Supplement to Hortscience Volume 46(9) September 2011

Supplement to HortScience

Volume 46(9) September 2011

This supplement contains the abstracts of presentations from the following Regional and National Meetings of the American Society for Horticultural Science

Northeast Region Annual Meeting 3–5 January 2011, Baltimore, Maryland ...... S1

Southern Region Annual Meeting 5–7 February, 2011, Corpus Christi, Texas ...... S11

ASHS Annual Conference 25–28 September, 2011, Waikoloa, Hawaii ...... S61

Note. For best viewing, the supplement should be downloaded in its entirety to your computer. It is best viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

American Society for Horticultural Science 1018 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 phone: 703.836.4606 • fax: 703.836.2024 • ashs.org • [email protected] Abstracts of Presentations from the

Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science —Northeast Region

3–5 January 2011 Baltimore, Maryland

Supplement to HortScience Volume 46(9) September 2011

Contains abstracts of oral and poster presentations from the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Northeast Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science Author index begins on p. S10

For citation purposes, abstracts should be cited as follows: (Example) Infante-Casella, M.L., W. Kline, and J. Rabin. 2011. Evaluation of ethnic eggplant germplasm. HortScience 46(9):S2. (Abstr.)

American Society for Horticultural Science 1018 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 phone: 703.836.4606 • fax: 703.836.2024 • ashs.org • [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 S1 Abstracts of the ASHS Northeast Region Annual Meeting Baltimore, Maryland 3–5 January 2011

Poster Session Implementation of Reduced Phosphorus Management by Massachusetts Cranberry Application of Coragen® (Rynaxypyr®) for Growers: Effect on Crop Production and Water Reduction of Sunflower Moth Larvae Damage Quality in New Jersey Carolyn DeMoranville* Jenny Carleo*1, C. Andrew Wyenandt2, University of Massachusetts–Amherst, Cranberry Gerald Ghidiu2, and Wesley Autio3 Station, P.O. Box 569, E. Wareham, MA 02538 1Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, 4 Phosphorus (P) plot and demonstration research on Massachu- Moore Rd. DN-703, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210; setts cranberry beds during the past 10 years has shown that 2Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, sustainable yields can be achieved with P rates of no more than 121 Northville Rd. Bridgeton, NJ 08302; 3University of 22 kg·ha–1. As a result of extensive outreach, including grower- Massachusetts–Amherst, 205 Bowditch Hall, Amherst, to-grower efforts, Massachusetts cranberry growers are modi- MA 01003 fying their nutrient management to reduce P inputs. In a 2010 The sunflower head moth (SHM),Homeosoma electellum, is a survey, 65% of respondents indicated that they were reducing serious threat to the fresh-cut sunflower (Helianthus annuus) P use. Several sites are being monitored as the growers reduce market in New Jersey and other areas of the US. Larvae of P inputs. Data collection at these sites includes crop yield and this moth are considered by USDA-ARS researchers as the P concentration in waters exiting the bogs. At a site monitored most widespread and damaging sunflower insect pest in North since 2003, the grower has reduced P use to an annual average –1 America (Chirumamilla et al., 2010). Damage from SHM is most of ~11 kg·ha . Through 2009, crop yield at that site increased devastating at the end of the growing season just before harvest, while P concentration in discharged harvest flood water decreased –1 when moths migrate from the southern US and Mexico. Previous from 0.60 to 0.099 mg·L and P concentration in discharged –1 research indicates that if SHM were effectively controlled, the winter flood water decreased from 0.29 to 0.017 mg·L . Six fresh-cut, retail sunflower market could be expanded later into other sites have been monitored for various periods (3–5 years). the season to include the Labor Day holiday as travelers drive All sites have reduced P use and have sustained or increased to shore points in southern New Jersey (Carleo and Polanin, yield. P in winter flood discharges was less than that in harvest 2008). Coragen® (Rynaxypyr®) is a highly effective chemical flood discharge (warmer water). In-season water discharge, at control on lepidopteron pests in vegetables and other crops. One sites with upwelling groundwater, was an additional source of significant advantage of Coragen® is its systemic capability, P leaving some bogs. targeting only those pests feeding on treated plant material. Currently, recommended controls for the SHM are bloom-time Evaluation of Ethnic Eggplant Germplasm sprays of organophosphates or pyrethroids (Michaud, 2010), Michelle L. Infante-Casella*, W. Kline, and J. Rabin both of which are toxic to honey bees (Apis mellifera) and other pollinators. The objectives of this study were to determine Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station the effects of three different rates of Coragen® applied either Cooperative Extension, 1200 N. Delsea Dr., Bldg. A, through drip irrigation or by foliar application for the control Clayton, NJ 08312 of SHM. Foliar application of Coragen® significantly reduced Rutgers NJAES retired plant breeder Dr. Bernie Pollack devel- SHM larval damage as compared to untreated sunflowers. oped two open-pollinated ethnic eggplant varieties he named However, applications of Coragen® through a drip irrigation ‘Rayada’ and ‘Rosita’. These new lines had not been compared system did not significantly reduce larval numbers or damage for yield and quality against commercially available varieties. caused by SHM. In 2009, these eggplant varieties were compared to two commercially available varieties, ‘Calliope’ and ‘Santana’. A study at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, NJ was conducted. The four eggplant varieties were Abstracts are listed in presentation order; †student presentation; transplanted into the field on 21 May 2009 and grown using *presenting author. standard practices. Harvests began on 27 July and were done

S2 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 twice weekly for a 4-week period. Yield was taken and quality †Media Affect Seedling Growth of Laurocerasus attributes were also noted. ‘Rayada’ fruit are plump, oval, deep hypotricha (Rehd.) T.T. Yu & L.T. Lu lavender-purple and white streaked eggplant that are suitable 1 1 1, 2 1 for baby or mature harvest. The fruit of ‘Rayada’ are glossy Jiwu Cao , Chunlin Liu , Fang Geng* , Xiang Zeng , 2 when small and become duller when large and the calyxes are and Donglin Zhang spined. ‘Rayada’ plants have large leaves and good fruit cover 1Central South University of Forestry and Technology, for sunscald protection and plants are tall and erect. ‘Rosita’ has Changsha, Hunan 410004, China; 2Department of Plant, glossy bright deep lavender fruit that fade as fruit get larger. The Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, fruit of ‘Rosita’ have a traditional teardrop-shaped fruit with ca- Orono, ME 04469 lyxes that are spiny. The leaves of ‘Rosita’ are large and provide Container growing media are hard to find in China and the poten- good fruit cover and the plants are tall and erect. ‘Calliope’ has tial for marketing growing media for nursery crops is tremendous. glossy, small variegated fruits that are oval, white and purple Traditionally, container plants were produced using local soil streaked Indian-style eggplant. ‘Calliope’ is suitable for baby (loess) in Hunan and its bulk density (at dry), pH, and water (2 inches) or mature (3–4 inches) harvest and have calyxes that holding capacity were 1.31 g·cm–3, 6.28, and 35%. To evaluate are spineless. The leaves of ‘Calliope’ are smaller than other the effect of media on plant growth, Laurocerasus hypotricha varieties, but are numerous and provide good fruit cover. The seedlings had been grown with loess (control) and loess with plant structure of ‘Calliope’ is more spreading and not erect amendment of peatmoss, cotton shells, and compost manure at as other varieties. ‘Santana’ has glossy black-purple fruit with 1:1 ratio (by volume). Although amended loess had supplied bright green calyx with few spines. ‘Santana’ plants are tall and with fertilizer, seedling growth showed height differences at 70 upright. ‘Santana’ is a standard variety for New Jersey. ‘Rayada’ days and diameter differences at 110 days after transplanting. and ‘Rosita’ have a longer days-to-harvest period than ‘Calliope’ Both height and diameter under compost manure and cotton and ‘Santana’, and yields of ‘Rayada’ and ‘Rosita’ were much shells amended media grew faster than that of peatmoss + loess lower than ‘Calliope’ and ‘Santana’. ‘Rayada’ and ‘Rosita’ have and straight loess. At the end of the first growing season (2009), similar characteristics of other ethnic eggplants and may be a the seedling heights were 22.64 (peatmoss), 26.97 (compost fit for specialty markets. manure), 26.58 (cotton shells), and 22.12 cm (loess) and the seedling diameters at the medium level were 0.41 (peatmoss), Fresh Market Tomato Cultivar Evaluations for 0.52 (compost manure), 0.50 (cotton shells), and 0.39 cm (loess). New Jersey No significant different was found among the amended media. At the beginning of the second growing season, amended media 1 2 2 Peter J. Nitzsche , Jack Rabin , Cindy Rovins , showed 7% (peatmoss) and 4% (compost manure and cotton Michelle Infante-Casella3, Wesley Kline*4, and shells) increase of water holding capacity and 1.0 (peatmoss), Thomas Orton5 0.5 (compost manure), and 0.6 (cotton shells) pH reduction. 1Morris County, 2Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, 3 4 5 Gloucester County, Cumberland County, and Rutgers †Breeding Ornamental Hazelnuts (Corylus) Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 88 Lipman Dr., Martin Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 John Capik* and Thomas Molnar New Jersey fresh market tomato growers rely on high quality, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 early maturing tomato cultivars for vine ripe production and marketing. Unfortunately, several currently recommended early Ornamental hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) have been used in the tomato varieties are being removed from the market by seed landscape in Europe for centuries, exemplified by the popular companies. A field trial was initiated at the Snyder Research and cultivar Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (C. avellana ‘Contorta’), Extension Farm in Pittstown, NJ to evaluate the performance planted since the mid-19th century. Others include those with of seven early tomato cultivars and one breeding selection. purple leaves, like ‘Rote Zellernuss’, ‘Fusca-rubra’, and ‘Purple Tomatoes were grown utilizing a stake and weave system and Fortin’. Ornamental hazelnuts are less common in North recommended commercial practices. Tomato fruit was harvested America, partly because almost all cultivars lack resistance to vine-ripe from the plots, sorted, counted, and weighed. Fruit the destructive fungal disease eastern filbert blight (EFB), caused samples were completely ripened at room temperature and ripe by Anisogramma anomala. Anisogramma anomala is native to fruit samples were evaluated for quality attributes and made the eastern US and causes cankers that girdle stems, reducing available for flavor evaluations at public tasting events. Early value until death occurs, which is typically 3 to 5 years from yields were highest for NJ 23, ‘Primo Red’, ‘Applause’, and infection. A hazelnut genetic improvement program has been ‘Royal Mountie’. Only ‘Primo Red’ had internal and external fruit ongoing at Rutgers University since 1996. One of our breeding characteristics similar to ‘Applause’, a currently recommended objectives is the development of new, highly attractive, EFB- cultivar. ‘Royal Mountie’ and ‘Primo Red’ compared favorably resistant cultivars of ornamental hazelnuts. In the US, Harry to ‘Applause’ in consumer flavor evaluations. Lauder’s Walking Stick is widely propagated and sold in its

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 S3 pristine form. As demonstrated by field trials at Rutgers, this †Youth Enhanced Service to Society: plant is extremely susceptible to EFB, as is the new purple- Encouraging Home Gardening and Community leaf release ‘Red Majestic’. Through breeding work, we have Service developed a diversity of EFB-resistant contorted hazels, the best of which will soon be put under test in replicated trials to W.T. Hlubik1, J. Baculis*2, M. Wolenter3, L. Bovitz4, identify superior genotypes. Sources of EFB-resistance used A. Kesely5, R. Weidman6, M. Bickerton7, and include that from select C. avellana as well as wild species D. Smela8 including C. americana, C. heterophylla, and C. colurna. In 1Professor, County Agricultural Agent, 2 Rutgers addition, we are also working with ornamental traits derived University Graduate Student and Agriculture Program from ‘Pendula’ (weeping habit), ‘Cutleaf’ (dissected leaves), Assistant, 3Rutgers University Undergraduate Student and ‘Aurea’ (golden leaves), as well as several tree hazel and Agricultural Assistant, 44-H Agent, 54-H Program forms (C. chinensis, C. colurna, and C. fargesii). In advanced Assistant, 6Program Associate, Agriculture, 7Rutgers progeny, we are introducing fall color through C. americana, University Graduate Student and Horticultural Assistant, which shows up as striking pink and orange leaf colors in the 8Public Information Assistant, Rutgers, NJAES weeks leading up to senescence. Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, 42 Riva Ave., Davidson Mill Pond Park, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 †Screening New Hazelnut Germplasm for Resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight “Y.E.S.S.” is a 5-day gardening program for youth entering grades 7 through 10. The program focuses on environmentally Clayton Leadbetter*, Tom Molnar, and John Capik friendly gardening and community leadership and volunteer ac- Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers tion. Throughout the week youth participate in leadership games, University, 59 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 educational activities, group discussions, hands-on workshops, Eastern filbert blight (EFB) is a destructive canker disease, tours, and basic gardening skills. The activities include garden- endemic to North America, caused by the fungus Anisogramma ing jeopardy, building a mini-greenhouse, designing a garden, anomala (Peck) E. Müller. It is harbored by the native hazel, and a garden tour. At the end of the week the youth develop a Corylus americana, which is disease-tolerant and cold-hardy, plan of action with their future gardening goals. Pre- and post- but produces small, thick-shelled nuts. Most hazelnuts (fil- tests revealed a significant increase in knowledge by program berts) used as food and ornamentals are the European species participants. The youth also sign up to volunteer in the local Corylus avellana that, in general, are highly susceptible to this Garden for the Hungry where they help with garden maintenance disease. However, a small number of EFB-resistant C. avel- and harvesting produce that is donated to a local soup kitchen. lana genotypes have been identified in the past, with a large More than 4000 lb of produce was donated to the needy from germplasm pool yet to be tested. Searching for resistance in the YESS vegetable garden at the EARTH Center. C. avellana for use in breeding is promising, as this species has the best nut production traits within the genus. To evaluate Oral Session new germplasm and identify resistant individuals, susceptible plants are infected at an early stage, using comprehensive Two-Year Study to Evaluate Bacterial Leaf Spot disease-screening methods we have developed to expedite the and Phytophthora Resistant Bell Peppers for natural 22-month life cycle of A. anomala. Seedling infection Yield is achieved through greenhouse inoculations, in which applications of spore suspension are sprayed onto the growing tips of Wesley L. Kline* and C. Andrew Wyenandt plants inside a humidity chamber. As well, disease pressure Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 291 Morton Ave., is increased and maintained for field plants by tying pieces Millville, NJ 08332 of infected wood into the canopy yearly. Since initiating the Bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas sp.) and phytophthora blight project, extensive germplasm collection efforts have been made (Phytophthora capsici) are the two major diseases in New Jer- in Europe, the Middle East, and North America. In 2009, we sey bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production. Bacterial obtained a diverse collection of C. avellana seeds from the leaf spot has been controlled using resistant cultivars for the Republic of Georgia and have begun to apply the protocol races 1–3 until race 4 was identified in 2008. Phytophthora we have developed for rapid assessment of this and future blight has been managed using resistant/tolerant cultivars and collections. In addition to assessing the amount of infection chemical controls, but few commercial cultivars have been and resistance, we plan to characterize the Georgian popula- available until recently. Eighteen cultivars and breeding lines tion using microsatellite (SSR) markers to explore its genetic in 2009 and 15 in 2010 were transplanted on raised plastic- diversity, population structure and, if identified, relatedness covered beds. One drip line was placed between double rows of genes for resistance to EFB. 12 inches apart with 18 inches between plants and 5 ft between

S4 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 beds in a randomized complete-block design with 4 replica- berry leaves. These results are in line with the data of yellow tions. Peppers were grown utilizing a stake and weave system vine leaves, having about 26% to 28% less in chlorophyll than with nutrient and pesticides applied based on recommended the normal leaves by spectrometric and HPLC analysis. We con- commercial practices. Thirteen cultivars were the same in both cluded that the yellow vine syndrome is associated with a poor years. Peppers were hand-harvested 5 times each year. Fruits photosynthesis activity and problematic for the long-term growth were graded into silvered (skin separation) and non-silvered and crop production of cranberries. In addition, the responses of fruit and into sizes by weight. Fruit sizes were extra large (0.5 yellow vine cranberry leaves to the environmental stress, such as lb/fruit), large (0.33–0.49 lb/fruit), medium (0.25–0.32 lb/fruit), temperature, pH values, and nutritious ions, were examined by and culls. Yields are reported in 28-lb boxes/acre (b/a). In 2009, chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. The data strongly suggested ‘Paladin’ (372 b/a) and ‘Colossal’ (374 b/a) had significantly that the yellow vine cranberry is significantly vulnerable to the higher marketable yields than five other cultivars. ‘Snapper’ and stress conditions and lacks the capability to defend against the ‘0992-8032’ had significantly lower yields for the first harvest adverse environmental factors. than six other cultivars. For all harvests, ‘Excursion II’ (1866 b/a) had significantly higher marketable yields than ‘Snapper’, †Cranberry Bud Damage as Affected by Spring ‘Camelot’, ‘0992-8302’, ‘Intruder’, or ‘Hunter’. ‘0992-8302’ had the lowest yield and was statistically lower than all other Frost Control Method cultivars except ‘Camelot’, ‘Intruder’, ‘Hunter’, or ‘Snapper’. Faith Ndlovu*, Peter Jeranyama, and ‘0991-5776’ had the most silvering for early harvest (44%) and Carolyn DeMoranville total harvests (46%), followed by ‘Colossal’. In 2010, there were University of Massachusetts–Amherst, Cranberry no statistical differences among cultivars for the first harvest. For Experiment Station, East Wareham, Box 569, MA 02538 all harvests, ‘Alliance’ (2062 b/a) and ‘Colossal’ (2018 b/a) had significantly higher yields than ‘Hunter’ or ‘Intruder’. ‘Colossal’ Cranberry growers have traditionally used the heat of fusion produced more silvered fruit for early and total harvest (51%). principle to protect cranberry vines from frost damage by Of the highest yielders, ‘Paladin’ is resistant to phytophthora turning on their irrigation sprinkler system on a frost night. and ‘Alliance’ has resistance to bacterial leaf spot 1-3 and 5, They often vary two approaches of using irrigation systems but not race 4. by either 1) running a system throughout the night beginning once the bog reaches a critical temperature, starting and stop- ping manually or by an automated sensor system, and/or 2) Yellow Vine Syndrome of Cranberries in intermittent sprinkling, mostly used by growers with automation Massachusetts: Mechanism and Regulation equipment. Yet some growers use late water spring floods (used Lien-yang Chou1, Xuejing Hou1, Robert Mulken1, for other purposes) as a frost protection method. An experiment was conducted in southeastern Massachusetts in spring Joy Patel1, Peter Jeranyama2, Carolyn DeMoranville2, 1 on cranberry beds planted with cultivars Howes and Stevens. and Harvey J.M. Hou* The objective of the experiment was to determine the effective- 1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University ness of automated intermittent sprinkling (AI) and late water of Massachusetts–Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport spring floods (LW) in reducing cranberry spring bud damage. 2 Rd., North Dartmouth, MA 02747; University of At least 500 cranberry buds were collected from both ‘Howes’ Massachusetts Cranberry Station, One State Bog Rd., and ‘Stevens’. Buds were dissected under a microscope and East Wareham, MA 02538 assessed for damage. Upright density, flowering and fruiting We have previously reported the shading effect on yellow vine characteristics were also measured. Using general linear re- syndrome of cranberry by using spectrometric, HPLC, and gression models, we observed an association between cultivar chlorophyll fluorescence methods to explore the molecular and method indicating an interaction between method and mechanisms of yellow vine formation and proposed a possible cultivar across all the variables (P ≤ 0.005). We compared the role of photoinhibition associated with the yellow vine syndrome proportion of bud damage in each cultivar within method and in cranberry plants [Z. Wei, P. Jeranyama, F. Zhang, C. DeMor- there was significantly higher bud damage for ‘Howes’ in LW anville, and H.J.M. Hou (2010) HortScience 45:1345–1348]. To than in the AI method (χ2 = 20; P ≤ 0.0001), and significantly explore the similarity and difference in photosynthetic perfor- higher damage for ‘Stevens’ in the (AI) than in (LW) (χ2 = mance of yellow vine syndrome and normal cranberry leaves, 38; P ≤ 0.0001). ‘Howes’ under AI was associated with high we examined the behaviors and properties of yellow vine and flowering and fruiting compared with LW (556 vs.400 flowers/ normal cranberry leaves by chlorophyll fluorescence analysis m2). Although ‘Stevens’ had greater proportions of flowers and over the period of one day and of one month, respectively. Both fruits under LW, no significant differences were noted against experimental data sets indicated that the accessible parameters AI. We also observed negative correlations between damage, including the maximum quantum efficiency of PS II, the size of flowering, and fruiting. The associations were stronger and quinone pool, the numbers of reaction center per chlorophyll, even more pronounced by site (P = 0.0023). and the photosynthesis performance index, of the yellow vine samples are substantially lower than those of the normal cran-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 S5 †Estimation of Leaf N, P, and K Standards for gently pulled away from each side of the sod strip and rhizomes Lowbush Blueberry Using the Boundary Line that had entered the mulch were collected for number, length, Approach and dry weight measurements. Only prohexadione calcium at 125 ppm had a significantly greater number of rhizomes per James P. Santiago* and John M. Smagula treatment plot (9.9) than the control (3.6), with almost 3 times Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, as many rhizomes. Treatments had no effect on mean rhizome University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722 length, which ranged from 5.9 to 8.5 cm or on mean rhizome Fertilizer recommendations for Maine wild lowbush blueber- dry weight, which ranged from 49 to 89 mg. These data suggest ries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) are based on leaf nutrient that prohexadione calcium, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor, may standards reported as a second approximation by Trevett in promote rhizome production of lowbush blueberry. 1972. It is unclear what the values were based upon, except that tissue samples were a composite of all leaves on a stem †Effect of Temperature on Seed Germination of and were taken at 90% to 100% tip dieback. The objective of Invasive Berberis thunbergii DC this study was to confirm the validity or update the current leaf 1, 2 1, 2 3 nutrient standards for lowbush blueberry using a boundary line Fang Geng* , Donglin Zhang , Mary E. Rumpho , 1, 4 approach. Leaf nutrient concentrations and yield data from 33 and Lois B. Stack lowbush blueberry nutrient studies conducted between 1991 and 1Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, 2009 were subjected to the boundary line analysis. Data were University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469; 2Central South reduced using a series of criteria that produced data points that University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 3 were used to fit a quadratic regression curve. A range and optimum Hunan 410004, China; Department of Molecular and concentration of leaf nutrients associated with maximum yield Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 4 were calculated by solving for the first derivative of the quadratic 04469; Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 regression equation. Current fertilizer recommendations are based on the minimum value of Trevett’s satisfactory range and Berberis thunbergii DC (Japanese barberry) has been widely not on optimum nutrient concentration. Using the boundary line planted in landscapes of the United States for its colorful foliage approach, the optimum nutrient concentrations of leaf N, P, and and abundant bright red fruits. Because of its high rate of seed K for maximum blueberry yield were: N (1.655%), P (0.136%), dispersal by birds and its adaptability to many growing condi- and K (0.437%); and these were higher than the current leaf tions, this plant has become one of the most invasive understory standards for N (1.600%), P (0.125%), and K (0.400%). shrubs in many regions of the US. To investigate its invasiveness, Japanese barberry seeds were collected and cleaned in Nov. 2009 and subjected to several germination tests. Assessment by †Prohexadione Calcium Increases Rhizome dissection indicated that seed viability was 100%. Seeds were Production of Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium soaked overnight and randomly sown in germination trays on 11 angustifolium Ait.) Dec. 2009. The trays were placed outside without covering (–9~3 Bradly A. Libby* and John M. Smagula °C), under overwintering fabric (–9~15 °C), under microfoam Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, (–2~10 °C), in a cooler (4 °C), under bark mulch (–5~2 °C), in a University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME poly greenhouse (–7~20 °C), or in a heated greenhouse (18~45 04469 °C). Seeds were also incubated at 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 °C for 24 hours, respectively, and sown in the heated The spread of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., greenhouse (18~45 °C). In late Mar. 2010, all treatments were is accomplished by relatively slow lateral rhizome growth. Im- moved into the heated greenhouse and seed germination was proving rhizome initiation and growth into adjacent bare areas recorded every 2 days. The germination percentages ranged in commercial fields would result in greater plant cover and from 0% (24 hours at 50 °C or higher) to 94.4% (bark mulch). therefore greater crop yield. Ten sod strips 30 cm wide and 12.8 Cold period significantly affected Japanese barberry seed ger- m long were created in a commercial wild blueberry field by mination. Seeds that received cold temperatures below 4 °C for removing 30-cm-wide and 5-cm-thick strips on either side. The 3 months had germination percentages above 81.3%, while in adjacent void created by removing sod was filled with 10-cm- warm temperatures (18 °C or above), the germination percentages thick softwood bark mulch. Seven treatment plots 30 cm wide only reached 42.0% (24 hours at 20 °C). Germination time was and 91 cm long were established with sod buffers of similar size significantly shorter with a cold period (3–9 days) compared to between plots within the 12.8-m-long sod strip. Commercial only warm temperature treatments (23–41 days). Germination formulations of three growth regulators at two rates each (20 potential was also much lower under warm temperatures. The and 100 ppm ethephon, 5 and 20 ppm naphthaleneacetic acid, germination index, an indication of overall germination abil- and 125 and 250 ppm prohexadione calcium) were applied 17 ity, showed a similar trend. In the New England area, Japanese June 2009, during the vegetative year of the blueberry production barberry seeds could be vernalized in winter and germinate at cycle, when stems were about 4 cm tall. A control plot received highest percentages in spring, especially under forest litter layers no treatment. Each sod strip constituted a block in a RCB design, (similar to mulch treatment). In the southern US, temperatures with 7 treatments and 10 blocks. On 5 May 2010, mulch was above 18 °C could significantly reduce germination rates. In

S6 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 temperatures above 40 °C, Japanese barberry seeds completely have been lost because of this disease. Downy mildew is now lost their viability. Composting could be an effective method to recognized to be established in the US and is expected to con- prevent seed germination and dispersal of Japanese barberry. tinue occurring. The need to apply fungicides for control has forced a change in the production of a crop that rarely needed Challenges and Opportunities for Field pesticide applications previously. Biopesticides were evaluated in a replicated experiment with field-grown plants of basil at Production and Use of Switchgrass and the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center Miscanthus as Bioenergy Crops in the Northeast in Riverhead, NY. The primary source of initial inoculum in W.T. Hlubik*1, J. Baculis2, Z. Helsel3, and S. Bonos4 this area is considered to be wind-dispersed spores from af- 1Professor, County Agricultural Agent I, 2Rutgers fected plants in another area. Each plot had 26 plants in two University Graduate Student, 3Specialist in Agriculture 10-ft rows on black plastic mulch with 9-inch plant spacing Energy and Field and Forage Crops, and 4Assistant and 9-inch row spacing. A randomized complete-block design Professor, Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers with four replications was used. The following biofungicides Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural plus a conventional fungicide (Revus) and a copper fungicide

Experiment Station, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, (NuCop) were applied using a CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer NJ 08902 and a hand-held boom for 7 weeks: Actinovate, Companion, ProPhyt, Organocide, Oxidate, Regalia, Sporatec, Sonata, and New Jersey farmers have expressed a genuine interest in pro- Timorex Gold. The number of plants affected and percentage ducing their own on-farm bioenergy crops through surveys con- of leaves affected on up to 10 plants was determined at each ducted at alternative energy educational meetings conducted by assessment. Incidence and average severity on affected plants NJAES Cooperative Extension and the NJ Farm Bureau over the was used to calculate overall severity for the canopy of each past two years. Growers are genuinely interested in alternative plot. Symptoms were not found in plots until 20 Sept., which energy as a means to decrease their energy costs and increase was after the fourth application. Few significant differences profits. Field research conducted over the past two years has were detected among treatments. The conventional fungicide revealed practical challenges in the production, storage, and use Revus was not significantly better than most of the biopesticide of bioenergy crops such as switchgrass and Miscanthus species. treatments. Results may have been affected by the fact disease Environmental groups are concerned that non-native Miscanthus onset was late in the season and occurrence remained low. While species will become an invasive threat and contribute little to the there were few significant differences among treatments, the environment when compared to native switchgrass. The current biopesticide that appears to be the least effective (Oxidate) is cost of establishing Miscanthus rhizomes is high and harvest one of the two products currently labeled for managing downy can be a greater challenge with conventional farm equipment. mildew in organically produced crops. The US Department of Energy has focused on native switchgrass as a viable bioenergy crop for select parts of the nation. Switchgrass can be seeded and harvested with conventional Use of Tissue Culture Plants for Reestablishing farm equipment commonly found on farms in the Northeast. Lowbush Blueberry Cover Seed cost and establishment of switchgrass on select sites has John M. Smagula* and Ilse W. Fastook been a challenge. Weed control options are limited for both switchgrass and Miscanthus species. Current research is under Department of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, way to increase germination rates for switchgrass and select the University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722 best cultivars and inputs to match site-specific requirements. Many commercial wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) Our research is focused on the most practical and economical fields in Maine are being land leveled to accommodate mechanical methods for establishment, harvest, and use of switchgrass on pruning and harvesting equipment. Removal of large boulders marginal lands on or near small farms in the Northeast. leaves disturbed bare areas. Introduction of new plant material would hasten the recovery and fill in bare spots. To determine Evaluation of Biofungicides for Downy Mildew the best way to introduce clonally propagated plant material, of Basil tissue culture plants of a selected clone (cv. Burgundy) were planted into a disturbed area that had blueberry sod removed Laura K. Hunsberger* and Margaret T. McGrath for sale to landscapers for a groundcover. Treatment plots were Department of Plant Pathology and Plant–Microbe 0.61 m × 3.67 m with 0.30-m alleyways. A RCB design with Biology, Cornell University, Long Island Horticultural four blocks and six treatments was used. Treatments included: Research and Education Center, 3059 Sound Ave., 1) control (allowing rhizomes left behind to regenerate the Riverhead, NY 11901 blueberry cover); 2) yearly fertilization to encourage growth Downy mildew (caused by Peronospora belbahrii) is a new from existing rhizomes left behind; 3) planting of six 2-year-old disease of basil in the US. It was first detected in Florida in tissue culture propagated ‘Burgundy’ plants into tilled ground Oct. 2007. Downy mildew was reported in 2008–10 on basil without fertilization; 4) planting of six 2-year-old tissue culture grown in greenhouses and outdoors, in both commercial crops propagated ‘Burgundy’ plants into untilled ground without and gardens throughout the eastern United States. Entire crops fertilization; 5) planting of six 2-year-old tissue culture propagated ‘Burgundy’ plants to tilled ground with fertilization; 6)

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 S7 planting of six 2-year-old tissue culture propagated ‘Burgundy’ ratings and lesion counts on indicator bean plants and melon plants into untilled ground with fertilization. In the first year plants showed no significant differences between treatments at after planting, a soil drench of liquid fertilizer (11 kg N/ha from either site. In 2010, there were no differences in yield, grade, Peters Azalea Special 21N–3.1P–5.8K) was applied weekly for 3 vigor, or health of watermelons or cantaloupes at any level of weeks. In subsequent years, a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote AG compost addition. Zucchini numbers were significantly in- 19N–2.2P–6.6K, 3-month formulation) was hand-spread at the creased at the 11.0 and 13.2 MT/ha compost rates and vigor and rate of 112 kg N/ha to those plots designated to receive fertilizer. late season yields were improved. There was a higher number Supplemental irrigation through a soaker hose was occasionally of small grade peppers with higher rate AG compost additions provided to all plots. The whole area was mulched after planting but no other differences. Residual effects of high rate compost with 10 cm of softwood bark mulch. Plant cover measurements, additions in 2009 were evident in 2010. determined yearly using photography and Assess 2.0 (Image Analysis Software for Plant Disease Quantification), indicated Delta 13C Predicts Water Deficit Sensitivity that after a period of 6 years, blueberry cover was17.5% for the control and increased to 40% when fertilized. Without fertilizer, in Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem. from a planting tissue culture plants in tilled or untilled soil had similar Xerophytic Site in Kazakhstan groundcover of 34% and 29%, respectively. The greatest plant Carole L. Bassett* and D. Michael Glenn cover occurred within plots that had plants and fertilizer; and USDA, ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, 2217 cover was greater (60%) when soil was untilled compared to Wiltshire Rd., Kearneysville, WV 25430 tilled (47.4%). Modern apples [Malus ×domestica (Borkh.)] are thought to have originated in western China from the progenitor species The Effects of Compost Applications on Yield Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem. Due to many generations of and Overall Health of Vegetables Grown under selection for traits associated with high fruit quality, our current Plasticulture breeding germplasm has become dangerously narrow. Genes for other useful traits such as disease and insect resistance, Gordon Johnson* cold hardiness, and drought tolerance are quite limited within University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education our breeding populations. To expand our repertoire of stress Center, 16483 County Seat Hwy., Georgetown, DE responsive genes that can be used to improve drought toler- 19947 ance and/or water use efficiency (WUE) in our current apple As part of an extension program on soil health as a component varieties, we have screened a population of M. sieversii isolated of an overall integrated pest management program for vegetable from a xerophytic site in Kazakhstan. Using Δ13C as a surrogate crops, experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 comparing measurement of WUE to select M. sieversii individuals with different compost types and compost rates on yield and health extreme WUE values, we clonally propagated GMAL4002.e of vegetables grown under plasticulture. Trials were conducted and GMAL3685.e (both low WUE values), along with a com- at two locations: the University of Delaware Research and Edu- mercially important cultivar (‘Royal Gala’) to serve as a standard cation Center near Georgetown, DE in a field with a history of for comparison. In a preliminary experiment the lowest WUE line vegetable production and the Delaware State University Research (GMAL4002.e) showed signs of early wilting after water was and Outreach Center near Smyrna, DE that had no history of withheld from the pots for 6 days. ‘Royal Gala’, GMAL3685.e, vegetable production. In 2009 treatments consisted of yard and well-watered controls from each line showed no signs of waste (YW), agricultural grade (AG), or spent mushroom (SM) wilting during this time. composts applied at 15 or 60 MT/ha. Fumigated and untreated control plots were also included. Test crops included mini, canary, Breeding for Eastern Filbert Blight Resistance and honeydew melons with snap beans planted as root health indicators at plot ends. In 2010, the residual effect of composts in Hazelnuts at these sites was evaluated on watermelon and lima bean crops. T. Molnar* and J. Capik In 2010 extensive trials were also done with the AG compost at Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers lower application rates: 0, 2.2, 4.4, 6.6, 8.8, 11.0, and 13.2 MT/ University, 59 Dudley Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901 ha. Test crops included zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, pepper, The fungal disease eastern filbert blight (EFB), caused byAniso - and tomato. In all trials, yield (weight and number), grade, plant gramma anomala, has been recognized as the primary limiting vigor and health ratings, root health ratings, and chlorophyll factor of European hazelnut (Corylus spp.) culture in eastern meter readings were taken. In 2009, at the Georgetown site, North America. The disease is also now widespread through- highest yields were obtained on the lower rate AG compost. out the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where it was previously Poor yields were obtained on the high rate YW compost treat- absent, which is the region where 99% of the current US crop ments. High rate MS compost treatments had high chlorophyll of hazelnuts is produced. Fortunately, a number of sources of meter readings but low yield. At the Smyrna site, yield and vigor resistance to EFB have recently been identified withinC. avel- were highest in the low rate AG compost. Poor yields were also lana, the European hazelnut species of commerce, as well as obtained on the high rate YW compost treatments. Root disease

S8 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 in wild species such as C. americana, C. heterophylla, and C. species commonly cultivated, and possible hybridization. A colurna. However, most of these sources are lacking in important long-term study was initiated at the US National Arboretum to production traits such as adequate nut size and/or kernel quality, address identification and taxonomic difficulties in the genus cold hardiness, and nuts that fall free from the husk at maturity. and facilitate future breeding efforts, beginning with a ploidy At Rutgers we are using both intra- and interspecific hybridiza- analysis of cultivated taxa. Ninety-eight accessions from 31 tion to utilize a wide diversity of sources of resistance to EFB sources, representing 16 species, were sampled for relative to develop improved, EFB-resistant plants that are adapted to ploidy level using nuclei extracted from leaf tissue, stained with the Northeast, which also produce medium to large size, thin- 4´,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and analyzed on a flow shelled round nuts with high quality kernels. An overview of the cytometer. An internal standard was used to calculate relative breeding program, including EFB resistance breeding approaches genome size and ploidy levels of sampled taxa. Results were and objectives, will be discussed. compared to expected ploidy levels from published literature when available and superimposed on the most complete taxo- Ploidy Analysis of Cultivated Corylopsis Siebold nomic treatment of the genus. Results confirmed the existence of a ploidy series within Corylopsis, encompassing diploids, & Zucc. (Hamamelidaceae) tetraploids, and hexaploids; however, some discrepancies were Elise T. Christensen*, Margaret R. Pooler, noted and new levels established for several taxa. Diploid species and Richard T. Olsen were found in three of the five sections examined (sect. Multiflo- USDA-ARS Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, rae, Pauciflorae, and Spicatae); tetraploids and hexaploids were US National Arboretum, Beltsville, MD identified in only sect. Spicatae. Section Spicatae was the largest section examined and includes several species complexes where Winterhazels (Corylopsis Siebold & Zucc.) are flowering shrubs ploidy screening will aid in elucidating subgeneric relationships. and trees in the witchhazel family (Hamamelidaceae) grown Future studies will combine molecular and morphological data primarily for their showy yellow flowers in late winter. The to further elucidate taxonomic relationships and guide efforts taxonomy of the genus is complex, confounded by poor spe- at curation and breeding in the genus. cies representation in botanical collections, confusion in those

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 S9 Author Index

A I R Autio, Wesley S2 Infante-Casella, Michelle S2,S3 Rabin, Jack S2,S3 Rovins, Cindy S3 B J Rumpho, Mary E. S6 Baculis, J. S4,S7 Jeranyama, Peter S5 S Bassett, Carole L. S8 Johnson, Gordon S8 Bickerton, M. S4 Santiago, James P. S6 Bonos, S. S7 K Smagula, John M. S6,S7 Bovitz, L. S4 Kesely, A. S4 Smela, D. S4 Stack, Lois B. S6 C Kline, Wesley S2,S3,S4 W Cao, Jiwu S3 L Capik, John S3,S4,S8 Leadbetter, Clayton S4 Weidman, R. S4 Carleo, Jenny S2 Libby, Bradly A. S6 Wolenter, M. S4 Chou, Lien-yang S5 Liu, Chunlin S3 Wyenandt, C. Andrew S2,S4 Christensen, Elise T. S9 M Z D McGrath, Margaret T. S7 Zeng, Xiang S3 DeMoranville, Carolyn S2,S5 Molnar, Thomas S3,S4,S8 Zhang, Donglin S3,S6 F Mulken, Robert S5 Fastook, Ilse W. S7 N G Ndlovu, Faith S5 Nitzsche, Peter J. S3 Geng, Fang S3,S6 Ghidiu, Gerald S2 O Glenn, D. Michael S8 Olsen, Richard T. S9 H Orton, Thomas S3 Helsel, Z. S7 P Hlubik, W.T. S4,S7 Patel, Joy S5 Hou, Harvey J.M. S5 Pooler, Margaret R. S9 Hou, Xuejing S5 Hunsberger, Laura K. S7

S10 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 NE–ASHS Annual Meeting—January 3–5, 2011 Abstracts of Presentations from the

Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science —Southern Region

5–7 February 2011 Corpus Christi, Texas

Supplement to HortScience Volume 46(9) September 2011

Contains abstracts of oral and poster presentations from the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Southern Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science Author index begins on p. S44

For citation purposes, abstracts should be cited as follows: (Example) Zhao, Y. and M. Gu. 2011. Effects of organic fertilizers on Chrysanthemum nankingense. HortScience 46(9):S12. (Abstr.)

American Society for Horticultural Science 1018 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 phone: 703.836.4606 • fax: 703.836.2024 • ashs.org • [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S11 Abstracts of the ASHS Southern Region 71st Annual Meeting Corpus Christi, Texas 5–7 February 2011

subtomentosa ×hirta and autopolyploids of R. subtomentosa Norman F. Childers MS Graduate ‘Henry Eilers’. Isogenic polyploid lines were developed in vitro Student Paper Competition using oryzalin as a chromosome doubling agent. Plants were grown outside in a randomized complete-block design with 12 Orchard Design Influences Satsuma Mandarin replications. To evaluate male fertility, pollen was stained with Production a 1% acetocarmine solution and scored for viability. Compared with their diploid counterparts, autopolyploids of R. subtomen- Michael R. Harrison*1, Jay D. Spiers1, Elina Coneva1, tosa ‘Henry Eilers’ had similar internode lengths, plant heights, William Dozier1, Floyd M. Woods1, and number of stems, and flowering times (date at first anthesis); David A. Burnie2 reduced number of inflorescences and pollen viability; and 1Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, 101 increased inflorescence diameters. Compared with the diploid Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849; 2Gulf Coast Research counterparts, allopolyploids of R. subtomentosa ×hirta had and Extension Center, Fairhope, AL 36532 similar internode lengths; reduced number of inflorescences and delayed flowering times; and increased pollen viability. Plant Freeze protection is the most challenging aspect of commercial height decreased with induced allopolyploidy in two hybrid satsuma mandarin production in Alabama. Growers have used isogenic lines while there was no significant effect on plant various orchard designs to reduce freeze damage for decades, as height of a third isogenic line. The number of stems decreased well as using other methods. These designs include interplant- for two allopolyploid hybrid isogenic lines, but there was no ing between pecan and pine trees, planting in open fields with effect on the other hybrid isogenic line. Female fertility is cur- microsprinkler irrigation, and planting behind windbreaks. The rently being evaluated. goal of this research was to determine the effects of different orchard designs on orchard temperature, photosynthesis, light interception, fruit quality, and specific leaf area. The pine tree Effects of Organic Fertilizers on canopies buffer freezing temperatures when compared to the Chrysanthemum nankingense other designs. However, the shade leads to a significant reduc- Yan Zhao* and Mengmeng Gu tion in photosynthesis and light interception. Specific leaf area is higher in orchards interplanted between pines. The significant 32 Creelman St., Department of Plant and Soil Science, reduction of light under pine tree canopies reduces fruit qual- Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762 ity as well as yield. The orchards with high light interception Organic fertilizers are a source of all necessary macro- and contribute to higher fruit quality and photosynthesis. However, micronutrients in available forms to improve both the physical these orchards do not buffer freezing temperatures and will and the biological properties of the soil. Nutrients contained in require other methods of protection to prevent damage due to organic fertilizers are released more slowly in the soil, ensuring critically low temperatures. a long residual effect, supporting better root development, and leading to potentially higher crop yields. In this study, the effects Influence of Induced Polyploidy on Fertility and of organic fertilizers were studied on greenhouse-grown Chry- Morphology of Rudbeckia Species and Hybrids santhemum nankingense. Mum cuttings were potted in 6-inch pots on 12 July 2010 and then pruned back to 5 cm above the pot Kelly Oates*, Thomas G. Ranney, and rim on 13 July 2010. The inorganic fertilizers used in this study Darren H. Touchell included slow-release fertilizer (SRF) Osmocote 13N–5P–10K Department of Horticulture Science, North Carolina (13–13–13) and liquid feed Peter’s 20N–4K–16K (20–10–20) at State University, Mills River, NC 28759 150 ppm and 300 ppm application rates. The organic fertilizers used in this study included SRF Bradfield Bone Meal 9N–3P– Rudbeckia spp. are adaptable and valuable ornamental wild- 0.8K (9–7–1), Nature Safe 10N–0P–0K (10–0–0), and liquid feed flowers. Development of new varieties ofRudbeckia spp., with MegaGreen 2N–1.2P–0.8K (2–3–1) at 0.4 g nitrogen/pot and improved commercial characteristics, would be highly desir- 0.8 g nitrogen/pot. Weekly 100 mL Wormwise (vermicompost able. Interspecific hybridization and induced polyploidy may tea) was used in combination with both organic and inorganic be avenues for improvement within the genus. The objective of fertilizers. Plants were arranged in a randomized complete-block this study was to evaluate fertility, morphology, and phenology design with 6 replications. Plant growth index (GI) and SPAD of flowering for multiple lines of induced allopolyploids of R. reading were recorded at 17 d after planting (DAP), 35 and 49 DAP. Plants were harvested 49 d after transplanting. Fresh *presenting author.

S12 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 weights (FW) and dry weights (DW) were measured. Data An Assessment of Texas AgriLife Extension were analyzed by Duncan’s test at 5% confidence level. Results Agents’ Need for Information on Organic showed that the effects of slow-release organic fertilizers on plant Agriculture growth were comparable with inorganic fertilizers on GI and SPAD when applied at the same rate. The effects of fertigation Patrick T. Lillard*1, James R. Lindner2, and with organic fertilizers on plant growth were comparable with Joseph G. Masabni1 inorganic fertilizers on GI, SPAD, FW, and DW when applied 1225 Horticulture/Forest Science Building, at the same rate. Plants treated with 100 mL Wormwise weekly Department of Horticulture, Texas A&M University, did not grow as well as plants without it. College Station, TX 77843-2134; 2226 Scoates Hall, Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Texas A&M University, College Warren S. Barham PhD Graduate Station, TX 77843-2116 Student Paper Competition The purpose of this study was to describe the level of interest Texas AgriLife Extension agents are receiving from its clientele Enhancing Plant Tolerance to Drought through for information on organic agriculture and to describe their level the Use of Pageant of interest in training on organic agriculture. Primary variables Diana R. Cochran*1, Richard L. Harkess1, of interest included level of interest in organic agriculture in Patricia R. Knight2, Mengmeng Gu1, their respective counties, previous training received, interest in future training, attitude towards organic agriculture, and Texas Maria Tomaso-Peterson3, Eugene K. Blythe4, 5 Extension’s role and involvement in organic agriculture. A and Charles H. Gilliam random sample of agents was selected (n = 151) and a response 1 117 Dorman Hall, Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi rate of 81.5% was achieved. A majority of agents indicated 2 State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762; 1815 interest in organic agriculture in their respective counties had Popp’s Ferry Road, Coastal Research and Extension increased over the past 5 years (n = 60), but noted demand was Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532; still low (n = 39) to moderate (n = 42). Agents from urban or 3Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State suburban counties reported higher levels of interest in organic University, Mississippi State University, MS 39762; agriculture than did agents from rural counties. Agents were most 4PO Box 193, Coastal Research and Extension Center, interested in training on organic soil fertility, insect, weed, and Mississippi State University, Poplarville, MS 39470; 5101 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 disease management and least interested in training on organic certification and transitioning to organic agriculture. Agents Pageant (pyraclostrobin + boscalid) was applied as a foliar spray to indicated traditional information resources would be the most evaluate its physiological benefits onImpatiens walleriana Super useful delivery methods for communicating information about Elfin XP White under water stress. Two separate experiments organic farming, which included print publications, a website were conducted to determine if weekly applications of Pageant with organic information and extension workshops. Agents’ enhanced water use efficiency in water-stressed impatiens. In attitudes towards organic agriculture and their perceptions of Expt. 1, Pageant was applied at four different rates based on Extension’s role and involvement in organic agriculture were the recommended label rate: 0, 0.5× (0.114 g·L–1), 1.0× (0.228 measured using attitudinal statements using a five-point sum- g·L–1), and 1.5× (0.342 g·L–1). In addition, three moisture levels mated scale with reliabilities of 0.76 and 0.76, respectively. It were maintained based on substrate volumetric water content was found that agents neither agreed nor disagreed with state- (VWC): 85% (well-watered), 55%, or 25% moisture. To de- ments affirming the viability of organic agriculture (M = 2.80) termine VWC, a soil moisture curve was created based on the and statements advocating Extension’s involvement in organic relationship between the soil moisture meter readings and actual agriculture (M = 3.38). A stepwise multiple regression was run VWC. Expt. 2 was similar to Expt. 1 except the three moisture on the primary variables of interest to determine which variables treatments were based on 0, 3, or 6 d between watering. On days predicted agents’ interest in training, and found perception of of watering, water applied was determined by 85% VWC. In Texas extension’s capabilities and role, perception of organic both experiments, substrate VWC, shoot and root dry weights, agriculture, and current level of interest in their county accounted and growth indices were measured. Results from Expt. 1 showed for over 50% of the variability. a moisture × rate effect in well-watered impatiens after weekly application of Pageant. Shoot dry weights were statistically greater with application of 1.0× Pageant compared to all other Anthocyanins, Phenolics, and Antioxidant treatments. However, the relationship between shoot dry weight Capacity of Vaccinium L. in Texas and rate of Pageant was quadratic. Expt. 2 showed no moisture Lijing Zhou*1, David Creech1, Wei Yuan2, × rate effects. Based on results from Expt. 1, Pageant applied at Guangrui Deng2, Ping Wang2, and Shiyou Li2 recommended label rate (1.0×) to well-watered impatiens can 1SFA Gardens, Arthur Temple College of Forestry enhance shoot growth, respectively. However, Pageant applied and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, to water-stressed impatiens did not enhance shoot growth. Nacogdoches, TX 75962; 2National Center for

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S13 Pharmaceutical Crops, Arthur Temple College of performance (grades) in an A–F course. This was accomplished Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State by using traditional evaluation methods such as attendance, home- University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962 work, and small drafting exercises, complemented by weekly Berries and leaves of Vaccinium have been an important source journaling, peer evaluations, and project documentation through of food and pharmaceutical ingredients and harbor high levels of student portfolios. Weekly journals provided opportunities for antioxidants. Blueberries in Texas are a substantial industry but students to express what they learned in written format as well there is no report on their antioxidant capacity, total phenolics, as provided course feedback. An end-of-course reflection paper and anthocyanins. The objective of this study is to provide qual- helped students summarize their successes, and failures during ity markers for both selection of cultivars and storage method the semester. Peer evaluations placed responsibility on students and development of pharmaceutical products of Vaccinium in to work together toward project goals. A student portfolio, Texas with the highest antioxidant activity and nutritional level consisting of images and summaries of the various landscape for domestic and overseas markets. The study evaluated antioxi- projects, kept students involved in the progress throughout the dant capacity, total phenolics, and anthocyanin contents in both semester and gave tangible evidence of participation. Because of fruits and leaves of major commercial cultivars including five field conditions, assignments were managed through an online species, five cultivars, and 11 selections grown in Nacogdoches, course management system. Overall, course evaluations remained TX. Considerable variation in ferric reducing antioxidant power similar to those from the traditional classroom version of the (FRAP), total phenolics, and anthocyanin content in fruits was course; however, student comments, particularly from the female observed among different genotypes with fewer variations among students, were very positive. Though not quantified, the com- individual plants of the same genotypes. Our data of rabbiteye ments suggest students gained valuable skills beyond landscape blueberry (V. ashei) supported the hypothesis that antioxidant construction that they perceived valuable to their future careers. capacity was more highly correlated to total phenolics rather than anthocyanins. Our analysis of five species/cultivars showed that Horticulture Education Abroad: A Study in antioxidant activity of fruits decreased during ripening but total Contrasts phenolics contents tended to increase with maturity. Antioxidant 1 2 3 capacity, total phenolics, and anthocyanin contents of berries Mengmeng Gu *, James R. Robbins , and Curt Rom had no significant changes in storage at 4 °C or freezing for 2 1PO Box 9555, Department of Plant and Sciences, 3 weeks but significantly decreased when oven dried at 65 °C for Mississippi State University, MS State, MS 39762; PO 48 h or longer. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolics content Box 391, University of Arkansas–CES, Little Rock, AR 3 in leaves of each test genotypes were significantly (3–15 times) 72703; 316 Plant Science, Department of Horticulture, higher than those in fruits of the same genotypes. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 With partial financial support from a grant titled “US and China: Education Section An ideal partnership to foster season extension production” awarded by the USDA International Science and Education Feedback and Evaluation of Service Learning program, 10 students and three professors from Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida engaged in a 22-d study abroad course, Projects in Horticulture “Season extension horticulture in China,” in 2010. The goals of the David Berle* project were to internationalize the season extension production Horticulture Department, University of Georgia, 120 technology for students in southeastern US to prepare them as Carlton St., Miller Plant Sciences Bldg., Athens, the leaders of the next generation in agriculture, and to improve GA 30602 research and outreach programs in season extension production to strengthen and broaden undergraduate education. The short-term Integration of service-learning experiences into a traditional impact included direct international exposure and initiation of lecture-based course requires a rethinking of methods for student collaboration between American faculty and Chinese scholars. evaluation. Over a period of 5 years, an upper-level course in The long-term impact would be to enhance the international landscape construction was converted from a classroom format content of curricula, retain current students, and improve future to a field-based service-learning course. Students went from lis- enrollment in agriculture, and to provide important resources for tening to lectures, participating in class discussions, completing future emerging problems for season extension production in homework assignments, and taking tests, to engaging in hands-on both US and China. The group not only visited season extension construction projects for the benefit of local non-profits. This production and marketing, sustainable agriculture and specialty change posed several problems, most notably, developing a fair crop production, but also visited universities and agriculture and plausible means of evaluating students’ progress achieving research institutions and had formal and informal discussions the learning goals and objectives of the course. With planned with their peers in China. Pre- and post-tour tests, trip journal, projects and activities it is clearly possible to advance students and a short essay revealed that after the trip students had better up the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy—cognitive, affective, and understanding of season extension production and marketing, psychomotor. The problem comes in establishing a basis for Chinese culture and agriculture.

S14 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 What Makes Retention Possible? to Costa Rica conducted a series of activities in collaboration with EARTH University, carrying out various gardening and Marihelen Kamp-Glass* environmental projects, community service projects, either in Department of Natural Resources and Environmental the field or in the local schools, also using the JMG curriculum. Design, North Carolina A&T State University, The international experience not only had a profound impact on Greensboro, NC 27411 the students’ lives, but it will also increase their competitiveness Data tell us that universities lose approximately 1 billion dollars and career preparation. from attrition of freshman-year students. Those most likely to drop out are low-income, minority, and first-generation college Engaging Underserved Undergraduate Student students. This happens because of lack of preparation and academic support. This starts in the home and continues through Populations through Experiential Learning for public school. At the university level there are many weak Careers in the Horticultural Sciences advisors (advising done not by faculty advisors but by gradu- Shad D. Nelson*1 and Mamoudou Setamou2 ate students, administrative assistants, etc.), or the mentors are 1700 University Blvd, MSC 228, Department of nonexistent, or students do not seek them out. Research shows Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences, that African American students need social support, bonding, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363; 2312 N and group cohesiveness. What can we do? Do not set students International Blvd, TAMU–Kingsville Citrus Center, up for failure; improve our advising. Identify at-risk students Weslaco, TX 78596 as soon as possible. Start mentoring programs and provide a Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK) has received meaningful learning environment. several grant awards from the US Department of Agriculture Hispanic Serving Institutions grant program with the express Cultivating Global Leaders in Agriculture: purpose of increasing the competitiveness of South Texas un- A Successful Attempt to Create International dergraduate students for graduate school and the job market in Learning Experiences for Students in agricultural sciences. Undergraduate research projects under the Agriculture direction of a faculty mentor at TAMUK are aimed at advancing their experiential knowledge and skills of students to know 1 2 Leonardo Lombardini* and Gary J. Wingenbach up-to-date laboratory protocols, research methodologies, and 1Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M professional agriculture-based society involvement. The main University, College Station, TX 77843; 2Department points of impact of this project are so that the students will 1) of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and be trained in a “hands-on” laboratory that incorporates the most Communications, Texas A&M University, College recent advances in several areas of agricultural research skills; Station, TX 77843 2) have experiential learning through individual student research Among the objectives of the 2009 Higher Education Challenge projects under the supervision of TAMUK faculty mentors to (HEC) Grant “Cultivating global leaders in agriculture” were: 1) provide students with opportunities to solve complex problems the development of a new course curricula at the baccalaureate applicable to real-world needs; and 3) be provided with op- level to introduce students to global issues in agriculture, enhance portunities for career development in the food and agricultural critical thinking and analysis skills, and enable students to con- sciences through presentations at professional meetings and duct research experiments that will directly benefit impoverished peer-reviewed article publications. This program has led to communities in the United States; 2) to increase minority enroll- 100% retention of students in the program to completion of ment and retention in the College of Agriculture at Texas A&M a 4-year degree. Furthermore, 15 out of 30 Hispanic students University by providing unique national research opportunities continued onto graduate school with 10% entering directly into with international applications; and 3) to provide participants PhD programs after the completion of the BS degree due to their with international experiences that will increase competitiveness professional horticultural and agricultural scientific preparation and job preparation for careers related to research, extension, by faculty–student mentoring. and academia. To achieve these objectives, a new undergraduate course (“Cultivating Global Leaders in Agriculture”) was International Field Experience: An Effective developed and offered in Spring 2010 with an enrollment of 13 Approach to Enhancing Organic Agriculture undergraduate and three graduate students. At the end of the Curriculum course, 10 students were selected to conduct an international 1 1 2 4- to 6-week experience in Guatemala or Costa Rica. These Xin Zhao* , Carlene A. Chase , Marilyn E. Swisher , students were awarded a grant-funded stipend (ranging between Teresa Briz3, and Maria Asunción Molina4 $2500 and $3500) based on completion of the course and of an 1Horticultural Sciences Department, 2Department of application. The five students that traveled to Guatemala helped Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of in delivering training programs for youth using Junior Master Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; 3Agricultural Economics Gardener (JMG) activities and in conducting horticultural Department, 4Department of Chemistry and Agricultural programs in rural communities. The five students that traveled Analysis, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S15 A partnership between the University of Florida (UF) and Facebook page has 388 visits weekly. On the LSU AgCenter Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) was initiated in 2008 Facebook page, 60% of postings contain horticulture informa- to foster international collaborations in organic agriculture tion. Facebook has been a quicker, faster method of providing education program development. As a result, a study abroad horticulture information to clients. It is faster to post items than course and an international internship have been established webpages but lacks detailed information. More contacts are and implemented to provide experiential learning opportunities possible than with webpage postings. It is a way to maintain and international field activities for undergraduate students in contact with clientele who you may not normally interact with the organic crop production specialization within the horticul- on a regular basis. tural science major at UF. The two-credit course on organic production and marketing in Spain offers students exposure to Helping Growers Understand the New organic farms, processors, and distributors in Spain. Students are expected to obtain a comprehensive understanding of European Fumigant Management Plans organic food systems and regulations as compared with those Mary Lamberts in the US. A daily travel journal and a comparative final report 18710 SW 288th Street, UF Miami-Dade County are required as assignments to enhance their experiential learn- Extension, Homestead, FL 33030 ing and stimulate critical thinking. Feedback from participants Fumigants are currently used for plasticulture-grown vegetables indicated that the study-abroad course is a successful comple- in Miami-Dade County: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and straw- ment to the organic crop production curriculum for increasing berries. New rules for using fumigants date from 1 Jan. 2011. students’ competence and competitiveness in the global organic Changes include product stewardship training requirements, agriculture arena. Teaching materials developed from the buffer zones, number of acres treated per day, record keeping, international field study have been incorporated into organic and notification, especially of neighbors. The author held an production courses at UF. An undergraduate student from the interactive meeting for local growers in Oct. 2010, reviewing Horticultural Sciences Department at UF completed a 3-month the changes. The meeting was like a combination grower work- internship at UPM in Spring 2010. The intern helped to develop shop/advisory committee meeting. Growers were concerned a questionnaire and conducted a survey to compare production about fumigant options, training requirements, fit tests, buffer systems and marketing strategies of organic farms in Florida zones, notification, and fumigant Good Agricultural Practices and Madrid. The post-internship interview with the student compliance. They realized that these requirements would require revealed that the international internship experience was effec- significant changes to their operations, especially for record tive in terms of increasing direct exposure to the global organic keeping. As a result of the workshop, growers prioritized several agriculture industry, improving technical communication skills, issues for Extension: assistance with understanding how buffer and providing professional development. zones can work, having meetings with manufacturers for both product information and training for growers and their fumigant Extension Section handlers. Growers would like to have two sessions of handler training, one in April and one in the fall. Local suppliers have Using Facebook to Provide Clientele with requested Extension’s assistance in staying up-to-date on these Horticultural Information regulations. This meeting was an excellent way to start a much- Allen Owings* needed dialogue about this issue. LSU AgCenter, Hammond Research Station, 21549 Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA 70403 Small Acreage Horticultural Crops: A Webinar- Since Fall 2009, LSU AgCenter horticulturists have been provid- based Model Plan ing home and commercial horticultural information to clientele Joseph G. Masabni* and Patrick T. Lillard via social media, primarily Facebook. This includes postings 2134 Texas A&M University, 225 Horticulture and on the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana State Horticulture Society Forestry Sciences Bldg., College Station, TX 77843-2134 (LSHS), and Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association (LNLA) Facebook pages. The LNLA Facebook page started Horticultural products are of high value and result in greater in Fall 2009. There are 248 “fans or friends” of this page with potential for per-acre returns and production costs than grain 129 monthly active users and about 70 visits weekly. Items crops. However, because of their high cost of production, posted on the LNLA page include awards, meeting announce- perishable nature, and direct marketing, most horticultural ments, and nursery/landscape horticulture-related information. producers in Texas face more challenges and many businesses The Facebook page for the LSHS was launched in early 2010. fail due to lack of proper preparation. A webinar-based model About 550 individuals are “fans or friends” of this site with plan was developed to assist small-acreage vegetable producers 227 people being active monthly users with 52 visits weekly. in identifying and evaluating diversification strategies for risk Most information posted on the LSHS site is home horticulture mitigation and improved economic sustainability. In addition related. The LSU AgCenter Facebook page has research and to online resources on site selection, marketing, crop guides extension information. Active monthly users are 766 with over and cultivar selection, three webinars were held in 2009–10 1300 individuals being “friends or fans.” The LSU AgCenter on varied topics such as grapes, small fruits, pecans, vegetable

S16 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 production, high tunnels, and marketing. Attendees were asked wide × 29.3 m long cost approximately $400 to build and was to fill out an evaluation form after each webinar with questions assembled on site in 3–4 h. This low-cost design allowed for the on the level of understanding, intent of adoption, and anticipated construction of 14 demonstration tunnels in 13 counties across savings in dollars per acre. A total of 403 participants attended the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 3 years. As a result of the and submitted their evaluation forms. Evaluation data indicated demonstrations, there have been seven field days and workshops an increase in knowledge of 43% to 70% was achieved after at- with approximately 800 attendees. Interest from the demonstra- tending the webinars. Based on an average of $240 in anticipated tion program has led to 25 county-level meetings detailing high savings reported in the surveys, the three webinars resulted in tunnel production and regionally specific production information about $96,000 in total savings. An additional $1040 per speaker for high tunnel growers. Returns from demonstration tunnels per webinar was saved in travel expense. have varied based on the crop produced and market outlets. Returns for spring-grown tomatoes ranged from $13 to $67/m2. Rolling the Dice: Risk Management for Income for organically managed vegetables produced in tunnels ranged from $22 to $56/m2 between 2008 and 2010. Returns Specialty Cut Flower Growers were typically higher per unit area for growers who marketed J. Robbins*1, R. Rainey1, M. Gu2, and A. Owings3 particularly early in the season or had a unique niche on which to 1University of Arkansas CES, 2301 S. University capitalize. This high tunnel demonstration program has allowed Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204; 2PSS, Mississippi State for the successful dissemination of novel production techniques University, Box 9555 Mississippi State, MS 39762; as well as providing useful production and marketing data for 3Louisiana State University, Hammond Research Station, growers considering high tunnels in Kentucky. 21549 Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA 70403 A collaborative team from three land-grant universities hosted Large-scale Net House for Vegetable a regional specialty cut flower workshop in Memphis, TN, in Production: Pest Management Successes and Nov. 2009. The workshop was supported by a grant from the Challenges (Year 1) Southern Region Risk Management Education Center (RMEC). 1 2 A number of factors contributed to the success of this workshop. Ayanava Majumdar* and Michael Powell 1 These include the use of an event planning service, professionally Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, 8300 2 designed workshop graphics, nationally recognized speakers, State Hwy. 104, Fairhope, AL 36532; American Farm RMEC funding to reduce registration fees, and concurrent edu- Systems, 13840 County Rd. 51, Jemison, AL 35085 cational tracks that were recorded to provide all attendees with Vegetable producers in the Deep South suffer major crop losses the same information. Using an immediate audience response due to insect pest outbreaks. Physical barriers, such as row cov- system, the team determined that a majority (74%) of attendees ers, are commonly used by producers to prevent insect damage were currently growing cut flowers. Seventy-eight percent of to crops. However, a net house vegetable production system has growers produced cut flowers on 4.9 acres or less. The primary not been evaluated in the United States. This is the first report (67%) marketing channel for growers was a farmer’s market. regarding the effectiveness of a large net house, constructed in The number one (32% of respondents) challenge for growers 2010, for producing high-value crops in southern Alabama. The was labor. No respondents use the land-grant university/CES net house is a 46 m × 14 m structure constructed using wooden as their primary source for information. Three months after poles, support cables, and several long pieces of 50-mesh insect the workshop, attendees were surveyed by mail. As a result of netting manufactured by PolyProductos De Guatemala S.A., attending this workshop, attendees were able to improve the Guatemala. The unit is 5 m high in the center and 4.2 m high on management of their firm’s production, marketing, financial, the sides. The net house was sealed by tucking the sidewalls 0.3 m labor, and/or legal risks. As a result of attending this workshop below the soil surface. A double-door provided access inside the 52% changed their crop schedule or operation practices, 56% unit, where bell peppers and tomatoes were hand-transplanted in diversified their products or services, and 48% enhanced their mid-May. Insect pest activity was monitored in the net house as business pricing and/or record keeping processes. well as outside (untreated control plots) using wing pheromone traps. Plants were also scouted directly to determine pest pres- A Low-cost High Tunnel Demonstration sures. The net house significantly excluded the moths of tomato Program in Kentucky fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea) and beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) compared to the open field. Direct scouting revealed Timothy W. Coolong* that armyworm (three species) and tomato hornworm (Manduca N-318 Agriculture Sciences North, Department of quinquemaculata) caterpillars were reduced 98% to 100% under Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY the net house. Leaffooted bugs (Leptoglossus sp.) were also un- 40546 detectable on plants grown inside, whereas open-field tomatoes Interest in high tunnel vegetable production has increased re- were damaged by the insect. Major challenges included high cently. From 2008 through 2010, a high tunnel demonstration humidity and temperature inside the unit that facilitated root rot program was conducted in Kentucky utilizing a low-cost high and aphids; the latter had to be controlled with one application tunnel design. A demonstration high tunnel measuring 3.7 m of a selective insecticide for the entire season. Future net house research will focus on the management of diseases and insects

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S17 with bio-based and cultural tactics. Use of net house for season The availability of unrooted cuttings from offshore producers extension also needs further investigation. in recent years has made it increasingly possible for growers to propagate a wide assortment of crops without the need to eViticulture.org: A National Grape Community maintain their own stock plants. Softwood cuttings from intensively managed stock plants may or may not benefit from a basal of Practice quick-dip in auxin prior to sticking, and may respond differently Eric T. Stafne*1, Lane Greer1, Ed Hellman2, than cuttings obtained from conventional container-grown or R. Keith Striegler3, and Kathleen Kelsey4 landscape-grown stock plants. Auxin solutions were prepared 1358 Agricultural Hall, Department of Horticulture and by diluting Dip ’N Grow concentrate (10,000 ppm IBA + 5000 Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University, ppm NAA) to final concentrations of 1000 ppm IBA + 500 Stillwater, OK 74078; 2Texas AgriLife Extension Service ppm NAA and 500 ppm IBA + 250 ppm NAA, and by diluting Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 1102 Dip ’N Grow Lite concentrate (experimental formulation with E. FM 1294 Lubbock, TX 79403-6603; 3Institute for 10,000 ppm IBA) to final concentrations of 1000 ppm IBA and Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology, Division 500 ppm IBA. Solutions were prepared with isopropyl alcohol of Food Systems and Bioengineering, College of and deionized water to contain 50% alcohol (by volume) in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources, 108 Eckles final product. Softwood cuttings were shipped from Colombia Hall, University of Missouri–Columbia, Columbia, MO on 10 Mar. and received on 12 Mar. Cuttings received a 1-s 65211-5140; 4Agricultural Education, Communications, basal quick-dip in their respective auxin solutions (cuttings in and Leadership, Oklahoma State University, 466 one treatment were not treated with auxin), inserted into 50-cell Agricultural Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078 trays in Fafard 3B substrate using a completely randomized In 2009, a national grape community of practice (GCoP) was design, and placed under intermittent mist in a greenhouse. formed with eXtension as the platform. The group was funded There were 40 cuttings per treatment for a total of 200 cuttings by a USDA-NIFA-SCRI grant and considered a national priority per variety. After one month, cuttings were removed from the by the National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI). The GCoP plug trays and washed to remove substrate. Root systems were launched a companion portal site to eXtension.org/grapes in scanned and analyzed using WinRHIZO software to determine 2011 called eViticulture.org. The new site leads users directly to total root length. Terminal, 3-cm cuttings of Agastache ‘Tutti viticulture-related information on the eXtension.org site without Frutti’ rooted best using a quick-dip in 1000 ppm IBA or 1000 having to navigate through other content. To date, the GCoP has ppm IBA + 500 ppm NAA. Terminal, 5-cm cuttings of Buddleja more than 60 members from 28 states. Members interact through davidii ‘Attraction’ rooted best using a quick-dip in 500 ppm a variety of methods and create content collaboratively on the IBA or 500 ppm IBA + 250 ppm NAA. No auxin treatment eXtension site. The ultimate goal of the GCoP is to become was necessary for terminal, 2.5-cm cuttings of Rosmarinus the “one-stop-shop” for viticulture information by providing officinalis ‘Arp’. commercial growers access to information about all aspects of growing and producing grapes through an internet-ready Plant Age and Cultivar Affect Western Flower method. So far, over 500 pages of content have been created Thrips Damage on Impatiens and posted through a peer-reviewed process. Translation of articles into Spanish is also a priority to increase accessibility Yan Chen*1, Richard N. Story2, Roger Hinson3, and to vineyard workers and international information seekers. The Allen D. Owings1 eXtension platform allows for unique interactive technologies 1LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, 21549 such as “Ask an Expert,” where growers can ask a question and Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA 70403; 2LSU have it answered by a national expert within a short period. AgCenter Department of Entomology, 404 Life Sciences Future applications will focus on interactive learning modules, Bldg., LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; and 3Department videos, webinars, certificate courses, smart phone applications, of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, 221 Ag. and other technologies. Administration Bldg., LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)] has Floriculture, Ornamentals, and Turf become an increasingly significant pest problem in greenhouse ornamental production. Alternative strategies are needed to man- Section age this pest because of the limited number of available products and the ability of thrips to develop resistance. It is essential to Use of IBA and IBA+NAA Solutions for evaluate thrips damage and to develop action thresholds for the Softwood Cutting Propagation of Selected implementation of either conventional or alternative management Ornamentals programs. This study was conducted to better understand the damages caused by thrips on thrips-susceptible and resistant im- Eugene K. Blythe* patiens (Impatiens wallerana), ‘Dazzler Violet’ and ‘Super Elfin Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi Red’, respectively. Plants at week 3, 6, or 9 in their production State University, South Mississippi Branch Experiment period were inoculated with 0, 25, 50, or 75 female adult thrips. Station, PO Box 193, Poplarville, MS 39470 Thrips were allowed to feed and develop on plants for a week

S18 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 and were removed by insecticide sprays. Plants were grown in ‘Purple’, Gazania rigen ‘Pink Shade’, Gomphrena sp. ‘Fire- the greenhouse for another 3 weeks and their responses to thrips works’, Tagetes erecta ‘Gold’, and three cultivars of Petunia damages were evaluated by weekly observations. Visual damage xhybrida ‘Baby Duck Yellow’, ‘Mirage Rose’, and ‘Spread- ratings and number of leaves exhibiting damage increased when ing’. Seedlings of these plants were grown in 500-mL pots and thrips inoculation density increased. Younger plants exhibited subirrigated with either nutrient solution (control) at electrical more damage at lower thrips density compared to older plants. conductivity (EC) of 1.5 dS/m or saline solutions at EC of 2.8,

A survey was conducted to evaluate consumer tolerance to thirps 4.5, 6.5, and 8.2 dS/m, created by adding NaCl, MgSO4, and damage. Leaf damage caused by 25 adult thrips feeding for 1 CaCl2 at 85:8:5 to the nutrient solution. Petunia plants were week on 8-week-old impatiens plants were considered minor transplanted to 2.6-L pots after 18 d of subirrigation in the 500- and tolerated by most survey participants. These results suggest mL pots and were top irrigated with treatment solutions after that thrips management can be tailored by plant age and there 1 week transition. Shoot DW decreased linearly as salinity of is a potential to use alternative controls while still maintaining irrigation solution increased in all species except for gomphrena. marketability of impatiens. As salinity increased, shoot DW of gomphrena changed in a quadratic fashion with highest shoot DW occurring at EC of Partial Rootzone Stresses and Flower Yield and 4.5 dS/m. For petunias, plants grow rapidly without salt injury. Since no visual damage exhibited at all, moderate salinity may Quality in Roses produce more compact plants compared to the control and may Raul I. Cabrera* eliminate or reduce the use of plant growth regulators in petunia. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas Among the seven species, Tagetes erecta was the most sensitive A&M System, 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas, TX 75252 to elevated salinity because no plants survived in the elevated salinity treatments. In summary, angelonia, petunia, and gom- Greenhouse rose production (for cut flowers) is a most inten- phrena plants are moderately salt tolerant and can be irrigated sive cropping system that utilizes very high water and fertilizer with saline water up to moderate salinity levels, although shoot inputs, and whose large drainage effluents are being captured growth would be reduced. and considered to be recycled back into production, along with the increasing use of alternative, poor-quality irrigation waters. ‘Revival’ rose plants (grafted on the rootstock ‘Natal Briar’) Salt Tolerance of Five Wildflowers are being grown in a split-root system. One-half of the roots Genhua Niu*1, Denise Rodriguez1, and receive a standard nutrient solution (EC = 1.7 dS/m; pH = 6.2) Cynthia McKenney2 and the other half receives the same solution alone or supple- 1Texas AgriLife Research at El Paso, Texas A&M mented with salinity (30 mM NaCl, EC = 4.7 dS/m), alkalinity System, 1380 A&M Circle, El Paso, TX 79927; (6 mM bicarbonate, pH = 8.1), high boron (1.8 mg/L) or a high 2Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech NH -N fraction (48.5%, supplied with urea). After three flower- 4 University, Lubbock, TX 79409 ing flushes no significant differences have yet been found for cumulative flower yields across treatments. Plants receiving Due to intense competition for fresh water among agriculture, industry, and domestic water users, an alternative water source the high NH4-N (urea) fraction on one-half of their roots have had, however, the highest total dry biomass yields, even as they such as municipal reclaimed water is being used for irrigating had the highest leachate EC (8.1 dS/m) compared to the plants landscapes in some areas in the Southwest. The responses of receiving the partial salt-stress (7.0 dS/m) or other treatments herbaceous perennial wildflowers to irrigation water with elevated (averaged 5.3 dS/m). Plants exposed to the partial alkalinity and salts are unknown. A study was conducted to quantify the impact salinity stresses had the shortest stem lengths and lowest foliar of saline water at various salinity levels on plant growth, survival chlorophyll indexes. The salt-stressed plants also exhibited the rate, and aesthetic appearance of five native wildflower species: lowest dry weight per stem. These preliminary results suggest Berlandiera lyrata (chocolate daisy), Monarda citriodora (lemon that rose plants, at least those grafted on ‘Natal Briar’, still remain horsemint), Oenothera elata (evening primrose), Ratibida co- fairly sensitive to rootzone salinity and alkalinity conditions lumnaris (Mexican hat), and Salvia farinacea (mealy blue sage). even when afflicting only a partial sector of their root system. Five salinity levels at electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.8 (tap water, control), 2.8, 3.9, 5.5, and 7.3 dS/m were created by add-

ing different amounts of NaCl, MgSO4, and CaCl2 to tap water. Salt Tolerance of Selected Bedding Plants Plants were grown in a shade-house with 25% light exclusion Genhua Niu* and Denise S. Rodriguez and were irrigated with the above saline solution for 5 weeks. Texas AgriLife Research Center at El Paso, Texas A&M Lemon horsemint did not survive when plants were irrigated System, 1380 A&M Circle, El Paso, TX 79927 with saline solutions at EC of 2.8 dS/m or higher. Chocolate daisy also had low survival rates when plants were irrigated with Alternative water sources are being used for landscape irrigation. saline solutions at EC of 5.5 and 7.3 dS/m. Shoot dry weight Alternative water sources contain high salts, which cause salt of all survived species decreased as salinity of irrigation water damage on sensitive plants. Bedding plants are extensively used increased. Based on growth, survival rate, and visual quality, in landscapes. The objective of this study was to determine the we conclude that lemon horsemint was most sensitive to salin- salt tolerance of seven bedding plants: Angelonia angustifolia

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S19 ity stress, followed by chocolate daisy. Mexican hat was most Three land-grant universities hosted a 22-d trip to China in May tolerant to salinity among the five species. Evening primrose and 2010 with 10 students and 3 faculty. The trip was supported by mealy blue sage were moderately tolerant to salinity. a grant from the USDA International Science and Education program. The primary focus of the trip was to study high tun- Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) Plant Plasticity in nel (HT) applications in horticulture. China is reported to have over 360,000 ha of HT production vs. 5,000 ha in the US. The Response to S-Metolachlor Concentration trip was filled with contrasts and similarities to Green Industry W. Orozco-Obando*1, F.M. Woods1, K.M. Tilt1, (nursery, greenhouse/cut flower, landscape) businesses in the J.R. Kessler1, R. Shevade1, X. Wang1, E. van Santen2, US. One major contrast between Green Industry businesses in F. Dane1, J. Sibley1, J. Pickens1, B. Blasius1, D. Cline3, China and the US is the financial structure. In China, businesses J. Chappell3, and G. Miakonkana4 can be 100% private, 100% government owned, or a blend of 1101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture; 2201 private and public funding. Participation by the Chinese govern- Funchess Hall, Department of Agronomy and Soils; 3125 ment in commercial businesses may prove challenging for other Swingle Hall, Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture; 4235 businesses competing in the global market. In general, many of Allison Lab, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the production systems used in Green Industries in China were Auburn University, AL 36849 quite similar to the US; however, one significant difference was the large-scale use of low-cost labor. The recent expansion of Metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2- the Chinese middle class is driving an increasing demand for methoxy-1-methylethyl) acetamide] is among the most com- ornamental products and services. The rapid expansion of large- monly used pre-emergence herbicides for corn and soybean scale agritourism facilities is one example. in the United States. Due to their extensive use, solubility and persistence, metolachlor accumulates and impacts surface and ground waters. Asian and Native American lotus species (Ne- Fruit Section lumbo spp.) are perennial water plants that are tolerant to many environmental conditions. In addition, lotus is easy to grow, An Overview of the eXtension “All About has high ornamental value, and can be grown in constructed Blueberries” Website wetlands that treat agricultural run-off. The objectives of this A. Denise Attaway*1, Natalie A. Hummel1, study were to evaluate lotus as a model bio-remediator. Elec- Elina D. Coneva2, John Braswell3, William O. Cline4, trolyte leakage (EL), photosynthetic capability (Pn), stomatal 5 6 conductance (SC), biomass accumulation (FW), total chloro- Donna Marshall , Don M. Ferrin , 7 8 phyll (TC), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and vitamin C content Krisanna L. Machtmes , and Heli J. Roy were evaluated as potential biomarkers of stress on the genus 1LSU AgCenter, Department of Entomology, 404 Life Nelumbo. Seedlings were treated with varying concentrations Sciences Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803; 2Auburn of S-metolachlor (0.0, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mg·L–1) over a 6-week University, Department of Horticulture, 101 Funchess 3 duration at 2-week intervals. Mature 12-week-old plants were Hall, Auburn, AL 36849; Mississippi State University– treated with higher concentrations of S-metolachlor (0.0, 5.0, Coastal Research and Extension Center, PO Box 193, 4 15.0 and 35.0 mg·L–1) over the same intervals. In seedlings, EL, Poplarville, MS 39470; North Carolina State University, Pn, and SC values were not different when compared to control. Horticultural Crops Research Station, 3800 Castle Hayne Rd., Castle Hayne, NC 28429; 5USDA-ARS, Southern However, FW in seedlings showed a quadratic response (0.0–5.0 Horticultural Laboratory, PO Box 287, Poplarville, MS mg·L–1 S-metolachlor) with a corresponding weight reduction of 39470; 6LSU AgCenter Department of Plant Pathology 23.7%. In mature plants, TC content in response to treatments and Crop Physiology, 432 Life Sciences Bldg, Baton was concentration and duration-dependent. Vitamin C content Rouge, LA 70803; 7 LSU AgCenter, School of Human declined and MDA increased in response to time. Although, Resources Education and Workforce Development, 142 the S-metolachlor treatments exceed concentrations frequently Old Forestry Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803; 8LSU –1 found in agricultural run-off (5–80 µg·L ), lotus plants were able AgCenter, Nutrition and Health, 275 Knapp Hall, Baton to tolerate treatments within the concentrations and durations Rouge, LA 70803 evaluated. Vitamin C and MDA were more effective than EL as a biomarker. The result of this study suggests that lotus may The All About Blueberries Community of Practice (CoP) was serve as a potential plant for bioremediation. created to help blueberry growers in the southeastern United States maximize productivity and decrease production costs. This CoP uses novel, diverse educational methods to help China: A Study in Contrasts its Community of Interest (CoI) increase blueberry produc- James Robbins*1, Mengmeng Gu2, and Curt Rom3 tion efficiency and correspondingly increase consumption of 1University of Arkansas CES, 2301 S. University blueberries in the southeastern United States. Participating in Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204; 2PSS, Mississippi State a CoP is advantageous for agents/researchers in that it allows University, Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762; 3316 for enhancement of professional contacts and teamwork, as Plant Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR well as improved awareness of research and extension in other 72701 land-grant universities. In addition to these assets, creating and/

S20 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 or being involved in a CoP allows principal investigators (PIs) Mountain Research and Extension Center, Crossville, to learn leadership, organization, and delegation. It allows for AL 35962 exposure to novel tools, such as new software, etc., and it gives Ten Pierce’s disease (PD) tolerant hybrid bunch grapes, including opportunities for participation in eXtension workshops. The ‘Black Spanish’, ‘Blanc du Bois’, ‘Champanel’, ‘Cynthiana’, process for promotion and tenure is being revised to encourage ‘Favorite’, ‘Lake Emerald’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, and ‘Seyval Blanc’, participation in eXtension. The information platform used by grafted on 3309 rootstock, ‘Stover’, and ‘Villard Blanc’, planted a CoP is limitless, including posting You Tube video content, in 2008, were evaluated during the 2010 season to determine audio and video “podcasts,” online interactive maps, Moodle vegetative growth differences during the years of vineyard courses, online interactive diagrams, traditional text and photo establishment. The experimental design is a RCBD with four webpages, FAQs, Ask the Expert services, and so on. The All replications and four single vines per replication used as an About Blueberries CoP is always looking for more experts to experimental unit. The vineyard is located at the Sand Mountain join our community. An eXtension ID is required in order to Research and Extension Center near Crossville, AL. Results join a CoP. To register for an eXtension ID, go to http://about. on cultivar pruning weight and vine trunk cross-sectional area extension.org. showed significant differences between cultivar growth and vigor. Grape cultivars ‘Black Spanish’, ‘Blanc du Bois’, ‘Stover’, and Blackberry Performance in a Sheltered ‘Favorite’ had a relatively low vigor, while ‘Champanel’, ‘Seyval Environment Blanc’, ‘Seyval Blanc’ on 3309, and ‘Villard Blanc’ had vigorously growing vines. Cultivars also differ in their early shoot Robert T. Boozer* and James A. Pitts development and the blooming season. ‘Black Spanish’ had Auburn University, Chilton Research and Extension the most advanced early shoot development, and ‘Champanel’ Center, 120 County Road 756, Clanton, AL 35045 had the earliest bloom season. Differences between the average Floricane and primocane producing blackberries ‘Kiowa’ and number of fruiting clusters per shoot were also found that ranged ‘Prime-Jan’ were established in- ground and grown under a 30 from 12 clusters per shoot for ‘Seyval Blanc’ and 0.9 clusters ft × 72 ft greenhouse shelter (GHS) to evaluate overall effect for ‘Blanc du Bois’. ‘Stover’ and ‘Seyval Blanc’ hybrid grapes on production within a sheltered environment. Training sys- had the highest yield during the first cropping season. tems consisted of vertical trellis and primocane suppression for ‘Kiowa’ and modified hedge support for ‘Prime-Jan’ using Advances on the Performance of Containerized six plants per plot. Comparisons were made between cultivars Strawberry Transplants under Diverse in GHS and using a replicated study established at the same time without greenhouse shelter (NGHS). Temperature data Establishment Practices in Florida collected at various intervals during the establishment year Pei-wen Huang*, Bielinski M. Santos, and showed an increase in heat units (base 40) resulting in 149% Vance M. Whitaker increase in plant width and 176% increase in primocane height 14625 County Road 672, Gulf Coast Research and of ‘Kiowa’ for GHS compared to NGHS. Increase growth rate Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, of ‘Prime-Jan’ was not as pronounced during the same period Wimauma, FL 33598 of time except for primocane height, which was 136% greater Fragaria ananassa with GHS. Extended growth late in the season of plants in GHS In Florida, strawberries ( × ) are established appeared to result in cold injury that reduced yields in the sec- from bare-root transplants using 7 to 12 d of overhead sprinkler ond year of the study. Comparison of total yields per plot over irrigation for 8 h/day in late September and early October. In a 2-year period showed ‘Prime-Jan’ significantly outperformed order to reduce agricultural water consumption and relief water ‘Kiowa’ in GHS. Yields were 139.5 lb and 70.8 lb for ‘Prime-Jan’ sources competition with urban development, containerized and ‘Kiowa’, respectively. NGHS production of ‘Kiowa’ and transplants could be an alternative to save 80% of water during ‘Prime-Jan’ during the study was 50.8 lb and 86.3 lb per plot, crop establishment, although their price is double compared to respectively. Primocane fruit yields of ‘Prime-Jan’ were nearly bare root transplants. It might be possible to produce contain- double for GHS, 15.3 lb, compared to NGHS, 7.7 lb. Average erized strawberry transplants with successful flower initiation fruit weight for both ‘Kiowa’ and ‘Prime-Jan’ were 0.5 g larger induced by the correct red light to far-red light ratio in Florida. in GHS vs. NGHS. Fruiting periods of both cultivars were 10 Therefore, optimal plug sizes for production of containerized to 12 d earlier for GHS compared to NGHS. transplants in Florida need to be determined. ‘Strawberry Festival’ strawberry was used for plugging into four tray cell numbers: 36, 40, 50, and 72 cells per tray. The red light to far-red light Vegetative Growth Differences in Pierce’s ratio at crown was significantly lower with transplants from Disease Tolerant Hybrid Grapes during the 36 cells per tray (0.48) than from 40 (1.08), 50 (1.07), and 72 Years of Vineyard Establishment (1.20) cells per tray. Trays with 72 cells produced plants with 1 1 2 the smallest crowns at both 6 and 12 weeks after transplant- Elina D. Coneva* , Edgar Vinson , and Joyce Ducar ing (WAT) compared to other cell sizes, whereas there was no 1 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn significant difference among trays with 36, 40, and 50 cells at 2 University, AL, 36849; 13112 Alabama 68, Sand 6 WAT and the largest crowns were produced with of 72 cells

