species, providing close to 100% control. These findings suggest that rice hull mulch can be successfully applied 2–3 weeks after potting if a minimum depth of 1.3 cm is used, offering growers a flexible and effective non-chemical weed control strategy.
Speakers
CM

Chris Marble

University of Florida/IFAS
Co-authors
YK

Yuvraj Khamare

The University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - Gemini Granular as a Pre-Emergent Weed Control Option for Eupatorium purpureum ‘Gateway’
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Mississippi State University’s South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station works with the IR-4 project to conduct trials and collect data to facilitate EPA registration of pest management products important in production of specialty crops. During the 2024 growing season, Gemini Granular was evaluated for phytotoxicity and pre-emergent weed control for Eupatorium purpureum ‘Gateway’. Height, percent flowering, and flower number was also recorded. Gemini Granular is 0.40% Prodiamine 0.25% Isoxaben. Eupatorium purpureum ‘Gateway’ liners were transplanted from 50-cell trays into an aged/screened pine bark based medium in 11.4 L containers on June 28, 2024. Medium was amended with sphagnum peat, perlite, a starter dose of 12-6-6 and 15-9-12 controlled release fertilizers. Containers received drip irrigation. Herbicide was applied twice during the season at 6-week intervals with a hand shaker (July 8 and August 20, 2024). Herbicide rates were control (0 lbs./A), 1x (200 lbs./A), 2x (400 lbs./A), or 4x (800 lbs./A). Experimental design was completely random with 10 replications. Data were analyzed in SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) using PROC GLIMMIX with mean separation using Tukey’s HSD at α = 0.05. Plants exhibited no phytotoxicity, regardless of herbicide rate. Plants receiving Gemini Granular at 200 lbs./A had greater heights compared to the heights of control plants or plants receiving the 2x or 4x herbicide rate. Flower numbers were only reduced for plants receiving the 2x herbicide rate. Flowering percentages ranged from 16.6% for control plants to 5.1% for plants receiving the 2x herbicide rate. In general, weed pressure was low, and there were no differences between treatments for weed number. Gemini Granular applied at 200 lbs./A, the 1x rate, provided effective and safe weed control for Eupatorium purpureum ‘Gateway’.
Speakers
PK

Patricia Knight

Mississippi State University
Co-authors
HW

Haley Williams

Mississippi State University
JR

Jenny Ryals

Mississippi State University
PB

Patrick Broussard

Mississippi State University
NA
SL

Scott Langlois

Miss State University
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - How Low Can You Go? Reducing Variable-Rate Spray Technology Default Rates
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Variable-rate spray technology allows nursery producers to make applications tailored to crops, reducing pesticide application volume and off-target losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate sub-default rates (default=0.1-0.15 L⸱m-3) for the Smart-Apply intelligent spray control system by comparing two intelligent modes with the conventional, constant-rate. We assessed control of powdery mildew (Erysiphe pulchra and Phyllactinia guttata) on ‘Cherokee Princess’ dogwoods (Cornus florida) in a five-row block. A Jacto A400/850 air-blast sprayer with the Smart-Apply system was used to compare: variable-rate: 0.05 L⸱m-3 rate in either pulse-on or pulse-off mode and a reduced, i.e.,
Speakers
KM

Karl McKim

The University of Tennessee
Co-authors
AF

Amy Fulcher

University of Tennessee
CY

Cory Yurisic

University of Tennessee
NA
EE

Erica Eady

University of Tennessee
NA
GP

Grace Pietsch

University of Tennessee
NA
HZ

Heping Zhu

USDA-ARS
NA
LN

Lloyd Nackley

oregon state university
Lloyd Nackley is a plant ecologist who applies a systems approach to improve nursery and greenhouse management. Nackley's research program at Oregon State University focuses on addressing four challenges facing nursery and greenhouse production in Oregon: irrigation application, pest... Read More →
SX

Sun Xiaocun

The University of Tennessee
NA
WW

Wesley Wright

University of Tennessee
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - Molecular Insights into the Developmental Regulation of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae)
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an invasive phloem-feeding insect that diminishes both the aesthetic appeal and economic value of crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.), the most widely planted flowering tree in the United States. Conventional control methods, including pruning, scrubbing infested bark, and applying systemic or contact insecticides, offer limited effectiveness due to the insect’s waxy covering, cryptic life stages, and prolific reproduction. Additionally, chemical treatments raise concerns about non-target effects and environmental contamination. To facilitate the development of targeted and sustainable control strategies, we are elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing CMBS development. We have assembled a high-quality reference genome and conducted bulk RNA sequencing across multiple life stages. Building on these resources, we now aim to apply single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to resolve cell-type-specific gene expression patterns throughout development. This high-resolution analysis will uncover key regulatory pathways, informing the identification of novel molecular targets for environmentally responsible CMBS management. We will report on the results of these investigations at the meeting.
Speakers
HQ
Co-authors
BW

Bin Wu

Texas A
NA
HK

Hazen Keinath

Texas A
NA
HD

Hui Duan

USDA-ARS-USNA-FNPRU
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1
  • Subject Weed Control and Pest Management
  • Funding Source Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - Rate and Application Volume Effects on the Efficacy of Glyphosate Alternative Herbicides
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Commercial pest control companies as well as homeowners are currently searching for alternatives to the herbicide glyphosate due to negative press and changing consumer preferences. These non-selective alternatives are almost exclusively contact-action herbicides (no systemic activity) and the most common options (diquat, pelargonic acid, acetic acid, plant oils, etc.) have been shown to be effective on annual weeds when label directions are followed. However, labels on individual products often recommend a wide range of application rates (concentrations of the herbicide) and application volumes depending upon weed size, creating confusion for users in terms of what rate and/or application volume is needed for optimal control while keeping costs low. The objective of this research was to evaluate four glyphosate alternatives (acetic acid, caprylic capric acid, diquat, and pelargonic acid) at both high and low labeled application rates and at three different application volumes including 50, 100, and 200 gallons per acre (1.2, 2.3, and 4.6 gallons per 1,000 ft2) to determine how efficacy differed based on these different treatment variables. Two weed species including yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta) were used for the evaluation to observe differences between an annual broadleaf (spurge) and a perennial sedge species (yellow nutsedge). Plants were allowed to grow for approximately 6 weeks, at which time herbicides were applied. Data collected included visual control ratings at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after treatment (WAT) and shoot weights collected at 5 WAT. Results differed by weed species and herbicide and on different evaluation dates. For yellow nutsedge, application volume was the most common significant main effect with similar control being achieved at both high and low label rates when the higher application volumes were used. For garden spurge, application volume was mostly insignificant with the high rate providing more consistent control regardless of application volume. Results indicate that for larger or perennial weed species, higher application volumes are more critical to success, given that adequate and label rates are used, as they were needed to achieve more thorough coverage to contact more shoot biomass. In contrast, for the smaller prostrate growing garden spurge, rate was most important as thorough coverage was achieved at the lowest application volumes. This research begins to help us better understand these alternative herbicides and develop recommendations for the most effective and efficient use of these products in Florida landscapes.
Speakers
SC

S. Christopher Marble

University of Florida/IFAS
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1