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S21 per tray at 12 WAT. Plant size was larger when trays with 36 Field Evaluation of Tissue Culture Banana in cells were used compared to with 72 cells at 6 WAT, but this the Northern Mariana Islands difference was recovered at 12 WAT. Both early fruit number and early yield were higher with plants from 36 cells per tray Dilip Nandwani* than 72 cells per tray, and the results of 36, 40, and 50 cells per Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service, tray were not significantly different. Therefore, cell size for Northern Marianas College, Saipan, Northern Mariana strawberry transplant production in Florida can be improved Islands, MP 96950 from 36 cells per tray into 50 cells per tray without affecting Banana growing has recently become more important in terms production; however, for trays with cell number as many as 72 of production and food security in the island communities of may limit transplant growth and even affect the performance the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) after established in the field. as compared to the past, where Black Leaf Streak and Banana Bunchy Top diseases have constrained the production of Influence of Rootstocks on Physiology of bananas. New lines of banana tested in the South Pacific ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ Grapevines Grown on the Islands have been introduced into the Commonwealth and have captured the interest of rural village farmers. Shortages Texas High Plains of vegetative planting material, high production cost, natural Thayne Montague*, Edward Hellman, and disasters, insect pests, and diseases are the current critical Keith Jenkins gaps in achieving increase of banana production. Field trials Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Lubbock, of new varieties of tissue culture banana were conducted TX 79403-6603; Department of Plant and Soil Science, throughout the CNMI from 2007 to 2010. New varieties were Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122 introduced through the regional germplasm center of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji, and established at Because of extreme growing conditions found on the West Texas the As Perdido Agriculture Experiment Station of Northern High Plains, there is a great need for growers to select adapted Marianas College–Cooperative Research, Extension and varieties and rootstocks. To assist growers when selecting variet- Education Service (NMC-CREES) in the islands of Saipan, ies and rootstocks adapted to the region, this study investigated Rota, and Tinian. New varieties were propagated through rootstock effects on physiology of field-grown ‘Cabernet Sauvi- tissue culture technique and have been tested in the three gnon’ grapevines. Research took place at a local vineyard near islands of the CNMI. Introduced varieties were evaluated Lubbock, TX. Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ scions grafted for their superior agronomic characters, such as high yield, to nine rootstocks were used: 1103P (V. berlandieri × V. rupes- disease and pest resistance, growth, and taste. Twelve new tris), 3309C (V. riparia × V. rupestris), 420A (V. berlandieri × V. varieties of banana, cooking and dessert, have been evaluated riparia), 5BB (V. berlandieri × V. riparia), Freedom (1613C × V. and three crop cycles have been accomplished successfully champini), Harmony (1613C × V. champini), Riparia (V. riparia), in all three main islands of the CNMI. Several hundred plants SO4 (V. berlandieri × V. riparia), and own rooted. Vines were of new varieties were propagated in-vitro and distributed to planted Spring 2008 in a completely randomized block design. the farming community for their commercial production. This For each rootstock and scion combination there were a total of paper describes results obtained from FHIA banana variety 25 plants in each block. Irrigation was delivered by buried drip trials introduced from the certified institutions and field tape, and all plants received similar irrigation volume. During evaluations in the CNMI. the 2010 growing season stomatal conductance, leaf to air vapor pressure deficit, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic rate were High Tunnel Production of Papaya (Carica measured on four different dates. Seasonal physiological means were exposed to ANOVA. If differences were detected, means papaya L.) as an Alternative Niche Crop for were separated by Fisher’s least significance difference proce- Southern Virginia Growers dure. Physiological means were different between rootstocks for A.R. Rafie andChris Mullins* stomatal conductance, transpiration, and water use efficiency. School of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Despite descriptions of low to high drought resistance of tested Petersburg, VA 23806 rootstocks, our data indicate during the 2010 growing season physiological differences between ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ scions Papaya, Carica papaya L., is native to southern Mexico and and rootstock combinations were not consistent and favored parts of Central America. Papaya is planted worldwide under no particular rootstock. Although other considerations must be tropical climate conditions. Papaya is one of the few tropical made when selecting rootstock scion combinations (vigor, bud- fruits that has crossed over to the American market, largely due break, disease resistance, etc.), physiologically it appears each to its sweet taste and nutritional value, and its consumption is on rootstock tested may be suited to growing conditions found on the rise in the US. It is not possible to grow papaya under field the West Texas High Plains. To further assist producers on the conditions in Virginia due to a short growing season. We investi- West Texas High Plains additional physiological and produc- gated Virginia papaya production in high tunnel conditions. Two tion (fruit quality, pruning weights, etc.) data will be collected papaya fruits from a local supermarket were purchased; seeds during the 2011 growing season. were removed, washed, and dried under room temperature. The

S22 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 seeds were planted in Dec. 2008 in a greenhouse. Five plants ‘White Diamond’ Peach were transplanted in the ground in a 48 × 21 ft high tunnel. John R. Clark* and James N. Moore Papaya plants initiated flowering in June and continued until December. The first year’s fruit never ripened and green fruits 316 Plant Science, Department of Horticulture, were harvested, used in a green papaya salad recipe, and pro- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 moted among local chefs. In Dec. 2009, a secondary, temporary ‘White Diamond’ peach is the fifth white-flesh peach released structure was constructed inside the high tunnel to protect the from the University of Arkansas. It is a late-season maturity plants from cold temperature. In Dec. 2009, the main stem of freestone with very firm flesh that softens when fully ripe and each plant was removed 2 ft above the ground and all the lateral is low acid in flavor. ‘White Diamond’ resulted from a cross of shoots were removed but one. The single lateral shoot of each Ark. 392 × ‘White River’ made in 1994. It was selected in 1998 plant grew and initiated flowering in Apr. 2010. The second year and was designated Ark. 700. ‘White Diamond’ first ripe date fruits ripened and were harvested and test marketed from Sept. averaged 31 July (average 128 d after full bloom) at Clarksville, until Dec. 2010. A total of 15 ripened fruit were harvested from AR. Average fruit weight for ‘’White Diamond’ was 208 g on each plant. The average fruit weight was 2 lb. samples from observational trees, heavier than ‘White Rock’ but less heavy than ‘White County’ and ‘White River’. ‘White Using Kaolin Clay to Reduce Sprinkler Diamond’ fruits are freestone and flesh is crisp at early ripening Irrigation for Strawberry Transplant (which are of harvest quality) and soften when fully ripe. Flavor is a light white-peach type and low acid. Its flavor is much like Establishment that of the low-acid cultivar White County. Soluble solids aver- Bielinski M. Santos*1, Teresa P. Salame-Donoso1, aged 14.6%. Tree health was rated high for ‘White Diamond’, Craig D. Stanley1, Alicia J. Whidden2, primarily due to its resistance to bacterial spot, a disease that can Crystal A. Snodgrass2, and Mary B. Henry2 be quite severe at Clarksville. ‘White Diamond’ was observed to 1Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, have only light leaf infections of bacterial spot in some years of University of Florida; 2Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk evaluation, even with bactericides applied. Among comparison County Cooperative Extension Service, respectively, cultivars, ‘Carolina Belle’ and ‘Nectar’ had more instances of IFAS, University of Florida bacterial spot on leaves than the Arkansas cultivars. This cultivar expands options for growers in the mid- to the upper-southern Strawberry production in Florida uses the annual hill system to United States and other areas of the world with similar climatic supply fresh fruit during the winter market in the US. Growers conditions. rely on bare-root strawberry transplants to establish the crop from late September to late October. To achieve this, sprinkler irrigation is applied during 10 to 14 consecutive days between Vegetable Crops Section 12 to 14 h/day to reduce the temperature around strawberry crowns. Because of the current limitations of water usage for Quantifying Ascorbic Acid, Flavonoid, strawberry growers, production practices aimed to minimize the and Capsaicin Levels in Different Peppers sprinkler irrigation without affecting net income are desirable. (Capsicum annuum) Grown in Two Different Crop protectants, such as kaolin clay, are designed to reduce Texas Locations sun-scalding in fruit crops and vegetables. Two field studies were 1 1 conducted to evaluate the plant establishment and early fruit Justin D. Butcher* , Kevin M. Crosby , 2 3 1 yield of strawberries established with and without kaolin clay Daniel I. Leskovar , John Jifon , Kil Sun Yoo , application. Seven combinations of number of days of sprinkler and Bhimanagouda Patil1 irrigation (4 gal/min per sprinkler; 10 h/day) and timing of kaolin 1Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of clay application were established: 10 d of sprinkler irrigation Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College (control), 8 d of irrigation plus or minus kaolin clay on the 9th Station, TX 77845; 2Texas Agri-Life Experiment Station, day, 6 d of irrigation plus or minus kaolin clay on the 7th day, Texas A&M University, 1619 Garner Field Rd., Uvalde, and 4 d of irrigation plus or minus kaolin clay on the 5th day. TX 78801; 3Texas Agri-Life Experiment Station, Texas The results showed that the application of kaolin clay on the A&M University, 2415 E. Hwy. 83, Weslaco, TX 78596 strawberry foliage the following morning after either 6 or 8 d Hot peppers (Capsicum spp.) are an important vegetable ingredi- of sprinkler irrigation had the same plant establishment, plant ent in many cuisines. They contribute to the color, flavor, aroma, canopy diameter, and early fruit weight as the 10-d irrigated and overall appearance of our meals. Peppers also serve as a control. Therefore, a 40% reduction of establishment irrigation unique avenue for delivering many of the important phytochemi- volumes can be achieved with the application of kaolin clay, cals needed by our bodies to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For which might represent major water savings for strawberry pro- several years now, Texas A&M University has been developing duction in west-central Florida. The white film of kaolin clay pepper germplasm expressing various traits of importance. In dissipated within 3 to 5 weeks and it did not show reduction 2010, nine different experimental pepper (Capsicum annuum) on plant growth, flowering, and yields. No effects on total fruit hybrids were planted at two different Texas Agri-Life research weight were observed during the seasons. locations (Uvalde and Weslaco) in completely randomized de-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S23 signs. Plants were grown using commercial practices, and fruit spray concentration range of 500 to 2000 mg·L–1 a.i. Time to were harvested and relocated to College Station, TX. Peppers wilting was increased from 2 d in the control plants to almost were held at –80 °C until analysis ensued at the analytical core 4 d on average in the transplants sprayed with ABA at 2000 unit of the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center. 100% mg·L–1 a.i. We found that spray adjuvants commonly used to methanol was used to extract both capsaicinoids (capsaicin and improve the spreading and adhesiveness of spray mixtures onto dihydrocapsaicin) and flavonoids (quercetin and luteolin) while leaf and fruit surfaces could improve the efficacy of the ABA 3% meta-phosphoric acid was used to extract ascorbic acid out of sprays. Short-term growth inhibition was another objective of fruit tissue. Extract samples were inserted into a high-performance our research project on vegetable transplants. The growth rate liquid chromatography (HPLC) machine to complete the analysis. of transplants was reduced significantly by high-dose ABA –1 A 4-µm Nova-Pak® C18 column (45% ACN in water, 280 nm, sprays of 1000 to 2000 mg·L a.i., but transplant growers we

1.00 mL/min, 20 min), a 4-µm Nova-Pak® C18 column (0.5% worked with in Florida and Georgia said that short-term growth

H3PO4 in water + 0.5% H3PO4 in methanol, 360 nm, 0.80 mL/ control was not an important goal for them. These growers were min, 20 min), and a 10-µm Bondapak™ NH2 125A column (70% interested, however, in a product that could improve drought, ACN in water with ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, 254 nm, chilling, or freeze tolerance. Rapid cotyledon senescence was 1.00 mL/ min, 10 min) were used for capsaicin, flavonoid, and the most common side effect after the ABA sprays, but leaf yel- ascorbic acid analysis, respectively. Significant differences, as lowing and necrosis also occurred occasionally at the highest expected, were found in phytochemical expression (except for rates we tested. the location effect for capsaicin) in these selected entries. Fruit grown at the Weslaco location had higher ascorbic acid and, in Weed Control in Watermelons Using Reflex® most cases, capsaicin values. Fruit grown at the Uvalde location had higher flavonoid values. Cayenne entries had significantly Juan R. Anciso* and Ashley Gregory higher concentrations of flavonoids and ascorbic acid values Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas AgriLife than other types. For the most part, serrano and jalapeno entries Extension Service, 2401 East Hwy. 83, Weslaco, had significantly higher concentrations of capsaicin values than TX 77849 cayenne. Evidence suggests this material could be useful in dif- A herbicide trial was conducted in a commercial seedless wa- ferent crossing schemes or ultimately released for the purpose of termelon field (var. Tri-X 313 with Jamboree as a pollenizer) providing consumers with a healthier choice having appreciable north of Monte Alto, TX (loamy sand). Four different rates (12, visual attributes. 16, 24, and 32 oz/acre) of Reflex® (fomesafen) were made with

a CO2 backpack sprayer on 1 Apr. prior to the transplanting. Spray Application of Abscisic Acid The applications were applied to bare ground on both sides of Phytohormone Can Improve Drought Tolerance the plastic (45-inch swath × 15-ft-long plots). Each of the plots and Potentially Provide Short-term Growth had a haygrazer (var. Jack Pot) windbreak on each side about 6 inches tall on 1 Apr. Evaluations for transplant injury were done Inhibition in Tomato Transplants on 22 Apr. (10 DAP), 28 Apr. (16 DAP), and 13 May (31 DAP). Craig A. Campbell* and J.A. Bergh No injury was observed on the watermelon transplants on any Valent BioSciences Corp., Ocoee, FL 34761-3720 of the evaluation dates. However, injury to the haygrazer was observed on 22 Apr. and plants were dead on 28 Apr. A weed Abscisic acid (ABA) was the last class of phytohormone to be control evaluation was conducted on 28 Apr. (16 or 27 DAT), commercially developed. The creation of efficient methods for in which all weed species were counted in the plots. The main the production of ABA through fermentation spurred the commer- weed species included grasses such as crowsfootgrass (Dacty- cialization of ABA. In 2010 Valent BioSciences Corp. received loctenium aegyptium), Texas panicum (Urochloa texana), and US EPA registration for two new biorational agrochemicals one broadleaf common purslane (Portulaca oleracea). During based on the active ingredient ABA: one is used to improve the this evaluation only the Reflex® treatments did not have any red color of grape berries, while the other is used to improve the common purslane while the untreated control and the grower drought tolerance of ornamental plants. The new registrations local standard had common purslane in the plots. An untreated for ABA do not allow the product to be used on food crops to control and grower local standard were included in the trial with improve drought tolerance. Due to the importance of vegetable the untreated control evaluating watermelon transplants that were transplants in the US vegetable industry, we decided to conduct planted on 12 Apr. However, the local grower standard could not Solanum lycopersicum drought tolerance experiments on tomato ( be duplicated, so randomized plots within the treated area were L.) transplants. In our 2010 greenhouse tests, drought tolerance left as they were with these watermelons being planted on 4 Mar. in tomato transplants was significantly improved with spray 2010 with mechanical weed cultivation and a shielded lay-by applications of ABA applied to the point of run-off. We tested application of the Treflan® (12 oz/acre) on 6 Apr. Another weed transplants in trays obtained from a commercial producer and control evaluation was conducted on 13 May (31 or 43 DAT) we potted single commercial transplants into 600-mL pots, and all grass species were dead in the plots because of broadcast grew them in the greenhouse for 1 week to acclimate, and then application of Select® on 3 May mainly to kill the haygrazer applied ABA. Time to wilting in unwatered transplants in 600- windbreaks. Therefore, only broadleaves were evaluated on this mL pots was increased in a dose-dependent manner over the date and the only broadleaf was common purslane. The Reflex®

S24 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 application at the 32 oz/acre and 24 oz/acre provided statistically A field experiment was conducted in Baton Rouge, LA, to evalu- significant control in comparison to the other Reflex® rates, ate the growth and yield of two summer cover crops, sunn hemp untreated control, and local grower standard. Overall, Reflex® (Crotalaria juncea) and sesame (Sesamum indicum), planted at provided an excellent control of common purslane, which is two timings during the summer. Sunn hemp (44 kg·ha–1) and quite a troublesome weed in the production of watermelons in sesame (5.5 kg·ha–1) were broadcast at recommended rates on southern Texas with the 32 and 24 oz/acre rates. 10 June (early planting) and 17 July 2010 (late planting) into 3.7 x 18.4 m plots using untreated seeds. After planting, seeds Evaluation of New Experimental Tomato were incorporated using a fence harrow. Plots received no irrigation, fertilizer, or pesticides prior to or during growth. On 15 Hybrids from the Texas A&M Vegetable Sept. 2010 a 1-m2 area of cover crop and weed shoot mass was Improvement Center sampled and soil sampled. Cover crop plots were harvested by Kevin Crosby*1, John Jifon2, and Daniel Leskovar3 a forestry cutter, flail mower, and then incorporated by multiple 1Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M passes of a disk harrow. Stand establishment was good for all University, 1500 Research Pkwy., Ste. 120, College of the plots and weeds were less than 5% of total biomass in Station, TX 77845; Texas AgriLife Research, 2415 E. all plots. Cover crops height was highest for the early planted Hwy 83, Weslaco, TX 78596; 3Texas AgriLife Research, sunn hemp (3.3 m), compared to late sunn hemp (2.4 m) and 1619 Garner Field Rd., Uvalde, TX 78801 early planted sesame (2.4 m) plot while the late sesame plot was the shortest (1.9 m). Total fresh weights were highest from The tomato breeding program at Texas A&M AgriLife Re- the early planted sesame and sunn hemp (1.96 kg·m–2 and 1.92 search–Weslaco has been developing improved germplasm for kg·m–2, respectively) while the dry weight of the early planting of over 60 years. The primary objectives have been improvement sunn hemp (0.56 kg·m–2) was greater than the other cover crops of heat tolerance, yield, disease resistance, and fruit quality treatments. There were no differences in soil organic matter or for adaptation to southern Texas. Multiple elite cultivars and soil nutrient status at cover crops harvest. breeding lines have been released to enhance competitiveness of Texas producers for the processed market, primarily diced and whole, canned tomatoes. These have included greatly en- Effects of the Soil Surfactant IrrigAid Gold® hanced heat tolerance and yield, as well as resistance to diseases on Nutrition and Water Management for such as fusarium and southern blight. Currently, the program Tomato Production in Florida Spodosols has expanded to include fresh-market types, with a stronger emphasis on virus resistance, flavor, nutritional content and Bielinski M. Santos* consumer appeal. More than 5000 new breeding lines have been Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, developed to incorporate these traits into heat-tolerant cultivars, University of Florida adapted to south Texas. Improvements in fruit size and yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production in Florida mostly beefsteak and heirloom-types, with resistance to fusarium and occurs in deep sandy Spodosols, which have low water retention TYLCV have been accomplished. Yields of these determinate and high potential for nutrient leaching. Studies were conducted lines have exceeded 500% of traditional large-fruited and heir- to determine the influence of IrrigAid Gold (10% alkoxylated loom cultivars in replicated field trials at Weslaco. In addition, polyols and 7% glucoethers) application on the petiole sap fruit firmness and shelf-life have been improved, without us- NO3-N concentration, and tomato growth and yield. Treatments ing the RIN gene, allowing for superior flavor. By combining consisted of combinations of three N rates (250, 300, and 350 the Ty-2 and Ty-3 genes, much greater resistance to a diverse lb/acre) and IrrigAid Gold application (control and applied). population of begamoviruses has been achieved. In addition, The IrrigAid applied plots received 0.5 gal/acre at transplanting genes for resistance to TSWV and late blight are currently be- and 0.25 gal/acre at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT) ing incorporated to address those diseases for a wider region of through drip injection. The results indicated that there were no Texas. One new TYLCV resistant processor has been released significant N rate by IrrigAid Gold application interactions for to a large cannery and additional experimental F1 hybrid FM leaf greenness, soil moisture, and early and total marketable cultivars are under evaluation, with anticipated release in 2012. yields. Application of IrrigAid Gold increased soil moisture by approximately 2% throughout the season, whereas early market- Using Summer Cover Crops for Fall Vegetable able fruit weight improved by 11% and 9% in Spring and Fall Production 2010. These fruit weight increases might be attributed to the increased soil moisture around roots, which reduced nutrient Carl Motsenbocker*1, William Evans2, leaching and thus higher N absorption. Robert Williams1, and Andrea Morales Cordero1, 3 1School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Vegetable Yields in Mississippi High Tunnels: Louisiana State University AgCenter, 137 Julian Miller Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; 2Truck Crops Branch First Year Results Experiment Station, MAFES, Mississippi State, MS William B. Evans*1, V. Cerven1, G. Bi1, M. Gu2, 39059; 1, 3EARTH University, Guácimo, Limón, Costa K. Hood3, and R. Little2 Rica

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S25 1Mississippi Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station, were not found in plants grafted with ‘Beaufort’, ‘Multifort’, P.O. Box 231, Crystal Springs, MS 39059; Plant and and ‘RS-04-106’, while ‘Maxifort’ resulted in 1–2 galls per plant Soil Sciences Department, P.O. Box 9555, Mississippi (rating = 1). Non-grafted and self-grafted ‘Florida-47’ plants State, MS 39762; Agricultural Economics Department, showed significantly higher levels of infestation, i.e., 30–100 123 Howell Engineering Building, Mississippi State galls per plant (rating = 4). A follow-up field trial was carried Mississippi, MS 39762 out in the fall to test the field performance of grafted plants. Our team is using a combination of replicated and observa- ‘Tygress’ as the susceptible scion was grafted onto ‘Beaufort’. tional trials to evaluate vegetable crops for production in high Interestingly, similar levels of root-knot nematode infestation tunnels. Our unheated, passively vented tunnels are at Crystal were observed in grafted vs. non-grafted plants while grafting Springs, MS, on a silt loam soil. Crops screened have included with ‘Beaufort’ significantly increased tomato yield. Further Asian greens, heading and leafy brassicas, lettuces, cucumbers, research is warranted to examine the resistance of vigorous squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and more. A Spring 2009 rootstocks to difference root-knot nematode races under field replicated test of trellised slicing cucumbers in three adjacent conditions and possible presence of tolerance in some rootstocks. tunnels revealed large inter-tunnel variation in total and marketable fruit number and yield, but almost no variation in average Early-season Production of Summer Squash fruit size in the two classes. Based on crop growing days, crop (Cucurbita pepo) in High Tunnels spacing, actual yields, and estimated retail value, theoretical 1 1 2 3 3 gross income from cucumbers the three tunnels ranged from V. Cerven* , G. Bi , M. Gu , K. Hood , R. Little , $1.39/sq ft/year to $3.15/sq ft/year. An unreplicated trial of and W.B. Evans1 several tomato cultivars illustrated large differences in returns 12024 Experiment Station Road, PO Box 231, Truck among cultivars. The highest yielding cultivar tested, ‘Roma’, Crops Branch Experiment Station, Mississippi State, produced a theoretical return of $3.28/sq ft/year, while the lowest MS 39059; 2Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, 117 yielding cultivars in this trial produced estimated gross incomes Dorman Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762; 3Department of $1.82/sq ft/year. The yields and the return estimates produced of Agricultural Economics, 123 Howell Engineering, by these preliminary trials are illustrative of the variability one Mississippi State, MS 39762 might encounter in high tunnel production. They are not suit- The goal of this study was to determine feasibility of early season able for actual budgeting purposes because they only represent summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) production in high tunnels. a single year of work, and in the case of tomatoes, are not based The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of secondary row on replicated plots. covers inside high tunnels. Summer squash were transplanted into high tunnels and grown 5 Mar. to 21 May 2010. Row cov- Rootstock Effect on Root-knot Nematode ers (1.5-m height) were used only four nights in the season. Air Resistance in Tomato temperatures were recorded outside and inside of the high tunnels, and then under the secondary row covers. The maximum, 1 1 2 Xin Zhao* , Christine E. Johns , and Robert McSorley minimum and average air temperatures were higher inside the 1Horticultural Sciences Department, 2Entomology high tunnels by 20.64, 5.33, and 7.96 °F, respectively, compared and Nematology Department, University of Florida, with outside. The secondary row covers (Frost Blanket) increased Gainesville, FL 32611 the maximum, minimum, and average air temperatures inside Cultural practices such as crop rotation and cover crops may be row tunnels by 2.36, 4.89, and 2.53 °F, respectively, compared of limited use in controlling root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne with air temperatures inside the tunnels. High tunnels added 44 incognita) in vegetable production because of the wide host more GDD50, compared with outside environment. An additional range. Soil fumigation is employed primarily in large-scale com- 15 GDD50 accumulated inside the row covers, during the 4 d they mercial production of tomatoes in Florida. Interest in vegetable were used, compared with GDD50 inside the high tunnels. For grafting technology as an alternative tool for pest management the complete crop cycle (5 Mar.–21 May 2010), there were no is emerging among tomato growers recently. This study was differences in the GDD accumulations in row tunnels; however, conducted to determine the effectiveness of using rootstocks to the GDD accumulation inside high tunnels was higher by 36% improve root-knot nematode resistance in tomato production. compared with accumulation outside. In a greenhouse inoculation experiment, a susceptible tomato cultivar, ‘Florida-47’, was grafted onto four resistant rootstock Utilization of Grafted Tomato Seedlings for cultivars including ‘Beaufort’, ‘Maxifort’, ‘Multifort’, and Bacterial Wilt Management in Open Field ‘RST-04-106’. Non-grafted and self-grafted ‘Florida-47’ plants Production were used as controls. Six-week-old tomato plants in pots were inoculated with M. incognita race 2 by delivering a suspension Theodore McAvoy1, Mathews Paret2, Josh Freeman*3, of 100 juveniles in 4 cm3 water into a 1-cm-deep depression at Steve Olson2, and Steve Rideout3 the base of the plant, and then covering with soil. Nine weeks 1Department of Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic after inoculation, root-knot nematode infestation was evaluated Institute and State University, 301 Saunders Hall, using a 0–5 rating scale (0 = no galls; 5 >100 galls). Root galls Blacksburg, VA 24061; 2University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research

S26 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 Drive, Quincy, FL 32351; 3Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1Wes Watkins Agriculture Research and Extension and State University, Eastern Shore Agricultural Center, Lane, OK 74555; 2USDA-ARS Wes Watkins Research and Extension Center, 33446 Research Drive, Agricultural Research Laboratory, Lane, OK 74555 Painter, VA 23420 Organic melon production requires effective weed manage- Seven tomato rootstocks claiming resistance to bacterial wilt ment practices for achieving acceptable crop yield and quality. (Ralstonia solanacearum L.) were used in combination with a Research conducted in 2010 in southeastern Oklahoma (Lane) single tomato scion to evaluate the performance of grafted seed- compared several possible weed management strategies for lings in open field production. A self-grafted entry was included cantaloupe. Treatments included black plastic mulch, black to ensure that the grafting process did not impact bacterial wilt woven landscape fabric, cultivation, flaming, Greenmatch resistance or fruit yield. Bacterial wilt incidence was variable herbicide as postemergence directed spray, corn gluten meal between trials. The self-graft as well as the grafted entries had applied in a band along side of the row, and Matran herbicide as low incidence of bacterial wilt infection in one trial, while the postemergence directed spray. Weeds present included smooth self-graft and non-grafted entries had high incidence in two crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Schreb. ex Muhl.], trials. Significant differences in bacterial wilt incidence were cutleaf groundcherry (Physalis angulata L.), piny amaranth observed in all trials between resistant rootstocks and self- and (Amaranthus spinosus L.), and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus escu- non-grafted entries. Rootstock had a significant effect on total lentus L.). At the three-leaf crop stage, vigor was assessed and marketable yield in all trials with certain grafted entries yielding weed populations determined. Yellow nutsedge populations were significantly greater than non-grafted ‘BHN 602’. These data determined again 5 weeks later. Crop vigor was greatest in the show that grafting holds promise for increasing the disease mulch, landscape fabric, and corn gluten meal treatments (85% resistance in tomato cultivars as well as increasing the overall to 90%) and ranged from 68% to 80% for other treatments. The productivity of tomato cultivars. mulch and landscape fabric treatments reduced the populations of all weed species significantly. Melons were harvested 4 times Performance of Grafted Heirloom Tomatoes over a 3-week period. Combined marketable yields across har- on ‘Beaufort’, ‘Celebrity’, and ‘Maxifort’ vests ranged from 4500 to 8000 fruit per acre but did not differ Rootstock across treatments. At the first harvest, yields were significantly greater in the mulch and fabric treatments, likely due to the soil Joseph G. Masabni*, Astrid Volder, Patrick T. Lillard, warming effects of these treatments. Yields of largest melons and Stephen King (>6.5-inch diameter) were lowest in the mulch and landscape 2134 Texas A&M University, 225 Horticulture and fabric treatments. In summary, mulch and landscape fabric Forestry Sciences Bldg, College Station, TX 77843-2134 treatments provided greatest weed prevention, best early crop An experiment was conducted in 2010 to evaluate three tomato vigor, and greatest early yields. rootstocks on performance of three heirloom and one commercial tomato cultivars. The rootstocks used were ‘Maxifort’, ‘Beaufort’, Nitrogen Management for Snap Beans on Sandy and ‘Celebrity’. The heirloom cultivars were ‘Cherokee Purple’, Loam Soils in the Mid-Atlantic ‘Black Prince’, and Brandywine’, while the commercial cultivar 1 2 was ‘Celebrity’. Additional treatments consisted of no grafting Mark S. Reiter* and Joshua H. Freeman 1 and self-grafting for a total of 19 treatments. Photosynthesis 33446 Research Drive, Department of Crop and Soil was measured about 30 d after transplanting but no detectable Environmental Sciences, Eastern Shore Agricultural differences were observed in any treatment. Weekly harvests, Research and Extension Center, Virginia Polytechnic 2 seven in total, were collected between 1 June and 15 July 2010. Institute and State University, Painter, VA 23420; 33446 Harvest data included number and weight of culls, marketable Research Drive, Department of Horticulture, Eastern Shore AREC, Virginia Tech, Painter, VA 23420 fruits, and totals. ‘Celebrity’ outyielded other cultivars irrespective of rootstock. Results indicated that the commercial cultivar Over 5400 acres of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are grown Celebrity didn’t achieve any significant yield improvement in Virginia per year within the environmentally sensitive when grafted to any heirloom variety. Results also indicated Chesapeake Bay watershed. The objective of this study was to that grafting the heirloom cultivars Cherokee Purple and Black pinpoint correct nitrogen (N) rates and application timing for Prince on ‘Celebrity’ rootstock didn’t result in significant yield fertilizer sources containing varying amounts of ammonium, improvement. On the other hand, grafting the heirloom ‘Bran- nitrate, or other N forms. The experiment was arranged as a dywine’ on ‘Celebrity’ rootstock reduced total yield. The only factorial arrangement of 3 N rates (40, 80, and 120 lb N/acre) significant yield increase was observed with grafted planted on x 2 N application methods [100% preplant incorporated (PPI) ‘Beaufort’ rootstock over non-grafted plants. and 50% at-planting PPI + 50% sidedress at mid-flower (SDM)] x 6 N sources [liquid urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN, 30% N), Weed Control Options for Organically Grown calcium nitrate (2009 only; CN, 17% N), ammonium nitrate Vine Crops (AN, 34% N), ammonium sulfate nitrate (ASN, 26% N), urea (2010 only; UR, 46% N) and UR + dicyandiamide nitrification 1 1 James W. Shrefler* , Merritt J. Taylor , inhibitor (UDCD, 46% N)] plus a 0-N control on a Bojac sandy B. Warren Roberts1, and Charles L. Webber III2

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S27 loam. The study was repeated in fall 2009 and 2010. In no case flower pruning programs: one flower per node (Dutch pruning), was an interaction significant atP = 0.10 and only main effects and no flower removal on each node (Spanish pruning). There will be discussed. In 2009, fall treatments suggested that all N was no interaction between both factors. Marketable and non- sources had statistically similar yields and were higher than the marketable fruit number and weight were the highest at 30 cm 0-N control (6703 vs. 4296 lb/acre, respectively). A quadratic between plants, whereas the Dutch pruning showed the highest relationship indicated that 80 lb N/acre was optimum for maxi- marketable fruit weight and number. For fruit quality traits, mum yields (7200 lb/acre). In 2010, UDCD had higher yields the combination of Dutch pruning and 25 cm between plants than the control, UAN, AN, and ASN (2845, 3162, 2656, and and the combination of Spanish pruning and 30 cm between

3100 lb/acre, respectively; LSD0.10 = 306 lb/acre). A quadratic plants resulted on the highest fruit weight, length, diameter, relationship indicated that 40 lb N per acre produced optimal and thickness. The second study dealt with the effects of flower yields (3170 lb/acre). For application timing, PPI and SDM pruning and number of stems on yield and postharvest quality of treatments were equal (3220 and 3284 lb/acre, respectively; indeterminate bell pepper under protected environment. Three LSD = 193 lb/acre). In conclusion, N source only mattered un- pruning levels were used for this experiment: pruning up to the der non-ideal growing conditions where nitrification inhibition 10th, 15th, and 20th node in combination with one and two may have been beneficial, a rate of 40 to 80 lb N/acre should stems. The number of fruit, fruit yield, and number and weight be used, and application timing did not matter. of non-commercial fruit were the highest for plants with two stems. The combination of one stem and pruning either to the

Cultural Practices for Indeterminate Bell 10th or 15th node resulted on the highest fruit weight, length, diameter, and thickness. Pepper Production in Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador Validation of Multiple Soilless Culture Practices under Protective Structures for Vegetable and Bielinski M. Santos, Teresa P. Salame-Donoso, Henner Small Fruit Production A. Obregon-Olivas, Jessie E. Inestroza, Maria G. Cuevas, Marco V. Saenz, Mauricio Martinez, Teresa P. Salame-Donoso* and Bielinski M. Santos Emmanuel A. Torres-Quezada*, and Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, Carlos J. Mendez-Urbaez University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, Protected vegetable and small fruit production is widely used University of Florida, 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, in Europe and other parts of the world. However, in Florida, FL 33598; Agropecuaria San Antonio, Tecolostote, open-field production remains as the main production system. Nicaragua; Corporacion Dinant, Comayagua, Honduras; Vegetable and small fruit production under protective structures Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones agropecuarias could potentially increase yield, improve fruit quality, promote y Forestales, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; early ripening, reduce pest incidence and rain damage depending Laboratorio de Tecnologia Poscosecha, Univerisdad on the structure. The objective of the study is to characterize de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica; Hidroexpo, San the response of determinate bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) Salvador, El Salvador grown under a screenhouse with different soilless media and

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) production in Central America container types in Florida. Plant growth, petiole NO3-N con- and the Caribbean has become one of the main agricultural com- centration, and fruit earliness of pepper were measured. Twelve modities for exporting into the US and the European Union. To treatments were tested using four soilless media [pine bark, guarantee constant supply and quality, small and medium-size perlite, coconut coir, and potting mix (Fafard Mix 2)] and three growers use passively ventilated protective structures like green- container types (pots, box, and growing bags). The volumes per house and high tunnels. The main goal of those structures is to plant of each container were 7.5, 7.5, and 2.3 L/plant for pots, controlling the growing environment, reduce pests, and improve boxes, and growing bags, respectively. The results showed no fruit quality and yields. Nevertheless, small and medium-size interaction among factors for plant height and early yield. Pine growers cannot afford using electric or diesel fans and cooling bark, coconut coir, and potting mix had the tallest plants and systems to lower temperatures and relative humidity, which the highest early yields. On container types, the boxes and pots causes increased fruit sun-scalding, lowered fruit number and had the tallest plants. There was no difference among container size, and thus increased postharvest losses (as high as 35% in types on early yields. Interaction between the factors was found some colored peppers). For this reason, two experiments were for petiole NO3-N concentration. The treatments with the lowest carried out at the Dominican Republic. The first study sought values were perlite in pots and perlite in boxes (under NO3-N to determine the effects of planting densities and flower prun- sufficiency range), followed by perlite in bags and potting mix ing programs on yield and postharvest quality in indeterminate in bags. The low performance of perlite could be related to its bell pepper grown under protected environment. The distances low water retention. Pine bark is the cheapest medium and it is were 20, 25, and 30 cm between plants combined with two readily available in most areas.

S28 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 Exogenous ABA Application Impacts Seedling and Statistics, Auburn University, AL 36849; 3Alabama Height and Survival in Bell Pepper Agriculture Experiment Station, 4725 County Rd. 40, Shorter, AL 36075 Christopher J. Biai1, Jose G. Garzon1, Jason A. Osborne3, Jonathan R. Schultheis1, The present study was conducted to determine the influence of agricultural practice (photoselective plastic color mulch and spun- Ronald J. Gehl2, and Christopher C. Gunter*1 bonded row covers) on sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. 1 Department of Horticulture, North Carolina State ‘Beauregard’] yield, quality and antioxidant content. The study University, Kilgore Hall, Box 7609, Raleigh, NC 27695- 2 was conducted during Summer 2008, at Auburn University’s 7609; Department of Soil Science, North Carolina E.V. Smith Research and Extension Station located in Shorter, State University, 455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC AL. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments: 1) black plastic 28759; 3Department of Statistics, North Carolina State mulch plus spun-bonded row cover (BPM+RC); 2) black plas- University, 5238 SAS Hall, Campus Box 8203, Raleigh, tic mulch (BPM); 3) red plastic mulch plus spun-bonded row NC 27695-8203 cover (RPM+RC); 4) red plastic mulch (RPM); 5) bare soil plus Excessive internode elongation prior to field establishment can spun-bonded row cover (BS+RC); 6) bare soil (BS); 7) silver result in challenges for growers using mechanical transplant- plastic mulch plus spun-bonded row cover (SPM+RC); 8) silver ers to establish their crops. Controlling the height of vegetable plastic mulch (SPM); 9) white plastic mulch plus spun-bonded transplants prior to planting is essential. A greenhouse experi- row cover (WPM+RC); 10) white plastic mulch (WPM); 11) ment was conducted in 2008 and 2009 to determine the efficacy blue plastic mulch plus spun-bonded row cover (BLUPM+RC); of exogenous drench-applied abscisic acid (ABA) applications and 12) blue plastic mulch (BLUPM). Yield components (U.S. for height control of transplanted pepper. Three types of pepper #1, total marketable yield, total yield, vine length, vine weight, (Capsicum annuum L.) were investigated: bell pepper (‘Aristo- above and below mulch temperature, and total soluble sugar tle’), jalapeño (‘Grande’), and banana pepper (‘Pageant’). Ten content) and antioxidant content [total carotenoid (TC) vitamin ABA treatments, based on application frequency and timing, C and total phenolic content (TP)] were determined. Our findings and an untreated control were evaluated over an 8-week period indicate the following: 1) the use of plasticulture on sweetpotato each year. Early single-dose applications were more effective has potential benefits in modifying growth and nutritional sta- at controlling height than a single dose applied later. Multiple tus of sweetpotato grown in central Alabama; 2) spun-bonded ABA applications initiated early (at the cotyledon stage) to ‘Ar- row covers enhanced air temperatures; 3) dark-colored plastic istotle’ bell peppers were effective in slowing transplant growth mulches increased soil temperatures compared to lighter-colored compared with any single ABA application. Differences among plastic mulches; and 4) silver plastic mulch and row cover and the response of pepper types to ABA application were observed. red plastic mulch treatments had higher earlier, marketable Follow-up studies involving two greenhouse experiments were and total yields when compared to other treatments. Further conducted to determine phytotoxicity induced by exogenous investigations are required to determine the exact mechanisms drench application of ABA on bell pepper ‘Aristotle’ seedlings. involved in order to fully exploit this technology (plasticulture) Treatments were made up of combinations of ABA concentration intended to enhance early market season, quality, and nutrition and frequency applied over a 1- to 5-week period in addition to of sweetpotato. an untreated control. Plant survival for the control and the 1000 mg·L–1 (baseline treatments) was significantly greater compared with the single application and multiple applications of greater Soil Nitrogen, Leaf Nitrogen, and Fruit Yield in concentrations. As ABA concentration increases the longevity Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) as Affected of survival is decreased as demonstrated by a larger estimated by Fertilization with a Slow-release Nitrogen hazard ratio when the concentration of ABA increases. Applying Fertilizer higher concentrations of ABA using multiple lower concentration Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez* and Jesús Bautista applications resulted in lower hazard ratios and increased longevity compared with a single higher concentration application. Our Department of Horticulture, UGA–Tifton Campus, Tifton, GA 31793-0748 study determined that ABA delivered as drench applications at the cotyledon stage can significantly control transplant height Slow-release fertilizers are a possible alternative to increase with no visible phytotoxicity. nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a slow-release nitrogen

Yield Performance, Quality, and Antioxidant fertilizer (SRF) on the levels of NH4 and NO3 in the soil, leaf Content of Sweetpotato in Response to N concentration, and yield of bell pepper (‘Heritage’) plants. Photoselective Mulch and Row Covers The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Tifton Campus, University of Georgia, during Spring 2008. The design F.M. Woods*1, D.M. Sullen1, A. Gebrekidan2, was a randomized complete block with a factorial arrangement. J.R. Kessler1, J.E. Brown1, B.D. Blasius1, There were four treatments [2 N fertilizers x 2 rates (200 kg/ and J.E. Burkett3 ha N and 280 kg/ha N)] and four replications. The N fertilizers 1 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn were: SRF (Nitamin Nfusion, Georgia Pacific; 22 N–0 P2O5–0 2 University, AL 36849; 221 Parker Hall, Mathematics K2O) and calcium nitrate as the control. At about midseason,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S29 47 d after transplanting (DAT), the concentrations of NH4-N able yields. Grafted plants were evaluated in Spring 2010, at the and NO3-N at both 30-cm and 60-cm soil depth were higher Coastal Research and Education Center of Clemson University, in soils fertilized with SRF than those fertilized with calcium Charleston, SC. Rootstocks used were: TZ 148 (wild melon nitrate. No differences in concentrations were found, however, hybrid), Kazako (interspecific squash hybrid) Carnivor (inter- 69 DAT and 100 DAT. Leaf N concentrations 40 DAT and 68 specific squash hybrid), and Tetsukabuto (interspecific squash DAT were higher in plants fertilized with SRF compared to the hybrid). The scion material consisted of cultivar Athena, Home control, while there were no differences in leaf N concentration Run, ACX 428 ES, and Fantasista. In addition, all cultivars were

98 DAT. Regardless of the N fertilizer, concentrations of NH4-N self-grafted. All grafting was done using the one cotyledon graft. and NO3-N in the soil and leaf N concentration were higher at All plots were 40 ft long, 2 ft between plants, with 9 ft between higher rate of N fertilization. There was a fertilizer x rate interac- rows, replicated four times. Fruit was harvested at full slip and tion for marketable and total yields. Marketable and total yields categorized as marketable if they weighed above 4 lb. Fruit were highest with calcium nitrate at 280 kg/ha and SRF at 200 were graded according to the US Department of Agriculture kg/ha and lowest with SRF at 280 kg/ha. Marketable and total (USDA) grading standards for all melon fruit. Overall grafting yields were not significantly affected by rate of calcium nitrate increased the average fruit size, and decreased the size of the but decreased with increasing rates of SRF. Fertilizer and rate internal cavity. Grafting affected the fruit shape by making it did not affect the weight of individual fruit. more circular rather that oval. Sugars were unaffected. Yields in general increase with grafting on all cultivars. The first harvest What Is Earth-Kind Vegetable Production? saw the greatest benefit to grafting with a significant increase in fruit number harvested. However, with the cultivar Fantasista Joseph G. Masabni* when grafted upon rootstock Kazako showed signs of incom- 2134 Texas A&M University, 225 Horticulture and patibility at fruiting. Plant death occurred once the crown fruit Forestry Sciences Bldg, College Station, TX 77843-2134 set. Further studies in the coming year will be done to confirm An experiment was conducted in 2010 to evaluate whether this information. the principles of “Earth-Kind” roses production is applicable to nine vegetable crops, namely ‘Spineless Beauty’ zucchini, Evaluating the Sole Usage of Biorational ‘Spacemaster’ cucumber, ‘Juliet’ tomato, ‘Celebrity’ tomato, Pesticides for Pest Management on Vegetables ‘Ichiban’ eggplant, ‘Sweet Banana’ pepper, bell pepper, sweet corn, and ‘Henderson Bush’ beans. The objective of Earth- Henry O-Sintim*1, Louis E.N. Jackai1, and Kind vegetable production is to encourage water conservation, Beatrice N. Dingha2 reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use, energy conservation, 1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental and reduction of wastes. Nine commercial vegetable cultivars Design, 2Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and three replications were grown in mushroom compost (MC) North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, or city compost (CC). Compost was incorporated preplant, and NC 27411 mulch was added on all plots. A onetime preplant application Crop pest management must take into consideration farmer of 50 lb N fertilizer was added to CC plots, in order to bring safety, sustainability of methods, likelihood of adoption, and soil fertility to levels similar to those in the MC plots. No ad- potential food safety risks especially among small vegetable ditional fertilizer was applied during the duration of the trial. growers. This report provides preliminary findings on the chal- Drip irrigation was supplied on a regular basis to the equivalent lenges of using exclusively OMRI-listed biorational pesticides of 1 inch of water per week. One application each of Neem and in the management of pests on some specialty vegetables. We Pyrethrin (organic fungicides) and of Bravo (synthetic fungicide) applied five commercially available biorational insecticides was applied before harvest began. Initial results indicate that (Agroneem®, Trilogy®, Neemix®, Mycotrol-O®, and Monterey®) successful Earth-Kind vegetable production can be achieved with and a neonicotinoid insecticide (Provado®) at the manufacturers’ ‘Juliet’ tomato, banana pepper, and beans. Crops not suitable to recommended rates in 10-d spray cycle on vegetables in small field be grown following Earth-Kind principles include ‘Celebrity’ plots during July and Oct. 2010. Data collected on insect popula- tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, and cucumber. This study also tion fluctuation, plant damage, and yield suggest crop-specific indicated that mushroom compost is best suited for Earth-Kind variations in insecticide performance among the tested insecti- vegetable production, which achieved higher yields than city cides. The pest arthropod species recorded included Empoasca compost plots without any additional N fertilizer. sp., Halyomorpha halys, Leptoglossus spp., Acrosternum hilare, Heliothis sp., Melanoplus spp., Diabrotica undecimpunctata Effects of Melon Grafting on Scion (on Vigna unguiculata and Cajanus cajan), Lygus sp., Heliothis Compatibility sp., Disonycha glabrata, Diabrotica sp., Spodoptera spp. (on Richard L. Hassell* Amaranthus sp.), Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Tetranychus sp., Heliothis sp., Spodoptera spp., Gargaphia solani, Aphis sp. (on Clemson University CREC, 2700 Savannah Hwy., Solanum melongena Harmonia axy- Charleston, SC 29414 ). Beneficial species such as ridis, Perillus bioculatus and Collops genus were also recorded. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of grafted None of the insecticides successfully suppressed insect pests melons on plant vigor, fruit internal quality, and overall market- across the spectrum and none prevented damage on Amaranth

S30 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 when used in a 10-d spray cycle. Agroneem®, Trilogy® and Sweetpotatoes are highly nutritious vegetables. However, they Neemix®, which contain similar active ingredients (azadirachtin are only marketed on a very limited scale. Recently, the market and other neem compounds), performed differently. Monterey®, has had an increased demand for pre-cut/fresh-cut fruits and which contains spinosad, was the best in controlling leaf chewing vegetables due to fresh-like character, convenience, and health beetles and caterpillars on eggplant. Provado® (active ingredient benefits. Fresh-cut produce is a perishable commodity with a imidacloprid) stimulated mite reproduction and with somewhat shorter postharvest shelf-life, and needs better and safer post- inconclusive results regarding its impact on natural enemies. harvest quality maintenance. The objective of this study was We conclude that the sole dependence on a single biorational focused on the effect of sanitizers and antioxidants on color, insecticide by small growers is unsustainable and ill-advised. polyphenoloxidase (PPO), headspace gas composition (O2 and

We propose combining biorational insecticides having different CO2), and bacterial counts. Trisodium phosphate (4%), sodium modes of action, or alternating them with low-risk insecticides hypochlorite (1000 ppm), and Tsunami 200 were used as sani- and used with resistant cultivars and natural enemy enhancements tizers. Sliced sweetpotatoes from two cultivars (‘Beauregard’ where possible and in adherence to a scouting-driven demand. and ‘Covington’) were treated with sanitizers and packed in

high-O2 permeable bags and low-O2 permeable bags flushed with gas composed of 4% O , 10% CO , 86% N , respectively. Crop Strategies for Globe Artichoke in Texas 2 2 2 The sweetpotatoes were stored at 5 °C and analyzed every 4 d Daniel I. Leskovar*1, Togo Shinohara1, for up to 20 d. The surface color (L, a, and b values) of sliced Shinsuke Agehara1, Susan Cooper1, Kil Sun Yoo2, sweetpotatoes was measured. PPO activity was assayed to de- and Bhimanagouda Patil2 termine enzymatic darkening of sweetpotatoes during storage. 1 Texas AgriLife Research, Department of Horticultural Headspace gas composition of O2 and CO2 was determined in Sciences, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas the bags containing sliced sweetpotatoes. Total plate counts and A&M System, Uvalde, TX 78801, 2College Station, TX yeast and mold counts were analyzed for shelf-life. The applica- 77843 tion of different sanitizers is necessary to maintain microbial Globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. (Fiori)] quality and safety of fresh-cut produce during storage prior to is a high-income crop. The heads are rich in phenolic compounds, reaching the consumers. which are known to have antioxidant properties, beneficial to human health. For Texas agriculture, artichoke could be a new Vegetable Crops Section—Cowpea alternative specialty crop and, therefore, cultural strategies must be developed for our environment. Studies were conducted on Potential of Cowpea as a Health-promoting transplant stress tolerance to improve stand establishment and on Food to Prevent Chronic Disease selective depredation of transplants by white-tailed deer. Further 1, 2 1 experiments investigated irrigation and nitrogen (N) application Joseph Awika* , Archana Gawde , 1 1 rates to enhance yield and nutritional quality of heads, and on Leonnard Ojwang , and B.B. Singh gibberellic acid and plasticulture to induce earliness, improve 1Department of Soil and Crop Science, Texas A&M yield and extend the harvest season. In addition we screened University, College Station, TX 77843; 2Department of several cultivars for adaptability to the region. Drought and high Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University, temperatures during summer planting can affect growth, survival College Station, TX 77843 and field establishment. Transplant studies showed that abscisic Grain pulses are increasingly recognized for their health benefits acid (ABA) was an effective plant growth regulator to control and potential to help alleviate chronic nutrition-related diseases. leaf transpiration and increase leaf water potential of young Unfortunately, current consumption of grain pulses in the US transplants. Furthermore, feeding trials with captive white-tailed is less than one-sixth of the recommended daily intake. There deer determined that deer consistently preferred to eat the most is tremendous opportunity to expand grain pulse consumption mature transplant foliage offered. Field experiments on irrigation by diversifying product offerings beyond the common beans. and N management revealed that irrigation was more effective Cowpea (southernpea) is an excellent candidate due to its good than N application to optimize yield. In terms of cultivars, best agronomic properties, versatility, and nutritional profile. How- marketable yields were found for ‘Green Globe Improved’, fol- ever, information on health benefits of cowpea is lacking; this lowed by ‘Concerto’, ‘Madrigal’, ‘Imperial Star’, and ‘Lorca’. is essential to effectively promote the crop for widespread food By integrating results from these experiments, crop guidelines use. Our research is aimed at identifying cowpea varieties with for annual artichoke production were established and are being the best potential to promote human health and documenting introduced to small growers in Texas. how their consumption impacts human health. From screening a diverse set of germplasm, cowpea varieties with a smooth Food Quality and Safety of Fresh-cut seedcoat had higher levels of phenols, antioxidants, and other Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas) health-promoting compounds than those with a rough seedcoat. This is attributed to the fact that smooth-seeded cowpea varieties Katriel Alexander*, Jaheon Koo, and James Garner have a higher proportion of seedcoat, where most of the bioac- Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas at tive compounds are located. Based on seedcoat color, the light Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71601

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S31 brown varieties had the highest phenol content and antioxidant storage protection practices used for cowpeas. Ongoing research activity, followed closely by black and red varieties. On the other will address several other issues related to the use of oils in hand, white-colored varieties had the lowest level of phenols and storage of cowpeas. antioxidant activity. For example, ORAC values averaged 32 µmol TE/g in white and 207 µmol TE/g in light brown phenotypes. The Emergence of Cowpea as a Major Food Boiling to a soft texture produced a modest (0 to 20%) reduction in antioxidant properties of most cowpea varieties, indicating Legume in the 21st Century health benefits are likely retained after processing. Preliminary B.B. Singh* evidence further indicates that high antioxidant cowpea varieties Visiting Professor, Department of Soil and Crop also show significant anti-inflammatory activity in human cell Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, models. Cowpea is promising as a health-promoting dietary TX 77843 component; future studies will investigate specific health out- Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is emerging as one of the comes associated with the light brown, red, and black varieties. most important food legumes in the tropics and subtropics in the 21st century. This is because most of the improved cowpea variet- Resolving the Impasse in the Use of Plant Oils in ies mature between 60 and 70 d and fit well as a niche crop in the Cowpea Postharvest Pest Control—A Progress existing cereal and root crop-based cropping systems, whereas Report other food legumes like chickpea, lentils, pigeon pea, field pea, and beans mature in 120 d or more and compete with cereals 1 2 Louis E.N. Jackai* , Beatrice N. Dingha , for land, which makes it less likely for these crops to occupy 1 and Henry O. Sintim additional area in future. Also, there is a greater opportunity to 1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental increase cowpea yields by improved plant type and multiple pest Design, and 2Department of Family and Consumer resistance compared to other pulses. Cowpea is well integrated Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, in the local cropping and food systems in over 65 countries and Greensboro, NC 27411 the annual world cowpea production has increased from about Postharvest losses in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) can be 0.87 million tons in 1961 to over 6.3 million tons in 2009. The in excess of 60% especially where no insecticide protection is increase in the last decade alone, from 2001 to 2009, was 73% provided. The bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) accounts for cowpea compared to an average increase of only 10% for all for most of the losses worldwide. The use of high-risk synthetic the pulses. In the wake of increasing global warming, declining insecticides such as Actellic Super® [pirimiphos-methyl (1.6%) rainfall and increased drought and fertilizer prices, it is expected + permethrin dust (0.3%)], which is the standard product in that cowpea production will increase manifold in future when many tropical countries, poses increasing food safety concerns improved “60-d cowpeas” with tolerance to heat, drought and to unsuspecting consumers and producers. To counteract this low-P with 30% protein, high iron, zinc, antioxidants and other trend, several low-risk, biorational plant-derived products have health factors become available and grown as a niche crop in the been evaluated but interest in these has never been sustained cereals and root crops systems covering millions of hectares in to commercialization. One such product is vegetable oil. In Asia, Africa, southern USA and Brazil. Also, the availability of this report we present preliminary findings on a study using Maruca-resistant “Bt- cowpeas” would bring a surge in cowpea six plant oils (canola, garlic, peanut, coconut, sunflower, and productivity within the next 10 to 15 years in Africa and parts truffle) purchased from local supermarkets in Greensboro, NC, of Asia where Maruca pod borer is a major pest. The increased and tested against the cowpea weevil on two cowpea varieties, cowpea production would find easy markets as a health food in ‘Mississippi Silver’ (MS) and ‘Pinkeye Purple Hull’ (PPH). For the developed countries and as a staple source of dietary protein each variety, 4 g of seed were treated with 15, 20, 25, and 30 for the masses in Asia, Africa, and South America where pulses µL of oil (representing a rate of 3.7–7.5 mL/kg) and infested are widely consumed but their production is not keeping pace with 10 unsexed 2- to 3-d-old adult insects. Oil was thinly ap- with population growth. plied on test seeds before infestation with adults. Cumulative adult mortality increased with oil dose reaching 100% after 2 Vegetable Crops Section— d on MS with 30 µL. Oviposition was reduced by over 95% in some cases, and no adults emerged in most treatments. Truffle Watermelon and sunflower oils were very effective; insects on MS seeds treated with garlic, canola, and truffle (20 µL), truffle (25 µL) Irrigation Levels Effects on Fruit Yield and and truffle, sunflower, and coconut (30 µL) were all dead 2, 4, Quality of Seedless Watermelon (Citrullus and 3 d, respectively, after treatment. PPH seeds treated with lanatus Thunb.) coconut, sunflower, and truffle had the least number of eggs 1 1 laid on them. There was a clear kairomonal effect in truffle and Juan C. Díaz-Pérez* , Dan MacLean , and 2 sunflower oils where attraction peaked after 1 h in the 30-µL Pingsheng Ji treatment. Clearly, vegetable oils can be used as safer, relatively 1Department of Horticulture and 2Department of Plant inexpensive substitutes for currently used pesticides and other Pathology, Tifton Campus, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31793

S32 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 Watermelon is an important vegetable in the southeastern U.S. Of the 205 PI evaluated, the majority were highly susceptible The efficient use of water is a pressing need due to the occur- and extensive sporulation was observed on most fruit. Overall rence of droughts and the high cost of energy used for irrigation. we identified 25 PI (12%) as potential sources of resistance. The combination of plastic film mulch and drip irrigation has Twenty-two (12%) of the 159 Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus the potential to optimize irrigation water use efficiency. Over PI we evaluated from the core collection, one C. colocynthis irrigation may also be conducive to increased incidences of plant (PI 388770) and two C. lanatus var. citroides PI (PI 189225) diseases such as phytophthora blight. In this study we evaluated showed tolerance to fruit rot. We also observed variability in the effects of irrigation rates on fruit yield and quality in water- the resistant reaction to fruit rot within these PI, indicating the melon. The study was carried out in the spring season of 2009 need for further screening and selections. The most tolerant PI in Camilla, GA (loamy sand soil) and Tifton, GA (sandy loam were re-evaluated in 2010. Fruit from PI that were tolerant had soil). The experimental design was a randomized complete block significantly lower amounts ofP. capsici DNA/g of fruit tissue with five irrigation rate treatments [33%, 67%, 100%, 133%, compared to susceptible commercial cultivars Sugar Baby and and 167% the rate of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), adjusted Black Diamond. Selections from the most tolerant PI will be by the crop factor] and four replications. Seedless watermelon further evaluated using different isolates of P. capsici to confirm plants (‘SSX-7401’ as female, and ‘8662’ as the pollenizer) the stability of resistance. were grown on raised beds (1.8 m from bed center to center), with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation. Fruit yields and Results of 2010 Fungicide Trials to Manage the average fruit weight were higher in Tifton than in Camilla, although the percentage of marketable fruit was higher in Camilla Phytophthora Fruit Rot of Watermelon in South than in Tifton. Fruit yields and average fruit weight were not Carolina significantly affected by irrigation rate; however, they tended Chandrasekar S. Kousik, Howard F. Harrison, and to be lowest at the lowest irrigation rate (33% ETc). Fruit flesh Judy A. Thies pH was lowest and TSS was highest at the lowest irrigation rate. US Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 2700 Savannah The pH and acidity were not significantly affected by irrigation Hwy., Charleston, SC 29414 rate, although pH tended to increase and acidity to decrease with irrigation rate. The TSS was highest (10.3%) at 33% ETc and Fruit rot, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is an emerging disease lowest (9.4%) at 166% ETc. In conclusion, there is potential in most watermelon producing regions of the southeastern US. to reduce the current rates of watermelon irrigation and thus The National Watermelon Association (NWA) has considered this increase the water use efficiency without significantly affecting disease as a top research priority because of losses incurred by fruit marketable yields and quality. Fruit yield and quality of the growers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. For watermelon plants irrigated with 67% ET were similar to those the past several years we have been conducting trials to identify of plants irrigated at higher irrigation rates. effective fungicides to manage fruit rot of watermelon. Based on 3 years of field testing (2006–08) under severe disease pressure, we identified two relatively new fungicides, Revus and Presidio, Tolerance to Phytophthora Fruit Rot in that are labeled for use on cucurbits. In field trials conducted Watermelon Plant Introductions in 2010, the rotation of Presidio and Revus was the best treat- Chandrasekar S. Kousik* ment and significantly reduced fruit rot compared to non-treated U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 2700 Savannah control. Application of the systemic resistance activator (SAR) Hwy., Charleston, SC 29414 Actigard every week for 5 weeks also significantly reduced fruit rot. Forum, Zampro, Prophyt + Kocide, and Revus rotated with Phytophthora capsici is distributed worldwide, and is an aggres- Prophyt + Kocide treatments also significantly reduced fruit sive pathogen with a broad host range infecting solanaceous, rot compared to non-treated control in the field. Ridomil Gold, leguminaceous, and cucurbitaceous crops. Fruit rot, caused by the standard treatment was not significantly different from the P. capsici is an emerging disease in most watermelon produc- non-treated control as expected, because mefenoxam insensitive ing regions of the southeastern US. Resistance to fruit rot of strains were present in the field. Symptomless fruit harvested 4 d watermelon is sorely needed to manage P. capsici. Evaluations after the last spray application were inoculated and maintained to identify sources of resistance have not been conducted before. in a humid chamber that favored fruit rot development. The Plants belonging to the core collection of watermelon plant development of disease lesions and sporulation on fruit treated introductions (PI; www.ars-grin.gov) were grown in a field on with fungicides Zampro, Forum, and rotation of Presidio with raised plastic beds in Charleston, SC, in 2009. Five fruits from Revus in the humid chamber were significantly less compared each PI were harvested when the tendrils next to the fruit were to the non-treated control. Resistance in the pathogen popula- dry. Harvested fruit were placed on wire shelves and inoculated tion to fungicides such as Ridomil Gold and Ranman has been with a 7-mm plug from an actively growing colony of a SC identified previously. Thus, there is always a possibility of P. isolate of P. capsici on V-8 juice agar. The shelves were kept in capsici developing resistance to the above-mentioned fungicides. an enclosed room where high relative humidity (>95% RH) was Therefore these fungicides should be rotated or tank mixed maintained. Four days after inoculation, data on length of disease with other available fungicides to prolong their usefulness in lesion and intensity of sporulation were recorded for each fruit. managing fruit rot.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S33 Field Survey of Pollenizer Flowering, Triploid including fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, thickness of Fruit Set, and Pollinator Activity in Delaware the rind, Brix, presence of hollow heart, degree of fruit furrow- Watermelons ing, seed weight and size, egusi seed type, seed oil percentage, percent aborted pollen, flower sex type and the number of days Gordon C. Johnson*1 and Heather Harmon-Disque2 from sowing to the first female flower. More than 60 QTL as- 1University of Delaware Carvel REC, 16483 County Seat sociated with these traits were identified in these populations. Hwy., Georgetown, DE 19947; 2Delaware Department of These resources will be useful in future efforts to use markers Agriculture, 2320 S. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901 assisted selection in watermelon cultivar improvement. An on-farm pollination survey was conducted in Delaware watermelon fields in 2010 to assess pollination. Twenty watermelon Watermelon Fruit Quality Study 2010 fields representing 14 cooperating growers were surveyed from Richard L. Hassell* and Penelope Perkins-Veazie the third week in June through the second week in August. Data were collected weekly on male flower counts, fruit set, stem Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center, 2700 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, SC, and number and length, vigor, and health for triploids and pollenizers. North Carolina State University, NC Research Campus Bee counts were bi-weekly. Crown set did not differ significantly Kannapolis, NC by pollenizer or triploid; however, there was a significant trend toward reduced early set with reduced pollenizer or triploid vigor. It is believed that fruits from grafted watermelon plants have In-row standard diploid pollination systems had significanty a firmer flesh, with slower drip loss and better color and sugar earlier crown set than in-row special pollenizer or separate row retention. These qualities would theoretically expand the shelf- systems. Fruit numbers varied significantly with pollenizer but life in the field and also improve postharvest market life. Field not triploid. Mean fruit numbers ranged between 2.0 and 2.7 trials were conducted at Clemson University CREC in Charles- per plant. There was a linear reduction in fruit numbers (R2 = ton, SC. Two rootstocks: interspecific squash and a bottle gourd 0.25) with reduced triploid vigor. Reductions in pollenizer vigor, and one scion: TriX 313 (a seedless watermelon) were used for male flower counts, or pollenizer vine length also reduced fruit this trial. Three harvests were done when the fruit was deemed numbers; however, adding these factors only explained an ad- ready for harvest, 1 week later, 2 weeks later. The fruit will be ditional 2% of the variability. There were no differences in mean determined ready by the dead tendril, as well as the death of the fruit numbers between bumble bee and honey bee pollinators. small leaf. Yield characteristics will be taken such as weight, However, there were differences between varieties in triploid Brix readings, and firmness readings. Ten fruit will be harvested fruit set and crown set with bumble bees. from each rootstock and each of the harvest times. Fruit was held at 5 °C overnight, washed in a 100 ppm chlorine solution, and QTL Mapping of Important Horticultural cut under aseptic conditions. Fruit deemed fully ripe (soluble solids content >10% and red in color (not pink or orange) will Traits in Watermelon be sampled for fresh-cut storage. A slice cut transversely from Cecilia McGregor*1, Katherine C. Sandlin1, each fruit, about 1 inch thick, will then be cut in quarters, keep- Jason Prothro1, Adam F. Heesacker1, Nelly Khalilian1, ing rind intact and location of ground spot known. Each piece Rebecca Okashah1, Wenwen Xiang2, Eleni Bachlava2, was then cut into quarters. The quarter opposite the ground David Caldwell2, Danelle Seymour2, Victoria White2, spot, and the quarter with a ground spot, will be placed in in- Eva Chan2, Greg Tolla2, Cathy White2, Dolores Safran2, dividual unvented sterile clamshells on a plastic grid, weighed, and placed at 5 °C (41 °F). Remaining quarters will be frozen Elaine Graham2, and Steven J. Knapp2 at –80 °C. The remaining watermelon were tested for firmness 1Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, 2 in the heart area and rind thickness determined at four points University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602; Monsanto, corresponding to sample removal. After 5–7 d, stored quarters Woodland, CA 95695 will be weighed and fruit rated for appearance of decay, pitting, Three mapping populations were developed for mapping hor- water soaking, and color fading. The fruit was removed and ticulturally important traits in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus drip loss determined by weight difference. Fruit quarters will Thunb.). These populations were crosses between two elite be measured for rind thickness at the maximum arc of the piece. cultivars (‘Klondike Black Seeded’ × ‘New Hampshire Midget’), Flesh will be removed from the rind; both flesh and rind will be an elite cultivar and wild egusi accession (Strain II × PI 560023) placed at –80 °C. Drip loss extracts will be collected by sterile and an elite cultivar and a wild citron accession (ZWRM50 × pipets into sterile tubes for culture for bacteria and molds, and PI 244019). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) maps were a portion immediately sampled for soluble solids content. All constructed and compared. The elite × egusi and elite × citron frozen flesh was analyzed at the North Carolina research campus

F2 populations consisted of 187 and 182 individuals respectively by Dr. Perkins-Veazie for the amount of lycopene present, as while the elite × elite recombinant inbred line population (RIL) well as soluble solids and acidity. The results indicated that the consisted of 163 lines. Phenotypic data were collected and ana- field harvest window can be expanded as well as the quality of lyzed for quantitative trait loci (QTL) for several important traits watermelons improved with grafted plants.

S34 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 Poster Section Seed Source Location and Captan Influence Germination Behavior in Rhododendron Science-based Experiential Learning in the calendulaceum Greenhouse for Special Needs Students: Linking E.J. Limbird*, N.C. Phillips, and J.R. Jones Secondary and Higher Education Institutions Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, D.C. Messick*1, T. Coffey2, and N.C. Phillips1 TN 37132 1School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, Middle Rhododendron calendulaceum, a species native to the eastern Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; US, has a high degree of horticultural value. In the wild, this 2Oakland High School, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 species has a considerable amount of inter- and intra-population Horticulture therapy has been demonstrated to successfully variation in morphological and physiological characteristics. enhance learning in many educational settings. Specifically, These inherent differences suggest that variations in germina- horticulture therapy has been integrated into curriculum aimed tion behavior may exist in wild collected seeds. Furthermore, at teaching special needs students useful skills and knowledge. wild collected seeds are often prone to fungal contamination in This paper describes a cooperative effort between a high school their germination environment. Our objectives were two-fold: special education department and a plant and soil science program 1) to test for variation in germination behavior among seed lots, at the university level. Through addressing concepts and skills and 2) to investigate the effects of captan on the germination including problem solving, social skills, mental and muscular of R. calendulaceum. Significant differences in germination skills, and self-awareness, both the secondary and higher educa- percentages existed between collections, with values ranging tion units have benefited. This integration of horticulture therapy from 39% to 74%. Germination characteristics were evaluated and service learning has produced initial positive results in all in three separate collections of R. calendulaceum seeds in the involved parties. This cooperation is being further developed absence or presence of captan at concentrations from 0.0 to 3.6 to include resources for family members to participate with the g/L. Germination was recorded daily. Significant differences in student’s activities and aiding in the post-graduation transition. germination percentages (39% to 74%) existed among collec- Although still in the early stages of development, we are encour- tions. Captan prevented fungal growth at levels of 0.9 g/L and aged by what has been achieved, and plan on continuing to build higher. Though there was a trend for decreases in seed germination upon this success with the motto; “don’t focus on where we are percentages as captan concentrations increased, it was statistically … look at where we are going.” nonsignificant. However, the onset of germination was shown to be delayed by the use of captan, with T1 values ranging from 9.2 d without captan to 11.2 d with 3.6 g/L of captan. The rate Influence of Spacing on Production for Two and uniformity of seed germination was largely unaffected by Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) Varieties captan, evidenced by the lack of trends in the T50 and T10-90 Khalid Matthew*, Charkym Philemon, and values. Based on our findings, we would recommend that propa- Thomas W. Zimmerman gators of R. calendulaceum use captan during germination as the demonstrated reduction in fungal contamination outweighs University of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Experiment Station, RR#1 Box 10,000, Kingshill, VI 00850 the negative effects of captan on germination. Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as sorrel in the Virgin Islands, is an annual plant that is grown mainly for its colorful fleshy Efficacy of Biofungicides for Control of Pythium calyces during the Christmas season. Sorrel is used to make a Root Rot in Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima healthy drink high in vitamin C and anthocyanins that is claimed Wild. ex Klotzsch) to be better than cranberry juice. Sorrel is normally planted Yan Zhao*1, Maria Tomaso-Peterson2, and at 60 cm during July and August. The objective of this study Mengmeng Gu1 was to compare sorrel growth and production of a Caribbean 132 Creelman St., Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, day-neutral variety and a Zambian short-day variety planted in Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762; 232 September with in-row plant spacing of 20, 40, and 60 cm and Creelman Street, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular 150 cm between rows. Data were collected weekly on plant Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi height, branching, and fruit set. The results indicated that the State University, Starkville, MS 39762 day-neutral variety can be grown at 20–60 cm with no effect on branching or production. However, day-neutral plants are Pythium stem and root rot is considered the most consistent shorter at 60-cm spacing than either 20 or 40 cm while spacing and serious soilborne disease problem in poinsettia production. was not an influence on plant height for the short-day variety at Greenhouse management practices typically include a fungicide 20–60 cm. Short-day sorrel has greater branching and fruit set as drench (Subdue Maxx) when cuttings are transplanted. As a stan- the plant spacing increases from 20 to 60 cm. Planting sorrel in dard conventional fungicide, mefenoxam (metalaxyl) (Subdue September at 40 cm can increase production per length of row. Maxx) is a high-risk fungicide for resistance. A key component of resistance management is integrating biofungicides into a disease management program. The effect of biofungicides for control

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S35 of pythium root rot in poinsettia was studied. Each poinsettia Evening Primrose Yield Response to Harvest plant was inoculated with 0.007 oz of pythium-infested rice. Aids Most treatments were applied by drenching when plants were transplanted: biofungicide BW 240 (experimental) at 8 oz and Amber Bates*, Cynthia McKenney, and Steve Oswalt 12 oz/100 gal water; RootShield (Trichoerma harzianum) at 4 PO Box 42122, Department of Plant and Soil Science, oz/100 gal water; RootMate (T. virens) at 4 oz/100 gal water; Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122 Subdue Maxx (mefenoxam) at 1 fl oz/100 gal water; BW 240 fb Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a wildflower cur- and RootMate at 8.0 fl oz fb 4.0 oz/100 gal water and 12.0 oz/ rently grown for ornamental and medicinal purposes. The fb 4.0 oz/100 gal water; BW 240 fb and Magellan at 8.0 oz/ fb gamma linolenic acid (GLA) found in the seed is the herb’s 6.0 oz/100 gal water; BW 240 + Subdue Maxx at 8.0 oz/ + 0.5 active ingredient. GLA has been shown to reduce cholesterol, oz/100 gal water. Magellan (phosphorous acid) was applied on help treat autoimmune diseases, and reduce the side effects of a 14-d interval by drenching at 12 fl oz/100 gal water and by eczema. Currently, this crop is grown primarily in China and in foliar application at 4 pt/100 gal water. Plants were arranged the northern United States and Canada where the climates are in a randomized complete-block design. Weekly visual rating, cool and moist. Oenothera elata, the trumpet evening primrose, growth index, root health, and final shoot weight were measured. has a similar oil profile to O. biennis but is adapted to a more In the first summer trial 2010, the experimental biofungicide, hot and arid environment. Oenothera biennis is primarily hand BW 240 followed by RootMate, exhibited a level of numerically harvested to prevent shattering given its indeterminate growth improved shoot vigor at all rating dates, fresh weight, and area habit, increasing the cost and keeping it from being more widely under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) compared to the grown. Little research has been done to see if this crop has poten- pythium-infested treatment. The phosphonates Magellan and tial to be machine harvested. This study focused on comparing Aliette also provided significant pythium control, resulting in crop defoliants to a water control to see if harvest aids could acceptable plant vigor and reduced AUDPC. In the following remove foliage from O. elata without reducing yield. Paraquat, fall trial, BW 240 tank-mixed with Subdue Maxx (0.5 fl oz/100 ethephon, and a mixture of Finish and Genstar defoliants were gal water) provided very good control, as well as Subdue Maxx sprayed on the crop in October of 2009 and 2010. Two weeks (1.0 fl oz) and the non-inoculated control. Additional studies after application, the crop was hand harvested and yields were are warranted to further evaluate application rates, intervals, compared to the control. There were no differences in yield rotations, and tank-mixes of biofungicides and conventional when comparing the control to the harvest aid treatments in products that control pythium stem and root rot. either year. The harvest aids removed the foliage and opened the pods slightly. These data suggest growers may be able to use Assessing Variation in Vegetative and Floral select harvest aids in the future to be able to machine harvest Morphology of Four Native Gulf Coast Species O. elata without decreasing yields, allowing evening primrose for Use as Ornamental Groundcovers production to increase. Sean T. Carver*1, Michael A. Arnold1, David H. Byrne1, Anna R. Armitage2, and Andrew R. King1 The Effects of Irrigation Treatments on 1Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas Stomatal Conductance in Olea europaea L. A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2133; Kaylee Decker*, Thayne Montague, and 2Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Cynthia McKenney Galveston, TX 77551 Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech Evaluating native plant species for vegetative and floral variation University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122 is necessary to accommodate the growing demand for native, Irrigation is a financially limiting factor for Texas olive orchards. noninvasive plants for built environments. Accessions of Bor- Our research objective was to measure the effects of high, me- richia frutescens (L.) DC., Erigeron procumbens (Houst. ex dium, and low irrigation treatments on gas exchange, growth, Mill.) G.L. Nesom., Oenothera drummondii Hook., and Sesu- and production of established ‘Arbequina’ olive trees at three vium portulacastrum (L.), all woody or herbaceous perennial different olive orchards in Texas: Texas Olive Ranch in Carrizo native species, were collected along the Texas coast to represent Springs, Conly Olive Orchard in Asherton, and Central Texas a geographic north–south gradient. Each species was grown at Olive Ranch in Walburg. The experiment was a randomized a common site to test for variation of flower number, flower complete-block design with three blocks consisting of seven diameter, plant size, foliage color, leaf shape, internode length, trees in each block. Each block was randomly assigned an ir- internode diameter, and growth habit. Morphological differences rigation treatment of high, medium, or low in May 2010. During were found among accessions in dry masses, leaf shape, overall the 2010 growing season, mid-day stomatal conductance was growth habit, and various ornamental traits. These findings sug- collected monthly. Trunk caliper and shoot growth was measured gest that there is statistically significant variation in vegetative on each tree. In Sept. 2010, one hundred olives were collected and floral morphology among accessions within all four genera from each tree at Texas Olive Ranch. They were then weighed and provides a base for future selection of improved landscape and measured to see if fruit density differed among irrigation cultivars from among these species. Greatest variation in orna- treatments. Gas exchange and growth data were exposed to mental traits was found with B. frutescens and O. drummondii.

S36 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 ANOVA appropriate for a randomized complete-block design. plants when compared to Stagreen 12–6–6 inorganic fertilizer at When significant treatment differences were observed, means the current nursery rate of 1.56 g N in PIP system. The results were separated by Fisher’s least significance procedure (SAS). also indicate that compost can’t be used as a fertilizer source in Stomatal conductance data from each orchard indicated a similar container production of knock-out roses and tropical hibiscus. trend that there was little difference between the three irrigation levels, and trees exposed to low irrigation rates compared Effects of Organic Rooting Treatments on favorably with trees exposed to medium and high rates. Mean individual fruit mass and volume tended to be greater for trees Spring and Late Summer Cuttings of Vaccinium that received less irrigation, while overall mean fruit density was darrowii ‘Native Blue’ Blueberry greatest for trees that received the high irrigation treatment. Tree C. Melea Martin, Michael A. Maurer, and physiology, plant growth, and fruit production were generally not David Creech affected by irrigation treatments, indicating growers may adjust Department of Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State their irrigation rates and conserve their limited water resources University, P.O. Box 13000, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, without reducing yield. Response of fruit and oil quality to ir- TX 75962 rigation treatments was not investigated, but would be a critical characteristic for future research. Vaccinium darrowii ‘Native Blue’ is a low growing compact evergreen shrub with foliage color from pink to green. This cultivar can reach 3 ft. at maturity, produce small semi-sweet Comparison of Organic and Inorganic fruit, and be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Today many organic Fertilizers on the Growth and Development rooting treatments are being utilized. Many reports claim honey of Containerized Rosa hybrida ‘Radtko’ and and Salix solutions decrease rooting time. The objective of this Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Evangeline’ experiment was to compare organic and inorganic rooting treatments to determine which treatment promotes root growth from C. Melea Martin, Michael A. Maurer, and tip cuttings for ‘Native Blue’ blueberries based on season. In April David Creech* 2009 and July 2010, 576 ‘Native Blue’ tip cuttings were taken Department of Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State from Mill Creek Blueberry Germplasm Plots in Nacogdoches University, P.O. Box 13000, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, County, Texas. Cuttings were treated by a 30 second dip in 1 of TX 75962 12 rooting treatments. The treatments included untreated control, The effects of organic vs. inorganic fertilization systems on the 2 boiled honey solutions (1 and 2 tbs. of honey: 473 ml of water), growth and development of Rosa hybrida ‘Radtko’ and Hibiscus 8 Salix solutions (20 and 40 g Salix leaves: 0.95 L water boiled rosa-sinensis ‘Evangeline’ in pot-in-pot (PIP) container produc- or puréed; 20 and 40 g Salix stems: 0.95 L of water boiled or tion were studied. The 6-month study conducted at Stephen F. puréed), and Hormodin®2 (IBA 0.3%). Treatments were arranged Austin State University Arboretum in Nacogdoches, TX started in a randomized complete block design. Cuttings were stuck in Apr. 2010 and ended October 2010. Treatments were arranged 1:1 pine bark/perlite substrate. The trays were placed in a mist as 3 fertilizer types (Stagreen 12–6–6, Green Edge 6–3–2, and chamber. Cuttings were visually checked at 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, Turkey Blood Cotton Gin Compost 3–1–2) x 5 nitrogen rates in 49, 56, and 84 days after treatment (DAT) to determine differ- grams (0, 0.39, 0.78, 1.56, and 3.12) factorial with 8 replicates ences in root development and rooting time. At 14 to 49 DAT, per treatment for a total of 120 plants of each plant type. The 16 of 48 cuttings were checked. At 56 and 84 DAT, 48 cuttings fertilizers were top dressed in each pot monthly for the knock- were checked. The data was analyzed by Repeated Measures out roses and bimonthly for the tropical hibiscus. Monthly ANOVA with a minimum significance level of 0.05%. For April measurements were taken to determine average growth of each 2009, Salix Solution of 40 g of boiled stems was superior to all plant, and an average growth index (AGI) was calculated with treatments in increasing rooting percentages at 35 and 42 DAT. the following formula: AGI= (h+ [(l + w)/2])/2. A visual market- For July 2010, rooting percentage for Salix Solution of 40 g ability rating was taken on all plants in June and October 2010. of stems and Hormodin®2 were significantly greater than all Plants were subjectively ranked from 1–9 with 1 = dead, 5 = treatments in 21-56 DAT. The data indicated Salix Solution of minimum marketable, and 9 = superior marketable to determine 40 g of boiled stems produced comparable amounts of rooted which treatments can produce a marketable plant. The results cuttings compared to Hormodin®2. When comparing by season, from AGI data indicate, Stagreen 1.56 g N, Stagreen 3.12 g N, late summer cuttings rooted faster than spring; however, at 84 and Green Edge 3.12 g N treatments for the roses and hibiscus DAT spring cuttings had higher rooting percentages. produced significantly larger plants than all other treatments. Rose 0.39, 0.78, 1.56, and 3.12 N rate treatments for the Green Slippery When Wet: Monitoring Insect Edge and Stagreen fertilizers produced marketable plants and Populations at the Nursery all 0 N rate treatments and compost treatments did not produce marketable plants. The results for the hibiscus indicate that all Christopher T. Werle, Blair J. Sampson, treatments produced marketable plants. Based on the results of Stephen J. Stringer*, and Donna A. Marshall this study, Green Edge 6–3–2 organic fertilizer at 3.12 g N rate USDA-ARS Southern Horticultural Lab, 810 Hwy. 26 W, can be used to produce comparable knock-out rose and hibiscus Poplarville, MS 39475

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S37 The strawberry rootworm (Paria fragariae Wilcox), or SRW, much to apply. The aim of the present project was to evaluate is a major pest for azalea growers in the Southeast. Enhanced above- and below-ground tree performance by measuring tree IPM practices, including monitoring, can make SRW control diameter growth rates, leaf photosynthesis, and root production more efficient, with money savings for pest control budgets. following N application at five rates. Stem and leader diameters The traditional monitoring method for SRW is manual sweep were measured three times, while gas-exchange was measured netting. It was our hypothesis that a trap station designed for the every 3–4 weeks using an infrared gas analyzer. Initial results nursery would increase yields for our SRW monitoring efforts, have shown that N rate did not have a significant effect on diam- making this IPM practice less labor-intensive. In addition, we eter growth, photosynthesis, and it only had a significant effect believed the incorporation of a solar light would further entice on water use efficiency immediately after N application. This the nocturnal-feeding SRW to our trap stations. Three light and indicates that N application could be reduced; however, more three non-light traps stations were set up at each of three nurser- data needs to be evaluated to support this conclusion. ies, with sticky cards changed out bi-weekly. Sweep samples were taken from two plants in proximity to each of these trap Effects of Variable Irrigation Regimes on stations at the same time for comparison with trap stations. Using Tukey’s HSD test, we found that light traps collected significantly Containerized Olives more (P = 0.0056) SRW than non-light traps or sweeps, while Vikram Baliga*, Thayne Montague, and non-light traps and sweeps were not significantly different. In Cynthia McKenney addition, significantly more P( = 0.0078) total insects were col- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech lected from our light trap stations, suggesting that they may prove University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2122 useful for monitoring populations of other pest insect species. Establishment of an alternate monitoring method like our trap Olive oil production in Texas is a fairly new and expanding indus- station may encourage growers to integrate more IPM practices try. However, research has yet to be conducted that investigates at their nurseries, thus saving them money on costly chemical irrigation response of olive trees grown for olive oil production control applications, reducing the potential for development of in Texas. The purpose of this research was to investigate the resistance in pest insect populations, and keeping potentially physiological response of four containerized, greenhouse-grown (Olea europaea toxic substances out of the environment. olive L.) varieties (‘Abequina’, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Mis- sion’, and ‘Koroneiki’) to three differing irrigation regimes. A 2010 greenhouse study was conducted at Texas Tech University Poinsettia Crop Production as a Multi-course measuring soil moisture, mid-day stomatal conductance, and Teaching Tool leaf water potential of plants exposed to three irrigation regimes W.A. Anderson and N.C. Phillips* [plants were irrigated every day (high irrigation), every other day (medium irrigation), and every fourth day (low irrigation)] School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, Middle over two separate 16-d experiments (during July and August). Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Data were collected prior to irrigation every fourth day. Results Experiential learning in plant and soil science courses provides indicate high and medium irrigation treatments showed little students with applied knowledge and skills beyond those gained physiological differences. However, low irrigation trees had lower in traditional classroom settings. This educational concept was conductance and water potential values when compared to other applied in a cooperative effort between two courses; Soil Analysis irrigation treatments. Results indicate irrigation frequency could and Floriculture, using poinsettia crop production as a shared be a management tool for olive oil production without negative laboratory tool. The learning outcomes of each course were met plant physiological response. Oil production and quality of oil while enhancing the overall learning of students in both classes. are additional factors that need to be considered prior to implementing any irrigation regime. However, this research suggests Evaluating the Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization irrigation reduction during olive production could possibly save Rates on Growth and Gas Exchange in Young olive growers monetary and natural resources as they reduce the amount of irrigation water applied. Pecan Seedlings Hayley Hannah*, Astrid Volder, and Fruit Quality Characteristics of Selected Hybrid Leonardo Lombardini Bunch Grape Cultivars Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M 1 1 2 University, College Station, TX 77843 Elina D. Coneva* , Edgar Vinson , and Jim Pitts 1101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn Nitrogen (N) is important for developing healthy, productive University, AL 36849; 2Chilton Research and Extension pecan (Carya illinoinensis K. Koch) trees. However, current appli- Center, 120 County Road 756, Clanton, AL 35045 cations of fertilizer generally follow a standard practice, without consideration of spatial, temporal, and climatic variability, often A study designed to evaluate the various fruit quality character- resulting in lost income and negative environmental impacts. istics and overall performance of selected Pierce’s disease (PD) To help improve current N management practices during tree resistant hybrid bunch grape cultivars in Alabama’s environment establishment, it is important to know when to apply and how was initiated in 2009 at the Chilton Research and Extension Cen-

S38 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 ter (REC), Clanton, AL. Mature vines from PD tolerant hybrid ‘Darlene’, ‘Early Fry’, ‘Ison’ and ‘Janet’ were evaluated during grape cultivars ‘Black Spanish’, ‘Conquistador’, ‘Daytona’, the 2009–10 season at the E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, ‘Foxie Lottie’, ‘Orlando Seedless’, ‘Stover’, and ‘Suwannee’ AL, with an aim to determine their yield and overall fruit quality were compared. According to the 2009–10 season results, ‘Black in Alabama’s environment. Fruit quality characteristics measured Spanish’ had the greatest mean cluster weight of 143 g, while include vine yield, average berry size and soluble solids content. ‘Stover’ had the smallest cluster of 60 g on average. ‘Foxie ‘Janet’ and ‘Black Beauty’ cultivars produced high yields of 47 Lottie’ and ‘Suwannee’ had the greatest berry size of 3.3 and and 46 kg/vine, respectively, and the largest berries of 13.8 g 3.2 g, respectively, while ‘Orlando Seedless’ had produced the on average. ‘Ison’ muscadine grape also produced high yield, smallest berries of 1.1 g on average. Based on cultivar soluble and had the smallest berry size of 8 g on average. ‘Darlene’ and solids content, ‘Orlando Seedless’ was the sweetest hybrid bunch ‘Black Fry’ had the highest soluble solids content of 18.8%. grape cultivar across both seasons with a brix of 20.8%, while Studies of this nature should continue to insure that the best ‘Daytona’ had the lowest brix readings of 8.9%. performing muscadine cultivars are supplied to the industry