12:15pm CDT

WCPM 2 - The Antifeedant Activity of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Extracts Against Manduca Sexta Under Laboratory Conditions
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
Tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) are among very destructive insects that feed mainly on plants in Solanaceae plants. The larva stage is the most destructive, feeding on leaves and fruits, and as few as one to three insects can cause 100% loss. Damage caused by hornworms to the stem creates an environment for pathogens to grow, which ultimately kills the entire plant. Synthetic pesticides have been most effective in controlling insect pests but are harmful to the environment and humans. Plant-based biopesticides that are biodegradable, affordable, and eco-friendly may be a sustainable option to mitigate the problem. Several plants have been used as insecticides and have successfully controlled several insects. Due to the increasing demand for safe and biodegradable insecticides, there is a growing interest in sustainable pest control measures, and therefore there is a need to increase the number of plant sources to reduce the gap between demand and supply. Industrial hemp is among potential plants with phytocompounds that can be used as an anti-feeding agent against insects. However, little is known about the ability of the hemp phytocompound as an anti-feeding agent against tobacco hornworms. This study aimed to determine the antifeeding properties of industrial hemp extract against tobacco hornworms in vitro. The ethanolic hemp extracts were prepared at 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, and 1.56 mg/ml. Extracts were incorporated into the artificial diet, fourth instar larvae were introduced into the diet and raised in the growth chamber at 27±2°C, 60±10% RH and photoperiod 12:12 hour light/dark for four days. The relative growth rate differed significantly between concentrations. The growth rate was -0.05 g/g/day at 50 mg/ml, indicating insect body shrinkage, and 0.11g/g/day at 25 mg/ml, indicating slow growth compared to the negative control, which increased by 0.19g/g/day. The highest concentration (50mg/ml) inhibited larvae growth by 100%, similar to Malathion, which was used as a positive control in the study, 25mg/ml inhibited growth by 71%, 12.5mg/ml by 59%, 6.25mg/ml by 51%. Furthermore, an antifeedant index of 68% at 50mg/ml and 62% at 25mg/ml was reported. The findings indicate that industrial hemp extract is a strong antifeedant against tobacco hornworms and, therefore, a strong source of insecticide to control the insect, and thus, a potential contribution to sustainable agriculture.
Speakers
GK

Getrude Kanyairita

Tuskegee University
Co-authors
DM

Desmond Mortley

Tuskegee University
NA
WC

Willard Collier

Tuskegee University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 12:15pm - 1:00pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Weed Control and Pest Management 1
  • Subject Weed Control and Pest Management
  • Funding Source Contribution of the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station and USDA/NIFA Evans Allen Program (Grant no. ALX-FVC18)"

12:59pm CDT

Friday Poster Session 8
Friday August 1, 2025 12:59pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Friday August 1, 2025 12:59pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster presentation

1:00pm CDT

CITR 2 - Analyzing the evolutionary relationships and patterns among citrus genotypes to their tolerance to HLB
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Citrus production is challenged by multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, with Huanglongbing (HLB) disease being the most damaging to global citrus production. Long-term field evaluations have revealed that certain citrus relatives have varying HLB tolerance. This study investigates the genetic relationships among citrus genotypes with differing HLB tolerance levels to inform future breeding strategies for citrus improvement. The genome sequencing data from 39 citrus species and hybrids were analyzed: 23 tolerant, 8 moderately tolerant, and 8 susceptible to HLB. Variant calling identified 445,222 high-quality SNPs, with chromosome 5 showing the highest contribution of unique variants. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.27 to 0.38, with the highest SNP frequency observed at a PIC value of 0.27 (21,500 loci). The mean heterozygosity across genotypes was 0.136, with Citrus aurantium showing the highest and Citrus polyandra the lowest heterozygosity. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the genotypes into six distinct clusters. Admixture analysis (K=5) was performed to explore ancestral genetic components, while PCA accounted for 62.76% of total genetic variation. These findings provide critical insights for developing HLB-tolerant citrus hybrids and highlight the underlying genetic diversity present in citrus germplasm.
Speakers
MD

Manjul Dutt

University of Florida
Co-authors
JK

Jaideep K Deol

University of Florida
NA
MR

Marcio Resende

University of Florida
NA
SR

Sheetal Ramekar

University of Florida
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Citrus Crops 2

1:00pm CDT

CITR 2 - Comprehensive Study on the Grapefruit and Sweet Orange Fruit Development in Huanglongbing (HLB) Endemic Citrus Orchards
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
The US third largest citrus industry located in Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), South Texas is renowned for producing premium quality fresh fruit. However, the fresh-fruit industry dynamics have changed significantly as devastating Huanglongbing (HLB) disease become endemic in LRGV citrus groves. The primary reasons that affected the Texas citrus industry are unhealthy crop load, and unnatural and excessive fruit drops in HLB affected trees. Therefore, this study investigates HLB effects on citrus fruit development in the region's subtropical semi-arid climate, focusing on the period from bloom to harvest. Research was conducted on mature 'Rio Red' grapefruit and 'Marrs' sweet oranges grafted onto Sour orange rootstock, all exposed to HLB for over a decade. In both citruses multilocation trial and replicated number of trees were pre-screened for blotchy mottled symptoms on foliage and presence of presumptive causal bacterium of HLB, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) using qPCR assay. The CLas ve trees were further evaluated for sectorial presence of HLB symptoms in 10 branches and divided into two sub-categories of HLB affected symptomatic (Symp) and apparently healthy, asymptomatic (Asymp) branches. In year-2024, monthly fruitlet retention analysis from April to July reveled significantly higher fruitlets drop in ‘Symp’ branches compared to ‘Asymp’ ones across both citrus varieties. In late-May, the ‘Symp’ grapefruit branches showed 28.5-35.3% drop, while sweet orange experienced 23.3-36.3% losses. While ‘Asymp’ branches had significantly lesser fruit drop ranged in 23.1-27.5% in grapefruit and 22.7-29.4% in sweet orange. Although late-May fruit drop is a natural phenomenon in citrus trees, the excessive fruit drop under HLB disease pressure highlights the negative effect of HLB in fruit retention and possibly in fruit size expansion. Ongoing research continues to identify vulnerable stages of fruit growth and expansion under HLB stress, aiming to develop targeted treatments for maintaining high-quality fruit production under HLB prevalence in LRGV citrus groves with region’s unique environmental and edaphic conditions.
Speakers
JL

Julianna Leal

Texas A
NA
Co-authors
AS

Aditi Satpute

Texas A
NA
MK
MS
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Citrus Crops 2
  • Subject Citrus Crops
  • Funding Source Texas Citrus Producers Board

1:00pm CDT

CITR 2 - Efficacy of Brassinosteroid in Enhancing Citrus sinensis Health and Performance under HLB Endemic Conditions
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Brassinosteroids (Brs), a class of plant steroidal hormones, protect various crop species, including maize, wheat, strawberries, and grapes, from biotic and abiotic stress. However, their impact on citrus remains unexplored. The Florida citrus industry faces a significant threat from Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease that deteriorates tree health and affects overall yield. Given the efficacy of Brs in enhancing stress tolerance in other crops, their potential role in citrus resilience needs an investigation. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the plant's performance after foliar application of Brs at different intervals. Three-year-old Valencia sweet oranges grafted onto UF-R5 rootstock were grown in pots and treated with Brs at three intervals: every two weeks, once a month, and every other month. Key parameters, including shoot and root biomass, canopy volume, scion and rootstock diameters, specific leaf area, total phenolic content, and flavonoid content were assessed. After one year, there was a significant increase in flavonoid content in Brs-treated plants, regardless of application frequency. There was a positive trend on the response to the treatment of the other parameters studied, althoughnot statistically significant by the first year of treatment. This finding suggests that Brs may quickly enhance secondary metabolite production in citrus, but their impact on overall growth may require longer time of exposure to the treatment. Further investigation will elucidate this.
Speakers
DA