Antioxidant Properties of Selected Rabbiteye The Efficacy of Flower Bud Removal Techniques Blueberry as Affected by Cultivar and for Enhancing Growth of Young Blueberry Environment Cultivars F.M. Woods*1, E. Coneva1, K. Shetty2, D. Sarkar2, Jay D. Spiers*1, Elina Coneva1, Robert T. Boozer2, A. Gebrekidan3, A. Caylor4, and B.D. Blasius1 Bryan Wilkins1, and Jessica Bowerman1 1101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn 1101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, AL 36849; 2100 Holdsworth Way, Department University, Auburn, AL 36849; 2Chilton Research and of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Extension Center, 120 County Rd. 756, Clanton, MA 01003; 3221 Parker Hall, Mathematics and Statistics, AL 35045 4 Auburn University, AL 36849; Alabama Agriculture In this 2-year study, flower bud removal techniques were tested Experiment Station, 765 County Rd. 1466, Cullman, on young rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) plants to AL 35055 determine effects on flower bud mortality and growth parameters. Four-year-old, commercially established rabbiteye blueberry The treatments consisted of no flower bud removal (control), hand cultivars (‘Baldwin’, ‘Brightwell’, ‘Climax’, ‘Premier’, and stripping, and hydrogen cyanamide applied at 0.75% and 1.5%. ‘Tifblue’) of two geographically opposing locations, North Treatments were applied to three different cultivars exhibiting Alabama Horticulture Experiment Station, Cullman, Cullman different stages of flower bud development. The cultivars, listed County, and Gulf Coast Region, Wiregrass Research and Ex- from most advanced to least advanced flower bud development tension Center, Headland, Henry County, AL, were analyzed were ‘Climax’, ‘Brightwell’, and ‘Tifblue’, respectively. Both and compared with regard to antioxidant capacity and content. hydrogen cyanamide treatments resulted in higher bud mortal- Antioxidant capacity was based on ferric reducing antioxidant ity than the control, and the 1.5% treatment was as effective as power (FRAP) assay and was observed to be influenced by hand stripping in year 1 (2009). Except for ‘Brightwell’ in 2009, cultivar and location. However, neither cultivar nor location leaf area was not affected by treatments. The growth index was influenced 2,2´-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic not affected by the bud removal treatments in either year of the acid) (ABTS) or 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) anti- study. The 1.5% hydrogen cyanamide treatment appears to be oxidant capacity assays. Significant main effects of cultivar × an effective method of flower bud removal, and, as a labor sav- location for vitamin C, total phenolic (TP) and total monomeric ing practice, could be used as an alternative to hand stripping. anthocyanin (TMA) content were observed. Results of this study However, this study indicates that flower bud removal may not indicate that it is critical to determine the antioxidant properties result in increased vegetative growth for field-grown rabbiteye of diverse blueberry cultivars in multiple geographic locations blueberry plants. in order to confidently identify their overall quality and health promotive value. Evaluation of Rootstocks for ‘Owari’ Satsuma Production in South Alabama Yield and Fruit Quality Characteristics of D. Alan Burnie*1, Jay D. Spiers2, Monte Nesbitt3, Selected Muscadine Grape Cultivars Floyd Woods2, and Bryan Wilkins2 Elina Coneva*1, Edgar Vinson1, and Jason Burkett2 1Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, Fairhope, AL 1Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, 36532; 2Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, AL 36849; 2E.V. Smith Research Center, 4725 County AL 36849; 3Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas Road 40, Shorter, AL 36075 A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 The discovery of high levels of health-promoting antioxidant The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance compounds in muscadine grapes has brought more attention of satsuma mandarin rootstocks in South Alabama based on to the crop, creating tremendous opportunities for commercial growth and yield parameters. Six different rootstocks were used growth. Muscadine grape cultivars ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Black Fry’, in this study: ‘Flying Dragon’ Poncirus trifoliata, ‘Rubidoux’ P.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S39 trifoliata, ‘C-35’ citrange, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Owari’ satsuma Hall, Organization Development and Evaluation, LSU mandarin seedlings, and ‘Owari’ rooted cuttings. Trees were AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 planted in a randomized complete-block design in 2003. All The All About Blueberries Community of Practice (CoP) was rootstocks were budded with ‘Owari’ satsuma mandarin with built to help guide blueberry producers in the southeastern re- the exception of rooted cuttings. Yields were collected from gion of the United States in methods to maximize productivity, 2005 until 2010. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA decrease production costs, and increase the marketability of test, and means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range their crops. The All About Blueberries CoP is incorporating the test. ‘C-35’, ‘Swingle’, ‘Rubidoux’, and ‘Owari’ rooted cuttings best existing Cooperative Extension publications and develop- had a larger average canopy volume when compared to ‘Flying ing new research-based extension recommendations related to Dragon’ and ‘Owari’ seedlings. ‘C-35’ had the highest average blueberry production and consumption on its website (www. 5-year total yield (508.5 lb ). ‘Swingle’ (349.9 lb ), ‘Rubidoux’ a b extension.org/blueberries). The website officially launched 31 (263.9 lb ), and ‘Owari’ rooted cuttings (208.6 lb ) had similar b bc Aug. 2010. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Word- yields, whereas ‘Flying Dragon’ (92.9 lb ) and ‘Owari’ seedlings c Press, and Twitter are being utilized to help draw traffic to the (68.1 lb ) had the lowest yields. Yield per centimeter of trunk c website. Information found on the website is posted on the social cross-sectional area (lb/cm) was similar for ‘C-35’ (54.1 ), a network pages with links to the information on the website. A ‘Swingle’ (42.5 ), and ‘Rubidoux’ (38.3 ), and was reduced in ab abc broader audience is reached by using these social network sites ‘Owari’ cuttings (26.7 ), ‘Flying Dragon’ (19.8 ) and ‘Owari’ bcd cd and, thus, traffic to the website is increasing. The CoP is using seedlings (14.2 ). All rootstocks were statistically similar for d Google Analytics to measure website activity. From 31 Aug. 3 yield efficiency (lb/m of canopy volume), with the exception 2010 to 5 Feb. 2011, 11,317 pageviews were made. Facebook of ‘Owari’ seedlings. ‘C-35’ is the overall best performer over ranks 6 of 29, and Twitter ranks 16 of 29 in Entrance Sources the length of the experiment. used to view the website. All of these online tools are free to use and free to access. Using social networks to share knowledge is Postharvest Storage Life of ‘AU Golden Dragon’ a great way to reach more people. According to Uday Saxena, Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) “If utilized well, social media can lead to great success ... it is possible to conduct regular business online.” Jason Stroman, Jay D. Spiers*, William Dozier, Floyd Woods, Elina Coneva, and Bryan Wilkins Horticulture Department, 101 Funchess, Auburn Performance of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) University, Auburn, AL 36849 Cultivars in Southern Mississippi The objectives of this study were to determine the approximate Donna Marshall, James M. Spiers, Ned Edwards, postharvest storage life of ‘AU Golden Dragon’ kiwifruit (Actin- and Stephen Stringer idia chinensis) and whether fruit size affects postharvest storage Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory, PO life and fruit quality. Kiwifruit were harvested and sized on 16 Box 287, Poplarville, MS 39470 Aug. 2010 from the Chilton Research and Extension Center, The oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is native to China, Clanton, AL. Three different marketable sizes (small, medium, where it has been cultivated for centuries. In its native China and large) were used for this study. The fruit quality of 10 fruit more than 2000 different persimmon cultivars exist. Persim- per size category was assessed initially, and remaining fruit was mons are best suited in areas of moderate winters and relatively placed in cold storage. Fruit quality of 10 fruit per size category mild summers (USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10). It can tolerate was assessed every 14 d for the duration of the study. The study temperatures of 0 °F when fully dormant. However, because of was terminated at 14 weeks due to fruit chilling injury. The its low chilling requirement (less than 100 h), persimmons will fruit size did not affect texture, percent dry matter (% DM), break dormancy during early warm spells only to be damaged internal color, titratable acidity (TA), and soluble solids:TA ratio by spring frosts later. Both astringent and non-astringent persim- (SS:TA). In weeks 12 and 14, SS content was higher in large fruit mon cultivars were planted in 2006 at the USDA Thad Cochran compared to small fruit. For the most part, internal fruit color Southern Horticultural Laboratory test plots in Stone County, and percent DM remained stable in cold storage. As expected, MS. Plants were established in a randomized complete-block fruit firmness and TA decreased while soluble solids increased design with 5 replications. In 2007, tree height and a count of due to length of time in cold storage. In this 1-year study, the fruit produced were taken 25 Sept. 2007. Ten fruit from each postharvest life of ‘AU Golden Dragon’ was approximately 14 tree were collected in September and measured for height, width, weeks, which is comparable to the current industry standard. weight, volume, and soluble solids (°Brix). In 2008, a spring freeze occurred 29 Mar. after several days of warm weather, giv- Growing Blueberry Knowledge via Social ing an opportunity to assess freeze tolerance. Several cultivars Networks had broken dormancy and began budding. The low temperature Denise Attaway*1, Natalie A. Hummel1, and in the field reached 27.3 °F. Three weeks later (15 Apr. 2007) Krisanna Machtmes2 another less severe freeze reached 31.3 °F. Freeze damage rat- 1 ings (1 none or minimal damage, 5 badly damaged) and percent 404 Life Sciences Bldg., Department of Entomology, leaf coverage estimates were recorded. LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; 2223 Knapp

S40 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 ‘Victoria Red’ Table Grape: A New Option for and possibly the cultural practices associated with growing Southern Grape Producers blackberries. This change in seasonal fruit production and plant management warrants investigation into the pest species 1 1 2 James N. Moore , John R. Clark* , James Kamas , that previously might not have been as important. Broad mites, 3 4 Larry Stein , Friench Tarkington , and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), in particular have recently Martha Tarkington4 been found in blackberry crops of the southern United States. 1316 Plant Science, Department of Horticulture, They have been associated with foliar damage to blackberries University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 2Texas in consecutive years in Arkansas and North Carolina. The life AgriLife Extension, Fredericksburg, TX 78624; 3Texas cycle is very short, between 12 and 19 d from hatch to ovipo- A&M Research and Extension Center, Uvalde, TX sition. Two broad mite infestation symptoms are downward 78802; 4Tarkington Vineyard, 1715 Refugio Hwy., curled leaves likely resulting in reduced photosynthesis and Victoria, TX 77905 bud abortion. Genotype has been observed to be a factor in ‘Victoria Red’ was released cooperatively by the University of both population growth rate of the mite and plant response to Arkansas, Texas A&M University, and Tarkington Vineyard in the mite. Management can be achieved with general miticides, 2009. ‘Victoria Red’ is a result of a cross of Ark. 1123 × ‘Exotic’ insecticidal oils and soaps, possibly predatory mites, as well made in 1971. The paternal parent is pure Vitis vinifera L. while as cultural management such as mowing for primocane crops, the female parent is a derivation of largely French-American although this eliminates the possibility of a spring crop. Future hybrids. The original plant was selected in 1974 from a seedling research goals should consider identifying tolerant or resistant field at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarks- cultivars, and the mechanisms responsible for the tolerance or ville, AR, and tested as Ark. 1475. Initial testing of ‘Victoria resistance; the extent of quantity or quality losses from mite Red’ was at that location, but more extensive evaluation was in damage; the most economical management practices; and the Texas at Stephenville (Texas AgriLife Research and Extension natural enemies and environmental ranges of broad mites. Center) and Victoria (Tarkington Vineyard). The Victoria location is approximately 64 km from the Gulf of Mexico and has Grafting Heirloom Tomatoes for Improved Crop very high Pierce’s disease pressure. Berries of ‘Victoria Red’ Vigor, Yield, and Fruit Quality are large, bright red, and attractive. Average berry weight in Ar- 1 1 2 kansas was 4.6 g but was substantially larger (8.0 g) at Victoria. Charles Barrett* , Xin Zhao , Robert McSorley , Berries are of high quality and V. vinifera-like in texture and and Charles A. Sims3 crispness. Soluble solids content averaged 17.1% in Arkansas 1Horticultural Sciences Department, 1301 Fifield Hall, and 18.1% in Victoria. Clusters of ‘Victoria Red’are attractive, 2Entomology and Nematology Department, Bldg. 970 large, and often long, loosely filled, and averaged 477 g in Natural Area Drive, 3Food Science and Human Nutrition, Victoria. Productivity of ‘Victoria Red’ in Arkansas was poor 359 FSHN Building, University of Florida, Gainesville, due to winter injury. Yield in Victoria averaged 9.1 kg/vine and FL 32611 in Stephenville ranged from 3.5 to 6.6 kg/vine depending on Grafting technology has been employed in vegetable production year and training system. In Victoria the average harvest date to improve plant resistance to soilborne pathogens, tolerance to was 3 July and 8 July in Stephenville. A substantial limitation abiotic stresses, crop vigor and yield, and fruit quality. Given the of ‘Victoria Red’ is winter hardiness. Temperatures of –15 to relatively high cost of grafted transplants, adoption of vegetable –11 °C in Arkansas damaged vines. Fruiting was consistent at grafting in field production may be more rapid among organic Victoria. ‘Victoria Red’ is likely reliably hardy in the mid- to growers than conventional growers. This is due to limited disease lower South, and should be planted in USDA hardiness zone control measures and the premium price received for organic 7b or warmer locations. The survival of ‘Victoria Red’ for over produce. The objective of this study was to assess the potential 20 years at Victoria indicates either tolerance or some degree of of grafting as an effective tool for organic heirloom tomato pro- resistance to Pierce’s disease. A very limited number of cuttings duction. Two scions, ‘Brandywine’ and ‘Flamme’, were grafted or vines are available from James Kamas ([email protected]). onto two rootstocks, ‘Multifort’ (interspecific) and ‘Survivor’ (intraspecific). Non-grafted and self-grafted scions were used as Broad Mites, a Potential Pest in Blackberry controls. Results from the 2010 spring trial showed that grafting Crops of the Southern United States had a significant impact on crop vigor. ‘Brandywine’ produced significantly greater aboveground biomass and leaf area when 1 1 Sandra Sleezer* , Christopher Vincent , grafted onto ‘Multifort’ compared to any of the other treatments. John R. Clark1, and Donn T. Johnson2 Leaf area was also significantly increased when ‘Flamme’ was 1316 Plant Science, Department of Horticulture, grafted onto ‘Multifort’ rather than ‘Survivor’, further suggesting University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; 2303 that rootstock–scion combinations may play an important role in Agriculture Building, Department of Entomology, crop vigor. Grafting reduced the yield of ‘Flamme’ at first harvest; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 however, in general no significant differences in yield among New blackberry cultivars, specifically primocane-fruiting treatments were observed after the first harvest. Harsh weather cultivars, have been developed that change the fruiting season in early spring delayed planting and the short growing season may have affected yields. A consumer taste test was conducted

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S41 using a hedonic scale to determine the influence of grafting on a triploid (‘Tri-X 313’) watermelon were used as sub-plots in perceived sensory attributes of ‘Brandywine’ fruit. Fruit from a transplant establishment (main-plots) experiment with four ‘Brandywine’ grafted onto ‘Survivor’ scored significantly lower replications. Maintaining high soil residue reduced average daily than the other treatments, indicating that rootstock selection soil temperatures in the chisel and strip-tilled establishment may affect consumer sensory perception of fruit attributes. To plots at 5-cm (P = 0.03), 10 (P = 0.20), and 30-cm (P = 0.01) optimize the use of grafting in heirloom tomato production, the depths compared to bedded melons. Daily maximum surface effects of vigorous interspecific rootstock and rootstock–scion temperatures (unreplicated), measured by IR thermometry, were interactions on crop productivity deserve further research. lowest in the bedded plots, suggesting that soil cooling by water loss might be the reason for the lower temperatures. However, Plant Density and Deficit Irrigation Effects on seasonal moisture at 30 cm was influenced only by date and not by transplant method. Rainfall for the experimental period was Water Productivity of Watermelons unseasonably high (52% of ET). Plant establishment method John Jifon*1, Daniel Leskovar2, and Juan Enciso1 did not influence average fruit weight, marketable fruit weight, 1Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, or marketable fruit number, but planting into high residue soil Weslaco, TX 78596; 2Texas AgriLife Research and increased both marketable yield (%) and marketable fruit (%) Extension Center, Uvalde, TX 78801 with ‘Jamboree’ showing the greatest response to a high residue environment. Fruit quality attributes (objective color and The effects of deficit irrigation and plant population density on firmness) were not affected by plant establishment method, but watermelon (Citrullus lanatus; cv. Tri-X 313) leaf water potential, ‘Tri-X 313’ soluble solids (%) were higher than those of ‘Jam- gas exchange, yield, and water productivity were investigated. boree’ (12.0% vs. 11.5%). Cultivars did differ in fruit weight, Replicated field plots with varying in-row plant spacing (0.46, marketable fruit, and marketable yield (%), and marketable 0.91, 1.4 and 1.8 m), were subjected to two irrigation regimes fruit number (%). (100% and 75% replacement of crop evapotranspiration, ETc).

Midday leaf water potential (ψl) declined with deficit irrigation, but generally increased with plant population density especially Onion Transplant Production System for in plants subjected to deficit irrigation (75%ETc replacement). Oklahoma Average leaf stomatal conductance and net assimilation rates James Shrefler1, Merritt Taylor1, Warren Roberts1, followed a similar pattern as leaf water potential. Total canopy 2 vegetative dry biomass was much higher in plants subjected to and Charles Webber III 1 100 ETc than those subjected to 75% ETc and declined with in- Wes Watkins Agricultural Research and Extension 2 creasing plant density. Average marketable fruit yields increased Center, Lane, OK 74555; Wes Watkins Agricultural with plant density at ~3.5% plant density. Fruit yields were also Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Lane, OK 74555 significantly higher in plants subjected to 100 ETc than those Onions are a valuable specialty crop. Hoop houses were pre- subjected to 75% ETc. Average number of fruits per plant de- viously found useful for producing transplants as a means of clined with increasing plant density; however, average fruit size overcoming problems associated with commercially available did not differ significantly among treatments. Water productivity transplants, which include poor stands, high bolting incidence, (tons/acre-inch) increased significantly with plant density at low productivity and cultivar availability. Here we report on about ~0.6% plant density, but did not differ between irrigation additional assessment of hoop house transplant production regimes. The data suggest that increased planting density can including productivity and seeding date effects on bulb size increase net returns with the same amount of irrigation input. and bolting. A cultivar trial using cultivars Candy and 1015Y was seeded 2 Nov. 2004 and field transplanted 26 Feb. 2005. Transplanted Watermelon Plants by Chisel, Only minor incidence of bolting was observed. Onion yield Strip-tillage, and Bedding Methods Result in and size distribution did not differ between cultivars and 80% to 90% of bulbs had 3-inch diameter or greater. A planting date Similar Yield and Quality trial using the cultivars 1015Y and Candy was seeded 18 and D.J. Makus* 25 Oct. and 2 Nov. 2005. Field plantings made at two locations U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research in early March resulted in no bolting. Production of bulbs Service, Weslaco, TX 78596 with 3–4 inch diameter ranged from 35% to 75% and did not differ between cultivars. Candy produced more bulbs >4 inch Watermelon plants grown in semi-arid, subtropical southern diameter at both sites. A second cultivar trial using 12 cultivars Texas (lat. 26°N) are subject to wind and high solar loads. In an was seeded 4 Nov. 2007 and field transplanted 25 Mar. 2008. effort to provide an environment that would reduce wind-related Bolting was observed in 10 cultivars. Only four cultivars ex- sand blasting, early transplant desiccation, and vine damage hibited >5% bolting: Cimarron (9%), Rumba (10%), Renegade and reduce soil temperatures, watermelon seedlings were trans- (18%), and Sequoia (9%). Among a group of eight top-yielding planted into chisel- and strip-tilled high surface residue (14 t/ cultivars (‘Sequoia’, ‘Renegade’, ‘Denali’, ‘Cimarron’, ‘Chief’, ha) Raymondville silt-loam soil and compared to the standard ‘Desperado’, ‘1015Y’, and ‘White Wing’) no marketable yield method of plowing and bedding. A diploid (‘Jamboree’) and

S42 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 (bulbs >3 inches diameter) differences were detected. These Establishing a Maturity Index for Lotus studies show that hoop house onion transplant production in (Nelumbo spp.) southeastern Oklahoma can result in plants with a low bolting tendency and that the system is compatible with several cultivars R. Shevade*, F.M. Woods, K.M. Tilt, X. Wang, for achieving marketable size onion bulbs. W. Orozco-Obando, J.R. Kessler, and B. Blasius 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn High Tunnel Design: Moving a Semi-permanent University, AL 36849 Structure Nelumbo nucifera ‘E2’ is an underutilized but popular, edible, and ornamental aquatic plant that is also valued for C.E.H. Coker*, S.A. Langlois, R.M. Ely, its medicinal properties. Presently there are no established and C. Wheeler commercial guidelines for harvest maturity. In this study, Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and nondestructive (chlorophyll measurements CCM-200) and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, destructive (total chlorophyll content, TC, dry weight, DW) MS 39532 determinations were compared for two types of leaves (long Season-extension is becoming an important tool for specialty and short) as possible senescence indicators over four harvest crop growers across the United States. High tunnel construc- dates in Sept.–Oct. 2010, at 2-week intervals. The purpose tion in the South is increasingly common, especially with the of this research was to evaluate these methods as potential 2010 advent of a NRCS cost-share program. In the initial year predictors of maturity at harvest. Simple linear regression and of the 3-year pilot program in Mississippi, 79 applications correlation analysis were used to determine the relationship were considered. This increased interest among growers has between nondestructive and destructive methods. CCM-200 resulted in an expansion of high tunnel research and outreach values and TC content indicate degradation of chlorophyll programs across the state. Growers are interested in moving a over time for both types of leaves. Results from this study high tunnel for several reasons including improved orientation suggest the potential use of CCM-200 meter and TC content for optimal aeration or sunlight exposure, reduced buildup of to predict maturity at harvest requires further evaluation. weed banks and soilborne pathogens, decreased soil compaction, and cover crop planting and crop rotation (especially for Preharvest Antioxidant Content as a organic producers). In response to repeated questions from Determinant for Lotus (Nelumbo spp.) Maturity growers concerning construction of high tunnels designed X. Wang*, F.M. Woods, K.M. Tilt, R. Shevade, for future relocation; a team, including a horticulturist and an W. Orozco-Obando, and B. Blasius engineer, designed a demonstration process for moving a high 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn tunnel. The goals of the process were to: 1) reposition the high University, AL 36849 tunnel using a “minimal” amount of tooling and equipment, 2) cause no damage to the structure, and 3) maintain the integrity The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of of the structure (“squareness”). The high tunnel moved in this preharvest Vitamin C content as a predictor of maturity at harvest demonstration is 28 ft × 96 ft. The design of the high tunnel for lotus (Nelumbo nucifera ‘E2’). Historically, harvest time included base rails into which the bows were connected. The for edible rhizomes of lotus is generally after leaves senesce. end of the base rails are turned up slightly to reduce drag when However, maturity-based harvest index is not well documented. moving. Three temporary ground-level aluminum braces were In this study, vitamin C content in long standing and floating attached perpendicular to the base rails to provide additional leaves and rhizomes were used for maturity determinations as support and decrease spreading of the bows. The high tunnel was possible senescence indicator over four harvest dates in Sept. moved with a dual-block apparatus. Two 6-inch sheave blocks through Oct. 2010 at 2-week intervals. Leaves contained more were positioned and secured 120 ft from the original high tunnel vitamin C than rhizomes. Vitamin C content in standing long position, each in line with the base rails. Braided 7/8-inch nylon leaves exhibited a quadratic, floating leaves a cubic, and rhizomes rope was anchored to each base rail, passed through the blocks a linear relationship, whereas vitamin C content in rhizomes and secured to a tractor draw bar. This 55-hp 4WD tractor trav- increased with leaf senescence. In rhizomes, a positive linear eled opposite of the high tunnel path, passing under the tunnel relationship between vitamin C content and harvest was observed. as it successfully moved into its new position. Results from this study suggest preharvest vitamin C content may be used as a harvest indicator. Further research is needed to determine optimum harvest time for rhizomes as vitamin C content failed to attain a maximal level.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S43 Author Index

A Cooper, Susan S31 Hood, K. S25,S26 Cordero, Andrea Morales S25 Huang, Pei-wen S21 Agehara, Shinsuke S31 Creech, David S13,S37 Hummel, Natalie A. S20,S40 Alexander, Katriel S31 Crosby, Kevin S23,S25 Anciso, Juan R. S24 Cuevas, Maria G. S28 I Anderson, W.A. S38 Armitage, Anna R. S36 D Inestroza, Jessie E. S28 Arnold, Michael A. S36 J Attaway, Denise S20,S40 Dane, F. S20 Awika, Joseph S31 Decker, Kaylee S36 Jackai, Louis E.N. S30,S32 Deng, Guangrui S13 Jenkins, Keith S22 B Díaz-Pérez, Juan C. S29,S32 Ji, Pingsheng S32 Dingha, Beatrice N. S30,S32 Bachlava, Eleni S34 Johns, Christine E. S26 Dozier, William S12,S40 Johnson, Donn T. S41 Baliga, Vikram S38 Ducar, Joyce S21 Barrett, Charles S41 Johnson, Gordon C. S34 Bates, Amber S36 E Jones, J.R. S35 Bautista, Jesús S29 Jifon, John S23,S25,S42 Edwards, Ned S40 Bergh, J.A. S24 K Berle, David S14 Ely, R.M. S43 Biai, Christopher J. S29 Enciso, Juan S42 Kamas, James S41 Bi, G. S25,S26 Evans, W.B. S25,S26 Kamp-Glass, Marihelen S15 Blasius, B. S20, S29,S39 S43 F Kelsey, Kathleen S18 Blythe, Eugene K. S13,S18 Kessler, J.R. S20,S29,S43 Boozer, Robert T. S21,S39 Ferrin, Don M. S20 Khalilian, Nelly S34 Bowerman, Jessica S39 Freeman, Joshua H. S26,S27 King, Andrew R. S36 Braswell, John S20 King, Stephen S27 Briz, Teresa S15 G Knapp, Steven J. S34 Brown, J.E. S29 Garner, James S31 Knight, Patricia R. S13 Burkett, J.E. S29,S39 Garzon, Jose G. S29 Koo, Jaheon S31 Burnie, D.A. S12,S39 Gawde, Archana S31 Kousik, Chandrasekar S. S33 Butcher, Justin D. S23 Gebrekidan, A. S29,S39 Byrne, David H. S36 L Gehl, Ronald J. S29 C Gilliam, Charles H. S13 Lamberts, Mary S16 Graham, Elaine S34 Langlois, S.A. S43 Cabrera, Raul I. S19 Greer, Lane S18 Leskovar, Daniel S23,S25,S31,S42 Caldwell, David S34 Gregory, Ashley S24 Lillard, Patrick T. S13,S16,S27 Campbell, Craig A. S24 Gu, M. S12,S13,S14,S17,S20, Limbird, E.J. S35 Carver, Sean T. S36 S25,S26,S35 Lindner, James R. S13 Caylor, A. S39 Gunter, Christopher C. S29 Li, Shiyou S13 Cerven, V. S25,S26 Little, R. S25,S26 Chan, Eva S34 H Lombardini, Leonardo S15,S38 Chappell, J. S20 Hannah, Hayley S38 Chase, Carlene A. S15 M Harkess, Richard L. S13 Chen, Yan S18 Harmon-Disque, Heather S34 Machtmes, Krisanna S20,S40 Clark, John R. S23,S41 Harrison, Howard F. S33 MacLean, Dan S32 Cline, D. S20 Harrison, Michael R. S12 Majumdar, Ayanava S17 Cline, William O. S20 Hassell, Richard L. S30,S34 Makus, D.J. S42 Cochran, Diana R. S13 Heesacker, Adam F. S34 Marshall, Donna S20,S40 Coffey, T. S35 Hellman, Edward S18,S22 Martin, C. Melea S37 Coker, C.E.H. S43 Henry, Mary B. S23 Martinez, Mauricio S28 Coneva, E. S12,S20,S21,S38,S39,S40 Hinson, Roger S18 Masabni, Joseph G. S13,S16,S27,S30 Coolong, Timothy W. S17

S44 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 Matthew, Khalid S35 R T Maurer, Michael A. S37 Marshall, Donna A. S37 Rafie, A.R. S22 Tarkington, Friench S41 McAvoy, Theodore S26 Rainey, R. S17 Tarkington, Martha S41 McGregor, Cecilia S34 Ranney, Thomas G. S12 Taylor, Merritt S27,S42 McKenney, Cynthia S19,S36,S38 Reiter, Mark S. S27 Thies, Judy A. S33 McSorley, Robert S26,S41 Rideout, Steve S26 Tilt, K.M. S20,S43 Mendez-Urbaez, Carlos J. S28 Robbins, James S14,S17,S20 Tolla, Greg S34 Messick, D.C. S35 Roberts, B. Warren S27.S42 Tomaso-Peterson, Maria S13,S35 Miakonkana, G. S20 Rodriguez, Denise S19 Torres-Quezada, Emmanuel A. S28 Molina, Maria Asunción S15 Rom, Curt S14,S20 Touchell, Darren H. S12 Roy, Heli J. S20 Montague, Thayne S22,S36,S38 V Moore, James N. S23,S41 S Motsenbocker, Carl S25 van Santen, E. S20 Mullins, Chris S22 Saenz, Marco V. S28 Vincent, Christopher S41 Safran, Dolores S34 Vinson, Edgar S21,S38,S39 N Salame-Donoso, Teresa P. S23,S28 Volder, Astrid S27,S38 Sampson, Blair J. S37 Nandwani, Dilip S22 W Nelson, Shad D. S15 Sandlin, Katherine C. S34 Nesbitt, Monte S39 Santos, Bielinski M. S21,S23,S25,S28 Wang, Ping S13 Niu, Genhua S19 Sarkar, D. S39 Wang, X. S20,S43 Schultheis, Jonathan R. S29 Webber, Charles, III S27,S42 O Setamou, Mamoudou S15 Werle, Christopher T. S37 Seymour, Danelle S34 Oates, Kelly S12 Wheeler, C. S43 Shetty, K. S39 Whidden, Alicia J. S23 Obregon-Olivas, Henner A. S28 Shevade, R. S20,S43 Ojwang, Leonnard S31 Whitaker, Vance M. S21 Shinohara, Togo S31 White, Cathy S34 Okashah, Rebecca S34 Shrefler, James S27,S42 Orozco-Obando, W. S20,S43 White, Victoria S34 Sibley, J. S20 Wilkins, Bryan S39,S40 Olson, Steve S26 Sims, Charles A. S41 Osborne, Jason A. S29 Williams, Robert S25 Singh, B.B. S31,S32 Wingenbach, Gary J. S15 O-Sintim, Henry S30 Sintim, Henry O. S32 Oswalt, Steve S36 Woods, F.M. S12,S20,S29,S39, Sleezer, Sandra S41 S40,S43 Owings, A. S16,S17 Snodgrass, Crystal A. S23 Owings, llen D. S18 Spiers, James M. S40 X P Spiers, Jay D. S12,S39,S40 Stanley, Craig D. S23 Xiang, Wenwen S34 Stafne, Eric T. S18 Paret, Mathews S26 Y Patil, Bhimanagouda S23,S31 Stein, Larry S41 Perkins-Veazie, Penelope S34 Story, Richard N. S18 Yoo, Kil Sun S23,S31 Philemon, Charkym S35 Striegler, R. Keith S18 Yuan, Wei S13 Phillips, N.C. S35,S38 Stringer, Stephen S37,S40 Pickens, J. S20 Stroman, Jason S40 Z Pitts, James A. S21,S38 Sullen, D.M. S29 Zhao, Xin S15,S26,S41 Powell, Michael S17 Swisher, Marilyn E. S15 Zhao, Yan S12,S35 Prothro, Jason S34 Zhou, Lijing S13 Zimmerman, Thomas W. S35

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 SR–ASHS Annual Meeting—February 5–7, 2011 S45 S46 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement) 2011–ASHS Annual Meeting—Februry 5–7, 2011 Abstracts of Presentations from the Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science September 25–28, 2011 Waikoloa, Hawaii

Supplement to HortScience Volume 46(9) September 2011

Contains abstracts of symposia, colloquia, workshops, plus oral and poster presentations from the 2011 ASHS Annual Conference.

Symposia...... S49 Colloquia...... S51 Workshops...... S60 Oral Presentations...... S94 Poster Presentations...... S233 Index of Authors, Coordinators, and Moderators...... S406 A listing of Colloquia, Workshops, Oral, and Poster Sessions by name appears on p. S48

For citation purposes, abstracts should be cited as follows: (Example) Taylor, M.D., M. Evans, and J. Kuehny. 2011. Research at public gardens—increasing scope, impact, and recognition through university collaboration. HortScience 46(9):S404. (Abstr.)

American Society for Horticultural Science 1018 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 phone: 703.836.4606 • fax: 703.836.2024 • ashs.org • [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference S47 Colloquia, Workshop, Oral, and Poster Sessions Listed By Name Breeding and Management of Temperate Fruit Crops for Non-Temperate Plant Nutrient Management 2...... S183 Climates...... S51 Marketing and Economics...... S185 Advances in Understanding Plant Metabolism Related to Crop Quality and Pomology 2...... S188 Composition...... S53 Vegetable Breeding...... S191 Research Highlights and Commercial Application of Medicinal Plants...... S55 Crop Physiology 2...... S194 Emerging Techniques to Evaluate and Mitigate Crop Environmental Floriculture 2...... S197 Stress in a Changing Climate...... S57 Postharvest 2...... S201 Additives for Plastics in Agriculture...... S60 Vegetable Crops Management 2...... S202 Current Status of Transplant Production: Challenges and New Technologies...S60 Genetics, Germplasm, and Breeding—Cross Commodity...... S204 Exchange of Information on International Collaborations and Activities...... S62 Water Utilization and Management 2...... S207 History of Hawaiian Pomology...... S65 Production and Harvest Mechanization...... S210 Ornamental Plant Breeding in the Pacific Rim Region...... S65 BioEnergy ...... S212 Advances in Plasticulture Technology Around the World...... S66 Weed Control and Pest Management 3...... S215 ASHS Primer...... S70 Nursery Crops 2...... S218 SCRI Project Directors’ Workshop...... S71 Produce Quality, Safety, and Health Properties 2...... S221 Can Horticulture Make Use of Wastes from the Biofuels Industry?...... S71 Vegetable Crops Management 3...... S224 Integrated Organic Program Project Directors and Applicants Workshop...... S71 Viticulture and Small Fruits 2...... S227 Real Impact: The Effects of Your Research...... S71 Consumer Horticulture and Master Gardeners...... S229 Improving English and Communication Skills for Scientists...... S72 Teaching Methods...... S231 Ethnobotany of Pacific Plants...... S73 Floriculture 1...... S233 Social Media–How Can We Use It to Increase Our Effectiveness?...... S75 Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments...... S235 Software Tools for Analysis of Databases...... S75 Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants...... S239 Breeding Vegetables for the Tropics...... S76 Human Issues in Horticulture...... S242 Nutrient and Water Management Practices for Improving Crop Growth, Local Food Systems...... S245 Yield, and Quality...... S79 Pomology...... S246 Propagation Techniques of Select Tropical Ornamentals, Specialty Crops, Undergraduate 1...... S250 and Native Plants in Hawaii...... S80 Vegetable Crops Management 1...... S252 Regulation of Genetically Engineered Crops: Hawaii and Beyond...... S81 Organic Horticulture Posters...... S255 E-Organic: The Extension CoP for Organic Agriculture...... S82 Ornamental Plant Breeding...... S260 Quarantine Treatments for Export Markets of Hawaiian Horticultural Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 1...... S263 Crops...... S83 Plant Biotechnology...... S266 The Growing Involvement of Horticulture in e-Xtension: Updates and Postharvest 1...... S270 Opportunities...... S84 Undergraduate 2...... S275 Various Experiences in Overseas Consulting (Paid and/or Volunteer)...... S87 Vegetable Breeding 1...... S279 Tropical Fruits Workshop...... S87 Viticulture and Small Fruits 1...... S282 Challenges and Opportunites in Medical Cannabis for the Professional Weed Control & Pest Management...... S286 Horticulturist...... S89 OREI Poster Session...... S290 Application of Tunnel Technologies to Community and School Gardens; SCRI Poster Session...... S293 Education and Production Tools...... S90 BioEnergy...... S299 Has Sustainability Been Profitable for Ornamentals?...... S90 Crop Physiology 1...... S299 Local Foods...... S93 Floriculture 2...... S302 Undergraduate Oral Competition...... S94 Plant Nutrient Management 1...... S304 Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 1...... S95 Propagation 1...... S308 Postharvest...... S97 Seed and Stand Establishment...... S311 Plant Biotechnology and Genomics...... S100 Vegetable Crops Management 2...... S312 Environmental Stress Physiology ...... S104 Viticulture and Small Fruits 2...... S314 Floriculture 1...... S108 Waste Utilization in Horticulture...... S318 Viticulture and Small Fruits...... S112 Genetics and Germplasm 1...... S319 Water Utilization and Management 1...... S115 Nursery Crops...... S322 Organic Horticulture 1...... S118 Plant Nutrient Management 2...... S327 Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants ...... S120 Postharvest 2...... S331 Pomology 1...... S122 Produce Quality, Safety, and Health Properties...... S336 Weed Control and Pest Management 1...... S125 Temperate Tree Nut Crops...... S342 Fruit Breeding and Genetics...... S129 Vegetable Breeding 2...... S344 Temperate and Tropical Tree Crops ...... S133 Water Utilization and Management 1...... S346 Citrus Crops ...... S137 Citrus Crops...... S349 Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 2...... S140 Consumer Horticulture and Master Gardeners...... S352 Vegetable Crops Management 1...... S142 Crop Physiology 2...... S354 Crop Physiology...... S146 Floriculture 3...... S358 Propagation...... S149 Tropical Horticultural Crops...... S361 Community Horticulture...... S151 Vegetable Crops Management 3...... S363 Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 1...... S153 Water Utilization and Management 2...... S367 Plant Nutrient Management 1...... S156 Environmental Stress Physiology ...... S370 Computer Applications in Horticulture...... S158 Extension...... S374 Produce Quality, Safety, and Health Properties 1...... S162 Fruit Breeding...... S381 Nursery Crops 1...... S164 Genetics and Germplasm 2...... S386 Ornamental Plant Breeding, Genetics and Germplasm...... S168 Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 2...... S389 Weed Control and Pest Management 2...... S172 Postharvest 3...... S392 Human Issues in Horticulture...... S175 Propagation 2...... S395 Growth Chambers and Controlled Environments 2...... S178 Teaching Methods...... S396 Organic Horticulture 2...... S181 Power of Partnerships in Public Horticulture Poster Workshop...... S401

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference S48 Symposia • 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Symposium Symposium Friday, September 23, 2011 Monday, September 26 2011 8:00 am–5:00 pm Waikoloa 3 8:00 am–12:00 pm Kohala 1 Southern Coordinating Committee 83: How to Succeed Professionally in Quantifying the Linkages Between Soil Academia, Government, or Industry Health and Organic Farming and Food Sponsor: ASHS Research Division Coordinator: Rebecca L. Darnell Symposium This symposium is targeted to both junior and senior scientists in academia, government, and industry and focuses on how to Saturday, September 24, 2011 succeed in the promotion process by developing and maintain- 8:00 am–5:00 pm Kings 2 ing a successful research, teaching, and/or extension program. Administrators from all three areas will speak on general expec- The Next Generation of Statistics in tations for promotion (and tenure) in their respective systems. Horticulture—Generalized Linear This will be followed by presentations from junior scientists Mixed Models (GLMM): A Workshop describing how they developed a successful program and presentations from more senior scientists on how to maintain a ® Using R and SAS PROC GLIMMIX with successful program, including program and/or career changes. Real Data Examples Finally, ideas on mentoring junior scientists to help ensure success will be presented. Sponsor: SAS Coordinator: Matthew H. Kramer 8:00–8:05 am Introductory Remarks The statistical tools available in the agricultural and natural resource sciences have progressed from basic t-tests to ANOVA 8:05–8:25 am to Mixed Models and now Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Expectations for Tenure and/or Promotion for The applications of Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) University Faculty are now available in several statistical software packages. This Marvin P. Pritts workshop serves as an introduction to the newly developed Cornell University, Ithaca, NY GLMMs, focusing on their application in horticulture. Topics for discussion in the workshop will be: Review of and defin- All universities expect faculty to achieve a high level of scholar- ing fixed, random, and mixed models; statistical analysis with ship to receive tenure and subsequent promotions. Criteria vary non-normal distribution of responses; statistical models with among institutions, but some common expectations exist. The repeated measures; and applicable experimental design covering easiest to document are contributions in discovery/research. concepts of power, precision, and sample size. All topics will Documentation of scholarship in teaching requires an element be discussed using real data examples from horticulture and of creativity, and scholarship in extension may be the most dif- related disciplines. The techniques and applications of devel- ficult to demonstrate. This presentation will address expectations oping a generalized linear mixed model may be implemented of faculty being considered for promotion, and will offer some with numerous software packages. This workshop features two: strategies for building an exemplary package. Common pitfalls GLMM procedures in R and the GLIMMIX procedure in the will also be identified, as well as specific behaviors that increase SAS software suite. We will provide example code in both pack- your profile in the department. ages when possible. The workshop is lecture-based so laptop 8:25–8:45 am computers are not necessary for attendance. Participants will be Expectations for Promotion of USDA/ARS Scientists provided a packet of workshop materials prior to the workshop that will include lecture materials and applicable data and code. Dennis Gonsalves Participants should bring these materials to the workshop as USDA/ARS they will be the materials used in the presentations. 8:45–9:05 am Presenters/Instructors: Expectations for Promotion within Industry Matthew H Kramer* Craig Campbell Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD Valent BioSciences Corp., Ocoee, FL Walt Stroup I have worked for private companies in the horticulture industry University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE for many years. Getting promoted and advancing my career

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S49 opportunities in other ways was never something I planned for as being too “surfacy” and helps the researcher develop as a extensively. Promotion was, however, a consistent goal wherever nationally or internationally recognized authority in their field. I worked. My purpose here is to identify a few primary fac- These philosophical issues will be addressed, along with some tors that can help a person get promoted in a private company. additional guidelines in management, budgeting, community Loyalty is an attitude that most companies greatly appreciate. participation, service, and delegation. Showing loyalty to a company can be a good way to achieve advancement. As a frequent participant in scientific conferences 9:25–9:45 am and business meetings throughout the Americas, I always made Developing a Successful Research Program in sure to keep to myself small criticisms of the companies where USDA/ARS I worked. First, expressing such feelings with others can likely Jonathan Franz do no good. And second, a misplaced comment could poten- New England Plant, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, tially damage your career. Identifying opportunities to improve USDA/ARS, Orono, ME a problematic system or process in a company is another good way to achieve advancement, even if the area for improvement 9:45–10:05 am is outside of the normal scope of work for the employee. Be- Developing a Successful Industry Program ing too risk adverse can hamper progress for a company. In my opinion the best employees in a company are not adverse to Brandon Hurr taking prudent risks, but knowing when and how takes experi- Jealott's Hill International Research Center, Syngenta ence and extensive knowledge of a subject. Seeds, Bracknell, United Kingdom

9:05–9:25 am 10:05–10:15 am Developing a Successful Program in Academia Break Kevin M. Folta 10:15–10:35 am University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Career Transitions–Academia/Government/Industry Challenging times await the new academic researcher in hor- Robert Mikkelsen ticulture. Changes in program funding, labor/land resources, Internatonal Plant Nutrition Institute, Merced, CA and tenure/promotion policy are noteworthy barriers that can be discouraging if not threatening to a starting PI. At the same 10:35–11:00 am time, new tools and technologies present amazing opportunities How Senior Faculty and ARS Scientists Maintain to develop a firm niche in a critical research area. The devel- Successful, Exciting Programs opment of a successful program has several facets. First and Bernadine C. Strik foremost, it is necessary to construct research programs that Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR leverage one’s talents and skill set to attack a question on the leading edge of a specific area of horticultural science. Many Chad E. Finn of the most successful programs address both basic and applied USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR areas of inquiry, broadening opportunities for funding, while at the same time focusing basic research around real industry 11:00 –11:20 am needs. Next, it is important to integrate the available talent of Faculty Mentoring and Unraveling the Mystery of an academic setting. The development of novel undergraduate Tenure and Promotion programs can offer valuable experiences while presenting a David W. Reed real-time testing ground to evaluate performance and reliability Texas A&M University of young scientists. Furthering their training and shaping their interest can eventually lead to recruitment opportunities for Evaluation for tenure and promotion is a combination of faculty internships or graduate studies. Research programs also benefit and administrative evaluators, typically including a departmental from collaboration, but not just any collaboration, selective faculty committee, Head or Chair, College or University fac- participation in the right collaborations. One theme that runs ulty committee, and Dean or Director. Expectations may vary throughout is that while it is attractive to take on every research at each level. Mentoring for success at the departmental level endeavor, every student, or every proposed collaborative activ- is best done at the departmental level. Some departments have ity, a new PI has to work with a stringent filter. New research great mentoring programs, and some do not. Unfortunately, avenues, while exciting, cost time and resources at the expense mentoring for success above the departmental level often is a of original intensions. Students, while often great contributors, missing link. I will describe our approach to "Mentoring Be- again use time and resources during their training, oftentimes yond the Department". It incorporates two rubrics. One rubric is never recouped. Collaborations can be fruitful, but again, time based on quantitative metrics. It is a comparison to the average and resources are diverted from primary programmatic goals to metrics of successful and unsuccessful tenure and promotion efforts that may not propel a new PI into a recognized position. packets, e.g. numbers of graduate students advised, courses In short, the disciplined addition of new research directions, taught, publications, grants, etc. The other rubric is based on students and collaborators prevents the perception of a researcher qualitative expectations of faculty. This is determined by polling

S50 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Colloquia • 2011 ASHS Annual Conference the exiting members of the college-level tenure and promotion committee as to the "relative weight" they place on qualitative Colloquium parameters typically expected under the categories teaching, research and service. Sunday, September 25, 2011 2:00–6:00 pm Monarchy Ballroom 11:20–11:40 am Mentoring At the USDA/ARS Breeding and Management of Temperate Kim E. Hummer Fruit Crops for Non-Temperate Climates USDA–ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR Primary Sponsor: Viticulture and Small Fruits Working Group One of the advantages of working in our U.S. federal service is the emphasis that our department, the U.S. Department of Co-Sponsors: Fruit Breeding and Pomology Working Agriculture, and our agency, the Agricultural Research Ser- Groups vice (ARS), places on diversity and outreach for recruitment Coordinator: Chrislyn Particka; chrislynp@sakum- and retention of employees. Our workplace is undergoing a abros.com large cultural transformation to foster professional growth The desire to produce crops in atypical climates is not a new and encourage quality service to clients. Though we as ARS one. There is a growing interest in producing temperate zone scientists have no performance requirement for teaching, we fruit crops in tropical and subtropical climates. Consumers in do have an opportunity to work with youth groups from grade the United States and other developed countries are increasingly school through undergraduate and graduate students, as well as demanding fresh fruits regardless of the season, and many fruit postdoctoral scientists. During the past 30 years, the scientific crops cannot successfully be stored long-term. By breeding for staff (4 scientists) at the Corvallis NCGR has mentored more reduced chilling requirement and manipulating the plant’s normal than 350 students, interns, volunteers, and aides—about 12 physiological processes in production fields, fruit crops such each year. Many of our students have since become full-time as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, and peaches employees in our agency, other federal agencies, academia, can now be grown in areas that receive little or no winter chill- or the horticultural industry. Our supervisors have managed ing. Speakers will discuss methods used to breed for reduced students with a full range of capabilities, including those with chilling requirement and describe important low-chill cultivars challenging physical and mental situations (such as blindness or that have been developed. Complementing that, at least one being confined to a wheelchair), those with scholarly advanced speaker will discuss research on the genetic control of dormancy, placement, and those in between. We have worked with 1890s chill accumulation, bloom time, and other related factors. The colleges in capacity building grant research projects. We have management practices used to overcome the lack of sufficient worked with local native people's tribes and associations in chill in both small and tree fruit crops wil be outlined. The first mentoring and training students. We have worked with private half of the colloquium will focus on berry crops (blueberries, and state vocational rehabilitation organizations to bring chal- blackberries, and raspberries) and the second half will focus on lenged individuals into the workplace. While scientific interest tree fruits (apples and peaches). and accomplishment is our binding force, mentorship is a key element to our success. Our primary principal is to be open 2:00–2:30 pm and to share. Each of us is progressing along the road to understanding. We remember the mentors who have ushered us Successes in Breeding Blueberries for Low-Chill along that route, and share that guidance to those next in line. Environments Our success has come from knowing the minute details of poli- Paul Lyrene* cies and procedures for recruitment and promotion options not Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] only students, but for the permanent staff members; and from In 1948, Ralph Sharpe began a program to develop low-chill knowing and implementing appropriate performance evaluation highbush blueberry cultivars for Florida. High chilling require- procedures, recognition, and award systems. As mentors, our ment was known to be a principal reason why northern cultivars scientists respect their interns, provide them with opportunities grew poorly in Florida. The tetraploid Florida cultivars were to demonstrate the quality of their work, and allow them to share developed by phenotypic recurrent selection, now in the 7th to in successes and failures. Nanos gigantium humeris insidentes. 8th generation, that began with a population produced by crossing We all stand on the shoulders of giants and through mentorship tetraploid highbush cultivars from Michigan and New Jersey with have the responsibility to foster those who follow. low-chill diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid Vaccinium species from Florida and south Georgia. At first, progress was slow due 11:40–12:00 pm to the low horticultural quality and long fruit-development period Panel Discussion with Symposium Speakers of the Florida native species, and the crossing barriers imposed by differences in chromosome numbers. Growing large seedling populations under field conditions at the location where it was intended to start the commercial industry, and rapidly turning the

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S51 generations, resulted in rapid improvements in local adaptation, 3:30– 4:00 pm including lower chilling requirement, better adaptation to the Development of Low-Chill Stone Fruit Cultivars At long growing season, adequate flower bud initiation despite high the University of Florida autumn temperatures, and resistance to the diseases and insects Jose Chaparro* particular to the region. As adaptation improved, strong selection University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] pressure was simultaneously applied to obtain earlier ripening, higher yields, and better fruit quality, including the ability of the Wayne Sherman berries to maintain good flavor and texture under warm, humid University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] conditions. Little time was spent studying the underlying genetic Chilling requirement is the primary determinant of a peach cul- and physiological changes, but eight generations of selecting tivar’s zone of adaptation. The chilling requirement is defined as plants that worked well in commercial fields gave cultivars that the number of hours below 7 °C needed by flower and vegetative have been commercially successful. Depending on the location buds to overcome endodormancy. A peach cultivar’s chilling and the system of management, many of the Florida cultivars requirement determines its bloom date and cropping potential. can be grown either with the traditional deciduous system or as Within a location, cultivars with lower chilling requirements evergreen plants, in which the leaves of the previous summer bloom early and their crops can be at risk from late spring frosts. support the developing crop through harvest the following spring. In contrast, cultivars with high chilling requirements may not receive sufficient chill hours for normal flowering, fruiting, 2:30–3:00 pm and resumption of vegetative growth. Most commercial peach Development of Caneberry Cultivars for Production cultivars have chilling requirements in the 650–850 chill hour in Low-Chill Climates range and are not adapted to Florida. Development of commercial Gavin Sills* quality low chill (100–450 chill hour) cultivars adapted to the Driscoll's Strawberry Associates, Watsonville, CA; gavin. chilling ranges typical of Florida, required the hybridization of [email protected] primitive low chill peach germplasm with high chill commercial Farmers, breeders, shipper/marketers, and retailers have grown quality cultivars. The limited genetic diversity available within the berry category to the largest category in the produce depart- commercial low chill germplasm requires the continued use ment, contributing about 7.9% of produce sales. Advancements of high chill germplasm as a source of novel traits. The use of in genetics, shipping, growing, and packaging have helped high chill germplasm in crosses typically leads to a series of all berry types become available year-round, and production developmental abnormalities in the seedling progeny that have in low-chill environments has been critical to the growth of to be corrected. this category. The paucity of caneberry varieties available for successful winter season production in these low-chill envi- 4:00– 4:30 pm ronments highlights the need for genetic improvement efforts. Genetic Control of Dormancy and Chill With particular emphasis on blackberry, breeding experiences Requirement in Peach with regard to costs, logistics, and genotype by environment T. Zhebentyayeva interactions will be discussed relative to low-chill environment Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] production. How photoperiod, dormancy, low-chill versus no- chill, and stress influence floral bud initiation, productivity, and S. Hughes-Murphree breeding decisions will be highlighted. Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] S. Fan* 3:00–3:30 pm Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Management of Berry Crops for Production in Low-Chill Environments B Olukolu Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Laura Himes* SunnyRidge, Winter Haven, FL; laura.himes@sunnyridge. D. Bielenberg com Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Producing temperate-adapted berry crops in a subtropical loca- D. Holland tion requires many modifications to established horticultural Clemson University, Clemson, SC management systems. We produce blueberries, strawberries, W.R. Okie raspberries, and blackberries in the southeastern U.S. (North ARS-USDA, Byron, GA; [email protected] Carolina, Georgia, and Florida), and Mexico (Jalisco and Michoacán). Our strategy has been to select the best-adapted Gregory L. Reighard cultivars for each location, and adopt innovative horticultural Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] programs developed through on-farm research. Our challenges Albert Abbott and experience with development of berry crops in non-temperate Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] locations will be covered. Perennial fruiting trees require sustained exposure to low, near

S52 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 freezing, temperatures before vigorous floral and vegetative inter-relationships between primary and secondary metabolism bud break is possible after the resumption of warm tempera- in plants. This may be more relevant to horticulture than are tures in the spring. The depth of dormancy, duration of chilling other tools of molecular biology, for studying the genome, required, the chilling requirement (CR), blooming date (BD), transcriptome, and proteome. However, very few horticulturists and heat requirement to break buds (HR) are determined by the have taken advantage of this new tool to study the influences climatic adaptation of the particular cultivar, thus limiting its of genetics, development, and environment on composition of geographic distribution. This limitation is particularly evident horticultural crops. Metabolomics offers a great potential to when attempting to introduce superior cultivars to regions with horticultural biologists who seek to improve fruit quality and very warm winter temperatures. The physiological mechanisms productivity via breeding/selecting desired genotypes, or by for these important life history characters are partially under- optimizing environmental factors/cultural practices. In this col- stood however, the genetic pathways central to physiology loquium, scientists at the forefront of plant metabolite profiling remain poorly characterized and although breeding programs will present studies of the inter-relationship of metabolites in deliberately manipulate these characters, robust closely associ- plants with specific examples related to quality of horticultural ated markers to the traits have not been available in the past. crops. This colloquium will demonstrate the power of metabolic In this regard, we have developed a comprehensive mapping profiling as a tool for horticultural research. program directed at characterization of QTL controlling these characters. We used segregating populations of apricot (100 8:00–8:40 am

F1 individuals, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, ARO) and peach Using Metabolomics to Understand Development (378 F2 individuals, Clemson University) to discover discreet and Food Quality of Potato genomic loci that regulate CR, BD, and HR. We used the exten- Mark Taylor* sive genomic/genetic resources available for Prunus including Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee; Mark.Taylor@ the whole genome sequences of peach to successfully combine scri.ac.uk our apricot and peach genetic data to identify candidate genes for control of these phenological traits. In this regard, we have In the past decade a suite of technologies have become available developed a model for dormancy control based on changes in that enable the levels of many metabolites to be determined the methylation status of the genome, and currently we are test- simultaneously, accurately, and efficiently. This metabolomic ing this hypothesis through whole genome and individual gene approach may be developed into a functional genomics tool when methylation studies throughout the dormancy period. The results integrated with other “omic” datasets such as transcriptomics. and implications of these efforts will be discussed. We have used metabolomic analyses to help understand product quality in potato tubers. “Quality” is a nebulous term that encom- 4:30–5:00 pm passes a wide-range of traits, but the most important aspects are Production and Breeding of Apple Cultivars in the organoleptic drivers texture, appearance, and flavor. Potato Low-Chill Environments of South Africa flavor is due to a blend of volatile and non-volatile metabolites Jasper Rees* that can be analyzed by techniques such as solid phase micro Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort; jasper@ extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry mail.biotech.uwc.ac.za analysis. A range of non-volatile metabolites including the major umami compounds, glycoalkaloids and sugars also impact on tuber flavor. Correlation and principal component analyses Colloquium revealed differences between potato cultivars and storage conditions, and demonstrated associations of metabolites with the Monday, September 26, 2011 Monarchy Ballroom different sensory attributes. The anthocyanin and carotenoid pigments of potato tubers have also been measured by a range Advances in Understanding Plant of techniques. Integration with other “omic” datasets has lead Metabolism Related to Crop Quality and to a greater understanding of how the concentration of these metabolites are controlled. Composition 8:40–9:10 am Sponsor: Crop Physiology Working Group Changes in Nutritionally Important Metabolites in Coordinator: Martin P.N. Gent, [email protected] Brassica Related to Differential Gene Expression Induced by Selenium The quality of horticultural crops is a function of their metabolite content and composition. The value of many horticultural Carl E. Sams* plants is determined by the particular combination of metabo- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@ lites that confer sweetness, acidity, colors, flavors, and aromas. utk.edu Metabolite profiling has emerged as a powerful tool in plant Dean A. Kopsell biology research. More information is gained from examining The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@ a wide array of metabolites than a single chemical of interest. utk.edu In particular, metabolite profiling allows us to understand the

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S53 T. Casey Barickman analytical methods and results, and strategies for multivariate The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@ data analyses, are discussed in the context of the growing field utk.edu of metabolomics and its application to agriculture. Abiotic factors often induce physiological responses as a result of differential genetic expression within plant metabolic path- 9:50 –10:00 am ways. Plant physiologists have developed analytical techniques Break (HPLC, GC, and MS) to measure these impacts in terms of the 10:00–10:30 am concentrations of metabolites in plants at the biochemical level. Primary Metabolism of Apple Fruit During There have been many studies on genotypic and environmental regulation of plant metabolites. However, few studies present Development As Affected by Carbon and Nitrogen data on their regulation at the molecular level. Functional genom- Supply ics can provide information about intermediate steps involving Lailiang Cheng* gene expression and signal transduction that occur between Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] initial environmental stimuli and eventual plant physiological Metabolite concentration and composition in apple fruit at har- responses. DNA microarrays offer a powerful technology to as- vest, which largely defines fruit quality, is determined through sess how a large number of genes and gene products (RNA and a complex interplay between genotype, environmental factors, proteins) interact within specific metabolic pathways. We made and orchard management practices during fruit development. use of DNA microarray technology to help elucidate differential Primary metabolites, including sugars, sugar alcohols, organic gene expression within important metabolite pathways of Bras- acids, and amino acids, not only determine the sweetness and sica and Arabidopsis and to confirm previous analytical results acidity of the fruit, but they also provide the background in on the impact of selenium on production of glucosinolate and which aroma compounds are sensed and serve as precursors carotenoid compounds within these species. DNA microarray for aroma compounds. Recent advances in metabolite profil- data identified specific expression of key enzymes within these ing techniques, combined with assay of the transcript level and pathways and helped explain the results of our biochemical activity of the key enzymes involved in primary metabolism, analyses. This technology offers an economical and effective allowed us to gain a more comprehensive picture of the primary technique to plant physiologists for the quantitative measurement metabolism in apple fruit during development. This presentation of metabolic responses in specialty crops to biotic or abiotic will focus on some of our work on apple fruit in transgenic apple stimuli, or genetic modifications. trees with decreased sorbitol synthesis and those grown under different nitrogen supply to demonstrate how the metabolism 9:10–9:50 am of carbohydrates, organic acids, nitrogen, and amino acids are Metabolomic Insights on Pathogen Infection and integrated during fruit development, resulting in changes in the Other Stresses in Citrus concentration and composition of metabolites at harvest. Jose I. Reyes De Corcuera* University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected]. 10:30–11:00 am ufl.edu Applying Untargeted Metabolic Profiling to Depict The recent introduction and extremely rapid spread of Candi- Metabolism During Apple Storage datus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of citrus David Rudell* huanglongbing (HLB), threatens to decimate Florida’s citrus USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] industry. Until recently, chlorosis, starch accumulation, and Modern apple storage practices are employed to maintain a increased concentrations of gentisic acid were the only well number of quality-related attributes. These attributes are linked documented metabolic changes due to HLB, none of which are to multiple ripening-related metabolic pathways, including path- exclusively related to HLB. Sensitivity to infection also varies ways associated with fruit texture, sourness, sugar metabolism, with citrus cultivar. To better understand this disease and plant and fruit aroma. An unintended consequence of cold storage response to infection, we address the following questions: Is can include the development of a variety of chilling-provoked there any metabolite that could serve as specific biomarker of necrotic disorders mitigated by environmental as well as largely HLB? Can that biomarker be detected before symptoms develop? unknown genotypic and metabolic factors. The diverse physi- What metabolic profile changes precede, accompany, or suc- ological changes precipitating during cold storage highlight the ceed pathogen translocation in planta? Does plant tolerance to complexity of the metabolic interactions governing overall fruit infection correlate to the presence or absence of a metabolite or quality. The untargeted profiling of metabolites, proteins, and groups of metabolites? How is the metabolite profile affected gene expression are becoming common tools used to better by other stresses? We performed untargeted metabolomic pro- understand this complex interplay during ripening and storage filing of extracts from infected, and control leaves. Metabolite of many fruit species, including apple. In apple, untargeted meta- analyses were done by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with bolic profiling has revealed simultaneous changes in multiple photodiode array (PDA) detection, gas chromatograph—mass pathways, and broadened our understanding of key effectors spectroscopy (GC-MS), high performance liquid chromatog- of fruit quality, including ripening during storage and storage raphy – mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) and HPLC-PDA. Our

S54 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 stress. One potential opportunity to exploit this knowledge is to growth of the consumption of plant-based medicines has led to develop diagnostic tools based on metabolic profiling to detect many scientists in various academic institutes throughout the and assess risk from storage stress. world working on identification of medicinal plants and their values, cultivation and breeding, and application of genom- 11:00–11:40 am ics and biotechnologies to improve the quality of plant-based Manipulation of Secondary Metabolism to Alter medicines and herbal supplements. However, the rapid growth Floral Scent of plant-based medicines and herbal supplements has been Natalia Dudareva* accompanied by a number of concerns: biotic and abiotic con- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; doudarev@purdue. tamination, adulteration with misidentified plant species, and edu quality variability of medicinal plant products, which is possibly To attract pollinators, many flowering species release diverse caused by genetic variability, variable growing conditions, and blends of volatile compounds from their flowers. One-third of our postharvest handling and processing practices. This colloquium total diet depends, directly or indirectly, upon insect-pollinated will address the aforementioned concerns and facilitate discus- plants including most fruit trees, berries, nuts, oilseeds, and sion on the needs for developing new technologies to ensure the vegetables. The yield of many insect-pollinated, agronomically safety and efficacy of the plant-based medicine. important, crops could be enhanced by increasing pollination efficiency via the metabolic engineering of floral scent. Custom- 8:00–8:45 am ization of floral scent for specialized pollinators will not only Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies to Develop increase the attractiveness of flowers but also reduce the chance Plant-Based Medicine or Botanical Drugs of pollen loss and unsuccessful inter-species pollination. The Muralee Nair* chemistry of plant volatiles is well understood, however, little is Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; nairm@msu. known about the biosynthesis of this diverse group of compounds. edu How do plants produce volatile compounds? What molecular The majority of the world's population depends heavily on mechanisms control their accumulation and release? We have traditional plants and plant products to alleviate health-related integrated metabolic profiling, a functional genomic approach, problems. The herbal tea prepared from traditional medicines and targeted metabolic engineering with metabolic flux analysis or generally regarded as safe (GRAS) plants and decoctions and modeling, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the prepared from plant mixtures are mainstay of the traditional regulation of flux through metabolic networks. We used different medicines used in China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other approaches for metabolic engineering of the spectrum of volatile south Asian countries. Although the use of traditional medi- metabolites, including the modification of existing pathways cines and functional foods to improve health and quality of life by shifting metabolic flux towards target compounds and the are centuries old, the anecdotal status of traditional medicines introduction of novel scent compounds normally not found in always kept it out of the limelight. Even today, many herbal the host plant. We will discuss critical factors that limit volatile and functional food products are sold with little or no scientific trait modification and present approaches for rational metabolic support for the health-beneficial claims. In majority of instances, engineering of volatile emission based on computer-assisted the herbal and functional food products sold in the market are metabolic flux analysis. examples of “get rich quick schemes.” Therefore, established efficacy, dose and toxicity of traditional medicines along with clinical efficacy are mandatory to develop them as sustainable Colloquium consumer products. The approach to develop sustainable health- promoting agricultural products consists of multiple phases. The Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Monarchy Ballroom first phase includes the survey of folkloric knowledge pertaining to medicinal plants, selection of the plant material with anec- Research Highlights and dotal claim(s) and botanical identity, determination of whether its production can be renewable and sustainable, preparation Commercial Application of of decoctions as per traditional use, determination of anecdotal Medicinal Plants health claims of the selected decoctions in in vitro mechanism based bioassays and characterization of the bioactive constituents Sponsors: Asian Horticulture Working Group and The in the active decoction by using a bioassay-guided fractionation, Association of Horticulturists of Indian Origin purification and structure elucidation using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The second phase consists of formulation Coordinators: Genhua Niu, [email protected]; and its preclinical evaluation of efficacy, dosage and toxicity by Jayesh B. Samtani, [email protected]; and Ajay using suitable animal models. The final phase will be adequate Nair, [email protected] clinical trials, manufacturing (large scale production of plant Medicinal plants have been used as natural medicines since material and extract preparation) and marketing. It is important prehistoric times. Currently, the worldwide trade of plant-based to note that expression of bioactive compounds is a function of medicines and herbal supplements has exceeded $15 billion and environmental and growth conditions that can vary from place is becoming a major force in the global economy. The explosive to place. Therefore, agricultural production of traditional plant

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S55 materials become a critical factor to ensure the efficacy and open fields. They have expressed a need for more information on hence guarantee the success of the product developed from it. fertilization, plant populations, propagation, harvesting, drying, This is an opportunity for growers to implement novel methods budgets, markets, and quality standards. We have conducted a for cultivation and production of these medicinal plants in large number of trials designed to answer some of these questions. quantities for product development. MOUs and contracts shall For example, we’ve studied the propagation of black cohosh protect the interests of all parties involved and hence facilitate (Actaea racemosa) and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), research and development of phytomedicines from medicinal the influence of soil pH and calcium on goldenseal (Hydrastis plants at national and international levels. canadensis) and ramps (Allium tricoccum), and the effects of soil pH, fertility, and stage of plant growth on alkylamides in 8:45–9:30 am Echinacea purpurea. The issue is that there are hundreds of Production of Medicinal Plants Under Controlled medicinal herbs in commerce and it is impossible for a small Environment number of research programs to independently answer all the questions that are being asked. Developing a consortium of Toyoki Kozai* researchers around the world to coordinate efforts on how best Chiba University, Kashiwa No Ha; [email protected]. jp to grow and process these herbs, and to create a database of information for farmers and agricultural advisors would be a Cultivation of medicinal plants under controlled environments great service for this industry. allows the optimal environmental control for year-round and maximum production of biomass and medicinal metabolites 10:05–10:15 am with consistent biochemical profiles, which are free from bi- Break otic and abiotic contaminations. Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) is a traditional medicinal plant that is mainly used 10:15–10:50 am for the treatment of neurological disorder and depression. The Biosynthesis and Regulation of Bioactive major medicinal components of H. perforatum are hypericin, Compounds in Medicinal Plant—Epimedium pseudohypericin, and hyperforin. Our research results indicate Ying Wang* that the concentrations of hypericin and pseudohypericin were Wuhan Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences, higher and growth of H. perforatum plants were greater when Ithaca, NY; [email protected] the plants were grown under controlled environment with arti- Epimedium, also known as Horny Goat Weed or Ying Yang ficial light in comparison to those grown in the greenhouse and Huo, has been extensively used as tradationanl medicinal plant field conditions. Environmental conditions such as temperature, in China for more than 2000 years. In the last decades, although CO concentration, irrigation interval, light intensity, and light 2 the focuses of Epimedium studies were restricted to extract the quality affect the production of biomass and the concentrations bioactive compounds such as epimedin A, epimedin B, epime- of medicinal components of H. perforatum and other medicinal din C, and icariin, little is known about the potential molecular plant species. Opportunities, challenges, and strategies to com- mechanism for the biosynthesis and regulation of these bioactive mercially produce medicinal plants under closed systems with compounds in Epimedium. An EST dataset corresponding for artificial light will be discussed. 50.9 Mb was generated by 454 GX-FLS sequencing red-magenta 9:30–10:05 am fully expanded leaves of E. sagittatum Maxim. Consequently, 76,459 consensus sequences were obtained and submitted to Assisting Farmers to Produce High Quality bioinformatic analysis. Based on the KEGG analysis, 511, 102, Medicinal Herbs and 383 consensus sequences were annotated and involved in Jeanine M. Davis* flavonoid, carotenoid, and terpenoid pathways, respectively. North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC; jeanine_ Furthermore, these gene fragments and other flavonoid gene [email protected] fragments isolated by SSH and homolog cloning were used as Many farmers are looking for new crops to grow in order to to core fragments for cloning full-length flavonoid genes by RACE diversify their farms and increase profitability. Medicinal herbs technology. Subsequently, all of the structural genes involved are often of interest because they are generally perceived as being in the Epimedium flavonoid pathway were obtained and several easy to grow, in high demand, return good prices, and serve as full-length transcriptional factors, such as MYB, bHLH, and useful rotational crops. In reality, most farmers who have not WD, were also isolated. Moreover, several key genes have been previously grown medicinal herbs do not understand the global functionally characterized. In addition, an EsaCyc database herb market, know how to find a buyer, or know which herbs was established and the pathway of icariin biosynthesis was to grow. They also are unfamiliar with how best to produce predicted, which was partly confirmed by experimentally clon- and process them, and are unaware of how the new U.S. Good ing of three copies of isopentenyltransferase. All these results Manufacturing Practices affect them. North Carolina has long of bioinformatics analysis, 454 EST dataset, and traditional had the reputation for being a source of high-quality medicinal functional characterization facilitate the study toward uncover- herbs, most of which have been wild-harvested from forests in ing flavonoid molecular mechanism inEpimedium . Therefore, the western part of the state. In recent years, however, farmers combination of bioinformatic methods, new generation of se- have started cultivating medicinal herbs in the woods and in quencing technology (454 technology), and common molecular

S56 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 biology technologies was a great strategy to study non-model pharmaceuticals, there are still a set of criteria that must be met plants with huge genome, for example Epimedium. before a plant extract can become an ingredient in a cosmetic formulation. The process of bringing a new medicinal plant extract 10:50–11:25 am to the cosmetic market will be discussed, including issues with Plant Based Remedies for Type-2 Diabetes and producing or sourcing quality plant material, and reproducibility, Colon Cancer: Two Case Studies safety, efficacy, and scale-up of the extract. Additionally, the chemistry and clinical effects of several popular plant extracts Rao S. Mentreddy* currently used in cosmetics will be reviewed. Alabama A&M Univ, Normal, AL; srinivasa.mentreddy@ aamu.edu Plant-based medicinal products have been used to treat common ailments (such as cuts and bruises) to chronic illnesses Colloquium (such as Type 2 diabetes and cancers) since ancient times. Plant-based medicines account for 80% of the primary heath Wednesday, September 28, 2011 care of the world population. About 25% of synthetic drugs 8:00 am–12:00 pm Monarchy Ballroom are analogs of natural compounds. Synthetic drugs are the end products of a series of research and development processes Emerging Techniques to Evaluate in drug discovery beginning with anecdotal evidence or folk- and Mitigate Crop Environmental loric medicine. About 800 plant species have been reported to possess antidiabetic properties. Several plant species have Stress in a Changing Climate been used for prevention or managing diabetes by the Native Americans, Chinese, South Americans, and Asian Indians. A This colloquium is sponsored by Environmental Stress limited number of medicinal plant species have been studied Physiology Working Group and supported by the following and validated for their hypoglycemic properties using labora- corporate sponsors: Acadian Agritech, TKI/NovaSource, tory diabetic animal models and in clinical studies using human LI-COR Biosciences, Valent BioScience, and Precision subjects. Several medicinal plants and their products (active, Laboratories. natural principles, and crude extracts) have been reported in the literature as having been used to control diabetes in the Indian Coordinators: Soo-Hyung Kim, [email protected]. traditional system of medicine called ‘Ayurveda’. Plant spe- edu; Bert Cregg, [email protected] cies adapted to North America, such as prickly pear (Opuntia Crops face numerous abiotic and biotic stresses throughout their robusta), Rosemarinus officinalis, Ocimum gratissimum, and lifetime. These environmental pressures are intensifying due to noni (Morinda citrifolia) have also been evaluated for their global warming, extreme weather events, drought, salinity, and hypoglycemic properties using laboratory animal models in invasive pest and pathogens. Meanwhile, the need for improv- western countries. Colorectal cancer is the second leading ing crop productivity and quality with enhanced resource use cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. There is efficiencies (e.g., water) has increased immensely to meet the substantial evidence from traditional medicinal practices sug- demand to provide food, energy, and other goods and services for gesting that plant constituents may prevent and control diseases a rapidly increasing global population in a changing climate.In of the gastro-intestinal tract, including cancer and inflamma- addition to genetically improving crops, critical advances have tion. Several vegetables, fruits, spices, and condiments rich in been made in developing methods to evaluate, monitor, and antioxidants reportedly have anti-cancer properties. We present mitigate plant environmental stresses. These physiological and a review of published research on plant-based remedies for ecological methods complement genetic approaches in our effort Type-2 diabetes and colon cancer. Findings from our research to improve stress tolerances in crops. This colloquium brings on validation and mode of action of antidiabetic effects of together experts in these emerging, novel methods to evaluate serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) leaf and stem extracts and mitigate plant stress with an emphasis on horticultural, using cell culture techniques and anticolon cancer properties physiological, and ecological techniques. The colloquium will of basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) using cell culture and animal have two main threads: 1) stress evaluation methods and 2) model studies will be discussed. stress mitigation methods. The specific aims of this colloquium are listed below. 11:25– 12:00 pm Medicinal Plant Extracts As Cosmetic Active • Introduce novel and emerging methods for early detection and assessment of plant stress. Ingredients • Introduce novel and emerging methods to prevent and/or Barbara Schmidt* mitigate plant stress. Advanced Research, L'Oreal USA, Clark, NJ; bschmidt@ rd.us.loreal.com • Discuss applications of these methods in horticulture. Medicinal plant extracts are widely used as active ingredients • Engage research, teaching, and extension communities in in cosmetics. Although cosmetics are not as strictly regulated as applications of these methods.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S57 8:00– 8:10 am The measurement of quantum efficiency, Fv/Fm, provides clear Introduction to the Colloquium data on the effect of various environmental and biotic effects Soo-Hyung Kim* on the performance of photosynthesis in plants via the effect on University of Washington, Seattle, WA; soohkim@ photosystem II. Modern digital cameras with low signal:noise u.washington.edu ratios can also image gross chlorophyll fluorescence using time lapse exposure. Peltier-cooled CCD cameras can measure 8:10–8:40 am the auto luminescence in stressed plants that is generated by Using New Gas Exchange Methods to Estimate reactive oxygen species. Technology has brought the cost and Mesophyll Conductance and Non-Stomatal precision of imaging equipment to a point that they are useful Inhibition of Photosynthesis Caused by Water tools to plant scientists. Deficits 9:00–9:30 am James A. Bunce* Phloem Sap Diagnostics—Rapid, Integrative Tests USDA–ARS, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, for the Assessment of Plant Health Beltsville, MD; [email protected] Andrew Merchant* Soil water deficits remain one of the most important factors University of Sydney, Sydney; andrew.merchant@sydney. reducing the yield of crop plants, and may become even more edu.au limiting with changes in the global climate and competition for fresh water resources. Soil water deficits reduce plant growth Developing tools for the rapid assessment of plant health is of partly by reducing photosynthesis. However, it remains unclear considerable interest for ecosystem management. Understanding how important non-stomatal factors are in limiting photosynthesis core processes of plant function is central to the development under moderate water stress, and whether rising atmospheric of such tools. Phloem is the central conduit for long distance carbon dioxide may alter which processes limit photosynthesis transport and signalling in plants. Changes in the abundance of major solutes, signals and isotopes in phloem sap are sensitive to under water stress. The conductance to CO2 from the sub-stomatal air space to the site of carboxylation inside chloroplasts in C3 environmental cues. With a focus on both isotope and metabolite plants is now termed mesophyll conductance. Because of the profiling technologies, we have produced temporally and spatially integrative tools for the rapid assessment of plant water competition between CO2 and O2 for RuBisco, the carbon dioxide concentration at the chloroplast can be estimated from and nutritional status. The basis of these tools, and opportunities for further development of these technologies will be discussed. the O2 sensitivity of photosynthesis, providing a new method of estimating mesophyll conductance. It has also recently been realized that partial stomatal closure due to water stress can 9:30–9:40 am often be reversed by exposing leaves to low CO2. This provides Break a new means of assessing the non-stomatal component of the 9:40–10:10 am inhibition of photosynthesis by water stress. These methods Symbiogenics: An Epigenetic Approach to were applied to four C3 species, and revealed that mesophyll conductance decreased substantially with water stress in two of Mitigating Impacts of Climate Change On Plants the four species, and that re-opening of stomata did not eliminate Russell J. Rodriguez* the reduction in photosynthesis caused by moderate water stress U.S. Geological Survey, Seattle, WA; rjrodriguez@usgs. at either the current ambient or elevated CO2 concentrations. gov The greatest threats to agricultural sustainability in the 21st 8:40–9:00 am century are drought, increasing temperatures, and soil salini- Thermography and Chlorophyll Fluorescence zation, all of which are being exacerbated by climate change Imaging Methods for Stress Evaluation (http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.com). Three approaches are D. Michael Glenn* currently being taken to develop stress tolerant plants: genetic USDA–ARS, Kearneysville, WV; michael.glenn@ars. modification, mutational selection, and breeding traits from usda.gov wild plants. However, these efforts have had limited success presumably because: 1) stress tolerance involves genetically Thermography and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging methods complex processes; and 2) the ecological and evolutionary are useful techniques to evaluate environmental effects on mechanisms responsible for stress tolerance in plants are plant performance. Thermography, or infrared imaging (IR), poorly defined. We have found that plants in natural ecosys- has become less expensive and more precise in the last decade. tems adapt to abiotic stress by forming symbiotic associations Modern IR cameras can resolve 0.1 to 0.5 °C temperature dif- with fungal endophytes. Without the endophytes, the plants ferences and research grade instruments can resolve 0.05 °C. are not stress tolerant and do not survive in the habitats to This precision has allowed physical processes of freezing and which they are adapted. Symbiotically conferred stress toler- transpiration to be more accurately studied and modeled. Chlo- ance typically occurs in a habitat-specific manner and is based rophyll fluorescence imaging, while still an expensive technol- on interactions between environmental factors and both plant ogy, has become sufficiently rugged to be useful in the field. and fungal genomes. We have designated this phenomenon as

S58 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Habitat Adapted Symbiosis (HAS). Although several biochemi- particles. Particle films with a residue density of 1 to 3 g per square cal processes have been correlated to plant stress tolerance, meter have been evaluated in a range of crops and agricultural few processes correlate with symbiotically conferred stress environments. The particle film is a general insect repellant due tolerance. Symbiotically conferred stress tolerance involves to the change in the plant’s leaf/fruit texture but also because it altered plant gene regulation, increased metabolic efficiency, changes the reflected light signature of the plant causing insect and an increased ability to manage reactive oxygen species. A avoidance for many pests. The alteration of reflected light is symbiotic strategy for mitigating impacts of climate change in due to the ability of the particle film to reflect IR, PAR, and agriculture will be discussed. UV radiation. Reflection of IR can reduce canopy temperature as much as 5 °C, which will reduce potential transpiration. The 10:10 –10:40 am reduction of PAR by the film at the leaf level is compensated The Mechanisms and Applications of Plant Stress in varying degrees by diffusion of PAR into the interior of the Mitigation by Seaweed Extracts canopy. Whole canopy photosynthesis can be increased by the combination of reduced canopy temperature and increased Balakrishnan Prithiviraj* interior canopy light. The reflection of UV is a key element in Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; [email protected] reducing solar injury or sunburn in fruit. In apple, reducing both PAR and UV are effective means of reducing sunburn damage. Extract of the brown macroalga (seaweed), Ascophyllum The use of a reflective particle film is effective in mitigating nodosum, has been used widely as foliar and soil fertigation environmental stress and has significant economic benefits in on field and horticultural crops. A. nodosum extracts improve agricultural crops. plant growth, yield, and quality of plant produce and alleviate abiotic stresses such as salinity, low temperature, and water 11:10 –11:40 am stress. Recent studies using the model plant, Arabidopsis Plant Hormones: Their Roles and Applications in thaliana, have revealed that the extracts affect a specific sub- Plant Stress Mitigation set of plant genes at the transcriptional level leading to stress tolerance. Root treatment with A. nodosum extract significantly John E. Erwin* improved plant performance under 150 mM NaCl stress. Treated Univ of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] plants recorded a significant increase in the number of leaves, The impact of plant hormones on plant growth and development leaf area, and biomass. Transcriptome analysis revealed that has been extensively characterized. How plant hormones affect 184 genes were up regulated on day one after the extract treat- plant stress mitigation and plant defenses has only recently been ment, the number increased to 257 on day 5. However, A. nodo- appreciated. In fact, studies of plant responses to stresses and/ sum extract treatment attenuated the transcript abundance of 91 or pests have resulted in the identification of new compounds and 262 genes on day one and day five, respectively. Similarly, that can be characterized as plant hormones. Exogenous applica- lipophilic components of A. nodosum extracts protected A. tion of plant hormones, or compounds that stimulate or inhibit thaliana against low temperature stress. This induced tolerance hormone synthesis can decrease the susceptibility of plants to against low temperatures was a result of coordinated transcrip- pests and/or diseases. How ethylene, abscisic acid, and jasmonic tome and metabolomic changes. For example, treated plants acid application mitigates biotic and abiotic stresses will be accumulated high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and discussed. The effect of application of compounds that decrease sugar alcohols. Further, the chemical components in the extract gibberellin biosynthesis on plant stress tolerance and/or disease affected the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of resistance will also be outlined. Current applied techniques that plant growth regulators. This suggests that A. nodosum extracts increase stress mitigation by altering hormone concentration mitigate stress, at least in part, through changes in concentra- in the ornamental and vegetable production industries will be tion of plant growth regulators. This research opens up a novel summarized. How pre-stressing can result in increased subse- area of chemical regulation of gene expression to improve plant quent stress and/or pest tolerance will be discussed. In addition, growth and stress tolerance. This potential will be discussed. opportunity areas for research will be discussed.

10:40–11:10 am 11:40–12:00 pm The Mechanisms of Plant Stress Mitigation by Panel Discussion Kaolin-Based Particle Films and Its Applications in Soo-Hyung Kim Horticultural and Agricultural Crops University of Washington, Seattle, WA; soohkim@u. D. Michael Glenn* washington.edu USDA–ARS, Kearneysville, WV; michael.glenn@ars. Bert Cregg* usda.gov Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; cregg@msu. Kaolin-based particle films have utility in reducing insect, heat, edu light, and uv stress in plants due to the reflective nature of the

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HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S59 Workshops • 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Sunday, September 25, 2011 8:00–8:15 am 8:00–10:00 am Queens 6 Evaluation of Alfalfa-Based Organic Amendment in Peat-Compost Growing Medium Additives for Plastics in Agriculture for Organic Transplant Production Sponsor: Plasticulture (PLAST) Working Group *Ajay Nair Coordinator/Moderator: S. Samuels, [email protected] Iowa State University; [email protected] A Tutorial/Workshop to review how stabilizers and other addi- Mathieu Ngouajio tives can enhance the performance of plastics used in agriculture Iowa State University; (mulch film, greenhouse and tunnel film, shade cloth, irrigation systems, bale wrap, etc). John Biernbaum Michigan State University 8:00–8:15 am To optimize production system, most vegetable crops are Additives for Plastics Used in Agriculture established from greenhouse-grown transplants that are *Brent Sanders fertilized with amendments or water soluble fertilizer, which CYTEC Industries, Inc., Woodland Park, NJ; would provide N, P, K, and other nutrients to the develop- [email protected] ing seedlings. Under organic transplant production, nutrient management is a challenge due to unavailability of quality Agricultural plastics have always presented special stabiliza- organic fertilizers and amendments. Our research evaluated the tion challenges due to the impact of pesticide treatments on the incorporation of alfalfa-based amendment in a peat–compost plastic’s life. With the recent introduction of more aggressive medium for organic tomato transplant production in a green- agrochemical treatment protocols, sophisticated crop treatments, house experiment. The root medium (peat:vermicultite:compost and other technologies for growing, new challenges have emerged in 2:1:1 v:v:v ratio) was amended with 0%, 0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, in stabilizing mulch and greenhouse films, tunnels, and shade or 2.4% weight by weight of alfalfa-based organic amendment cloths. The mechanisms by which additive technology prolongs and incubated for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Measurements were the life of these films will be described, with special attention on collected on medium pH, EC, seed germination, transplant dry how changing practices are creating the need for new stabiliza- weight, height, stem diameter, and SPAD values. The addition tion solutions. The use of plastic additives for light management, of alfalfa-based amendment increased medium pH and EC, heat management, and crop enhancement in greenhouses and but they were well within the satisfactory range. Germination tunnels will also be covered. percentages were less than 50% in non-incubated and more than 3-week incubated medium and were greater than 75% at 1-, 2-. and 3-week incubations. Unamended medium (trans- Sunday, September 25, 2011 plants grown in peat-compost medium without amendments) 8:00–10:00 am Kohala 2 had higher germination rates; however, nutrient deficiency suppressed subsequent seedling growth. For 1-, 2-, 3-, and Current Status of Transplant 4-week incubations, the highest rate of amendment (2.4%) Production: Challenges and New resulted in highest biomass, 7.0, 6.5, 7.6, and 9.1 g total dry weight, respectively. Forty-two days after seeding there were Technologies no statistically significant differences in stem diameter between amendment rates for 1-week incubation treatments; however, Sponsor: Seed and Stand Establishment (SSEST) Working they were significantly higher than the unamended medium. Group Transplants grown in amended medium were taller and had Coordinators/Moderators: Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez, jcdiaz@ higher leaf chlorophyll content and overall transplant health uga.edu; Dharmalingam Pitchay, [email protected] as compared to unamended medium, provided the amended The success of the sustainable horticultural crops largely depends medium was incubated for at least 1 week. To summarize, on the production of high quality transplants in a way that is the alfalfa based amendment used with compost in this study economically and environmentally sustainable. Production of produced transplants with suitable growth characteristics and organic transplants is one example of the areas that present met commercially acceptable standards for transplanting and challenges and opportunities for research and extension devel- handling, at a reasonable estimated production cost. Growers opment program. This workshop will provide an update on the involved in transplant production exploring means and products current research and extension activities, particularly in the areas to transition or adopt sustainable production practices could of grafting, transplant nutrition and irrigation, production of benefit from the use of such amendments in producing healthy organic transplants, and the transplant supply chain challenges and robust transplants. and opportunities.

S60 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 8:15–8:30 am in-row spacing (0.46, 0.91, 1.4, and 1.8 m), and were subjected Detrimental Effects of Blood Meal and Feather to two irrigation regimes (100% and 75% replacement of crop Meal on Germination of Tomato (Lycopersicon evapotranspiration, ETc). Stand establishment, estimated as percent survival and vine elongation rates was significantly esculentum Mill.) higher in grafted plants compared to non-grafted plants. Leaf

*Wesley Keith Jenkins physiological parameters including leaf water potential (Ψl), University of Georgia; [email protected] stomatal conductance, transpiration, and photosynthesis were generally high in grafted than in non-grafted plants, and de- Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez clined with deficit irrigation, but generally increased with plant University of Georgia population density. Fruit yields were also significantly higher There are relatively few studies on fertilization and nutrition of in grafted plants subjected to 100 ETc than those subjected to organic vegetable transplants. This study was intended to deter- 75% ETc. Average marketable fruit yields increased with plant mine the effects of the rate of application of blood meal (BM) and density at ~3.5‰ plant density. Average number of fruits per feather meal (FM) on the germination of tomato (‘Brandywine’) plant declined with increasing plant density; however, average seeds. Both organic fertilizers were applied as amendments fruit size did not differ significantly among treatments. Water to peat-based organic medium at rates ranging from 0 to over productivity (tons/acre-inch) of grafted plants was ~23% higher 50 g·kg–1 N. Tomato seed were sown in styrofoam trays and than that of non-grafted plants and increased significantly with grown in the greenhouse. Seed germination was recorded daily plant density at about ~0.43‰ plant density, but did not differ until the germination percentage remained unchanged. Germi- between irrigation regimes. The data suggest that increased nation percentage of tomato was inhibited at rates higher than planting density can increase net returns with the same amount 5.4 g·kg–1 N BM (3.7% BM, by weight) and 8 g·kg–1 N FM (6.3% of irrigation input. Alternatively, the planting density of grafted FM, by weight). Germination percentage was 0% at 8 g·kg–1 N plants can be decreased without significantly affecting overall and 25 g·kg–1 N with BM and FM, respectively. The pH of the productivity. medium decreased from 7.8 (at 0 mg·kg–1 N) to about 6.3 (at –1 8 g·kg N) with increasing fertilization rates, and then increased 8:45–9:00 am to about pH 8.0 (BM) and pH 7.5 (FM) with further increments Banana Peels, Potatoes, and Greensand As in fertilization rates. In conclusion, blood meal and feather meal are rich sources of N but, to avoid possible toxicity of tomato a Source of Potassium in Organic Seedling seeds and seedlings, they should not be used at concentrations Establishment higher than about 4% (by weight) and 6%, respectively. *Stephen Lewis Tennessee State University; [email protected] 8:30– 8:45 am Steven Kennedy Stand Establishment and Water Productivity Tennessee State University of Grafted Watermelons: Effects of Planting Dharmalingam Pitchay Density and Deficit Irrigation Tennessee State University John L. Jifon* Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX; [email protected]. 9:00–9:45 am edu Challenges of Cultural Practices Including Daniel I. Leskovar Water Management for Healthy Seedling Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; [email protected] Production Kevin M. Crosby *Dharma Pitchay Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; kcrosby@ Tennessee State University; [email protected] ag.tamu.edu Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez Juan Enciso University of Georgia Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX; [email protected]. edu Dharma Pitchay Tennessee State University The effects of deficit irrigation and plant population density on stand establishment and water productivity of grafted wa- Stephen Lewis termelons (Citrullus lanatus; cv Tri-X 313) were investigated. Tennessee State University Replicated plots of grafted and non-grafted watermelons were Steven Kennedy established on a sandy soil with a known history of soil-borne Tennessee State University diseases. Seedlings were planted at four densities by varying

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S61 Sunday, September 25, 2011 8:15–8:30 am 8:00–10:00 am Kohala 1 Cultural Practices for Indeterminate Bell Pepper Production in the Dominican Republic, Exchange of Information on Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and International Collaborations and El Salvador Activities Bielinski M. Santos Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, Sponsor: Working Group of Asian Horticulture (WGAH) University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] Coordinator/Moderator: Yan Chen, [email protected]. Teresa P. Salame-Donoso* edu Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, The objective of this workshop is to encourage horticulturists University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] to pursue international collaborations or to be involved in in- Henner A. Obregon-Olivas ternational activities through learning from successful stories Centro de Investigacion Agropecuaria San Antonio, and group discussions. Individuals who have international Tecolostote; [email protected] experiences will share their stories and Horticulture Collabora- tive Research Support Program (CRSP) advisory board will Jessie E. Inestroza introduce their program and activities. Corporacion Dinant, Comayagua; [email protected] Maria G. Cuevas 8:00–8:15 am Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Forestales, Santo Domingo; [email protected] Program (CRSP) Marco V. Saenz Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose; marco.saenz@ucr. Ronald E. Voss ac.cr University of California, Davis, Esparto, CA; revoss@ ucdavis.edu Mauricio Martinez Hidro-Expo, San Salvador; [email protected] Elizabeth J. Mitcham Univ of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] Emmanuel A. Torres-Quezada Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, L. George Wilson* University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] USAID/EGAT/AG, Washington, DC; [email protected] Carlos J. Mendez-Urbaez The Horticulture CRSP is a product of the Global Horticul- Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y tural Assessment conducted during 2004–05. It is one of ten Forestales, Santo Domingo; [email protected] Collaborative Research Support Programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to address Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) production in Central America poverty and hunger among the rural poor living in develop- and the Caribbean has become one of the main agricultural coming countries. Funded in 2009 for five years, and managed modities for exporting into the U.S. and the European Union. To by the University of California at Davis and partner universi- guarantee constant supply and quality, small and medium-size ties Cornell, Hawaii, and North Carolina State, Hort CRSP growers use passively-ventilated protective structures like green- uses the horticulture value chain to improve incomes, nutrition, house and high tunnels. The main goal of those structures is to health, and economic well being for the rural poor, particularly controlling the growing environment, reduce pests, and improve women. Fifteen Immediate Impact Projects were initiated fruit quality and yields. Nevertheless, small and medium-size in February 2010. Ten Exploratory Projects and five longer growers cannot afford using electric or diesel fans and cooling term Pilot Projects were initiated in January 2011. Ten U.S. systems to lower temperatures and relative humidity, which universities and numerous international and in-country institu- causes increased fruit sun-scalding, lowered fruit number and tions, agencies and organizations collaborate in more than 20 size, and thus increased postharvest losses (as high as 35% in countries to identify and adapt technologies that can have a some colored peppers). For this reason, two experiments were broad scale impact on poverty and hunger and to build capac- carried out at the Dominican Republic. The first study sought ity for the sustainability of these impacts. A discussion of the to determine the effects of planting densities and flower prun- major programmatic emphases, collaborating horticulturists, ing programs on yield and postharvest quality in indeterminate and scalable technologies will be presented by the Hort CRSP bell pepper grown under protected environment. The distances leadership, with additional participation by Principal Investiga- were 20, 25, and 30 cm between plants combined with two tors (PIs) of a few of these 30 projects. flower pruning programs: one flower per node (Dutch pruning), and no flower removal on each node (Spanish pruning). There was no interaction between both factors. Marketable and non-

S62 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 marketable fruit number and weight were the highest at 30 cm produce paprika for export. In visits to the sites in Feb. 2011, we between plants, whereas the Dutch pruning showed the highest identified opportunities for applied research, and ways in which marketable fruit weight and number. For fruit quality traits, that research could form the basis for staff training for officers the combination of Dutch pruning and 25 cm between plants at the three local institutions. The most urgent topics dealt with and the combination of Spanish pruning and 30 cm between issues of sustainable production of paprika, including production plants resulted on the highest fruit weight, length, diameter, of seedlings, soil fertility management problems, control of pests and thickness. The second study dealt with the effects of flower and diseases, and postharvest handling. Marketing of paprika is pruning and number of stems on yield and postharvest quality of currently managed by one local exporter, but could become a indeterminate bell pepper under protected environment. Three future concern, especially as growers explore possible alternative pruning levels were used for this experiment: pruning up to crops to provide opportunities for crop rotation. Engagement of the 10th, 15th, and 20th node in combination with one and two the three local education and research institutions with Cornell stems. The number of fruit, fruit yield, and number and weight and the international NGO in a three-year pilot program will of non-commercial fruit were the highest for plants with two stimulate on-farm research to solve local problems, enhance stems. The combination of one stem and pruning either to the training and encourage collaboration among the leading research 10th or 15th node resulted on the highest fruit weight, length, and educational institutions in Zimbabwe. diameter, and thickness. 8:45–9:00 am 8:30–8:45 am Market Oriented Sustainable Peri-Urban and Exploring Collaboration on Production and Urban Garden Cropping System: A Model for Marketing of Paprika and Other Vegetables in Women Farmers in Thailand, Cambodia, and Smallholder Irrigation Schemes in Zimbabwe Vietnam H.C. Wien* Dharmalingam Pitchay* Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; dpitchay@ tnstate.edu E. Mabaya CIIFAD, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] B.A. Medvecky CIIFAD, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; bam44@cornell. Borarin Buntong edu Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh; ncagain@ gmail.com T. Ntasis Zimbabwe International Relief and Development, Harare; Pariyanuj Chulaka [email protected] Kasetsart University, Bangkok; [email protected] T.A. Mtaita Sammy Comer Africa University, Mutare; [email protected] Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; ncagain@ gmail.com G.T. Kujeke University of Zimbabwe, Harare; gaudenciatm@yahoo. Robert Holmes com AVRDC-East and Southeast Asia, Bangkok; ncagain@ gmail.com V. Chingwara Horticultural Research Institute, Marondera; Pham Thi Thu Huong [email protected] Field Crops Research Institute, Hanoi; ncagain@gmail. The political and economic disruptions that have rocked Zim- com babwe in the last 10 years disrupted horticultural production Prabhat Kumar and marketing in the country, and paralyzed the educational and Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok; ncagain@gmail. research institutions in the country that previously supported that com industry. With the formation on a “unity government”, and the Nguyen Thi Tan Loc stabilization of the currency, through the abandonment of the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, Hanoi; ncagain@ local currency in favor of the multicurrency system, the country is gmail.com slowly getting on its feet, and agricultural industries are reviving. In this setting, the exploratory project under the Hort-CRSP is Yingyong Paisooksantivatana determining the feasibility of establishing an applied research and Kasetsart University, Bangkok; [email protected] training project in southern Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. Surendra Singh Initial development work by the international NGO International Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; ncagain@ Relief and Development under a USAID-sponsored program has gmail.com assisted 321 smallholder farmers in two irrigation schemes to

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S63 Ong Socheath and vegetables and working with partners from the private sector Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh; ncagain@ to establish research and education programs. gmail.com Specified Sources of Funding: USAID, Borlaug Institute for The project’s long term goals are to develop strategies to assist/ International Agriculture promote a sustainable peri-urban and urban garden cropping enterprise system for small and minority women growers. Vi- 9:15–9:30 am brant outreach, training and demonstration of market oriented U.S.–Japan Collaborations: Bridging Two sustainable peri-urban and urban gardening technology, which includes the production process, pre and postharvest handling, Countries for Controlled Environment economic and marketing information, and cropping system will Agriculture Research and Education be a new paradigm in training of women growers. This will Chieri Kubota* encourage the peri-urban and urban gardeners to be receptive Univ of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected] and willing to adopt the technology. Hands-on workshops will be conducted to train the women trainers and growers on various Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is the plant pro- cultural practices, pre and postharvest management technology, duction technology that enables high productivity of value logistics, marketing and entrepreneurship. Gardening demon- added crops with efficient use of resources (agro-chemicals, stration plots will be used to demonstrate how to grow more energy and water), minimum impact to outside environments and better quality produce and also how and where to market (such as ground water), and year-round business/employment profitably. This approach will empower women to increase food opportunities. Because of these advantages, the use of CEA production, reduce poverty and improve household health. The technologies has been expanding in many countries including project is expected to stimulate economic activities by creating North America. Japan has an established CEA industry due employment opportunities for women to improve their income to its limited arable land and the strong government interven- in peri-urban and urban areas. It will create opportunities for tion to support horticulture. The country, today, has more than local growers to supply locally grown garden produce as well for 45,000-ha of production area used for CEA and it is further their own consumption family. Peri-urban and urban gardening advancing the technology to produce high quality vegetables in will be significant contributors to overall quality of life for the indoor plant factories. The industry that used to focus only on communities. This project covers urban and periurban areas of domestic markets is now interested in developing international Siem Reap, Cambodia, Bangkok,Thailand, and Hanoi, Vietnam. markets in East Asia and beyond. With the increasing demand The training of trainers and growers will be conducted with the of well-trained personnel with skills to work internationally, input and support from the local collaborators. Japanese universities’ horticultural programs seek partnerships to train their students in international settings. The University 9:00–9:15 am of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) Horticultural Research and Education houses multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach Opportunities in Indonesia programs to serve this growing industry segment nationally and internationally. With experience working in both countries, the Tim D. Davis* author has established various collaborations in CEA research Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; [email protected] and education to mutually benefit the two countries. Regarding Purwiyatno Hariyadi research, the author and her colleagues at CEAC collaborated Bogor; [email protected] with Japanese horticultural engineers to improve greenhouse ventilation and cooling under unique semiarid climates. Indonesia is one of the most densely populated countries in The author collaborates with several Japanese horticulture in- the world and is rich in plant biodiversity. The country’s hot dustries and acts as a liaison between U.S. and Japanese CEA humid climate is conducive to the production of many tropical venture industries in efforts to develop more advanced CEA horticultural crops. There are many plant species indigenous to technologies in the U.S. Regarding education, the author estab- Indonesia that have potential as horticultural crops but which lished a student exchange program between University of Arizona have not been fully evaluated and therefore remain underutilized. and Chiba University. Over the past nine years, five Japanese Many of these plants have market potential and may have value students and two U.S. students participated in various research for human health and nutrition. Further, horticulture has been programs and more student-supporting programs are expected. identified as one of the priority areas for collaboration between U.S. and Indonesian universities. Accordingly, we are presently 9:30–9:45 am working with three Indonesian universities to: 1) strengthen their curriculum related to plant biodiversity; 2) conduct research Thailand–Louisiana Agriculture Exchange aimed identifying bioactive compounds in underutilized plants Program: Louisiana State University AgCenter that may have benefit to human health; 3) establish university-led and Kasetsart University outreach education programs that lead to a better understanding of plant biodiversity and utilization; 4) foster enterprise based Carl E. Motsenbocker* Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; upon underutilized Indonesian plant species. Other untapped [email protected] opportunities exist in the postharvest handling of tropical fruits

S64 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 An informal exchange program was established in 2005 between Sunday, September 25, 2011 Kasetsart University (Bangken and Kampaengsan campuses) 8:00–10:00 pm Kohala 3 and the LSU Agricultural Center. Kasetsart University graduate students were offered internships during the summer months with Ornamental Plant Breeding in the LSU faculty and in exchange a 3-week study abroad class in agriculture was offered for LSU students. The LSU in Thailand Pacific Rim Region is an international study abroad program that provides students Sponsor: Ornamental Plant Breeding (OPB) Working Group an opportunity to learn abroad the issues involved in sustainable agricultural development as well as to provide cultural and Coordinator/Moderator: Zhanao Deng, [email protected] intellectual enrichment. This course is designed for undergradu- The objectives of this workshop are to provide a forum for ate and graduate students in agriculture and renewable natural several ornamental plant breeders in the Pacific Rim Region resources during the summer session. The course has been taught to present updates on their breeding programs and to foster for 3 years and involved participation by agriculture faculty at communication and exchange of ideas among ornamental plant two campuses of Kasetsart University. The student participants breeders. demonstrated increased knowledge after the program and appreciated the opportunity to study agriculture first hand in another 8:00–8:15 am country and also the culture and peoples of Thailand. The intern Breeding and Selection of Leucospermum program has been conducted every summer in order to provide Hybrids for Tropical Climates Thai agriculture graduate students an opportunity to work in research programs at the university during the summer months. Kenneth Leonhardt* The interns are compensated in order to support themselves University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; leonhard@ while living and working in the U.S. The success of the intern hawaii.edu program is exemplified by the interest in LSU faculty willing to One objective of the protea research program at the University host Thai students. Due to the success of the study abroad and of Hawaii is to help the Hawaii floriculture industry expand intern programs, the informal exchange program is now in the with selected protea varieties that can be grown on low eleva- process of being formalized at the university level. tion lands formerly cultivated in sugar or pineapple, or on low elevation lava fields on the Island of Hawaii, since these lands Sunday, September 25, 2011 are more available and less expensive than the upper elevation 8:00–10:00 am Kings 3 lands where protea has traditionally been grown. Leucospermum (pincushion) hybrids were evaluated for growth and flowering History of Hawaiian Pomology characteristics at Kunia, a warm, 76-m elevation site on the Island of Oahu, and compared with the performance of the same Sponsors: History of Horticultural Science (HIST) and cultivars grown at Kula, a cool, 920-m elevation site on Maui, Pomology (POM) Working Groups and a location of concentrated protea production in Hawaii. The Coordinator/Moderator: Jules Janick, [email protected] mean temperature of 23.0 °C at Kunia is 5.3 °C warmer than at This workshop reviews the history of pineapple, papaya, and Kula, the mean maximum temperature of 28.0 °C at Kunia is macadamia in Hawaii, three important tropical horticultural 5.7?C warmer than at Kula, and the mean minimum temperature crop industries that have very different outcomes in Hawaii. of 18.0 °C at Kunia is 4.8 °C warmer than at Kula. Twenty-nine hybrids were grown at both the Kunia and Kula locations. A few 8:00–8:10 am hybrids were simple primary crosses, while others were com- Introduction plex hybrids with 4 to 9 species in their genealogy, sometimes representing 4 taxonomic sections. Data linking the composition Jules Janick, [email protected] k of taxonomic sections in the genealogy of hybrids with their 8:10–8:45 am ability to flower at warm temperatures show thatLeucospermum Pineapple: Rise and Fall of an Industry species in the section Cardinistylus appear to contribute some warm temperature flowering ability to their hybrids. Johnny Lopez* Valent BioSciences Corporation, Lubbock, TX; johnny. 8:15–8:30 am [email protected] Tropical Ornamental Plant Breeding and 8:45–9:20 am Genetic Research in Southern China Papaya: Pitfalls and Progress Yanpin Fan Richard Manshard* South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; [email protected] 9:20–9:55 am Yanghui Li Macadamia: A Hard Nut to Crack Guangzhou Flower Research Center, Guangzhou; David Rietow* [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S65 Jun Duan sets of chromosomes cannot evenly divide during meiosis, result- South China Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of ing in non-functional gametes or total meiotic failure. Triploid Sciences, Guangzhou; [email protected] plants result from crossing tetraploid (4n) to diploid plants. Hougao Zhou Tetraploid forms of autograph tree (Clusia roseae), octopus tree Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, (Schefflera actinophylla), kamani (Callophyllum inophyllum) and Guangzhou; [email protected] Malibar chestnut (Pachira aquatica) were obtained by treating meristems of 2n seedlings with 0.5% oryzalin solution for 24 Zhisheng Zhong or 48 h. At maturity the 4n plants will be crossed to 2n plants South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; of the same species. The resulting progeny will be 3n. Fifty 3n [email protected] progeny seedlings from each of five crosses using a previously Feixiong Liao* converted 4n pink and white shower tree Cassia javanica for Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the maternal parent are growing in a greenhouse on the Uni- Guangzhou; [email protected] versity of Hawaii, Manoa campus. The 2n paternal parents are The ornamental plant industry has developed rapidly in southern C. javanica, C. bakeriana, C. fistula, and the rainbow shower China over the last 10 years, and Guandong has become a key tree hybrids ‘Lunalilo Gold’ and ‘Queen’s White’. These will production area and marketplace in China, supplying nearly 70% be field-grown and assessed for seedlessness and horticultural of all the tropical ornamental plants nationwide. Foliage crops characteristics. Superior individuals will be propagated by air include Araceae, Calathea, Fern, Dracaena, and the main potted layering and grafting and provided to the Hawaii landscape flowering plants are Bromeliads, Anthurium, and tropical orchids. nursery industry. The non-fruiting triploid forms of these popular To meet the industry’s need for new cultivars, scientists from landscape plants will be less expensive to maintain, will be non- floricultural institutes, universities and South China Botanical threatening to native ecosystems, and may have slightly larger Garden of Chinese Academy of sciences initiated ornamental flowers and bloom over a longer flowering season. plant breeding programs in the 2000s, with support from local governments. Germplasm nurseries have been established and 8:45–9:00 am more than 1000 cultivars or species have been collected and Anthurium and Dendrobium Orchid Breeding conserved in the nurseries. Research efforts are being made to At the University of Hawaii analyze chromosomes and ploidy levels, develop pollination and seed processing techniques, identify cultivars and species, and Teresita D. Amore* University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] assess genetic diversity. DNA markers are being developed for gene mapping and marker-assisted breeding. Candidate genes Anthurium and dendrobium orchid are major floriculture crops regulating flowering in orchids and fragrance in Hedychium in Hawaii. Breeding research at the University of Hawaii aided have been isolated. Genetic transformation systems are being in the development of these industries from backyard and explored for Phaleanopsis, Gerbera and Hedychium. Multiple hobby growing to larger operations. Basic research on orchid breeding systems have been adopted for orchid, Anthurium cytogenetics at the University of Hawaii from the 1940s to and Bromeliads, including controlled pollination, ploidy ma- the 1960s laid the foundation for the development of the den- nipulation, and somatic mutation. These systems have resulted drobium breeding program. In 1950, the anthurium breeding in huge hybrid populations and many potential lines. More program was initiated. Classical breeding methods utilizing than 20 cultivars of Anthurium, Bromeliad, and Phaleanopsis intersectional, interspecific hybridization and polyploidy, resulted have been released or registered with the RHS in recent years. in the naming and release of 32 cut flower and potted plant However, there is still a lack of breeding program for foliage dendrobium cultivars. Research on cytogenetics, intersectional plant, although novel Dracaena cultivars have been identified hybridization and genetics studies on color inheritance were from somaclonal variants. While numerous promising breeding instrumental in the naming and release of 44 anthurium cultivars. lines will be released to the industry in the near future, there is Molecular and genetic engineering studies contributed to a a long way to go to produce cultivars that are competitive in greater understanding of flower color and Cymbidium mosaic the global tropical ornamental plant market. virus resistance in dendrobium, and bacterial blight resistance in anthurium. 8:30–8:45 am Creating Non-Fruiting Forms of Prolific Seed Sunday, September 25, 2011 Producing Landscape Species 2:00–5:00 pm Queens 6 Kenneth Leonhardt* University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; leonhard@ Advances in Plasticulture hawaii.edu Technology Around the World The prolific production of messy and sometimes hazard- Sponsor: Plasticulture (PLAST) Working Group ous fruits and seeds make the typical diploid (2n) forms of many tropical tree species high maintenance and potentially Coordinator/Moderator: E. Barclay Poling, strawberrydoc@ invasive. Triploid (3n) plants are usually sterile, since three gmail.com

S66 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Heightened environmental awareness and recent advances plasticulture or the use of plastics in agricultural production in plasticulture technology are catalyzing all kinds of new systems. The early research on the use of plastics in agricul- approaches in horticultural production around the world. tural systems focused primarily on horticultural systems in The purpose of the Plasticulture Working Group (PLAST) the field and greenhouse applications. The early researchers is to encourage and facilitate the mutual exchange of ideas and extension professionals working in the emerging field of and information concerning the use of plastics in various aspects plasticulture decided that a forum was needed where of horticultural research, extension, education, and industry. researchers, extension professionals, manufacturers, and grow- This is accomplished by promoting plastics science and ers could meet and present the results of their research, discuss technology, by providing a forum for the exchange of plasti- new products, and potential horticultural applications. Thus, culture ideas and information, and by encouraging innovation. the National Agricultural Plastics Association was founded. The purpose of the Plasticulture Working Group (PLAST) is Later the name was changed to the American Society for to encourage and facilitate the mutual exchange of ideas and Plasticulture to better reflect the mission of the organization. information concerning the use of plastics in various aspects Throughout the history of the organization, members have of horticultural research, extension, education, and industry. contributed to the development of many horticultural products This workshop will begin with some important background and systems that we take for granted today. Plastic greenhouses, information about the history of National Agricultural Plas- plastic mulches, drip irrigation, fertigation, row covers, low tics Association which later became the American Society for tunnels, high tunnels, plastic containers, trays and pots, green- Plasticulture (ASP). In 2010, ASP was reborn as the PLAST house systems and production, plastic packaging, and recovery Working Group within the American Society for Horticultural of the energy trapped in used plastics to name a few. Because Science to continue the discussion and interaction around the of the diminishing number of research/extension personnel field plasticulture in the United States and around the world. The and industry personnel engaged in plasticulture activities, the workshop will include presentations on biodegradable mulches, American Society for Plasticulture was dissolved in 2010. as well as information on a new technology for incineration It was reborn as the PLAST Working Group within the of used plastics for energy. Innovative uses of plastics will American Society for Horticultural Science to continue the be discussed in the context of hydroponic growing systems discussion and interaction around the field of plasticulture in for vegetable production, and new research on photoselective the United States. (colored) nets in Israel is showing promise for applications in shading of ornamental as well as stimulating vegetative vigor 2:15–2:30 pm in bell peppers and tomatoes. A 4-year high tunnel study spon- Shading Levels Affect Bell Pepper Fruit Yield sored by the Noble Foundation will be presented with economic information on both strawberry and vegetable crop rotations, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez* and this workshop will also feature a paper on how shading University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] levels affect bell pepper fruit yield in Georgia. Finally, many George Boyhan strawberry growers in North Carolina and across the Mid-South University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] have adopted row covers as an integral part of the strawberry plasticulture system over the last decade, but a number of im- Rajagopalbab Srinivasan provements are still needed before row covers can be viewed University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] as a technology that can fully replace sprinkler irrigation for Bell pepper is an important crop in the southeast U.S. In Georgia strawberry frost and freeze protection. bell pepper is grown on about 1,860 ha in open field and has a value of about $28 million. The majority of bell pepper in Georgia 2:00–2:156 pm is grown on plastic film mulches. There is little information on the response of bell pepper under shade in the U.S. The objec- From the National Agricultural Plastics tive of this study was to determine the effects of shading level Association to the American Society for on bell pepper yield. Bell pepper plants were grown on silver Plasticulture and on to the American Society reflective plastic film mulch in the spring of 2008-2010 under for Horticultural Science’s PLAST Working the following shading levels: 0% (unshaded, as a control), 30%, Group—50 Years of Successful Technology 47%, 60%, and 80%. Our results showed that shading of bell Development for Production Agriculture pepper plants affected both fruit yield and quality. Total and market yields increased with increasing shading levels up to Gene A. Giacomelli about 27% to 34% shading and then decreased with increas- Tucson, AZ; [email protected] ing shading levels, while cull yield decreased with increasing William J. Lamont* levels of shading. The reduced total and marketable yields and Pennsylvania State Univ, University Park, PA; wlamont@ increased cull yields of unshaded plants were probably due to psu.edu high heat stress. Moderate shading (about 30%) of bell pepper may be an option to reduce heat stress conditions and extend The discovery of the plastic polymer at the end of the Second the spring season toward the summer months. World War gave rise to a whole new field later to be known as

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S67 2:30–2:45 pm J. Lee Growing Vegetable Crops by Non-Circulating University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] Hydroponic Methods Carol A. Miles WSU Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, WA; [email protected] B.A. Kratky* Univ of Hawaii CTAHR, Hilo, HI; [email protected] M. Brodhagen Non-circulating or passive hydroponic methods are closed USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected]. systems that utilize water and fertilizer very efficiently. These gov systems avoid the additional production costs and complexities J. Cowan associated with mechanical aeration and circulation, including Pullman, WA; [email protected] the need for electrical power and pumps that are required in many conventional hydroponic systems. The most common R.W. Wallace Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Lubbock, TX; non-circulating hydroponic methods involve suspended pot, [email protected] floating top cover, float-support, and sub-irrigation techniques. The entire crop of short-term vegetables (such as lettuce) may A. Wszelaki be grown by the suspended pot method with only an initial University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] application of water and nutrients. Plants are grown in net pots J. Martin that are initially in contact with nutrient solution. Plant growth University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] causes the nutrient solution level to decrease, and this creates an expanding moist air space between the tank cover and the J. Roozen nutrient solution. When the liquid level drops below the net WSU Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, WA; jfroozen@wsu. pots, the expanding root system is capable of absorbing nutrient edu solution from the tank. The nutrient solution level should not B. Gundersen be raised, because this will “drown” the plants by submerging WSU Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, WA; [email protected] roots that were previously exposed to moist air. Therefore, tanks should be sheltered from rain. The floating top cover method D.A. Inglis is very effective for growing watercress. Watercress is direct Washington State University Extension, Mount Vernon, WA; seeded into net pots, which are held by extruded polystyrene [email protected] sheets that continuously float on nutrient solution. The lower A three-year SCRI research project (#2009-02484) is evaluat- portions of the net pots are in constant contact with nutrient ing experimental and currently available biodegradable mulch solution. The tank may be refilled with nutrient solution after (BDM) products in high tunnel (HT) and open-field (OF) harvesting to produce a ratoon crop. Lettuce has been success- tomato production systems in three distinct eco-regions of the fully grown with the float-support method, which is a modified U.S. [Southeast (TN); Pacific Northwest (WA); and High Plains version of the suspended pot method. Lettuce seedlings are (TX)]. BDM treatments include: an experimental spunbond (SB) transplanted into net pots supported by extruded polystyrene poly-lactic acid; two commercially-available BDM starch-based sheets that initially float on the nutrient solution and come to films [BioBag (BB) and BioTelo (BT)]; a cellulose-based product rest on 10-cm-diameter plastic pipes as nutrient solution is lost [WeedGuardPlus (CC)]; and a no-mulch control (NM). Plots by evaporation and transpiration, thus creating an expanding are arranged as a RCBD with four replications. Visual assess- moist air space. Cucumbers, tomatoes, and other long-term veg- ment of number of tears and % degradation of mulch pieces was etables are typically grown with some version of a sub-irrigation performed throughout the growing season. Following the 2010 method where additional nutrient solution is added throughout tomato harvest, mulch was removed and plots were tilled. A set the life of the crop. Nutrient solution flows by gravity from a of nylon mesh bags (161 cm2) containing one piece (103 cm2) storage tank to a float valve assembly that is set to maintain a of each BDM and resident soil was buried (8–10 cm depth) at 5-cm depth of nutrient solution in the tank. each site for up to two years. At the end of the growing season (pre burial), mulch degradation was 3% and 24% greater in OF 2:45–3:00 pm than in HT at WA and TX, respectively (TN analysis pending), Biodegradable Mulches: Short-Term and overall mean % degradation was 32% for CC, compared to Degradability and Impacts on Soil Health 23% and 17% for BT and BB, respectively. The first set of mesh bags are being extracted at each location before spring tillage to J. Moore-Kucera* determine % area reduction and impacts on soil chemical (pH, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; Jennifer.moore- EC, total C, N); biochemical [N mineralization potential (Nmin), [email protected] beta-glucosidase, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities], M. Davinic and microbial properties [biomass carbon (MBC), community Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] composition, and identification (microorganisms capable of utilizing BDMs as a sole C source)]. Only two of four CC reps for L. Fultz TN-HT samples, had decreased surface area (93–98% reduction) Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] after 6-months field incubation. In contrast, moderate degrada-

S68 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 tion had occurred in TX-HT in BB and BT (5–46% reduction), Steven D. Upson* and total (100%) reduction for CC samples. Data from TN HTs The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, indicate MBC was significantly lower for BB and BT samples OK; [email protected] (204 and 201 mg C/kg soil, respectively) compared to all other Hoop house plasticulture has been promoted as a production samples (overall average 289 mg C/kg soil). Although not statisti- technology that allows fruit and vegetable crops to be grown in cally significant, Nmin and beta-glucosidase activity were lower the cooler months between late fall and early spring as well as + in TN-HT SB, BB and BT (average 2.7ppm NH4 /7d and 50.5 the warmer months of the growing season. At this time, though, mg PNP/g soil, respectively) compared to CC and NM (average little information regarding the economics of hoop house plasti- + 3.6ppm NH4 /7d and 66.4 mg PNP/g soil, respectively). Further culture is available to profit-mined growers or cost-conscience testing of BDM pieces may determine if physical and chemical enthusiasts. Two fruit and vegetable production systems were alterations during field incubation contribute to microbial changes. developed for growing conditions in south-central Oklahoma. Samples from TX and WA are pending, and will provide insight The first system has annually produced strawberry (Fragaria regarding degradation and changes in soil properties under dif- spp.) followed by yellow and zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo) ferent climate and soil conditions. and the second system has a spinach (Spinacia oleracea) crop followed by field tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Crop 3:00–3:15 pm production data for each system were collected in a random- Incineration of Used Ag Plastics for Energy: ized and replicated experiment in the 2007/08, 2008/09 and A Case Study of Cement Kilns in Florida and 2009/10 growing seasons. The objectives of the study were: 1) Guatemala to determine the expected cost of production for each crop and systems; 2) to determine the breakeven price for each crop in Keith Williamson* each system; and 3) to determine how robust breakeven prices Guardian Ag Plastics, Hartsville, SC; keith.williamson@ are to a number of crop marketing scenarios. On average, there guardianag.com were 518 pounds of strawberry, and 452 and 318 pounds of yel- Since the introduction of the use of plastic films and drip tape low and zucchini squash produced per house, respectively. For in agriculture, many have searched for a way to obtain some the spinach/tomato system, the average yield was 648 pounds of value from these used products. Recycling is difficult because spinach and 1,918 pounds of tomatoes per house. The total cost of the large amount of foreign material, especially dirt, in these of production were $1,968 and $1,652 per house for spinach and products. Although open burning and land-filling have not tomato crops, respectively; and $2,749, $359, and $353 per house been satisfactory disposal options for environmental reasons, for strawberry and yellow and zucchini squash, respectively. these have been the dominant means of disposal in the Western Assuming that 100 percent of the total quantity of marketable Hemisphere, even though the per pound energy output of these crops harvested are sold, the breakeven prices for spinach and plastics is recognized to be roughly double that of coal. It has tomato were $3.32 and $0.83 per pound, respectively, and $6.16, been clear that cement kilns could potentially be a good option $0.92, and $1.40 per pound for strawberry and yellow and zuc- for incineration, since dirt is not harmful to this process. High chini squash, respectively. Calculations of breakeven prices do burning temperatures break down chemical and organic residues, not account for the costs associated with marketing (i.e., market and these kilns have immense and increasingly costly energy fees, marketing labor and transportation). From a standpoint needs. Two successful cases of burning soiled agricultural film of practicality, breakeven price for strawberries appears to be at cement plants are in Guatemala and Florida. In each case, the greater than what most consumers would be willing to pay in cement companies have installed the equipment necessary to most cases. Furthermore, breakeven price for each crop and handle the used film and have paid some of the freight charges system was most sensitive to the total quantity of each crop to make this option attractive to growers. As a result, in these harvested that is sold in the marketplace. This result implies that two instances, a value for the used plastics has benefited cement grower management of crop waste due to after-harvest spoilage plant owners, growers, and the environment. An analysis if is important to the economic success of both systems. The results these two cases will be presented as a model for other cement indicate that profit-minded growers would prefer the spinach/ operations throughout the regions where plasticulture exists. tomato system over the strawberry/squash system. 3:30–3:45 pm 3:15–3:30 pm Economic Potential of Using High Tunnel Hoop Row Covers Should Not Be Viewed As a Stand Houses to Produce Fruit and Vegetable Crops Alone Technology for Strawberry Frost and Freeze Protection Jon T. Biermacher The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, E. Barclay Poling* OK; [email protected] NC State University, Raleigh, NC; strawberrydoc@gmail. com Jeri Donnell The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, A number of improvements are still needed in the performance OK; [email protected] of strawberry row covers before they can be viewed as a stand alone technology for strawberry frost and freeze protection,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S69 especially during the blossom period. Several of the problems tics Industries, we have developed a series of photoselective with row covers for frost control in this important crop stage (colored) products based on introducing various chromatic relate to: 1) unreliable blossom protection levels on nights of additives, light dispersive, and reflective elements into the frost or freeze when prior-day weather conditions are cloudy plastic netting materials. The different ColorNet products and cold; 2) poorer pollination and fruit set when the crop selectively screen out defined spectral bands of the solar must stay covered for several consecutive days and nights radiation in the UV and/or visible spectral ranges, concomi- because of frost concerns; 3) mechanical damage to the crop tantly with transforming direct light into scattered/diffused from row cover ‘flapping’ against the crop on spring days and light. The spectral manipulation is aiming at specifically pro- nights of very high winds; and 4) it may not be feasible for moting desired physiological responses, while the scattering the operator to find enough hand labor to keep applying and improves the penetration of the spectrally-modified light into removing covers on a daily basis during a spring of multiple the inner plant canopy, thus increasing the efficiency of light- frost episodes like the spring of 2011 in North Carolina. On dependent processes. Additional aspects of the technology one of the radiation frost nights in the Sandhills of North relate to photoselective effects on plant pests and diseases. Our Carolina (March 29), growers who were fully dependent row studies in ornamental crops (foliage, cut-flowers) revealed covers experienced much higher blossom losses than produc- pronounced effects of the photoselective shading relative to ers using sprinkler irrigation. On this occasion, the daytime the traditional black shading. These include stimulated vegeta- conditions prior to the frost event were overcast and cold tive vigor, dwarfing, enhanced branching, and effects on leaf (~10 °C), and this prevented any significant build-up of heat size and variegation, time-to-flowering, and flower qual- beneath the covers during the day. That night, air temperatures ity. In vegetables (bell peppers, tomatoes) we found certain beneath the covers dropped slightly below 0 °C, and with photoselective nets to markedly increase the productivity, dew point temperatures in the range of –1.1 °C to 0 °C, a compared with the common-practice protection. Moreover, damaging frost occurred underneath the cover. Growers using the photoselective features of the shade nets affected the crop sprinkler irrigation, or who used irrigation as a back-up for infestation by insect-pests and their carried viral diseases, as row covers during this high dew point radiation event, had well as the occurrence of pathogenic fungal diseases. The nearly perfect protection. However, blossom losses approached combined effects resulted in better crop yields, improved fruit 15% for growers who relied on row covers alone. The mecha- quality (both pre- and post-harvest) and lower susceptibility nization of row cover application and removal represents an to decay during storage. Netting studies of fruit tree crops, important solution to a number of the current problems associ- traditionally grown un-netted (e.g. apples, pears, table-grapes) ated with row covers, but there also needs to be wider recogni- revealed multiple benefits of the netting. The photoselective tion given to the continuing importance of sprinkler irrigation responsive parameters included productivity, fruit maturation in a fully integrated strawberry frost and freeze management rate, fruit size, and fruit quality. The lecture will summarize program. major breakthroughs achieved in ornamentals, vegetables, and fruit crops in Israel, and illustrate practical applications 3:45–4:00 pm by growers worldwide. A Plastic Engineer’s Impression of Plasticulture Specified Source(s) of Funding: Ministry of Agriculture and Market Rural Development, Israel Christopher Kerscher* A. Schulman, Inc., Greenville, SC; chris_kerscher@ Sunday, September 25, 2011 us.aschulman.com 4:00–6:00 pm Kings 3

4:00–4:15 pm ASHS Primer Photoselective Netting: The Concept, Research Workshop: ASHS Primer and Implementation in Various Crops Sponsor: Collegiate Activities Committee Yosepha Shahak* Coordinator/Moderator: Curt R. Rom; [email protected] ARO The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250; shahaky@ agri.gov.il Attending an ASHS professional conference as an undergraduate student or graduate student for the first time can be Netting is frequently used to protect agricultural crops an overwhelming experience. To help sort out the mystery from excessive solar radiation (shade-nets), environmental of where to go, what to do, how to find where the talks are, hazards (hail, wind, frost), or pests (insects, birds, fruit bats). what can I attend, or even what is ASHS, this workshop is The nets are either applied as the sole cover (in net-houses), designed to provide basic information on what opportunities or combined with other covering materials (in greenhouses). are available to students attending a national conference. This The Photoselective Netting represents an innovative concept workshop will answer student questions about the conference that promotes the netting technology a few steps beyond the and help guide students to gain the most from their conference mere protective function. In collaboration with Polysack Plas- experience.

S70 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Sunday, September 25, 2011 Speakers in this session will provide a brief overview of OREI 4:00–6:00 pm Kohala 1 and ORG, tips on grant writing and working with eXtension, and examples of successful projects in the areas of: organic fruit SCRI Project Directors’ Workshop production; breeding for organic production; and weed and pest management in organic systems. A panel of successful PDs will Sponsor: Research Advisory Committee discuss their secrets for successful proposal writing, their best This workshop hopes to to highlight some early results from management practices for large multidisciplinary, multistate SCRI funded projects and share information between SCRI Proj- projects and how they have documented impact. Time will be ect Diretors, conference attendees, and the ASHS membership . allowed for questions and panel discussion.

Monday, September 26, 2011 Monday, September 26, 2011 7:45–9:45 am Kings 1 7:45–9:45 am Queens 6 Can Horticulture Make Use of Real Impact: The Effects of Your Wastes from the Biofuels Industry? Research Sponsor: Waste Utilization in Horticulture (WUH) Working Sponsor: Graduate Student (GRAD) Working Group Group Coordinator/Moderator: Sarah M. Potts, [email protected] Coordinator/Moderator: William B. Evans, [email protected] This workshop will explore topics that are important to anyone desiring to have a broader impact and be a more effective The biofuel industry produces a wide array of waste products researcher. The completion of graduate student research con- such as ashes, fermentation residuals, and sludges. Fuel makers cludes upon the successful defense and submission of a thesis and users dispose of or sell these wastes for things like animal or dissertation. Attaining a degree is an incredible achievement feed and other industrial processing. Because these products are and the process of training to become a research scientist is almost exclusively derived from plant products, they may have an extremely important path. An even higher achievement of potential value as constituents in horticultural systems. This work- these academic endeavors can be reached with the practical shop will explore the value and potential uses of several waste application of this research to real-life products and systems. products, from liquid and solid methane production residuals to Distribution of knowledge through publication in peer-reviewed ashes of burned biomass. Audience members will be asked to journals, patenting of new plant varieties, or the advancement contribute their thoughts, opinions, and questions to this mostly of functioning horticultural systems can serve to improve our discussion-centric workshop. Intended outcomes of the workshop world. By setting functional goals to research programs, we are: 1) a better understanding by the audience of the breadth can have a greater effect than through localized information and availability of biofuel wastes; 2) increased understanding distribution alone. of the potential role horticulture can play in adding value to the biofuels industry by developing uses and providing markets for 7:45–8:15 am biofuel wastes; and 3) the planting of seeds of collaboration for biofuel waste-related activities among the participants. Your Creativity, Research Importance, and Intellectual Property Rights in Graduate Monday, September 26, 2011 Student Research 7:45–9:45 am Kohala 4 John R. Clark* Integrated Organic Program University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] We are all creative individuals, although creativity can be elusive, Project Directors and Applicants and particularly difficult to achieve in times when the pressures of life appear substantial. Graduate school would be defined Workshop by most to be pressure-filled at times, some might consider the Sponsor: Integrated Organic Program entire experience this way, others only brief periods. Depend- Coordinator/Moderator: Mary M. Peet, [email protected]. ing on your place in life, the degree you are seeking (MS or gov PhD), your advisor, and overall academic environment, your “creative place” may feel anything but that. I believe we are all This workshop is designed for both current project direc- on a creative path and this path will lead us to exciting places tors (PDs) for the Integrated Organic Program and potential in life, with the research path particularly intriguing. Simply applicants. The Integrated Organic Program consists of two put, discovery is a lot of fun! One of the challenges of graduate grant programs, the Organic Research and Extension Initiative research is envisioning the difference one’s work can make. (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG). In 2010 As I often tell students, it is really tricky to change the world these programs were funded at $20M and $5M, respectively. with one MS or PhD program (no matter how excited you are

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S71 coming in), but the value of your research to lead you to world- published. Writing papers is a long process, and the planning changing research opportunities is great. A life of discovery is a should start well before you write the first word. noble thing, and one’s graduate program is foundational to this. Tied to creativity is the concept of intellectual property rights. Monday, September 26, 2011 This rather vague-sounding term encompasses the protection and use of one’s creative ideas manifested in a useful invention 10:00–11:00 am Kings 1 of value to others. One of the fundamental inspirations of our land-grant institutions was (and is) to provide technology for Improving English and our agricultural producers and users. Couched in this inspira- Communication Skills for Scientists tion was often the idea that developed technology was to be “ given away” with no restrictions such as patenting, licensing/ Sponsor: Teaching Methods (TCHG) Working Group contracts, or money involved with its acquisition. This philoso- Coordinator/Moderator: Carole L. Bassett, Carole. phy has changed somewhat, as agricultural technology is now [email protected] often controlled in some way prior to its distribution to users. This workshop is designed to offer an opportunity for confer- In my presentation, I will expand on these and other thoughts ence attendees to enhance their English skills, inclluding how that might be important, or at least entertaining, to consider in to write a quality manuscript, secrets for designing a first-class your graduate career. poster, and how to improve oral presentaitons. Students and scientists interested in developing their English skills should 8:15–8:45 am plan to attend. This workshop will be interactive and will include Project Design with the End in Mind slide presentations and handouts. Tentative titles of some of the presentations include, “Understanding and Applying Instruc- John D. Lea-Cox* tions to the Authors for Submission to ASHS Journals,” “Com- Univ of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] mon Mistakes in Written and Oral English and How to Avoid Recent trends in federal, state, and foundation grants require us Them”, “How to Design a First-Class Poster,” and “Making an to consider how our research projects will have a direct impact Impressive Oral Presentation.” Ample time will be set aside for on end-users. To be successful with specialty crop research questions and discussion. initiative grants, multidisciplinary teams must demonstrate tangible research and socio-economic benefits for horticultural 10:00–10:10 am producers, and society at large. Designing research projects Discussion that directly involve industry stakeholders and demonstrate returns on investment is not easy, but not as daunting as it may 10:10–10:15 am seem. Creating functional teams is a given, but the real key to Welcome and Introduction successful projects is designing strategies to provide support, Carole L. Bassett* motivation and communication between teams, and ultimately USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV; Carole.Bassett@ars. to communicate our research and impacts to all people. These usda.gov strategies are essential to the successful functioning of our SCRI funded national project. 10:15–10:25 am How to Write CVs and Resumes to Get the Job 8:45–9:15 am You REALLY Want Publish or Perish: Trials, Tribulations, and Sarah M. Potts* Triumphs University of Illinois, Monticello, IL; [email protected] Marc van Iersel* 10:25–10:35 am University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Applying for Jobs with Industry: Getting Your Given the amount of effort that goes into planning experiments, conducting the research, and writing up the results, it is important Foot in the Door and NOT in Your Mouth to get papers out of the research. Publishing is an important, Craig Campbell* but sometimes confusing, part of the scientific endeavor. Peer- Valent BioSciences Corp., Ocoee, FL; craig.campbell@ reviewed publications are needed for promotion and tenure, while valent.com the sponsors of your research may have different expectations. Industry organizations, for example, may value articles in trade 10:35–10:45 am magazines more than scientific papers. So how do you balance Applying for Federal Jobs: What You Don’t different expectations, and keep everyone, including yourself, Know CAN Hurt You happy? How do you decide where to publish, and can you publish your findings more than once? What happens to your paper after Carole L. Bassett* you submit it? This talk will demystify the publication process, USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV; Carole.Bassett@ars. and give tips on how to improve the chances of getting your work usda.gov

S72 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 10:45–11:25 am The workshop concludes with a presentation by Francis Zee Presenting in Your Sleep without Putting Your and Kim Hummer on a multi-institutional project to develop Audience to Sleep the native Hawaiian ‘Ohelo berry through small scale cultivation, thus promoting conservation and sustainable use of this Douglas C. Needham* crop for culinary purposes. The workshop promises to be an Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; dneedham@ enlightening exposure to diverse tropical plants and their key longwoodgardens.org relationships with Pacific cultures. 11:25–12:10 pm 12:15–12:45 pm How to Design a First-Class Poster Ethnobotany of Native Hawaiian Plants and Ann Marie VanDerZanden* Adaptations to Contemporary Pressures Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] Katie Kamelamela* 12:10–12:30 pm University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; Common Mistakes in Scientific Writing and [email protected] How to Avoid, or At Least Recognize Them Hawaii is the most isolated land mass (2,400 miles from North America) consisting of an archipelago of high islands. The eight Carole L. Bassett* main Hawaiian Islands (Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV; Carole.Bassett@ars. Maui, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii) range from approximately usda.gov 5 million years old to less than one million, making for extremely 12:30–1:00 pm diverse ecological and geographical zones. Hawaii originates over a volcanic “hot spot” in the middle of the Pacific plate. Tips for Submitting Manuscripts to ASHS Land continues to grow where 11 of the 12 soil orders are Journals present, coastal to alpine environments are available for exploi- Neal E. De Vos* tation and the yearly rainfall ranges from 250 mm to 11,300 De Vos & Associates, Watsonville, CA; [email protected] mm. Due to these conditions the frequency and composition of plant and animal species as well as mineral availability is M. LeRon Robbins variable across the Hawaiian Islands. Arriving around 6-800 West Monroe, LA; [email protected] AD, Polynesians brought with them knowledge, resources, and technologies that ensured not just survival, but thriving abundance for the population until contact with Europeans Monday, September 26, 2011 was made in 1778. Utilizing the ecology to the fullest, from 12:15–2:15 pm Kohala 4 the mountain tops to the deep oceans, Native Hawaiians created a land tenure “ahupuaa” system, which incorporated tax Ethnobotany of Pacific Plants payment. They responded to the change in seasons through daily routines and integrated their observations in fishing, farm- Sponsor: Fruit Breeding (FRBR) Working Group ing, gathering, and community celebrations. The Hawaiian l Coordinator/Moderator: Gayle Volk, [email protected]. anguage is intimately related to the landscape, such with the edu word ‘ohana, or family, stemming from the kalo (Colocasia esculenta) and offshoots of the plant, which is the staple of Pacific flora are unique and culturally important to native the people. Hawaiians are famous for hula, chants, and songs Hawaiians. This workshop capitalizes on the location of the that speak of the beauty of their landscape. This reinforces ASHS 2011 conference and provides an opportunity to learn their worldview and the manner in how to interact with the more about the heritage and horticulture of Pacific cultures. Our environment. From the environment chiefly regalia such as first speaker, Katie Kamelamela will speak about the Polyne- feather cloaks, kahilis, and god-like images were created. sian arrival to the Hawaiian Islands and how these people used Utilitarian items such as kapa, fishing baskets, kites, and mats their natural and cultural resources to adapt and thrive in a new were important for day-to-day living and enjoyment. In a environment prior to European arrival. In a modern context, modern context pressure of urbanization, invasive species, she will describe how today’s Hawaiian culture has made use overharvesting, and climate change are affecting resource of available resources. Peter Van Dyke, manager of the Amy availability and accessibility to Native Hawaiian plants. Since B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, will discuss advanced the Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970’s the art of Hawaiian horticultural practices of ancient Hawaiians using the Kona living, and the Ethnobotany of Native Hawaiian plants, has Field System for dryland production on the slopes of Mauna been revitalized. In 2011 the landscape has changed dramati- Loa and Hualalai. This is followed by a presentation by Diane cally, so how are Native Hawaiian practitioners adapting to Ragone, describing the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s available resources? extensive breadfruit collection, highlighting the history, ethnobotany, diversity, and conservation of this staple Pacific crop.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S73 12:45–1:15 pm with more than 120 cultivars and 300 accessions from 34 Pacific The Kona Field System islands, the Philippines, Seychelles, Indonesia, and Honduras conserved in field genebanks. Research on the NTBG collection Peter Van Dyke* includes assessing genetic diversity, morphological descriptors, Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain and seasonality; and evaluation of protein and mineral content, Cook, HI; [email protected] fruit yield, and other fruit characteristics for 94 accessions. The Polynesians who settled Hawaii were not just masters of Recent developments in micropropagation make large-scale navigation and the sea; they were also superbly competent propagation and distribution of cultivars feasible. This review horticulturists. The centerpiece of the Amy B.H. Greenwell will highlight the history and ethnobotany of breadfruit in the Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook is a 5-acre remnant of Pacific in the context of conservation and evaluation of bread- the Kona Field System, a network of farms and gardens that fruit germplasm. It will describe how the Breadfruit Institute is covered over 50 square miles of upland Kona in the time before promoting the conservation and use of breadfruit for food and foreign contact. When it was nominated to the national register reforestation. A major focus is an initiative to distribute selected of historic places, the Kona Field System was described as “ the cultivars for tree planting projects to support sustainable agricul- most monumental work of the ancient Hawaiians.” The chal- ture, agroforestry, home gardens, and income generation. This lenge of farming Kona was to produce a flourishing agricultural initiative involves collaboration between the Breadfruit Institute, economy in an area subject to frequent droughts, with no lakes university researchers, the private sector, and non-governmental or streams for irrigation. Hawaiians succeeded, but we have yet agencies and is a model for benefit sharing of revenues derived to unravel all the mysteries of the Kona Field System and the from commercialization of a traditional Oceanic crop. secrets of its success. Kona gardens were planted in long, narrow fields that ran across the contours, up and down the slopes of 1:45–2:15 pm Mauna Loa and Hualalai. The low, wide, stone field boundaries Sustainable Production and Utilization of may have been planting sites themselves. The suite of crops ‘Ohelo As an Edible Berry and Ornamental was limited, but diversity was provided by a vast inventory of cultivated varieties that Hawaiians valued and preserved. As Crop rainfall increases rapidly with elevation in Kona, the long fields Francis T.P. Zee* allowed farmers to plant different crops according to the rainfall USDA-ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; francis.zee@ars. regimes. The intensive labor requirements of dryland farming usda.gov and the environment of Kona had social results that shaped the Lisa Keith history of Hawaii. The traditional farming system disappeared USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; lisa.keith@ars. by the mid-19th century and now coffee farms cover much of usda.gov the land that once comprised the Kona Field System. Amy Strauss USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; amy.strauss@ars. 1:15–1:45 pm usda.gov Breadfruit from a Conservation, Research, Claire Arakawa Historical, and Ethnobotanical Perspective USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; claire.arakawa@ Diane Ragone* ars.usda.gov National Trop Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, HI; ragone@ Tristan Foote ntbg.org USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; tristan.foote@ars. Breadfruit (Artocarpus, Moraceae) is a storied crop long recog- usda.gov nized for its potential to alleviate hunger in tropical regions. An Kim E. Hummer* important staple crop in Oceania for millennia, the trees are an USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, important component of traditional agroforestry systems. Bread- Corvallis, OR; [email protected] fruit’s origin and domestication is intricately linked to migration Barbara M. Reed and settlement of the vast Pacific. The British (through the efforts USDA–ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, of the notorious Captain Bligh) and the French brought breadfruit Corvallis, OR; [email protected] and breadnut to their Caribbean colonies in the late 1790s. It Nahla V. Bassil has subsequently been introduced to other tropical regions and USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, today is grown in close to 90 countries. Although hundreds of Corvallis, OR; [email protected] cultivars have been selected and named in the Pacific islands, with more than 2,000 vernacular names documented, only a Stuart Nakamoto few cultivars are grown outside the region. Three species, A. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] altilis, A. camansi, and A. mariannensis, plus natural hybrids (A. altilis × A. mariannensis) make up the breadfruit complex. The Randall Hamasaki Breadfruit Institute at the National Tropical Botanical Garden University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; rrth@ (Hawaii) manages the world’s largest collection of breadfruit, hawaii.edu

S74 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Andrew Kawabata tions and then learn what has worked and what hasn’t through University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; presentations and discussion. Three speakers will jumpstart the [email protected] brainstorming and discussion by sharing their successful uses Bob Durst of social media. At the conclusion of the presentations, the Linus Pauling Institute, Corvallis, OR; Durst@ workshop leader will facilitate discussion on other methods, Oregonstate.edu best practices, barriers to using, issues with ethics and privacy, and more. The workshop and consequential discussion will be Allan K. Ikawa used as content for a paper. Big Island Candies, Hilo, HI; [email protected] Karen Jeannette, eXtension Community of Practice Support Jodi Silva team member will start by sharing how we can increase the Big Island Candies, Hilo, HI; [email protected] brand recognition and collaborative learning opportunities Ken Love for Extension Master Gardeners and beyond. She will dis- Hawaii Tropical Fruit Grower Association, Captain Cook, cuss eXtension initiatives in creating social media models/ HI; [email protected] exercises for helping people visualize a path to using social Yongjiang Chang media with specific tools with regard to maximizing effective- North American Plants LLC, McMinnville, OR; changy@ ness and how they fit together (youtube, wikipedia, twitter, naplants.com flickr, facebook, etc..) Native Hawaiian Vaccinium species are called ‘Ohelo or ‘‘Ohelo. Four horticulture faculty members from across the country: These plants are members of section Myrtillus, genus Vaccinium Linda Chalker-Scott (Washington St.); Jeff Gillman (Min- L., family Ericaceae. The ‘Ohelo, V. reticulatum, is a low grow- nesota); Holly L. Scoggins (Virginia Tech), and Bert Cregg ing species that is distributed in open areas at medium to high (Michigan State) have teamed up to blog http://www.garden- elevation on Hawaii and Maui. From 2008–2011, a project was professors.com heir mission is to translate current research undertaken in Hawaii and Oregon to reduce the need for berry in gardening-related topics to the average gardener as well gathering from wild stands, to promote conservation and sus- as bring scientific scrutiny to common gardening practices tainable utilization of the resource through developing cultivars and lore—from tree care to compost tea. They will present and cultivation techniques using potted plants and tissue culture. some of the highlights as well as pitfalls/challenges associ- The objectives of our research were to: streamline commercial ated with bringing plant science and critical thought to the clonal propagation and production protocols; develop seed-based gardening blogosphere. protocols; determine host-pathogen interactions, determine eti- John Traunfeld, University of Maryland Extension will present ology and develop management practices for fungal diseases; the “ Grow It Eat It” program and the interactive network of compare environmental, horticultural and management factors over 7,000 food gardeners using the website, blog, Twitter, on ornamental production quality; prepare economic feasibil- Facebook, and e-news flashes. They have e-mail addresses ity analyses for ornamental potted plants; initiate value-added of participants and have been able to survey gardeners in the products and culinary research with industrial partners; estab- Network. He will share the data and what they have learned lish molecular fingerprints to assess diversity and determine as a result of using social media for this program. identity; develop long-term cryopreservation methodology; and conduct fruit nutrient analyses, including total phenolics, total Workshop participants will be divided into groups and have an anthocyanins, vitamin C, titratable acidity, °Brix and oxygen opportunity to discuss the various types of social media as well radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). as brainstorm barriers, best management practices, and opportunities. Groups will then share their discussion and thoughts with the entire group. Monday, September 26, 2011 12:15–2:15 pm Kohala 2 Monday, September 26, 2011 Social Media–How Can We Use It 12:15–2:15 pm Queens 6 to Increase Our Effectiveness? Software Tools for Analysis of Sponsor: Consumer Horticulture Master Gardener (CHMG) Databases Working Group Sponsor: Computer Applications in Horticulture (COMP) Coordinator/Moderator: Pamela J. Bennett, bennett.27@ Working Group cfaes.osu.edu Coordinators/Moderators: Arthur Q. Villordon, avillordon@ Many Extension Educators are “ feeling their way around” the agcenter.lsu.edu; James McConnell, [email protected] world of social media. Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in and many more social media opportunities are all a possibility but which Powerful computer systems and sensor-based measurements are is the most effective use of time and effort? The goal of this generating massive amounts of data sets. Such data are being used workshop is to present an overall picture of social media op- to support the development of more precise agroclimatic models,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S75 decision support systems, and other cross-cutting horticultural Current and future collaborative research projects will increas- applications. In addition, current trends in computing appear to ingly rely on networked databases for managing massive data suggest that cloud-based databases will be integral components sets generated by sensor-based data collection. Such data sets of future software systems. Current computational and statistical may be used for developing agroclimatic models, decision sup- approaches likely need to be enhanced in order to automatically port systems, and other knowledge-based applications. Bayesian filter and assess the reliability of data and efficiently extract belief networks (BBNs) are especially useful for model-based meaningful knowledge from local and networked databases. The validation of sensor data as well as deriving knowledge from objective of this workshop is to familiarize the audience with some such data. BBNs graphically and probabilistically describe the innovative computing and statistical approaches that are being influence of predictor variables on response variables. This used for analyzing and extracting knowledge from databases. presentation will demonstrate the use of a BBN software pack- Case studies of past experiences and current trends of compu- age for real-time validation of sensor-based agroclimatic data tational and statistical analyses of databases will be presented. as well as testing of models using data sets stored in networked databases. Examples of each application will be drawn from an 12:15–12:45 pm ongoing SCRI-funded research on the development of a model- Visualizing and Interpreting Large Sensor based decision support system for sweetpotato production. Datasets for Daily Specialty Crop Management Decisions 1:15–1:45 pm Digital Asset Management: Sorting and John D. Lea-Cox* Univ of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] Annotating Your Images With increasing use of wireless networks for gathering and James McConnell* reporting sensor-derived information, many needs arise for Univ of Guam, Mangilao; [email protected] end-users to accurately interpret and use the data. As part of an It is now common to have a device with you capable of produc- SCRI-funded national project, we are implementing networks ing digital media. This can result in a proliferation of images. with specialty crop ornamental growers to provide them with Keeping track of all of this digital media can easily become daily management information for irrigation and nutrient man- overwhelming. It becomes necessary to have some means of agement from soil moisture data, together with many other storing and organizing your select photos and videos. Digital decisions that can be aided by a suite of microclimatic sensors asset management (DAM) utilizes hardware, software, and and derived data (such as degree-days and vapor pressure strategies for the processing, annotation, cataloguing, storage, deficit). This translation of information into knowledge is not retrieval, and distribution of media including: digital photographs, trivial, since growers are time-limited and wish to make bet- animations, and videos and their metadata. This presentation will ter decisions, but within a relatively short (10–15 min.) time concentrate on reviewing some of the current popular software frame. This requires that we develop software decision support used on desktop and mobile devices for DAM. tools that can handle complex computational tasks, but deliver information in intuitive ways—for example using graphical user interfaces. We are using a commercially-available software Monday, September 26, 2011 package that uses a mySQL database to download and organize 1:00–3:30 pm Kings 1 large volumes of data. We are also developing a more advanced graphic user interface in collaboration with the Carnegie Mel- Breeding Vegetables for the Tropics lon Robotics Institute that uses sqlite3 for the database (since this tool is serverless), making transfer of data files very easy Sponsor: Vegetable Breeding (VGBR) Working Group between users. This presentation will focus on how we handle Coordinator/Moderator: Dilip Panthee, dilip_panthee@ncsu. and visualize large datasets to provide growers with precision edu information from specific networks. This will be illustrated by using specific case-study examples of how we use simple spatial Most of the developed countries are in temperate climatic and temporal data trend analysis to give growers an insight into regions. Yield of crops per unit area in the temperate is much what is normal biological variability, and what is an anomalous higher than that of the crops from the tropics. Crops from the reading from a bad sensor, or from incorrect calibration. temperate regions are also being improved for nutritional status and disease resistance. However, status of crops in the tropics is 12:45–1:15 pm largely not well improved. Furthermore, there are more disease A Probabilistic Framework for Validating and pests in the tropics, which are simply favored by the tropical Sensor-Based Data and Deriving Knowledge climatic conditions. What are the constraints and limiting factors from Massive Datasets: Examples from Ongoing for genetic improvements of tropical crops is the area of interest. This will be investigated in this colloquium by inviting well Research experienced crop scientists and plant breeders from the tropics. Arthur Q. Villordon* Focused discussion in breeding fruits and vegetables will help LSU AgCenter, Chase, LA; [email protected] to synthesize the current issues and shape future breeding fruits

S76 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 and vegetables in the tropics. Looming threat of climate change TLB has been found within taro germplasm from Palau, Thailand, and its effect in the human life and agriculture are the burning and Guam. These tolerant varieties are crossed with Hawaiian issues at present. Average temperature is already high in tropi- taro in order to develop resistant Hawaiian lines. Hybrids are cal region, what may be the potential effect of global warming tested for tolerance to TLB using a detached-leaf disc bioassay further is the major concern at present. Adapting horticulture (Brooks, 2008). Four discs are cut from the first fully developed to future changing conditions is essential to meet the need of leaf of each hybrid and inoculated with approximately 50 zoo- growing population and increasing demand for fruits, vegetables, spores of a local isolation of P. colocasiae. Mean lesion size is and other horticultural products. Compared to breeding efforts measured on day three and four for each hybrid. Preliminary in the temperate regions, what is the status of breeding including analysis shows approximately 35 hybrids that are highly tolerant germplasm enhancement, sharing germplasms and networking to TLB. The majority of the tolerant hybrids are a cross between at global levels in the tropics. Breeding is a long-term activ- Dirratengadik/Moi and (Red Moi/PH15)/Sawahn Kurasae. ity, which takes about 10 years to develop a new variety of Microsatellite DNA and single nucleotide polymorphisms are an annual plant species, this will be much longer in perennial being investigated for use in marker assisted selection. We have species. Modern breeding tools such as molecular genetics and identified 4 microsatellite primer sets that give polymorphisms genomics, and other biotechnological tools might be useful to among some of the Hawaiian varieties. These are insufficient shorten the duration breeding time. Discussion on these aspects to provide resolution among the Hawaiian varieties and the may be helpful to integrate the genomic and biotechnological resulting hybrids, so we are in the process of evaluating more tools into conventional breeding of horticultural crops. In this microsatellite primer sets. We are also sequencing several can- colloquium, leading scientists in these field will update the didate genes in order to identify snp’s in taro. status of selected crops grown in the tropics and introduce the Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–TSTAR need, significance, and benefit of fruits and vegetable breeding; discuss the current status and challenges of research in breed- 1:45–2:00 pm ing for the tropics utilizing molecular biology, genomics, plant transformation, germplasm enhancement, and crop breeding Hawaii’s Half-Century Breeding Tropical Sweet for overall horticultural crop improvement. The discussion Corn may stimulate the integrated breeding efforts and identify op- James L. Brewbaker* portunities, strategies, and priorities for future progress in this Univ of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] area. With its tropical climate year round, Waikoloa may be the perfect place to discuss this topic. In 1961, James Gilbert, Chair of the University of Hawaii Dept. Horticulture (UH), welcomed me to his faculty and promptly took 1:30–1:45 pm me to see fields of sick sweet corn. The culprit proved to be maize mosaic virus (MMV). Within the year we could show that no Screening Taro (Colocasia esculenta) for American sweet or field corns were resistant. A half-century later Resistance to Taro Leaf Blight (TLB) Using a we can add that no tested commercial temperate sweet corns are Detached-Leaf Disc Bioassay and Developing resistant to MMV and a host of tropical biotic and abiotic stresses. DNA Markers for Use in Selection Among these are many rots (fusarium, aspergillus, bacteria), most tropical viruses and rusts, ear- and army-worms, short day- Ashley Brown* lengths, and tropical strains of most blights and downy mildews. University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; as257306@yahoo. Our data confirm that North America’s sweet corn represents an com incredibly narrow germplasm base that offers little more than Anne Veillet tenderness to tropical breeders. Sweet corns bred in the tropics University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; as257306@yahoo. are now grown on ~0.5 m acres annually. Thailand is the primary com source of improved products including canned, frozen, corn Susan C. Miyasaka milk and other products. Dominating production are single- and University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] 3-way-crosses with >75% tropical parentage. All appear to have a heritage in Hawaii-based germplasm. Basic foundation sources Christopher Bernabe were ‘Hawaiian Sugar’, an open-pollinated variety bred in the University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; as257306@yahoo. 1940s by A.J. Mangelsdorf, and ‘Hawaiian Supersweet #1” and com ‘Hawaiian Supersweet #9’ from our breeding at UH. The first of Michael Shintaku these carries the historic ‘sweet-corn gene’ sugary-1, the second University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; [email protected] has gene shrunken-2 and the last has gene brittle-1. The former locus is no longer used. The others often occur in unexpected Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a root crop of the Pacific Islands combinations with endosperm loci such as waxy1 (common in that is cultivated primarily for its starchy corm. Taro Leaf Blight Asia’s ‘sticky’ vegetable maize). Accelerated genetic advance (TLB) is a major disease that threatens the sustainability of taro attributes much to Hawaii’s climate, with breeding nurseries in caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae. In over half the months of the past half-century. Close collabora- Hawaii, it was estimated that 25% to 50% of taro corms were tion among public breeders in Hawaii, Thailand, and Australia lost due to this pathogen and other fungal diseases.Tolerance to

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S77 account for the great majority of acceptable modern germplasm. had the highest fresh weight yields of 42,120 kg·ha–1 and 64,160 About 2000 open-pedigree inbreds, synthetics, varieties, and kg·ha–1, and TLB ratings of 23 and 16, respectively. In a trial that germplasm sources are now available from Hawaii’s Founda- compared 11 cultivars during 2006-2007, cv. MLxSushi-2 (cross tion Seed (www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hfs). In general these provide between cvs. Maui Lehua and Sushi, a TLB-resistant cultivar) wide adaptability to major diseases, pests, and abiotic stresses had the highest yield at 24,950 kg·ha–1and a TLB rating of 18. common to tropical sweet corn growers. Private industries and Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hatch/Smith-Lever international institutions such as CIMMYT and AVRDC made no contributions to this germplasm or provided financial support 2:15–2:30 pm for its development. Sweet corn gets to market within ten weeks in most of the tropics. Many regions around the world now can The Important Roles of Oxalate Oxidase in Taro boast monthly or even weekly production of this high value, Disease Resistance highly adaptable, and highly respected food crop. Xiaoling He* Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Hawaii Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Kunia, HI; [email protected] 2:00–2:15 pm Maureen Fitch Conventional Breeding of Taro (Colocasia escu- Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Kunia, HI; mfitch@ lenta) for Increased Resistance to Taro Leaf Blight harc-hspa.com Susan C. Miyasaka* Yun J. Zhu University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Kunia, HI; jzhu@ John Cho harc-hspa.com University of Hawaii, Kula, HI; [email protected] Susan C. Miyasaka Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a non-graminaceous monocot con- University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] sumed primarily for its starchy corm. A disease that threatens the Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] is one of the most sustainability of taro worldwide is Taro Leaf Blight (TLB) caused important staple food crops in the Pacific Islands. One major by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae. This disease pathogen that threatens the sustainability of taro production is a major problem of taro grown along the Hamakua Coast of in the world is Taro Leaf Blight (TLB). TLB is caused by the Hawaii Island, where mean annual rainfall exceeds 3100 mm. oomycete pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae. It was estimated From 1994 through 2006, 123 taro cultivars from China, Hawaii, that 25% to 50% of taro corms in Hawaii were lost due to Palau, and Samoa were grown along the Hamakua Coast in plots oomycete and fungal diseases. Taro corms and leaves are containing five or 10 plants that were replicated over time. Fresh known to contain abundant levels of oxalate and calcium weights of corms were measured after nine months. During nine oxalate. In the previous research, we has transformed taro out of 12 years when TLB occurred, ratings of disease incidence cv. Bun long with the wheat OXO gene gf2.8. Dramatically were taken using the Horsfall-Barrett scale. To determine the increased resistance of the transformed line to the oomycete correlation between TLB resistance and yields, linear regression pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae was found in the plants was conducted. Increased blight ratings of cultivars (i.e. increased under tissue-culture and growth chamber conditions. Due to susceptibility to TLB) were correlated with significant decreases current controversies in Hawaii over genetic engineering of in fresh weight yields (r2 = 0.18). Multiple comparisons of the taro, we are focusing our research to identify homologous best were conducted on fresh weights of corms and blight ratings OXO genes within the taro germplasm. One pair of poly- to determine the highest-yielding taro cultivars and the greatest merase chain reaction (PCR) primers was designed based on resistance to TLB. Cultivar Niumalu luau was found to have the the conserved sequence of the wheat and other OXO genes. highest fresh corm weight of 33,650 kg·ha–1 and the lowest TLB Total DNAs were extracted from the leaf tissues of a TLB- rating of 18. Twelve other cultivars did not differ significantly susceptible cultivar Maui Lehua and TLB-resistant cultivars: from the best for fresh weights and of these, seven were Palauan 1999-6, 1999-9, Paakala, Pauakea, Palehua, P1, P2, P7, and cultivars. All of these seven Palauan cultivars had TLB ratings that P20. A specific 138bp PCR product was amplified in the did not differ from the best. Two commercial taro cultivars Bun TLB-resistant cultivar Paakala, and the sequence of this PCR Long and Maui Lehua had yields that were significantly lower product was identical to the conserved sequence of the wheat than the best at 15,870 kg·ha–1 and 14,260 kg·ha–1, respectively. and other OXO genes based on the NCBI BLAST. Six vegeta- Their TLB ratings were 33 and 30, respectively, indicating that tive propagules of each taro cultivar: Paakala, Pauakea, Palehua, conventional breeding of taro to improve TLB resistance also and Maui Lehua were planted in the greenhouse. Yellow spot could improve yields. Selected cultivars were hand-pollinated, lesion mimicry was observed in the mature leaves of all six seedlings evaluated, the most promising cultivars multiplied, and eight-week-old plants of TLB-resistant cultivar Paakala and then field trials were conducted with plots of 30 plants replicated two plants of Pauakea and Palehua. However, no lesion mimicry four times in a randomized complete–block design. In two trials was observed in the mature leaves of all six eight-week-old during 2003-2005 that compared nine cultivars, cvs. Pauakea plants of TLB-susceptible cultivar Maui Lehua. Bright-yellow and Pa’akala (cross between Palauan cv. P-10 and Maui Lehua) autofluorescent substances in the leaves of eight-week-old

S78 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Paakala were observed, which indicated that they were HR-like were studied in young and mature ‘Pacific Gala’ apples grown lesions. In addition, the mature leaves of eight-week-old Paakala under conditions in southwest Idaho that represent the high desert plants showed strong positive results in the histo-chemical assay conditions of the Intermountain West region of the United States. for OXO activity. Oxalate oxidase should provide an excel- Evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling, adjusted by the lent molecular marker to assist conventional taro breeding to percentage of ground shading was used for sprinkler and drip improve disease resistance. The expression and localization of systems. Significantly less water was applied to the trees with OXO are easily analyzed using a visible histo-chemical assay. In drip irrigation than those with sprinkler irrigation systems. Fruit addition, OXO is an extreme high temperature resistant enzyme weight and yield per tree in ‘Pacific Gala’ on RN29 rootstock was as well as an SDS PAGE-resistant protein that differentiates it higher than those on Bud 9 and GC30 rootstocks. ‘Pacific Gala’ from other proteins. on Bud9 rootstock had smaller trees and fruit size but higher fruit starch degradation pattern (SDP), suggesting an earlier fruit Monday, September 26, 2011 maturity in this rootstock. Trees on Bud9 rootstock were more precocious than those on other rootstocks. ‘Pacific Gala’ trees 1:30–3:30 pm Monarchy Ballroom with drip irrigation had more soluble solids concentrations and Nutrient and Water Management SDP but slightly lower firmness when trees were young, but the differences were not significant when trees matured. In ‘Pacific Practices for Improving Crop Gala’, leaf calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) decreased but Growth, Yield, and Quality leaf potassium (K) increased with the rootstock vigor, resulting in the greatest Ca but lowest leaf K in trees on Bud9. ‘Pacific Sponsor: Plant Nutrient Management (PNM) Working Group Gala’ with sprinkler irrigation had higher Leaf nitrogen (N), Ca, and K than those with drip system when trees were young, but Coordinator/Moderator: Kent D. Kobayashi, kentko@ differences were not significant for leaf N and Ca when trees hawaii.edu were mature. The opposite situation occurred in leaf Mg due Plant nutrient management and irrigation practices are crucial in to K-Mg antagonism. The relationships between tree growth, helping achieve optimal crop growth, yield, quality, and grower overall fruit quality attributes, yield, and mineral nutrients will profitability. Nutrients can include locally produced inputs be discussed in more detail. and both organic amendments and inorganic fertilizers. Three speakers will present their experiences with plant nutrient and 2:00–2:30 pm water management. The audience will learn about rootstock and Innovative Use of Locally Produced Inputs irrigation effects on ‘Gala’ apple mineral nutrition, growth, fruit to Improve Plant Growth, Crop Quality, and quality, and yield; use of locally produced inputs to improve crop growth, quality, and grower profitability in Hawaii; and a Grower Profitability in Hawaii fertility program for vegetables with organic amendments and Theodore J.K. Radovich* inorganic fertilizer. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; theodore@ hawaii.edu 1:30–2:00 pm N.V. Hue Influence of Rootstock and Irrigation on University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ Mineral Nutrition, Growth, Fruit Quality, and hawaii.edu Yield in ‘Gala’ Apple A. Pant Esmaeil “Essie” Fallahi* University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] hawaii.edu J. Sugano Bahman Shafii University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] hawaii.edu Bahar Fallahi I. Gurr University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ The increasing trend in the world population and decreasing hawaii.edu trend in the availability of suitable land for fruit production, B. Sipes combined with the water shortage, mandate the use of more ef- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ ficient methods of irrigation and the establishment of high density hawaii.edu orchards that require size-controlling rootstocks. The method of N. Arancon irrigation and vigor of rootstock are among the most important University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ factors affecting mineral nutrients, and thus tree growth, fruit hawaii.edu yield, and quality attributes of apples. In a long-term experi- C. Tamaru ment, the effects of two irrigation systems and four rootstocks University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ on water use, tree growth, fruit quality, and mineral nutrients hawaii.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S79 K. Fox laboratory for analysis of N-P-K and micronutrients. These University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ results can be compared to the local crop recommendations

hawaii.edu for N-P2O5K2O (in Florida 200 lb/acre of NO3 is required for K. D. Kobayashi a tomato crop). Second, select the organic amendments based University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ on local available cover crops and organic amendment such hawaii.edu as Sorghum-sudangrass (7,842 lb/acre of dry weight, 1.5% Robert Paull N, and 23% mineralization rate) and poultry manure compost University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kentko@ (10 ton/acre with 50% moisture and 3% N content and 10% hawaii.edu mineralization rate). Then, determine the available nutrients of the cover crop (27 lb/acre of NO ) and poultry manure compost Reducing grower reliance on off-island inputs to promote 3 (30 lb/acre of NO3). Finally, a 143 lb/acre of NO3 of inorganic plant nutrition has been identified by industry as a high priority fertilizer is needed based in nutrient crop requirement for a in efforts to improve agricultural sustainability in Hawaii. A conventional fertility program on tomato in Florida. variety of knowledge gaps exist that prevent producers from using more locally produced amendments in their fertility program. This presentation will focus on recent trans-disci- Monday, September 26, 2011 plinary efforts at the University of Hawaii to improve our 1:30–3:30 pm Kings 3 understanding of factors that affect variability in the quality, application, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of locally produced Propagation Techniques of Select composts, vermicomposts, rendered animal products, and algae in Hawaii. A series of greenhouse, experiment station, Tropical Ornamentals, Specialty and on-farm trials have supported several conclusions, including: 1) aqueous extracts of vermicomposts and high quality, Crops, and Native Plants in Hawaii farmer-produced thermophilic composts can effectively improve Sponsor: Plant Propagation (PROP) Working Group crop growth and reduce costs associated with the use of these inputs; 2) replacement of peat and other imports with local Coordinators/Moderators: Sandra B. Wilson, sbwilson materials in vegetable seedling production have the potential @ufl.edu;Todd West, [email protected] to improve seedling vigor and reduce costs in the long term; Hawaii has long been recognized for its uniquely diversified 3) commercially produced rendered meat products, alone tropical horticulture research and education. The wholesale value and in combination with commercial composts, is a valuable of Hawaii’s floriculture and nursery products is estimated at local source of nitrogen; and 4) invasive algae from coral reef $80.1 million for 2009. Landscape plant material and nursery remediation may provide a significant source of potassium in products were valued at $36.5 million, followed by orchids at the near term, but K content of algae is highly dependent of $15.7 million, foliage at $12.4 million, cut flowers at $7.2 mil- species and location of growth. lion, potted flowering plants at $4.1 million, and lei flowers at $2.6 million. In addition to many other commodities, Hawaii 2:30–3:00 pm is also known for its specialty fruit market with an estimated How to Develop a Fertility Program for 2.1 million lbs of fresh fruit produced in 2008 (USDA-NASS, Vegetables That Is Based on Organic 2009). The booming ornamental industry in Hawaii co-exists with declining native plant populations and a critical need for Amendments and Inorganic Fertilizer recovery plans that utilize innovative propagation techniques. Monica P. Ozores-Hampton* This workshop was designed to highlight some of the propagation Univ of Florida, Immokalee, FL; [email protected] techniques (in vitro culture, grafting, air layering, seed storage and germination, and stem cuttings) that have been developed Common organic amendments that can be used in conventional to facilitate high quality production of select species, for the and organic vegetable production include: 1) cover crops introduction of improved agronomic or ornamental plant selec- (legumes and non-legumes); 2) compost generated from yard tions, and for the preservation of critically endangered native wastes, biosolids, municipal solid waste, and animal manures, plant taxa. The three 30 minute oral presentations will be fol- and other biodegradable waste by-products; and 3) raw animal lowed by a Plant Propagation Working Group Business Meeting. manure (poultry, dairy, horse, swine, and cattle with and without bedding). These organic amendments directly affect soil bulk 1:30–2:00 pm density, water holding capacity, soil structure, soil carbon content, macronutrients and micronutrients, pH, soluble salts and The Role of Micropropagation in Hawaiian cation exchange capacity, and biological properties (microbial Plant Conservation biomass). Although organic amendments are sometimes not considered as a nutrient source when used as part of a fertil- Nellie Sugii* Harold L. Lyon Arboretum-University of Hawaii at ity program, their nutrient contribution should be calculated. Manoa, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] For example, the first step in building a conventional tomato fertility program is to take a soil sample and send it to a soil The diversity of native plant life within the Hawaiian Archi-

S80 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 pelago represents some of the most unique examples of insular means of propagation, the plumeria can also be propagated by evolution in the world. Hawaii’s native plant taxa represent a full air-layering, grafting and budding, tissue culture, and by seed. one-third (303 of which 7 are extinct) of the nation’s federally Aspects of these techniques will be discussed. listed endangered and threatened plants. Another 268 unlisted taxa are presently in rapid decline and considered critically 2:30–3:00 pm “at risk” of extinction. On the international level, over 200 of An Improved Method of Air Layering Hawaii’s native taxa are registered on the International Union Tropical Hardwoods for Forestry, Fruit, and for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which provides information on taxa that are facing a high risk of global ex- Ornamental Nurseries tinction. Since 1992, Lyon Arboretum’s research emphasis on Joseph DeFrank* conservation biology has led to the development of the Hawaiian University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; defrenk@ Rare Plant Program (HRPP), which focuses on the rescue and hawaii.edu recovery of Hawaii’s most critically endangered plants. The Air layering is a well established technique for the propagation HRPP assists in the prevention of further extinction by provid- of both woody and herbaceous plants. Common components ing a cooperatively administered, fully integrated ex situ plant of a successful air layer include an actively growing plant, recovery system, which works in tangent with Hawaii’s inter girdling of the stem, application of rooting hormone, and root- situ and in situ management programs. The HRPP’s ex situ ing medium held to the stem with plastic film or aluminum. activities complement statewide in situ plant conservation, by An improvement on the existing air layering arts has been assisting in the augmentation of plant stocks for reintroduction developed that makes use of net bags filled with sphagnum and by maintaining onsite a genetically diverse germplasm bank moss to secure rooting medium to the stem. Development composed of more than 11,300 in vitro cultures consisting of 218 of this technique in Hawaii has been conducted primarily native plant taxa. Each year, the HRPP receives approximately on the Rainbow Shower Tree (Cassia × nealiae cv. Wil- 560 plant submissions of about 135 native Hawaiian species helmina Tenney), a sterile hybrid and the official shade tree of annually. To date, our in vitro laboratory and greenhouse facility Honolulu. Under ideal growth conditions, woody branches has successfully grown more than 300 (136 federally endangered with a diameter of up to 10–13 cm have been induced to pro- or threatened) of the 1400+ native Hawaiian plant taxa, through duce a prolific mass of roots in 2–4 months. Root development micropropagation and conventional horticultural methods. Plant with this improved system is robust enough for direct field micropropagation has become an indispensable tool for plant planting, thus skipping the nursery grow out phase. Other genetic conservation especially where conventional propagation species that have been successfully air layered with this tech- efforts have failed or proven to be difficult. Micropropagation nique include cacao (Theobroma cacao), mango (Mangifera is particularly useful in situations where seed propagules are indica), longan (Dimocarpus longan), Hawaiian Koa collected immature, small, recalcitrant, or are rare. The seeds (Acacia koa), and Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia are germinated in vitro and stored as living germplasm collec- blakeana). tions or prepared for future restoration projects. When seed are unavailable, clonal propagules can be initiated, propagated, and maintained in vitro. The HRPP is the only facility of its kind Monday, September 26, 2011 in the State of Hawaii and holds Hawaii’s largest and most diverse collection of native Hawaiian plant taxa. Due to its 2:30–4:30 pm Queens 6 propagation and germplasm banking specialization, the HRPP Regulation of Genetically plays a critical role in the conservation and recovery of one of the most fragile floras in the world. Engineered Crops: Hawaii and

2:00–2:30 pm Beyond Propagation of Frangipani (Plumeria rubra and Sponsor: Plant Biotechnology (BTCH) Working Group Related Species) Coordinator/Moderator: Alan Smith, [email protected]; Richard A. Criley* Esther E. McGinnis, [email protected] Univ of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; criley@hawaii. Genetically engineered plants once promised huge advances edu for the U.S. horticultural and agronomic industries. However, Known to the Aztecs and used medicinally, Plumeria rubra the biotechnology pipeline has slowed to a trickle. As of was also adopted by the early Spanish missionaries and planted 2010, the number of field testing permits and acknowledgments near missions and cemeteries, and taken along on the voyages are down 40% compared to the 2002 peak. Furthermore, the of exploration across the Pacific to the warm regions of eastern USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) Asia and the Indian Ocean. The frangipani, as it is also known only deregulated two agronomic crops for commercial in some areas, has found a home in nearly all tropical regions production in 2010 despite over 20 deregulation petitions. as an ornamental shared via cuttings between friends and Genetically engineered horticultural crops have lagged strangers. While the long-lived cuttings are the most common behind agronomic crops. What factors reduced the application

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S81 of this technology for horticulture? This workshop will first 3:40–4:00 pm discuss the scientific, regulatory, and legal issues underly- Hawaiian Horticulture, Organic Production, ing recent National Environmental Policy Act lawsuits that and Genetically Engineered Crops have had a significant impact on the testing and deregulation of genetically engineered crops across the nation. In the second Hector R. Valenzuela* half, the workshop will focus on the state of biotechnology Univ Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] in Hawaii. What are the scientific issues affecting testing and deregulation of genetically engineered Hawaiian crops? 4:00–4:20 pm What is the history and future of biotechnology legislation Genetically Engineered Crop Legislation and in the State of Hawaii? Are cultural considerations in conflict Cultural Concerns in Hawaii with genetically engineered crops? Can organic crops coexist with biotechnology in Hawaii? What is the fate of genetically Mike Gabbard* engineered crops? Hawaii State Senate, Honolulu, HI; sengabbard@capitol. hawaii.gov 2:30–2:40 pm Application and Regulation of Genetically Monday, September 26, 2011 Engineered Crops in Horticulture 3:45–5:45 pm Kings 1 Alan Smith* Univ of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; [email protected] E-Organic: The Extension CoP for Organic Agriculture 2:40–3:00 pm Evaluation of USDA’s Regulation of Genetically Sponsors: Integrated Organic Program, Extension (EXT) Engineered Crops Working Group Coordinator/Moderator: Esther E. McGinnis* Alexandra Stone, stonea@hort. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; mcgi003@umn. oregonstate.edu edu The growth in organic market opportunities has increased the demand across the country for information on all aspects of 3:00–3:20 pm organic agricultural production. Until recently there has been Transgenic Papaya in Hawaii: From the little published Extension information on organic agricultural Beginning to the Future practices as science-based information was scarce. In addition, science-, experience- and regulation-based organic agriculture Dennis Gonsalves* information must be integrated to produce information of USDA ARS PBARC, Hilo, HI; Dennis.Gonsalves@ars. the greatest utility to farmers and agricultural professionals. usda.gov eOrganic works to fill this need and become an important Papaya ringspot virus was discovered in Hawaii in the 1940s, national source of organic agriculture information by but it became notorious when it entered the Puna district of 1) convening a national community of researchers, extension Hawaii Island in 1992 and proceeded to devastate the papaya and other agricultural professionals, farmers, and certifiers at industry because approximately 95% of the state’s papaya crop eOrganic.info, 2) facilitating project management, network- was being grown in Puna. Research to develop transgenic papaya ing and co-learning, 3) supporting collaborative development resistant to papaya ringspot virus was started in 1985 using the and publication of peer-reviewed articles, FAQs, and videos concept of pathogen-derived resistance. In 1992 field trials at eXtension.org/organic_production, and 4) facilitating en- showed that a selected transgenic line was resistant to the virus gagement with farmers and agricultural professionals through and two cultivars, Rainbow and SunUp, were commercialized webinars, short courses, Ask-an-Expert, and other interactive in 1998. Resistance has held up remarkably well in Hawaii and tools and activities. First, we will tour eOrganic’s community today these cultivars comprise greater than 80% of the papaya portal (eOrganic.info), where eOrganic CoP members work grown in Hawaii. This talk describes the “transgenic papaya and network. We will then tour eOrganic’s public content for story” from its inception to the present and beyond. farmers, extension professionals, researchers and others (http:// extension.org/organic_production ). We will also demonstrate 3:20–3:40 pm the Ask-an-Expert system, our videos at eXtension (http:// www.extension.org/pages/18726 ) and Youtube (http://www. Industry’s Prospects for USDA Regulation and youtube.com/user/eOrganic) and our webinars http://www. Litigation of Genetically Engineered Crops extension.org/pages/24989. Finally, we will discuss how the J. Thomas Carrato* ASHS community can get more involved. St. Louis, MO; [email protected]