Divya Aryal

SWFREC - University of Fl
Co-authors
FA

Fernando Alferez

SWFREC - University of Florida/IFAS
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Citrus Crops 2
  • Subject Citrus Crops
  • Funding Source Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)

1:00pm CDT

CITR 2 - Evaluation of Four White-Pulp Finger Lime Selections Developed at the University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Citrus australasica, commonly referred to as finger lime, is an Australian citrus species distinguished by its elongated, cylindrical fruits and numerous small, spherical juice vesicles that resemble caviar. It is highly valued in the culinary industry for its unique appearance, diverse color variations, and distinctive flavor. Finger lime is tolerant to Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating citrus disease, making it a promising source of resistance genes for developing HLB-tolerant rootstocks and scions. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of four of the best University of Florida-developed white pulp finger lime selections - KB1, KB29, KB37, and KB48. These 7-year-old accessions, growing at the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center campus, have excellent fruit size, robust tree health, and remain HLB negative under endemic HLB conditions. The fruit quality assessment (fruit weight, edible rate, fruit length, diameter, and pearl diameter) revealed that the KB37 selection was significantly superior, followed by the other three finger lime selections, with the lowest values observed in the control, DPI-50-36. Finger lime juice analysis indicated that TSS (total soluble solids) and acid content were almost similar across the four fruit lines, and this was significantly lower than the DPI-50-36 control. The phenolic activity was not statistically different between the selections, while the highest flavonoid activity was observed in KB29, followed by KB1 and KB37. The volatile profiles obtained from the four-finger lime selections were also evaluated. Overall, morphological and physicochemical parameters identified KB37 as the best-performing selection amongst the 4 evaluated. This analysis underscores the nutritional profile of these novel white-pulp finger limes, positioning them as a strong candidate for commercial cultivation for the specialty citrus industry.
Speakers
SR

Sheetal Ramekar

University of Florida
NA
Co-authors
JH

Jonathan H Crane

University of Florida, TREC
MD

Manjul Dutt

University of Florida
NK

Nabil Killiny

University of Florida
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Citrus Crops 2

1:00pm CDT

CITR 2 - Exploring HLB Tolerance in Citrus: A Genomic Evaluation of Early-Season Sweet Oranges
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, caused by the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas), poses a significant threat to citrus production worldwide. Identifying and developing HLB-tolerant cultivars has become necessary to mitigate its devastating impact. In Lake County, Florida, several Hamlin-type citrus trees, that’s are generally susceptible to HLB exhibited significant tolerance to the disease. The CaLas bacterial titer for most of the surviving trees was comparable to that of the susceptible control trees, and the qPCR Ct values ranged from 28 to 37. The visually tolerant citrus trees had increased chlorophyll and carotenoid content compared to the susceptible control trees. Juice quality assessments indicated a brix-to-acid ratio of 15-25, with other juice parameters meeting current U.S. Grade A standards. Interestingly, despite being labeled as Hamlin cultivars, several of these trees displayed variations in seed count, some aligning more with Parson Brown cultivars. To investigate their genetic origin, whole-genome DNA sequencing was performed on these trees, as well as on several Hamlin and Parson Brown clones. Genomic analysis revealed that the escape trees were genetically diverse; most were either likely Parson Brown types or Hamlin clones. Among them, two promising lines, R20-T30 (Parson Brown-type) and R21-T36 (Hamlin-type) were identified as superior and included in the 2024 Citrus Research and Field Trials (CRAFT) program. Both cultivars have demonstrated excellent yield and juice quality. Hamlin types, such as Hamlin 1-4-1 and Hamlin R21-T36, and Parson Brown types, such as Parson Brown F-56-2 and Parson Brown R20-T30, also displayed differences at the genomic level. Whole genome sequencing of the root DNA from these escape trees identified nucellar or zygotic Swingle as the predominant rootstock among escape trees with others similar to Carrizo and Poncirus trifoliata rootstocks. These findings underscore the role of genetic analysis in identifying HLB-tolerant cultivars, establishing a foundation for targeted breeding strategies aimed at improving citrus resilience to HLB.
Speakers
SR

Sheetal Ramekar

University of Florida
NA
Co-authors
GE

Gary England

University of Florida
NA
JK

Jaideep K Deol

University of Florida
NA
MD

Manjul Dutt

University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Citrus Crops 2

1:00pm CDT

NUTS - Characterizing The Winter Chilling Requirement of ‘Golden Hills’ Pistachio in Southern New Mexico
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
In the US, pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is grown mainly in California, but it is a promising crop for some areas of the arid American Southwest, such as the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The Dynamic Model used for calculating winter chill portions has yielded useful relationships in California between dormant-season temperatures and bud break timing for pistachio. Our objective was to characterize the relationship between bud break timing and winter chill accumulation in southern New Mexico, where, compared to California, there are much larger diurnal temperature fluctuations in winter. This experiment was designed to measure the effects of winter chill accumulation in immature pistachio over the course of one dormant season in Mesquite, New Mexico. The orchard used for the study was planted in 2021; the cultivar was Golden Hills budded onto seedling ‘UCB-1’ rootstocks. Dormant shoots were sampled every two weeks from 52 trees in the orchard from 3 January through 14 March 2025. On each sampling date one 25-30 cm shoot was collected from each tree. Samples were placed in containers with 15 cm of tap water in a growth chamber (Conviron CMP 3244) modified with LED lights (Heliospetra Elixia). The growth chamber light cycle was set to 14 hours on (“day”) and 10 hours off (“night”). The growth chamber air temperature was set to 24°C during the day and 19°C at night and. The samples were arranged in the chamber in a completely randomized block design with six blocks (containers). The average duration from dormant sampling until bud break decreased as sampling dates progressed from early January to mid-March. The time to bud break in the growth chamber for the six samples averaged 37 days in early January. It had dropped to 30 days by late January, and 17 days by the end of February.
Speakers
CC

Chris Chavez

New Mexico State University
NA
Co-authors
CV

Ciro Velasco-Cruz

New Mexico State University
NA
RH

Richard Heerema

New Mexico State University
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Temperate Tree Nut Crops

1:00pm CDT

NUTS - ‘Ga. 03-6-72’, A Scab Resistant Pecan Cultivar with Excellent Kernel Quality for the Southeastern U.S.
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
‘Ga. 03-6-72’ is a new pecan (Carya illinoinensis) that was released by the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences for use in commercial orchards in the southeastern U.S. ‘Ga. 03-6-72’ produces large pecans (9.3 g) with consistently high percentage kernel (59.6%). ‘Ga. 03-6-72’ kernels shell out into complete halves with a light golden color and harvest date is early October in southern Georgia. Yields of ‘Ga. 03-6-72’ have been good and similar other commercial cultivars such as ‘Sumner’, ‘Huffman’, and ‘Tom’. ‘Ga. 03-6-72’ has good levels of resistance to pecan scab (Venturia effusa) with little disease seen in orchards receiving moderate levels of fungicide protection and moderate levels of infection in unsprayed orchards. ‘Ga. 03-6-72’ is recommended for trial in commercial orchards in the southeastern U.S. which will receive fungicide applications.
Speakers
PC

Patrick Conner

Professor, University of Georgia
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Temperate Tree Nut Crops