S82 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:15–8:45 am 7:45–9:45 am Kohala 4 Tropical Crop Quality after Quarantine Quarantine Treatments for Export Treatment Using Irradiation Marisa Wall* Markets of Hawaiian Horticultural USDA ARS, Hilo, HI; [email protected] Crops Many horticultural commodities intended for export must receive an approved quarantine treatment before shipment. Sponsor: Postharvest (PH) Working Group Irradiation is becoming an acceptable option for meeting phy- Coordinator/Moderator: Anne Plotto, [email protected]. tosanitary requirements of fresh produce traded internationally. gov Irradiation at doses up to 1000 Gy have been approved by the FDA for the preservation and disinfestation of fresh fruits and Hawaii’s horticultural crops represent 65% of the agricultural vegetables. Use of the technology is accelerating with the market value, with fresh fruits and ornamental crops being approval of low dose generic treatments for insect disinfesta- major export commodities. However, the State of Hawaii is tion and the availability of irradiation facilities. However, under stringent regulations to export its horticultural crops commercial adoption of irradiation treatment requires an to the mainland United States and to Pacific Rim countries understanding of the radiotolerance limits for individual com- because of the possible presence of quarantine pests such as modities, as well as the multiple factors that may mediate phy- tephritid fruit flies, whiteflies, scales, mealy bugs, plant hop- totoxicity. Careful attention to dosimetry and fruit physiology is pers, and banana moth. Limiting the development of insect needed to accurately determine phytotoxic thresholds. Research pests is conducted in a system’s approach pre- and postharvest. on the irradiation tolerance of tropical crops is presented, Postharvest pest control can be greatly enhanced when including the effects of cultivar, maturity, and storage period populations are reduced prior to harvest using appropriate on the quality of treated sweet potatoes, bananas, and dragon chemical sprays. Postharvest quarantine treatments include fruit. Two purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars retained good chemical dips, fogs and aerosols, hot water treatments, low quality following irradiation and storage for 12 weeks at 15 dose irradiation, and controlled atmosphere. Each treatment °C, but a white-fleshed cultivar developed postharvest decay needs to be optimized for the target pests with minimal im- that decreased overall root quality. The purple-fleshed roots pact on the commodity. This workshop will give an overview tolerated 600 Gy irradiation without quality loss and were of the most current methods used by the fruit and ornamental sweeter than non-irradiated roots. For specialty bananas, industry. doses between 600–800 Gy did not compromise visual quality, composition, or ripening behavior, depending on fruit 7:45–8:15 am maturity and harvest season. Irradiation did not extend banana Use of Irradiation as a Quarantine Treatment shelf-life, but there was an acceleration of sucrose hydrolysis for Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Crops in treated fruit. Three clones of non-climacteric dragon fruit tolerated 800 Gy irradiation, with minimal effects on visual Peter Follett* quality after 12 d storage at 10 °C. Currently, Hawaii-grown USDA-ARS, Hilo, HI; [email protected] papayas, sweet potatoes, bananas, longans, and rambutans are being irradiated and marketed successfully, but the state has The export of many of Hawaii’s fresh fruits and vegetables to approvals to export 18 fruits and 6 vegetables with irradiation. the U.S. mainland is regulated due to the presence of quarantine insect pests. Hawaii has export approvals for 17 fruits and 8:45–9:15 am 7 vegetables using irradiation to disinfest the commodities of any quarantine insects. Hawaii Pride LLC (Keaau, HI) Systems Approach to Quarantine Treatments is the first commercial irradiator designed to treat fresh com- for Export Ornamental modities for phytosanitary purposes. During the past 10 Arnold Hara* years, sweet potatoes, papayas, dragon fruit, bananas, longan, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hilo, HI; arnold@hawaii. rambutan, and mangos have received postharvest irradia- edu tion treatment before shipment to the U.S. mainland. Other commodities such as basil and curry leaf may be irradiated A major negative impact on quarantine security for export orna- to prevent rejection due to hitchhiker pests. Advantages and mentals has been the phase out of the highly effective fumigant, drawbacks of irradiation will be discussed. Broad commod- methyl bromide (MeBr), for its role in depleting the ozone layer. ity tolerance and the availability of generic irradiation doses Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows the to treat almost any group of insects on any fresh commodity quarantine use of MeBr, state and federal quarantine agencies make irradiation an attractive treatment option. The talk and private exporters have virtually ceased use of MeBr as its will include a virtual tour of the Hawaii Pride LLC irradiation unavailability is imminent. Presently, there is no single alternative facility. to MeBr that equals its effectiveness on a wide range of pests and its non-phytotoxicity to ornamentals. Alternative postharvest

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S83 disinfestation treatments (including washes and chemical dips, Richard P. Marini fogs and aerosols, heat treatments, controlled atmosphere, and Pennsylvania State Univ, University Park, PA; rpm12@ irradiation) each have advantages and limitations. None of these psu.edu treatments alone will assure 100% quarantine security and provide Emily Tepe marketable, high quality products for export. Currently, only the Univ of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] systems approach to quarantine security will assure minimum Wesley R. Autio pest-risk and high quality products for most export ornamentals. Univ of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; [email protected]. The systems approach integrates field pest management prac- edu tices, postharvest treatments, and final inspection into a unified quarantine protocol. Pre-harvest field control measures, such as Alan R. Biggs West Virginia University, Kearneysville, WV; Alan. biological, chemical, and/or cultural controls, can reduce pests [email protected] to a level at which postharvest disinfestation treatments (heat, chemical dips, aerosols, controlled atmosphere, and irradation) Jon M. Clements are 100% effective in assuring no live pests. Implementing the University of Massachusetts, Belchertown, MA; systems approach in ornamental production provides effective [email protected] phytosanitation for quarantine security, which will allow export Robert M. Crassweller of high quality ornamental commodities to major global markets Pennsylvania State Univ, University Park, PA; [email protected] without risk of invasive pest introductions. Daniel Foster Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; [email protected] Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Melanie Foster 10:00 am–12:00 pm Queens 6 Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; miller. The Growing Involvement of [email protected] Diane Doud Miller Horticulture in e-Xtension: Ohio State Univ-OARDC, Wooster, OH; miller.87@osu. Updates and Opportunities edu Michael Lee Parker Sponsor: eXtension Working Group North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC; mike_parker@ Coordinator/Moderator: Richard E. Durham, ncsu.edu [email protected] Jozsef Racsko The national eXtension Initiative officially launched its public The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH; [email protected] web site (www.extension.org) on 21 Feb. 2008, at the USDA Terence Lee Robinson Agriculture Outlook Forum in Washington, DC. Work on this New York State Agr Expt Sta, Geneva, NY; tlr1@cornell. Initiative has been ongoing for several years. In 2005, eight com- edu munities of practice (CoPs) were funded to begin identifying and/ or developing content for eXtension. Among these pioneer CoPs Michele Warmund was one devoted to consumer horticulture that participated in the Univ of Missouri, Columbia, MO; warmundm@missouri. public launch using a more user-friendly identity of Gardens, edu Lawns, and Landscapes (GLL). In the last few years, additional Researchers have collected a great deal of data relating to apple horticulture themed CoPs have been developed including: All cultivars and rootstocks over the past 30 years, but much of this About Blueberries; Apple Rootstocks and Cultivars; and Grapes. information is not easily accessible. The long-term goal of our Other, CoPs exist that relate to horticulture including: Bee Health; working group is to increase access to this information using eOrganic; Plant Breeding and Genomics; and Wildlife Damage on-line technology available through eXtension (extension.org). Management. This workshop will provide information on the In eXtension, researchers and extension personnel are develop- formation of many of these CoPs with an emphasis on funding ing a community of practice (CoP) to increase the quality and strategies that will help sustain these communities and perhaps amount of on-line information for individuals interested in our launch new ones. work (referred to as a Community of Interest and abbreviated CoI). For this project, our CoI is broadly defined as commercial 10:00–10:15 am apple producers, nursery professionals, county extension educa- Apple Rootstocks and Cultivars: A Case tors, master gardeners, home gardeners, and consumers. Over the Study in Using Extension to Increase Access to three years of our grant, our CoP will develop diverse educational Research-Based Information tools, with the goals of increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability for commercial apple production. Additionally, we Emily Hoover* will provide other members of our CoI access to research-based, Univ of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] reliable information on the culture and nutrition of apples. We

S84 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 chose to focus on the Eastern United States to begin and will with relatively small blueberry industries and insufficient funds add other regions as our resources and interest grows. to support active land-grant research and extension programs (Louisiana and Alabama) are benefiting from cooperation with 10:15–10:30 am Mississippi State University and North Carolina State University, Working Across State Lines to Create a Multi- which have well-developed, robust research/extension programs Disciplinary SCRI Team Proposal: The All that support the blueberry industry. Our multi-disciplinary team members specialize in blueberry production and management, about Blueberries Extension.Org Story horticulture, pest management, disease management, human Natalie Hummel* nutrition, economics, marketing, extension program evaluation, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; nhummel@agcenter. computer design, communications, and graphic design. Working lsu.edu across disciplines has allowed us to reach a broader audience enhancing the impact of our website. Denise Attaway LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. 10:30–10:45 am edu Industry Involvement in the Creation and Elina D. Coneva Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Funding of the Extension Grape Community of Practice Kimberly Morgan Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS; Morgan@ Eric T. Stafne* agecon.msstate.edu Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; eric.t.stafne@ okstate.edu William O. Cline North Carolina State University, Castle Hayne, NC; bill_ Edward W. Hellman [email protected] Texas A&M Univ, Lubbock, TX; [email protected]. edu Donna Marshall USDA-ARS, Poplarville, MS; [email protected]. R. Keith Striegler gov Univ of Missouri, Columbia, MO; strieglerk@missouri. edu Don Ferrin LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] Jean-Mari Peltier National Grape and Wine Initiative, Sacramento, CA; Krisanna Machtmes [email protected] LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; KMachtmes@agcenter. lsu.edu Industry involvement is a critical aspect of the Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI). Both a mandate for need and fund- Heli Roy ing are necessary from industry to develop a successful project. LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] The National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI), a nationwide We have developed an eXtension Community of Practice coalition representing all segments of the grape industry in- (CoP) focused on blueberry production and consumption. The cluding raisin, juice, fresh grape, and wine interests, identified “All about Blueberries” Community of Practice is adapting extension education as a critical need and charged its extension/ the best existing extension publications and developing new outreach committee to concentrate on ensuring industry members research-based extension recommendations related to blueberry are aware of and have access to findings from grape and grape production and consumption. Our primary goal is to increase products research. To achieve this goal, the committee decided blueberry productivity and consumption of blueberries, initially that a comprehensive online information and educational re- in the southeast and now nationwide. Our CoP is using a variety source would play an important role. In 2009, the eXtension of educational approaches including video, audio podcasts, Grape Community of Practice (GCoP) was funded by the photo galleries, interactive-training modules (Moodle), and SCRI. NGWI was active in soliciting letters of endorsement and social networking tools (i.e. Facebook, twitter, and blogs) to buy-in from the industry for the project. The Missouri Wine educate our audience. Our Community of Interest is broadly and Grape Board also contributed $20,000 per year for 3 years defined as producers (commercial and backyard), distributors, to help offset the matching requirement. Research-based grape and consumers of blueberries (youth and adult). We are work- proposals in subsequent rounds of the SCRI in 2010 and 2011 ing cooperatively to develop content in the following topic wishing to have the approval of NGWI have been strongly areas: “The Blueberry”, “Consumers”, and “4-H/Youth”. The encouraged to include the GCoP as a portion of their exten- experts that are members of our CoP are located in the south- sion component. For the 2011 round of SCRI proposals, this eastern United States (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and lead to the GCoP being included in 3 projects. Future avenues North Carolina), where both southern highbush and rabbit-eye for funding will include subcontracts from other grant awards, blueberries are grown. Additional experts from other blueberry NGWI, industry sponsorships, and other creative methods, such producing regions have also joined our team. Southern states as subscription access.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S85 10:45–11:00 am The diagnostics module is composed of three parts and is What Is eOrganic, and How Can It Help Foster expected to take 2–4 hours to complete. Part 1 covers why it a National Organic Agriculture Research and is so difficult to diagnose plant problems; part 2 discusses how to gather the information necessary for the diagnostic process; Outreach Community? and part 3 covers the Ohio State Fact Sheet “20 Questions Alexandra Stone* to Plant Diagnostics.” The online module costs $10 and the Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; stonea@hort. income is distributed between the module author(s); the state oregonstate.edu which the Master Gardener (MG) is from; and eXtension. This diagnostic module is targeted to all MG and is a basic and Danielle D. Treadwell yet detailed look at what is involved in the diagnostic pro- Univ of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] cess. The goal of the module is to increase MG confidence in Timothy W. Coolong knowing how to approach the most common question they are University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; tcool2@email. asked from the public: “ What’s wrong with my plant?” uky.edu Although the module was developed by and for the 11 North The growth in organic market opportunities has increased Central states, it is open to anyone who pays $10. The three the demand across the country for information on all aspects of components of the module content will be discussed in this organic agricultural production. Until recently, there has been presentation. little published Extension information on organic agricultural practices as science-based information was scarce. In addition, 11:15–11:30 am science-, experience-, and regulation-based organic agriculture Multistate Collaborations to Answer Consumer information must be aggregated and integrated to produce Horticulture Questions in e-Xtension information of the greatest utility to farmers and agricultural professionals. eOrganic works to fill this need and become an Richard E. Durham* important national source of organic agriculture information by: Univ of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; [email protected] 1) convening a national community of researchers, extension Candace Harker and other agricultural professionals, farmers, and certifiers at Univ of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; [email protected] eOrganic.info; 2) facilitating project management, networking, Karen Jeannette and co-learning; 3) supporting collaborative development and University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; [email protected] publication of peer-reviewed articles, FAQs, and videos at eX- The Consumer Horticulture Community of Practice, which is tension.org/organic_production; and 4) facilitating engagement responsible for the Gardens, Lawns, and Landscapes section of with farmers and agricultural professionals through webinars, eXtension, has historically answered around 40% of the ques- short courses, Ask-an-Expert, and other interactive tools and tions submitted to Ask an Expert. Extension Master Gardener activities. There currently is no organic agriculture scientific/ volunteers (EMG) were initially recruited from several states professional society, and researchers and Extension faculty and to help answer questions. By 2008, EMG were answering over their collaborators do not have a mechanism to find, network, and 50% of incoming questions. However, the number of questions learn with peers. eOrganic works to develop these opportunities answered in the horticulture category has increased dramatically at eOrganic.info as we see that networking and co-learning is from 2,618 in 2008; to 5,619 in 2009; and 7,998 in 2010. The critical to eOrganic’s capacity to develop high quality, science- institutionalization of eXtension in land-grant universities has and experience-based information to stakeholders in the short resulted in more Extension personnel willing to answer ques- and long term. eOrganic members are experimenting with a tions across all categories. This paper will track demographics variety of tools and strategies to determine which are most use- of incoming questions since the launch of the application and ful, including personal pages, project websites, online forums, highlight changes in the ways that questions are being handled. webconference-based brown bag discussions, community and public webinars, and virtual field tours. 11:30–11:45 am 11:00–11:15 am Opportunities for Federal Funding of Extension What’s Wrong with My Plant? An Online Plant Communities of Practice Diagnostics Module for Master Gardeners Craig Wood* eXtension Innitiative, Lexington, KY; craig.wood@ Mary Hockenberry Meyer* extension.org Univ of Minnesota, Chaska, MN; [email protected] Thomas A. Bewick Cynthia Haynes USDA CSREES PAS, Washington, DC; tbewick@csrees. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; [email protected] usda.gov Denise Ellsworth Mary M. Peet The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; ellsworth.2@ U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food osu.edu and Agriculture, Washington, DC; [email protected]

S86 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 The authors will discuss recent opportunities for funding new There are many countries around the world where horticulture and existing eXtension Communities of Practice through federal expertise is in demand. Understandably, some countries will agencies. Community of Practice leaders may also share success always have larger horticulture sectors than others. Some of these stories regarding funding. places are also targets for international development dollars and consultants are more likely to be in demand in such countries. Lebanon is one such country, where there are a lot of opportunities Tuesday, September 27, 2011 for horticulture consultants. USAID funding of projects through 12:30–2:30 pm Queens 6 several contracting NGOs such as ACDI/VOCA and Winrock International has lead to multiple horticulture-related projects Various Experiences in Overseas in Lebanon. Some of them require Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer Consulting (Paid and/or Volunteer) consultants while other projects offer short- or long-term paid consulting opportunities. Volunteer projects can be quite vari- Sponsor: International Horticultural Consultants (ICON) able from something as straightforward as training farmers to Working Group use agricultural chemicals correctly to training growers how to Coordinator: John L. Griffis, Jr., [email protected] handle apricots or onions so that they get to market in acceptable condition. Other projects, such as hydroponic sector development, This workshop will provide information to workshop attendees require different expertise, and consultants are often hired for of situations that may occur during and after overseas paid or different parts of the project and for different amounts of time. volunteer consulting. Fortunately, I was able to serve as both a volunteer and a paid 12:30–12:55 pm consultant in Lebanon in 2010. I’ll discuss how those positions came about and how each one played out, so that others can also Horticulture in Uzbekistan avail themselves of such opportunities. Rolston St. Hilaire* New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM; rsthilai@nmsu. 1:20–1:45 pm edu Accessing Markets in Conflict and Post-Conflict Over 90% of all water resources used in Uzbekistan are al- Settings located to agricultural production for the country’s 4.2 million Allison Brown* hectares of arable land. As the mainstay of the Uzbek economy, Tuscarora International, State College, PA; cardoon1313@ irrigated agriculture accounts for about 35% of the country’s yahoo.com Gross Domestic Product. Water Users Associations (WUA) help manage agricultural water resources. A WUA is a self-managing One of the principles of Counter Insurgency practice is that consortium of farmers that operate and maintain a defined ir- livelihoods must be restored as quickly as possible in conflict- rigation and drainage network to ensure fair and equitable water affected areas. This usually means investment in agriculture and distribution to farmers. The main goal of a WUA is to increase especially in high-return horticulture as a way of employing crop productivity and production levels. However, agriculture large numbers of skilled and unskilled laborers. Unfortunately in Uzbekistan is transitioning from a centrally-planned system reestablishing market links in conflict and post-conflict settings to more market-oriented, private enterprise and the farmers is not an engineering task like fixing roads or irrigation systems. operating in this new environment must work within the con- Teaching strategic business management is often far outside the text of a WUA while making decisions that affect the solvency skill set of the military personnel tasked with accomplishing of their farms. While a few large horticulture enterprises exist rural transformations. Yet without these market links, economic in Uzbekistan, horticulture production is concentrated mostly development and thus political stabilization, will falter. I will on small farms. Farmers encounter challenges such as how draw on experience in Burma, Laos, and Afghanistan to describe to efficiently use water for crop production and how to select the problems of market access in dangerous peri-urban and cropping strategies appropriate to small farms. Personnel spe- rural settings and suggest some strategies to help link growers cifically trained in the private enterprise systems can provide to buyers in difficult situations. expertise that will allow those farmers to seamlessly transition from a centrally planned system to a market-oriented system. This presentation will focus on the challenges and promises of Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Uzbek horticulture while detailing specific opportunities for 2:00–3:30 pm Kohala 4 horticulture consulting. Tropical Fruits Workshop 12:55–1:20 pm Sponsor: American Pomological Society Horticulture Consulting in Lebanon Coordinator/Moderator: Peter M. Hirst, [email protected] John L. Griffis* Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL; jgriffis@ This workshop gives an overview of tropical fruit in Hawaii. fgcu.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S87 2:00–2:15 pm Bob Durst The Fruit Industry in Hawaii Linus Pauling Institute, Corvallis, OR; Durst@ Oregonstate.edu Mike Nagao* Hawaii State Government-UH Catahr HI, Hilo, HI; Allan K. Ikawa [email protected] Big Island Candies, Hilo, HI; kristy@bigislandcandies. com Tracie K. Matsumoto USDA-ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; tmatsumoto@pbarc. Jodi Silva ars.usda.gov Big Island Candies, Hilo, HI; jodibic@bigislandcandies. com 2:15–2:30 pm Ken Love Hawaii’s Transgenic Papaya: Is It Really the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Grower Association, Captain Cook, Forbidden Fruit? HI; [email protected] Dennis Gonsalves* Yongjiang Chang USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin North American Plants LLC, McMinnville, OR; changy@ Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI; Dennis. naplants.com [email protected] Hawaii farmers face many challenges in production, i.e., high 2:30–2:45 pm cost of operation, limited affordable land, infra-structure, energy, The Pebbles That Started the Tea and ‘Ohelo and human resources. After World War II, success in research into new crops contributed to the economic development and Berry Projects in Hawaii stability in Hawaii. Some crops included pineapple (Ananas Francis T.P. Zee comosus), sugar (Saccharum officnarum), macadamia (Maca- USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; Francis.Zee@ars. damia integrifolia), anthurium (Anthurium spp.), and orchids usda.gov (Dendrobium hybrids). In the past three decades, the high cost of production and marketing in Hawaii caused a gradual migra- Amy Strauss tion of industries overseas. In 1997, the declining sugar industry USDA–ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; Amy.Strauss@ars. usda.gov set off a search for new crops. No single crop was identified to replace sugar in scale or value. High costs of production will Claire Arakawa always be challenging Hawaii agricultural industries. During this USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; Claire.arakawa@ time, one crop remained viable—the Kona coffee industry. Kona ars.usda.gov coffee is a unique portable product of high quality for a special- Tristan Foote ized market. Although many countries can produce coffee, only USDA–ARS–PWA–PBARC, Hilo, HI; Tristan.Foote@ars. Hawaii produces Kona coffee. Tea was introduced to Hawaii usda.gov in 1887—the high cost of production and marketing severely constrained the development of tea as a commodity crop. In 1997, Kim E. Hummer a novel small-scale tea processing method was introduced using USDA–ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, the microwave oven; the method encouraged testing and process- Corvallis, OR; [email protected] ing of tea by entrepreneurs in their own kitchens. The artisan Barbara M. Reed approach in tea processing was the little pebble that started the USDA–ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] tea interest in Hawaii. The other pebble was ‘Ohelo or ‘Ohelo ai (Vaccinium reticulatum), an endemic Hawaiian relative of Nahla V. Bassil* the blueberry. People frequently scour the landscape where it is USDA–ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] grown, disrupting fragile habitats to harvest its berries for use in Stuart Nakamoto jam, jelly, and pie filling. The impact to delicate environments University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; might be reduced if ‘Ohelo could be cultivated and marketed [email protected] to meet demands. From 2008–2011, a project began in Hawaii and Oregon to streamline the propagation, conservation, and Randall Hamasaki sustainable use of the resource through improving cultivation University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; rrth@ hawaii.edu and making plants available as tissue culture and seeds without additional pressure on wild stands. The project also emphasised Milton Yamasaki extension and outreach to user communities including nursery, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; myamasaki@hawaii. culinary, and confectionary industries. The team released three edu ‘Ohelo cultivars for ornamental and berry production; we identi- Andrew Kawabata fied environmental effects favorable to growing ‘Ohelo, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; host–pathogen relationship, etiology, and disease management [email protected] as a crop. The team published, through extension, information

S88 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 on propagation and cultivation; we emphasized long-term 15 states with more pending in 2011, represent real and perceived conservation, molecular identification, and quality component risks. Currently this crop, due to Federal restrictions, lacks the analysis for this potential new crop from Hawaii. standard official oversight that is utilized in all other aspects of food, fiber, or medicinal-grade crops. Various issues surrounding research, Best Management Practices, sanitation standards will Tuesday, September 27, 2011 be addressed. A discussion of ASHS’s role will be included. 2:00–4:00 pm Kohala 1 2:55–3:20 pm Challenges and Opportunites A Horticultural Scientist’s Perspective on in Medical Cannabis for the Medicinal Cannabis Research Professional Horticulturist Lyle E. Craker* University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; craker@pssci. Sponsor: Herb Spices and Medicinal Plants (HSMP) Working umass.edu Group While the process to gain permission for research in the United Additional Sponsors: Harborside Health Center; Otoké States on Cannabis spp. appears straightforward, the classifica- Horticulture LLC; Colorado Dispensary Services (CDS); tion of this plant as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal goverment B*Goods; Sensibile Colorado; National Cannabis Industry limits any ability to scientifically study the horticulture or Association (NCIS); Cannabis Consumer Health and Patient medicinal applications of the plant material. Responses from Advocacy Association (CCHPAA) the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for permission to grow Cannabis for medicinal studies can be extensively delayed Coordinator/Moderator: Gary W. Stutte, gary.w.stutte@nasa. as the host research institution is visited and questioned as to gov; Dayan Ranwala, [email protected] the respectability of such an application. Security inspections This workshop will provide an introduction to the medicinal, of facilities and warnings about individuals stealing the plant horticultural, research, and legal issues surrounding medicinal material may appear unreasonable, but the DEA is charged with Cannabis production, and initiate a discussion of the role of the preventing any misuse of these plants. Still, after satisfying all professional horticulturist and horticultural societies to ensure the requested precautions, permission to do research can sit in the uniformity, safety, and integrity of the medicinal product. limbo with neither a positve nor negative answer to the request The workshop will focus on the issues associated with produc- to grow Cannabis plants for use in medical efficacy studies on tion of Cannabis for medical purposes sanctioned by various the plant constituents. The potential research is placed on hold states. The speakers will address the key areas of significance and the waiting begins as the agnecy identifies inadequate, to horticulturists and discuss the evolving nature of the politi- on-going medical trials using plant material growing in Mis- cal, economic, and legal environment associated with the crop. sissippi. Attorneys can enter case to force the DEA to make a decision, but years pass and any horticultural and medicinal 2:05–2:30 pm research on Cannabis appears indefinitely deterred. The DEA A Case for Medical Cannabis As a Therapeutic and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the two na- Agent tional agencies charged with control of Cannabis, apparently assume that scientific investigations of medicinal Cannabis Clifton Otto* will lead to more recreational use as opposed to medicinal use. Botanomedical Research of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; Thus, the question on whether Cannabis can effectively treat [email protected] human ailments remains scientifically unanswered in the United Cannabis is a medicinal plant with a rich history of use throughout States and horticultural studies that could lead to plants aimed the course of human civilization. More recently, formal research at specific health conditions are not done. A political solution with Cannabis in the laboratory and clinical setting has created seems necessary. a wealth of scientific knowledge that is confirming the medical properties of this controversial plant. Review of these findings 3:20–3:45 pm helps to clarify the importance of furthering research in this field. Legal Implications for Horticulturists Working with Medicinal Cannabis 2:30–2:55 pm Brian Vicente* Grower Perspective on Horticultural Issues of Sensible Colorado, Denver, CO; brian@sensiblecolorado. Medicinal Cannabis org Kerrie B. Badertscher* This presentation will highlight a hot trend in health care Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kbadertscher@ and horticultural science—the emergence of marijuana as a otokehort.com mainstream medicine. Fifteen states have laws protecting this Medicinal Cannabis production, now legal at varying levels in plant-medicine, and hundreds of thousands of Americans use it for medicinal purposes. This discussion will highlight cur-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S89 rent laws, science, and policy around this issue—including provide to maximize educational benefits. In the workshop, we the growth in horticultural employment in the states and cities would like to identify sources of improved curricula suitable where medical marijuana cultivation is legal. for high tunnels, and explore the possibility of joint projects with other states.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 8:15–8:30 am 8:00–10:00 am Queens 6 The Use of High Tunnels in an After-School Application of Tunnel Technologies Garden Program Candice Shoemaker* to Community and School Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; cshoemak@ Gardens; Education and Production oznet.ksu.edu High tunnels present an economical and practical option for Tools bringing the edible school yard concept to Kansas and other Sponsor: Human Issues in Horticulture (HIH) Working areas where short growing seasons and variable weather present Group challenges to student participation in gardening. Research at Kansas State University over the last several years on the use Coordinator/Moderator: H.C. Wien; [email protected] of high tunnels in the central Great Plains has determined that Interest in gardening in schools and communities in the United high tunnels are well-suited to the local conditions—permitting States has burgeoned in recent years with increased interest in year-round production of fruit, flower, and vegetable crops, and, local production of horticultural products. In northern areas, relative to the open field, provide a more favorable environ- the limited overlap of the gardening season and the school ment for production of virtually all crops evaluated (see www. calendar has constrained the gardening activities of school hightunnels.org). Gardening inside and outside of high tunnels classes. Season extension techniques, such as high tunnels was incorporated into fall and spring after-school gardening and low crop protection devices, are widely used in com- programs at four elementary schools in Kansas as part of a mercial horticulture and are becoming more popular in school USDA-funded research project testing the use of school garden and community garden projects. The workshop will share the programs as an overweight and obesity prevention program. experiences of horticulturists working with these groups, and A start-to-finish overview from getting the high tunnels built illustrate techniques that have greatest usefulness for school and through how they were used will be presented. community garden groups. Sources of funding for such projects will be shared, and the possibilities of joint projects explored. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 8:00–8:15 am 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kings 1 Working with New York Schools to Incorporate Has Sustainability Been Profitable High Tunnels into the Curriculum to Foster School Garden Use for Ornamentals? H.C. Wien* Sponsor: Production and Harvest Mechanization (MKEC) Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Working Group Travis D. Park Coordinator/Moderator: Jennifer Dennis, jhdennis@purdue. Ithaca, NY; [email protected] edu The survival and growth of the U.S. $6.5 billion commercial Heather E. Davis floriculture industry is threatened by the economic down turn, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] rising energy and input costs, negative consumer and media The gardening season for New York schools is constrained both perception of its practices, increasing environmental regula- in fall and spring by the short seasons of favorable weather. tions, droughts, foreign competition, and immigration and Commercial growers have successfully extended their growing labor issues (Mateo, 2008). The environmental, economic, and marketing seasons by the use of unheated high tunnels, so and social sustainability of greenhouse grown crops is in ques- can this technology be adapted to school gardening programs? tion because of the reliance on synthetic fertilizers, growth We are in the beginning stages of a 3-year federally-funded regulators, pesticides, plastic-based packaging, and energy program, in which tunnels will be introduced into one rural throughout the production cycle. In 2007, it was estimated that and one urban school in each of the next 3 years. So far, the the commercial floriculture industry in the U.S. produced over reception of the program by schools has been enthusiastic, but 900 billion plants in plastic pots, hanging baskets, trays, and we are wondering whether to leave curriculum development up cell packs (USDA, 2008). Plastic containers serve the role of to the teachers in each of the schools, or what assistance we can consumer packaging, transportation container, propagation, and

S90 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 production receptacles and therefore must be strong, compat- pay for several types of biodegradable containers relative to the ible with automation, horticultural uses, and can be formed standard virgin plastic container. There are two distinct levels to essentially any size, shape, and color (Evans and Hensley, or tiers that emerged with the first tier including coconut coir 2004; White, 2009). The vast majority of the plastic containers, and peat pots, which received ratings in the same range as rice trays, greenhouse coverings, and labels used by the industry are hull, straw, and wheat pots. A second, lower tier of similarly not recycled due to a variety of economic and contamination rated containers included the poultry feather, cow manure, and issues. In recent years, consumers of lawn and garden products recycled plastic pots (relative to virgin plastic). have shown an increasing interest in environmentally friendly products. As these consumers become more environmentally 10:15–10:30 am conscience, we believe growers that show environmental stew- Eco-Attitudes and Behaviors of Annual, ardship by producing floriculture crops sustainably will gain a Perennial, and Herb and Vegetable Buyers competitive advantage and maintain economic sustainability. This has lead to a desire for products that not only solve the from Four U.S. States needs of consumers, but are also produced and marketing using Bridget K. Behe* sustainable production, distribution, and marketing methods Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; behe@msu. (Hall, 2009). This session will explore sustainability issues in edu the U.S. ornamental industry and discuss results from several studies conducted examining consumer and grower preferences 10:30–10:45 am related to sustainability. Benchmarking Sustainable Attitudes of Ornamental Growers 10:00–10:15 am The Appeal of Biodegradable Packaging to U.S. Jennifer Dennis* Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jhdennis@purdue. Floral Consumers edu Charles R. Hall* Roberto G. Lopez Texas A&M University. College Station, TX; c-hall@ Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] tamu.edu Bridget K. Behe Bridget K. Behe Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; behe@msu. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; behe@msu. edu edu Charles R. Hall Ben Campbell Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; [email protected] Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Station, Ontario; [email protected] Chengyan Yue Univ of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] Jennifer Dennis Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jhdennis@purdue. Ben Campbell edu Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Station, Ontario; [email protected] Roberto G. Lopez Purdue University West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] Given recent consumer and market interest in more sustainable products and business practices, researchers conducted a nation- Chengyan Yue wide survey of greenhouse and nursery crop growers to determine University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] the current state of the industry in terms of sustainability. Growers Instead of virgin plastic, some growers are now using con- were asked about the importance of sustainability, their views of tainers manufactured with alternative materials that can be state environmental regulations, sustainable practices in place and planted directly in the soil and will degrade over time; thus ones they would like to implement in the next 1 to 3 years, and in- eliminating the waste of disposing the pot into landfills. While terest in sustainable certification. None of the grower respondents previous studies have addressed certain aspects of the con- in this survey were certified sustainable, but at least one fourth sumer willingness to pay issue for biodegradable containers, (25.8%) were interested in certification. More than half of the this study specifically addresses consumer’s perceived value respondents currently recycle plastic pots, use controlled-release for the containers themselves; that is, without the influence of fertilizers, and composted plant waste. However, only 12% of the plant in the container. Analysis of the confidence intervals growers want to use biodegradable plant containers or imple- for wheat starch pots, rice hull pots, straw pots, coir pots, and ment water conservation measures into their production system peat pots reveal that they are overlapped, which indicates the within the next 1 to 3 years. Grower respondents felt the biggest price premiums that participants are willing to pay for these obstacle toward implementation was the sustainable production five types of biodegradable containers do not significantly differ practice would not be compatible with their existing system of from each other. Consumers express a positive willingness to production.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S91 10:45–11:00 am Bridget K. Behe Market Segments of U.S. Floral Consumers Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; behe@msu. Based on Attitudes toward Biodegradable edu Packaging Charles R. Hall Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; [email protected] Charles R. Hall* Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; [email protected] Ben Campbell Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Bridget K. Behe Station, Ontario; [email protected] Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; behe@msu. edu Roberto G. Lopez Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] Ben Campbell Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Organically- and locally-grown food products have become Station, Ontario; [email protected] increasingly popular in recent years. However, unlike food products, consumers purchase most outdoor plants for their Jennifer Dennis aesthetic value rather than their nutritional value. Many of the Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jhdennis@purdue. health concerns related to food products might not be applicable edu to ornamental plants, so the demand for organic non-food plants Roberto G. Lopez is unknown. Using a survey with 834 participants from four Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] states, we investigated consumer preference for ornamentals, vegetable transplants and herbs grown: 1) organically, locally, Chengyan Yue and sustainably; 2) in energy-efficient greenhouses; and 3) in University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable containers. Our Consumers increasingly place a greater emphasis on product study found that consumers are not enthusiastic about plants packaging and this has carried over to the grower sector in or their fertilizers being “ organic.” However, consumers are the form of biodegradable pots. While various forms of these very interested in plants being produced locally, similar to the eco-friendly pots have been available for several years, their public’s ever-increasing interest in local food products. Consum- marketing appeal was limited due to their less-than-satisfying ers are also interested in purchasing plants in containers that appearance. With the recent availability of more attractive are more sustainable. Among the different types of containers, biodegradable plant containers, a renewed interest in their biodegradable and compostable pots are more desirable than suitability in the green industry and their consumer acceptance recycled pots. has emerged. The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of biodegradable pots that consumers deem 11:15–11:30 am most desirable and to identify distinct consumer segments, Canadian Consumer Perception of Various thus allowing producers/businesses to more efficiently utilize Production Practices their resources to offer specific product attributes to those who value them the most. We conducted a conjoint analysis through Ben Campbell* internet surveys with 535 valid observations from Texas, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana. Our results show that on Station, ON; [email protected] average consumers like rice hull pots the most, followed by Isabelle Lesschaeve straw pots. Our analysis identified seven market segments and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland corresponding consumer profiles: “Rice Hull Likers,” “Straw Station, ON; [email protected] Likers,” “Price Conscious,” “Environmentally Conscious,” “Carbon Sensitive,” and “Non-Discriminating.” Idiosyncratic Saneliso Mhlanga marketing strategies should be implemented by industry firms Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland to market biodegradable containers to the identified consumer Station, ON; [email protected] segments. Traditionally, Canadian producers and marketers use terms such as biocontrol, integrated pest management (IPM), 11:00–11:15 am organic, and sustainable to describe how their product was Investigating Consumer Preference for produced in order to elicit acceptance or premiums of their Organic, Local or Sustainable Plants products. However, little if any attention has been paid Chengyan Yue* to understanding what message this sends to consumers. Univ of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; [email protected] This study specifically examines what Canadian consumers perceive biocontrol, IPM, organic, and sustainable Jennifer Dennis to be. Results indicated that, as expected, almost all of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jhdennis@purdue. edu respondents had heard of the term “organic,” with a large

S92 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 percentage having heard of “ sustainable.” In regard to to play an important role in the discussion of local foods. IPM and biocontrol, considerably fewer respondents had While we as consumers are encouraged to “Eat Local,” heard of these production methods. However, when taking there is no clear definition of what the term “local” actually a closer look at what consumers believed these production means. Through this interactive workshop, participants practices to be, the results indicate that consumers do not will: 1) be exposed to a balanced discussion of the term have a general consensus as to what producers and sci- “local;” 2) become familiar with challenges and suc- entists typically mean by these production practices. For cesses of other regions; 3) strengthen and establish col- instance, even within the well advertised organic label, laborations; and 4) identify opportunities for ASHS and consumers perceive different things, which implies that its stakeholders to close resource gaps through research, consumers may not be getting what they are expecting. The extension, and teaching infrastructure. Invited presen- miscommunication between the less heard of practices, i.e. tations and facilitated panel discussions will allow for biocontrol and IMP, results in even less consensus among open dialogue focused on local food systems and their consumers with many consumers having a totally wrong supporting infrastructure. The workshop is expected to perception of the practice. This study sheds light on what cover such topics as defining “local,” connecting growers Canadian consumers perceive the production practices to with farmers markets and local restaurants, alternative be and compares these beliefs to what is typically meant. food practices, food security, appropriate methodology, and resources and opportunities for research, extension, and teaching. Specific speakers, topics, and procedural Wednesday, September 28, 2011 details of the workshop will be set in part based upon 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kings 3 input obtained via social networking portals, including those managed by ASHS. At the time of this submission, Local Foods we have invited panelists representing local Hawaiian Sponsor: Local Food Systems (LOCSY) Working Group food systems as well as local chefs. The USDA “Know Your Farmer Know Your Food” program has also been Coordinators/Moderators: Christine E. Coker, cec117@ invited to participate. ra.msstate.edu; William B. Evans, [email protected] The emphasis on food security and food systems continues

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HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S93 Oral Presentations • 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Sunday, September 25, 2011 of DNA produced infection coefficients (IC) relating the total 2:00–2:45 pm Kings 3 DNA of both potato and V. dahliae. As pH levels increased from 5 to 8 the IC increased indicating higher levels of V. dahliae in Undergraduate Oral Competition the potato roots. Neither solution K nor Cl levels significantly influenced IC levels. However, as solution S levels increased, Moderator: Nathan C. Phillips the IC values significantly increased, suggesting that S nutri- Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; tion promotes higher infection of V. dahliae. There was also [email protected] a significant Cl × S interaction on infection. Our preliminary 2:00–2:15 pm findings suggest a need to minimize S application in fertilizers Influence of pH, Sulfur, Chloride, and to reduce PED in Russet Burbank potatoes. Potassium on Infection Severity of Verticillium Specified Source(s) of Funding: Washington Potato Commission dahliae in Russet Burbank Potato Roots 2:15–2:30 pm Aaron Nordin* Photosynthetic Biochemistry and Kaempferol Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; nordin.aaron@ Profiles of Soybean under Leaf Wounding and gmail.com Abscisic Acid Treatments Brad Geary Truc Dinh* Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; brad_geary@byu. Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA; edu [email protected] Jeremey Gneck Wardah Mustahsan Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; [email protected] Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA; Von Jolley [email protected] Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; von_jolley@byu. Stephen Boue edu USDA-ARS-SRRC, New Orleans, New Orleans, LA; Bryan Hopkins [email protected] Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; [email protected] Harish Ratnayaka Matthew Merrell Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA; Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; matt_merrell@ [email protected] hotmail.com Soy flavonoids such as kaempferols are well-known anticancer Andrew Baron phytochemicals biosynthesized especially under environmental Brigham Young University, Provo, UT; atbaron10@gmail. stress. Leaf wounding results in both biotic and abiotic stresses, com and abscisic acid (ABA) is the most common plant stress hor- Dennis Johnson mone. Thus, we conducted greenhouse experiments to evaluate Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dajohn@ association of biochemical parameters of photosynthesis and cahnrs.wsu.edu the yield of anticancer kaempferols in soybean under two types Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne pathogen that causes a vascular of leaf wounding—hole punching and piercing, and two levels disease of plants and is the primary causal agent of potato early of ABA foliar spray—100 and 200 µM. After three treatment dying disease (PED), PED causes plant death before tubers have cycles between V6 and R1 stages, leaves were measured and finished bulking and can reduce yields by 30% to 50%. Optimal sampled at R2 stage. Net photosynthesis was reduced up to pH, sulfur (S), chloride (Cl), and potassium (K) concentrations 37% by ABA spray and 16% by hole-punching but not by leaf were used to grow potato to determine impacts on Verticillium piercing. Although reduced by ABA treatment, stomatal con- infection. This was accomplished by inoculating plants grown ductance (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were not in hydroponic solutions with varying pH and concentrations of affected by mechanical wounding. Photosystem II efficiency S, Cl, and K. Solution pH levels were maintained at 5.0, 6.0, was 22% less under 200 µM ABA treatment compared with 7.0, and 8.0 using MES buffer and daily adjustment with HCl or leaf piercing. Electron transport between photosystem II and I KOH. Low, moderate, optimum, and toxic concentrations of S, was decreased by ABA treatment and hole-punching, but not Cl, and K were were used to determine influence onVerticillium , by leaf piercing. Transpiration rate (E) was reduced by ABA all other essential nutrients were kept constant. Impacts of these treatments, but not by mechanical wounding. Plants treated treatments on Verticillium development were tested by inocula- with 200 µM ABA were >1 °C warmer than control or wounded tion of each treatment solution with 40 mL of a 100, 000 spore plants. Triose Phosphate Utilization and CO2 Compensation per ml solution and by growing plant roots in this inoculated, 14 Point were not different among treatments. Although unaffected L solution. Infection was evaluated in two ways after growing by wounding, Rubisco Carboxylation and RuBP Regenera- plants for 30 days; first, through culturing on modified potato tion rates were greatest in ABA 200 µM treated plants, 43% dextrose agar (mPDA) and second, through DNA extraction and and 48% more than the controls. However, concentrations of quantitative PCR with specific primers. Comparative analysis major leaf kaempferols increased under both wounding and

S94 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 ABA treatments. Association of kaempferol accumulation to Specified Source(s) of Funding: Arizona Department of Agri- biochemical variables of photosynthesis in soy leaves was culture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program found to be specific variable- and stressor-dependent. Both leaf wounding and ABA treatments are promising cultural practices Sunday, September 25, 2011 for producing soy kaempferols. 2:00–3:30 pm Kohala 2 Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 1

2:30–2:45 pm Moderator: Dennis R. Pittenger Cooperative Extension, Riverside, CA; dennis.pittenger@ Evaluating New Repellents for Bird ucr.edu Management Kaylee Renick* 2:00–2:15 pm University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; [email protected]. Ornamental Apples Grown in China edu Ling Guo* Kurt D. Nolte Beijing Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093; lingguo27@ University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; [email protected] hotmail.com Birds commonly cause damage to newly planted seeds, germinat- Shiwei Zhao ing seeds, or emerging seedlings of crops in many agronomic and Beijing Botanical Garden, Beijing 100093; zhaoshiwei@ horticultural crops causing economic loss. In Arizona, a variety of beijingbg.com vegetables are grown throughout the year with planting occurring Xiang Shen from the early fall (July to September for fall melons and leafy Shandong Agriculture University, Tai’an; shenx@sdau. vegetables) through the winter (October to December for early edu.cn spring vegetables) and into early spring (February to March for China has the most species of Malus and is considered to be late spring vegetables and melons). Hybrid vegetables, including one of them main evolutionary centers of the genus. Within lettuce, are often planted to a stand and when bird damage oc- the Chinese culture and especially inside the Royal Garden, curs, quality and yield of the harvestable crop are significantly ornamental apple trees are a sign of wealth and elegance, even reduced. The experiment investigated the potential use of nine within the more traditional gardens. Plants in the Malus genus compounds, such as Mesurol 50% (Gowan Company, Yuma, AZ) have a long history of cultivation within China, dating back as potential bird repellents for lettuce seedling protection. The to the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 B.C.). This paper experiments conducted, evaluated and determined the efficacy represents a compilation of the history, research, introduction, of over-sprays, seed coatings, and treated deterrent applications and production of ornamental apple cultivars within China. in protecting germinating seed and seedlings of lettuce during the period of stand establishment. Untreated cage studies deter- Specified Source(s) of Funding:Beijing Botanical Garden mined that the rate of seedling consumption after 2 consecutive days was 26%. During a similar time frame, cage studies using 2:15–2:30 pm Mesurol as a treated deterrent application using raw lettuce seed Evaluation of Interspecific Hybrid Pears for Use showed significant reductions in lettuce seedling consumption. in Southern California Landscapes When Mesurol was applied as a treated deterrent application, significant decreases in seedling consumption were observed Dennis R. Pittenger* when compared to the repellent being directly applied to the Cooperative Extension, Riverside, CA; dennis.pittenger@ surface of the lettuce seed before planting. In all deterrent treated ucr.edu lettuce seedlings, lettuce consumption was reduced by a factor of Trees of the genus, Pyrus, notably cultivars of P. calleryanai between 2 and 5 when compared to non-deterrent treated lettuce. Decne. (callery pear) and the species P. kawakamii Hayata. In addition to conducting caged studies, the research protocols (evergreen pear), have been widely used as medium-sized, were developed using Mesurol in a field trial. Results showed deciduous or semi-evergreen, flowering landscape trees in that Mesurol used as a treated deterrent before lettuce seedling urban southern California. They are well adapted to a range emergence, significantly reduced seedling consumption by 29% of soil conditions and moderate drought, but they have serious relative to untreated controls. Determining the chemical residuals defects that limit their use. Callery pears, ‘Bradford’ and other in lettuce seedlings via High Pressure Liquid Chromatography newer cultivars, suffer from fire blight disease (Irwinia amy- will be used to evaluate the effectiveness and field longevity of lovora) and narrow branch angles that cause severe splitting of the repellents in the future. This project addresses some of the main branches, while evergreen pear is highly susceptible to technical issues relating to the efficacy of chemical repellents fire blight and can require considerable training to develop an and suggests future avenues of research that would improve the attractive tree. An ornamental Pyrus breeding program by the ability to develop effective chemical repellents for specialty Landscape Plant Development Center (LPDC), Mound, MN, crops in Arizona. identified severalPyrus interspecific hybrids with wide-angled branch structure, good flowering, attractive fall color, and fire

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S95 blight resistance. Their parentage may also confer adaptation outgroups. Genetic analysis using 12 expressed sequence tags to warm semi-arid climates, but this trait has not been proven. (ESTs) suggests geography may be relevant to population trends. Thus, a 5-year study was initiated at the University of Califor- Four genetic clusters represent populations in different terrestrial nia–Riverside to determine the performance and horticultural regions of Texas. The specimen located in the Justiceberg, TX, characteristics of six advanced interspecific Pyrus selections population and a second individual located in Elmendorf, TX, from LPDC’s breeding program under the climate and soil appear to be relictual populations of Quercus series Virentes. conditions of warm semi-arid inland southern California, and The physical age, traits, and genetic analysis indicated both to compare their performance against ‘Bradford’ and evergreen specimens predate other Texas Virentes populations. pears. Across all characteristics evaluated, none of the interspe- 2:45–3:00 pm cific hybrid selections performed as well as the best overall tree in the study, evergreen pear. However, the performance of three Effects of Various Planting Depths and Root selections equaled ‘Bradford’. All trees of two hybrid selections Disturbances on Four Commonly Grown were killed by fire blight, but all hybrid selections exhibited Nursery Trees wide branching angles and good structure. Hannah M. Mathers 2:30–2:45 pm Ohio State University, Horticulture and Crop Science, Columbus, OH; [email protected] Phylogenetic Analysis of Quercus Series Virentes Kyle Daniel* Cynthia B. McKenney* Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. edu Luke Case Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] Robert Wright Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] Dania Rivera Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; rivera.167@ Thayne Montague buckeyemail.osu.edu Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] Basic knowledge of plant physiology indicates that a healthy Quercus series Virentes (live oaks) are many independent root system is very important to a plant’s health and survival. populations of semi-evergreen native trees common from the Some would argue that the root system is the most important southeastern United States to Texas, California, and Mexico. anatomical structure to the plant’s health and survival. There The picturesque, wide-spreading canopy of Quercus virginiana has been much debates over the root systems in production and (southern live oak) and Quercus fusiformis (Texas live oak) outplant settings. Two of the debated practices include planting are highly valued for urban landscapes. In Texas, morphologi- depth and differing methods of treating pot-bound roots. The cal similarities between the standards for Q. fusiformis and Q. purposes of this study include: 1) What effect will depth of virginiana have complicated the classification of individual planting have on the overall growth of the plant. 2) What effect populations. Taxonomy is further complicated by populations that will depth of planting have on the overall hardiness of the plant. are not reproductively isolated but are derived from interspecific 3) What effect will four treatments have on pot-bound roots in hybridization throughout much of Texas. The identification of upshifting. In 2009, two species of oaks, Quercus acutissimai and relic individuals in this hybrid swarm is important to preserve the Quercus rubra were planted into three gallon pots. There were Texas Q. fusiformis and Q. virginiana species. A putative relic two planting depths from which the plants originated, planted at individual has been located in the northern most adaptive range soil surface and planted deep. From these two, four treatments of the Quercus series Virentes (located just south of Justiceberg, were imposed: seeds at soil surface/planted deep; seeds at soil TX). This old oak has morphological attributes of Q. virginiana surface/planted high; seeds deep/planted deep; and seed deep/ in appearance, yet thrives in an environment much farther north planted high. Plants were taken from the pots and were planted and west than previously documented species of Q. fusiformis in the field on 21 Apr. 2010, at The Ohio State University’s or Q. virginiana, and in an environment known for drought, Waterman Farm (Columbus, OH). Syringa reticulata and Tilia high pH soils, and cold seasonal temperatures. To examine the cordata, which were in 1-gal pots in with roots that were pot- heredity relationship of this individual with the Texas live oak bound, were up-shifted on 18 June 2008, into 7- or 15-gal pots. population a phylogenetic analysis of 48 Quercus accessions There were four treatments imposed on the two genera, which was conducted. Quercus accessions were sampled from locations included undisturbed, four cuts through the root ball at N, S, predominantly recognized as Q. virginiana, Q. fusiformis, or a E, W, removal of 1 inch of the root ball around the pot, and hybrid swarm of both species. Several other Quercus species, washing off the media from the roots. Through one season of including a group of deciduous hardwoods, which consisted of growth and overwintering in the flat roof cravo, significant death white oaks (Lepidobalanus) including bur (Q. macrocarpa), occurred throughout both species of oak. Depth treatment also chinquapin (Q. muhlenbergii), gambel (Q. gambelii), shinnery (Q. played a major factor in that seeds deep that were upshifted and havardii), Post (Q. stellata), and Monterey (Q. polymorpha) and planted deep sustained significantly less mortality than the other a group of red oaks (Erythrobalanus) including red (Q. rubra), three treatments pooled over species. The root disturbance of S. scarlet (Q. coccinea), and Shumard (Q. shumardii), served as reticulata and T. cordata, indicated that, at the P < 0.055 level,

S96 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 T. cordata with four cuts N, S, E, W had significantly greater Sunday, September 25, 2011 caliper than that of T. cordata that had the one inch removed 2:00–3:30 pm Kohala 1 from sides and bottom. This would indicate that the species by treatment of Tilia increases caliper when no roots are taken Postharvest away, as apposed to taking off the roots. Moderator: Jinwook Lee 3:00–3:15 pm USDA Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA; Jinwook. Broader Understanding of Biodiversity and [email protected] Genetic Diversity in Landscape Plantings Is 2:00–2:15 pm Needed Antioxidant Treatment Alters Metabolism and Virginia I. Lohr* Internal Browning in ‘Braeburn’ Apples during Washington State University, Pullman, WA; [email protected] CA Storage Many researchers and practitioners have been aware of the im- Jinwook Lee* portance of landscape plant biodiversity and genetic diversity USDA Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA; Jinwook. for decades. The Irish potato famine and Dutch elm disease are [email protected] classic examples of problems resulting from lack of diversity. Recent pest outbreaks, such as emerald ash borer and Asian James P. Mattheis longhorned beetle, have renewed concerns over these issues, USDA Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA; yet little headway has been made in increasing diversity in [email protected] landscape plantings. New research indicates that urban trees Christopher B. Watkins are becoming more uniform genetically due to cloning of a few Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] preferred cultivars; thus, they are losing potential resiliency to pest and environmental stresses at a time when these threats are David Rudell increasing due to climate change. To address this, it is important USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] to know the level of understanding of these issues in the green ‘Braeburn’ apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) fruit can develop industry. A survey distributed to Washington wholesale nurseries internal browning and pitting during storage in elevated levels on plant species diversity issues showed that most respondents of CO2. The antioxidant diphenylamine (DPA) can prevent this were aware of the issue, but lacked an in-depth understanding disorder. To evaluate associated metabolism, we employed of it. More education is needed on why plant species diversity untargeted metabolic profiling of non-polar, polar, and volatile among landscape plants is important. compounds using GC-MS and LC-MS methods with untreated or 2 g·L–1 DPA treated ‘Braeburn’ apple fruit stored under high 3:15–3:30 pm CO2 conditions at 1.5 kPa O2/3 kPa CO2 at 0.5 °C for up to Bio-Shields: A Tool for Mitigating Tsunami and 12 weeks. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS- Storm Surge Damage DA) was employed to identify metabolomic differences that developed during storage and internal browning of untreated Andrew Kaufman* and DPA-treated fruit. The PLS-DA scoring plot revealed me- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; tabolomic divergence between untreated and DPA treated fruit [email protected] after 4 weeks of storage, which accompanied increased flesh Tsunami events have been at the center of the world’s atten- browning only in untreated fruit. The PLS-DA loading plot tion with recent events in Japan and the Pacific Rim. These indicated that flesh browning was associated with increased Tsunami events regularly affect the coasts of Pacific islands, in acetaldehyde, ethanol, and ethyl esters. DPA treatment reduced many cases causing severe property damage, injury, and death. the levels of these and other volatile compounds. DPA treat- While an early warning system and an educated public is the ment also reduced flesh content of many amino acids. These centerpiece of an effective tsunami strategy, these systems can results indicated that metabolism is altered by DPA treatment fail. If a tsunami is generated locally, there may not be sufficient after 4 weeks of CA storage and these metabolic changes may time for an evacuation. Anecdotal accounts of survivors and be related to tissue integrity. research following the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 pointed to a protective role of coastal forests. In Jan. 2010, a team form 2:15–2:30 pm The Tropical Landscape and Human Interaction Lab at the University of Hawaii recorded tsunami inundation distances, Gene Expression in Relationship to Volatile vegetation composition, and damage to structures in cleared and Biosynthesis in Apple Fruit during Ripening forested coastal areas of Upolu, Samoa that were affected by the and Senescence 29 Sept. 2009, tsunami. Data collected support the hypothesis of Jun Song* a protective role of vegetation in reducing damage to structures. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; songj@ Additional benefits of such forests may also include protection agr.gc.ca from storm surge and reduced erosion.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S97 XiaoTang Yang William Srmack South China Agriculture University, GuangZhou; USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Cornell [email protected] University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Leslie Campbell Palmer Randolph Beaudry Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; beaudry@msu. [email protected] edu ZhaoQi Zhang Ripening apple fruit from 10 lines (Malus ×domestica and Ma- South China Agriculture University, GuangZhou; lus ×hybrid) from the Malus core collection of the germplasm [email protected] repository at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, were selected for this study. These lines were Ethylene plays an important role in regulating fruit ripening and selected to study the biological difference between high and low senescence and directly influences the development of the eating branched-chain (BC) ester-producing lines. High BC lines had a quality of fresh apples, including appearance, color, texture, and significant isoleucine increase, about a 4- to 27-fold change dur- flavor. To better understand the regulation of volatile biosynthesis ing ripening. However, in all low BC lines, isoleucine decreased during fruit ripening and to examine the influence of ethylene or remain unchanged. Citramalic acid, which is formed from on expression of volatile biosynthesis genes in fruit, apples har- the condensation of pyruvate and 2-acetyl-CoA by citramalate vested at the pre-climacteric stage were allowed to either ripen synthase (CIM) and linked to a newly described pathway for the naturally or ripening was stimulated by treatment with 36 µL·L–1 biosynthesis of BC esters in apple, increased in content about ethylene for 24. Postharvest physiological indices including 1.3- to 2.9-fold in low BC lines and 15- to 165-fold in high BC respiration, ethylene production and chlorophyll fluorescence lines. The accumulation of isoleucine and an increase in citra- were monitored for 21 days. Real-time qPCR was employed to malic acid in these apple lines suggest that the hypothesized investigate gene expression in relation to ethylene perception and citramalate pathway may activate upon ripening, thereby sup- volatile biosynthesis at day 7, 13, and 21 after treatment. The plying the BC ester precursor, a-keto-ß-methylvalerate, which study was repeated over two seasons. After efficiency tests for all is also the immediate precursor to isoleucine. In addition, a designed primers, 20 genes proposed to be involved in volatile ripening-related increase in 2-ethylmalate was detected. 2-Eth- biosynthesis in relation to branched amino acids and fatty acids ylmalate can be synthesized from the condensation of pyruvate metabolisms were selected to monitor gene expression. Through and a-ketobutyrate via the action of CIM. The expression of statistical analysis, including ANOVA and principle component MdCIM increased during the ripening stage for all lines and analysis (PCA), among the 20 volatile biosynthesis genes, 15 did not differ between low and high BC lines. The observation genes changed significantly. Genes encoding LOX, ADH3, of high MdCIM expression for all lines can be explained from PDC2 and malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase increased with fruit our previously characterized two CIM proteins, MdCIM1, and ripening and ethylene treatment. Ethylene treatment also induced MdCIM2. MdCIM1 is active, but MdCIM2 is not. It is possible the expression of ACAS, HPL, ACAD, ACAS, ArAT1, ECH, that the MdCIM1 predominated in high BC lines, whereas Md- and ACPs as compared with control. While ADH1 and BCAT2 CIM2 predominated in low BC lines. were decreased by ethylene treatment. Fruit ripening and ethylene treatment had no effect on PDC1 and ADH2. Analysis and 2:45–3:00 pm identification of significant gene expression revealed that volatile biosynthesis, especially fatty acids biosynthesis and metabolisms Tissue Localization Effect on Antioxidant in apple fruit is associated with fruit ripening and responsive to Metabolism of 1-MCP Treated Flesh Browning ethylene treatment. The understanding of significant changes of of ‘Empire’ Apples these genes and their function may help to explore mechanisms controlling apple fruit ripening and their response to exogenous Jinwook Lee* ethylene during ripening and senescence. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Lailiang Cheng 2:30–2:45 pm Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Evaluation of Isoleucine and Citramalic Acid Christopher Watkins Content Using High and Low Branched-Chain Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Ester Producing Lines from Geneva Malus Core During CA storage, flesh browning is sporadically detected in Collection ‘Empire’ apples and also, it is much frequently occurred at the Nobuko Sugimoto* shoulder of stem-end localized tissues. The objective of this Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; sugimot3@ study was to investigate the tissue localization effect of 1-MCP msu.edu treated flesh browning on antioxidant scavenging systems of ‘Empire’ apple fruit stored at 2 kPa O2/2 kPa CO2 at 3.3 °C for Philip L. Forsline up to 40 weeks. 1-MCP did not affect the incidence of flesh USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Cornell browning but reduced lightness values (L) and hue angle (h°) University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] at the end of storage. The decrease of these values was more

S98 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 significant at the stem-end localized tissues than at the calyx- and less smooth-edged than that of the chilling injury soggy end ones. 1-MCP reduced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing breakdown when viewed in transverse cross section. Although activity but increased H2O2 concentration. Although 1-MCP did injury severity varied from orchard to orchard and from year not affect malondialdehyde (MDA) level, MDA concentration to year, preconditioning at elevated temperatures reduced the was lower at calyx-end tissue than at stem-end one. The con- incidence and severity of the CA injury relative to fruit held at centrations of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) were 3 °C throughout. Injury incidence was 17.5%, 10.5%, and 2% reduced over storage regardless of 1-MCP treatment and also, damage, respectively, for fruit preconditioned at 3, 10, and 20 calyx-end localized tissue had a much higher concentration of °C. DPA reduced injury symptoms to near zero. The potential AsA and GSH than stem-end tissue. While ascorbic peroxidase for use of preconditioning treatments and/or DPA to control CA (APX) activity was not affected by 1-MCP treatment, its activ- injury appears promising. ity in untreated one was significantly lower at stem-end tissue than at calyx-end localized tissue. The activities of superoxide 3:15–3:30 pm dismutase (SOD) and copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/ Ethylene Perception and Biosynthesis in Apple Zn-SOD) were increased as the NBT reducing activity increased. Fruit Is Differentially Controlled by Ethylene The activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) were reduced by 1-MCP treatment but the other enzyme activities During Fruit Ripening and Senescence were inconsistent. Therefore, the results indicated that there Jun Song* was no strong evidence to support that 1-MCP might cause to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; songj@ develop the flesh browning but the stem-end localized tissue agr.gc.ca could be more susceptible to the flesh browning due to the lower concentrations of AsA and GSH. XiaoTang Yang South China Agriculture University, GuangZhou; [email protected] 3:00–3:15 pm Susceptibility of ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple to Injury ZhaoQi Zhang South China Agriculture University, GuangZhou; by Modified Atmospheres and Strategies to [email protected] Reduce Disorder Incidence and Severity Leslie Campbell Palmer Carolina Contreras* Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; contre33@msu. [email protected] edu Apple fruit (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) is a well known cli- Randolph Beaudry macteric fruit and a good model to study fruit ripening and Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; beaudry@msu. senescence. Ethylene plays an important role in regulating fruit edu ripening and senescence and directly influences the development ‘Honeycrisp’ apple [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. var. domestica of the eating quality of fresh apples, including appearance, color, (Borkh.) Mansf.] fruit develops a number of storage disorders texture, and flavour. Two studies were conducted. In the first including soggy breakdown, soft scald, bitter pit, lenticel break- study, apple fruit were harvested at the pre-climacteric stage down, and internal browning. The susceptibility of this cultivar and allowed to naturally ripen or ripening was stimulated by –1 to damage by the low O2 and elevated CO2 partial pressures in treatment with 36 µL·L ethylene for 24 h. In the second study, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage has not been previously fruit were harvested also at pre-climacteric similar stages and described. Over a three-year period, we stored ‘Honeycrisp’ fruit treated with 1-MCP treatment (1 µL·L–1 for 24 h). Postharvest in various combinations of O2 and CO2 that in year 1 included 6 physiological indices, ethylene production and chlorophyll different atmosphere combinations 1%, 3%, and 21% O2 with 0% fluorescence were monitored up to 21 d after ethylene treat- and 3% CO2 for fruit from four orchards. Fruit were evaluated ment or up to 47 d after 1-MCP treatment. Real-time qPCR after 1, 3, and 6 months storage at 3 °C. In years 2 and 3 of the was employed to investigate gene expression in relation to study, seven and eight orchards, respectively, were included in ethylene perception and biosynthesis at day 0, 7, 13, and 21 the study and we used only 3 % and 21% O2 in combination for ethylene treatment and day7, 14, 22, 39, and 43 for 1-MCP with 0% or 3% CO2. In addition, we imposed preconditioning treatment. Each study was repeated over two seasons. After ef- treatments of 3, 10 and 20 °C for 5 days prior to storage with ficiency tests for all designed primers, 22 genes were selected to and without a diphenylamine (DPA, 1000 ppm) drench before monitor gene expression in relation to ethylene perception and atmospheres were established. Fruit were evaluated after 3 and biosynthesis. Through statistical analysis, including ANOVA

6 months storage at 3 °C. Low O2 (1% and 3%) and elevated and principal component analysis (PCA), 14 genes were found

CO2 (3%) caused damage to the cortex of the fruit, but not to to change significantly. Genes encoding ACS1, ACS2, ACO1, the skin, and seldom to the fruit core. The injury took the form and the ETR1, ETR2, ERS1, ERS2, ERF1, and ERF2 genes of small to extensive dark brown lesions in the cortex and were significantly up-regulated in fruit during ripening and lens-shaped openings typical of CO2 injury reported for other after ethylene treatment. EIN3, ETR5, and CTR1-5 genes were apple varieties. The browning was somewhat more patchy increased with ethylene treatment. In contrast, ACO3 and EIN2B

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S99 seemed to be decreased. While the ACS3, EIN2, EIN2A as filled with a high density of Illumina reads (36, 76, and 100 well as CTR1-1, CTR1-2, and CTR1-4 genes were unchanged. bp). To date, we have generated 8, 106, 330 sequences (or 2.7 1-MCP treatment showed the opposite effect of ethylene, while billion bps) of raw data on the Roche 454 and 44.4 billion bps reduced ETR1, CTRs and EIN2A. These results provide ad- on the GA2x. This vast influx of data creates unique challenges ditional evidence that regulation of these genes expression is for successfully manipulating, analyzing, and simulating as- under the influence of ethylene. Analysis and identification of semblies. The Release of the genomic sequence is planned significant gene expression revealed that ethylene biosynthesis for late 2011 and the Genome Database for Vaccinium (GDV) and perception during apple fruit ripening and senescence is (http://www.vaccinium.org) has been established to house the associated with fruit ripening and responsive to treatment of blueberry sequence and to incorporate genetic and breeding ethylene or its action inhibitor. This study demonstrated the resources for blueberry, cranberry and other Vaccinium sp. Work complexity and dynamic changes of transcriptional profiles is currently under way to integrate the genomic sequence to of ethylene perception and biosynthesis. The understanding of existing blueberry genetic linkage maps utilizing SSR markers significant changes of these genes and their functions may help identified from the largest 10% of the sequencing scaffolds. To to explore mechanisms controlling apple fruit ripening and their date over 90% of existing ESTs have been identified and initial response to ethylene during ripening and senescence. ab inito annotations have identified numerous homologous gene sequences to pathways of interest. The flavonoid pathway is provided as an example. Sunday, September 25, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: UNC General Administration 2:00–4:00 pm Kings 1 Fund

Plant Biotechnology and Genomics 2:15–2:30 pm Moderator: Wagner Vendrame RosBREED Deploys Genome-wide Scans in University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] Peach, Apple, and Cherry 2:00–2:15 pm Nahla V. Bassil* The Genomic Sequencing of Diploid Blueberry USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] (Vaccinium corymbosum) Cameron P. Peace Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. Allan Brown* edu NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; allan_brown@ncsu. edu Doreen Main Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dorrie@wsu. Archana Natarajan Raja edu NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; [email protected] Barbara Gilmore Robert W. Reid USDA-ARS-NCGR, Corvallis, OR; barb.gilmore@ars. UNC Charlotte, Charlotte; [email protected] usda.gov Garron M. Wright Todd Mockler David H. Murdock Research Institute, Kannapolis, NC; Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; tmockler@cgrb. [email protected] oregonstate.edu Cory R. Brouwer Larry Wilhelm UNC Charlotte, Charlotte; [email protected] Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; wilhelml@ Doreen Main science.oregonstate.edu Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dorrie@wsu. David Chagne edu Plant & Food Research, Palmerston North 4442; david. Mark Burke [email protected] David H. Murdock Research Institute, Kannapolis, NC; Susan E. Gardiner [email protected] HortResearch, Palmerston North, Manawatu; sgardiner@ The ongoing blueberry (Vaccinium ssp. section Cyanococcus) hortresearch.co.nz genomic sequencing project has continued to generate high Ross Crowhurst quality data, allowing us to refine our assembly and analysis Plant and Food Research, Auckland 1142; ross. techniques. DNA from a diploid V. corymbosum (‘W8520’) [email protected] with a genome size of approximately 500 mb was used to construct libraries for both 454 and Illumina GAIIx. Long read Ignazio Verde structural scaffolds using paired end 454 libraries of different Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, Roma; ignazio. insert sizes (3 kb, 8 kb and 20 kb) are generated and gaps are [email protected]

S100 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Bryon Sosinski New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research. In peach, genomic DNA North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; bryon_ was re-sequenced from 58 accessions coordinated between the [email protected] U.S., Europe’s FruitBreedomics project, and the International Peach Genome Initiative. Sequences were also generated from Michele Morgante 16 sweet and eight tart cherry accessions. A SOAP/SOAPSNP- 33100 Udine; [email protected] based pipeline was developed to identify SNPs after alignment Simone Scalabrin to the ‘Golden Delicious’ genome sequence for apple and the Istituto di Genomica Applicata, Udine; scalabrin@ double haploid ‘Lovell’ peach genome sequence for peach and appliedgenomics.org cherry. The GoldenGate assay was used to validate subsets of Pere Arus these SNPs and to investigate haplotypic diversity at the planned Inst De Recerca I Tecn Agro, 08348 Cabrils; pere.arus@ resolution of the final SNP arrays (one SNP per 70 Kb). These irta.es “fine-mapped regions” of the genome targeted particular loci responsible for important breeding traits. In apple, 20 of the 144 Riccardo Velasco apple SNPs were located within a 1.4 Mb region at the Malic IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele a/ acid (Ma) locus on Malus linkage group (LG) 16. For cherry, Adige; [email protected] a 0.86 Mb region spanning a fruit size locus on Prunus LG 2 Michela Troggio was targeted with 24 SNPs, while for peach, 0.77 Mb around IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele a/ the Freestone-Melting flesh (F-M) locus was spanned with 14 Adige; [email protected] SNPs. Considerable haplotypic diversity was detected in these regions. SNP filtering parameters were revised based on SNP Alessandro Cestaro conversion in the GoldenGate assay and resulted in ordering IASMA Research and Innovation Centre, San Michele a/ a 9K Infinium array for apple, a 9K Infinium array for peach, Adige; [email protected] and a 6K Infinium array for cherry. Genome-wide scans using Stephen Ficklin this high-throughput Infinium SNP technology are underway Washington State University, Pullman, WA; spficklin@ for 472 individuals representing important breeding parents for gmail.com each of these crops. These genomics resources will enable new Gennaro Fazio marker-locus-trait association discovery as well as validation of USDA ARS, Geneva, NY; [email protected] associations in breeding germplasm for major Rosaceae crops and across this economically important plant family. John Norelli USDA-ARS, Kearneysville; [email protected] 2:30–2:45 pm Jasper Rees Novel Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) Gene Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort; jasper@ Sequences That Affect Important Traits mail.biotech.uwc.ac.za Mithu Chatterjee Cindy Lawley University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Illumina, Inc., Hayward, CA; [email protected] Lauren Coleman Mark Hansen University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; grandiflora@ufl. Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA; [email protected] edu Amy Iezzoni Qian Zhang Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; qzhang@ SNP-based genome scans are in development for peach, apple unh.edu and cherry as public genomics resources for the international Thomas M. Davis Rosaceae research community. The USDA-funded multi-insti- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; tom.davis@ tutional and trans-disciplinary project “RosBREED” is creating unh.edu crop-specific SNP genome scan platforms at a targeted resolution of at least one polymorphic SNP marker every 5 cM in any Kevin M. Folta* random cross. Within RosBREED, these genome scans will be University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] used with Pedigree-Based Analysis to identify and validate many Genomic information has increased exponentially from valued marker-locus-trait associations for application in breeding. SNP crop plants, revealing orthologs of many genes with demon- detection, validation, and final content decisions were completed strated functions in model systems. However, many genes defy in 2010. For SNP detection, 27 founders of apple, cherry, and convenient classification, as they lack conspicuous sequence peach re-sequenced mostly with Illumina GA-IIx were chosen homology or functional motifs that may imply function. One based on representation of worldwide breeding germplasm. Re- critical challenge for science is to connect the extensive suite sequencing of apple genomic DNA was coordinated among the of unknown, hypothetical or predicted genes to their biological U.S., the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, and functions. With a sequenced strawberry (Fragaria vesca) genome

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S101 in-hand and substantial coverage from transcriptome information, belonging to the plant PR-5 group of proteins induced in several novel, expressed sequences have been identified and assessed plant species in response to various types of biotic and abiotic for in planta function using transgenic technology. Four novel stresses. It was named Osmotin due to its induction by low water sequences have been studied that directly affect traits relevant potential of the growth medium and a correspondence between to horticultural characteristics. The first sequence encodes a the level of osmotin protein produced and the degree of osmotic WD-repeat protein that upon RNAi suppression transforms the stress. Transgenic strawberry, cotton and mulberry expressing the perennial strawberry into an annual growth habit. Leaves are tobacco-osmotin gene showed improved drought tolerance and dark and prone to atypical shape. The plant dies shortly after disease resistance. We transformed carrot plants with a tobacco- flowering, yet runners remain viable to perpetuate the genotype. osmotin gene under the control of CaMV 35S promoter using an The second sequence maintains a predicted lucine-zipper motif, Agrobacterium mediated transformation technique. Seven-day- and upon suppression with RNAi leads to plants with longer old hypocotyls were grown on MS medium for 6 weeks before pedicles that bear additional fruit. The third sequence possesses being inoculated with Agrobacterium. Then, the transformed a homeodomain and vague similarity to a kiwi allergen. When callus was kept on MS medium that had Kanamycin as a select- suppressed with RNAi, the resulting plant produces fruits that able marker and Cefotaxime to prevent bacteria overgrowth. are significantly larger than vector-only controls. The final se- After 3 months, regenerated plants were transferred to soil under quence does not encode a protein. Instead it appears to represent growth chamber conditions. PCR using osmotin gene-specific a transcript with no open reading frames or strong secondary primers was conducted on DNA extracted from tissue of putative structure, and at first glance seems to be an artifact of cloning. transgenic carrot plants. Positive results suggest that the gene However, it is expressed, and suppression dramatically alters has been integrated into the carrot genome, and confirmation by canopy architecture, leading to an open configuration desired southern blot hybridization is currently underway. by breeders and growers for effective fungicide application. These four sequences, although uncharacterized in model sys- 3:00–3:15 pm tems, represent conspicuous examples of why it is important to Transposon Based Activation Tagging in perform in functional studies to discover the functions of novel Doubled Monoploid Potato regulators in systems important to agriculture. Together these sequences affect plant attributes desired by industry and may Jared Carter simultaneously help define new molecular mechanisms that Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] contribute to the quality of valuable plant products. Tatiana Boluarte-Medina Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Science Foundation Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Grant IOS 0941335 Norma Manrique-Carpintero Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; normacmanrique@gmail. 2:45–3:00 pm com Agrobacterium Mediated Genetic Suzanne M. Piovano Transformation of Carrot (Daucus carota) with Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] a Tobacco Osmotin Gene Andy Pereira Kevin M. Crosby* University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; apereira@uark. Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX; [email protected] edu Ali H. Annon Nan Lu Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX; [email protected] Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Leonardo Lombardini Richard E. Veilleux* Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX; [email protected] Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Keerti Rathore We transformed monoploid (2n=1x=12) potato clone BARD 1-3 Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX; [email protected] 516 with an activation tagging construct, AcDsATag-Bar_gos- Lack of water is a problem that affects the entire the Middle GFP, with green fluorescent protein (GFP), hygromycin resistance East, where most countries are unable to meet demands. And (hyg) and transposase (TPase) on the Ac element, as well as by 2050, per capita water availability is expected to fall by half. glufosinate resistance (basta or BAR) and a p35s tetramer on the Genetic engineering could be one of many approaches to solve Ds element. Flow cytometry revealed 33 diploid (2n=2x=24), this problem. Carrot (Daucus carota) is a major vegetable crop 12 tetraploid (2n=4x=48), and five mixoploids among 50 inde- and is also used as an animal feed, with a world production of pendent transgenic plants evaluated. The diploid transgenics 23.3 million megatons. Carrots and parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) were crossed as female parent to a closely related wild type are the only umbellifers of international repute as root crops. pollinator. Progeny were screened first by painting seedlings Enhanced carrot drought tolerance and disease resistance might with 0.03% glufosinate herbicide, followed by multiplex PCR have a large economic impact on the Middle East and the world to identify putative tranposants. For 25 families, the expected in general. Osmotin and osmotin-like proteins are stress proteins 1 transgenic:1 wild type segregation was observed, indicating

S102 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 a single gene insertion without transposition of Ds. Six addi- female plants by GE pollen. We conclude that seed dispersal tional families segregated 3 transgenic:1 wild type, indicating is largely responsible for transgene flow among gynodioecious two insertions without transposition. For three independent papayas, but we suggest that removing female plants near test transgenics we observed 1 Ds:AcDsT1 progeny, indicating active sites can improve bio-containment by reducing gene escape transposition but an unexpected absence of wild type plants. from transgenic plants via pollen. TAIL-PCR originating from nested primers in the Ds element Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Biotechnology Risk indicated that 15 activation tagged lines were independent. The Assessment Grants Program parental launch pad was situated on PGSC0003DMB000000017 of the Potato Genome assembly with 11 of 15 of its Ds lines 3:30–3:45 pm transposed locally to other sites on the same scaffold and the remainder transposed to other linkage groups. The transposants Cloning, Sequencing, Characterizing and abut several genes of interest including late blight resistance. Assessing Functionality of the Petunia We are attempting to backcross the Ds lines to the DM parent Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase (TPS1) Gene to produce activation tag seed stocks. through Complementation in Yeast Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA/CSREES/NRI Gonzalo Villarino* Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] 3:15–3:30 pm Characterizing Transgene Flow from GE Maureen Hanson Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Papaya Using the GUS Marker Michael Scanlon Kai’ena Bishaw* Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Debra Nero Karen Pitz Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Neil S. Mattson Richard Manshardt Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Increasing resistance of crops to abiotic stresses is one of the Neal Stewart primary objectives of plant biotechnology. Desiccation of plant Knoxville, TN; [email protected] cells due to drought or salt stress can lead to protein misfolding Information about rate and mechanism of gene flow in papaya and inactivation. Trehalose sugar may act as an osmoprotectant (Carica papaya L) populations is needed to design containment to prevent physical and chemical instability in proteins when strategies that can restrict transgene movement in genetically exposed to salt or drought stress. Trehalose is a non-reducing engineered (GE) plants. Specific objectives for this project were disaccharide sugar and its accumulation is thought to offer os- to: 1) document and map the adventitious presence of GE papaya motic stress protection role in many bacteria and fungi. Whereas plants outside commercial GE plantings, and 2) determine the in most plants trehalose levels are low, the concentration of this relative importance of seeds and pollen in dispersing GE papaya sugar is high in “resurrection plants” (Selaginella lepidophylla) plants. Objective 1 was accomplished by surveying feral papaya which recover quickly from drought stress. Both tomato and rice plants in rural and residential areas of Oahu, mapping their lo- have been genetically modified with microbial TPS1 increas- cation by GPS, and determining their non-GE vs. GE status by ing their tolerance to salt. With an aim toward overexpressing assaying young leaf tissues for transgenic beta-glucuronidase trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 1 gene to improve salt tolerance (GUS) activity. In our survey, 71 (25%) of 285 plants were in the model floriculture species Petunia ×hybrida we cloned GUS+, and these were widely distributed on Oahu. Gene flow the TPS1 gene from Petunia ‘Mitchell Diploid’. This generated via pollen was monitored by screening for GUS+ embryos in a 2784-bp open reading frame that predicts a 58kDA protein of 12-seed samples taken from fruits of non-GE plants. Assays of 927 amino acids. The sequence is available in NCBI database seeds from 70 non-GE hermaphrodite plants detected no (0%) (Accession HQ259080). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae it is plants with GUS+ embryos, but 15 (28%) of 54 non-GE female thought that the TPS1 exerts an essential control on the influx plants produced at least one GUS+ seed. This shows that transgene of glucose into glycolysis. The deletion of ScTPS1 causes an flow via cross-pollination occurs primarily through female plants, inability to grow on glucose because of a hyperaccumulation of presumably because hermaphrodite plants self-pollinate before sugar phosphates and depletion of ATP. To prove the functional- anthesis. However, the observed ratio of 1.7 hermaphrodite : 1 ity of the petunia TPS1 we carried out yeast complementation female (38 hermaphrodites : 22 females) among GE plants in experiments to determine whether PhTPS1 would rescue func- our survey is a good fit (P > X2 = 58%) to the 2 hermaphrodite tion in mutant yeast (W303-1A background) while growing on : 1 female ratio expected for gene flow via seed dispersal from glucose as a carbon source. We truncated the first ca. 80 amino self-pollinated hermaphrodite GE plants, and a poor fit (P > X2 = acids to increase TPS1 catalytic activity as has been reported 4%) to a 1 hermaphrodite : 1 female ratio expected if transgene for AtTPS1. We cloned the trimmed PhTPS1 (ΔPhTPS1) into flow were occurring solely via cross-pollination of non-GE pDB20 yeast expression vector in vivo by means of homologous

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S103 recombination. Eight transformations were carried out using Here we report only the results for inside the GAP as they have four yeast strains: wild type (WT), knockout for TPS1(tps1Δ), higher relevance to microgravity studies. The accession from knockout for the related gene TPS2 (tps2Δ), and a double Tanzania had higher A and FW inside the GAP, followed by knockout (tps1Δtps2Δ); they received the pDB20 yeast vec- Brazil and India, respectively. Cotyledon tissues had higher A, tor with the overexpressed Petunia ΔTPS1 and with only the FW and DW inside the GAP, followed by leaf and stem tissue, empty pDB20 vector. We successfully restored the ability of respectively. The present study demonstrated that jatropha cell mutant yeast (tps1Δ, tps1Δtps2Δ) to grow in glucose by the cultures are capable of survival and growth inside GAPs for a insertion of ΔPhTPS1, indicating that ΔPhTPS1 is a functional period of 12 weeks and therefore justify a model for micrograv- gene capable of complementing trehalose biosynthesis. The ity studies. Genotype and explant source play a major role in rate limiting step in trehalose biosynthesis appears to be TPS1 determining the success of such studies and must be optimized gene since (tps1Δtps2Δ) with the ΔPhTPS1 vector was able to accordingly. grow in glucose suggesting that the T6P intermediate can be Specified Source(s) of Funding: BioServe-University of Colo- dephosphorylated by nonspecific phosphatases. rado and Vecenergy Specified Source(s) of Funding: Post/Schenkel Memorial En- dowment Sunday, September 25, 2011 3:45–4:00 pm 2:00–4:15 pm Kohala 3 Evaluating Parameters for the Optimization of Jatropha curcas Cell Cultures for Microgravity Environmental Stress Physiology Studies Moderator: Jongyun Kim Wagner Vendrame* University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] 2:00–2:15 pm Ania Pinares Foliar Anthocyanin Content in Solenostemon University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] scutellarioides (L.) Codd. and Panicum virgatum Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is a tropical perennial species in L. Varies with Irradiance, Temperature, and the Euphorbiaceae, which has been identified as a potential Cultivar biofuel crop. The oil characteristics are of excellent quality and biodiesel from jatropha has been successfully tested in diesel Jennifer K. Boldt* engines and in jet fuel mixes. However, studies on breeding and University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; bold0120@umn. genetic improvement of jatropha are incipient. We have initiated edu in vitro studies aiming the development of clonal propagation John E. Erwin and regeneration protocols. Such studies involve evaluating the University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; erwin001@umn. effects of microgravity in jatropha cell cultures for growth, mul- edu tiplication and regeneration, and gene expression as an attempt to identify genetic changes that could help accelerate a breeding Mary Hockenberry Meyer program for jatropha. Microgravity studies are performed at the University of Minnesota, Chaska, MN; meyer023@umn. International Space Station National Laboratory. However, before edu microgravity studies can be successfully performed, pre-flight Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd. (coleus) and Pani- experiments are necessary to evaluate flight hardware conditions cum virgatum L. (switchgrass) are two species cultivated for and to optimize parameters for such studies. The objectives of ornamental leaf color. We conducted experiments to determine this study were to compare the in vitro growth of three explant how foliar anthocyanin content changes over time in response sources (cotyledon, leaf, and stem) from three jatropha acces- to changes in irradiance or temperature. Five S. scutellarioides sions (Brazil, India, and Tanzania) outside and inside the Group cultivars [three anthocyanic: (‘Big Red Judy’, ‘Royal Glissade’, Activation Pack (GAP) flight hardware (BioServe, University and a red selection from ‘Twist and Twirl’) and two acyanic: of Colorado). In vitro cell cultures were established using a (‘LifeLime’ and a green selection from ‘Twist and Twirl’)] modified MS medium dispensed in petri dishes and maintained and two P. virgatum cultivars [‘Ruby Ribbons’ (anthocyanic) in a plant growth chamber at 25 ± 2 °C in the dark. Ten plates and ‘Heavy Metal’ (acyanic)] were grown in a common green- were randomly per GAP with an average of 30 replications per house for three weeks, then transferred to growth chambers. In parameter evaluated. Percent area (A), dry weight (DW) and growth chambers, plants were grown at 75, 150, 300, or 600 fresh weight (FW) increases were evaluated at 7 and 12 weeks µmol·m–2·s–1 (22 °C leaf temperature and 16 h photoperiod; to simulate the period of microgravity studies. No differences irradiance experiment), and for the temperature experiment, were observed for A, FW and DW for cells cultures within the plants were grown at 12, 18, 24, or 30 °C (300 µmol·m–2·s–1 same accession and for the same explant type between inside irradiance, 16 h photoperiod). Two leaf punches (0.3 cm2) per and outside the GAP. However, differences were observed for plant were collected from a fully-expanded, non-shaded leaf accession and explant type for both inside and outside the GAP. every fourth day for 20 d (irradiance expt.) or every fifth day

S104 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 for 25 d (temperature expt.). One sample was used to quantify catabolism under severe drought. The relative expression of relative anthocyanin content (extracted in 99:1 methanol:HCl; PLDa, a gene involved in mediating stomatal responses to lmax = 530 nm) and the other to quantify chlorophyll content ABA, increased after drought imposition, but decreased again (extracted in 95% ethanol). All anthocyanic S. scutellarioides after the target θ was reached, irrespective of drought severity. cultivars exhibited an increase in anthocyanin as irradiance Overall, plants showed physiological acclimation under mild increased, and regression analysis indicated a quadratic relation- drought (θ of 0.20 and 0.30 m3·m–3), while plants at a θ of 0.10 ship between irradiance and anthocyanin content. In P. virgatum m3·m–3 showed severe drought stress responses and no acclima- ‘Ruby Ribbons’ leaf anthocyanin and percentage of anthocyanic tion. Our results suggest that combining gene expression with leaves per plant increased (from 10% at 75 µmol·m–2·s–1 to 83% physiological measurements can provide a more integrated at 600 µmol·m–2·s–1 ). At 600 µmol·m–2·s–1, P. virgatum ‘Heavy view of plant responses to environmental stress then either set Metal’ also exhibited some leaf reddening (17% of leaves). of measurements by itself. Higher temperatures initially resulted in increased anthocyanin Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award content in all anthocyanic S. scutellarioides cultivars; after 25 no.2009-51181-05768 d, however, relative anthocyanin content was highest in 30 °C for ‘Royal Glissade’ and in 12 °C for ‘Big Red Judy’ and ‘Twist 2:30–2:45 pm and Twirl’ red. Slight leaf reddening occurred in ‘LifeLime’ after 20 d at 30 °C. Foliar anthocyanin content in P. virgatum Applications of Silicon and a Commercially was less affected by temperature than S. scutellarioides. Leaf Available Extract of the Brown Seaweed cross-sections showed the increase in foliar anthocyanin content Ascophyllum nodosum Delayed Wilting in resulted from increased accumulation in anthocyanic epidermal Greenhouse-Grown Petunia, Snapdragon, and cells and not in previously acyanic cells. Tomato 2:15–2:30 pm Holly Little* Acadian Seaplants, Sacramento, CA; [email protected] Gene Expression and Physiological Responses of Petunia at Specific Substrate Water Contents Neil S. Mattson Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Jongyun Kim* University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] The greenhouse industry is continually looking for new technology to increase production quality and retail shelf- (postharvest-) Anish Malladi life of containerized plants. Abiotic stress tolerance is one of University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] the important characteristics growers are looking to improve. Marc van Iersel The objective of this trial was to test silicon (liquid potassium- University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] silicate, Dyna-Gro Pro-TeKt) and a commercially available seaweed extract (Stimplex, Acadian Seaplants Limited) to Drought stress commonly limits plant growth. To understand help reduce wilting and improve visual appeal in potted plants plant responses to different severities of drought stress, we after greenhouse production. Plants that wilt less and are more investigated the leaf physiology, ABA concentration, and expres- attractive will fare better in the retail market. Silicon has been sion of genes associated with ABA metabolism and signaling in used to help mitigate both biotic and abiotic stresses in certain Petunia ×hybrida. Plants (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Apple Blossom’) potted plants. Seaweed extracts have also been used to manage were grown in a soilless substrate, which was allowed to dry stresses. Both products may function in different ways that allows out to a specific substrate water content θ = 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 3 –3 a synergistic effect between them. In this study we evaluated the or 0.40 m ·m ), after which just enough water was applied to effect of weekly 100 mL drenches of either silicon (100 mg·L–1 θ maintain at that level. Stomatal conductance (gs) and photo- Si), seaweed extract (5 mL·L–1 Stimplex), or a combination of synthesis (Pn) decreased after drought imposition, but gs and the two products. Control plants received only 100 mL clear- θ 3 –3 Pn of plants under mild drought ( at 0.20 and 0.30 m ·m ) water drenches. Seedlings of tomato, petunia, and snapdragon partially recovered within a week after they reached their target were transplanted and then grown for five weeks with weekly θ. However, plants at θ of 0.10 m3·m–3 did not acclimate and –2 –1 –2 –1 applications of silicon and/or seaweed extract prior to being maintained low gs (< 50 mmol·m ·s ) and Pn (<5 µmol·m ·s ). moved to the post-harvest room. Wilting was measured by tak- Drought stress increased leaf ABA concentration, which was ing periodic measurements of the leaf angle of the upper three 2 θ 3 –3 highly correlated with gs (r = 0.85). Plants at a of 0.10 m ·m most recently expanded leaves, and by determining a visual wilt increased leaf ABA concentration 6-fold compared to plants at 3 –3 index. Weekly applications of either silicon or seaweed extract 0.40 m ·m . Despite the increase in leaf ABA concentration, delayed wilting in tomato and snapdragon. Seaweed extract, we saw no significant effects on the relative expression of but not silicon, delayed wilting in Petunia. The combination several ABA biosynthesis genes (NCED and AAO3) in leaves of both products was the most effective in delaying wilting of in response to drought stress. However, the CYP707A gene, snapdragon. Although few differences in growth parameters were which is regarded as the key gene in ABA catabolism, was measured, visually, the plants had different growth patterns, with θ 3 –3 down-regulated in leaves at a of 0.10 m ·m , compared to the seaweed extract and silicon either alone, or together-treated plants in higher θ treatments, suggesting a decrease in ABA

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S105 plants being more attractive than the controls. Tomato plants improve early root and shoot development and may provide treated with either seaweed extract or silicon had stronger stems. some protection against water and salinity stress. Recovery from wilt was similar between all treatments. Applica- tions of both silicon and seaweed extract showed potential as 3:00–3:15 pm tools to reduce post-harvest wilting in container-grown plants. Salt Tolerance of Selected Roses Different species showed somewhat different response to each Genhua Niu* product or their combination, therefore species-specific infor- Texas Agric Expt Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected] mation will need to be developed for the use of these products to extend postharvest life. Denise Rodriguez Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, El Paso, 2:45–3:00 pm TX; [email protected] Commercial Extract from the Brown Seaweed David H. Byrne Ascophyllum nodosum (Acadian®) Improves Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; d-byrne@ Early Establishment and Stress Resistance in tamu.edu Vegetable Transplants Terri Woods Starman Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; tstarman@ Will Neily* tamu.edu Acadian Seaplants Ltd., Dartmouth, NS; [email protected] Roses are popular garden plants in the world. Due to intense Laurel Shishkov competition for fresh water among agriculture, industry, and Acadian Seaplants Ltd., Dartmouth, NS; lshishkov@ domestic water users, alternative water sources such as munici- acadian.ca pal reclaimed water are being used for irrigating landscapes in Dayna Titus some regions. The responses of roses to irrigation water with Acadian Seaplants Ltd., Dartmouth, NS; [email protected] elevated salts are unknown. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative salt tolerance of 13 self-rooted rose Katy Griegoschewski cultivars by irrigating the plants with nutrient solutions at an Acadian Seaplants Ltd., Dartmouth, NS; electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.34 dS/m (control), or nutrient [email protected] saline solutions at EC of 3.10, 4.44, or 6.39 dS/m. In Expt. 1, Jeff Norrie ‘Belinda’s Dream’, ‘Caldwell Pink’, ‘Carefree Beauty’, ‘Folk- Acadian Seaplants Ltd., Dartmouth, NS; [email protected] singer’, ‘Quietness’, and ‘Winter Sunset’ plants were grown in Many vegetable and ornamental bedding plant crops are grown a greenhouse from 13 Aug. to 21 Oct. (10 weeks). Plants were in plug trays and cell packs under greenhouse conditions prior transplanted from 1.8-L containers to 2.6-L containers on 3 to transplanting into the field or landscape. The development Sept. and were pruned to same height (about 7 cm). Shoot dry of a large, healthy root system is important for young seedlings weight of all cultivars decreased linearly as EC increased, except to help withstand the shock of transplanting. Seaweed extracts for ‘Folksinger’, which had powdery mildew in all treatments. are known to improve root development of horticultural plants ‘Winter Sunset’ was most sensitive among these cultivars to as well as to help alleviate some symptoms typically associated salt stress, followed by ‘Carefree Beauty’ and ‘Folksinger’, with abiotic stresses, such as drought and soil salinity. Green- with severe leaf injury or death at EC 3.10 or higher. No visual house experiments at the Dr. James S. Craigie Research Center damage was observed in ‘Belinda’s Dream’ and ‘Caldwell Pink’ in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, were designed to test the effects of regardless of the salinity level. In Expt. 2, ‘Bayse’s Blueberry’, Acadian® seaweed extracts (a derivative from Ascophyllum nodo- ‘Iceberg’, ‘Little Buckaroo’, ‘The Fairy’, ‘Marie Pavie’, ‘Rise sum) on root development in lettuce, melon, tomato, and pepper. N Shine’, and ‘Sea Foam’ plants were grown in 2.6-L contain- Seaweed extract treatments in combination with 10N–52P–10K ers in the greenhouse from 29 Sept. to 16 Nov. (7 weeks) and fertilizer were applied as a drench and compared to plants that irrigated with the same nutrient or nutrient saline solutions. only received 10N–52P–10K. The roots and leaves of plants Salinity treatment did not affect shoot dry weight of ‘Bayse’s from each treatment were examined with WinRhizo root and Blueberry’, ‘Little Buckaroo’, ‘Sea Foam’, and ‘Rise N Shine’. WinFolia leaf image analysis systems. Time lapse videos were Shoot dry weight of ‘Iceberg’, ‘The Fairy’, and ‘Marie Pavie’ also used to record results. Replicated trials showed significant decreased as EC of irrigation water increased. No visual dam- improvements in root length, surface area, volume, and leaf area age was observed in ‘Little Buckaroo’, ‘Sea Foam’, and ‘Rise when seaweed extract was applied in combination with fertil- N Shine’. Slight leaf tip burns were found in ‘Iceberg’, ‘Marie izer. Further studies examined the effects of seaweed extract Pavie’, ‘Bayse’s Blueberry’, and ‘The Fairy’ at EC 6.39. Gen- on salinity and drought stress in pepper, lettuce, and tomato. erally, these symptoms were less severe than those observed Results showed that seaweed extract extended the time before in Expt. 1, probably due partially to shorter treatment period. plants began to succumb to water stress compared to fertilizer Further experiments will be conducted to confirm the results treated controls. Seaweed extract was also shown to reduce the and compare all these cultivar at the same time. negative effects of high soil salinity during early plant establish- Specified Source(s) of Funding: Rio Grande Basin Initiative, ment. These results suggest that seaweed extract applications USDA-NIFA

S106 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 3:15–3:30 pm Diane Doud Miller Application of Oxygen Fertilizers in Rescuing Ohio State University–OARDC, Wooster, OH; miller.87@ Aged Vegetable Seeds and Alleviating Flooding osu.edu Stress in Horticulture Sunburn is a physiological disorder of apple fruit with progressively increasing importance. The damage can be caused by Guodong Liu* excessive light or temperature conditions or by the combination University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] of these factors, corresponding to the various types of the dam- Yuncong Li age: photooxidative sunburn, sunburn necrosis, and sunburn University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] browning. This study summarizes research results on apple sunburn obtained at the Ohio State University in the last three Kati Migliaccio years. The damage formation is closely related to changes in University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] the pigment pattern of the peel (decreased chlorophyll content Waldemar Klassen and reduced photosynthesis, decreased anthocyanins, increased University of Florida, Homestead, FL; klassenw@ phenolics content). Pigment composition of undamaged and comcast.net sunburned fruit peel showed a close relationship to its spectral reflectance features in the UV and visible ranges. Increased Teresa Olczyk electrolyte leakage and modified reflectance features in the University of Florida, Hollywood, FL; [email protected] NIR region assumed increasing cell damage and decreasing The age of vegetable seed plays an important role in vegetable water content in the order of undamaged fruit, photooxidative breeding and production because aged seed deteriorates its vigor sunburn, sunburn browning, and sunburn necrosis. Mineral and the seedling looses its ability to make a clear break from nutrient content of the peel and underlying cortical tissues the seed coat. Flooding is a major stress in Florida’s vegetable showed a gradient from shade to sun, and to sunburned fruit, production, particularly in hurricane seasons. Aged seed has caused by severe temperature gradient within the fruit. Scan- very low affinity to bio-available oxygen. Thus, aged seed and ning electronmicroscopy imaging revealed that the wax cuticle flooding are both in common in oxygen deficiency. The objectives consists of an organized crystal structure in non-damaged fruit, of this study were to: 1) rescue aged germplasm of vegetable while apples with sunburn browning or sunburn necrosis have crops in gene banks and enhance seedling quality of commercial a melted-like amorphous wax surface. Crystal structure of the seeds by applying liquid oxygen fertilizer; 2) reduce economic wax can still be found on fruit with photooxidative sunburn. loss of flooded crops by using solid oxygen fertilizer; and 3) Structural damage of the epidermal and hypodermal cells is quantify effect of oxygen fertilization on nitrogen use efficiency characterized for sunburn necrosis only, however, disorganiza- of flooded crop seedlings. This study was conducted with 3- to tion of the chloroplast and other cell organelles was observed 8-year-old seeds of corn, jack bean, pumpkin, tomato, and velvet for sunburn browning and photooxidative sunburn as well. bean and basil and corn seedlings with three replications. The Untrained consumer panels with over 100 attendees in each results showed that oxygen fertilization simulated germination session carried out sensory assessments of undamaged and rates by 64%, 22%, 23%, 37%, and 74% and very significantly sunburned ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Golden Delicious’ or ‘Fuji’ fruit. (P < 0.01) improved seedling quality of the tested crops. With For appearance, significantly lower rating scores were given solid oxygen fertilization, fresh yield of flooded basil was 79% to sunburned fruit for all three cultivars compared to undam- greater than that of the control. Its nitrogen use efficiency with aged shade or sun fruit. Due to higher soluble solids content oxygen fertilization was 53% greater than that without oxygen of sunburned fruit, damaged fruit samples were rated for taste fertilization. The N uptake of flooded corn seedlings with oxygen higher than sun or shade samples of ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Golden fertilization was 7-fold greater than that of the control. Oxygen Delicious’. Because ‘Fuji’ is characterized by sweet taste, pan- fertilization improved redox potential of growth media signifi- elists were not able to differentiate in taste between sunburned cantly. Therefore, oxygen fertilization is an effective method to and undamaged fruit. Storage potential of sunburned apples is protect germplasm resources and enhance N use efficiency and also discussed in this paper in a comparison with undamaged crop productivity under flooding stress. shade and sun fruit. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Florida State New Faculty Specified Source(s) of Funding:NCR SARE Grant Appropriation 3:45–4:00 pm 3:30–3:45 pm Increasing Overwintering Survival of Sunburn of Apples: Types, Effects, and Impact Container-grown Perennials on Consumer Acceptance of Fruit William K. Harris Jozsef Racsko* Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH; [email protected] John R. Freeborn Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S107 Joyce G. Latimer Joe Sullivan Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] University of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] Holly L. Scoggins* Intensively-bred crops and many plants bred for horticultural Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] markets are highly sensitive and vulnerable to environmental Overwintering perennials that require vernalization and/or changes i.e., abiotic stressors (chilling, heat, salt, UV), incurring Arabidopsis bulking is part of the nursery production cycle, but losses can large economic losses. We have identified in a stress- occur. We conducted six experiments in two different USDA induced pathway that regulates the synthesis of phenylalanine, Hardiness Zones (6a and 7a), evaluating the impact of various and production of specific phenylpropanoids where at particular cultural practices on overwintering survival of container-grown developmental stages can increase sequestration of antioxidants herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. Rooted liners to the leaves and increase yield. The corresponding system of were potted in Fall and overwintered in poly-covered cold phenylalanine production early in development appears to exist frames. Treatments included various overwintering covers, in a number of crops investigated to date. In leaf tests from 8 fertility levels, and substrate moisture levels. Taxa evaluated different annual crops, responses to typical stressors (chilling, included Pennisetum alopecuroides, P. alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, heat salt, UV) and predation were specifically reduced by as Glycine P. alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’, Echinacea ‘Milkshake’, much as 20% ( ), with subsequent yield increases in all Medicago Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’, Gaillardia aristata ‘Gallo Peach’ , but , where yield was unchanged from untreated. Dif- and Heuchera villosa ‘Pistache’. Data taken included survival ferent phenylpropanoid treatments may impart a different taste percentage and vigor ratings. Air temperature external to and or texture as there are differences in feeding by Japanese beetles within coldframes as well as under coverings was monitored and other pests. While this system is well investigated in annu- continuously, as was substrate moisture levels. Survival percent- als, the effects on perennial crops of importance are unstudied. ages and vigor ratings differed by taxa; most showed increased Formulations of phenylalanine and quercetin by foliar application survival and vigor with some sort of covering. Moderate to moist and root applications at different growth/developmental stages Fragaria substrates and higher fertilizer rates also increased survival and were tested on strawberry ( ) to assess the metabolite vigor of some taxa. profiles in plants. Multiple formulations of particular molecules were tested to examine the potential utility of this strategy to Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Agricultural Council maximize benefits to reducing predation, maximizing use of products from strawberry: leaves for nutraceutical industry 4:00–4:15 pm and maximizing yield/quality of fruit, and for consideration in Administration of Particular Phenylpropanoids future breeding programs. and/or Animo Acids Early in Development Improves Antioxidant Production and Can Monday, September 26, 2011 Improve Yield in Some Crop Plants 7:45–9:45 am Kohala 3 Katherine Warpeha* University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; [email protected] Floriculture 1 Durre Muhammad Moderator: Neil Mattson University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; [email protected] Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected]

Raquel Mezzich 7:45–8:00 am University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; [email protected] Substrate and Fertilizer Choice Interact Lon Kaufman to Affect Growth of Conventionally and University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; [email protected] Organically Produced Calibrachoa ‘Cabaret Terry Niblack Lavender’ University of Illinois at Urbana, Urbana, IL; tniblack@ illinois.edu Neil Mattson* Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Glen Hartman University of Illinois at Urbana, Urbana, IL; ghartman@ Timothy Putzke illinois.edu Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Ursula Reuter-Carlson Calibrachoa, a popular floriculture bedding plant, can be University of Illinois at Urbana, Urbana, IL; reuterca@ challenging to produce in a greenhouse environment because illinois.edu it requires moderately high fertility, and at high pH, it often exhibits iron deficiency. The objective of this experiment was Douglas Jones to determine growth of Calibrachoa ‘Cabaret Lavender’ in University of Illinois, Marion, IL; lysiphlebus2@yahoo. response to a combination of four substrates and four fertilizer com treatments derived from both organic and conventional sources.

S108 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Rooted Calibrachoa cuttings were transplanted into 4-inch pots plications. Biochar has been researched extensively as a carbon containing either: Cornell mix with no starter nutrient charge; biosequestration material and soil builder in landscape and ag- a commercial peat-based substrate with a conventional starter ronomic areas. The potential benefits of biochar in horticultural charge (LM-111, Lambert); a commercial peat based substrate cropping systems have not been fully investigated. Studies were with organic starter charge (Jeff’s Organic, Lambert); or a locally conducted to: identify potential organic materials with regional formulated unbranded compost- and peat-based substrate with availability that could be converted into biochar; evaluate bio- an organic starter charge (Rochester, NY). The plants received char materials for nutrient supplying/retention properties when daily irrigation with one of four liquid fertilizer treatments: tap amended to container substrates; determine effect on biochar water only; 150 ppm N from a conventional complete fertilizer incorporation on substrate pH; determine effect on substrate (21–5–20, J.R. Peters Inc.); 150 ppm N from an organic-based physical properties; and observe the effect on substrate stabil- fish emulsion fertilizer (APG-em 5–1–1, Eco-Logic); or a kelp ity over time. Biomass materials evaluated included rice hulls, extract based root enhancer (SG, Eco-Logic) applied daily at a wood from various sources, and switch grass. Biochar materials 1:100 rate in the irrigation water. The experiment was designed were incorporated into peat and pine bark-based substrates at as a 4 × 4 factorial experiment with 10 replicate plants for 5%, 10%, and 15% (by vol.) ratios. Initial physical properties each of the sixteen treatment combinations. Substrate pH and were determined and plant growth trials were conducted to electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored weekly using the evaluate plant growth and performance in all biochar substrate PourThru method during the five week experimental period. treatments. Regardless of material, pyrolysis time affected the The lowest average pH values were came treatments receiving biochar properties, resulting in different potential benefits when either of the Lambert substrates along with either of the two 150 amended in peat and pine bark substrates. Biochar had greatly ppm N fertilizers (average pH 6.4). The Cornell and Rochester increased cation exchange capacity compared to pre-pyrolysis substrates that received only tapwater had the greatest pH (pH materials. The incorporation of biochar was found to improve 7.1–7.3). EC varied from 0.4 to 3.4 dS/m depending on treatment. air-filled porosity in peat-based (greenhouse) substrates and, if Lowest EC values were with the Cornell substrate that received processed finely (small) enough, could increase container capaci- either tapwater or root-enhancer. The Rochester substrate that ties in bark-based (nursery) substrates. Processing of materials received either of the fertilizers had the highest EC values. Plant before pyrolysis was the important step in determining particle growth (dry weight) was greatest for the treatment receiving size of the biochar, thereby changing its affect on substrate Jeff’s organic substrate and the fish emulsion fertilizer. The next physical properties. Biochar materials show no degradation largest group of plants received Jeff’s organic with 21-5-20 or during short term (one season) greenhouse or nursery crop pro- Cornell substrate with either of the fertilizers. The results sug- duction. Research suggests that biochar can be a viable avenue gest that high quality ornamental plants can be produced with for organic biomass utilization while maintaining or improving only organic fertilizer sources. When applied at an equal rate substrate chemical and physical properties. Fertility studies and of nitrogen, fish emulsion fertilizer was at least as effective as long-term crop production evaluations are needed to assess the 21–5–20 under our experimental conditions. A substrate starter full potential of these materials in horticultural substrates. charge was not essential to produce high quality plants under conditions of constant liquid feed with 150 ppm N. 8:15–8:30 am Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hatch, private donation Fertilizer Potential Acidity/Basicity and Concentration Effects on Root 8:00–8:15 am Ka Yeon Jeong* Biochar: Improving Chemical and Physical The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Marysville, OH; kay. Properties of Horticultural Substrates [email protected] Brian E. Jackson* Paul V. Nelson North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; brian_ North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC; paul_nelson@ [email protected] ncsu.edu William C. Fonteno Jonathan Frantz North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; Bill_ University of Maine, Orono, ME; Jonathan.Frantz@ARS. [email protected] USDA.GOV Helen T. Kraus A root substrate consisting of 75% sphagnum peat moss and 25% North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; Helen_ perlite by volume was formulated with calcium carbonate powder [email protected] to achieve substrate pH 6.5 without any residual lime effect during plant cultivation. Three commercial fertilizers were dissolved in Ted E. Bilderback deionized water at 100 and 200N mg·L–1 N and consisted of an North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; Ted_ acidic fertilizer (AF), 20N–4.4P–16.6K (potential acidity: 193 [email protected] kg/T), a neutral fertilizer (NF), 17N–2.2P–14.1K (0 potential Biochar, the product of thermal pyrolysis, is a carbon-rich acidity/basicity), and a basic fertilizer (BF), 13N–0.88P–10.8K substance with numerous horticultural uses and potential ap- (potential basicity: 150 kg/T). Liners of kalanchoe ‘Kerinci’

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S109 were grown in 16.5 cm diameter, 1.8-L volume pots (2 plants cloths providing ≈38%, 61%, or 86% shade, or no shade with per pot). Plants were fertigated for 9 weeks. Fertilizers applied 16 h of supplemental irradiance for 14 d. The experiment was at the 100 mg·L–1 N rate resulted in sub-optimal substrate EC repeated two additional times resulting in 12 different DLIs levels that declined to below 0.54 dS·m–1. There was a decline during root development ranging from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1. in the BF and NF treatments to 6.0 and 5.4 at 35 days, with little There were no clear trends for shoot length in response to DLI change thereafter. Substrate pH in the AF treatment declined across species. The stem caliper of Argyranthemum, Diascia, steadily to 4.4. The 200 mg·L–1 N treatments resulted in substrate and Nemesia increased by 35%, 119%, and 89%, respectively, EC levels that rose to between 2.5 and 2.8 dS·m–1, indicating as DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1. Depending on luxuriant fertilization. Associated substrate pH levels declined the species, the total, shoot, and root dry mass increased by 64% steadily throughout crop time to 4.6, 3.9, and 3.9 in the BF, NF, to 465%, 50% to 384%, and 156% to 1137%, respectively, as and AF treatments, respectively. The pH levels for the actual DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1. The quality index, fertilizer solutions for the 200 mg·L–1 N BF, NF, and AF fertil- a new integrated and quantitative measurement of rooted cut- izers did not relate to their potential acidity/basicity and were ting quality for floriculture crops, increased for all species by 5.8, 4.6, and 6.0, respectively. Results indicated that addition 176% to 858% as DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1. of fertilizer solution at sub-optimal concentration, regardless of Our results indicate that providing a DLI of ≈8 to 12 mol·m–2·d–1 potential acidity/basicity, caused an initial decrease in substrate after callusing can increase both growth and quality of rooted pH due to the chemistry of the fertilizer (an abiotic effect). This cuttings while potentially reducing propagation time. was followed by a rise, leveling off, or fall in substrate pH, depending on potential acidity/basicity of the fertilizer, (a biotic 8:45–9:00 am effect of nutrient uptake). When applied at a luxuriant rate, the Daily Light Integral during Vegetative biotic effect on pH was not expressed because the abiotic effect Propagation Affects the Subsequent Growth and predominated and masked the biotic effect. Impact of fertilizer acidity/basicity rating on substrate pH is a function of the balance Development of Annual Bedding Plant Species of the abiotic and biotic fertilizer effects which is determined Veronica A. Hutchinson* in part by the quantity of fertilizer applied. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected]

8:30–8:45 am Christopher J. Currey Purdue University, Lafayette, IN; [email protected] Photosynthetic Daily Light Integral during Propagation Influences Rooted Cutting Roberto G. Lopez Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] Morphology and Quality Daily light integral (DLI) is the rate at which photosynthetically Christopher J. Currey* active radiation is delivered over a 24-h period. In commercial Purdue University, Lafayette, IN; [email protected] greenhouses, DLI is limiting in northern latitudes during the Veronica A. Hutchinson winter and early spring months when the majority of bedding Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected] plants are propagated. We quantified how DLI during vegetative propagation influences subsequent growth and development of Roberto G. Lopez annual bedding plant species. Angelonia angustifolia Benth. Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] ‘AngelMist White Cloud’, Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bedding and garden plants are the most valuable sector of Bip. ‘Madeira Cherry Red’, Diascia barberae Hook. f. ‘Wink the U.S. floriculture industry, with a wholesale value of $1.81 Coral’, Nemesia fruticans (Thunb.) Benth. ‘Aromatica Royal’, billion in 2009 (USDA, 2010). To meet market demands for Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Voltage Yellow’, Scaevola spring sales, cuttings must be rooted in late winter and early L. hybrid ‘Blue Print’, Sutera cordata ‘Abunda Giant White’, spring when ambient outdoor photosynthetic daily light integrals and Verbena Ruiz ×hybrida ‘Aztec Violet’ were callused under a (DLIs) are at seasonally low levels. We evaluated the effect 16-h photoperiod and a DLI ≈5 mol·m–2·d–1 for 7 d. Cuttings were of DLI during root development on morphology and quality then placed under 4 DLIs ranging from 1.4 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1 of nine popular vegetatively propagated annual bedding plant for 14 d and transplanted under a common finishing environment species. Cuttings of Angelonia angustifolia Benth. ‘AngelMist of 21.5 °C and a DLI of 10 to 12 mol·m–2·d–1. As propagation White Cloud’, Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bip. ‘Ma- DLI increased from 1.4 to 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1, days from transplant deira Cherry Red’, Diascia barberae Hook. f. ‘Wink Coral’, to first open flower decreased by 24 and 15 d inAngelonia and Lantana camara L. ‘Lucky Pure Gold’, Nemesia fruticans Nemesia, respectively. In general, shoot dry mass was lower at (Thunb.) Benth. ‘Aromatica Royal’, Osteospermum ecklonis the time of flower for plants propagated under higher DLI treat- (DC.) Norl. ‘Voltage Yellow’, Scaevola L. hybrid ‘Blue Print’, ments. For example, shoot dry mass of Angelonia, decreased Sutera cordata Kuntze ‘Abunda Giant White’, and Verbena from 1.2 to 0.38 g as propagation DLI increased from 1.4 to Ruiz ×hybrida ‘Aztec Violet’ were harvested and propagated in 12.3 mol·m–2·d–1. However, shoot dry mass accumulation per a glass glazed greenhouse with 23 °C air and substrate tempera- day increased with increasing DLI for Nemesia, Sutera, Diascia, ture set points. After callusing (≈5 mol·m–2·d–1 for 7 d), cuttings and Osteospermum. Shoot dry mass accumulation per day was of each species were placed under one of three different shade variable for Argyranthemum, Scaevola, and Angelonia. From

S110 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 this study there are clearly differences among species responses Bedding plants are grown in greenhouses during some of the during finishing to propagation DLI. coldest months of the year. Rising energy costs have prompted some growers to lower their greenhouse temperatures in an at- 9:00–9:15 am tempt to save on fuel costs for heating. However, plants develop Cellulosic Water Can Delay Wilting and slower at a lower temperature and thus, the production period Extend the Time between Waterings for Potted is lengthened. Energy-efficient production requires species- specific information on how temperature influences flowering Poinsettias Displayed in Interiorscapes time and plant quality. Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) ‘Bon Robert H. Stamps* Bon Orange’, geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum L.H. Bailey) University of Florida, Apopka, FL; [email protected] ‘Pinto Red’ and torenia (Torenia fournieri Linden ex E. Fourn) ‘Clown Blue’ were grown in five glass greenhouse compart- Heidi M. Savage ments maintained at constant air temperature setpoints of 14, University of Florida/IFAS, Apopka, FL; [email protected] 17, 20, 23, or 26 °C and under a 16-h photoperiod to quantify Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch) are the effect of average daily temperature on flowering time and prized for their colorful bracts and long keeping quality under plant quality. The photosynthetic daily light integral during this indoor conditions. However, along with the long display life experiment varied from 8 to 26 mol·m–2·d–1. Days to flower from comes the maintenance issue of repeated waterings that can be transplant (DTF), number of nodes below first open flower (NN), labor intensive. Two experiments were conducted to determine and plant quality parameters such as flower or inflorescence whether using cellulosic water (CW) could extend the days to number (FN), branch number (BN), and plant height or length wilt and intervals between waterings under simulated home/office of longest lateral branch (PH) were measured when the first conditions. In both experiments uniform plants were watered to flower opened on each plant. As temperature increased from 14 container capacity. Pots were then left untreated or treated with to 26 °C, DTF decreased for calendula, geranium and torenia by one of two rates of CW (Solidwater, Ecos, Sanford, FL). The 15, 27, and 22 d, respectively. Flower number increased for all gel was applied to the surface of the soilless growing medium. species as temperature decreased. A similar trend was observed In the first experiment, plants of cultivar Advent Red grown for PH and BN, except for torenia, where PH was unaffected in 16.5-cm pots were treated with 0, 150, or 300 g of CW gel. and BN decreased as temperature decreased. Linear regression In the second experiment, Prestige Early Red plants grown in analysis was performed on the flowering rate (reciprocal of days

15.2-cm pots received 0, 125, or 250 g of gel. Pots were weighed to flower) data to estimate the base temperature (Tmin) for each and monitored for wilt daily. When a plant first wilted the pot species, which is the temperature at which the flowering rate is was rewatered to container capacity, retreated with CW at the zero. (Tmin) was estimated as –2.8, 6.5, and 9.4 °C for calendula, same rate as the first application and monitored until it wilted geranium, and torenia, respectively. This information can be used a second time. The days to wilt response was positively linear by growers to group crops with a similar temperature response for both wiltings in both experiments. ANCOVA indicated that together for energy-efficient greenhouse production. the slopes of the regression lines for wilt 1 and wilt 2 were not Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Floriculture and Nurs- different for the two experiments. Days to wilt/time between ery Research Initiative, MSU’s Project GREEEN, and private waterings increased by over three days for each 100 g of CW companies that support MSU Floriculture Research applied to the pots during both wilt 1 (y = 20.7 + 0.034x, R2 = 0.637) and wilt 2 (y = 17.6 + 0.0301x, R2 = 0.715). These results 9:30–9:45 am show that cellulosic water can be used to supply supplemental water and extend the time to wilt/watering interval of potted Benzyladenine Affects Branching and Rooting poinsettias held in interiorscapes. of Herbaceous Perennial Plugs Specified Source(s) of Funding: Ecos, Florida Agricultural Mara Grossman* Experiment Station Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] John R. Freeborn 9:15–9:30 am Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Quantifying the Effect of Temperature on Holly L. Scoggins Flowering Time and Quality of Calendula Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] officinalis, Pelargonium ×hortorum, and Torenia fournieri Joyce G. Latimer Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Tasneem Vaid* To increase branching early in plant development, benzyladenine Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; vaidtasn@ (BA) was applied as a foliar spray to Agastache ‘Purple Haze’, msu.edu Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’, Lavandula ×intermedia Erik S. Runkle ‘Provence’, Leucanthemum ×superbum ‘Snowcap’, and Salvia Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; runkleer@ nemorosa ‘May Night’. After rooting but prior to transplant, plugs msu.edu were treated with BA at 0 mg·L–1, 300 mg·L–1 (applied once or

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S111 twice), or 600 mg·L–1. Shoot and root growth were evaluated Vance Whitaker* at 0, 2 and 3 or 4 weeks after treatment (WAT), as well as after University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] transplant and growing out (finished, 8 WAT). Results varied by In central Florida, strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa) are crop, but all plugs showed a 20% to 100% increase in branching harvested from late November to late March. The peak harvest at 3 or 4 weeks after BA treatment. BA-treated Agastache plants typically occurs during the last month of the season. As the peak showed a 40% increase in the number of branches but a 40% harvest progresses, temperatures rise, fruit become smaller, and decrease in root dry weights compared to controls at 3 WAT. the soluble solids content (SSC) of fruit declines. The main objec- Finished Agastache plants (8 WAT) had 25% fewer branches tive of this study was to determine whether the progression of peak and leaders at the two highest BA rates as compared to control harvest results in a decline in SSC independent of temperature. plants. Treated Gaura had a 40% to 80% increase in the number In 2007 and 2008, recently-opened flowers were tagged in the of shoots and a 20% increase in lateral branches with no affect field on the first week into the peak bloom (WPB) and for three on root dry weight at 4 WAT. Finished Gaura plants treated with additional weeks thereafter. Three days after tagging, plants were BA had 80% more shoots and branches as compared to controls. transplanted to one of two constant temperature environments Treated Lavender had a 40% to 100% increase in shoots and a (15 °C or 22 °C). The weight, SSC and fruit development period 20% increase in lateral branches (at the highest two rates only) (FDP) of tagged fruit were recorded at maturity. SSC was lower at 4 WAT. Lavender plants treated with two applications of 300 –1 at the higher temperature (5.2% at 22 °C vs. 6.5% at 15 °C) in mg·L BA had reduced root dry weights when compared with both years. At constant temperatures, SSC did not change with controls, but this rate also resulted in the highest number of WPB in 2007 and was positively correlated with WPB in 2008. shoots and branches on the finished plants (8 WAT). At 4 WAT, In addition, the coefficient of determination (r2) for a regres- Leucanthemum plants treated with BA had double the number of sion of SSC on mean temperature over the period 8 d prior to basal branches and 25% to 40% reductions in root dry weight, harvest was 0.73 for fruit harvested from fields between 2003 but finished plants were not affected by BA. In Salvia plants –1 and 2009. These results indicate that rising temperature is an treated with one or two applications of 300 mg·L BA, basal important factor in the late-season decline of SSC in strawberry branching increased 40%, with no effect on root weight at 4 fruit in Florida. WAT, and no effect on finished plants. Root surface area and length were highly correlated with root dry weight. Treating Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida Agricul- plants with BA prior to transplant resulted in more branching tural Experiment Station in plugs. Some reduction in rooting was noted but did not affect the quality of finished plants. After transplant and growing out, 8:00–8:15 am branching was increased in two crops, unaffected in two crops Cultivar Choice Affects Quality and Production and decreased in one crop. of Winter-Grown Strawberries Ellen T. Paparozzi* Monday, September 26, 2011 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] 7:45–9:45 am Kings 3 George M. Meyer University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] Viticulture and Small Fruits M. Elizabeth Conley Moderator: John Balles University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] AMWAY Corporation, Lakeview, CA; john.balles@ Stacy A. Adams nutrilite.com University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] 7:45–8:00 am Erin E. Blankenship Rising Temperature Is a Factor in the Late- University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; eblankenship2@unl. Season Decline in Soluble Solids Content of edu Strawberries in a Subtropical Production Paul E. Read System University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] Steven J. Mackenzie Vicki L. Schlegel University of Florida IFAS, Wimauma, FL; sjmacssfl@ University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE; [email protected] gmail.com Strawberries are one of the American public’s favorite fruits. Craig K. Chandler As winter progresses in Nebraska, the supply of affordable University of Florida IFAS, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] strawberries decreases while the demand increases, particularly during the winter holiday season. This presentation will report Tomas N. Hasing on experiments involving 13 cultivars of strawberries grown in University of Florida IFAS, Wimauma, FL; thasing@ufl. a double polyethylene greenhouse during Spring 2010 and Fall edu 2010 through Spring 2011. The plants were grown on capillary

S112 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 mats covered with white reflective plastic. Heat was supplied HPLC and ORAC levels. The analytical testing was performed by poly tubes located under each of two benches. The purpose by using the methods that were developed and published pre- of these experiments was to determine which cultivars would viously by our laboratory. In 2010, in the third season after yield the greatest mass and number of berries. Strawberry establishment, yield was estimated from hand-harvest of fruit. cultivars were also tested for their nutraceutical properties and In 2009, total anthocyanins (TA) averaged 0.982% and ranged sugar content. Nutraceutical data from Spring 2010 indicated a from 1.46 to 0.37% [n = 20]. In 2010, TA averaged 1.14 % tight range in total phenols (1.06–1.84 mg/g) with nine of the and ranged from 1.95 to 0.45% [n = 19]. Relative rankings of cultivars showing significant differences if compared to the very cultivars for TA were similar in the two years [r = 0.827; n = 19]. lowest level. A similar situation occurred with total flavonoids In 2009, there was a negative correlation between average fruit (0.28–0.62 mg/g). The antioxidant capacity, however, showed weight [gms/100 fruit] and TA, with the smallest fruit having a large separation with ‘Strawberry Festival’ and ‘Darselect’ the higher TA content [r = –0.597; n = 20]. In 2010, estimates (73–75 uM/g) having significantly more antioxidant capacity of fruit yield [total fruit weight/plot] averaged 2.64 tons/acre, than ‘Honeoye’, ‘Albion’ and ‘AC Wendy’ (32–49 uM/g). Fall– and ranged from 8.63 to 0.27 tons/acre. Winter 2010 production peaked during the weeks of December 4 and 11 with ‘Albion’, ‘Chandler’, ‘Darselect’, ‘Clancy’, and 8:30–8:45 am Seascape’ producing the greatest total berry mass and numbers. Field Performance of Southern Highbush Production information including sugar content, total berry mass Blueberry Cultivars Obtained from and numbers for both years will also be presented. Micropropagation and Softwood Cuttings at Specified Source(s) of Funding:Nebraska State Department of Two Florida Locations Agriculture Horticulture Specialty Block Grant Silvia Marino* 8:15–8:30 am University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Evaluation of Commercial Black Currant (Ribes Jeffrey Williamson nigrum) Cultivars for Anthocyanin Content in University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Mature Fruit James W. Olmstead John Balles* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. AMWAY Corporation, Lakeview, CA; john.balles@ edu nutrilite.com The objective of the present study was to evaluate differences in growth and development of micropropagation and softwood Kevin Gellenbeck cutting derived plants under field conditions. The work was AMWAY Corporation, Lakeview, CA; kevin.gellenbeck@ conducted at two locations with different average chill hour amway.com accumulation (Haines City, FL and Citra, FL). At each location, Jat Rana during Apr. 2010, three cultivars (‘Emerald’, ‘Jewel’ and ‘Prima- AMWAY Corporation, Ada, MI; jatinder.rana@amway. donna’) were planted as a completely randomized-block design com with 20 plants/plot, in a two-way factorial, with six treatments Amit Chandra and five replications. Height and width were recorded monthly AMWAY Corporation, Ada, MI; amitabh.chandra@ from June 2010 to Nov. 2010. Average plant width and height amway.com were used to calculate plant volume. In Dec. 2010 (Haines City) and Jan. 2011 (Citra) flower buds and plant height, width, number Kathryn Persons of canes, and shoot tips of two plants/plot were recorded. Major AMWAY Corporation, Ada, MI; kathryn.persons@amway. canes were defined as those larger than 0.7 mm in diameter at com 12 cm above the soil line. Results were evaluated by analysis Jennifer Empkie of variance and treatments were compared using Tukey’s HSD AMWAY Corporation, Ada, MI; jennifer.empkie@amway. test at 5% significance level (SAS 9.2). The effect of propaga- com tion method was different depending on the location, but in both cases there was an interaction between cultivar and propagation Kevin Ernst method on plant growth. At Citra, there was a significant increase AMWAY Corporation, Trout Lake, WA; kevin@ in height and width of ‘Emerald’ micropropagated plants after troutlakefarm.com 9 months in the field compared to softwood cutting-derived A black currant cultivar evaluation trial was established on plants. There was no significant effect of propagation method the Trout Lake farm in 2007. The farm is located in southwest on average height or width of ‘Primadonna’ or on height of Washington state, and is certified organic by WSDA. The field ‘Jewel’. However, average width of Jewel micropropagated plots consisted of non-replicated rows 40 ft long for each of the plants did show a significant increase. The number of major 20 cultivars. In 2009 and 2010, samples of mature fruit were canes/plant significantly increased when ‘Jewel’ and ‘Emerald’ collected, freeze-dried, and analyzed for phytochemical bench- were micropropagated, but there was no significant difference marking by HPLC fingerprint, content of total anthocyanins by on canes/plant of ‘Primadonna’. The effect on flower bud num-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S113 ber was cultivar dependent: there was a significant increase on Natalie Hummel micropropagated ‘Emerald’, but there was no treatment differ- LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; nhummel@agcenter. ence among the other cultivars. At Haines City, plant height of lsu.edu ‘Jewel’ and ‘Emerald’ was not affected by propagation method, Denise Attaway but there was a decrease in height of ‘Primadonna’ tissue cul- LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. tured plants. The average width of ‘Emerald’ micropropagated edu plants was higher compared to those obtained from rooted cuttings, but there was no effect of propagation method on plant Kimberly Morgan width for the other two cultivars. Major canes/plant and shoot Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS; Morgan@ tips/plant significantly increased when ‘Emerald’ and ‘Jewel’ agecon.msstate.edu were micropropagated, but no differences between propagation William O. Cline methods were detected for ‘Primadonna’. The number of flower North Carolina State University, Castle Hayne, NC; bill_ buds/plant was not affected by the propagation method for any [email protected] the cultivars evaluated. Donna Marshall 8:45–9:00 am USDA-ARS, Poplarville, MS; [email protected]. gov Field Performance of Blueberry Trees Using Vaccinium arboreum as a Rootstock Don Ferrin LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. Wei Qiang Yang* edu Oregon State Univ, Aurora, OR; [email protected] Krisanna Machtmes A blueberry tree orchard, believed to be the oldest grafted LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; KMachtmes@agcenter. blueberry planting in the United States, was discovered lsu.edu recently in eastern Texas. ‘Beckyblue’ and ‘Homebelle’ rabbiteye blueberries have been grafted onto wild Vaccinium arboreum Heli Roy plants since the late 1980s. The age of these grafted blueberry LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] trees varies from 2 to over 20 years old and the planting has David G. Himelrick not been fertilized or irrigated until a few years ago. The Louisiana State Univ, Baton Rouge, LA; dhimelrick@ growth parameters and fruit quality were investigated in 2007. agctr.lsu.edu Among over three hundred grafted trees surveyed, the graft union height is between 30 cm to 60 cm with the largest graft Robert T. Boozer Auburn Univ, Clanton, AL; [email protected] union being more than 10 cm in diameter. The tallest ‘Becky- blue’ blueberry tree exceeds 4 meters. There are strong positive The goal of the recently developed eXtension “All about Blue- correlations between tree age and tree height (r = 0.827), tree berries” Community of Practice (CoP) website is to encourage age, and rootstock trunk diameter (r = 0.855), and tree age blueberry production and consumption in the United States. The and canopy size (r = 0.817). Regression analysis indicates a website engages a wide range of audiences, called the Community strong linear relationship between rootstock trunk diameter and of Interest (CoI), including growers (commercial and backyard), tree height (r2 = 0.822), and between rootstock trunk diameter blueberry consumers, and 4-H/Youth who want to learn about and canopy size (r2 = 0.910) among various ages of blueberry blueberries. A team of researchers and extension specialists are trees. When compared to non-grafted ‘Beckyblue’ plants of collaborating to develop content for our multi-faceted constitu- the same age, grafted ‘Beckyblue’ had a larger berry size, a ents in order to empower our CoI to make educated decisions higher fruit soluble solids content, and a lower fruit firmness. that benefit their well-being and improve their quality of life. By examining the heath of graft unions, one can conclude that Project content areas include: “Blueberry Production”, “Con- rabbiteye blueberries grafted onto V. arboreum rootstocks should sumers”, and “4-H/Youth”. Horticulture experts from multiple remain productive for the long-term, which demonstrates great states are focusing their effort on developing credible, research- potential for commercial production using blueberry trees in based, up-to-date information and sophisticated online tools and the future. solutions for the “Blueberry Production” section of the website, which commercial blueberry producers can implement in their Specified Source(s) of Funding:Oregon Blueberry Commission daily operations. One of the novel tools we have developed is a Moodle self-educating course that offers information on vari- 9:00–9:15 am ous aspects of blueberry production and provides the student Developing Content for Commercial Blueberry with an opportunity to assess their newly acquired knowledge Producers on the “All about Blueberries” on the subject. Numerous video clips developed by our team of Extension.Org Web Portal horticulturists offer information on critical blueberry production topics including: proper soil sample collection; blueberry pol- Elina D. Coneva* lination; and how to thin blueberry bushes. Interactive clickable Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] diagrams are being developed that will display the blueberry

S114 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 plant anatomy and present information on the function within Ik Je Kim the plant system. Some of the challenges our horticulture spe- Chungcheongbuk-Do Agricultural Research & Extension cialists have encountered are attributable to the environmental Services, Chungbuk; [email protected] local differences and varying blueberry responses to different SeokHo Lee growing conditions and regional pest and environment re- Chungcheongbuk-Do Agricultural Research & Extension sponses. We strive to actively engage and work together with Services, Chungbuk; [email protected] the project Advisory Board members to improve the content, format, and information accessibility of the web portal. Work- Tae Joung Kim ing in a multi-state environment is providing greater visibility Chungcheongbuk-Do Agricultural Research & Extension of the scientific information we are offering at “The Blueberry Services, Chungbuk; [email protected]

Production” section and multiplies the overall impact for com- The effects of adjusting soil pH with diluted sulfuric acid (H2SO4) mercial blueberry growers. solution were investigated to maintain stable and vigorous growth without root damage in blueberry. The ‘Spartan’ blueberry 9:15–9:30 am which was planted in 45-L black unwoven container was used Field Evidence for Lateral Transfer of Water to fine out the proper concentration of sulfuric acid. To adjust and Nutrients in Highbush Blueberry soil pH level to 4.5 from 6.3 untreatment, 3 concentrations of sulfuric acid of 10–2 N, 10–3 N, and 10–4 N were injected with 15 David R. Bryla* L per container once a week. The targeting soil pH 4.5 can be USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] reached faster when injected with the higher concentration of Luciane Leitzke sulfuric acid solutions. However, the concentrations of cation Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas; Lucianeleitzke@ contents including potassium and calcium were slightly lower + –1 –2 gmail.com as 0.12, 0.38 cmol kg in 10 N sulfuric acid treatment than the other treatments. The treatment of 10–4 N sulfuric acid solution Split-root studies done in the 1980s on potted blueberry plants showed highest leaf size and fruit weight as 2.0 cm2 and 2.4 g revealed that applying irrigation or fertilizer on only one side but presented lowest total acidity as 0.45% among treatments. of the plant reduced growth and production on the other side, In the treatment of 10–3 N sulfuric acid solution, soluble solid suggesting that blueberry has little ability to transport water content was highest as 16.2 °Brix and shoot length and width and nutrients laterally within the plant. However, this work were also highest as 59.1 cm and 6.16 mm. In conclusion, tree was never verified in the field. Thus, we initiated a field study growth and fruit marketability were better in the treatment of in 2009 to determine if this was the case in a mature planting of 10–3 N sulfuric acid solution than the others though leaf size was ‘Elliott’ blueberry. Plants were either irrigated on only one side the biggest in 10–4 N sulfuric acid treatment. The sulfuric acid or fertilized on only one side and compared to plants irrigated solution of 10–3 N would be a suitable treatment for tree growth and fertilized on both sides. Applying water to only one side and fruit quality through the adjusting soil pH to 4.5 without reduced shoot and fruit production, while applying N fertilizer root damage in ‘Spartan’ blueberry. to only one side reduced leaf N. However, shoot growth, yield, berry size, plant water potential, and leaf N were similar on both sides of the plant whether water and N fertilizer were applied Monday, September 26, 2011 to only one side or both sides. Interestingly, plants naturally produced three times as many roots on the east side than on 8:00–9:15 am Kohala 2 the west side of the row, which resulted in 1) greater root water uptake from the east side and 2) higher water status in plants only Water Utilization and irrigated on the east side than in those only irrigated on the west Management 1 side. Likewise, leaf N status was higher when N fertilizer was applied on the east side than on the west side. Blueberry may Moderator: Denise Neilsen therefore benefit when proportionally more water and nutrients Agriculture Canada, Summerland BC V0H1Z0; neilsend@ are applied on the row side with most roots. agr.gc.ca Specified Source(s) of Funding: Northwest Center for Small 8:00–8:15 am Fruit Research Effects of Irrigation Stress and Crop Load on Yield and Quality of Ambrosia/M.9 Apple Trees 9:30–9:45 am Study on Soil pH Control by Using Sulfuric Acid Denise Neilsen* Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC; for Blueberry Cultivation in Korea [email protected] Yeu Seok Kwon* Gerry Neilsen Chungcheongbuk-Do Agricultural Research & Extension Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC; Services, Chungbuk; [email protected] [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S115 Tom Forge 8:15–8:30 am Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; tom. Irrigation Management and Water Use of [email protected] California Strawberries Sunghee Guak Chonbuk National University, Jeonju; guaks@chonbuk. Michael Cahn* University of California Cooperative Extension, Salinas, ac.kr CA; [email protected] Linda Herbert Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, BC; Barry Farrara University of California Cooperative Extension, Salinas, [email protected] CA; [email protected] Irrigation water supply in the western Cordillera of North America is increasingly unreliable, through changes in mountain Thomas G. Bottoms snow-packs and competition for water resources. Improved early University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] season drought forecasting provides the opportunity to man- Timothy K. Hartz age reduced water allocations. Ambrosia/M.9 trees planted at University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] 1 × 3 m spacing received daily drip irrigation through two 4-L/h drippers per tree, automatically scheduled using Mark Bolda University of California Cooperative Extension, an electronic atmometer. Trees were fertigated daily after Watsonville, CA; [email protected] full bloom for 6 weeks to supply 75 g/tree of N; in a single application one day after full bloom to supply 20 g/tree of P Strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) grown on the central and daily from three to six weeks after full bloom to supply coast of California have an annual value of more than $1 bil- 20 g/tree of K. Irrigation treatments included: 1) twice daily at lion. Ground water, the dominant water source in this region, 100% ET replacement; 2) twice daily at 50% ET replacement; is impaired from leached NO3–N and salts from seawater that 3) twice daily at 50% ET replacement one side of the tree; has intruded into the aquifer because of excessive agricultural 4) 50% (2007), 25% (2008), and 18% (2009) ET replacement pumping. We conducted a study surveying water use in 34 com- every two days. Crop was adjusted to a low, medium and high mercial fields during the 2010 production season to assess if rate of fruit/cm2 trunk cross-sectional area (TCA), with crop current irrigation practices posed a risk to ground water supplies. load increasing over time (2.5, 4.5, 9 fruit/cm2 TCA in 2007; Plantings of cv. Albion and a proprietary cultivar were evaluated. 3, 6, 12 fruit/cm2 TCA in 2008; 3.75, 7.5, 15 fruit/cm2 TCA Flow meters were installed in fields to measure applied water in 2009). Efficiencies associated with drip irrigation provided volumes. In a subset of 17 fields, crop water requirement was a 30% water savings in addition to applied deficits. Stem estimated from canopy cover and reference evapotranspiration water potential was significantly lower at higher crop loads (ET) data, and confirmed by soil moisture monitoring using in all years, and under deficit irrigation in 2008 and 2009. granular matrix sensors and tensiometers. Average water ap- Fruit growth over the season was reduced by increased crop plied to the 34 fields was 53 cm between Jan. and Oct. 2010 and load and severe irrigation deficits and was more limited by ranged from 26.7 to 93.2 cm. Rainfall averaged 37 cm during inter-fruit competition for resources than by water deficits the same period with 90% of the precipitation occurring from or deceases in stem water potential. Consequently crop load January through April when crop ET was lowest. Crop canopy effects on yield and fruit size were greater than deficit irriga- cover of Albion and the proprietary variety were statistically tion effects. In general higher crop load also advanced harvest similar throughout the season. Variation in total seasonal crop maturity (starch index) and decreased fruit firmness, titratable ET among sites was a function of maximum canopy cover and acidity and soluble solids content. Severe irrigation deficits reference ET values. Total crop ET ranged from 36.1 to 67.3 cm advanced harvest maturity but with increased fruit firmness, for the 17 intensively monitored sites and applied water ranged titratable acidity and soluble solids content. Using a target from 49% to 150% of the crop ET requirement. Applied water average fruit size of 200 g, optimum crop loads were deter- was less than crop ET at half the 17 sites and more than 120% mined for each water deficit and ranged from 8 fruit/cm2 TCA of crop ET at 2 of 17 sites. Total fruit yield of the proprietary at no deficit (all years) to 4 fruit/cm2 TCA for 25% ET replace- variety was not correlated with the volume of applied water. ment in 2008. No optimum crop load could be determined The highest potential for leaching of NO3–N was during the at 18% ET replacement (2009). Cumulative effects of three high rainfall period. The combination of soil moisture and crop years of water deficit were evident by 2009, where at 50% ET ET data indicated that drainage was minimal between May and 2 replacement optimum crop load had declined to 5 fruit/cm October and the potential to leach NO3–N was low during this TCA from 6.5–7 fruit/cm2 TCA (2007–2008). period. On average, strawberry growers applied water volumes approximately equal to the crop water use requirement. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Specified Source(s) of Funding:Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

S116 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 8:30–8:45 am Peter D. Petracek Prototype Bayesian Belief Networks for Valent BioSciences Corp, Long Grove, IL; peter. Validating Soil Moisture Telemetry in Sensor- [email protected] based Irrigation Management for ‘Beauregard’ As water for agricultural irrigation becomes less available, Sweetpotato the importance of water use efficiency (WUE) of crops is increasing. There may soon be a paradigm shift in regard to Arthur Q. Villordon* yield considerations from yield per acre to yield per unit of LSU AgCenter, Chase, LA; [email protected] water consumed to grow the crop. Valent BioSciences Corpo- Ron Sheffield ration recently commercialized abscisic acid (S-ABA) for the enhancement of color development of red table grapes with a LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; RSheffield@agcenter. ® lsu.edu product called ProTone . S-ABA has long been known to reduce transpiration of treated plants. The objective of this research Jose Rojas is to determine the effect of S-ABA on WUE. In our studies, LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. we have investigated the use of foliar application of S-ABA edu can improve the WUE of potted Red Romaine Lettuce plants. Yin-Lin Chiu Lettuce seedlings were grown in a greenhouse in 2.1-L pots LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. filled with Promix BX that were watered to saturation, allowed edu to drain for 1 hour, and then weighed. Evapotranspiration (ET) was determined gravimetrically twice a week, and the plants Information from remotely accessible sensors is becoming an were irrigated with 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the average ET integral component in knowledge-based agricultural decision- for that treatment. On the day after each irrigation, six plants making. Management decisions, such as the timing and duration from each irrigation level were sprayed with 2.5 mL of 0.05% of irrigation, are important from the point of view of efficiency Latron B 1956 surfactant per plant and six plants from each and in matching soil moisture availability with the phenological irrigation level were sprayed with 2.5 mL of 100 ppm S-ABA requirements of the crop. Hence the validity of sensor readings plus 0.05% Latron B 1956. After 3 weeks, the lettuce shoots is important in making informed decisions. We present proto- were excised and weighed. Fresh shoot weight was directly typic Bayesian belief network (BBN) models for validating related to irrigation level. WUE (fresh shoot weight per irri- remotely-accessed sensor-based soil moisture information used gation volume) increased with decreasing irrigation level. As for irrigation management decision-making in sweetpotato cv. irrigation decreased from 100 to 25% ET, WUE increased from ‘Beauregard.’ The prototype validation models were learned 17.2 to 25.5 g fresh shoot weight per liter of irrigation. At each from on-site agroclimatic data collected in Chase, LA, during irrigation level, application of S-ABA increased WUE. These the 2010 growing season. This reduced data set represented air results demonstrate the potential for the use of foliar S-ABA and soil temperature, volumetric water content, relative humidity, treatments to reduce water needed to grow lettuce under a wide and rainfall data collected during the growing season where the range of irrigation levels. decision to add supplemental irrigation was considered a priority if the soil moisture approached 12% VWC at the 15-cm depth. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Valent BioSciences Corporation To simulate the ability of the models to detect presumptive soil moisture sensor faults, VWC readings were changed to 25% and 9:00–9:15 am 50% of its original values. Two measures were used to evaluate Strawberry Performance during Establishment the suitability of the validation models. First, we evaluated the with Reduced Irrigation model’s ability to detect if a decision to irrigate was based on erroneous VWC reading considering evidence from other sensors. Oleg Daugovish* Second, we evaluated the model’s failure to detect information UC Cooperative Extension Ventura, Ventura, CA; needed to trigger supplemental irrigation. We will outline how [email protected] the candidate BBN models were developed, present a summary Ben Faber of the validation results, and outline the potential usefulness and UC Cooperative Extension Ventura, Ventura, CA; limitations of this validation approach within the context of a [email protected] model-based sweetpotato production management. Maren J. Mochizuki Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA-SCRI UC Cooperative Extension Ventura, Ventura, CA; [email protected] 8:45–9:00 am Stuart Styles Abscisic Acid Application Increases the Water California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Use Efficiency of Potted Lettuce Plants San Luis Obispo, CA; [email protected] Derek D. Woolard* Strawberry, a major crop grown in Ventura County, CA, has an Valent Biosciences Corp, Long Grove, IL; derek. annual value of 515 million. Each September, 1.2 m-wide raised [email protected] beds are constructed with two drip irrigation lines installed at

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S117 5-8 cm depth. The beds are covered with polyethylene mulch, Consumer interest in organic products has encouraged conven- fumigated via drip and in October bare-root transplants are tional farmers to consider growing organic crops as an alternate planted in holes punched in four rows 30 cm apart from the farming system. We evaluated the potential use of Brassica spp. two drip lines. For the first 5–8 weeks after planting, overhead plants as a winter cover crop in the Central Valley of California. sprinkler irrigation in daily amounts ranging from 50–60 mm Growers can take advantage of growing the rainfed Brassica spp. is used instead of drip to rapidly hydrate plants, aid adventi- during the late fall to winter months to augment their incomes tious root development, and leach salts from the root zone. In while building soil fertility and improving soil health. Our goals a large-scale field study conducted at Camarillo, CA (in 2010), are to promoting beneficial use ofBrassica spp. during late fall we evaluated strawberry establishment with reduced sprinkler to winter months as a winter cover crop or cash crop. We ex- irrigation and drip-only irrigation with two different placements amined six varieties of Brassica spp. [Forage Brassica (Pasja); of four drip lines. Water use, electrical conductivity (EC) of soil Forage Turnips (Appin™ Green Globe); Tillage Radish (AW4™ in planting holes at 5-cm depth and strawberry performance Groundhog); Canola (Sumner)] that will be suitable for organic were measured during the 8-week plant establishment period. cropping systems in this region. We foresee increasing interests Water use was reduced 49% in drip-only treatments compared to to grow rainfed Brassica spp. during the transition period as well reduced sprinkler and there was no runoff in drip-only systems. as during an annual crop rotation. Growers often are vulnerable Soil pore EC in drip-only plots with four buried lines was 25% to economic losses during the transitioning time because after to 58% greater compared with either surface drip system with they learn about the new approach to organic farming, they four lines or partial sprinkler. Strawberry mortality was similar must still contend with pest problems before the natural pest in all irrigation systems and less than 2%, a level acceptable for control process emerges. Growing Brassica spp. as a part of commercial production. Strawberry plants were also 13% smaller crop rotation was reported to reduce soil-borne disease and weed with partial sprinkler irrigation than in drip-only systems. Dry population. We hypothesize that Brassica spp. may benefit land biomass of new leaves was similar among treatments, but new under transition. Also, their by-products can produce additional root biomass in reduced sprinkler and surface drip treatment income to growers as animal feed, oilseed, and as organic soil was 35% greater than with buried drip irrigation, likely due to amendments. Our study examined minimal organic inputs for greater salinity in the root zone in buried drip system. Early fruit growing these Brassica spp. crops with applications of composted production was similar among treatments. These results suggest dairy manure or aged dairy manure. We will discuss the first that reduced irrigation and precise water placement are adequate year results of this study including crop and weed biomasses, for strawberry establishment, provide substantial savings of forage quality, and soil nutrient dynamics. water, and minimize runoff, a major benefit to the environment Specified Source(s) of Funding: California State University Agricultural Research Initiative-Federal Fund

Monday, September 26, 2011 10:15–10:30 am 10:00–10:45 am Kings 3 Social Factors Influence Midwest Organic Organic Horticulture 1 Farmers’ Adoption of Weed Management Strategies Moderator: Ben Campbell Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland John B. Masiunas* Station, ON; [email protected] University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] James DeDecker 10:00–10:15 am University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Exploring the Potential of Brassica spp. as Weeds are one of the most difficult problems facing organic a Winter Cover Crop in Organic Cropping farmers. There are fewer management options and those such as Systems of California’s Central Valley primary tillage and cultivation are dependent on environmental conditions and size differences between the weed and crop. Sajeemas Pasakdee* Farmer weed management decisions can also be influenced by CATI-CSU Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] social factors such as landlord requirements, community expec- Javier Solis tations, and family pressures. Our objective was to determine Plant Science Dept-CSU Fresno, Fresno, CA; javier11@ how social factors impacted the range of weed management mail.fresnostate.edu strategies that organic farmers adopted. A survey was pretested Anil Shrestha at the Illinois Specialty Crop, Agrotourism, and Organic Farming Plant Science Dept-CSU Fresno, Fresno, CA; ashrestha@ Conference along with the Midwest Organic Farming Confer- csufresno.edu ence and modified before being mailed to a stratified sample of 500 certified organic farmers throughout the Midwest U.S. Sharon E. Benes The initial survey was followed with a reminder card and had Plant Science Dept-CSU Fresno, Fresno, CA; sbenes@ a 61% return rate. Midwest organic farmers produced a wide csufresno.edu range of crops and animals, including cattle, hogs, and chicken

S118 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 to wild collected herbs, small grains, soybeans, and vegetables. John Hendrickson Organic farmers generally used tillage, cover crops, and rota- University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; jhendrick@wisc. tion as key weed management strategies. The approaches and edu intensity of weed management varied depending on animals Rebecca Claypool and crops, landownership, region, and community factors. Our University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; rebeccaclaypool@ research demonstrates that organic farmers’ adoption of inte- gmail.com grated weed management must be understood in the context of their social networks. VeggieCompass is a spreadsheet and web-based whole farm management tool focusing on increasing the profitability of Specified Source(s) of Funding: JBT Fellowship for James organic diversified vegetable farms. Began in 2007 through DeDecker the initiative of Jim Munsch, organic farm, and the University of Wisconsin, this tool has taken input from organic farms 10:30–10:45 am throughout the state to maximize its effectiveness. By allowing Organic Farmer Adoption of a Sudangrass a method for tracking production costs and labor, the spread- Cover Crop for Suppressing Canada Thistle sheet allows farmers to accurately price their crops. In addition, the tool is providing UW with valuable information as to the John B. Masiunas* effectiveness of different production techniques in decreasing University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] labor costs on farms. Dan Anderson Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Risk Management University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Agency, Ceres Trust Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) is an increasingly difficult weed to control low herbicide and organic farming 11:00–11:15 am systems. Canada thistle can spread from wind-blown seed, on Canadian Perception of Organic: equipment, or from contaminated crop seed, hay, or amend- A Comparison by Region, Ethnic Heritage, ments. Once established, Canada thistle can become perennial in as little as five weeks and patches may persist and spread for and Urbanicity decades. Tillage can spread thistle root pieces and most cover Ben Campbell* crops are not present during seed production and greatest move- Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland ment of carbohydrate reserves into the roots. Abram Bicksler, Station, ON; [email protected] in previous research found that sudangrass was effective in suppressing Canada thistle through the following growing Isabelle Lesschaeve Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland season. The objective of our research and outreach project Station, ON; [email protected] was to foster the adoption of sudangrass summer covers and improve knowledge and management of Canada thistle. The Saneliso Mhlanga project was widely advertised throughout the Midwest through Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland press releases, promotion, farmer meetings, web postings, and Station, ON; [email protected] articles. Forty – one farmers participated during the three years When a consumer heads to a retail outlet to purchase fruit and of our project. The on-farm research found that multiple early vegetables, they are bombarded with a multitude of messages, tillages were critical to suppress Canada thistle and cut root such as price, quality, healthiness, and production practices. Of systems into small pieces whose carbohydrate reserves could all the messages used, perhaps the most enigmatic is the term be depleted. They also found that seeding sudangrass before “organic.” Much research has been devoted to understanding mid-June and managing the crop residue was important for how consumers feel about organic produce and if they will success of the system. The on-farm project ended in 2010, but pay a price premium. However, little attention has been paid to farmers are still using and evaluating the system. understanding what consumers perceive organic to mean. This Specified Source(s) of Funding: NCR-SARE is especially true within Canada, especially in regards to differences between regions, ethnic heritage, and consumers living in 10:45–11:00 am a production area. Overall results indicate that 83% of consumers believe organic implies “no synthetic pesticide use, ” however, VeggieCompass: A Whole-Farm Management 29% believe that there are also “no natural pesticides used.” Tra- Tool for Profitability ditionally, natural pesticides are considered acceptable, however, Erin Silva* about a third of respondents believe it does not imply organic. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; emsilva@wisc. This study uncovers the interesting dichotomy between what is edu accepted within production and perceived by consumers. Also interesting is the perception of factors that are not usually thought Paul Mitchell of as organic, being perceived as organic. For instance, 15% and University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; pdmitchell@wisc. 17% of respondents perceived “decreased miles to transport” and edu “produced locally” as a characteristic of organic, respectively.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S119 In regard to comparisons across demographics, perceptions are 10:15–10:30 am quite consistent across regions, but beliefs about what organic Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of Ocimum exactly is are somewhat different between ethnic heritages and bacillicum Plant Growing in Jeddah also between respondents living in and outside of a production area . However, there is consistency across ethnic heritages as- Sameera Bafeel* sociated with incorrect perceptions of organic. Overall, this study King Abdulaziz Univ, Jeddah; [email protected] allows for a better understanding of how “organic” is perceived Magda M. Aly by consumers and how those perceptions can be quite different King Abdulaziz Univ, Jeddah; [email protected] from what is actually implied. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Ontario Ministry of Agricul- Abeer H. Ba-hamdan King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah; pretty_lovely_girl20@ ture—Growing Forward; Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable hotmail.com Growers Association Multiple drug resistance bacteria have been developed due to the indiscriminate use of commercial antimicrobial drugs commonly Monday, September 26, 2011 used in the treatment of infectious diseases. Thus, searching for 10:00–11:30 am Queens 6 new antibiotics is of great interest. Ocimum bacillicum L. (basil) is an annual hairy herb growing up to 1 meter and as one of the Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal most common plants used traditionally in Saudi Arabia to treat Plants many serious diseases. The plant was collected and the essential oil was extracted by either ethanol or methanol using Soxhlet. Moderator: Kerrie B. Badertscher The oil has a watery viscosity and is pale greenish-yellow in Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kbadertscher@ color. The results showed that the methanolic extract of O. bacil- otokehort.com licum was more active against pathogenic bacteria compared 10:00–10:15 am with ethanol extract. Maximum activity was against skin and respiratory tract relevant bacteria, in particular Gram positive An Update on Cannabis Production in Colorado cocci, especially Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epi- Kerrie B. Badertscher* dermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kbadertscher@ Streptococcus mutans, and/or Gram negative rod bacteria, in otokehort.com particular Haemophilus influenzae. Moderate antifungal activity Kurt D. Badertscher was recorded against fungi and no activity was found against Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kdbadertscher@ the pathogenic yeasts. The minimal inhibitory concentration otokehort.com (MIC) for bacteria was 25–50 µg/mL and was 50–150 µg/mL for fungi. The extracted oil affects the wall composition of the Regardless of an uncertain legal landscape, Cannabis is becom- most susceptible bacterium. The oils exhibit excellent antitumor ing steadily more legitimate and economically appealing to activity against Erlish Ascites Carcinoma and the oil showed mainstream business / government partially due to increased tax no toxicity at different concentrations up to 400 µg/mL against revenue stream. CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health) Artimia salina as test organisms. The chemical composition reported Jan. 2011: 130, 000 citizens had legally obtained regis- of basil oil was determined using Gas chromatography mass tration with over 1000 businesses obtaining production licensure spectra. Basil oil has various chemical compounds that include from DOR (Colorado Department of Revenue.) In 2010, >$9 a-pinene, camphene, camphor, methyl cinnamate, and eugenol. million in patient fees were diverted to address shortfalls in the state’s general budget. The unique industry pitfalls often center Specified Source(s) of Funding: King Abdulaziz University on the volatile legal and political backdrop for Cannabis. An update will be included. As with any commercial horticulture 10:30–10:45 am production facility, change is not entered into lightly and certainly Bioactivity of Allium sativum Extracts against not without appropriate payback. Scalability issues appear to be a common link. An update will also be provided on progress on the Plant Pathogens Alternaria solani and raising awareness of the value of applied horticultural science Sclerotium rolfsii to the Colorado medical Cannabis industry over the past year. Puffy Soundy* Demonstrated improvements from adopting Best Management University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; puffy.soundy@ Practices (BMPs) have the most impact, are slowly happening up.ac.za and industry recognition of the value of BMPs is occurring on several levels. Observational data includes demographic informa- Elsa S. du Toit University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; [email protected] tion about long-time growers’ current techniques and with the adoption of more mainstream tools and practices to their opera- Nyengedzeni Mudziwa tions, the predictable results will likely drive a rapid adoption University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; nmudziwa@ across the industry. webmail.co.za

S120 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Erika van den Heever in the 1960s and 1970s, and thus it influenced the practice of Agricultural Research Council - Vegetable and Ornamental TCM in the United States. However, information on Kampo Plant Institute, Pretoria 0001; [email protected] in United States is very limited at most. In this presentation, Allium sativum (garlic) is considered as a vegetable and as an a brief history of Kampo, current status in Japan, differences herbal crop throughout the world, including South Africa. Yield between Kampo and TCM, and Kampo formulation with an and quality can be improved through nitrogen (N) and sulphur emphasis on popular herbals as well as plants used in Japanese (S) nutrition. The objective of the study was to determine the indigenous medicine will be discussed. influence of ammonium sulphate and calcium nitrate fertilization on the bioactivity of A. sativum plants against Alternaria 11:00–11:15 am solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. The experimental layout was a GAP Production of TCM Herbs in China randomized complete-block design (RCBD) with four repli- Bengang Zhang* cations. Alliumsativum plants were treated with ammonium Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese sulphate or calcium nitrate fertilizers applied as topdressing Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; bgzhang@ to give a total of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha, divided into implad.ac.cn three applications at three week intervals. Crude extracts were prepared separately from the leaves and bulbs of A. sativum. Yong Peng The results obtained indicated that leaf extracts of the plant Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese which were treated with calcium nitrate fertilizer demonstrated Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; ypeng@implad. low bioactivity when compared to plants that were treated with ac.cn ammonium sulphate. Allium sativum bulb extracts were found Zhao Zhang to have very low bioactivity at 54 days after planting (DAP) Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese and high at 175 DAP, however leaf extract bioactivity increased Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; zzhang@implad. from young (54 DAP) to full vegetative maturity of the shoots ac.cn (82 to 112 DAP) and declined with maturity of the bulb (140 to 175 DAP), regardless of N source supplied to the plants. Haitao Liu Calcium nitrate failed to improve the medical properties of A. Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; htliu@implad. sativum while ammonium sulphate enhanced the bioactivity. ac.cn Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agricultural Research Council Yaodong Qi Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese 10:45–11:00 am Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; ydqi@implad. Introduction to Kampo and Japanese ac.cn Indigenous Herbal Medicine Shuang Liu Hideka Kobayashi* Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; hideka. Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; sliu@implad. [email protected] ac.cn Kampo, the traditional Japanese medicine, has been practiced Ying Wang in Japan for over a thousand years. Kampo is an adaptation of Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese medicine, and modifications occurred over a period Wuhan; [email protected] of time. The name Kampo literally means Han (of dynasty) Peigen Xiao method to differentiate it from western medicine that was in- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese troduced during the Edo period. Some of the major differences Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing; pgxiao@implad. include the primary reliance on herbal prescription, diagnosis ac.cn technique, and medicine formulation. Substitution of key components with related species occurred during modifica- In this paper, we briefly review international GAP regulations tion, although the overall efficacy has been validated. After related to Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs (TCM herbs) and the Meiji period, the popularity of Kampo gradually declined. the background of the drafting process and the implementa- A resurgence in popularity of Kampo is partly attributed to tion GAP for TCM herbs in China. We also have summarized the formal recognition by the Japanese government, and 148 progress and achievements since the implementation of GAP formulas are now covered by the national health insurance. for TCM herbs in 2002. Up to 2010, a total of 99 GAP bases Kampo formulations are manufactured at pharmaceutical good were formally adopted by GAP Certification. They cover 22 manufacturing practice-certified facilities to ensure quality, and provinces / municipalities, and 49 species of TCM herbs are the products are routinely analyzed for key constituents and currently cultivated in these GAP bases. Finally, we discuss possible contaminants. The Japanese approach to the Traditional the main problems in GAP implementation for Chinese crude Chinese Medicine (TCM) was introduced to the United States drugs, and put forward some suggestions to tackle them.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S121 11:15–11:30 am fruit cracking exceeds 25% at harvest, fruit are not picked. OSU The Juliana Anicia Codex: 1500 Year Horticulture and Pharmacy Faculty have collaborated in pro- Anniversary (512–2012) of a Dioscoridean ducing and patenting SureSeal, a novel, hydrophobic, elastic, biofilm, which significantly reduces fruit cracking in sweet cher- Recension ries. SureSeal is 99% hydrophobic and consists of a copolymer Jules Janick* of stearic acid, cellulose and calcium. Collaborative research Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected] undertaken over three years throughout the Pacific Northwest and overseas found that two applications of 0.5% SureSeal The Greek herbal of Pedanios Dioskurides, latinized as Pedanius applied just prior to straw color and again ten days later, and Dioscorides (20–70 CE), entitled Peri Ylis Ialikis (latinized as again 2 days before harvest reduces fruit cracking consistently De Materia Medica, On Medical Matters) was written about the when compared to untreated control fruit. Indeed, in Norway, year 65. It was destined to be one of the most famous books fruit cracking was reduced from 24.6% to 9.8% when trees were on pharmacology and medicine but is also rich in horticulture treated with SureSeal in combination with plastic ground covers. and plant ecology. The oldest and most famous recension of Furthermore, all except one of these studies found that, SureSeal Dioscorides completed in Constantinople about 512 has sur- resulted in significantly (P < 0.001) higher TSS and increased vived is a magnificent, gloriously illustrated Greek version in stem pull force (g) (retention force between the pedicel and the an alphabetical arrangement that was prepared and presented fruit) than untreated control fruit. Furthermore, in 2008/9/10, to the imperial Princess Juliana Anicia (462–527), daughter of ‘Bing’ fruit had higher total soluble solids both before and after the Emperor Anicius Olybrius, Emperor of the Western Roman 2 weeks of regular atmosphere storage at 2 °C than untreated Empire. The bound manuscript stored in Osterreichische Na- control fruit. Results from 2011 will be presented. tionalbibliothek in Vienna is available in facsimile and is now referred to as the Juliana Anicia Codex (JAC) or the Codex Specified Source(s) of Funding: Pacific Biocontrol Corporation Vindobonensis. The JAC contains over 400 paintings of plants including many horticultural crops. An analysis of the illustra- 10:15–10:30 am tions indicates the illustrations were made by numerous artists High Tunnel Management for Early Ripening of of varying skills and it is probably that some were derived from earlier lost versions. A comparison of illustrations from the JAC Sweet Cherries: Bringing Hawaii to Michigan? with modern photographs indicate surprising similarities with Gregory Lang* contemporary plants. Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] Husnu Demirsoy Monday, September 26, 2011 Ondokuz Mayis University, Atakum Samsun; husnud@ omu.edu.tr 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kohala 3 Leyla Demirsoy Pomology 1 Ondokuz Mayis University, Atakum Samsun; demirsoy@ omu.edu.tr Moderator: Clive Kaiser Milton-Freewater, OR; [email protected] The adaptation of high tunnels for sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) production in continental temperate, rainy climates can provide 10:00–10:15 am a number of potential benefits, foremost being protection from Prevention of Sweet Cherry Fruit Cracking rain-induced fruit cracking. In recent years, we have demonstrated that high tunnels also can improve tree growth and facilitate Using SureSeal, An Elastic Hydrophobic Biofilm high fruit quality, as well as provide protection from some insect Clive Kaiser* pests and rain-disseminated diseases, key advantages that have Milton-Freewater, OR; [email protected] advanced the potential for organic production systems. Sweet cherry requires a period of chilling temperatures during winter J. Mark Christensen for normal annual growth and fruiting; consequently, the three- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; jmark. season high tunnels typically used are not covered during winter, [email protected] to facilitate normal seasonal cold acclimation and dormancy Lynn E. Long (and avoid snow loads). However, we have been investigating The Dalles, OR; [email protected] the feasibility of early covering for potential season extension, Mekjell Meland to promote earlier bloom and ripening for premium market N-5774 Lofthus; [email protected] opportunities. In 2009, with sequential covering of high tunnel orchards beginning in late winter, we demonstrated significant Esmaeil “Essie” Fallahi and sequential advancement of bloom and ripening, by 11 and University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] 8 days, respectively, across several varieties. In 2010, ripening Rain-induced fruit cracking in sweet cherries can be a major was advanced into the market window supplied by California problem. In the Pacific Northwest, due to high labor costs, when production areas, well ahead of the usual arrival of cherries

S122 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 from Washington and Oregon. However, earlier flowering is fected spatial distribution of new shoots, number of shoots per accompanied by an increased risk of crop damage by low tem- tree, trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA), and total shoot length. peratures. In 2011, we examined the use of supplemental heat Shoot numbers ranged from 3 to 38 and were affected most by from propane convection heaters to protect developmentally training system, being greatest for the KGB averaging 18.2 and advancing flower buds from low spring temperatures. Tempera- TSA averaging 16.9. Bud management at planting also affected ture gradients were mapped from the orchard floor to the tunnel shoot formation; targeted bud selection/removal resulted in new apex and along the length of the 62 m (200 ft) tree rows. More shoot distributions that were 7% and 8% closer to “ideal” targets than one week of subfreezing temperatures, some as low as –8 for the UFO and TSA canopies, respectively. Total growth was °C (17 °F), provided multiple opportunities for frost protection most influenced by training system and rootstock, with total experiments. Results varied based on heater design and output, shoot length and TCSA being greatest for trees trained to the with tunnel air temperatures within the canopy being raised by TSA at 593 cm and 4.8 cm2, respectively, and Gisela 6 at 579 1.6 to 3.3 °C (2 to 6 °F). The use of heater BTU specifications cm and 4.4 cm2, respectively. How this growth during the year vs. tunnel space to estimate potential air temperature increases of establishment affects the populations of initial spur and non- above outdoor ambient will be presented, as will estimates of spur fruiting sites in 2011, and the anticipated first commercial growing degree requirements for predicting the progressive stages yield potential in 2012, will be discussed. of cherry bud development during early covering. The historic Specified Source(s) of Funding: International Fruit Tree As- probability dynamics for the occurrence of bud stage-specific sociation critical temperatures during March–April also were developed. The management of sweet cherry high tunnels in a cold weather 10:45–11:00 am climate like that of Michigan requires knowledge of these factors and the development of multiple strategies relative to production The Effect of Hydrogen Cyanamide on Sweet risks vs. benefits during late winter and early spring. Cherry Floral Organ Development in a Low- Specified Source(s) of Funding: International Fruit Tree As- Chill Region sociation Lu Zhang* Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai; lu.zhang5@ 10:30–10:45 am email.wsu.edu Rootstock, Training System, and Bud Bo Li Management Affect Establishment of High Shandong Institute of Pomology, Shandong; sdlibo@sjtu. Density Sweet Cherry Training Systems edu.cn Tiffany Lillrose* Matthew D. Whiting Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] Washington State University, Prosser, WA; mdwhiting@ wsu.edu Gregory Lang Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] Caixi Zhang Shanghai Jiaotong University; [email protected] Production of fresh market sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) requires high labor inputs and incurs significant risks, such as Wenping Xu frosts, rain-induced fruit cracking, bird damage, etc. Research Shanghai Jiaotong University; [email protected] to improve orchard efficiencies, and to simplify and reduce tree Shiping Wang structure and stature, is key to improving orchard economics. The Shanghai Jiaotong University; [email protected] development of high-density fruiting wall canopy architectures has the potential to lower costs of protection (from birds or rain), The development of a commercial sweet cherry (Prunus avium provide more efficient use of space, reduce labor costs, and fa- L.) industry in the Shanghai region of China (and other regions cilitate better light and spray penetration, thereby improving fruit with low chilling accumulation) is limited by inconsistent flow- quality, consistency, and profitability. In this study, we examined ering and low fruit set. Previous research has shown that flower four novel training systems on three precocious rootstocks (Gisela bud differentiation, and pollen development and activity, are 3 and 5 are dwarfing, Gisela 6 is vigorous) to determine how normal in the Shanghai region. In attempts to induce more uni- they interact during early orchard establishment of ‘Benton’ and form flowering and increase fruit set, the plant growth regulator ‘Rainier’ sweet cherry trees. The training systems include the hydrogen cyanamide (HC) is utilized in low chill regions. The UFO (an oblique leader with fruiting upright shoots), the KGB current study was conducted to better understand the mecha- (a multiple leader bush with fruiting upright shoots), the SSA (a nism behind poor fruit set in regions with warm winters and the single leader with short lateral fruiting shoots), and the TSA (a role of HC on floral organ development. We sprayed 2% HC single leader with longer, branched lateral fruiting shoots). The on 5-year-old ‘Hongdeng’ sweet cherry trees cultivated in the objective is to better understand the factors and the interactions Shanghai region (Treated, T). Control trees under similar field that influence early development of those shoots that ultimately management and vigor in both Shanghai (warm winter, CS) and will form the first fruiting sites. Bud management at planting, Tai’an City (cold winter region, CT) were studied also. From rootstock genotype, and canopy training system variably af- treated and control trees, 25 flowers were collected every 3 days

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S123 from 9 Feb. until full bloom. Electron microscopy was used to 11:15–11:30 am examine the progression of pollen growth, which was classified Variability in Sweet Cherry Flower Bud into five stages, and observe ovary development, which was Distribution in the UFO System Is Related to divided into seven stages. Chilling accumulation, calculated by 0–7.2 °C chilling model, of T, CS and CT were 525 hr, 810 hr and Genotype and Shoot Vigor 1077 hr, respectively. HC-treated in Shanghai exhibited slight Antonia Sanchez-Labbe* differences in the progression of microspore development but Washington State University, Prosser, WA; great delays in ovule and embryo sac development compared to [email protected] controls in both locations. In CS, nucellus development stagnated in the mother cell macrospore and macrospore stages in which Matthew D. Whiting Washington State University, Prosser, WA; mdwhiting@ abortion ratios reached 13%, 15% and 45% at 6, 3, and 0 days wsu.edu before full bloom, respectively. The results indicated that a lack of chilling accumulation was the main cause for abnormal floral The Upright Fruiting Offshoots (UFO) architecture for sweet organs, and HC treatment accelerated the progression of ovule cherry (Prunus avium L.) was developed at Washington State and embryo sac development. University in collaboration with industry leaders. This novel planar system aims to improve production efficiency, utilize Specified Source(s) of Funding: Washington State University’s natural cherry growth habit, reduce environmental footprint, Ag. Research Center and the Washington Tree Fruit Research and facilitate the incorporation of technology. Though greatly Commission simplified compared with other cherry training systems, the establishment and management of UFO system is still subject to 11:00–11:15 am research and development due it its infancy. The architecture is The U.F.O. Architecture: A Novel System for based upon vertical, unbranched fruiting wood that is established High Efficiency Sweet Cherry Orchards in the first two years and renewed regularly. Our observations are that vigor of current season shoots is variable and inversely Matthew D. Whiting* related to shoot precocity and productivity. In order to improve Washington State University, Prosser, WA; mdwhiting@ uniformity and system productivity, a better understanding of the wsu.edu physiology behind the variability in flower bud formation and Orchard system studies at Washington State University and in distribution is needed. The aim of this study was to document grower-cooperator orchards have led to the following vision the variability of flower bud distribution in 2-year-old vertical for sweet cherry architecture: 1) single-plane fruiting walls that uprights, related to upright vigor. We studied these relationships facilitate the adoption of technologies and reduce environmental in a research orchard with five cultivars on two rootstocks. Dor- footprint; 2) precocious and productive yielding high uniformity mant two-year-old wood was divided in three equal sections by of superlative fruit; 3) systematic approach to pruning and train- length (proximal, medial and distal) and the number flower buds ing that minimizes interpretation and uses natural growth habit; per spur were recorded for each node along with caliper and and 4) ability to adopt precision canopy and crop management length of each upright. In addition, the shoots were segregated strategies. From this vision and with industry collaboration, the by vigor (caliper) to examine the influence of shoot vigor on U.F.O. (upright fruiting offshoots) architecture was developed. the distribution and density of reproductive buds. Observations Briefly, to establish the system, unbranched, unpruned nursery suggest that the distribution of spurs and flower buds within fruit- stock (i.e., “whips”) are planted at an angle of ≈45° and sub- ing wood is cultivar dependent, but most exhibited more than sequently trained horizontally at a height of ≈45 cm. Nursery 50% of the reproductive buds in the distal section. The relation- stock should be sufficient to fill the between-tree spacing at ships between upright vigor and the distribution and density of planting. Test orchards have been planted at 1 to 2 m between reproductive buds reveal that medium-low vigor uprights have trees on ‘Gisela®5’ and 2 to 3 m on ‘Gisela®6’. Growth in year more homogenous distribution and greater density (+5 – 40%) 1 is focused into upright shoots spaced 15 to 20 cm apart. This of fruit buds than upright shoots with high vigor. These results may be accomplished by bud removal or scoring, though up- underscore the importance of moderating excessive vigor in rights tend to develop without intervention. In subsequent years, annual vegetative growth in this system. pruning is largely limited to: 1) elimination of all lateral growth, Specified Source(s) of Funding: and 2) dormant or summer renewal of vigorous uprights. This Washington State University’s training system may be adapted to vertical or angled fruiting Ag Research Center, the Washington Tree Fruit Research Com- walls, creating a compact architecture. This presentation will mission, and SCRI grant 2009-02559. illustrate system establishment and training. In addition, fruit yield and quality and harvest efficiency data from cooperators’ 11:30–11:45 am orchards will be presented. Flower Bud Winter Damage of Stone Fruit in Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI grant 2009-02559, Wash- New Mexico during 2011 ington Tree Fruit Research Commission, and Washington State Shengrui Yao University Ag. Research Center New Mexico State University, Alcalde, NM; yaos@nmsu. edu

S124 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Richard Heerema* etative buds from PLMVd-infected ‘Ta Tao 5’ trees were used New Mexico State University, Alcalde, NM; rjheerem@ for the inoculation. ‘Redglobe’ trees were spaced either 3.7 (+ nmsu.edu PLMVd), 4.3 (+PLMVd), or 4.9 (–PLMVd) m within rows Late frosts are the primary issue limiting fruit production in that were 6.1 m apart. Trees were trained as an open-center or central and northern New Mexico and nearby states. But in vase system and located near Ridge Spring, SC. Data collection 2011, a cold snap occurred around 1 Jan. and another severe included time to summer and dormant prune trees, time to hand one in early February with minimum temperatures reaching thin immature fruit, maturity date, yields, size distribution, and –7.2 °F (–21.8 °C, Jan. 1) and –11.3 °F (–24.1 °C, Feb. 3) at fruit quality for some or all of the years of 2006 and 2008 to Alcalde in northern NM, and 4.8 °F (–15.1 °C, Jan. 1) and –13.9 2010. PLMVd trees bloomed 7–10 days later, and took less °F (–25.5 °C, Feb. 3) at Los Lunas in central New Mexico. At time to summer and dormant prune each year. Time to hand Alcalde, 10 days after the –7.2 °F (–21.8 °C) on January 1, thin viroid trees was significantly more (2 min/tree) in 2008 400-1000 flower buds per cultivar of peach and apricot were due to excessive buttons and doubles, but less in 2009 (6 min/ dissected and evaluated for their survival rate with brown/black tree) and 2010 (5 min/tree). Yields of viroid-inoculated trees flower primordia considered dead and greenish flower primordia progressively declined on a per acre basis from 116% of the considered as live. Live flower bud percentage varied by cultivar untreated controls in 2006 to only 58%, 47%, and 63% of the for peach, ranging from 11% for ‘Blazing Star, ’ 25% for ‘PF-1’ controls in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. Peak harvest to 85% for ‘Encore’ and 87% for ‘China Pearl.’ Flower buds of in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for PLMVd trees were 7, 9 and 4 days apricots were hardier than peaches with ‘Perfection’ showing later, respectively. Fruit size was smaller for PLMVd trees in 70% survival, 97% for ‘Sunglo’ and 99% for ‘Harglow.’ Later 2006 and 2010, but larger in 2009 likely due to a reduced crop in the season, peaches and apricots were evaluated with the load. Fruit from viroid-inoculated trees had similar soluble same criteria, and plums were judged near bloom with swell- solids as the controls but had significantly higher titrated ing buds/flowers considered as live and no swelling buds as acidity and were firmer. In some years peach warts, which are dead. After the early February freeze, peach flower buds were symptoms of peach viroids, were common on the fruit sutures severely damaged from central to northern New Mexico. Twelve of viroid-infected fruit. peach cultivars were dissected and evaluated on 11 Feb. 2011 at Alcalde, NM. Flower primordia were all brown/black in color with fewer cultivars showing less than 1% survival. Based on Monday, September 26, 2011 the above information, the 10% kill of flower buds for most 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kohala 2 peach cultivars occurred at temperatures higher than –7.2 °F (-21.8 °C) and 90% kill occurred between -7.2 °F (–21.8 °C) Weed Control and Pest to –11.3 °F (–24.1 °C). Peach vegetative buds were safe for all Management 1 cultivars. Apricots survived better than peaches. The flower buds on spurs or shoots of lower canopy of ‘Perfection’ and ‘Puget Moderator: Hannah Mary Manners Gold’ had 0% survival and less than 1% for ‘Goldcot.’ But Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] ‘Harglow, ’ ‘Harlayne, ’ and ‘Sunglo’ had 8% to 15% survival. For vigorous shoots at the upper canopy, apricot flower buds 10:00–10:15 am on 1-year shoots had higher blooming rate than those on spurs The Response of Weeds and Cut Stems of the of second-year or older wood. Flower buds of Japanese plums Native Hawaiian Grass Sporobolus virginicus were also damaged severely (less than 0.2% survival for ‘Santa (L.) Kunth to Two Forms and Two Rates of Rosa’ and 4.8% for ‘Methley’), but European plums were safe Oxadiazon Applied as a Component of a with over 98% flower bud survival for ‘Castleton’ and ‘NY6’ and 87% for ‘Stanley’ after –11.3 °F at Alcalde. Hydromulch Cap in a Simulated Roadside Planting 11:45 am–12:00 pm Scott B. Lukas* Yield and Fruit Quality of PLMVd-Inoculated University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Peach Trees Joseph DeFrank Gregory L. Reighard* University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Glenn S. Sakamoto David R. Ouellette USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Hoolehua, HI; [email protected] Kathy H. Brock United States Department of Transportation initiatives are call- Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] ing for increased use of native plants for highway rights-of-way Approximately 1600 one-year-old ‘Redglobe’ peach trees on re-vegetation. In Hawaii, Sporobolus virginicus (a coastal na- Guardian®; rootstock were inoculated with a Prunus Latent tive grass) has been identified as a useful species for roadside Mosaic Viroid (PLMVd) by chip budding in Sept. 2003. Veg- plantings. Plantings of S. virginicus can be accomplished by