1:00pm CDT

TCHG - Design and Implementation of an Integrated Case-Study Based Course in Plant Diagnostics
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Plant production is challenged by a variety of stressors that limit system health and economic outcomes. Efficient integrated crop management practices have the potential to reduce the impact of these challenges. Application of effective plant protection strategies requires knowledge of the identity of the stressor. A case-study based course was developed providing students with training and experience in the process of plant diagnostics. The goal for the course is to integrate student knowledge of plant biology, soil science, insect pest management, and plant pathology to allow for effective identification of plant health challenges under conditions they will practically experience in a professional setting. Students are challenged to engage in the process of plant diagnostics and management plan development through case studies based in diverse plant production systems. Students additionally gain experience in communicating their results to non-academic audiences. Course participants indicate increased confidence in identification of plant health challenges and communication, as well as increased skill in problem solving in plant systems.
Speakers
RS

Ronald Stephenson

Plant Sciences Hall
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Teaching Methods

1:00pm CDT

TCHG - Live Crop Library: An Innovative Tool for Education and Outreach
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
The growing complexity and challenges faced by the US Agriculture industry demands a new generation of highly skilled agricultural professionals equipped with both technical proficiency and practical knowledge. There is also a pressing need to recruit talented students to pursue a degree in plant agriculture and provide quality, hands-on education for those students. Studies indicate that experiential learning activities are a great tool to encourage young people begin careers in agriculture. We established a live crop library on the university farm consisting of agronomic and horticultural crops of Texas. This includes a wide range of vegetable, fruit, herb, grain, and fiber crops. Tropical fruit crops were installed in ground-beds within a greenhouse. This crop library is envisioned as a place for experiential learning, scholarly research, and agricultural outreach activities. The crop library has become a hub for experiential learning activities for both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in multiple disciplines including plant science, agribusiness, and animal science. Outreach activities geared toward both youth and adults, such as field days, are also being enhanced through the crop library. Quantitative and qualitative data collecting methods are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the crop library in enhancing participant’s learning outcomes. Overall, this project provides a stimulus for high school and college students to enhance their knowledge of plant agriculture in Texas. Adult learners gain understanding of new ways to income or assist others in improving their agricultural income. The findings will continue to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve learning outcomes in multiple educational settings.
Speakers
TP

Tim Pannkuk

Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator, Sam Houston State University
Co-authors
SN

Shyam Nair

Sam Houston State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Teaching Methods

1:00pm CDT

TCHG - Perceptions of Topic Selection Preference for Semester Projects in a Plant Propagation Course
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Pedagogy strategies that include students in the course curriculum can increase student engagement and success. One student-based pedagogy involvement example is involving students in the assignment implementation. This method was adapted after feedback from student evaluations indicated that the topic selection method for semester-long course projects was challenging in the HORT 260 Plant Propagation course at Colorado State University. The course curriculum includes two projects that focus on students writing propagation protocols on specific plant species of their choice. The selection process became a stressor for assignment completion due to the paradox of choice. With this in mind, we revised the assignment, testing topic selection methods for the Spring 2024 and 2025 semesters. The study trialed three topic selection methods (treatments): find their plant independently, choose from a list, or be assigned a plant. Each student experienced two of the three treatments, one treatment type per assignment. We obtained student feedback through voluntary pre- and post-surveys to assess their experiences and satisfaction. The pre-survey was administered after they selected their topic plants, and the post-survey was disseminated after the submissions of the projects’ final drafts. In Spring 2024, 28 students participated in the pre- and 24 in the post-survey. Of the 18 students who participated in both surveys, the post-survey resulted in a preference for selecting a plant from a list rising 11% and preferences for methods where students independently found their topic plant or were assigned a plant both dropped 5%. When students were asked why they chose a plant as their topic, 61% chose based on familiarity, 25% on unfamiliarity and desire to learn more, 11% for “other reasons”, and 3% selected plants they thought would be the easiest to write about. In the post-survey, students noted in the open response that they felt that plants selected from a list were easier to find information needed to complete the assignment and 39% of respondents suggested that picking from a list should be the method in the future. The other most reoccurring comment was that 32% of respondents said interest in the topic plant made the project easier to complete. Based on our observations for Spring 2024 and initial data from 2025, providing a list to select from is the most fruitful way to give students the opportunity for choice while minimizing the possibility of topic choice paralysis.
Speakers
ML

Makenzie Lee

Colorado State University
Co-authors
AL

Amy Lentz

Colorado State University
NA
CT

Chad T. Miller

Colorado State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Teaching Methods

1:00pm CDT

TCHG - Publish What You Present at the Annual Meeting
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
The annual meeting of the American Society for Horticulture Science is over, and you presented great data. Now what? Publish your data with ASHS. We have three highly respected journals: The Journal of the American Society for Horticulture Science (JASHS), HortScience, and HortTechnolgy. Many people who attend the meeting look forward to seeing the paper related to what was presented at the meeting. There are many reasons to publish with ASHS including this is our national society and these journals are the outreach for our society; we have open access publications; the publishing costs are reasonable compared to other open access platforms; the society has improved the submission and review process; reviews are completed in a timely manner; and the journals continue to have increased impact factors. In fact, JASHS impact factor had increased from 0.95 in 2019 to 1.53; HortScience has increased from 1.10 to 1.87; and HortTecnology has increased from 0.67 to 1.39. This poster will outline the process of presenting at the meeting to publishing the results. It also will compare costs with other open access publications and show the improved submission and review process.
Speakers
KM

Kimberly Moore

University of Florida
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Teaching Methods

1:00pm CDT

TCHG - Undergraduate Horticulture Program Evaluation and Alignment of Learning Outcomes Through Curriculum Mapping
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Curriculum mapping is a valuable tool for visualizing how course content and learning activities align with program-level learning outcomes. In higher education, this method enables faculty to design cohesive curricula that foster integrated learning experiences across a student's academic career. While individual course outcomes are routinely assessed, program-level mapping offers a broader view that supports continuous improvement and ensures graduates possess the skills and knowledge required for professional success. At a midwestern land-grant university, the undergraduate Horticulture major program participated in a university-wide pilot project to map and evaluate its curriculum during the 2024–2025 academic year. The initiative was supported by several institutional learning units and a dedicated team of assessment and curriculum specialists. Faculty collaborated to analyze course goals, identify where embedded learning outcomes are being met, and develop a program-wide curriculum map and accompanying narrative. The mapping process focused on identifying where learning outcomes are introduced, reinforced, and mastered throughout the curriculum. Special attention was given to senior-level capstone courses, where embedded outcomes are being assessed through targeted assignments and artifacts. Analysis of specific courses across the map and across academic years will highlight gaps, redundancies, and alignment with employer expectations for graduates. The resulting curriculum map and supporting documents serve as dynamic tools for ongoing evaluation. They guide future assessment efforts, support accreditation needs, and inform curriculum planning at the university, college, and departmental levels. The methodology used to align course- and program-level outcomes with institutional, college and departmental goals will be shown, along with the products of the process, and future plans and strategies for further data collection and analysis will be shared.
Speakers
avatar for Kathryn Orvis

Kathryn Orvis

Professor, Purdue Univ
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Teaching Methods

1:00pm CDT

VGBR - Evaluating Watermelon (Citrullus spp.) F2 Hybrid Populations for Phytophthora capsici Resistance.
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, is an important vegetable crop in the United States of which the annual watermelon crop value exceeded $534 million in 2021. In recent years, production has been disrupted by the rapid spread of a serious plant pathogen, Phytophthora capsici. The closest ancestors of today’s domesticated watermelon are thought to be Citrullus mucosospermus and Citrullus amarus, several accessions of which have known resistance to Phytophthora capsici fruit rot, but are untested in regards to stem and root rot. Popular commercially available cultivars, such as ‘All Sweet’, ‘Laelanau’, ‘Penghu’, and ‘Sunshade’, as well as Texas A
Speakers
RE

Ryan Elms

Texas A
Co-authors
CW
JJ

John Jifon

Texas A
NA
KC

Kevin Crosby

Texas A
NA
TI
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Breeding

1:00pm CDT

VGBR - Introducing Resistance to Fusarium Wilt Race 3 of Tomato Through Background Genome Selection
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol), threatens tomato crops globally. Fol causes substantial yield losses in susceptible plants and is persistent once established in fields, making gene-based resistance a high-priority for growers. Historically, Fol strains isolated in the Midwest United States have been predominantly race 1, and I-based resistance has been widely deployed and effective. However, there have been increasing numbers of samples sent to diagnostic clinics in the Midwest with Fusarium wilt symptoms, suggesting a potential shift in Fol race prevalence and the need to deploy additional resistances. The aim of our project is to introgress the I3 resistance gene, effective against race 3 Fol, into Midwest-suited processing tomato lines. I3 was originally identified in Solanum pennellii, a wild relative of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and a minimal introgression which reduced linkage drag was developed and introduced into Fresh-Market tomatoes by the University of Florida. We developed backcross families with the I3 gene using the Florida minimal introgression and recurrent parents from the Ohio processing tomato breeding program. Lines were selected for advancement based on I3 genotyping, background genome selection using unlinked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and phenotyping of relevant yield and quality characteristics. Our analysis found no significant differences in yield and quality traits between the backcross selections and their recurrent parents, indicating the rapid conversion of parents through this strategy. We are currently combining the I3 and I2 resistance genes through further crossing and will ultimately develop high-performing processing tomato lines suited to Midwest growing conditions that are resistant to all three Fol races.
Speakers
AK

Adelle Knight

The Ohio State University
Co-authors
AT

Anna Testen

USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit
NA
DF

David Francis

The Ohio State University
NA
JC

Jessica Chitwood-Brown

University of Florida
JC

Jin Cho

The Ohio State University
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Breeding

1:00pm CDT

VGBR - Morphological Characterization of UGA-CAPSI-CORE (Capsicum spp.) reveals extensive diversity for trait improvement
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Understanding germplasm diversity is essential in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) breeding to enhance disease resistance and fruit quality. This study evaluated morpho-phenological characteristics of UGA-CAPSI-CORE, a collection of 352 globally sourced germplasm classified into six varietal groups (VGs): banana, bell, Italian frier, mini bell, mini sweet, and specialty peppers evaluated in two replications during summer 2024. A total of 12 traits, including eight quantitative (e.g., germination, plant vigor, plant height) and four qualitative traits (e.g., growth habit, fruit position, fruit color), were assessed. Significant phenotypic variation was observed across varietal groups. Germination rates averaged 64%, with mini sweet peppers exhibiting highest germination (71.63%) and least in banana peppers (57.30%). Flowering time slightly varied (87–103 days), with banana peppers flowered late (89.3 days) than Italian frier (88.5 days). Specialty peppers were longer (41.49 cm) while bell types shorter (34.22 cm). Banana peppers and bell types exhibited taller (17.55 cm) and shorter (14.98 cm) stems, respectively. Lodging susceptibility was highest in Italian frier (29.12%) and lowest in mini bell (19.78%). Days to maturity was consistent, with mini sweet accessions requiring slightly longer time (142.51 days) than Banana peppers (141.34 days). Fruit morphology varied significantly, with bell peppers producing the highest lobe count (3.38) and banana peppers having single-lobed fruits. ANOVA confirmed significant variation (p < 0.001) in key traits, and cluster analysis identified six distinct clusters. This study elucidates the genetic diversity within the evaluated germplasm, providing valuable insights for breeding program to focus on enhancing productivity, adaptability, and fruit quality.
Speakers
AN

Amol Nankar

University of Georgia (UGA)
Co-authors
DJ

Deepa Jaganathan

University of Georgia
Post Doc at University of Georgia with over 15 years of experience in molecular breeding and gene editing in crops. Research expertise spans drought tolerance in chickpea, TYLCV resistance in tomato, salinity tolerance in rice, genetic mapping in banana, and currently focused on disease... Read More →
NT

Noel Thomas

University of Georgia
NA
TM

Ted McAvoy

University of Georgia
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Breeding

1:00pm CDT

VGBR - Screening and Identification of Resistance Sources to Phytophthora in Peppers (Capsicum annum L.) Through Marker-Assisted Selection Using SSR markers
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Phytophthora capsici is a devastating pathogen in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), responsible for root, stem, and fruit rot, often leading to yield losses of 40% to 60% in outbreak conditions. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) offers a precise strategy for accelerating resistance breeding. While high-throughput genotyping approaches such as genome-wide resequencing (WGRS) are increasingly adopted, SSR markers remain a practical and informative tool for initial diversity assessment, especially in large and diverse germplasm collections. In this study, 485 globally sourced pepper accessions including 473 accessions from C. annuum and 12 accessions from seven wild Capsicum species were evaluated using 31 SSR markers previously reported to be linked with Phytophthora resistance. Eighteen markers showing robust and reproducible amplification were selected for full-panel genotyping. To ensure consistent and accurate allele calling, SSR allele binning was performed using TANDEM software. The resulting dataset revealed substantial allelic richness, reflecting the broad genetic diversity of the collection. Gradient PCR was also performed to optimize amplification of the 13 initially non-amplifying markers, resulting in six additional markers now suitable for further screening. Downstream diversity analyses, including PCA, STRUCTURE, and phylogenetic clustering, are currently in progress. Additionally, WGRS is planned for this germplasm panel, and integration of SSR and SNP datasets will allow for a comprehensive assessment of genetic relationships, population structure, and resistance allele distribution. Together, these efforts will support the identification of novel resistance sources and inform strategic breeding for improved Phytophthora resistance in pepper.
Speakers
AN

Amol Nankar

University of Georgia (UGA)
Co-authors
DJ

Deepa Jaganathan

University of Georgia
Post Doc at University of Georgia with over 15 years of experience in molecular breeding and gene editing in crops. Research expertise spans drought tolerance in chickpea, TYLCV resistance in tomato, salinity tolerance in rice, genetic mapping in banana, and currently focused on disease... Read More →
JG

Jessica Gibbs

University of Georgia
NA
MA

Mahnaz Azad

University of Georgia
NA
MT

Miaoying Tian

University of Georgia
NA
NT

Noel Thomas

University of Georgia
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Breeding
  • Subject vegetable Breeding
  • Poster # csv
  • Funding Source Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) - RGDAG000188920A