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S125 hydromulch capping of cut stems, however, weed management verbena, Verbena sp.; 9) wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis; and is essential for successful establishment. In this study, the ef- 10) black foot daisy Zinnia paladosa. Five replications were ficacy and safety of the pre-emergence herbicide oxadiazon studied in two 4-week trials. Plants were enclosed within screen applied in the hydromulch cap over S. virginicus cut stems cages, infested with 30 predatory mites, and maintained in a was evaluated in a trials repeated over two years. Oxadiazon greenhouse. The tallest three meristems were inspected with a in two forms, granule and suspension concentrate, was applied hand lens weekly in the first trial and biweekly in the second. at 2.25 and 3.36 kg·ha–1 ai. S. virginicus response was recorded Numbers of predators and other pertinent observations were as counts of new shoots, aboveground biomass and percent recorded. The study was conducted twice; at the end of the trial visual coverage. There were significantly greater counts of S. remaining predators were collected using Berlese funnels. Results virginicus shoots, biomass and visual coverage found with the G showed significant differences between treatments (P = 0.05) form of oxadiazon, with no significant effect of application rate. with significantly more mites collected from ‘Snow Princess’™ Herbicide treatments with the G form of oxadiazon resulted in alyssum than other treatments. This plant will be infested and significantly less weed biomass than the suspension concentrate, installed in a rose garden for field evaluation. with no significant effect of rate. Granular oxadiazon, in the hydromulch cap, can provide commercially acceptable weed 10:30–10:45 am control while maintaining high levels of rooting and plant vigor Powdery Mildew Resistance in Cucumber during the establishment period. Seedlings Grown under Different Light Sources Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hawaii Department of Tran- portation; USDA/NRCS Kaori Itagaki* Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; itagaki.kaori@ gmail.com 10:15–10:30 am Evaluation of Selected Groundcovers as Banker Toshio Shibuya Plants for Predatory Mites Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka; shibuya@envi. osakafu-u.ac.jp Mary E. Henry* Motoaki Tojo University of Florida IFAS, Bartow, FL; [email protected] Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; tojo@plant. Sydney Park Brown osakafu-u.ac.jp University of Florida IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Ryosuke Endo Education Center, Plant City, FL; [email protected] Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; endo@envi. Steven Arthurs osakafu-u.ac.jp University of Florida IFAS Mid-Florida Research & Yoshiaki Kitaya Education Center, Apopka, FL; [email protected] Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; kitaya@envi. Lance S. Osborne osakafu-u.ac.jp University of Florida IFAS Mid-Florida Research & Recently, transplant production systems that use artificial light Education Center Associate Center Director, Apopka, FL; have been developed as a way to produce high quality transplants. [email protected] In this study, we investigated the effects of light quality on growth Cal Welbourn and powdery mildew resistance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Florida Dept. Agriculture & Consumer Services, seedlings. Seedlings were grown under fluorescent lamps with Gainesville, FL; [email protected] high red-to-far-red (R:FR) light (R:FR = 7.0; FH) that have been A research project was conducted, in partnership with UF commonly used in the transplant production systems or with low Extension Specialists, to evaluate landscape groundcovers as R:FR light (R:FR = 1.1; FL). The spectrum of FL was almost the banker plants to support predatory mites in the absence of prey. same as that of FH, except in FR. The growth conditions were Amblyseius swirskii maintained at an air temperature of 28 °C, a relative humidity We used (McGregor) in our tests because –2 –1 it an effective predator of Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis of 50%, and a photosynthetic photon flux of 300 µmol·m ·s (Hood), a significant pest of knockout roses and other landscape at the canopy surface with a light:dark photoperiod of 12:12 h. ornamentals. We hypothesized that in the absence of arthropod When the cotyledons were fully expanded (5 or 7 d after seeding prey, A. swirskii might be sustained on a diet of pollen or other in FH or FL seedlings, respectively), powdery mildew fungus plant nutrient sources such as extrafloral nectaries. Groundcovers (Sphaerotheca cucurbitae; PM) were inoculated onto the adaxial expected to provide favorable conditions and with potential to leaf surface of seedlings by spraying PM spore suspension. The be used as a companion plant to landscape roses were evaluated: inoculated seedlings were then grown for 10 d under the same 1) sterile lantana, Lantana camara; 2) sensitive plant, Mimosa condition. Samples of non-inoculated seedlings in each group strigillosa; 3) alyssum ‘Snow Princess’™, Lobularia hybrid; 4) were taken to measure the morphological characteristics. The beach sunflower, Helianthus debilis; 5) ‘Hip Hop’ Euphorbia, PM colonies were counted 8, 9, and 10 d after the inoculation. Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Hip Hop’™; 6) stoloniferous perennial The PM colonies started to appear 8 d after the inoculation in peanut, Arachis pintoi; 7) blue daze, Evolvulus glomeratus; 8) both FH and FL seedlings. The number of PM colonies on FH

S126 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 seedlings was 0.6 times that on FL seedlings. Leaf dry mass (MHVP) (20% acetic acid) (Engage Agro, Guelph, ON) outper- per area (LMA) and percent dry matter (PDM) of FH seedlings formed the 200 grain vinegar and WeedPharm™ (20% acetic were both 1.2 times those of FL seedlings. This indicates that acid) at 10% v/v (Pharm Solutions Inc., Port Townsend, WA). the cotyledons of FH seedlings were thicker and tougher. From MHVP, Scythe and BH1 were the most efficacious treatments these results, The PM resistance in FH seedlings was probably in 2010. improved by changes in leaf morphological characteristics such Specified Source(s) of Funding: Vineland Research and In- as thickness and toughness resulting from the higher R:FR novation Centre; USDA SCRI Block Grant through Michigan illumination. On the other hand, the leaf expansion and the Nursery and Landscape Association shoot elongation of FH seedlings were inhibited than that of FL seedlings. Therefore, there is a tradeoff between faster growth 11:00–11:15 am and improved resistance to PM. We need to consider which of the two advantages is more important when growing transplants Antioxidant Capacity and Content and Nutritive under artificial light. Potential of Palmer Amaranth, an Indigenous Weedy Species 10:45–11:00 am L.M. Sosnoskie* Bioherbicide Treated Mulches for Ornamental University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; lynn.sosnoskie@gmail. Weed Control com Hannah M. Mathers* Dan MacLean Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] The provinces of Quebec and Ontario have implemented bans B.T. Scully on all “cosmetic pesticide” applications, prompting research in USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] alternative weed controls for nurseries and especially in the landscape industry. Evaluations initiated on 19 May 2009 at T.M. Webster Sheridan Nursery, Halton Hills, Ontario in 1-gal containers, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] 75 °F in full sun and 8 June 2010 at the Vineland Research A.S. Culpepper and Innovation Centre, Victoria Rd. Farm, Vineland Station, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] ON, in 2-inch mulched 3 × 3 ft plots at 80 °F in full sun were Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), a broadleaf, summer conducted. In 2009, two sizes of Pine bark of >1 inch and <1 annual, is a common and competitive weed of row crop produc- inch were obtained from Gro-Bark Ltd., Caledon, ON. In 2010, tion in the Midsouth and SE states. However, Palmer amaranth three bark types were used: pine <1 inch as in 2009; hardwood has developed resistance to four herbicide mechanisms of action, (bark and wood); and cedar (bark and wood) obtained from Gro- the most important being the EPSPS-inhibitors (glyphosate). Bark Ltd. In both years bark was spread on plastic sheets at 2 Currently, glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth populations inches thick with five replications per treatment and sprayed. occur on more than 2 million ha of agronomic land, prompting The treated bark was allowed to stand for 24 hours and applied some growers to question the nutritive potential of the species in to the tops of freshly planted 1-gal containers in 2009 or plots hopes of finding an unconventional use for this pest. The goals in 2010. In 2009, oxadiazon (Ronstar, Dow AgroSciences) and of this study were to: 1) explore the phytonutrient content of flumioxazin (BroadStar, Valent USA) at 1× rates were used as Palmer amaranth and 2) compare it to other human and animal industry standards for efficacy and phytotoxicity comparisons. food sources common to the southeastern US. Freshly harvested Extracts of two alleopathic plants called BH1 and BH2 were tissues of greenhouse grown Palmer amaranth, kale, turnip also prepared and applied at 5% and 10% aqueous solution. In greens, millet and rye were ground under liquid nitrogen and 2010, phytotoxicity evaluations were conducted on white spruce extracted (1:10 w/v) in 60 MeOH:37 H O: 3 formic acid for 1 h (Picea gluaca) English oak (Quercus robur) and Coreopsis 2 at 37 °C, then clarified by centrifugation. Antioxidant capacity ‘Moonbeam’. In 2009, Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ was determined using two methods: 1) DPPH radical scaveng- (Winter Creeper Euonymus), Sambuscus canadensis (American ing assay and 2) total phenolics using Folin Ciocalteu’s reagent, elderberry) and Pinus mugo (Mugo pine) were used. In 2009, while antioxidant content was determined using HPLC-DAD. 200 grain vinegar (Ohio State University (OSU), Food Science Peaks were quantified using standard curves and expressed as Department) applied on <1 inch pine bark was as efficacious chlorogenic acid (330 nm), quercetin 3-galactoside (350 nm) as the standard Ronstar with less than half the phytotoxicity and cyandin 3-galactoside (520 nm) equivalents. Results from at 90 DAT. The BH1 plant extract at 5% and 10% on <1 inch the DPPH and FC assays suggest that Palmer amaranth has as bark was as efficacious as Vinegar <1 inch and the Ronstar; high an antioxidant capacity as some common human and animal however, the phytotoxicity with BH1 was almost half that of foods. With respect to percent (%) DPPH scavenging: Palmer 200 grain vinegar and 3.5× less than Ronstar. In 2010, further (51%) > turnip (48%) > kale (46%) > millet (40%) > rye (29%). testing with horticultural vinegars compared to the OSU 200 With respect to total phenolics content (gallic acid equivalents; grain, pelargonic acid (Scythe™ at 10% v/v), (Gowan Co., mg/L): rye (137) > millet (127) > Palmer (91) > kale (84) > LLC, Yuma, AZ) and comparisons of various mulch types turnip (77). HPLC data showed that Palmer amaranth contains were conducted. In 2010, Munger Horticultural Vinegar Plus

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S127 high levels of hydroxycinnamic acids (µg/g chlorogenic acid was 68% lower in ST plots compared to CT, but no significant equivalents) with contents of turnip (3723) > millet (3408) > cover crop effect was detected. In contrast, and counter to our rye (3136) > Palmer (2785) > kale (1502). Currently, studies hypothesis, emergence of Powell amaranth sown at the time are being performed to better characterize the nutritive potential of cabbage transplanting (9 days after tillage) was higher with (antioxidant, protein and fiber content, etc) of Palmer amaranth oat residue compared to no cover crop, especially in ST treat- relative to spinach, collards, India turnip, redleaf amaranth, mil- ments. When grown with a fixed amount of weed competition, let and rye, and at different developmental stages. Indigenous mid-season cabbage plant biomass was higher with cover crops leafy amaranths are crucial to food security in many regions than without, though total cabbage plant biomass at maturity of the world including: sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, was similar in all treatments. Final cabbage yield was not af- India, China, and the Caribbean. A lack of knowledge regarding fected by treatment, suggesting that yields can be maintained production practices, harvest methods, animal preference, and with adoption of soil-improving practices. nitrate accumulation, plus growers’ negative perceptions, will Specified Source(s) of Funding: MSU Graduate School, The need to be overcome before its use as an alternate crop can be C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, MSU Project explored fully. GREEEN

11:15–11:30 am 11:30–11:45 am Strip Tillage for Cabbage Production: Impacts Effects of Silicon on Pest Management and on Soil, Weed Emergence, and Cabbage Yield Productivity in Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa) Erin R. Haramoto* Trees in Brazil Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; haramoto@ msu.edu Joseilton F. Silva Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; Daniel C. Brainard [email protected] Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; brainar9@ msu.edu Marlon C.T. Pereira* Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; marlon. Reduced tillage, including strip tillage (ST) which limits tillage [email protected] to the crop rows, may lower fuel, labor, and maintenance costs Gaspar H. Korndorfer while maintaining or improving soil quality and crop growth Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia; ghk53@ relative to conventional tillage (CT). Integrating cover crops into terra.com.br ST systems may offer additional benefits related to soil fertility and weed management. By experimentally separating tillage João A.A. Oliveira and cover cropping effects, this research seeks to understand Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; marlon. [email protected] how weed emergence in and between crop rows and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata) growth and yield are affected Irton Costa in ST fields with a cover crop. Between the crop rows (BR), we Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; marlon. hypothesized that fewer weeds would emerge in ST compared to [email protected] CT due to the lack of germination-inducing tillage, with surface Clarice D.A. Corsato cover crop residue acting as a mulch and leading to stronger sup- Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; marlon. pression. Incorporated residues in CT and in crop rows (IR) in [email protected] ST were hypothesized to reduce emergence to a lesser extent. In Gisele P. Mizobutsi the absence of weed competition, cabbage yields were expected Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; marlon. to improve with cover crops because of improved soil moisture [email protected] and fertility benefits (though early nitrogen immobilization Silvia Nietsche was expected); higher yields in ST were also expected due to Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; silvia. higher soil moisture in the BR areas that cabbage could utilize. [email protected] A fully-factorial field trial was established with tillage (ST or CT) and cover cropping [spring oat (Avena sativa) or none]. Wagner Vendrame University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] Soil temperature and moisture were measured IR and BR as these influence weed seedling emergence. Quadrats of Powell Sugar apple is an important fruit crop in Brazil grown commer- amaranth (Amaranthus powellii) seeds were established both in cially in semi-arid regions, with Bahia state being the largest IR and BR locations immediately following tillage and again producer. The cultivated area is estimated at 7, 100 ha and almost nine days later following cabbage planting; emerged seedlings all orchards have been established using seedlings. Silicon (Si) were counted and pulled daily. After tillage, soil temperature is involved in regulating physical functions of evapotranspira- was lower under a surface cover crop residue (ST BR); surface tion and capable of forming a physical barrier to fungi, bacteria and incorporated residues also increased soil moisture. In 2010, and insects. The objective of present work was to verify the Powell amaranth emergence immediately following tillage effect of Si on pest management (fruit borer and mealy bugs) and productivity in sugar apple trees under irrigated conditions.

S128 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 The experiment was carried out at an experimental area of factors involved in fire blight management yielded highly Unimontes, in Janaúba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experimental successful results about 75%. The use of prediction models design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments, five taking into consideration appropriate timing and climatical factors repetitions, and one plant per parcel. The following treatments are essential to control and limit the spread of fire blight disease. –1 were performed: control (No Si), 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg·ha Specified Source(s) of Funding: This study was supported by SiO2 (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.20 kg Si per plant, respectively). The Selcuk University Scientific Researches Coordinators product was applied directly to soil. The following characteristics were evaluated: physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, chemical analyses of the leaves, vegetative and reproductive Monday, September 26, 2011 characteristics of the plants, physical-chemical characteristics 12:15–2:00 pm Kohala 3 of the fruits and incidence of fruit borer and mealy bugs. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and regression Fruit Breeding and Genetics analyzes. No significant differences were observed between the characteristics evaluated. Comparing the levels of Si in the soil Moderator: Cameron P. Peace before and after application, increments of 48.17% at the depth Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. 0.0–0.2 m, and 67.31% at the depth 0.2–0.4 m were observed. edu The Si content in leaves and fruits was 0.52% and 0.50%, re- 12:15–12:30 pm spectively. An average of 12 kg of fruits per plant was observed, with a productivity of 11.41 tons per hectare. The maximum RosBREED: Enabling Marker-Assisted incidence observed for fruit borer was 13.33% and 14.39% for Breeding in Rosaceae mealy bugs, respectively. Several factors are involved in pest Cameron P. Peace* management, such as the quantity of Si applied, physiology of Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. the plant, and capacity of translocation and accumulation of this edu element to aerial parts. Nahla V. Bassil 11:45–12:00 pm USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] An Integrated Management Program for Fire Marco Bink Blight Disease on Apples Plant Research International, Wageningen; marco.bink@ wur.nl Kubilay Kurtulus Bastas* Susan K. Brown Selcuk University, Konya42031; [email protected] Cornell Univ, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight, one of the most destructive diseases that treaten pome fruits globally, and it also affects a David H. Byrne Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; d-byrne@ wide variety of Rosaceae as well as ornamentals. The disease tamu.edu develops as blossom, shoot, or rootstock blight depending on the plant tissues infected and each syndrome requires specific John R. Clark control strategies. To achieve optimal control of the disease, a University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; jrclark@uark. program was performed on 4-year-old apple ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ edu cultivated on ‘M9’ rootstock on a well drained soil (pH=6.5) Carlos H. Crisosto having adequate organic matter in 2009 and 2010. Initially, University of California–Davis, Davis, CA; carlos@uckac. the trees were prunned to remove cankers and sprayed with edu a copper compound in the winter and second time attentive pruned and then sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (2%) before Thomas M. Davis buds opens in the late winter. A well-balanced and properly University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; tom.davis@ unh.edu planned nutrition program was applied to experimental plants and weeds were mowed. A formulation containing Pantoea Kate Evans agglomerans was sprayed at first 15% to 20% bloom and Washington State University-TFREC, Wenatchee, WA; second 7 days later. Prohexadione-Ca was applied at a rate of [email protected] 125 mg·L–1 at two separate shoot length times (6–12 cm and Gennaro Fazio 15–20 cm). Apple tree shoots were inoculated with E. amylovora USDA ARS, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Ea63 by cutting from the tips of the two newest unfolded leaves on each shoot using a scissors dipped in the bacterial suspension Chad E. Finn (108 cfu/mL). Disease severity was calculated by measuring USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; finnc@hort. the proportion of the length of the blighted part of the shoot to oregonstate.edu the whole length of the shoot (cm). Especially, sucking-piercing Karina Gallardo insects were controlled by a proper spraying programme. TFREC, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA; The integrated management approach with all the different [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S129 Ksenija Gasic improvement of rosaceous crops by targeted application of Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] genomics and socio-economics knowledge and tools to increase breeding efficiency, engage stakeholders, and train the Thomas Gradziel next generation of plant breeders. Our goal is to sustainably University of California, Davis, CA; tmgradziel@ucdavis. integrate modern genomics tools with traditional breeding edu approaches. Ten teams carry out the RosBREED mission. James F. Hancock The Socio-Economics Team has dissected current breeding Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; hancock@msu. priorities of U.S. Rosaceae breeders through a comprehensive edu survey. The Industry Team has initiated enhanced engagement Raymond Jussaume of industry sectors in regional breeding efforts. The Breeding Washington State University, Pullman, WA; rajussaume@ Team has cooperated across 12 breeding programs to establish wsu.edu reference germplasm sets representing their crops and programs and develop standardized phenotyping protocols with the first James Luby season of performance evaluation undertaken in 2010. The University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; lubyx001@umn. Pedigree-Based Analysis (PBA) Team has trained breeders in edu the use of Pedimap software for visualizing breeding pedigrees, Doreen Main including the portrayal of traits and genotypes over generations. Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dorrie@wsu. Advanced training in FlexQTL™ software enables participat- edu ing RosBREED breeders and their breeder-in-training graduate students to identify or validate QTLs with local relevance Vicki McCracken using routine breeding data from multiple variable-sized and Washington State University, Pullman, WA; mccracke@ pedigree-linked populations. The Breeders’ Toolbox Team has wsu.edu developed prototype calculation and visualization tools, query Nnadozie Oraguzie interfaces, and databases for managing breeding information Washington State University, Prosser, WA; noraguzie@ that, over time, will increasingly include DNA-based knowledge. wsu.edu The MAB Pipeline Team, aiming for early impact, has helped Gregory L. Reighard translate several available marker-locus-trait associations into Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] ready-to-use information for supporting breeding decisions. The Genotyping Team conducted genetic screening for two high Alexandra Stone priority trait loci each for peach, cherry, and apple. In addition Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; stonea@hort. to current use in supporting crossing decisions, these marker oregonstate.edu data identified a significant proportion of incorrect parentage Mykel Taylor in breeding records. The Genomics Team led international Washington State University, Pullman, WA; m_taylor@ development of 6K and 9K genome-scanning SNP arrays for wsu.edu peach, cherry, and apple. With so many inter-Team activities to coordinate, events to arrange, and news to announce, the Eric van de Weg Extension Team has filled a critical role that extends beyond Plant Research International, Wageningen; eric. traditional extension responsibilities. The Administration Team [email protected] has ensured smooth running of this huge project through timely Dechun Wang management of reports and budgets with an eye for detail. Ros- Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI; wangdech@ BREED is removing the barriers, dispelling myths, accumulating msu.edu experience, identifying pitfalls to avoid, and developing MAB success stories for efficiently developing superior new cultivars Cholani Kumari Weebadde of the Rosaceae family bearing delicious and nutritious fruit. Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; weebadde@msu. edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crop Research Ini- tiative Competitive Grant 2009-51181-05808 of the USDA’s Kenong Xu National Institute of Food and Agriculture Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Chengyan Yue 12:30–12:45 pm University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] Transposon Tagging in the Diploid Strawberry Amy Iezzoni Richard E. Veilleux* Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] “RosBREED” is a large-scale initiative of the U.S. Rosaceae genomics, genetics, and breeding community with strong in- Kerri P. Mills Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; kehuffma@exchange. ternational involvement. This project is dedicated to genetic vt.edu

S130 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Robert C. Lindsay 12:45–1:00 pm Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Genetic Diversity in Peach [Prunus persica Aaron J. Baxter (L.) Batsch.] at the University of Florida: Past, Fisher Scientific, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Present, and Future Nan Lu Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Dario J. Chavez* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Cherish M. Davis Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] José X. Chaparro University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Juan Jairo Ruiz-Rojas Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Thomas G. Beckman USDA ARS, Byron, GA; [email protected] Kendall T. Upham Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Peach is a self-pollinated species with a high level of linkage Sarah H. Holt disequilibrium (LD) conservation for North American and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] European commercial varieties, LD~13-15cM. The analysis of the University of Florida peach germplasm founding clones, Tammy J. Ferguson previous releases, and present selections, constitutes the main Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, objective of this report. A total of 198 peach genotypes were VA; [email protected] fingerprinted with 37 SSRs distributed across the genome Christopher J. Pantazis (~15–25 cM). Peach germplasm samples included genotypes Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, from the University of Florida, the USDA-UGA-UF moderate- VA; [email protected] chill breeding effort, North Carolina State University, primitive Yinghui Dan low chill germplasm, and related species P. dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville, Webb and P. kansuensis Rehder. Number of alleles per locus VA; [email protected] (A), effective number of alleles (Ae), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), Wright’s fixation index (F), Allan Dickerman power of discrimination (PD), the probability of confusion (C), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] and Nei’s genetic distance (GD) per locus were calculated. An Vladimir Shulaev unrooted Neighbor-Joining tree was constructed using Nei’s University of North Texas, Denton, TX; Vladimir. genetic distance. ‘Diamante cling’, ‘Non-melting’, ‘Melting’, [email protected] ‘High-chill’, and two ‘Nectarine’ clades were identified in the Fragaria vesca PI 551572 was transformed with a transposon peach germplasm. Genetic diversity values in the range of 0.5 tagging construct with maize transposase and EGFP on the Ac were observed. Past and present peach selections and cultivars element as well as nptII, p35S driving transposase and pmas developed by the UF breeding program have been determined driving EGFP on the Ds element. We obtained 122 primary by breeding strategies, objectives and commercial trends transformants, of which 38 were potential launch pads, 30 were that changed through the years. To detect potential changes multiple insertions or chimaeras, and 54 exhibited somatic in allele frequencies resulting from the breeding efforts, the transposition. Multiplex PCR was used to screen sets of 24 T1 genetic diversity of germplasm representing different decades progeny of putative launch pads for transposition of Ds. Although was compared. transposition occurred in 14 putative launch pads only four Specified Source(s) of Funding: Stone Fruit Breeding and exhibited sufficient transposition rate (22% to 34%) to warrant Genetics Program, University of Florida further analysis. Flanking genomic sequence obtained by hi- TAIL PCR originating from nested primers in the TPase gene 1:00–1:15 pm revealed that the four functional launch pads occurred on three different linkage groups. Putative transposants were identified Genetics of Tree Architecture in Peach [Prunus by the presence of Ds elements and absence of Ac elements. persica (L.) Batsch.] Sequencing hi-TAIL PCR products derived from nested primers Omar Carrillo-Mendoza* at either end of the Ds element revealed transposition of the Ds University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] element globally in the strawberry genome. Premature excision José X. Chaparro of Ds prior to gametogenesis resulted in the frequent recovery of University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] similar transposants within T0 families. From these four launch pads, we have identified 52 independent transposants occur- As labor and pruning costs of fruit trees have increased, the ring on all linkage groups among 1, 252 T1 plants screened. A importance of size control and tree architecture has gained Filemaker Pro database houses the mutant data. importance. Tree architecture will continue to increase in importance as a major trait for tree fruit breeders. Numerous Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA/CSREES/NRI 2008- growth forms have been described in peach including, dwarf, 0214498 compact, weeping, and pillar, however, little effort has been

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S131 made to understand the genetic control of tree architecture in sary to identify genotypes that combine low PFRF with excel- peach. Traits that determine the complexity of peach tree structure lent fruit quality. This study was designed to characterize the in subtropical climates include the frequency of nodes without PFRF of current commercial sweet cherry cultivars and hybrid floral and vegetative buds (blind nodes) and the propensity of seedlings, and determine the relationship between PFRF and vegetative nodes to grow and elongate. Seven backcross fami- fruit quality. Experiments were conducted during 2009 and lies were generated to study the inheritance of these traits in 2010, at the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture peach. The species Prunus kansuensis Rehder (Kansu peach), Research and Extension Center. A total of 19 cultivars and 12 P. dulcis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Miller) D.A. Webb hybrid seedlings were sampled in 2009 and 29 cultivars and (almond), and P. persica (L.) Batsch. (peach) were used to 19 hybrids were assessed in 2010. Genotypes were screened generate the study populations. The three species differ in their at commercial maturity starting from June of each year. PFRF growth habits and blind node incidence. Kansu peach, a wild and stem length were recorded in the field, whereas fruit qual- peach relative, has a dense canopy with profuse branching. In ity parameters including weight, size, exocarp color, firmness, contrast, almond expresses a reduced branching phenotype with titratable acidity (TA) and SSC were assessed within 24 hours an open tree canopy and can produce short branches resembling of harvest in the lab. The frequency of PFRF in sweet cherry spurs. Commercial peach germplasm typically has a branching cultivars and hybrids displayed continuous distribution, sug- architecture that is intermediate to the two described above, but gesting that this is a quantitative trait. The effects of genotype exhibits both twiggy and non-twiggy phenotypes. Backcross and year were significant as well as the interaction between progeny were evaluated for blind node frequency and branch- genotype × year (P < 0.0001). This highlights the importance ing propensity. A branching index was developed to facilitate of both genetics and environment on PFRF. The significantly the assessment of branching intensity of the trees in the study. lower (P < 0.0001) mean PFRF of hybrids (0.71 kg/f) compared Microsatellite markers from the reference linkage map of peach to their parents and/or commercial cultivars (0.92 kg/f) suggests were used to map QTLs associated with tree architecture and blind that PFRF can be improved upon through breeding. Correla- node incidence across the genome of the different BC families. tions between PFRF and fruit quality attributes were generally Candidate genes affecting axillary meristem development are low (correlation coefficients of –0.163 to 0.175), suggesting under study to develop markers for branching intensity and blind that PFRF has minimal influence on fruit quality. Sweet cherry node incidence which will be mapped on the backcross progeny. hybrids and cultivars with low PFRF and good fruit quality have been identified as candidates for further testing while we will 1:15–1:30 pm continue to improve on PFRF through breeding. Variation in Pedicel-Fruit Retention Force in Sweet Cherry 1:30–1:45 pm Yunyang Zhao* Progress toward a Universal Linkage Map in Washington State University, Prosser, WA; yunyang. Tetraploid Highbush Blueberry [email protected] Nahla V. Bassil* Addie Dahl USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] Washington State University, Prosser, WA; addie_dahl@ wsu.edu Susan McCallum Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Susan. Oritsesaninormi B. Athanson [email protected] Washington State University, Prosser, WA; banthanson@ wsu.edu Julie Graham Erick Smith Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Julie. [email protected] Washington State University, Prosser, WA; edsmith@wsu. edu James W. Olmstead Matthew Whiting University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Washington State University, Prosser, WA; mdwhiting@ Rachel A. Itle wsu.edu University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Nnadozie Oraguzie Allan Brown Washington State University, Prosser, WA; noraguzie@ NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; allan_Brown@ wsu.edu ncsu.edu Successful mechanical or mechanically-assisted sweet cherry Emily J. Buck (Prunus avium L.) harvest requires a low retention force between The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, the fruit and pedicel. A considerable range exists for pedicel- Palmerston North; [email protected] fruit retention force (PFRF) among sweet cherry cultivars but there are no reports on PFRF of new sweet cherry hybrids nor Claudia Wiedow the relationship between PFRF and fruit quality attributes. To The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, enable the adoption of future harvest technologies it is neces- Palmerston North; [email protected]

S132 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Chad E. Finn Ying Wang USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; finnc@hort. Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, oregonstate.edu Wuhan; [email protected] James F. Hancock The recent development of research and industry of Actinidia in Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] China are well recognized, but future sustainable development of the world kiwifruit industry will largely depend on China’s rich Doreen Main genetic resources and breaking-through approach of Actinidia Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dorrie@wsu. breeding. With recent advances in studies of plant gene-flow edu dynamics and evolutionary mechanisms, introgression selection Nadim Alkharouf and breeding has increasingly become fundamental important Towson University, Towson, MD; [email protected] for kiwifruit breeders and germplasm curators to develop new breeding strategy and to use plant genetic resources and Lisa J. Rowland sustainably improve the cultivars. The continuous variation USDA ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected]. gov of diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid and octoploid and reticulated ploidy variations within and among Actinidia species is phe- Despite great strides in highbush blueberry cultivar development nomena in nature. Extensive investigation of inter-specific since its recent domestication, genomic resources are scarce. boundary of different ploidy, inter-specific gene flow occurred A limited number of microsatellite markers exist. Only 5305 widely across China in past 10 years has greatly enhanced nucleotide sequences are available in GenBank, and there is our understanding of intra- and inter-specific ploidy variation no publically available linkage map. One of the objectives of and phenotypic selection. Frequent intra- and inter-specific a 2008-funded Specialty Crop Research Initiative project is to hybridization and continuous intra-specific ploidy variation develop genomic tools for molecular breeding in the domesticated found in species overlapped areas in natural range suggested species of blueberry. Development of a well-saturated universal existence of natural hybrid zones that underpin the reticulate genetic map is crucial for identifying markers that are linked to evolutionary pattern in genus Actinidia. Recent field survey traits of economic importance and for enabling DNA-informed in China revealed a well-structured natural hybrid zone of A. breeding. A mapping population from a cross between ‘Draper’ chinensis var. chinensis and A. chinensis var. deliciosa in the and ‘Jewel’ was propagated at Michigan State University and Wuling Mountains, as well as a number of overlapping areas planted in five locations including Oregon, Michigan, Florida, of different species and polyploidy races across south-central Georgia, and Scotland. This population is being evaluated for a China, which provide us a ideal natural settings to study gene number of important phenotypic traits and is expected to segregate flow dynamics and discover useful genes and/or genotypes for many. New markers derived from expressed sequence tags by unraveling pattern of gene introgression among the wild (ESTs) generated in this project include simple sequence repeats populations. Moreover, rapid development of molecular genetic (SSR) and EST-PCR, and are being used to identify quantitative technology should allow Actinidia breeders to identify individual trait loci associated with cold hardiness, chilling requirement, genotypes within the hybrid zone through a comprehensive and fruit quality traits. Data on >100 markers were analyzed approach by examining interaction of “gene–genotype–pheno- using TetraploidMap. These markers show segregation patterns type–environmental gradient.” This new introgression breeding consistent with the simplest model for meiosis involving random approach will greatly facilitate direct selection from natural chromosomal segregation and allowing the production of a draft gene pools effectively and enhance genetic improvement, and tetraploid blueberry linkage map. Once completed, this map and integrate genetic introgression research into kiwifruit breeding additional new markers will provide useful genetic tools for use for rapid genetic improvement of current cultivars. in marker assisted breeding, thus accelerating the development of new high quality blueberry cultivars. Monday, September 26, 2011 1:45–2:00 pm 12:15–2:15 pm Kohala 1 Introgression Breeding and Cultivar Improvement in Genus Actinidia Temperate and Tropical Tree Crops Hongwen Huang* Moderator: Bruce W. Wood South China Botanical Garden/South China Institute of USDA ARS, Byron, GA; [email protected] Botany, Guangzhou; [email protected] 12:15–12:30 pm Qing Wang Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Iron Induced Nickel Deficiency Wuhan; [email protected] Bruce W. Wood* Bo Yang USDA ARS, Byron, GA; [email protected] Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, It is increasingly apparent that economic loss due to nickel (Ni) Wuhan; [email protected] deficiency likely occurs in horticultural and agronomic crops.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S133 While most soils contain sufficient Ni to meet crop require- asymptomatic trees were selected in a mature ‘Western’ pecan ments, situations of Ni deficiency can arise due to antagonistic orchard in the Pecos Basin. Symptom severity was quantified interactions with other metals. This study assesses the impact for each tree through SPAD (“greenness”) readings taken on 8 of excessive availability of iron (Fe) on Ni deficiency in pecan leaflets. Each of the symptomatic trees was given one of three [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]. Several field and Fe-EDDHA fertilizer treatments (fertilizer was broadcast to greenhouse experiments indicate Ni deficiency can occur due to the entire area within the dripline of the tree canopy) on 6 Aug. excessive Fe. Morphologically symptoms of Ni deficiency are 2009: 1) 200 g Fe-EDDHA per tree, 2) 100 g Fe-EDDHA per either triggered or enhanced in young ‘Wichita’ pecan shoots tree, or 3) 0 g Fe-EDDHA. On 30 Apr. and 27 May 2010 Fe- by foliar sprays of Fe [as Fe-EPTA [1.1995 g/L (l lb/100 gal); EDDHA fertilizer treatments were repeated for each tree, but the sodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (EPTA)] during early fertilizer was applied as a drench in a circle around the dripline shoot growth immediately after budbreak. Ni deficiency is of each treated tree. The impact of Fe-EDDHA applications on similarly inducible by soil application of Fe-EPTA to green- symptom severity was evaluated with SPAD readings taken on house-grown ‘Desirable’ seedlings prior to budbreak. Analysis each symptomatic and asymptomatic tree 20 Sept. 2009 and 7 of the Fe:Ni ratio in symptomatic Ni deficient foliage found July 2010. A single broadcast Fe-EDDHA application did not that excessive endogenous Fe triggers Ni deficiency associated affect severity of apparent Fe deficiency symptoms in 2009, but distortions in growth and morphology when the Fe:Ni ≥ ≈150, by July 2010, after three fertilizer applications, SPAD readings with severity increasing in proportion to an increasing Fe:Ni of about half of the treated trees had increased relative to that of ratio. Extreme dwarfing of seedling growth occurs at Fe:Ni ≥ untreated trees of similar 2009 symptom severity. In 2010 there 1, 200. Ni deficiency is also weakly associated with elevated was no clear difference in tree response between the 100 and foliar concentration of other transition metals [i.e., V, Cr, Co, Cu, 200 g/tree treatment rates and treated trees with improved SPAD Zn, and Mo (but not with Ti and Mn)]. Timely foliar sprays of readings still had lower SPAD readings than that of asymptom- symptomatic seedlings with Ni-sulfate quickly restored normal atic trees. The results show that soil-applied Fe-EDDHA may growth; whereas, sprays with V, Cr, Co, Cu, Zn, or Mo salts alleviate Fe deficiency symptoms in mature pecan trees grown failed to correct or prevent symptoms. These results indicate on alkaline and calcareous soils. that excessive endogenous Fe in organs and tissues during early Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hatch Funds post-budbreak growth potentially causes Ni deficiency, and are suggestive that high Fe substrates, or excessive Fe fertilization, 12:45–1:00 pm can trigger Ni deficiency. This antagonistic effect of Fe on Ni nutritional physiology is of potential importance to horticultural, Postharvest Chemical Defoliation and Dormant agronomic, and silvicultural crops. Hydrogen Cyanamide Sprays Affects Fruiting of Pecan Trees Growing under Warm and 12:30–12:45 pm Dry Conditions Soil-Applied Iron EDDHA Fertilizer for Humberto Nunez* Correcting Iron Deficiency Symptoms in a INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; nunez.humberto@inifap. Mature Pecan Orchard with Alkaline and gob.mx Calcareous Soil Rodolfo Sabori Richard Heerema* INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; [email protected]. mx New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM; rjheerem@ nmsu.edu Gerardo Martinez INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; martinez.gerardo@inifap. Robert Flynn gob.mx New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] Arnulfo Marquez Susceptible plants in New Mexico’s Pecos Basin frequently INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; marquez.arnulfo@inifap. exhibit symptoms of one or more micronutrient deficiency due gob.mx to the region’s alkaline and calcareous soils. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) trees, which are considered relatively insensitive Alejandro Quijada INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; alejandro9799@hotmail. to low soil iron (Fe) availability, will often in the Pecos basin com exhibit interveinal leaf chlorosis symptoms characteristic of Fe deficiency. In orchards where Fe chlorosis symptoms oc- Hector Arreola cur, affected trees are found distributed in no apparent pattern. INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; tubutamachivas8@hotmail. Foliar application of ferrous sulfate is reportedly ineffective in com correcting these symptoms and symptomatic trees decline over José Grageda time. Soil-applied Fe-EDDHA can be used to correct Fe defi- INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; [email protected] ciency in some crops grown in alkaline and calcareous soils, but Jose L. Miranda this has not been tested in pecan. On 16 July 2009 fifteen trees INIFAP, Hermosillo, Sonora; miranda.joseluis@inifap. exhibiting apparent Fe deficiency symptoms and five adjacent gob.mx

S134 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Postharvest chemical defoliation and dormant hydrogen cy- Charles A. Leslie anamide sprays were evaluated on budbreak, shoot growth University of California; [email protected] and fruiting of ‘Wichita’ pecan trees growing in northwestern A field trial was established to evaluate the performance of the Mexico. Chemical defoliation was done on 12 Dec. 2008 and ‘Forde’, ‘Gillet’, and ‘Sexton’ Persian walnut cultivars that on 13 Dec. 2009. Hydrogen cyanamide was applied on 3 Mar. were released by the University of California, Davis Walnut 2009 and on 24 Feb. 2010. Defoliation treatments were: Non Improvement Program in 2004 due, in part, to their low suscep- Defoliation (ND), urea, 5% (U); ethephon, 800 mg·L–1 (E1); –1 –1 tibility to walnut blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. ethephon, 1600 mg·L (E2); and paraquat 150 mg·L (P). juglandis. Paradox hybrid seedling rootstock was planted at a Ethephon sprays were suspended in 2009. Hydrogen cyanamide spacing of 5.8 × 5.8 m in an offset configuration on a Hanford treatments were: control (–HC) and hydrogen cyanamide 0.5% Sandy Loam soil in Mar. 2004 at a site located in Modesto, (+HC). A combination of defoliation treatments with hydrogen CA. The trees were grafted by a professional crew in April of cyanamide treatments resulted in ten treatments. In 2010, the the same year to ‘Forde’, ‘Gillet’, ‘Sexton’, and ‘Tulare’. The effects of treatments were evaluated on budbreak, shoot growth ‘Tulare’ cultivar was included in the trial as a standard vari- and fruiting of two types of shoots: Vegetative Shoots (VS, did ety comparison. Harvest data taken in 2008, 2009, and 2010 not bear fruit in 2009), and Fruiting Shoots (FS, bore fruit in indicates that in each year there was no significant difference 2009). Budbreak of FS, on 26 Mar., was present only in those between the yield of ‘Gillet’ and ‘Tulare’. In all years ‘Gillet’ treatments that contained hydrogen cyanamide, ranging from and ‘Tulare’ yielded significantly more than ‘Forde’. ‘Sexton’ 35% to 65%. Treatments without hydrogen cyanamide did not yield was comparable to that of ‘Forde’, but the data was not show up bud expansion in this date. On 8 Apr. 2010, budbreak included in the analysis due to poor field establishment. Nut of FS in ND-HC treatment was 18 ± 8%, but in ND+HC was quality and value varied by attribute and year. 53 ± 18%. Terminal shoot growth in FS was 3.2 ± 1.1 cm by 13 Apr. in the ND+HC treatment; however, in the ND-HC was 1:15–1:30 pm only 1.8 ± 0.2 cm. One month later, shoot growth was 4.1 ± 1.9 in ND+HC and 3.2 ± 0.8 cm in ND-HC. Fruiting Shoots in the Complete Eradication of Spongy Tissue treatment E1-HC had the largest shoot growth with 12.7 ± 5.1 Physiological Disorder in Mangoes Achieved cm. Treatment E2+HC had 2.4 ± 1.0 flowers per FS, and the through Biofield ND-HC and ND+HC had 0.8 ± 1.3 and 0.9 ± 0.5, respectively. Mahendra Trivedi* Nut yield on 2009 in the ND-HC treatment was 2, 510 ± 371 Trivedi Foundation, Northbrook, IL; shrikant@ Kg·ha–1 and the ND+HC treatment yielded 3, 010 ± 367 Kg·ha–1. trivedifoundation.org Highest yields were obtained with the treatment E2+HC (3, 803 ± 1, 222 Kg·ha–1) and P+HC (3841 ± 1, 221 kg·ha–1). In 2010, Shrikant Patil highest yields were obtained with E2+HC (4, 278 ± 946 Kg·ha–1) Trivedi Foundation, Northbrook, IL; shrikant@ and P+HC (3, 399 ± 1, 053 Kg·ha–1). Highest cumulative yield trivedifoundation.org were presented in treatments E2+HC and A+HC with 8, 081 ± The aim of this project was to observe the impact of Biofield –1 1, 486 and 7, 241 ± 1, 667 Kg·ha , respectively. Cumulative treatment in order to eradicate the spongy tissue disorder (inter- –1 yield of ND-HC treatment was 4, 734 ± 770 Kg·ha . Lowest nal breakdown). Two groups of 32-year-old Alphonso mango cumulative yield occurred in E2 treatment with 3, 089 ± 557 trees having spongy tissue disorder since more than 2 decades –1 Kg·ha . Alternate bearing (I) varied from 0.07 to 0.24. High- were selected at flowering/ fruitening stages. The first group of est I values were obtained from U (0.21 ± 0.17), U+HC (0.24 55 trees was subjected to Biofield treatment, while the second ± 0.17) and E2 (0.23 ± 0.06). Postharvest chemical defoliation group of 75 was the control. Standard cultivation practices with ethephon and paraquat decreased pecan fruiting, but when were followed in control, while treated trees were cultivated defoliation is combined with dormant hydrogen cyanamide ap- only using water. In treated trees flowering pattern (shape and plication, fruiting is increased. size) altered to 4–5 inches in length with more female flowers Specified Source(s) of Funding: Fundación Produce Sonora, whereas it was 8–10 inches long whereas in control there were Productora de Nuez, Spr de RI, Negocio Agricola San Enrique few female flowers. Neither malformation nor any cluster of fruit lets at tip of panicles was observed in treated compared to control. No fruit drop was observed in treated trees throughout 1:00–1:15 pm the season compared to control. Fruits from treated trees on Comparison of Yield, Nut Quality, and Growth 100% maturity were free from spongy tissue and average weight Habit among the ‘Forde’, ‘Gillet’, ‘Sexton’, was 400 g compared to 275 g in control. Acidity and Vitamin and ‘Tulare’ Persian Walnut (Juglans regia L.) C content increased by 66% and 47% respectively; also reduc- Cultivars ing sugar and total sugar content decreased by 29% and 26%, respectively, compared to control. According to nature’s law, Kathy Kelley Anderson* 2–3 months before flowering starts, every tree itself designs the Modesto, CA; [email protected] program of flowering period, fruiting period, and final produce Gale H. McGranahan in terms of quality and quantity, any treatment given during University of California; [email protected] or after flowering is ineffective due to predetermined program

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S135 of the tree. After exposure to Biofield treatment all 55 trees Moringa oleifera Lam. is a fast growing, drought tolerant tree completely transformed even after flowering had started. This with numerous beneficial uses, such as for nutritious food, animal reprogramming in 55 trees could have been achieved due to forage, green manure, water purification, traditional medicine DNA polymorphism. This assumption is supported by the fact and bio-fuel (Anwar et al., 2007). The effect of hardening-off that in a separate project, similar exposure to the said treatment tree seedlings and consequent cultivation at lower temperatures gave rise to DNA polymorphism up to 69% in 38 different crops. on growth and flowering of this tropical/subtropical tree was the main aim of the study. After germinating seed under favourable 1:30–1:45 pm greenhouse conditions between 20/25 °C, half the seedlings were Influence of ReTain and NAA on Preharvest left in the greenhouse, while the other half was hardened-off by Drop, Fruit Quality, and Storage Potential of placing them outside where the average minimum/maximum temperatures fluctuated between 15/30 °C. Equal numbers ‘Mcintosh’ Apples of hardened-off (132) and non hardened-off (132) trees were Duane W. Greene* randomly placed into three temperature controlled glasshouses University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; dgreene@ at the Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, each pssci.umass.edu with a different night/day temperature regime (TR) (10/20 °C Recently it has been reported that the addition of naphthale- ± 2°C; 15/25 °C ± 2 °C; 20/30 °C ± 2°C). During the 224-day neacetic acid (NAA) to preharvest drop control applications of trial period, bi-weekly measurements of individual tree heights AVG (ReTain) improved fruit drop control. ‘McIntosh’ is one of were taken, while flower development was monitored throughout. the most drop prone commercial varieties grown. Use of NAA After trial termination the fresh and dry mass of the roots, stems as the sole drop control strategy on this cultivar is generally not and leaves from each treatment were measured. Overall, tree done because it can advance ripening and shorten postharvest height increased with temperature. At the 10/20 °C, 15/25 °C and storage life. This investigation was initiated to examine the ef- 20/30 °C TRS, the respective growth rates of the non hardened- fect of combination sprays of NAA and ReTain may have on off seedlings were 67.6%, 30.5%, and 18.7% lower compared to preharvest drop control, ripening and storage potential. ReTain their hardened-off counterparts. The increase in total tree biomass was applied at a full commercial rate (333 g/acre) or 3 half rates with the increase in TR was largely due to the above ground P applied at 2-week intervals. NAA at 10 or 20 ppm was applied parts. Fresh and dry root mass did not differ significantly ( ≤ one, two, or three times with the full or half rates of ReTain. 0.05) amongst the three temperature regimes (TRS), however The addition of NAA one or two times at either concentration the dry root mass in relation to the above growth decreased with to the full rate of ReTain resulted in improved drop control an increase in TR. The root:shoot ratios were 0.2, 0.5, and 1.4 compared with just ReTain alone. The addition of NAA at 10 for the 10/20 °C, 15/25 °C and 20/30 °C TRS, respectively. The ppm with the three half rates of ReTain resulted I slightly better highest instances of flowering trees (87.5%) were observed at drop control than three applications of ReTain alone. Whereas the 15/25 °C TR with noted instances of inflorescence reversion three applications of 20 ppm NAA with three half rates ReTain at the 20/30 °C TR. The 10/20 °C TR probably did favour floral was the poorest drop control treatment and this combination also induction, however the generally low temperatures hindered resulted in some advancement of fruit ripening. The addition of flower production. The 20/30 °C TR was found to be the most NAA to ReTain in general did not hasten fruit softening nor did favourable for vegetative tree growth, however the hardening- it have any influence on flesh firmness after 6 or 12 weeks of off of the seedlings prior to transplanting has proven to increase regular air storage. It is concluded that ReTain is able to negate the tree growth rate across all three TRS and is therefore highly M. oleifera symptoms of ripening when moderate rates of both compounds recommended for trees, especially if intended are used. It is a good strategy to include a moderate rate of NAA cultivation is at low temperature environments. References: F. Moringa with ReTain in a preharvest drop control program for McIntosh. Anwar, S. Latif, M. Ashraf, and A.H. Gilani. 2007. oleifera: A food plant with multiple medicinal uses. Phytother. 1:45–2:00 pm Res. 21:17–25. Hardening-off Effects on Moringa oleifera 2:00–2:15 pm Lam. Seedlings Prior to Cultivation at Three The Components of Fruit Size in Pomegranate Temperature Regimes Hazel Y. Wetzstein Quintin Ernst Muhl* University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; quintinmuhl@tuks. co.za Zibin Zhang Zhejiang University, Hangzhou; [email protected] Elsa S. Du Toit University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; [email protected] Nadav Ravid Paramount Farming Company, Bakersfield, CA; n.ravid@ P.J. Robbertse comcast.net University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; hannes.robbertse@ up.ac.za Michael Wetzstein* University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected]

S136 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit is valued for its flavor- soil-probes are needed in order to measure soil water status of ful, juice-containing arils, and is consumed and marketed as one tree). The accurate soil sensors (TDR and Neutron probe) whole fresh fruit, extracted arils, juice, syrup (grenadine), are complicated and expensive, while the inexpensive sensors wine, teas, and seed oil. The size of fruits produced within (as Tensiometers and Gypsum block) are inaccurate and their commercial orchards can be quite variable even from trees of interpretation is questionable. Additionally, their measurements the same genotype grown under similar cultivation practices. do not necessarily reflect tree water status. Plant water sensors, With market-price premiums for large-sized fruits and producer- which give a direct measurement of plant water stress, including targeted traits including high total aril weight and high juice the pressure chambers (the most accurate technique that cannot be content, understanding fruit attributes is important. Although automated), as well as dendrometers and LVDTs (less expensive pomegranates have been cultivated since antiquity, fruit at- sensors) are sensitive to air temperature and cannot distinguish tributes, particularly those related to size are poorly defined. between swell-shrink trends caused by daily plant-water relations In this study, ‘Wonderful’ variety flowers were tagged at petal and continuous stem growth. Our new stem electrical conductivity opening, and at maturity the same-aged fruits were evaluated. (EC) probe is based on direct frequent and accurate measure- Fruit compositional changes including fruit volume and weight, ments of stem electrical conductivity which is directly and closely aril weight and number, pericarp weight, seed weight, and correlated to the most accurate technique, namely, the pressure juice/pulp content were evaluated in fruits which had a wide chamber. Its measurements are also in a good correlation with range of sizes. Correlations between fruit characteristics were the accurate stem water content values obtained by the TDR determined, and factor analysis was used to establish fruit and technology (accuracy of 1%). Its operation is based on a simple, aril indexes. Results indicated that because fruit volume, fruit common and an inexpensive technology (a small fraction of the weight, and total aril weight are closely correlated, any single operating costs of the TDR technology). Interpretation of stem character can be used as a common indicator of fruit quality. EC measurement results, are independent of stem identity or The number of arils per fruit was highly correlated with fruit properties and there is no need for calibrations. It gives a direct, size, with larger fruit containing greater numbers of arils. This physiological indication (therefore reliable) of the tree’s real water is in contrast to individual average aril weight which showed need. Measurements are automatic (at pre-chosen intervals; e.g., no significant relationship to fruit size. Thus, crop production 5 minutes), and the results, insensitive to variations in salinity strategies that result in increased aril number per fruit will result and temperature, are analyzed by an algorithm. Currently, it has in bigger fruits with greater total aril weight. a proven saving of 35% in water and fertilization and it is further tested in three commercial orchards.

Monday, September 26, 2011 2:45–3:00 pm 2:30–4:00 pm Kohala 1 ß-Sitosterol Glucoside—A Novel Inhibitor of Citrus Crops Escherichia coli O157:H7 Biofilm and Motility Amit Vikram Moderator: Bhimanagouda S. Patil Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, University, College Station, TX; [email protected] TX; [email protected] G.K. Jayaprakasha 2:30–2:45 pm Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Stem EC Probe: An Innovation Irrigation TX; [email protected] Controller for Agronomic Crops Bhimanagouda S. Patil* Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Eran Raveh* TX; [email protected] Agricultural Research Organization, Mobile Post Negev; [email protected] Citrus is a storehouse of bioactive compounds with health maintaining properties. In the present report, ß-sitosterol gluco- Arie Nadler side, bergamotin and imperotorin were purified fromPoncirus ARO, Bet Dagan; [email protected] trifoliata and evaluated for their potential to inhibit E. coli During the last 50 years, the world is drifting continuously into O157:H7 (EHEC) biofilm formation and motility. The EHEC a water crisis. Drought areas have been doubled, irrigated areas was identified in the 1980s and since then it has become one of have been doubled, and water withdrawals from aquifers have the major food-borne pathogen. The CDC advises against us- tripled. The water crisis has affected all continents. Based on ing antibiotics for EHEC infections and the treatment options mathematical models, drought periods are predicted to double are limited to preventive measures. Therefore, to control and in the next century. Irrigation water availability will continue prevent the EHEC infections, novel antimicrobials are required. to decrease. Growers will be forced to increase their water use The ß-sitosterol glucoside demonstrated a very potent inhibition efficiency, by using precise irrigation. Currently available water of EHEC bifilm formation. In addition, EHEC motility, mea- stress sensors can be divided into soil sensors and plant sensors. sured until 24 h, was completely inhibited by the ß-sitosterol The former are heavily dependent on soil heterogeneity (e.g., 40 glucoside. Since flagella is a major determinant in biofilm and

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S137 motility, role of flagellar master regulator flhDC was assessed rootstock candidates that are progeny from crosses of somatic using genetic analysis. The investigations revealed that the hybrids. Preliminary testing suggests that tetraploid rootstock effect of ß-sitosterol glucoside is dependent upon flhDC. In ad- candidates from both of these sources have potential to facilitate dition, ß-sitosterol glucoside seems to exert its effect, without the success of new production systems. A major rootstock trial altering the growth rate. The results indicate that ß-sitosterol (The St. Helena project) is underway that features high planting glucoside may influence EHEC pathogenesis and contribute to densities and a production system that mimics the principles the beneficial effects of citrus. This project is based upon the of OHS, with a goal of identifying superior rootstocks for use work supported by the USDA-CSREES # 2009-34402-19831 in advanced production systems. This trial includes selected and USDA-NIFA-2010-34402-20875 “Designing Foods for somatic hybrids, tetrazygs, diploid hybrids and commercial Health” through the Vegetable & Fruit Improvement Center. controls. Rather than unavailable fertigation, we are using a modified Harrell’s slow release fertilizer product and daily Specified Source(s) of Funding:This project is based upon the short-duration microjet irrigation, interrupted only when soil work supported by the USDA-CSREES # 2009-34402-19831 moisture probes indicate high water content. Yield and fruit qual- and USDA-NIFA-2010-34402-20875 “Designing Foods for ity data from trees just under 3 years of age will be presented, Health” through the Vegetable & Fruit Improvement Center. as there were significant rootstock affects on both parameters. Higher performing rootstocks will be identified. The very low 3:00–3:15 pm incidence of HLB in the trial will also be discusses. Fast growing The Development of Improved Citrus yet precocious bearing rootstocks that produce higher quality Rootstocks to Facilitate Advanced Production fruit are also candidates for use with transgenic citrus produced Systems in Florida from juvenile explants, as necessary to reduce juvenility – this will also be discussed. Jude W. Grosser* University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Mr. Orie Lee, CRDF (Citrus Research and Development Fund) Gary Barthe University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] 3:15–3:30 pm William S. Castle Leaf Nutrient Status, Tree Growth, Productivity, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] and Fruit Quality of ‘Feutrell’s Early’ Fred G. Gmitter Mandarin in Relation to Preharvest Application University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected]. of Boron and Zinc edu Ahmad Sattar Khan* Orie N. Lee Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faisalabad; ahmad_ St. Cloud, FL; [email protected] [email protected] The 10 billion dollar/year Florida citrus industry is now under Waseem Ullah siege by an insect vectored bacterial disease citrus greening, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faisalabad; bsb_ also known as huanglongbing (HLB). HLB affects all cultivated [email protected] citrus varieties and is extremely difficult to control. Genetic re- Aman Ullah Malik sistance to HLB is not present in commercial scion or rootstock Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faisalabad; cultivars, although a few show some limited tolerance. A pos- [email protected] sible mid-term solution to this problem is to shorten the grove rotation and time to profitability by adapting open hydroponics Rashid Ahmad Department of Crop Physiology, Faisalabad; uaf_rashid@ systems (OHS) or other similar evolving production systems to yahoo.com Florida conditions. These methods have been shown to bring new groves into production 2–3 years earlier than with standard Basharat Ali Saleem Florida cultivation practices. Such systems also provide better Hill Fruit Research Station, Murree, Murree; basharatuaf@ control over tree flushing and more efficient vector (psyllid) gmail.com control spray programs. Such new citrus production systems Ishtiaq Ahmad Rajwana that feature high density plantings being developed and adapted Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; ishtiaqrajwana@ for Florida growing conditions will require improved tree-size yahoo.com controlling rootstocks that bear early and produce good yields of Foliar application of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) as boric acid and fruit with juice of high quality. We have been exploring somatic zinc sulphate respectively, either alone or in combination (control, hybridization of complementary diploid rootstocks via protoplast 0.3% boric acid at fruit set stage, 0.5% zinc sulphate at fruit set fusion to generate allotetraploid rootstock candidates, and more stage, 0.3% boric acid + 0.5% zinc sulphate at fruit set stage, recently we have been conducting rootstock breeding at the 0.5% zinc sulphate + 0.3 % boric acid at premature stage) were tetraploid level by crossing superior somatic hybrids. We have applied to Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Feutrell’s Early to investi- coined the term “tetrazyg” to describe zygotic allotetraploid gate their influence on the leaf nutrient status, vegetative growth,

S138 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 productivity and fruit quality. The leaf K, Mn, Fe, B and Zn status and receive higher production and profits switching from Fld of ‘Feutrell’s Early’ mandarin trees significantly increased with to BFld irrigation methods. foliar applications of boric acid and zinc sulphate. The levels of Specified Source(s) of Funding: Texas Water Development Zn and B in the of ‘Feutrell’s Early’ mandarin leaves increased Board; USDA/CSREES through Texas Water Resources Institute from deficient to optimum range, with higher leaf size, fruit weight, juice weight percentage, SSC and TA with application 3:45–4:00 pm of 0.3% boric acid and 0.5% zinc sulphate at the fruit set stage as compared to all other treatments. The concentration of ascorbic Characterization of Citrus Peel Maturation and acid significantly increased in ‘Feutrell’s Early’ mandarin fruit the Effect of Water Stress, Growth Regulators, harvested from trees treated with 0.3% boric acid and 0.5% and Date of Harvest zinc sulphate at pre-mature stage. The trees sprayed with 0.5% zinc sulphate at fruit set stage exhibited higher amount of non- Shamel Mohamed Alam-Eldein* reducing and total sugars in their fruit juice as compared to all Citrus Res & Edu Center, Lake Alfred, FL; shamel@ufl. edu other treatment. In conclusion, the ‘Feutrell’s Early’ mandarin tress sprayed with combine application of 0.3% boric acid and Ed Etxeberria 0.5% zinc sulphate at fruit set stage effectively improved the leaf University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected]. B and Zn level, tree growth, yield and fruit quality. edu Russell R. Rouseff 3:30–3:45 pm University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] Relating On-Farm Level Irrigation Water Use Leo Gene Albrigo to ‘Rio Red’ Grapefruit Pack-Out Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] Shad D. Nelson* This research was carried out on ‘Marsh’ grapefruit and ‘Va- Texas A&M University-Kingsville & Citrus Center, lencia’ orange, aims to understand the role of peel maturation Kingsville, TX; [email protected] in citrus as it relates to postharvest handling and storability. Mac Young Currently, citrus is harvested based on edibility. Peel changes Texas Agrilife Extension Center, Corpus Christi, TX; have not been related to best harvest time, but most handling [email protected] problems are peel related. Changes in juice TSS/acid ratio, peel color, peel turgidity, percent fruit drop, and fruit characteristics Juan Enciso during storage, were measured over different at-harvest ma- Texas Agrilife Extension Center, Weslaco, TX; jenciso@ turity and combined with changes in peel sugars and volatile ag.tamu.edu components to determine if peel maturation and senescence can Citrus production in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of be monitored by some combination of physical and chemical South Texas is solely dependent upon surface water sources characteristics in order to minimize fruit disorders resulting from the Rio Grande River. This region of the United States from immature or senescent peel or unusual stress levels that is experiencing the third fastest growing population which re- the peel may have been subjected to. Water stress and growth ceives its municipal water needs from the same water source. regulators were field applied to advance or delay maturity to In effort to preserve citrus production in the LRGV a 5-year see if any physical or chemical measurements induced corre- (2005–09) investigation was performed with growers on field sponding changes in amount or rate. This would indicate the demonstration sites ranging from 2 to 20 ha in size. Four main utility of these measurements for determining stage of peel irrigation systems were monitored during this study: traditional development (immature, mature, or senescent). Results indicat- large-pan flood (Fld), narrow border flood (BFld), Microjet ing changes in levels of peel sugars and volatile components sprinkler spray (MJ), and Drip (Drp) irrigation. Four dem- during maturation coincided with changes in peel color and onstration sites were created for each irrigation system. Total turgidity, percent fruit drop, and fruit characteristics during irrigation water use was monitored performed and compared storage were promising. Peel sugar level increased as fruit to ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit citrus yields. Data were collected from maturation progressed, reaching a peak in mid-harvest season, growers on citrus “pack-out” from the packing sheds, and and then decreasing toward the end of the season. Fruit can be economic assessment was performed to demonstrate the most harvested within this mid-season period with good juice qual- cost effective irrigation method to 1) reduce irrigation water, ity and less senescent peel. Volatile components increased in and 2) maximize yield and profit margin for the grower. All senescent peel accompanied by a decrease in fruit firmness and irrigation methods saved water in comparison to tradition flood increase in juice quality. These measurements may be useful irrigation (Fld), with an average annual water savings of 23.4, for establishing harvest date guidelines to avoid harvesting too 31.0, and 34.8 cm for BFld, MJ, and Drp, respectively. The early (immature fruit) or too late (senescent fruit) so that less highest average citrus yields and a greater portion of grapefruit postharvest injuries occur while internal quality remains ac- going to the “fancy” classification and maximum profit margin ceptable. The suggested harvest period for ‘Marsh’ grapefruit came from BFld producers, followed by MJ, Drip and lastly was from January to March, and for ‘Valencia’ orange was from Fld. Our results demonstrate that LRGV growers can save water March to May. Growth regulators were more effective than

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S139 water stress for changing peel characteristics, based on their separated into above and below ground biomass, dried, and effect on physiological processes related to peel maturation weighed. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean rate. Sugars and volatile components may be good indicators separation using Fisher’s Protected LSD at the 0.05 significance of peel senescence along with peel firmness and puncture force. level. Oryzalin and dithiopyr exhibited 49% and 47% O. elata phytotoxicity, respectively, 7 DAT. All other treatments exhibited ≤16% phytotoxicity and were similar to the non-treated check. Monday, September 26, 2011 Trifluralin + isoxaben, oryzalin, and dithiopyr phytotoxicity 2:30–4:15 pm Kohala 3 increased to 87, 64, and 63, respectively, 28 DAT. All other treatments exhibited ≤17% phytotoxicity and were similar to Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 2 the non-treated check. Oryzalin, dithiopyr, metolachlor, and trifluralin + isoxaben exhibited significant reductions in shoot Moderator: George Fitzpatrick weight (67% to 78%) compared to the non-treated check 28 University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL; [email protected] DAT. Prodiamine and trifluralin + isoxaben exhibited significant reductions in root weight (55% to 68%) compared to the 2:30–2:45 pm non-treated check 28 DAT. Tolerance of Oenothera elata Transplants to Preemergence Herbicides 2:45–3:00 pm Amber Bates* Landscape Plant Establishment and Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. Maintenance with Treated Sewage Wastewater edu Irrigation Kayle Decker George Fitzpatrick* Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL; [email protected] Gerald Henry Feng Jiang Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. City of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL; fjiang@hollywoodfl. edu org Vikram Baliga Julie L. Karleskint Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. Hazen and Sawyer, P.C., Sarasota, FL; jkarleskint@ edu hazenandsawyer.com Cynthia B. McKenney Albert Perez Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. City of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL; aperez@hollywoodfl. edu org Greenhouse experiments were conducted in the winter of 2010 J. Phillip Cooke at Texas Tech University to evaluate the response of Oenothera Hazen and Sawyer, P.C., Hollywood, FL; jpcooke@ elata transplants to preemergence herbicides. Herbicides were hazenandsawyer.com applied 2 days prior to transplant of plugs (3.5 cm in diameter) A one-year field study was conducted to investigate the effects of into 11.3-L pots filled with a Brownfield sandy clay loam irrigating with treated sewage wastewater from two sources on the (loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Arenic Aridic Paleustalfs) establishment and maintenance of landscape plant species. The with a pH of 8.0 and organic matter content of 1.2%. Fertilizer wastewater was obtained from the City of Hollywood, Florida, (14N–14P2O5–14K2O) was applied at time of transplant at a rate of 24 kg N/ha. Irrigation was applied through an automated a large urban center and from the municipalities of Cooper City system throughout the study to ensure optimal growth and and the Town of Davie, Florida, small suburban communities. prevent stress. Pots were maintained by hand weeding in order The control irrigation was potable water supplied by the City of Coccoloba diversi- to eliminate competition. Eight herbicide treatments and a non- Hollywood. Four tree species, pigeon-plum, folia Conocarpus erectus treated control were examined. Treatments were applied using Jacq., buttonwood, L., paradise tree, Simarouba glauca Swietenia a CO backpack sprayer equipped with XR8004VS nozzle tips DC., and West Indian mahogany, 2 mahagoni Hamelia patens and calibrated to deliver 375 L/ha at 221 kPa. Preemergence (L.) Jacq., five shrub species, firebush, Jasminum multiflorum herbicide treatments included trifluralin + isoxaben at 2.8 kg ai/ Jacq., star jasmine, (Burm f.) Andrews, Psychotria nervosa Schefflera ha, pendimethalin at 0.67 kg ai/ha, prodiamine at 1.68 kg ai/ha, wild coffee, Sw., dwarf schefflera, arboricola Gardenia jasminoides dithiopyr at 0.56 kg ai/ha, metolachlor at 2.13 kg ai/ha, oryzalin (Hayata) Merr., and gardenia, J. Cynodon dactylon at 2.24 kg ai/ha, isoxaben at 0.56 kg ai/ha, and oxadiazon at Ellis and two turfgrass species, Bermuda grass, Stenotaphrum secundatum 3.4 kg ai/ha. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete (L.) Pers. and St. Augustine grass, block design with 5 replications of treatments. Percent phyto- (Walter) Kuntze were planted in landscape plots adjacent to the toxicity was assessed visually 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after City of Hollywood Wastewater Treatment Facility in March transplant (DAT) using a scale of 0 (no phytotoxicity) to 100% and Apr. 2009. Irrigation was delivered by overhead spray for (plant death). Oenothera elata plants were harvested 28 DAT, the turfgrass species and by drip irrigation for the shrub and

S140 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 tree species and plants were maintained for 14 months, until 3:30–3:45 pm June 2010. Plant growth was not significantly different when Evaluation of 75 Species for Survival and Vigor irrigated by either wastewater source or the control in all plant on a Rooftop in the Northern United States species except for firebush. Firebush plants irrigated with the Hollywood wastewater grew significantly (P < 0.05) larger than Jonathon O. Hensley those irrigated with the control. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; hensl038@umn. edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Funded by the City of Hol- lywood, Florida John E. Erwin* University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; erwin001@umn. 3:00–3:15 pm edu Not Presented Covering rooftops with plantings, “green roofs, ” can provide environmental benefits when compared to traditional, impervi- 3:15–3:30 pm ous rooftops. A study was conducted during the 2008–09 (YR Establishment of Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) I), and 2009–10 (YR II) growing seasons on a rooftop at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN; plant zone 4) to Using Subsurface Capillary Irrigation and evaluate survival and vigor of 75 plant species with horticultural Saline Water attributes. A Minnesota rooftop is drier and can have greater Marco Schiavon* temperature extremes compared to rooftops where much work New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; has been done on species selection in Europe, US, and Canada. [email protected] Rooftop temperatures varied in our experiment from –29.2 °C to 36.7 °C. Plants were planted in containers that were 40 cm in Bernhard Leinauer length and width and 12.7 cm in depth in a media composed of New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; 1 part expanded shale aggregate, 1 part rockwool, and 2 parts [email protected] Sunshine SB500 high porosity growing media. Plants were Matteo Serena not fertilized or irrigated during the experiment. There were New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; 12 plants planted per square meter and plantings were placed [email protected] in each of four blocks across the rooftop to accommodate for a perceived temperature and irradiance gradient. Soil moisture Bernd Maier and temperature, air temperature and humidity, precipitation, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; solar radiation, and wind direction and speed data were col- [email protected] lected. Plant survival was collected and vigor was assessed A growing scarcity of potable water in the southwestern United by a qualitative measurement of growth and area coverage States sets limits on its availability for nonessential uses such within a tray for each plant species. In YR I and YR II, 35 of as turfgrass irrigation.Recently, a new subsurface irrigation the 52 species, and 21 of 23 species survived, respectively. A technology called KISSS (Kapillary Irrigation Subsurface number of traditional herbaceous perennials were considered System), consisting of a geo-textile layer that surrounds the unacceptable as all plants died including Rudbeckia fulgida drip line to prevent downward loss of water. The system has ‘Goldstrum’, Hemerocallis ‘Stella d’Oro’, and Ajuga reptans been developed to distribute water more evenly throughout the ‘Bronze Beauty’. In contrast, a number of species thrived rootzone. Information is lacking as to whether or not establish- (survival score of 3-4 and vigor score of 41-81) such as Allium ment of turfgrasses can be achieved when drip irrigation is used senescens ‘Glaucum’, Festuca ovina VNS, and Sedum ellecom- in combination with saline water. Research was conducted at bianum. Among blocks, species survival and vigor varied and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces during two grow- those differences appeared to be associated with soil moisture ing seasons (Sept. 2009–Aug. 2010 and Oct. 2010–Summer content. Implications of this work and the potential implications 2011) to compare establishment rates of Festuca arundinacea of periodic irrigation on species survival will be presented. In (Schreb.) cv. Justice under KISSS or sprinkler irrigation using addition, the implications of this work with respect to planting either potable (500 ppm) or saline (1600 ppm) water. Plots were time will be discussed. seeded on 28 Sept. 2009 and on 28 Oct. 2010. Soil samples were collected four times during each establishment period to monitor 3:45–4:00 pm the salinity build-up in the rootzone. Air and soil temperatures Louisiana Super Plants—A New Marketing and were recorded during the study. Analysis of variance revealed a significant year by irrigation system interaction. KISSS and Promotion Program for Ornamental Plants sprinkler irrigated plots seeded in 2009 required more days to Allen D. Owings* reach 25% ground cover than plots seeded in 2010. Based on LSU Ag Center, Hammond, LA; [email protected] our preliminary results soil and air temperature appear to have a greater effect on tall fescue establishment than irrigation Regina P. Bracy Louisiana State University, Hammond, LA; rbracy@ system or water quality. agcenter.lsu.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S141 Dan Gill landscape, garden center, tree care and turf professionals for LSU Ag Center, Hammond, LA; [email protected] 82 years. The three sponsors of the OSU NSC: The Ohio State The LSU AgCenter, in cooperation with the Louisiana Depart- University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The ment of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), initiated an ornamen- OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team, and The tal plant marketing and promotion program in 2010. The new Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, work closely together program is called “Louisiana Super Plants” and is funded for a in the planning and implementation of this program. On 24–26 3-year period via LDAF’s Specialty Crop Competitiveness Block Jan. 2011, nearly 100 sessions were presented by nationally and Grant Program. Plants have been selected for promotion in the locally recognized experts and industry leaders to more than 2000 spring and fall seasons. Plants selected for fall 2010 were ‘Shishi attendees. The educational sessions are organized into tracks of Gashira’ camellia, ‘Camelot’ foxglove, and ‘Amazon’ dianthus. five 60-minute presentations per track that focus on selected Promoted plants in the spring 2011 were ‘Frostproof’ gardenia, topics. The afternoon tracks are all back to basic topics so that ‘Shoal Creek’ vitex, ‘Serena’ angelonia, and ‘Butterfly’ pentas. managers will have time at the trade show while employees at- Plants to be promoted in the future include: fall 2011 - ‘Swan’ tend sessions.Annual on-site attendee evaluations of each speaker columbine, ‘Redbor’ kale, ‘Belinda’s Dream’ rose, Southern sugar have been used from 2007 through 2011. Using a Likert scale maple; spring 2012 - ‘Senorita Rosalita’ cleome, ‘BabyWing’ evaluation tool, data has been analyzed concerning the quality of begonia, ‘Penny Mac’ hydrangea; and fall 2012 - ‘Sorbet’ viola, the speaker, usefulness of the presentation, and how applicable ‘Conversation Piece’ azalea, and evergreen sweetbay magnolia. the session information is to the participants’ job.Analyzing five Over 150 green industry businesses in Louisiana are actively years of attendance in relation to speaker fees indicates spending participating in the program. Plants are promoted as “university more on speakers will not necessarily equate to larger attendance tested and industry approved”. The authors meet with a group numbers. A further analysis of participant satisfaction surveys for of green industry professionals twice annually to evaluate the these same years will also be considered to clarify what warrants program and select new plants. Point of purchase signs are attendance increases in educational programs. provided complimentary to retail garden center participants. Specified Source(s) of Funding: The Ohio State University Hang tags and flat tags are provided to growers. Plants are Nursery Short Course promoted by the LSU AgCenter’s Get It Growing mass media program. The Get It Growing program has weekday radio, weekly Monday, September 26, 2011 television and weekly news article segments. Billboards were also used during the spring 2011 promotion in major metro- 2:30–4:15 pm Kohala 4 politan areas around the state - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Vegetable Crops Management 1 Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, and Alexandria. Growers have reported tripling production for the selected herbaceous plants. Moderator: Mary Ruth McDonald Growers are planning for 50% increases in sales of woody University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont N1G 2W1, ON; plants. Retailers are very pleased with the program and have [email protected] reported tremendous sales increases. The program also has print 2:30–2:45 pm ads in newspapers across the state and in Louisiana Gardener magazine. Evalutaion of Host Resistance for the Management of Clubroot ( Specified Source(s) of Funding: Louisiana Department of Plasmodiophora Agriculture and Forestry Specialty Crop Competitiveness brassicae Woronin) on Cabbage Block Grant Mary Ruth McDonald* University of Guelph, Guelph Ont N1G 2W1, ON; 4:00–4:15 pm [email protected] The Price Is Wrong—A Correlation between Catarina Saude Speaker Fees and Program Attendance University of Guelph, Simcoe, ON; [email protected] Hannah M. Mathers Bruce D. Gossen Ohio State Univ-Hort & Crop Sci, Columbus, OH; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK; bruce. [email protected] [email protected] Pamela J. Bennett Ohio State University Extension, Springfield, OH; Alan McKeown [email protected] University of Guelph, Simcoe Ont N3Y 4N5; amckeown@ uoguelph.ca Denise M. Johnson* Ohio State Univ-Hort & Crop Sci, Columbus, OH; Cathy Bakker [email protected] University of Guelph, Simcoe, ON; [email protected] The Ohio State University Nursery Short Course (OSU NSC) Clubroot of Brassica crops, caused by protist, Plasmodiophora has been providing the green industry with cutting edge educa- brassicae Woronin, causes clubbing of roots, which leads to tional information, research updates, and innovations for nursery, wilting, stunting and reduction in yield. The pathogen produces

S142 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 large numbers of resting spores which persist in soil for many sativus L.). Combined, these crops have a farm gate value of years. Recently, cabbage cultivars with clubroot resistance more than $400 million. Between 2004 and 2008, we evalu- have been developed by Syngenta Seeds. Four cultivars, Kil- ated the effects of MB, methyl iodide (MIDAS), Telone II plus herb, Kilaton, Kilaxi, and Tekila, were evaluated for clubroot chloropicrin (T2+Pic), Telone II plus chloropicrin in rotation resistance in relation to susceptible cabbages, Bronco (3 sites) with MB (T2+Pic/MB), Vapam (metam sodium), Telone II plus or Atlantis (mineral soil, 2009). Allegro 500F (40% fluazinam chloropicrin plus Vapam (3-Way), and Telone C35 (T-C35), with ) was applied to an additional treatment of susceptible cab- and without herbicides, on weed densities in spring planted bell bage (50 ml product in 100 L water, 100 ml solution per plant) pepper. Weed pressure (nutsedges, annual grasses and pigweeds) immediately following transplanting. Trials were conducted was significantly influenced by fumigant, herbicide and the on muck soil ( pH 6.3, 72% organic matter) in 2009 and interaction between the main effects. Nutsedges were present 2010 and on two mineral soil sites, a Bierren sandy loam (pH at the beginning of the study at a density of less than 1 plant per 6.5) in 2009 and another sandy loam in 2010. Sites were naturally square meter. By 2008, nutsedge densities in the Vapam, T-C35, infested with P. brassicae pathotype 6. Cabbage was harvested NF, and T2+Pic treatments averaged between 1.5 and 13.4 plants in September and October, as each cultivar reached marketable per meter squared (up to 134, 000 plants per hectare). The use of size. Heads were cut, weighed, and a detailed quality assess- herbicides (clomazone, S-metolachlor and napropamide) reduced ment was done for cabbage from the mineral soil site in 2010. nutsedge numbers in these plots more than 46% as compared Roots of all plants in each replicate plot were dug and assessed to a non-fumigated, non herbicide control. Like the nutsedges, for clubroot incidence, and for severity using a 0–3 scale, where crabgrass and pigweed densities were also greatest in the T-C35, 0 was no visible clubbing and 3 was over two thirds of the root NF, T2+Pic plots when herbicides were not applied. Nutsedge, system with clubs. A disease severity index was calculated to crabgrass, and pigweed populations did not increase over time transform the ratings to a 0–100 scale. Clubroot incidence and in the MB, MIDAS, T2+Pic/MB, and 3-Way systems. If cost severity was very high at three of the four sites ranging from effective, the MIDAS and 3-Way alternative fumigation systems 87.5-100% on susceptible cv. Bronco. Clubroot incidence are the best for managing weed population densities over time. was low at the mineral soil site in 2009; incidence on Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA susceptible Atlantis was 17.5%. All of the resistant cultivars were highly resistant to clubroot (0% to 3.8% incidence) in 3:00–3:15 pm all trials. Applying Allegro to Bronco reduced clubroot incidence and severity at two of three sites, compared to untreated Conditions Influencing Hollow Heart Disorder Bronco, but did not reduce clubroot to the low level exhibited by in Triploid Watermelon the resistant cultivars. Cabbages Kilherb, Kilaton, Kilaxi, and Gordon C. Johnson* Tekila demonstrated a consistently high level of resistance University of Delaware, Georgetown, DE; gcjohn@udel. on different soil types and under different levels of disease edu pressure. Emmalea Garver Ernest Specified Source(s) of Funding: Fresh Vegetable Growers of University of Delaware, Georgetown, DE; emmalea@ Ontario and the OMFRA/University of Guelph Partnership udel.edu

2:45–3:00 pm Two studies were conducted in triploid watermelons in 2010 to gather preliminary information on conditions affecting hollow Methyl Bromide Alternatives for Vegetable heart disorder. In the first study, test beds were planted to Liberty Production in Georgia: Small-Plot Trials triploid watermelon, a variety known to have had significant L.M. Sosnoskie* hollow heart Delaware production fields in the past. Plants were University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] transplanted at a distance of 0.9 m apart with no diploid pollenizers. These test beds were separated by beds that were planted B.T. Scully in normal fashion with seedless varieties at 0.9 m apart and a USDA ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] diploid pollenizer plant placed between every third and fourth T.M. Webster plant in the bed thus creating varying distances from a pollen USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] source in test beds. In the second study, seedless varieties were transplanted at increasing distances from a pollen source. At A.S. Culpepper maturity, watermelon fruits from test plots were split and hol- University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] low heart incidence, length and diameter of hollow heart, melon In Georgia, the loss of MeBr directly impacts the production diameter and length, distance from seedless mother plant crown, and profitability of several fruiting vegetables [specifically, distance from nearest pollenizer crown, distance from nearest pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), eggplant (Solanum melogena pollenizer plant, and node of attachment were recorded. Seed- L.), and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill)) and cucurbits less fruit in the adjacent beds were also split to record hollow (specifically, squash [yellow (Cucurbita pepo L.)], melons heart incidence only. There was no hollow heart in the beds with [watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai) normal pollenizer spacing. There was a large increase in hollow and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.)], and cucumbers (Cucumis heart frequency as triploid fruits approached and exceded 1.5

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S143 m distance from a pollenizer crown. At 1.5 m the hollow heart other tillage treatment, the cover crops shoots were allowed to incidence was 56%; at 2.4 m hollow heart incidence was 74%. winter-kill. ‘Eureka’ cucumbers were transplanted into a single This suggests that there is a critical distance at which pollinat- row in the center. The forage turnip and oilseed radish produced ing insects do not transfer enough pollen to allow for normal more dry biomass than ‘Nemat’ arugula or ‘Red Giant’ mustard. fruit development, also suggesting a relationship between pol- Crucifer cover crop biomass was not correlated with weed sup- lination and hollow heart. There was a significant logarithmic pression in April. The weed communities were dominated by relationship between hollow heart incidence and distance from winter annual weeds, especially purslane speedwell. The forage the nearest pollenizer plant (r2 = 0.83). There was a significant turnip and oilseed radish reduced soil compaction. Cucumber linear relationship between hollow heart incidence with distance yield in the crucifer cover crop treatments were similar to the from the nearest pollenizer vine (r2 = 0.75). There were no differ- weed-free control. ences in hollow heart by weight class; however, highest hollow Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA RAMP heart frequency was found with a length to width ratio of 1.26 suggesting that longer watermelons may be more susceptible 3:30–3:45 pm to hollow heart. Fruits on the 10th node on seedless watermelon plants had the highest frequency of hollow heart indicating that Effect of Production Inputs on Jalapeño the early fruit set was affected the most. 2011 trials will focus Pungency on the effects of cytokinin and auxin applications on hollow Aziz Baameur* heart where pollen is limited. UC Cooperative Extension, San Jose, CA; azbaameur@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: Delaware Experiment Station, ucdavis.edu University of Delaware Maria De la Fuente UC Cooperative Extension, Hollister, CA; medelafuente@ 3:15–3:30 pm ucdavis.edu Fall Seeded Crucifers for Soil Improvement Ian Teresi before Cucumbers GC Farms, Morgan Hill, CA; [email protected] Processing and fresh market jalapeño growers are interested in John B. Masiunas* fruit capsaicin content. They would like to grow fruit of high University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] yielding capabilities, good quality, and consistent pungency. In Dan Anderson this field study, we want to assess the impact of various production University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] inputs on jalapeño fruit yield and capsaicin concentration. The goal of this field trial is to assess the impact of several inputs on James DeDecker yield and capsaicin concentration of jalapeño fruit. The study University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] compares the effect of normal production inputs to stressful input Crucifer plants produce glucosinolates, which upon cell damage strategies and their respective influence on capsaicin accumula- degrade into biologically-active compounds including isothio- tion in jalapeño fruit. We contrasted normal production practices cyanates. Crucifers have been studied as biofumigants crops to stressful 50% nitrogen (N) fluctuation from control, low water, for suppression of weeds and phytopathogens. Our previous and sea salt addition. Low water treatment was achieved by ir- research found that crucifer cover crops did not consistently rigation cut off 2 weeks prior to harvest. Plot consisted of three suppress weeds and could not replace preemergent herbicides. single-row beds, 160 ft long. Only the middle bed was used for But forage turnip and oilseed radish may reduce soil compact. data. At harvest, 10-lb subsample was collected from each row. The objective was to evaluate crucifers for their ability to re- Each subsample was evaluated for fruit count, fruit size, and duce weeds, decrease soil compaction, and increase cucumber dimensions. A second sample of 100-fruit per row was analyzed yields. On 28 Sept. 2009 and 26 Aug. 2010, 15 × 6 m plots were for capsaicin concentration. Two harvests were carried out on 2 established in a randomized split-block design (crucifer cover Sept. and 21 Oct. 2010. As expected, water input affected yield. crop was the main plot and tillage was the subplot factor) with All treatments receiving adequate water level produced higher 4 replications. The crucifer cover crops were: 1) oil seed rad- yields than those subjected to water cut-off. Among low water ish (13.4 kg/ha) (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiferus); 2) ‘Dwarf treatments, those receiving higher N slightly increased yield Essex’ rape (6.7 kg/ha) (Brassica napus L.); 3) ‘Appin’ forage in contrast to those receiving less water. However, reducing N turnip (6.7 kg/ha) (Brassica rapa L.); 4) ‘Pasja’ hybrid forage resulted in the lowest yield. Fruit size decreased with decreasing turnip (6.7 kg/ha); 5) ‘Nemat’ arugula (9 kg/ha) (Eruca sativa); water input as well. Reducing N input resulted in the highest 6) ‘Red Giant’ mustard (6.7 kg/ha) (Brassica juncea); 7) ‘Ida Scoville heat units (SHU) in jalapeño fruit. Adding sea salt, in- Gold’ mustard (11.2 kg/ha) (Sinapis alba); and 8) control (no creasing N and reducing water all reduced SHU’s below control cover crop). On the Cruse Tract Research Farm in Champaign, level. In the amount of capsaicin produced by each treatment, it IL, crucifer seed was has broadcast by hand, and worked in with is apparent that reducing N still ranked high. Reducing water, a culti-packer. Crucifers germinated within 7 days and grew adding extra N or adding salt had similar depressive effect on rapidly. Immediately before the first hard freeze, the cover crop capsaicin levels. Furthermore, combining water cut-off with in the fall tillage treatment was incorporated with a disk. In the higher N application resulted in the lowest capsaicin produc-