1:00pm CDT

VGBR - Seed Multiplication and Phenotypic Assessment of a Globally Sourced Capsicum Collection to Support Pre-Breeding Efforts
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Seed increase is an essential step in germplasm management, enabling the effective use of genetic resources in breeding, evaluation, and conservation. This study focused on multiplying seed stocks and assessing phenotypic diversity in a globally sourced collection of 485 Capsicum accessions. The collection comprises accessions belonging different species of Capsicum including C. annuum (473), C. chinense (4), C. baccatum (3), C. chacoense (1), C. flexuosum (1), C. frutescens (1), C. galapagoense (1), and C. rhomboideum (1). Evaluated accessions were obtained from diverse genebanks (domestic and international), and collaborative breeding programs that comprises landraces, heirlooms, breeding lines, and exPVPs. To ensure sufficient seed availability, 352 accessions were grown in a greenhouse during summer 2024 and an additional 133 accessions were grown during winter 2024. Simultaneously, twelve agronomic and morphological traits, six pre-harvest (e.g., germination rate, plant vigor, internode number and length) and six post-harvest (e.g., fruit size, pericarp thickness, yield) were recorded. Significant phenotypic variation was observed across varietal groups. Bell and mini bell peppers showed high germination rates (>65%) and marketable yields, with bell types producing the heaviest fruits (79.8 g) and thickest pericarps (5.2 mm). Banana peppers exhibited the longest fruits (13.8 cm) and high plant vigor, while mini bells were completely resistant to lodging. These findings highlight both successful seed multiplication and the phenotypic richness of the collection, offering a valuable resource for pre-breeding, core collection development, and trait-specific selection.
Speakers
AN

Amol Nankar

University of Georgia (UGA)
Co-authors
BD

Bhabesh Dutta

University of Georgia (UGA)
NA
DJ

Deepa Jaganathan

University of Georgia
Post Doc at University of Georgia with over 15 years of experience in molecular breeding and gene editing in crops. Research expertise spans drought tolerance in chickpea, TYLCV resistance in tomato, salinity tolerance in rice, genetic mapping in banana, and currently focused on disease... Read More →
NT

Noel Thomas

University of Georgia (UGA)
NA
TM

Ted McAvoy

University of Georgia
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Vegetable Breeding

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Bacteriophage Trunk Injection Treatment Trial for Pierce’s Disease in ‘Vidal Blanc’ Grapevines
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Pierce’s Disease (PD) is a major disease of grapevines in the southeast US caused by the xylem dwelling bacteria Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa (Xf). XylPhi-PD is a bacteriophage product recently registered for PD management in grapevines in Georgia. In 2023 and 2024, ‘Vidal blanc’ hybrid winegrape vines with a history of PD were either ‘treated’ at the maximum label rate or ’untreated’ in a commercial vineyard in Lumpkin Co. GA. Disease was rated visually by two raters in September shortly after harvest. A subsample (n=80) was assessed by AmplifyRP XRT to confirm visual assessment. Overall, there was a reduced disease incidence and severity in the treated vines for both years (chi-sq p
Speakers
SL

Sarah Lowder

University of Georgia
Co-authors
CM

Clark MacAllister

University of Georgia
NA
SB

Shane Breeden

University of Georgia
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Bridging Gaps in Vineyard Nutrient Management through the HiRes Project: A Data-Driven Approach
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
The High-Resolution (HiRes) Vineyard Nutrient Management Project is developing precision agriculture tools for vineyard nutrition monitoring and refining current guidelines for all grape markets (wine, table, raisin, and juice) in the United States (US). In 2021, an industry survey was conducted, and data was received from commercial grape growers in 25 states. These results provided a nutrient management baseline: growers use annual vine tissue testing and periodic soil testing by manually collecting vine tissues (petioles and leaf blades) and/or soil and sending them to labs for analysis. There is low adoption of precision agriculture methods in farming, and the reasons cited were perceived high costs and technical complexity. In 2025, focus groups were conducted to gather data on how growers prioritize nutrient management, methods used for monitoring, and openness to adopting new vineyard nutrition sensor technologies. Focus groups were conducted across grape-producing states representing eastern and western US regions. These were semi-structured discussions using a uniform questionnaire. Each meeting consisted of 5-10 participants, including vineyard managers, vineyard or winery owners, and other industry stakeholders. Discussions focused on grower decision-making processes, valuation of nutrient management, and strategies for integrating precision agriculture technology. Results show that growers highly value vineyard nutrition for maintaining vine health and crop balance, as found in the 2021 survey. Participants emphasized challenges in field sampling efficiency, consistency, cost, and uncertainty in interpreting results for management plans. Participants had ongoing concerns about input costs and the practical limitations of current equipment for variable-rate applications, particularly for micronutrients. Although growers indicated low use of precision agriculture methods in 2021, focus group results show strong interest in new tools. However, these tools need to be affordable, user-friendly, allow for in-house data, and provide actionable recommendations tailored to specific vine phenology and regional soil variability. A growing interest in regenerative and organic approaches emerged as a significant management theme across regions. These findings are forming the project’s outreach to deliver comprehensive educational resources and user-friendly sensor technologies to enhance grower vineyard nutrient monitoring practices.
Speakers
KS

Karmandeep Sidhu

Graduate Research assistant, Oregon State University
I am a first-year graduate student in Horticulture at Oregon State University, Corvallis
Co-authors
AH

Andrew Harner

Virginia Tech
NA
JV

Justine Vanden Heuvel

NYSAES Cornell University
NA
MF

Matthew Fidelibus

University of California, Davis
NA
NS

Nataliya Shcherbatyuk

Washington State University
NA
PS

Patricia Skinkis

Oregon State University
NA
TB

Terence Bates

Cornell University, NY
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2
  • Subject Viticulture and Small Fruits
  • Funding Source National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) grant. Project Award Number: 2020-51181-32159

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Co-regulation of a CBF gene by ICE and FAMA reveals crosstalk between cold acclimation and the stomatal development pathways in grape
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Grape (Vitis spp) has four ICE genes encoding proteins with possible functions as transcription factors in an ICE-CBF cold acclimation pathway. Using an Agrobacterium-mediated transactivation system, it was determined that Vitis riparia ICE activates the VrCBF4 promoter after a 4-day incubation period at 22 C when effector and reporter bacteria were at an OD600 of at least 0.25 and 0.5, respectively. All four grape ICE proteins activated VrCBF4 and VrCBF6 promoters. These promoters were used as reporter because both these CBF genes are abundantly expressed in overwintering mature grape buds and therefore thought to be important for freezing tolerance in grape. VrCBF4 was activated most by VrICE2 and VrICE3 whereas VrCBF6 was activated most by VrICE1 and VrICE4. An additional 2 hours of cold treatment increased activation by only the ICE proteins, VrICE2 and VrICE3 that contain a sumoylation site. This supports the notion that low temperature stabilizes VrICE2 and VrICE3 protein by sumoylation. Using a 5’ deletion series of the VrCBF4 promoter it was found that the -281 to -342 bp region contains sequence sufficient for activation by the VrICE proteins or stomatal protein VrFAMA(L). Analyses with a wild type or mutated MYC2g element plus min35S promoter showed that VrICE2, VrICE3 and FAMA(L) activated via this element. The higher activation by combinations of VrICE and VrFAMA(L) suggests that they interact with each other to direct VrCBF4 activation which showed possible overlap between stomatal development and cold acclimation pathways.
Speakers
MR

M Rahman

Alabama State University
Co-authors
AE

Ali Ebadi

University of Guelph
NA
AN

Annette Nassuth

University of Guelph
NA
MS

Mahbuba Siddiqua

University of Guelph
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Developing a Nutrient Management Strategy for High Tunnel Red Raspberry Production in the Lower Midwest
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
High tunnel hydroponic systems are increasingly adopted to extend the growing season and improve fruit quality in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) production. While nutrient management guidelines exist for northern climates, they are often not suited to Lower Midwestern systems especially those using soilless substrates such as coconut coir. In these cooler climates, nitrogen uptake is limited by low root zone temperatures and reduced microbial activity, often resulting in unchecked vegetative growth that shades developing fruit and reduces yield and quality. In contrast, warmer Lower Midwestern high tunnels promote faster nitrogen uptake due to elevated root temperatures and increased plant metabolic rates. While this enhances nutrient absorption, it also encourages overly vigorous vegetative growth when fertility is not carefully managed, limiting light penetration and shifting resources away from fruit development. These challenges highlight the need for region specific nitrogen thresholds that optimize fruit yield without promoting excessive shoot growth. Without region-specific fertility strategies, nutrient applications often exceed crop demand, reducing efficiency and productivity. This project aims to develop optimized nutrient management strategies tailored to soilless raspberry production in Lower Midwestern high tunnels. A completely randomized split-plot experiment was conducted in a high tunnel located in southern Illinois. Three nitrogen fertigation rates (low, medium, high) were assigned to main plots, and five foliar nutrient treatments to split plots. Raspberries were grown in coconut coir, and each of the 15 treatment combinations was replicated four times (n = 60 plots), with five plants per plot and two fruiting canes per plant. Measured variables included shoot length, leaf number, total fruit yield, average berry weight, and foliar nutrient concentrations. These metrics were used to evaluate treatment effects on nutrient efficiency and overall plant performance. Results showed a 222.5% increase in potential fruit yield between the lowest and highest producing plots per 9 × 27-meter-high tunnels. However, this yield gain was accompanied by a 5.9% decrease in average berry size, indicating a trade-off in which higher yields are associated with smaller berries, while lower yields produce larger fruit. This research provides practical, science-based fertility recommendations to growers for improvement of fruit quality and yield, reduced fertilizer waste, and enhanced sustainability and profitability of raspberry production in Lower Midwestern high tunnels.
Speakers
KG

Kayla Grey

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Co-authors
AW

Alan Walters

Southern Illinois University
AW

Amanda Weidhuner

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
BT

Bradley Taylor

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2
  • Subject Viticulture and Small Fruits
  • Funding Source This work was supported by a grant from the SIU Advanced Energy Institute, which gratefully acknowledges funding awarded through the Advanced Energy Resource Board.

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Developing a Pitless, Thornless, and Compact Blackberry using Gene Editing Technologies
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Pairwise is pioneering the application of CRISPR technology in food and agriculture. Our company brings together leaders in agriculture, technology, and consumer foods to harness the transformative potential of novel genomics technologies to create innovative new products. We are working to develop new varieties of crops, and to partner with organizations that seek to deliver innovation across the plant-based economy. At Pairwise, we have established robust and reproducible product development pipelines in multiple crops that rapidly propel research from proof-of-concept to product development. We have recovered and characterized edited events in tetraploid blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus) to improve architecture and agronomic traits. In this presentation, we will share insights and progress on the recovery of edited blackberry plants with desired trait phenotypes.
Speakers
BC

Bruno Casamali

Pairwise Plants
Co-authors
AR

Anabel Rivas

Pairwise Plants
NA
AF
BC
BS
CO
JR

Joel Reiner

Pairwise Plants
LR
PM

Pradeep Marri

Pairwise Plants
TP

Tom Poorten

Pairwise
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Evaluating Texture and Shelf Life in Muscadine Varieties
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Consumer expectations for grapes often center around their visual appeal, taste, and mouthfeel. For instance, the satisfying crunch of a crisp green grape is highly desirable. Similarly, grocery stores maintain strict standards for freshness to ensure marketability. However, these expectations are predominantly based on the vinifera grape, setting a benchmark that muscadines—though beloved in the Southeastern United States—struggle to meet. Muscadine grapes differ significantly from table grapes, leading to challenges in consumer acceptance and retail adoption. Thin-skinned and firm-fleshed berries are selected in our breeding program to make muscadines more palatable to a wider audience and more appealing to retailers, but could potentially reduce shelf life by increasing transpiration rates. Given these concerns, our study examined a range of attributes related to berry texture and their effects on storage ability. Thirty muscadine genotypes were evaluated over a month-long storage period in which attributes such as firmness, skin thickness, and flesh texture were measured. Our findings indicate that berry firmness decreases during storage relative to initial firmness. However, berries ranking firmer at harvest remained firmer after storage compared to softer genotypes. Importantly, our breeding efforts to enhance texture showed minimal impact on storage ability. These results suggest that selecting for vinifera-like texture traits in muscadines can improve consumer and retailer acceptance without significantly compromising shelf life, offering promising implications for expanding muscadine markets nationwide.
Speakers
AM

Anne Marie Gahagan

University of Georgia
Co-authors
AD

Angelos Deltsidis

University of Georgia
PC

Patrick Conner

University of Georgia
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Evaluating the Performance of Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) Advanced Selections under Central Alabama Conditions
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
The muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) is a native fruit crop of the Southeastern U.S., known for its resiliency, high nutritional value, and relatively low input cost in comparison to bunch grapes. Muscadine grape breeding efforts aim to answer production challenges by developing new germplasm with superior traits such as cultivars with large berry size, increased yield, and improved fruit quality attributes. This study aimed to evaluate the overall performance of the University of Arkansas breeding program advanced selections ‘AM-70’, ‘AM-195’, ‘AM-26’ and ‘AM-77’ and the University of Georgia bred selections ‘Ga. 10-1-222’, ‘Ga. 13-4-2’, ‘Ga. 6-1-269’ and ‘Ga. 10-1-294’ in Alabama conditions. Plants of ‘RubyCrisp’ were included for comparison. The experimental vines were planted at the Chilton Research and Extension Center (USDA hardiness zone 8A), Clanton, AL, in 2021. A RCB design with four single plant replications was utilized. Harvesting season spanned from Aug. 9 to Sept. 18, 2024. Fruit of ‘Ga. 10-1-222’, ‘Ga. 13-4-2’, ‘Ga. 6-1-269’, ‘Ga. 10-1-294’, ‘AM-70’, ‘AM-26’and ‘AM-77’ ripened early whereas ‘AM-195’ had a mid-season ripening and ‘RubyCrisp’ matured late in the season. Results suggest ‘Ga. 10-1-294’, was the highest yielding selection, with a total yield of 27.7 kg/vine, compared to the standard cultivar ‘RubyCrisp’, which yielded 24.3 kg/vine. However, no significant difference in total yield among the tested selections was found. The berries of ‘Ga. 6-1-269’ had the largest individual berry weight of 11.9 g, followed by cultivar ‘RubyCrisp’ (11.5 g). ‘AM-195’ berries were the firmest and it was found that the selections differ in flesh firmness. While ‘RubyCrisp’ produced the highest percent berries with wet stem scar (27.6%), ‘AM-26’ had the highest percent berries with dry stem scar (92.9%). ‘AM-70’ berries were the sweetest (17.10 Brix), followed by ‘AM-195’ (15.20 Brix). The TSS:TA ratio varied between 16.7 and 41.0 and was highest for ‘AM-70’. The important fruit productivity and fruit quality parameters evaluated in this study can inform breeders on selection of superior cultivars of muscadine grapes.
Speakers
avatar for Jagjit Singh

Jagjit Singh

Graduate Research Assistant (MS), Auburn University
Co-authors
EV

Edgar Vinson

Auburn University
EC

Elina Coneva

Auburn University
ML

Margaret Leigh Worthington

University of Arkansas
MT

Marlee Trandel Hayse

Auburn University
MR

Melba Ruth Salazar Gutierrez

Auburn University
NA
PC

Patrick Conner

University of Georgia
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Glycine Betaine Reduces Freeze Damage in ‘Victoria’ Blackberry.
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) growers in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) regularly experience freeze damage, which limits yields and on-farm revenues. Freeze mitigation using wind machines, in-field heaters, and overhead sprinkler irrigation is costly and may not be economical. Sprayable biostimulants, in contrast, are potentially more affordable and readily adaptable as they can be applied using equipment readily available on most farms. However, the efficacy of biostimulants at mitigating freeze damage is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a glycine betaine-based biostimulant on the freezing damage of ‘Victoria’ floral buds. The biostimulant (FRUIT ARMORTM) was applied four days before a freezing event at its highest label rate (4.5 kg/ha) to three consecutive rows in different areas of a commercial farm in Skagit County, Washington. The foliar application was compared to an untreated control. Floricanes from both treatments were collected two days after a second frost and scored for damage by quantifying the presence or absence of damage to primary floral buds from a total of 720 treated and 720 untreated buds. A mixed-effect logistic regression model was used to analyze the data and account for cane and location variability, as well as estimate the expected probability of damage to the floral buds. The foliar application of glycine betaine increased freezing tolerance and reduced the expected probability of damage in the buds by 5.5%. Furthermore, the odds of bud damage in the control were 1.42 higher compared to treated buds. Results indicate that glycine betaine promotes freeze tolerance and may be a cost-effective strategy for blackberry growers to reduce freeze damage. Further research should be done to evaluate other biostimulant active ingredients as well as the optimal timing of biostimulant application and cost-benefits relative to other freeze mitigation practices.
Speakers
PR

Pedro Rojas-Barros

Washington State University
Co-authors
AF

Ashley Fincham

Washington State University
NA
CK

Clark Kogan

Washington State University
NA
LW

Lisa Wasko DeVetter

Washington State University
Lisa Wasko DeVetter joined Washington State University in 2014 and leads the small fruit horticulture program at the Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon, Washington. She has developed a diverse research and extension program with an emphasis on maximizing... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - How Do Primocane-Fruiting Blackberries Allocate Nitrogen Fertilizer? First Year of 15Nitrogen Study with ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
Research on nitrogen (N) allocation and accumulation in blackberries has primarily focused on floricane-fruiting varieties. However, there is a gap in existing literature on primocane-fruiting blackberry N allocation due to how relatively new primocane-fruiting blackberries are to the commercial industry. The objectives of this study were to investigate how fertilizer N is partitioned among plant parts in ‘Prime-Ark Traveler®’ and quantify the percent N recovery by the plant. In 2023, 15N labeled ammonium-nitrate was applied at a rate of 134.4 kg N/ha to a planting of ‘Prime-Ark Traveler®’ blackberries at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, AR. Plants were fertilized via drip-irrigation over fifteen weeks. In 2023, plant biomass samples were collected in triplicate at four physiological stages: (1) small green floricane fruit, (2) peak-floricane harvest, (3) peak-primocane harvest, and (4) after floricane senescence. This paper focuses on results of leaf, cane, and crown 15N content. Due to senescence, floricanes were not collected at stage 4. Plant parts were separated by cane type before being dried and analyzed to determine mass fertilizer-N recovery (MFNR) and fertilizer recovery efficiency (FRE). MFNR represents the uptake of 15N fertilizer by individual plant organs (g/plant organ) at a given stage. FRE was calculated as a percent of 15N fertilizer in the plant (MFNR) out of total applied (g), with total FRE determined by averaging the FRE of plants at stage 4 and accounting for removed tissues such as fruit and floricanes. Primocane leaf MFNR was highest at stage 3 (1.84 g) and significantly different than stages 1 and 2. Physiological stage did not impact floricane leaf MFNR. Primocane cane MFNR was highest in at stage 3 (0.78 g) and was significantly different than stages 1 and 2. Floricane cane MFNR was highest at stage 1 (0.50 g) and was significantly different than all other stages. No significant differences were observed for MFNR in crowns across physiological stage. The finding that floricane 15N decreased over the season while primocane 15N increased are consistent with current literature on floricane fruiting types of blackberry which indicate that fertilizer applied in-season is generally allocated toward the primocane, however some N uptake in-season by the floricane does occur. Total plant FRE at stage 3 was 21.23%. High soil N levels at the trial site may have diluted uptake of applied 15N. These preliminary results represent the initial year findings of a multi-year trial.
Speakers
AL

Amanda Lay-Walters

University of Arkansas
Co-authors
AM

Amanda Mcwhirt

University of Arkansas
RT

Renee Threlfall

University of Arkansas
NA
RD

Ryan Dickson

University of Arkansas
NA
TR

Trenton Roberts

University of Arkansas
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - Raspberry Resilience: Enhancing Fertilization and Sustainability Practices for Primocane and Floricane Cultivars in the Mid-Atlantic
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
This poster presents findings from NE-SARE Professional Development Program, which provided critical training in raspberry nutrition management to 87 participants across seven workshops in 2024. The focus was on Floricane and Primocane raspberries grown under high tunnel systems, targeting small-scale and underserved growers in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Participants learned advanced fertilization techniques, including injector use, dose calculations, and liquid versus granular fertilizer applications. Hardwood cuttings valued at $5,000 were distributed for vegetative propagation—transforming waste material into economic assets for 25 farmers. The workshops also introduced split-dose fertilization and nutrient timing, equipping participants to enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact. Demographically, the training reached a diverse audience, with 66.7% of surveyed participants identifying as Black and 44.4% as Black female farmers. Pre-training surveys revealed significant knowledge gaps—88.9% rated their understanding of fertilization topics as 1 out of 5. Post-training responses showed marked improvements in technical skills, confidence, and intent to implement sustainable practices. All participants planned to adopt at least one technique such as split-dose fertilization or injector-based nutrient delivery. The project not only advanced skill development but also inspired proactive change in raspberry cultivation, promoting equity and sustainability in Mid-Atlantic agriculture.
Speakers
ND

Naveen Dixit

University of MD Eastern Shore
NA
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2

1:00pm CDT

VSF 2 - The Novel use of Small Molecules for Mitigating Herbicide Drift in Grapevines
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
In Texas, and across the country increased use of auxin like herbicides (ALH) have led to a significant rise in instances of off target injury, either through direct spray drift or volatilization. Commonly used in row crop production for control of broadleaf weeds, ALH have the ability to travel several miles under optimal environmental conditions, increasing the chance for off target exposure. Through the increased adoption of ALH resistant row crops, incidents of drift damage have only increased. Currently growers, both grape and non-grape, have no practical solutions for protecting their crops. The solution currently is using passive mitigation, through the use of buffer zones or avoiding planting near areas of row crop production, with either is not always being feasible. Grapes are especially sensitive to AHLH, with visible injury occurring at even 1/100th of the labeled application rate. In Texas over 40% of growers in the High Plains and West Texas have reported injury in vines from ALH. As grape production continues to increase in Texas there is a need for a viable and cost-effective solution for the prevention of ALH damage. This study is investigating the novel use of a class of small molecules, a single candidate used in this preliminary experiment, that share a similar mode of action. These molecules compete for the binding site of the TIR1/AFB protein found in plants, to inhibit the binding of ALH. If successful, these small molecules could prevent the auxin-signaling pathway from being activated by ALH. This compound was tested in-vitro conditions using rates well above drift incidents. If effective these molecules represent the first steps in developing active mitigation strategies for the prevention of off target ALH incidents. While this study is being conducted with grapevines, should it show promise, tests could be expanded to other horticultural crops in preventing ALH damage.
Speakers
JM
Co-authors
AD
Friday August 1, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Empire AB
  Poster, Viticulture and Small Fruits 2
 

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