S144 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 tion by any treatment in this trial. Differently stated, higher N 4:00–4:15 pm application resulted in similar capsaicin production levels as Physiological Response and Yield of Bell Pepper lower water input, while combining both further decreased it. under Different Irrigation Strategies on Sandy Specified Source(s) of Funding: UC Small Farms Program Soils Specialty crops Lincoln Zotarelli* 3:45–4:00 pm University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Leaf Gas Exchange of Bell Pepper (Capsicum Michael D. Dukes annum L.) as Affected by Shading Level under University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Field Conditions The use of improved irrigation scheduling techniques has been shown to greatly increase irrigation water use efficiency and Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez* consequently fertilizer is retained in the effective root zone University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] longer resulting in substantial water savings and reduction of George Boyhan the potential N-leaching losses. During the spring of 2008, 2009, University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] and 2010, field experiments were conducted to test different thresholds of soil moisture sensor (SMS) based irrigation con- Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan trol systems for green bell pepper. Irrigation treatments were: University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] SS4, water application controlled by SMS-based irrigation set Dharmalingam Pitchay at 4% volumetric water content (VWC) which was allotted Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; dpitchay@ five irrigation windows daily and bypassed events if the soil

tnstate.edu VWC exceeded the established threshold; SS8, threshold set at Bell pepper is an important crop in Georgia and is grown 8% VWC; SS12, threshold set at 12% (soil field capacity) and primarily on plastic film mulches. There is currently no com- TIME, control with irrigation being applied once a day similar mercial production of bell pepper under shade in Georgia, to grower irrigation management. SMS-treatments resulted in although preliminary studies show that shaded conditions may relatively steady soil moisture content over time, because ir- improve fruit yield and quality. The objective of this study was rigation water was distributed across multiple irrigation events to determine the effects of shading level on leaf gas exchange according to the soil moisture threshold. The SMS-based of bell pepper plants grown under field conditions. Bell pepper treatments irrigated for short periods of time and resulted in a (‘Camelot’, ‘Lafayette’, ‘Sirius’, and ‘Stiletto’) plants were relatively small increase in soil moisture, consequently decreas- grown on silver reflective plastic film mulch in the spring of ing the volume of percolate and NO3-leaching. The average 2009 and 2010 under different shading levels (0%, 30%, 47%, pepper marketable yield was 21.1; 27.7; 32.2 and 29.2 Mt/ha 60% and 80%). Results showed that leaf temperature declined for SS4; SS8; SS12 and TIME, respectively. Significant reductions quadratically with increasing shading level from 34.5 °C at 0% in the volume of irrigation applied (12% to 76%) were reported when SMS controlled the irrigation compared to TIME treat- shade to 32.0 °C at 80% shade. Internal CO2 concentration was similar at 0% shade and 30% shade and then increased with ment. A quadratic response between irrigation water saving and increasing shade levels. Leaf photosynthesis was similar at 0% relative pepper marketable yield was observed. The response shade and 30% shade (mean = 24.7 µmol·m–2·s–1) and declined of pepper yield increased when irrigation water application with increasing shade level to 11.7 µmol m–2·s–1 at 80% shade. was reduced. The yield plateau was reached at 25% to 30% – Stomatal conductance was lowest at 80% shade (0.474 mol·m of irrigation water reduction, which was obtained when SS12, 2·s–1) and showed no consistent differences among the other which was slightly above soil field capacity for the experiment shade levels (mean = 0.633 mol·m–2·s–1). Leaf transpiration site. After reaching the plateau, the yield response was reduced declined quadratically from 10.7 mmol·m–2·s–1 at 0% shade to as water savings increased (lower setting of SS). Due to the 7.6 mmol·m–2·s–1 at 80% shade with increasing shading level. low soil water retention capacity, additional irrigation water Water use efficiency was similar at 0% shade and at 30% shade application above the soil field capacity resulted in excessive (mean = 2.63 µmol·mmol–1) and then declined quadratically water percolation and nutrient leaching, although this practice with increasing shading level to 1.8 µmol·mmol–1 at 80% shade. did not affect the water supplied to the plant, it negatively Leaf fluorescence (Photosystem II efficiency) increased with affected the plant mineral nutrition and nitrate leaching. Pep- increasing shading level from 0.19 µmol/mmol at 0% shade to per photosynthetic rates (PR) decreased with the increase of 0.52 µmol mmol–1 at 80% shade. In conclusion, bell pepper gas irrigation water saving, there was no significant differences in exchange variables were significantly affected by shading level. PR between TIME and SS12 treatments, however, SS8 and SS4 Compared to the control (0% shade), moderate shading (30%) resulted in lower PR and yield, which was associated to soil had no deleterious effect on photosynthesis, stomatal conduc- water deficit. tance, or water use efficiency, but resulted in some benefits, Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southwest Florida Water such as, reduced leaf temperature and increased Photosystem II Management District efficiency. This improved gas exchange under moderate shading may benefit plant growth and yield in bell pepper.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S145 Monday, September 26, 2011 Mary Hockenberry Meyer 2:30–4:30 pm Kohala 2 University of Minnesota, Chaska, MN; meyer023@umn. edu Crop Physiology Esther Y. Gesick University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; gesic001@umn. Moderator: Mark Matthews edu University of California, Davis, CA; mamatthews@ –2 –1 ucdavis.edu The impact of irradiance (25–800 µmol·m ·s ) and CO2 (100– 1000 ppm) on photosynthesis of 13 herbaceous ornamentals 2:30–2:45 pm (Begonia ×hiemalis Fotsch, B. semperflorens Hook. ‘Cocktail Development of CAT Scan Technology for Vodka’, Catharanthus roseus G. Don. ‘Sunstorm Red’, Cycla- Analysis of Xylem Structure and Function men persicum Mill., Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild. Ed Klotzsch ‘Prestige Early Red’, Gerbera jamesonii Adlam ‘Deep Royal Mark Matthews* Eye Orange’, Impatiens hawkeri Bull ‘Infinity Blushing Lilac’, University of California, Davis, CA; mamatthews@ Impatiens wallerana Hook. f. ‘Accent Orange’, Pelargonium ucdavis.edu ×hortorum Bailey ‘Daredevil Salmon’, Petunia ×hybrida Hort. Although intervessel connections are essential for radial and ex E. Vilm. ‘Glow Forest Fire’, Osteospermum ×hybrida L. tangential movement of water and solutes in xylem conduits, ‘Soprano Purple’, Verbena ×hybrida Hort. ex Vilm. ‘Superbena little is known about their prevalence or distribution because Burgundy’, and Viola ×wittrockiana Gams.‘Delta Premium of the difficulty in analyzing the complex three dimensional Pure White’) was characterized. A single-leaf photosynthetic (3D) nature of the xylem network. This study describes the measurement was collected from each of five to seven plants development of a custom software package called TANAX per species at each level of the factor of interest. Cuvette con- –2 –1 (Tomography-derived Automated Network Analysis of Xy- stants were 20 °C, 300 µmol·m ·s irradiance, 370 ppm CO2, lem) that automatically extracts vessel dimensions and the and 70% relative humidity; irradiance or CO2 was varied while distribution of intervessel connections from High Resolution other factors were held constant. Maximum net photosynthetic –2 –1 Computed Assisted Tomography (aka CAT) scans. Manual rates in response to irradiance varied from 2.1 µmol CO2·m ·s –2 –1 and automated analyses of vessel networks in grapevine (B. ×hiemalis) to 6.7 and 7.1 µmol CO2·m ·s (I. wallerana (Vitis vinifera L.) stems yielded similar results, with the auto- and P. ×hybrida, respectively). Light saturation levels varied mated method generating orders of magnitude more data in a from 200 µmol·m–2·s–1 in B. ×hiemalis to 600 µmol·m–2·s–1 in fraction of the time. In 4.5-mm internode sections, all vessels C. roseus. Maximum net photosynthetic rates in response to –2 –1 and all intervessel connections among 115 vessels were located, increasing CO2 ranged from 7.4 µmol CO2·m ·s in B. ×hie- –2 –1 and the connections were analyzed for their radial distribution, malis to 13.0 µmol CO2·m ·s in I. wallerana. CO2 saturation orientation, and shared wall (pit) area. Intervessel connections levels varied from approximately 600 ppm in B. semperflorens, were more frequent in lateral than in dorsal/ventral zones P. ×hybrida, and V. ×hybrida to approximately 1000 ppm in B. and more commonly oriented radially than tangentially. ×hiemalis, I. wallerana, and O. ×hybrida. Based on this data, PHAST reconstructed the conduit network with its connections, optimal irradiance and CO2 levels to maximize photosynthesis and in combination with commercial software was used to visual- differ with species. ize vessel networks in 3D. The 3D volume renderings of vessel networks were freely rotated for observation from any angle, 3:00–3:15 pm and the 4.5 µm virtual serial sections were capable of being Separating Foliar Physiology from Morphology viewed in any plane, revealing aspects of vessel organization Reveals the Relative Roles of Vertically not possible with traditional serial sections. This methodology, including CAT scans and custom software for xylem network Structured Transpiration Factors within Red analysis, should be useful for building accurate network models Maple Crowns for studies of stem hydraulics and plant water use. William Bauerle* Colorado State Univ, Fort Collins, CO; bill.bauerle@ 2:45–3:00 pm Colostate.edu Characterization of Photosynthetic Responses A spatially explicit mechanistic model, MAESTRA, was used of 13 Herbaceous Ornamentals to Irradiance to separate key parameters affecting transpiration to provide insights into the most influential parameters for accurate predic- and CO2 tions of within crown and canopy transpiration. Once validated Jennifer K. Boldt* among Acer rubrum L. genotypes, model responses to different University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; bold0120@umn. parameterization scenarios were scaled up to stand transpiration edu (expressed per unit leaf area) to assess how transpiration might John E. Erwin be affected by the spatial distribution of foliage properties. An University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; erwin001@umn. in silico within canopy sensitivity analysis was conducted over edu the range of genotype parameter variation observed and under

S146 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 different climate forcing conditions. The analysis revealed seven rapa L. var. nipposinica), komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. of 16 leaf traits had a 5% or greater impact on transpiration pre- perviridis) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). These results dictions. Under sparse foliage conditions, comparisons of our suggested that the developed method has a universal potential findings with previous studies were in agreement that parameters to produce the functional leafy vegetables that increase some such as the maximum Rubisco-limited rate of photosynthesis valuable components without yield reduction. This simple and can explain ≈20% of the variability in predicted transpiration. effective method is useful for practical cultivation in controlled However, the spatial analysis shows how such parameters can environments, such as a plant factory. decrease or change in importance below the upper most canopy layer. Alternatively, model sensitivity to leaf width and minimum 3:30–3:45 pm stomatal conductance was continuous along a vertical canopy In Vitro Evaluation of Tipburn Resistance in depth profile. Foremost, we examine transpiration sensitivity to Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) an observed range of morphological and physiological parameters and identify the spatial sensitivity of transpiration model predic- Ryohei Koyama tions to vertical variations in micro-climate and foliage density KOBE University, Kobe; [email protected] to reduce the uncertainty of current transpiration predictions. Mitsuhiro Sanada Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI and Colorado State Uni- Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] versity Agricultural Experiment Station Hiroshi Okubo Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] 3:15–3:30 pm Augmentation of Antioxidant Constituents by Hiromichi Itoh Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Drought Stress on Roots in Leafy Vegetables Michio Kanechi Ryohei Koyama* Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Noboru Inagaki Hiromichi Itoh Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Yuichi Uno* Yuichi Uno Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Kobe University, Kobe; [email protected] Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) tipburn is a physiological disorder Plants can synthesize some antioxidants including L-ascorbic caused by calcium deficiency that decreases the crop value. It acid (AsA) and polyphenol in response to environmental stresses. is a serious problem in controlled environments such as plant Antioxidants perform not only their specific functions to detoxify factories where vegetables are grown rapidly in an artificial reactive oxygen species in plants but also in human health against environment. The more rapidly plants grow in appropriate envi- some diseases associated with oxidative damage and aging. ronmental conditions with excessive nitrate fertilizer, the higher Although there have been reported that the accumulation of the risk of tipburn development. Losses from tipburn can reach antioxidants by stress as a phenomenon, its practical utilization up to 50% of lettuce production. Breeding a tipburn-resistant has not yet been developed. The reason for this might be in dif- cultivar is the only causal therapy in many cases. However, the ficulties of a trade-off that the overstressed plants reduce their methods used to evaluate tipburn vary among different research growth. Especially in leafy vegetables, losses of photosynthetic organization or companies. Universal evaluation of tipburn products are directly linked to their yield. In this study, we tried resistance in cultivation trials is difficult, especially in the field, to establish a novel hydroponic treatment to increase the contents because many environmental and nutritional factors are correlated of some valuable components in leafy vegetables without the with tipburn. In this study, we investigated an efficient method growth retardation. Seedlings of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. to evaluate lettuce resistance to tipburn in vitro. Seedlings of var. crispa) were grown hydroponically in nutrient solution. 19 lettuce cultivars representing three head types were cultured Before harvesting (28 days after seeding), adult plants were on agar medium containing EGTA, which chelates Ca2+. The subjected to drought stress to a rhizosphere by lowering of the percentage of tipburned leaves decreased proportionally with water level in the solution tub. The total amount of AsA increased EGTA concentration. Susceptible cultivars were distinguished in proportion to a distance between a water level and styrofoam at 0.01 mM EGTA, whereas resistant cultivars were classified bed which supports the seedlings. Stress period was optimized at 1.0 mM EGTA. From average values, the tipburn suscepti- during 14 days of treatment and the most increased level of the bility of the lettuce types was in the rank order Leaf Lettuce > AsA was peaked at 7th day. Drought stress treatment for 7 days Butterhead Lettuce > Crisphead Lettuce. Two cultivars were at a distance of 4 cm resulted in higher AsA and polyphenol selected for further tests using hydroponic and pot culture. The content of 1.24 and 1.50 times each in comparison with control rank order of susceptibility to tipburn in these experiments was at 0 cm. Brix is also increased 1.17 times higher by the treat- consistent with that of the in vitro assay. The in vitro evaluation ment. The method of stress treatment to a rhizosphere could be of lettuce susceptibility to calcium deficiency is useful for initial applied to some other leafy vegetables. AsA was accumulated screening of lettuce cultivars against tipburn incidence. Resistant with exposure to drought stress in potherb mustard (Brassica

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S147 cultivars identified in this study are practical candidates for plants use one of the two active loading mechanisms, apoplastic cultivation in controlled environments, such as a plant factory, loading or polymer trapping. Both loading mechanisms elevate while sensitive cultivars are also useful as indicator plants to the sugar concentration, and the hydrostatic pressure, of the monitor environmental conditions. phloem to very high levels. In contrast, phloem loading in most trees is passive: sucrose simply diffuses from mesophyll cells 3:45–4:00 pm into the phloem. To date, there is no hypothesis that explains why Pomegranate Flower Receptivity Can Impact most trees use passive phloem loading. Considering that phloem Both Fruit Set and Fruit Quality loading must operate within the constraint of water relations and trees generally have low whole-plant hydraulic conductance

Hazel Y. Wetzstein* (KP), we reasoned that, to maintain turgor, trees must accumu- University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] late high concentrations of sucrose (and sugar alcohol in some Weiguang Yi species) in leaf mesophyll cells, which provide the motivating University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] force for the diffusion of sucrose (and sugar alcohol) into the phloem. We found, in a survey of 45 dicotyledonous species Nadav Ravid with different loading mechanisms that, herbs that load actively

Paramount Farming Company, Bakersfield, CA; n.ravid@ are characterized by high KP, low leaf osmolality, and low foliar comcast.net sugar concentration. In contrast, trees, and the few herbs that Erik Wilkins load passively, have low KP, high osmolality, and high sugar Paramount Farming Company, Bakersfield, CA; ErikW@ concentration. These findings demonstrate a close link between paramountfarming.com phloem loading and plant water transport, and support the idea that accumulation of transport sugars in leaves of passive load- Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible ing species serves two functions at the same time: to maintain fruits and has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient leaf turgor and to drive the diffusion of transport sugars into the time. Consumption of this juicy and flavorful fruit has increased phloem for long-distance transport. dramatically in recent years. Yet, physiological studies on this unique crop are rather few, and information on floral biology 4:15–4:30 pm is especially limited. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the performance of flowers pollinated at different Understanding Calcium Deficiency Disorders at flowering stages and to determine how flower receptivity impacts the Whole Plant and at the Cellular Level fruit set and quality. Pomegranate flowers at the closed petal Sergio Tonetto de Freitas stage (Day 0) were emasculated and bagged. Flowers were then University of California Davis, Davis, CA; hand pollinated on Days 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with developmental [email protected] changes in flower morphology defined. Subsequently, fruit set, fruit weight, and aril weight and number (the edible juice- Elizabeth J. Mitcham* containing sacs) were assessed. Results showed that flowers University of California, Davis, CA; ejmitcham@ucdavis. pollinated at younger stages not only attained higher fruit set, edu but also resulted in significantly larger fruits. Fruits obtained There has been more than 100 years of research on Ca deficiency from flowers pollinated on Day 1 were 56% larger and had 51% disorders in fruit, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly more aril weight than those from flowers pollinated on Day 4. understood. Studies have shown a positive correlation between In pomegranate, early pollination not only increases fruit set, low tissue Ca and high fruit susceptibility to Ca deficiency but has a marked effect on fruit quality. disorders. However, there is no predictive accuracy between Ca content and Ca deficiency symptom development in fruit. 4:00–4:15 pm New evidence suggests that Ca deficiency development should Why Is Phloem Loading Passive in Most Tree not be studied only at the whole tissue level, but also at the cel- Species? lular level, where reduction in specific pools of Ca may lead to a cellular localized Ca deficiency and cell death. Our studies Qiushi Fu* revealed that fruit with adequate or high total tissue Ca will not Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] develop Ca deficiency symptoms with proper regulation of cel- Lailiang Cheng lular Ca partitioning and distribution. However, the same fruit Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] will develop Ca deficiency symptoms if abnormal regulation of cellular Ca partitioning and distribution occurs, leading to a Yangdong Guo depletion of specific cellular pools of Ca, cellular localized Ca China Agricultural University, Beijing; [email protected] deficiency and finally cell death. In addition, low fruit Ca uptake Robert Turgeon may cause a reduction in all cellular pools of Ca, resulting in Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] fruit that are more susceptible to Ca deficiency development. In our studies, spraying tomato plants weekly with 500 mg·L–1 Before sucrose can be exported from leaves, it is transferred into ABA prevented BER development by reducing xylemic water the phloem, a process known as phloem loading. Most herbaceous

S148 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 and Ca movement into the leaves and increasing it into the fruit. grown in Mexico. Tamarind is well adapted to semiarid tropi- The increase in fruit Ca uptake was possibly favored by an cal conditions, although it does well in many humid tropical increase in the number of functional xylem vessels in the fruit, areas of the world with seasonally high rainfall. Young trees as well as a reduction in the phloem/xylem ratio of fruit sap are very susceptible to frost, but mature trees will withstand uptake. In another study, tomato fruit expressing a constitutively brief periods of 28° F without serious injury. Tamarind can be functional Arabidopsis thaliana Ca2+H+ exchanger (sCAX1), propagated vegetatively, but vegetative propagation by cut- a tonoplast protein that pumps Ca into the vacuole, showed a tings or air layering has not been very successful. Therefore, steady increase in BER development until 100% incidence 15 grafting is generally used commercially. For grafting, first of days after pollination. Wild type fruit did not develop any BER. all we must obtained seedlings. Tamarind seeds are recalcitrant, Further analysis showed that sCAX1-expressing fruit pericarp therefore it is necessary to scarify or stratify; both applications had two-fold higher total Ca content, lower apoplastic and cyto- have demonstrated faster germination. A study was carried out solic Ca contents, and higher Ca accumulation in the vacuole of to investigate the effects of hot water, sulfuric acid, mechani- sCAX1-expressing cells, compared to wild type fruit tissue. We cal scarification, heat, and treatments on the germination of also showed that decreasing pectin methylesterase expression in tamarind. Seeds were placed on moistened filter papers in tomato fruit reduces binding sites for Ca in the cell wall, which 28-cm-diameter petri dishes under laboratory condition for increases other pools of Ca in the cell, eventually reducing fruit germination. Seeds of tamarind (10 seeds per petri dish) with susceptibility to BER. Our results support the hypothesis that four replicates per treatment were used. Therefore the objective fruit susceptibility to Ca deficiency disorders is determined not of this study was to evaluate different treatments (e.g., mechani- only by fruit Ca uptake, but also by mechanisms controlling cal scarification, hot water and sulfuric acid concentration) on cellular Ca partitioning and distribution. tamarind seed germination and to observe if this will improve Specified Source(s) of Funding:CAPES Foundation of Brazil, germination rates. Fulbright Program, and Valent BioSciences 8:15–8:30 am Challenges for Intermountain West Native Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Wildflower Seed Production: Stand 8:00–9:00 am Kohala 2 Establishment Propagation Erik Feibert* Oregon State Univ, Ontario, OR; erik.feibert@oregonstate. Moderator: Erik B.G. Feibert edu Oregon State Univ, Ontario, OR; erik.feibert@ oregonstate.edu Clinton C. Shock Oregon State Univ, Ontario, OR; clinton.shock@ 8:00–8:15 am oregonstate.edu The Effects of Pre-Sowing Treatments on Cheryl Parris Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Seed Oregon State Univ, Ontario, OR; [email protected] Germination Lamont Saunders Tomas Ayala-Silva* Oregon State Univ, Ontario, OR; monty.saunders@ USDA/ARS, Miami, FL; [email protected] oregonstate.edu Raymond J. Schnell Nancy Shaw USDA/ARS, Miami, FL; [email protected] USDA Forest Service, Boise, ID; [email protected] Garry Gordon Reliable commercial seed production of native plants is needed USDA/ARS, Miami, FL; [email protected] to restore rangelands of the Intermountain West. Direct seeding of native range plants has been generally problematic, especially Hamide Gubbuk for certain species. Fall planting is important, because seed of Akdenis University, Antalya; [email protected] many species requires a period of cold to break dormancy (ver- Sadiye Gozlekci nalization). Loss of soil moisture, soil crusting, bird damage, and Akdenis University, Antalya; [email protected] other factors hinder emergence of fall planted seed. In previous research, the complexity of testing single factors has impeded Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L) is native to tropical Africa and succesful stand establishment. A research approach that tests grows wild throughout the Sudan. It was introduced into India stand establishment systems consisting of multiple factors was many years ago; it has often been reported as indigenous there used. This trial tested the effect of four factors on emergence also. The fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to of seed of seven species surface planted in the fall of 2010: 1) the Greeks in the 4th century BC. It is extensively cultivated row cover was tested as a protective barrier against soil desic- in tropical areas of the world. Sometime during the sixteenth cation and bird damage; 2) sawdust was tested as a substitute century, it was introduced into America and today is widely for the protective effect of organic debris; 3) sand was tested

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S149 to help hold the seed in place; 4) seed treatment was evaluated greenhouse. These large, fast-growing plantlets came from for protection of emerging seed from fungal pathogens. The vessels started with the fewest divisions, most medium, great- treatments did not test all possible combinations of factors, but est sucrose concentration, and 75 mM macronutrients with + + tested the combinations that might work together to produce the 0.12 [NH4 ]:[K ]. Plantlets with the greatest mass were likely best stand establishment. All treatment combinations also had deficient in P and Mg. Although few plants per vessel yielded rodent control, a drip tape irrigation system if necessary, and a high multiplication ratio (5.2x), the greatest number of new distractions for birds. By the first emergence count on 10 Mar. plantlets (25) came from vessels with the greatest number 2010, all species had started emerging. By 9 Apr. row cover of initial divisions (9). The mesonutrient experiment fixed + plus sawdust plus seed treatment had resulted in higher emer- [NH4 ]=5 mM, media volume=40 mL, and sucrose=5%; and gence than bare ground with sawdust plus seed treatment for altered plant density (3–9 divisions), P (1.25–6.25 mM), Ca (3–9 – + Penstemon deustus, Heliomeris multiflora, Crepis intermedia, mM), Mg (1.5–4.5 mM) and macronutrients ([NO3 ]+[K ] = and Balsamorhiza sagittata. Emergence and stands were bet- 40–120mM). The greatest multiplication ratio came in vessels ter for Penstemon deustus with row cover plus seed treatment with the fewest divisions and 5 mM P. Vessels with the largest than with row cover plus sawdust plus seed treatment. Includ- plantlets also started with fewest divisions, P was 6.25 mM (or ing seed treatment to rowcover plus sawdust did not improve greater), macronutrients were 120 mM (or greater), Mg was emergence of any species, with the possible exception of Dalea 3mM, and Ca was 4.5 mM. Maximization of the numbers of ornata, but actually reduced the stand of Penstemon deustus, plantlets produced and their subsequent greenhouse growth Heliomeris multiflora,and Crepis intermedia on 9 Apr. Adding will be presented for these independent factors. The D-optimal sand to rowcover plus sawdust plus seed treatment significantly designs used in both experiments used small numbers of vessels increased emergence only for Crepis intermedia on 10 Mar. compared to factorial designs. D-optimal is useful to establish Averaged over species, row cover with sawdust resulted in the ranges and significant interactions in multifactor experiments. highest emergence. Row cover appeared to be the important Computer-generated sample spaces, calculations, and graphical factor in improving emergence. visualizations of multidimensional responses enable more comprehensive combinations of environmental factors, compared 8:30–8:45 am with the prior generation, when most biotechnology media were Nutrient Media Formulation for originally formulated. Micropropagation and Acclimatization of 8:45–9:00 am Herbaceous Perennials Using Turmeric as a Propagation of Ruth’s Golden Aster ( Model Plant Pityopsis ruthii), an Endangered Herbaceous Perennial Jeffrey W. Adelberg* Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Phillip A. Wadl University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] Sean M. Halloran Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Adam J. Dattilo Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN; ajdattilo@tva. S. Reid Smith gov Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Lisa M. Vito Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was formulated 50 years University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] ago for in vitro growth of tobacco callus using a “one factor at a time” (OFAT) method. OFAT confounds interactive effects that Deborah Dean* are often important in mineral nutrition. This current work uses University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; ddrobert@utk. Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) as a model plant and simultane- edu ously characterizes the interactive effects of multiple nutrient Robert N. Trigiano factors on in vitro plant growth in liquid media, and ex vitro University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] acclimatization as influenced by in vitro plant nutrition. Two Ruth’s golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii) is a federally endangered separate experiments were conducted; each examined five factors plant that occurs along the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers in Polk (macronutrient and mesonutrient experiments, respectively). County, TN. This narrowly distributed herbaceous perennial A response surface method was used to partition variation in grows in crevices on exposed phyllite and graywacke rocks that responses by the five main factor effects with quadratic reso- are situated in and between the river channel and the adjacent lution and second order interactive effects. The macronutrient forested slopes. The known populations occur on river systems experiment altered the main components of the observational that are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). units: media volume (25–45 mL), plant density (3–9 divisions), A long-term monitoring program began in 1986 for Ruth’s sucrose concentration (1.5-6% m/v), macronutrient concentra- golden aster. The Ocoee River population is considered stable, tion (20–100 mM [NO –=[NH +]+[K+]), and [NH +]:[K+] ratio 3 4 4 but the Hiwassee River population has experienced substantial (0 to 0.5). Vessels started with the fewest divisions, the most declines in the total number of plants since monitoring began. medium, and 4% sucrose had the highest multiplication ratio. The capability to successfully reintroduce individual Ruth’s Plantlets with the largest fresh mass grew most quickly in the

S150 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 golden aster plants into suitable habitat will be an essential ber of overweight and obesity in American youth, increased part of a long-term conservation strategy for the species, but attention has been devoted toward practices and programs that efforts to establish plants in the wild have been unsuccessful. support healthy behaviors in school-aged children. Garden- Propagation of Ruth’s golden aster is critical for conservation of based nutrition education programs are a type of intervention existing populations and provides back-up collections of plants that has become especially popular in recent years. Among the for restoration should wild plants perish. For ex situ preserva- oft-purported benefits of garden-based nutrition education pro- tion of rare plant species seed based methods are generally the grams are that participation will result in increased knowledge most efficient. However, growing Ruth’s golden aster from of nutrition, increased preference for fruits and vegetables and/ wild-harvested seed has proven unreliable because seed set and or increased fruit and vegetable consumption. However, the germination rates vary widely with the timing and location of number of studies that have examined these purported benefits collection. In addition, collecting large numbers of seed from are relatively few, and the sample size within each study is wild populations to compensate for this variability may not be relatively small. These limitations make it difficult to assess the sustainable given the imperiled status of the species and the efficacy of garden-based nutrition education programs, in terms remote locations where it grows. Successful mircorpropagation of positive changes in knowledge, preferences and/or behavior, of the species has been documented recently. Plants of Ruth’s due to a lack of statistical power. Meta-analysis is one way of golden aster have been cloned via in vitro culture of axillary increasing statistical power, by synthesizing the results of several buds, flower receptacles, leaf explants, and stem cuttings and independent studies that examine the same hypothesis. We thus in vivo through stem cuttings. Flower receptacles and leaf ex- conducted a meta-analysis of published studies that compared plants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) garden-based nutrition education programs with a comparable supplemented with 11.4 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in control. Many of the studies also included a more traditional combination with 2.2, 4.4 or 8.8 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and nutrition education program in their study design. Across all for both explant sources, shoot regeneration on MS medium studies, children who participated in garden-based nutrition amended with 11.4 µM IAA and 2.2 µM BA was significantly education programs increased preferences for and consump- higher (P <0.05) than on other treatments. Additionally, rooted tion of fruits and vegetables, relative to children in the control plants were obtained from axillary buds and stems cuttings that group. In addition, children who participated in garden-based were cultured on MS medium without plant growth regulators. nutrition education programs exhibited greater preference for and Terminal stem cuttings about 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) long treated consumption of fruits and vegetables, compared to children who with 3000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) rooted within 2 participated in more traditional nutrition education programs. weeks under intermittent mist. These propagation methods However, children who participated in a more traditional nutri- will allow fast and cost effective large scale production Ruth’s tion education program exhibited a greater increase in nutrition golden aster for use in reintroduction or supplementing wild knowledge, relative to children who participated in the garden- populations. based nutrition education programs. These results suggest that obesity prevention programs are more likely to foster postive Specified Source(s) of Funding: Tennessee Valley Authority behavior changes if they integrate garden-based lessons into nutrition education programs.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:15–8:30 am 8:00–9:00 am Kings 1 Academic and Cooperative Extension Programs Community Horticulture at Botanic Gardens and Arboreta: Current Status and Recommendations Moderator: Gail Langellotto Corvallis, OR; [email protected] Mary Hockenberry Meyer* University of Minnesota, Chaska, MN; meyer023@umn. 8:00–8:15 am edu A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Garden- Botanical gardens, arboreta, academic institutions, and Coop- Based Nutrition Education Programs erative Extension all propose a similar mission of horticultural education. Collaboration between these institutions, even those Gail Langellotto* with formal affiliations or close geographic location is highly Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; gail.langellotto@ variable. In order to measure the level of sympatric work and oregonstate.edu develop a list of recommendations for more efficient and effec- Abha Gupta tive educational programs, an online survey of 173 members of Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; guptaab@onid. the university section of American Public Gardens Association orst.edu was conducted in the fall of 2010. Fifty-three responses from 41 Obesity prevention programs seek to prevent or halt unhealthy botanical gardens in 27 states revealed that 34 or 65% offered weight gain by fostering healthy behaviors, such as increased some portion of an academic class at their gardens. Classes of- consumption of fruits and vegetables. Given the growing num- fered included Botany; Core Leadership Training; Public Gar- den Management; Continuing Lecture Series; Food, Fiber and

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S151 Fulfillment; Horticulture Landscape Plants; Issues in Economic Harvest Day 2010, which was more than double the attendance Botany; Woody and Herbaceous Plants; Fine Arts; Horticultural of 2005 and four times that of 2000. A formal evaluation of Therapy; and Landscape Architecture. Only 16 or 31% of the the FOHC was conducted in 2004 and 2005. Evaluation meth- botanic gardens were offering academic internships for college odology consisted of an analysis of workshop exit surveys, a credit. Most of these internships included special activities and compilation and review of media coverage, and a series of four educational sessions, often involving rotations with various focus groups with Master Gardeners, workshop participants, and supervisors and special projects and reports. The most limiting representatives from collaborating organizations. An analysis factors cited in offering more academic classes were a lack of of post-workshop surveys revealed that there was a dramatic faculty (40%), distance from campus (17%), and lack of space increase in knowledge of workshop lecture topics reported by (12%). Sixty-five percent of the botanical garden participants participants. The FOHC has attracted considerable media atten- rated their interaction with Cooperative Extension as minimal or tion over the past 10 years, including being the site of numerous fair; 21% said their interaction was good: (4-6 programs/year), TV segments and interviews and the focus of dozens of articles or excellent: (work together on a daily or weekly basis). Five in local and regional magazines and newspapers. The following gardens, (10%), reported that staff was funded by Cooperative statements about the FOHC were made in the focus groups: 1) Extension, from a high of eight employees to a low of one partial the FOHC is the premier demonstration garden site in the region; appointment. There appear to be considerable areas for collabora- 2) the water-efficient landscape is highly regarded throughout tion between Cooperative Extension and the botanical gardens the region; 3) the FOHC is unique in terms of its diversity and that participated in this survey, as well as further development its focus on home gardening; and 4) the level of education and of academic programs. Recommendations and examples of new outreach provided by the Master Gardeners at the FOHC is of a programs will be presented including: new interdisciplinary work very high quality. Educational centers such as the FOHC require with arts and humanities; understanding and meeting faculty leadership, collaboration with other agencies, funding, and con- needs in order to engage their participation at botanic gardens; sistent hard work and dedication, but the payoff in community forming joint committees between institutions to develop new education in sustainable horticulture can be a significant, positive programs; and website development to showcase and attract impact in the community. student internship projects and directed studies. Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Department of Wa- ter Resources, Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment for Ornamental 8:30–8:45 am Horticulture Programs and Outcomes of the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center 8:45–9:00 am Chuck A. Ingels* Government Strategies to Promote Horticulture University of California Cooperative Extension, in Urban Communities Sacramento, CA; [email protected] John E. Erwin* Judy M. McClure University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] University of California Cooperative Extension, Increasing horticulture crop use and consumption in an urban Sacramento, CA; [email protected] community has many benefits including increased dietary Meg Bland health, increased psychological and environmental health, in- Elk Grove, CA; [email protected] creased property values, and decreased crime and energy costs. The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center (FOHC), established in 1998, Taken together, these benefits make promotion of horticulture is a one-acre facility that has provided educational programs in an urban community an attractive public policy initiative for for the public, UC Master Gardeners, landscape professionals, local governments. Local government promotion of horticul- and local agencies. Demonstration areas at the FOHC include a ture can occur through planting of horticulture crops, hosting water-efficient landscape, an orchard, a table grape vineyard, a farmers markets and/or promotion of community gardens on berry variety planting, a vegetable garden, an herb garden, and public lands, and changing zoning policies to require increased a composting area. Educational activities at the center each year plantings. Government can also promote horticulture crop use include 7 to 10 workshops and numerous informal open gardens; on private lands through public education, subsidizing the tours for university and college classes, local and state agencies, purchase of horticulture crops by homeowners, and collaborat- and garden clubs; and training for local and regional UC Master ing with local businesses to insure offering of and successful Gardeners. The principles of sustainable gardening – using the establishment of appropriate crops. Success of these efforts can least amount of water and reduced impact on surface water qual- be increased when they are coordinated in a way as to create a ity – are incorporated into all educational activities. The largest citywide initiative. The pros and cons of different past urban event, Harvest Day, consists of presentations, demonstrations, strategies, as well as, recent efforts to promote horticulture crop educational booths, and fruit and vegetable tasting. Each year use in the city of Minneapolis will be discussed. Minneapolis attendance at the FOHC events increases; average workshop offers some unique challenges for horticulture crop promotion attendance has increased about 20% each year (the Jan. 2011 including extremes in temperature, a short growing season, and workshop attracted 285 people) and over 2, 000 people attended significant variation in the economic health among neighbor-

S152 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 hoods. How programming is being tailored to accommodate and vegetables and promoting the best ones to nurseries who these challenges will be discussed. grow and distribute them as well to end users across North America. Their slogan, “tested nationally & proven locally, ” 9:00–9:15 am is more telling than only a catch phrase. Before the founding Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities for of AAS in 1932, gardeners used information in seed catalogs Improving the Effectiveness of Demonstration to make their choices; much of this information was often Gardens as Educational Tools for Cooperative exaggerated and biased. Only new cultivars which have not Extension yet been sold are allowed in these trials. Entries are compared to the most similar cultivars which are already on the market. Charlotte D. Glen Vegetable cultivars are trialed by judges in 26 test locations North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burgaw, NC; in the United States and Mexico. There are a total of 50 trial [email protected] grounds including flowers, bedding plants, and cool season Gary E. Moore trials as well as vegetables. Some judges handle more than North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; gary_ one category. Judges, who are all independent and volunteer, [email protected] use a 0–5 scale and rate over a number of categories for each K.S.U. Jayaratne entry. Testing is very stringent and AAS awards are only as- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jay_ signed to new entries that are better than anything else already [email protected] on the market. Only the highest scores, averaged across all test locations, are considered for awards. Entries which are other- Lucy K. Bradley* wise excellent, but not superior in some categories, receive low Raleigh, NC; [email protected] ratings and do not win. Many state and regional awards exist This descriptive study summarizes the characteristics of Coop- today, but AAS is the oldest and most established independent erative Extension horticulture demonstration gardens in North testing organization in North America. The AAS program, Carolina, how they are managed and used as educational tools recent winners of this award, and judging opportunities will by Extension agents and the perceived benefits and challenges. be presented. Agents develop gardens primarily to enhance their non-formal education efforts, enable self-directed learning, engage volunteers, and build partnerships. The majority of gardens are less Tuesday, September 27, 2011 than one half acre in size, include both edible and ornamental plantings, and are heavily supported by volunteers. Though 8:00–9:30 am Kohala 3 many agents were found to be fully utilizing gardens to enhance non-formal education, few were fully employing practices that Growth Chambers and Controlled enable self-directed learning, or evaluating the garden’s out- Environments 1 comes and impacts. Agents perceived the greatest benefits of gardens to be their efficacy as an educational delivery method, Moderator: William B. Evans their ability to enhance the overall program, and their capac- Mississippi State Univ., Crystal Springs, MS; wbe@ ity to provide opportunities for meaningful volunteer service ra.msstate.edu and to facilitate the development of partnerships. The greatest 8:00–8:15 am challenges of incorporating gardens into Extension programming were perceived to be availability of time, money, and Establishing Optimum Conditions for Shipping volunteer support. It was concluded that demonstration gardens Unrooted Grafted Cuttings of Solanum are an appropriate and effective educational delivery method lycopersicum for Extension programming. When developing gardens, special emphasis should be given to involving and investing volunteers. Brent Salazar* University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; bsalazar@email. Additional recommendations are to integrate the garden into arizona.edu the entire Extension program, to employ multiple practices to enhance self-directed learning, and to develop a framework for Chieri Kubota evaluation that captures the garden’s full impact. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. edu 9:15–9:30 am Grafted tomato seedlings have been utilized in U.S. greenhouse All-America Selections—Testing New Vegetable vegetable production for over a decade. The limited source Cultivars for the Gardening Public of grafted seedlings has forced U.S. growers to purchase Richard G. Snyder* the seedlings from propagators in Canada. Increased shipping Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; cost are making it harder for U.S. growers to more widely [email protected] introduce grafted plants, including in open fields. To address All-America Selections© (AAS) is a non-profit agency charged this issue we examined the use of un-rooted grafted cuttings, a with the mission of testing new garden cultivars of flowers technology used in Asia, for shipping long distances. Previous

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S153 research has been done on optimum environmental conditions row cover) and heating cables help resolve temperature-related (air-temperature, and light) for long distance transport of growth problems experienced in the winter. Both low tunnels grafted tomato seedlings (Kubota, and Kroggel, 2006). Little and row covers significantly increased production levels (leaf data is available for the optimum environmental conditions number, leaf area, specific leaf weight) when compared to for transporting un-rooted grafted cuttings. We also needed to the uncovered control. Spinach grown under low tunnels had determine the optimum timing for harvesting grafted cuttings. significantly higher production levels than when grown under In this experiment, the grafted seedlings (‘Durinta’ scion and row covers. The addition of soil heating cables further increased ‘Aloha’ rootstock) were produced using the tube grafted method, total yield in all cover treatments but there was no significant then harvested on five different days after grafting (Day 0, interaction between heating cables and secondary covers. A 1, 3, 5, and 7).These harvested grafted cuttings were placed combination of heating cables and low tunnel achieved the in darkness for 72 hours at two different air temperatures to highest average yield, and would be the optimal method for simulate travel conditions (10 °C and 20 °C). All experimen- maximizing winter spinach yields in high tunnels in a high tal grafted cuttings except the control were wrapped in a wet elevation arid climate. paper towel, placed in an air tight bag, and hung vertically to Specified Source(s) of Funding:Utah Department of Ag and Food avoid stem bending gravitropism. After 72 hours the grafted cuttings were planted in a tray with moist media that was placed under frequent misting in an overhead irrigated greenhouse. 8:30–8:45 am 70% shade cloth was applied to reduce the incident radiation. High Tunnel Lettuce Variety Yield and Quality For the next 48 hours the plants were kept inside a plastic dome When Grown in Different U.S. Climates to keep the grafted cuttings in near 100% humidity. Subse- quently the plants were covered only at night for the following R.W. Wallace 5 days to root before observing percent rooting and measuring Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] fresh and dry weights, stem length, and number of leaves length > 2.5 cm. Our preliminary experiment showed that grafted Carol A. Miles* cuttings harvested on Days 0 and 1 exhibited a 50% mortal- Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA; ity regardless of temperature. The grafted cuttings harvested [email protected] on Days 3 and 5 showed nearly 0% mortality which was com- A. Wszelaki parable to the non-treated control. In contrast, air temperature University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; annettew@utk. during simulated transportation did not affect the mortality, edu percent rooting or growth of the grafted cuttings. The overall quality, however, was better maintained at 10 °C than 20 °C. D.A. Inglis This suggests that grafted tomato seedlings need to be healed Washington State University Extension, Mount Vernon, at least 3 days before harvesting and shipped at 10 °C tempera- WA; [email protected] ture to assure highest re-rooting success. J. Roozen Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Arizona WSU Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, WA; jfroozen@wsu. edu 8:15–8:30 am J. Martin Optimizing Winter Spinach Production and University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; jmarti90@utk. Survival in High Tunnels edu Taunya Ernst* C. Joel Webb Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Lubbock, TX; [email protected] Dan Drost Field studies were conducted during 2010 in Washington (WA), Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Tennessee (TN) and Texas (TX) as part of a 3-year USDA Brent Black Specialty Crops Research Initiative Grant (CSREES Award Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Notification No: 2009-51181-05897) evaluating high tunnel High tunnels offer a way to extend the local growing season (HT) lettuce yield and quality when grown in three distinct for a variety of crops to meet the demand for local produce. climates (TN – hot, humid; TX – hot, dry; WA – cool, humid). Winter production in North Logan, Utah (lat. 41.735 N. Six-week-old lettuce varieties Adriana, Green Star, Jericho, elevation 1455.45 m) may be limited by low temperatures Ermosa, Coastal Star and New Fire Red were transplanted and large diurnal temperature changes as well as exposure to into subplots (3 ft. × 14 ft.), both inside HT and in open field sub-optimal soil temperatures. This project was designed to (OF) plots. High tunnel and OF lettuce was transplanted develop low-cost strategies intended to increase the produc- 22 Apr. in WA, while in TN and TX, lettuce was transplanted tion levels of spinach grown in the winter in a high tunnel. A in HT and OF plots 25 Mar.and 14 Apr., and 5 Apr. and 22 combination of secondary covers (low plastic tunnels and fabric Apr., respectively. All plots were covered with black plastic

S154 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 mulch and drip-irrigated as-needed. Crop fertility and pest set into each plot (1.5 ft. apart in beds 15 ft. long and 2.5 ft. management were maintained according to regional practices. wide), with 6 ft. between rows. Plots were fertiligated twice The trial was conducted as a split block design replicated weekly with water soluble fertilizer and otherwise managed four times; subplots contained 20–28 plants/variety (depend- according to local practice. Fruit were harvested 3 days a ing on state) spaced at 1 ft in two staggered rows per bed. week. Secondary covers were used only 4 nights between On average, lettuce varieties in WA matured 55–63 days after transplanting and final harvest, and had no significant influence transplanting (DAT) with no significant difference between on squash yield. The tunnels were closed many days during HT and OF plots. In TN, average lettuce maturity occurred the early set period likely leading to the significant number of at 50–61 DAT, and lettuce grown under HT matured signifi- aborted fruit we saw in that period. Overall, the crops averaged cantly (P > 0.0001) later compared to OF plots (due to bolting just under 3 lb of marketable fruit/plant, fruit that averaged just in OF plots). In TX, average lettuce maturity occurred 37–48 over 0.25 lb/fruit. Cover treatments had no significant influence DAT and HT lettuce matured significantly earlier (P > 0.0001) on earliness, total yield, marketable yield, cull yield, fruit size, than OF plots. Total and marketable yields in WA and TX, or percent of marketable fruit number or yield. averaged across varieties were equal in both HT and OF plots. Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Institute of Food and In TN, higher incidence of insect, disease and physiological Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2009-55618-05169 damage in HT plots reduced lettuce quality and marketable yield (P >0.0002) although total yields were significantly higher 9:00–9:15 am (P > 0.0062). Lettuce head height/width diameter ratio averaged across varieties was equal between HT and OF in all three Root Zone Management of Greenhouse-Grown states. Average lettuce internal core lengths for marketable Succulents lettuce were significantly greater (P > 0.0289) in HT-grown Jonathan B. Snelson* varieties in WA, while the opposite occurred in TX. No inter- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] nal core lengths were measured in TN. These results indicate that HT culture may influence lettuce growth positively, John R. Freeborn negatively, or have no effect; and that additional physical and Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] environmental factors associated within each location’s climate Joyce G. Latimer may have a critical role in determining the successful improve- VPI & SU, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] ment in HT lettuce quality and marketable yields. Holly L. Scoggins 8:45–9:00 am Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Early Production of Summer Squash in Succulent plants are an increasingly popular product sector Mississippi High Tunnels: First Year Results for greenhouse and nursery growers. Very little information has been published on the culture of these plants and almost William B. Evans* all information available to growers is anecdotal. Our objec- Mississippi State Univ., Crystal Springs, MS; wbe@ tive determining the effects of root zone management factors ra.msstate.edu on the efficiency of growing and finishing plants for market. Guihong Bi Taxa included Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’, Agave ‘Blue Glow’, Aloe Truck Crops Branch, Mississippi State University, Crystal ‘Fire Ranch’, Echeveria ‘Afterglow’, and Senecio cepha- Springs, MS; [email protected] lophorus ‘Blazin’ Glory’. Three independent studies measured growth response to a range of fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, Vasile Cerven and 200 mg·L–1 N from 15N–2.2P–12.5K water soluble fertil- Mississippi State Univ., Crystal Springs, MS; vcc116@ izer; 2) three substrate moisture levels ( maintained at 10%, msstate.edu 20%, and 30% volumetric water content as measured by a Early spring production of yellow crookneck summer squash time domain reflectometry meter) and 3) five growing substrates cv. Gentry was evaluated in high tunnels, with and without (bark, commercial bark and peat mix, commercial peat mix, internal secondary row covers, at Crystal Springs, MS in and a wood chip/peat mix) Parameters measured included 2010. The five row cover treatments tested included: no cover, plant height, width, root and shoot dry weights as well as clear UV resistant polyethylene sheeting, white spun-bonded overall appearance/marketability of plants. Among fertilizer polypropylene (Agribon-70), felted heavy weight white rates, the higher rates produced larger, more marketable plants spun-bonded polypropylene (Frost Protection Blanket), across all species. The 10% volumetric water content (dri- and black woven landscape fabric felted on one side (Mas- est) resulted in the smallest plants. The substrates with peat terscape). As part of a detailed temperature management produced the largest plants; the bark and bark/slate aggregate protocol, covers were placed over the rows on frames 5 ft. tall mix the smallest. and 3.3 ft. wide when night temperatures were forecasted to fall below 40 °F. The tunnels were closed when the outside Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Agricultural Council air temperatures were below 50 °F. On 5 Mar., 10 plants were

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S155 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 8:15–8:30 am 8:00–9:00 am Queens 6 Nitrogen Application, Uptake, and Loss in Plant Nutrient Management 1 California Strawberry Production Thomas G. Bottoms* Moderator: Thomas G. Bottoms University of California, Davis, CA; tgbottoms@ucdavis. University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] edu

8:00–8:15 am Mark Bolda University of California Cooperative Extension, Balanced Mineral Nutrition Decreases Greasy Watsonville, CA; [email protected] Spot Incidence in Citrus Michael Cahn Kirandeep Mann University California Cooperative Extension, Salinas, CA; University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] [email protected] Arnold W. Schumann Timothy K. Hartz University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] Timothy M. Spann* Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) is a major crop in University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] coastal California, an area with widespread NO3-N impairment of both surface water and groundwater. A commercial field survey Citrus diseases are a serious threat to profitable fruit yields and was begun in 2010 with the objectives of 1) determining the N quality. Disease control with continuous use of agrochemicals uptake of day-neutral strawberry grown in an annual produc- only is not an acceptable, sustainable option due to environmental tion system, and 2) evaluating current N fertilizer practices contamination, pesticide residues in the food chain, and pesticide and the potential for N loss to the environment. Thirteen fields resistance. Therefore, alternative integrated pest management of ‘Albion’ strawberry and 14 fields of a proprietary cultivar (IPM) techniques need to be developed and evaluated. Mineral grown in the Watsonville–Salinas area were sampled at monthly nutrition could increase or decrease disease resistance by affecting intervals from March through August. Root zone soil NO -N both plant and pathogen growth. To evaluate the effect of mineral 3 and total leaf N were determined at each sampling date. At two nutrition on greasy spot disease (Mycosphaerella citri) infection sites for each cultivar whole plant sampling for biomass and of citrus, a greenhouse hydroponics experiment was established biomass N was also conducted. Leachate NO -N was monitored for precise control of nutrient elements. Valencia orange plants 3 by automated suction lysimetry in 3 fields. Cooperating growers [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.] were grown in plastic pots filled with provided data on seasonal N fertilization and fruit yield. Crop graded quartz sand, automatically drip-irrigated with deionized N uptake was linear through the sampling period, averaging water. The experiment was conducted in a completely random- approximately 1.2 kg·ha–1 per day. By the end of August total ized design (CRD) with 7 nutritional treatments and 10 replica- N uptake averaged 190 kg·ha–1 across the 4 biomass monitor- tions. The treatments included full strength Hoagland’s nutrient ing sites, with N content nearly evenly split between vegetative solution (T1), one-tenth concentration Hoagland’s nutrient so- tissue and fruit. Seasonal N application varied from 138 to 337 lution (T2), full strength Hoaglands minus Mg (T3), minus Ca kg·ha–1, averaging 213 kg·ha–1; approximately half was applied (T4), minus B (T5), minus Mn (T6), and minus Zn, Cu, Mo, Fe as controlled release fertilizer at crown planting the previous (T7). Nutrient solution specific to each treatment was applied fall, and the remainder was fertigated through drip irrigation weekly. A high humidity was maintained in the greenhouse to during the production season. Soil NO -N concentration below encourage greasy spot spore germination and leaf infection. 3 10 mg·kg–1 was maintained in most fields from April through The foliar symptom expression and defoliation of citrus plants August, the period of intensive irrigation. Leachate NO -N was naturally infected with greasy spot fungus was highest in T2, T4, 3 correlated with root zone soil NO -N, and in-season N loss was and T7 treatments. The full strength balanced nutrient solution 3 modest. Mean leaf N declined from and average of 32 g·kg–1 greatly reduced the greasy spot infection. Electrolyte leakage, in March (before harvest initiation) to 27 g·kg–1 at the fruiting which is an indicator of compromised cell membrane integrity, peak. Seasonal fruit yield averaged 74 Mg·ha–1, compared to the was highest in T2, T4 and T7 treatments. Leaf sap pH was state average of 68 Mg·ha–1. Neither fruit yield nor leaf N was lower in the different nutrient deficient treatments (pH 6.0–6.2) correlated with N fertilization rate. compared to the balanced nutrition (pH 6.3). Stem diameter and SPAD chlorophyll index values were lowest for T2 and 8:30–8:45 am T4 treatments. The results confirm Liebig’s law of minimum, Use of Pollen Vitality to Determine the Boron and suggest that a complete balanced nutrition supply for citrus may significantly reduce the occurrence of greasy spot, reduce and Calcium Status of Flowers pesticide spray requirements, promote overall tree health and Thomas Ferrari* enhance production efficiency. Bakersfield, CA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:Citrus Research and Develop- Analyzing leaves, petioles, hulls and soils are cultural practices ment Foundation used to monitor nutrients required for “vegetative” stages of

S156 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 plant growth for commercially important crops. Flowers are the Zahoor Hussain “reproductive” apparatus of plants and they differ concerning University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, function and nutritional needs. Pistils support pollen germination Sargdoah; [email protected] and tube growth and very specific levels of boron and calcium Raheel Anwar are required to optimize those processes. Previously, no assays University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad; were available to categorize the status of boron and calcium [email protected] in flowers to optimize fertilization of eggs. Major problems with tissue analyses involve timing. Routinely, samples are Micronutrients have a pronounced effect upon the growth taken in summer, months after pollination occurred and when and yield of various plant species. In this study the impact of it is too late to remedy deficiencies. Another problem is that at foliar application of low bi-uret urea (LBU) and micronutrients harvest, fruit and nuts are completely removed from an orchard; on vegetative growth, reproductive growth patterns, yield and consequently, nutrients contained in them are deleted from the quality of mango (Mangifera indica L) cv. Chaunsa was inves- ecosystem months before pollination begins. Later, leaves are tigated. The research work was conducted at experimental fruit shed and boron and calcium they contain are lost. Paradoxically, orchard square # 9, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University tissues routinely used to monitor the status of essential nutrients of Agriculture, Faisalabad on 12-year-old, 24 uniform plants for many crops are not even present during bloom when they of mango cv. Chaunsa, growing under similar agro climatic are needed to optimize pollen viability and pistil fecundity. conditions. The treatments were consisting of foliar application Many studies involving a multitude of plant varieties showed of LBU (2%), zinc and copper at three levels (0.4%, 0.6%, that responses of pollen viability to different boron or calcium 0.8% ZnSO4 and 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% CuSO4) with a fixed quantities produce a bell-shaped curve. With this knowledge, concentration of low bi-uret urea (LBU) at 2.0% and control an in vitro bioassay was devised which measures pollen vital- (water spray). Foliar application of each treatment was done ity: it involves fluorescein diacetate as a vital stain, and utilizes at half panicles emergence stage. The experiment was laid out pollen suspended in varying concentrations of those nutrients. according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 8 Relative changes in vitality revealed seven categories of boron treatments (including control) replicated thrice and single plant and calcium in flowers ranging from excessive to deficient. Pol- was taken as treatment unit. The data regarding various vegeta- len samples obtained from flowers of commercially important tive growth parameters (emergence of new flushes/plant after fruit and nuts were about 80% deficient in boron and 75% were application, total number of flushes/plant), reproductive growth deficient in calcium. Importantly, orchards were deficient to parameters (total number of healthy panicles/plant, length of considerably varying degrees. Ironically, growers indicated that healthy panicle (mm), width of healthy panicles (mm), fruit set tissue analyses revealed boron and calcium levels near or within percentage), yield per tree and fruit quality were recorded. Our recommended amounts, suggesting elements were sequestered preliminary results indicated that increasing levels of ZnSO4 or lost. If pollen is deficient, it is logical that flower pistils are with LBU significantly improved the vegetative and reproduc- deficient. Flowers could be “revitalized” before bloom was tive growth, fruit set percentage, yield and quality of the fruit completed via immediate application of foliar nutrients. Only however in future systematic efforts are required to check the 20% to 30% of the orchards did not need boron or calcium. Thus, efficacy of various micronutrients alone and in combinations routine applications of those nutrients during bloom can cause to standardize the varietal specific recommendations for foliar toxic amounts to accumulate. A pollen bioassay accurately and application. rapidly measures the status of available boron and calcium in flowers so farmers can optimize flower fertility before bloom 9:00–9:15 am ends and their crop is set. Ground Cover Management in Short-Rotation Specified Source(s) of Funding: Pollen Bank, Bakersfield, Tree Cropping Systems: Effects on Plant and California Soil Macronutrients Yingqian Lin* 8:45–9:00 am Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; linyingq@ Foliar Application of Low Bi-Uret Urea and msu.edu Micronutrients Improves Growth, Yield Pascal Nzokou and Quality of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] ‘Chaunsa’ Ground cover can improve the sustainability of tree produc- Muhammad Azher Nawaz* tion systems by reducing nutrient lost, increasing soil organic University of Sargodha, Sargodha; [email protected] matter content, and maintaining nutrients balance. However, part studies have mainly focus on N nutrition with only little Waqar Ahmed attention accorded to other essential macronutrients. Therefore, USAID, Lahore; [email protected] this research project aims to evaluate the effect of three dif- Muhammad Asif Iqbal ferent ground covers, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Dutch white Lahore; [email protected] clover (Trifolium repens) and perennial rye (Lolium perenne)

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S157 and management practices on plant and soil macronutrients below the root zone and leachate was collected regularly for (P, K, Ca, Mg) in Fraser fir production system. Management chemical analyses. Parameters monitored include morphological included banding (B) and no-banding (noB) treatments of response, biomass accumulation, nutrient content in various tree each species of cover crop and a control or bare-ground (BG) tissues (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), and nutrient leaching below the root treatment where all weeds were removed. Ground covers were zone (N, K, Ca, Mg). Results obtained indicate that amino acid mowed every 21 days and returned to the ground as green mulch. treatment tended to have a significant effect on morphological Parameters measured included tree growth, foliar macronutri- responses (height and diameter growth) in conifers and the ent concentration, soil macronutrient concentration, and cover hardwood, especially in the first year of the study. This result crop biomass and macronutrients content. Results indicated was suggested to be due to competition with soil microbial that the highest macronutrient content was found in alfalfa, communities for arginine following transplant. Morphologi- while perennial rye had the lowest. Ground cover treatments cal response in high rate amino acid treatments tended to be did not affect tree foliar Mg and P concentration significantly; enhanced or similar to the positive control for conifers and the however, lower Ca and K concentration were found in ground hardwood. Biomass production and nutrient accumulation were cover treatments compared to bare ground treatments, which significantly affected by amino acid treatment in the hardwood might due to competition between ground cover and trees. hybrid and both conifer species. The enhanced morphological Soil macronutrient concentration at 0–15 cm depth and response and biomass production in the hybrid poplar compared 15–30 cm depth differ among treatments, however not signifi- to the conifer species is explained by the greater nutrient use cantly. We concluded that ground cover species and manage- efficiency and nutritional needs. Nutrient losses in amino acid ment practices should be selected carefully in order to avoid treatments were similar to control treatments in the second year competition between trees and ground covers. More studies of the study, suggesting that applied amino acid fertilizer was of mineralization and macronutrient flows are needed to help either uptaken by tree roots, bonded to soil exchange sites, or tree growers decide on strategies for using ground cover in tree fixed in microbial biomass. Additional studies are under way production systems. to confirm these hypotheses. Specified Source(s) of Funding:N/A 9:15–9:30 am Nutrient Use Physiology and Morphological Response of Short Rotation Trees under Amino Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Acid Fertilization 8:00–10:00 am Kings 3 Alexa R. Wilson* Computer Applications in Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; wilso731@ msu.edu Horticulture Pascal Nzokou Moderator: Lucy K. Bradley Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; nzokoupa@ Raleigh, NC; [email protected] msu.edu 8:00–8:15 am Deniz Guney Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon; d_guney@ktu. Phenology Modeling and Frost Risk Assessment edu.tr with Climate Change for Temperate Fruit Crops Semsettin Kulac Jonathan P. Comstock* Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon; semsettin61@ Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] msn.com Alan N. Lakso Plants have the ability to uptake and utilize amino acids as a Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] primary nitrogen source in forest and agricultural ecosystems. David W. Wolfe This process has been reported in the arctic, boreal and temper- Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] ate forests, and in controlled environments where plants are raised in containers. We report on a two-year study that aimed Arthur T. DeGaetano to understand the nutrient use physiology and morphological Cornell University; [email protected] response of short rotation trees to amino acid fertilization. A phenology model utilizing daily min/max temperatures was Conifer transplants [Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) and red pine developed for fruit crops in New York State including apples (Pinus resinosa)] and hardwood cuttings (hybrid poplar) were and grapes. The model includes sequential stages to first meet installed in a nursery bed and treated with varying rates (0, 50, chilling requirements, followed by degree day (DD) accumula- 100, 200, and 300 lb N/acre) of an amino acid fertilizer con- tions to trigger spring growth. This basic model was substantially taining arginine as a nitrogen source and other plant-essential improved by using a running average of the previous 10 days’ nutrients. Granular ammonium sulfate applied at 100 lb N/acre temperatures to modify potential DD increments. Warmth fol- was used as a positive control. Suction lysimeters were installed lowing prolonged cold weather counts less toward development.

S158 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 This rule affects predictions of budbreak to a greater degree than the state diagrams of Unified Modeling Language (UML). flowering stages. Compared to 10–45 years of observations for First, the harvest process is split into two discrete parts: (a) different cultivars, 6 phenological stages of apple and 2 for grape picking, and (b) loading (collecting full fruit bins from the are predicted by the model with a root mean square error ranging orchard). Second, the differences between the harvesting pro- from 1.5 to 3.5 days across all stages and datasets, and averag- cedure in USA and Greece are highlighted and then models are ing between 2 and 2.5 days across stages for different cultivars. presented. The discrete part (a) is executed in nearly the same Several stages of apple development between budbreak and petal way for both countries—only the capacity of the receptacles fall are addressed in the model, spanning a period of about 4–6 differs (20 kg in Greece vs. 200 kg in the US). The procedure weeks, and with progressively higher temperature thresholds for loading differs however. In Greece, all bins along adjacent for frost damage. The phenology model was used to compare tree rows are removed from the grove and loaded manually historic and future predictions of frost damage at different stages onto a platform driven between tree rows; in the U.S. small of development based on climate change projections averaged tractors push a hydraulic bin trailer that retrieves up to 4 bins. from an ensemble of 16 GCMs. Predictions encompassed both UML state diagrams were used to model different states that modest increases and decreases in overall frost damage frequency an object of a class (a picker or a machine) could be in and depending on cultivar-specific characteristics of chilling require- explain how each object transitions from state to state. Each ment and DD thresholds for development. A strong qualitative diagram represents objects of a single class and tracks the shift is predicted for all cultivars in the most likely phenological different states of its objects through the system dynamically. stages to be affected. In historical analyses, the stages of pink, Our main emphasis is on the construction of rigorous models bloom, and petal fall are most likely to experience damaging that provide the necessary information to improve harvest pro- frost. In future scenarios of high emissions, the stages of greatest cedures (reduce cost and improve working efficiency). These vulnerability shift by the 2080s to earlier developmental stages models can help analysts, designers, and developers understand of green tip, ½-inch green and tight cluster. This is due to the the behavior of the objects in a system (dynamic details of the interplay of several factors affecting the rate at which budbreak behaviors). Further, we describe how to use these analyses and and subsequent development all shift to earlier mean calendar the modeling of all activities involved in the harvesting process dates under a warming climate. These dynamics affect all stages to develop advanced automated data monitoring systems. In with a net beneficial effect of frost likelihood decreasing during the systems we are developing a multitude of sensors are used flowering. The earlier budbreak stages, however, eventually shift (including digital weighing scale, RFID reader, computational from April into early March, and are then more subject to the unit, wearable datalogger), and new harvest methodologies are greater inherent variance in mid-latitude temperatures which being developed, to track essential activities and information occurs in winter versus summer. Seasonal patterns of variance for traceability and improved spatial management (i.e., preci- in daily temperature are related to seasonal patterns of insola- sion agriculture). Finally, an algorithm (i.e., software) will be tion and related atmospheric circulation which are likely to be presented that simulates the harvesting procedure and compare similar during climate change despite rising global and regional potential modifications under predefined controlled conditions. mean temperatures. The proposed modeling process and examples serve as a refer- ential model for harvest planning and a means for optimizing Specified Source(s) of Funding: NYSERDA (New York State processes without the need for repeated field experiments. Energy Research and Development Authority) Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-SCRI project 2009- 8:15–8:30 am 02559 and Washington State University’s Ag. Research Center Modeling Activities during Manual Fruit Harvesting: A Comparison of Processes in the 8:30–8:45 am U.S. and Greece Predicting the Timing of Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. and Mid-Atlantic States in Yiannis Ampatzidis* Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Response to Climate Change Prosser, WA; [email protected] Uran Chung* Stavros Vougioukas University of Washington, Seattle, WA; [email protected] Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki; Jin I. Yun [email protected] Kyunghee University, Yongin; [email protected] Matthew D. Whiting Soo-Hyung Kim Washington State Univ, Prosser, WA; [email protected] University of Washington, Seattle, WA; soohkim@u. Work method analyses are useful for improving production ef- washington.edu ficiency, operations management, and identifying differences in We applied a process-based phenology model of temperate de- economic and environmental performance. This paper describes ciduous trees to predict peak bloom date of flowering cherry trees analyses and modeling of procedures during hand harvest of (Prunus ×yedoensis ‘Yoshino’) in the Tidal Basin, Washington, sweet cherries, considered as an industrial procedure, using DC and the surrounding mid-Atlantic states in response to the

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S159 regional climate change projections. We first optimized model parameters so that simulated results approach that of actual ob- parameters with the past blooming data at the Tidal Basin from servations. Field experiments were conducted in 2010 to verify 1947 to 1970 using daily maximum and minimum temperatures model validity using different planting densities (variable in-row collected from a nearby weather station at the Reagan National spacing, fixed row width). Due to drought conditions during Airport. The optimized model was tested against more recent most of the growing season (July–September), comparison of peak bloom data of the same location from 1971 to 2000. The irrigated vs. non-irrigated plots was possible for certain planting model performance against the recent independent data was dates. Experimental results provided evidence for the mitigating satisfactory (r2 = 0.70, RMSE=6.4 days). We then estimated the influence of soil moisture regime on planting density and harvest future peak bloom dates for the Tidal Basin and the surround- date effects on yield. Under a uniform supplemental irrigation ing states including Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia by regime, plots with simulated high plant density (i.e., 20 cm in- applying this optimized model to four climatological normal row spacing = 46, 876 plants/ha) either had lower yields or were years (1971–2000, 2010–2039, 2040–2069, 2070–2099). We harvested later relative to plots with standard plant spacing (30 analyzed the temporal and spatial variability of the peak bloom cm in-row spacing = 31, 250 plants/ha). When soil moisture was dates at four selected locations: Tidal Basin, DC; Baltimore, not limiting, plots with higher planting densities had similar or MD; Richmond, VA, and Kearneysville, WV. Our results in- relatively higher yields relative to plots with standard planting dicate that peak bloom dates in the near future (2010–2039) densities. In general, the results from 2010 model validation would be accelerated or delayed depending on the location trials suggested the expansion of the BBN model to include under the A1B emission scenario. Conversely, we found that soil moisture and planting density. A prototype model that in- peak bloom dates are likely to be accelerated by an average corporates soil moisture and planting density variables will be of 5 days during the period of 2040–2069 and by 10 days in shown. Preliminary calibration and validation using extant data the period of 2070–2099 compared with the current bloom will be shown to demonstrate the applicability of the prototype dates (1970–2000). Our results suggest that in most areas of model under experimental conditions. Future field calibration the region peak blooms are likely to take place before April and validation activities will be outlined. with an exception of the Appalachian Mountain range by the Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI end of the century. In addition, the model predictions suggest that there is a strong likelihood that the chilling requirements 9:00–9:15 am for dormancy release in the flowering cherry trees in the Tidal Basin and southern coastal areas may not be met by the end of Modeling Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Water the century; this may result in unpredictable blooming habits Dynamics in the Nursery and Greenhouse of the flowering cherries in the region. Industry

8:45–9:00 am John Majsztrik* University of Maryland, College Park, MD; jcmajsz@ Further Development of a Bayesian Belief umd.edu Network Model for Estimating Fresh Market John D. Lea-Cox Yield in ‘Beauregard’ Sweetpotato University of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] Arthur Q. Villordon* David Ross LSU AgCenter, Chase, LA; [email protected] University of Maryland, College Park, MD; dsross@umd. Julio Solis edu LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] Andrew Ristvey Don LaBonte University of Maryland, Q, MD; [email protected] LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; DLabonte@agcenter. Container nursery, field nursery and greenhouse operations lsu.edu are intensively managed with regard to nutrient and irrigation Christopher Clark inputs throughout the United States. This leads to the potential LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] for high levels of nutrient (greenhouse and container) and sediment (container and field) runoff, if proper nutrient application Ron Sheffield and abatement practices are not followed. Understanding the LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; RSheffield@agcenter. complexities of nutrient and water application, uptake, and loss lsu.edu mechanisms from these types of operations can be difficult for both A uniform set of management variables was used in the devel- growers and researchers alike. Models were developed using the opment of a prototype Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model program Stella, which uses a “systems thinking” approach. Sepa- for predicting fresh market yield in ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotato. rate models were developed for greenhouse, container-nursery Further field validation is necessary to determine the structural and field-nursery operations, since there are specific production soundness as well as extent and limitation of model validity. In variables and management practices associated with each type addition, further calibration is required in order to adjust system of production. Multiple nutrient and irrigation variables were

S160 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 incorporated into the models. Models were calibrated and vali- and recording the weight of standard orchard bins over time. dated with independent peer-reviewed research data. Validation The system consists of a digital commercial platform scale (5 results for all three models showed consistent agreement between ft × 5 ft) mounted on a custom steel frame fitted into a standard model outputs and published results, increasing confidence that cherry harvest bin (4 ft × 4 ft × 1 ft) to facilitate transport of models accurately processed input data. The validated models the weighing system. A standard harvest bin was placed on the were then used to run a number of what-if scenarios, based scale to receive fruit as pickers empty their harvest bags. The on a database of commercial water and nutrient management digital interrogator controlling the platform scales and receiving practices, gathered from 48 nursery and greenhouse operations weight data was interfaced to a wireless radio networked to a in Maryland. Results of the what-if scenarios highlighted model remote coordinator consisting of a Zigbee wireless radio and a sensitivities, and allowed for the testing of multiple hypotheses. custom data logger that collected and stored the data. System

Factors such as the N:P2O5 ratio of fertilizer, fertilizer rate, in- performance and reliability was tested in six orchards in coop- terception efficiency, days irrigated per week, crop coefficients, eration with three commercial growers. We deployed the system and buffer width were analyzed under a variety of scenarios for with their commercial picking crews, using 3 systems in most each of the three models. For example, interception efficiency orchards, with 3 or 4 pickers per system. The total bin weight, is known to decrease with increased spacing. In the container harvest rate per crew, the weight of each picker’s bucket drop model, when 6-L containers were spaced 23 cm between centers into the bin, the time to pick a bin and the average labor cost (container tight), the models predicted 23.4 L of unintercepted per lb was determined using this system. Further, we compared water per container compared to 350.3 L of unintercepted water the efficiency of harvesting ‘Skeena’ with or without pedicels per container at 46 cm between centers, over the course of a 40- (i.e., stem-free). The time required to fill a bin varied more than week growing season. For the greenhouse model, it was found 2-fold across the orchards we studied. Picking rate (lb/min/ that by reducing constant fertigation from 200 mg/L to 40 mg/L person) varied from about 1.1 to 3.0. The mean picking rates for N leaching was reduced from 1.94 g to 0.05 g per plant, without stem-free and cherries with stems were 2.54 lb/min (std 0.31) reducing plant nitrogen uptake. This research provides growers and 1.66 lb/min (std 0.35) when picked by the same crew in the and researchers with tools to assess and understand the cultural same orchard. Further, final fruit weight per bin ranged from and environmental impact of current practices, and predict the 320 lb to 418 lb. Reasons for these differences, and strategies impact of improving those practices. Our results provide a detailed for improving efficiency, will be discussed. analysis of current water and nutrient management practices, and Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI Project 2009-02559 and adds significantly to our understanding of various operational Washington State University Ab. Research Center practices in nursery and greenhouse operations, both in Maryland and throughout the United States. 9:30–9:45 am Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award no. Not Presented 2009-51181-05768 9:45–10:00 am 9:15–9:30 am Teamwork and Technology Deliver IPM Portable Weighing System for Determining Strategies and Resources to Homeowners by Harvest Efficiency Empowering Master Gardener Volunteers Yiannis Ampatzidis* Ellen Bauske Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected] Prosser, WA; [email protected] Lucy K. Bradley* Francis Pierce Raleigh, NC; [email protected] Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Prosser, WA; [email protected] Kerry Smith Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Auburn Matthew D. Whiting University, AL; [email protected] Washington State Univ, Prosser, WA; [email protected] A multi-state team of specialists and agents developed shared The efficiency of labor during sweet cherry (Prunus avium resources covering topics selected to improve the IPM skills of L.) harvest is affected by many factors including orchard Extension Master Gardener volunteers. The team used Internet architecture, fruit yield, and capability of the worker, among educational technology and partnered with over 35 Extension others. For sweet cherry, harvest costs account for the majority agents to deliver advanced training to 472 Master Gardener of annual production costs and there is great interest to reduce volunteers in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. Follow- these via horticultural and/or mechanical means. Our research up online surveys of training participants indicated changes in program is studying the role of key harvest efficiency factors in knowledge, behavior, and confidence. Several factors contributed tree fruit to better understand their relative importance and to to the success of this program and will be discussed. develop more efficient harvest systems. This paper introduces a prototype system used to study labor efficiency by measuring Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southern Regional IPM Center

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S161 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 10:15–10:30 am 10:00–11:30 am Kings 1 Correlation of Retail Temperatures with the Potential for E. Coli O157:H7 Growth on Produce Quality, Safety, and Pre-Cut Greens Health Properties 1 J. Wyatt Brown* Moderator: Maria Rubino CA Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; mariar@ [email protected] msu.edu Keith Vorst 10:00–10:15 am CA Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; [email protected] Utilization of ClO2 Gas for Non-Thermal Sanitation Andrew Kok California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, Siriyupa Netramai CA; [email protected] Mahidol University, Bangkok; [email protected] Preharvest sources for contamination of leafy greens are Maria Rubino* numerous and extremely varied with no microbial reduction Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; mariar@ strategies currently available to completely ensure the safety of msu.edu fresh-cut leafy greens at the time of consumption. It is therefore Rafael Auras imperative that the cold-chain be established and maintained Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; aurasraf@ from packaging through retail purchase to minimize exposure anr.msu.edu to E. coli O157:H7 and other food-borne pathogens. The specific objectives of this study are to: measure the temperature Chlorine dioxide (ClO2), an oxidizing agent, is gaining interest in of leafy greens in retail display cases as well as in back-room the food industry due to its broad antimicrobial effects. A promis- coolers, and, based on observed temperatures and microbial ing application for ClO2 is in vapor-phase decontamination, either studies, determine the potential for infectious levels of E. coli as fumigation gas in the production line or as headspace antimi- O157:H7 in pre-cut salads, i.e., the potential for a food safety crobial gas in food packaging systems. When ClO2 is absorbed event with concomitant recall. Continuous-read, low-profile into fresh produce the gas may react with organic matter and temperature recorders were placed in retail display cases and with microorganisms residing on the produce, yielding chlorite – storage rooms at 9 retail stores in a total of 3 regions in Cali- (ClO2 ) as a major by-product, along with other compounds in fornia: Burbank (Southern California, moderated by the Pacific trace amounts. This study explored the ClO2-absorption behav- Ocean), Palm Springs (Southern California, desert), and the ior of Romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes as well as factors Central Coast (Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo; moderated by affecting the inactivation efficacy of ClO2 gas in vapor-phase the Pacific Ocean). Recorders were placed every 4 ft under decontamination. Inoculated and uninoculated Romaine lettuce the top , middle and bottom shelves and were located on each and cherry tomatoes were exposed to an atmosphere 3.0 and 6.0 shelf at the front and back of the display cases. Temperatures mg/L of ClO2 gas for 7.5 to 90 min. The treated samples were – were surprisingly cold in the cases though temperature abuse then analyzed for residual ClO2 and ClO2 using amperometric was observed. For some cases, temperatures >10 °C (but <15 titration. Inactivation efficacies of ClO2 were determined against °C) were observed 5% to 7% of the total time. Temperatures E. coli O157:H7 in lettuce and Salmonella spp. in cherry toma- >7.2 °C occurred up to 65% of the total time. Interestingly, toes. The results showed that ClO2 absorption increased as ClO2 some cases were too cold and temperatures below –0.28 °C, the concentration and/or exposure time increased. Also, cutting of freezing point of lettuce, occurred up to 84% of the total time the lettuce, which introduced cut edges and bruises, increased indicating a serious potential for tissue damage. Temperature ClO2 absorption by 10 times After treatment with 3.0 mg/L – collection is ongoing and will continue through at least Aug. ClO2 gas for 30 min, 9.37 ± 1.71 and 0.92 ± 0.40 mg ClO2 /kg 2011. Initiation of this project was very slow due to concerns of lettuce were recovered from fresh-cut and whole leaf lettuce by the retail chain of unfavorable exposure and liability, and samples, respectively. Washing, which added additional moisture this will also be discussed. to the sample (around 7% wt/wt), did not significantly affect the absorption behavior. Decreasing the processing temperature also 10:30–10:45 am reduced the amount of ClO absorbed. For cherry tomatoes, the 2 Antimicrobial Effects of Bacteriocins Producing amount of ClO2 recovered was at least 10 times lower than that from fresh-cut lettuce, regardless of the treatment conditions. In Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Various Food general, reductions in pathogen populations increased as ClO2 Sources concentration and/or treatment time increased. The correlation Lihua Fan between antimicrobial efficacy of ClO2 and its absorption is Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. being determined. [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA (NIFSI 2008-01573)

S162 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Deana Sharpe counts of yeasts and molds (P = 0.011), Pseudomonas sp. (P = Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; [email protected] 0.01) and total coliforms (P = 0.01) compared to the controls. Therefore, LAB and/or bacteriocins have significance for use En Yang as bio-preservatives and antimicrobial agents. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou; en.yang@agr. gc.ca 10:45–11:00 am Craig Doucette Maintaining Fresh-Cut Wash Water Quality and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. [email protected] Sanitizer Efficacy via Rinsing before Washing Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Yaguang Luo* Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; [email protected] USDA ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] Jun Song* Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; songj@ Yang Yang agr.gc.ca USDA, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] Chlorine is widely used as a sanitizer during fresh-cut wash opera- Sherry Fillmore tions. However, the large amount of organic materials in the exu- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. dates released by cutting depletes free chlorine rapidly, resulting [email protected] in the potential for pathogen survival and cross-contamination. In Yueming Jiang this study, a rinsing step installed between cutting and washing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou; lihua.fan@agr. without incurring additional water usage, was tested for its effect gc.ca on organic load reduction, retention of water quality and sanitizer Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce a variety of compounds efficacy in the fresh-cut produce wash system. Batches of 2-lb with antimicrobial activity including acids, alcohols, diacetyl, lettuce shreds were placed on a perforated conveyor belt and hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins. Bacteriocins have attracted rinsed with chlorine water. The samples were collected and the many interests due to their potential use as safe and natural food volume of water used for rinsing was determined. The collected preservatives and antimicrobials for control of spoilage and lettuce samples after rinse were further de-watered, and washed pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of this study were for 30 seconds in 40 L of chlorinated water containing 35 ppm to isolate and characterize bacteriocinogenic LAB strains, test free chlorine. The changes in water quality after each wash were their antimicrobial effects on common spoilage and pathogenic evaluated in terms of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and microorganisms and further investigate selected LAB for use free chlorine. This process was repeated until the wash water as bio-preservatives on fresh-cut vegetables. Fourteen different free chlorine level declined to near 0.5 ppm. The same volume horticultural commodities and 11 different dairy products were of Clorox (6%) that initially brought the chlorine level to 35 ppm used to isolate LAB. The antimicrobial properties of cell-free was added into the wash water again. The same procedure was supernatants from LAB isolates were determined using the repeated two more times. For the control, the lettuce shreds were agar diffusion bioassay with Lactobacillus sakei and Listeria washed directly in 40 L of chlorinated water without the rinse innocua as indicator organisms. The presence of bacteriocins step; however a volume of chlorine water equal to that used for was indicated by inhibition zones following the neutralization rinsing was added to the wash basin prior to each wash so that of pH and elimination of H2O2, and further confirmed by the an equal total volume of water was used for each treatment. The addition of proteolytic enzymes. The 28 bacteriocin-producing results showed that the treatment with rinsing between cutting LAB were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Molecular and washing significantly reduced water quality deterioration as weights of bacteriocins were determined using SDS-PAGE shown in much slower increase in COD and turbidity, and decrease method, AU values of bacteriocins and optimal growth conditions in free chlorine in comparison to the control. This outcome is for producing bacteriocins were also investigated. In addition, important for the fresh-cut produce industry, as it demonstrates selected bacteriocins were identified using LC/MS. Antimicro- that a rinse step between cutting and washing can cost-effectively bial effectiveness of LAB and bacteriocins were tested against reduce water quality decline and stabilize sanitizer concentration 6 different bacteria, and 3 different fungi using agar diffusion during fresh-cut wash operations. bioassay and microtiter plate method, respectively. Results indicated that bacteriocins produced by the LAB showed significant 11:00–11:15 am antimicrobial effects against L. innocua while acids and H2O2 had Fresh Produce Safety within the Desert strong antimicrobial effects against other tested microorganisms. Southwest: A Research and Extension Progress Challenge tests were conducted on fresh-cut salads and onions Report inoculated with L. innocua. The effects of LAB on control of natural microflora of fresh-cut vegetables andL. innocua were Kurt D. Nolte* investigated. Results showed that bacteriocins producing LAB University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; [email protected] significantly reducedListeria sp. counts (P = 0.005) throughout Charles A. Sanchez storage at 5 °C. The addition of LAB was also able to reduce the University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S163 Due to its warm winter climatic conditions, Yuma, located in Currently, there are very few producers that are GAPs certified the southwest portion of Arizona, USA, is essentially the only in Texas. Part of being certified is that the water quality of the agricultural region in the nation where the field production of irrigation water is acceptable and documented. Testing water vegetables is possible during the period between November and with a private lab is quite costly ($30 per sample) and collec- April. The region represents the bulk of the United States’ winter tion of the water samples is largely time consuming in terms of leafy greens, providing food, income, and revenue for a state coordination of when the produce crops were being irrigated. that ranks second nationally in the production of fresh produce This water quality test is also different from what producers (US Department of Agriculture, 2006). Consumer demand for and county extension agents are accustomed when it comes to ever-increasing amounts of minimally processed fresh produce the procedure for collecting samples and sending promptly for can run the risk of being contaminated by pathogens which the 24-hour testing requirements. In 2009 and 2010, irrigation can, in some cases, make consumers seriously ill. The loss of water quality data was collected from different sources across public confidence associated with food recalls and outbreaks of Texas. Irrigation water quality data was collected from 90 sites infectious diseases associated with food-borne microorganisms using various water sources to include surface and well water. can be devastating and vegetable producers are genuinely and Most (85 out of 90 or 94.4%) of the irrigation water samples desperately interested in halting outbreaks. The sheer scope of the from sources in South Texas are adequate for furrow or sprinkler 2006 spinach outbreak was undeniable (spinach growers alone irrigation in vegetable crops under the guidelines for generic suffered over $300 million in lost sales). In light of this and later E. coli of the California Leafy Greens GAPs Agreement. This outbreaks involving Romaine lettuce in the area, research that database which will be located in the National GAPs Program involves minimizing the risk due to microbial contamination of website (www.gaps.cornell.edu/) will encourage more vegetable leafy greens is current and ongoing. The immediate outcomes producers in South Texas to become GAPs certified since the of this research updates the production guidelines for growers, results show no problem with the water quality whether surface packers, processors, transporters, retailers, and others throughout or well. These irrigation water collection demonstrations have the supply chain and provides a framework for identifying and increased the knowledge of producers and county extension apprising future work. This presentation will explore the cur- agents in irrigation water quality testing and collection. rent status of fresh produce safety from the standpoint of key Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crop Block Grant food production and handling safeguards presently in place in from the Texas Department of Agriculture Arizona. Consequently, the program will involve a review of the current fresh produce safety outreach methods and clarify the need for additional research within programs that target the Tuesday, September 27, 2011 safe production and handling of fresh produce. 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kohala 3 11:15–11:30 am Nursery Crops 1 GAPs Food Safety in Texas Moderator: Bert Cregg Juan Anciso* Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; cregg@msu. Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Weslaco, TX; edu [email protected] Ashley Gregory 10:00–10:15 am Texas AgriLife Research, Weslaco, TX; ahgregory@ Systemic Resistance to a Canker-Causing ag.tamu.edu Phytophthora Pathogen through Incorporation With the California spinach outbreak in Sept. 2006, the California of Char into Potting Mix leafy greens industry has initiated a Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) requirement for the industry to regain consumer con- Drew Zwart* fidence in leafy greens. While GAPs practices have existed for University of Washington, Seattle, WA; [email protected] years, this document has added documentation and thresholds Soo-Hyung Kim (metrics) for water quality, documentation/land metrics for animal University of Washington, Seattle, WA; soohkim@u. encroachment (cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, and deer) and manure washington.edu based amendments and sprays. The outbreak of Salmonella sp. It has long been established that soil-incorporation of char, the on peppers in 2008 continued to keep food safety concerns on product of pyrolysis of organic material, can provide benefit to the forefront of Texas production and the Texas retail vegetable agricultural systems through the improvement of water and nutri- industry since the source of the outbreak originated in Mexico ent retention, drainage, and positive effects on the microbial soil but the products were distributed by a produce company in South community. In addition, several studies suggest the possibility of Texas. Several factors may contribute to microbial contamination decreased plant disease severity as a result of char incorporation of produce but water quality of irrigation water is often blamed into soil or potting mix. The cause of this decrease in disease for these outbreaks as it was in the pepper outbreak in 2008. severity may be an indirect effect of one or more of the factors Producers practicing Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) address mentioned above, but recent work has shown that incorporation these concerns at the farm level thereby decreasing these risks. of char into potting mix resulted in a reduction of two differ-

S164 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 ent foliar diseases, indicating some level of systemic induced in nursery containers is one new potential use, however there resistance in the plant. Pathogens in the genus Phytophthora is concern of the spread of Verticillium dahliae. A study was cause some of the most important diseases of ornamental and conducted to determine if susceptible plants, eggplant (Solanum forest plants throughout the world. These root and crown rot melongena var. esculentum) ‘Black Beauty’, grown in a soilless pathogens are also a major limiting factor in nursery production substrate containing symptomatic trees become infected with V. and cause great expenditures for disease management. In order to dahliae. Eggplant was grown for 6 weeks in nine soilless sub- determine if char can induce a systemic resistance to this group strates comprised of combinations of zero, 50% and 100% (v/v) of pathogens, we tested a species known to penetrate stem tissue autoclaved and non-autoclaved Douglas fir bark (DFB) and shade and cause above ground lesions in order to eliminate the indirect tree (ST). Verticillium inoculum was provided via verticillium- effects of char on soil-borne organisms. One of the most impor- containing processed ST or a suspension drench of 107 conidia/ tant diseases of various beech species (Fagus spp.) is bleeding mL. Presence of V. dahliae was confirmed via culture isolation canker caused by Phytophthora cactorum. The purpose of this prior to experiment initiation from chipped symptomatic trees study was to examine the possibility of induced resistance to this collected from a Oregon nursery. At experiment termination, pathogen through incorporation of char into the potting mix. By eggplant stem and leaf tissue from each treatment were plated using an above-ground canker pathogen, and providing ample in PDA media to isolate the pathogen and verify its presence water and nutrients to all plants, many potential indirect effects in the plant tissue. Disease presence did not decrease height or of char on disease resistance were eliminated. 30 seedlings of shoot weight except when V. dahliae was inoculated via a co- European beech (Fagus sylvatica) were planted in either pure nidia drench. When shoot growth was visually rated for disease potting mix, or potting mix thoroughly blended with 10% or severity, the conidia drench inoculated treatment was rated as 20% char by volume. Five weeks following leaf expansion, half having greater disease symptoms than the autoclaved equivalent. of plants in each treatment group were stem-wound inoculated There was no difference in disease severity between autoclaved with an isolate of P. cactorum using standard agar-plug inocula- and non-autoclaved within the same substrate type. Streaking of tion procedures. Various parameters of plant growth, health, and the stem vascular tissue was observed in 10% to 60% of plants water status were monitored throughout the experiment, includ- in treatments containing non-autoclaved ST, whereas vascular ing stem water potential, biomass accumulation and allocation, discoloration was not observed in treatments without ST or in chlorophyll fluorescence, and necrotic lesion development. The autoclaved ST. V. dahliae was recovered in culture from stem or effects of char incorporation on seedling growth, plant health, leaf isolates collected at experiment harvest for each of the sub- and disease progression will be presented. strate treatments containing either 50% or 100% non-autoclaved ST. Symptomatic shade trees should not be utilized as a soilless Specified Source(s) of Funding:Bartlett Tree Expert Company substrate because of the potential transmission of V. dahliae to susceptible host material if not properly sterilized before use. 10:15–10:30 am Potential Transferability of Verticillium dahliae Specified Source(s) of Funding:J. Frank Schmidt Family Chari- to Susceptible Hosts When Using Ornamental table Foundation Bare-root Tree Wood Waste for a Potential 10:30–10:45 am Alternative Substrate Growth, Foliar Nutrition, Photosynthesis, H.M. Stoven* and Nutrient Leaching of Container-Grown North Willamette Res & Ext Ctr, Aurora, OR; heather. Landscape Trees Produced with Conventional [email protected] and Organic Fertilizer J.S. Owen North Willamette Res & Ext Ctr, Aurora, OR; jim.owen@ Bert Cregg* oregonstate.edu Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; cregg@msu. edu L. Santamaria North Willamette Res & Ext Ctr, Aurora, OR; luisa. R. Thomas Fernandez [email protected] Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; fernan15@ msu.edu James Altland USDA-ARS MWA ATRU, Wooster, OH; James.Altland@ Dana Ellison ars.usda.gov Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; elliso52@ msu.edu Ornamental and fruit tree growers in the Pacific Northwest commonly have surplus biomass generated from grading and Pascal Nzokou inventory management. The wood waste has historically been Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; nzokoupa@ burned whole or chipped before incorporating into production msu.edu fields. Due to new and unique economic constraints, nurser- Organic production of greenhouse and nursery crops has risen ies are now considering new uses for wood waste. The use of dramatically in the past decade. One of the largest challenges hammer-milled, culled bare-root trees as a substrate component for organic nursery production is meeting crop nutritional

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S165 needs without the use of inorganic fertilizers. In this study we Pascal Nzokou grew shade trees (‘Bloodgood’ planetrees, Platanus ×aceri- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; nzokoupa@ folia ‘Bloodgood’) and conifers (Colorado blue spruce, Picea msu.edu pungens and Fraser fir,Abies fraseri) for 2 years in a pot-in-pot The loss of ash trees in the midwestern United States due to nursery at the Michigan State University Horticulture Teaching emerald ash borer has emphasized the need for more diversity and Research Center. ‘Bloodgood’ planetrees were grown in in urban and community forests. However, nursery growers 104-L (#25) containers. Conifers were grown in 25-L (#7) report that many ash alternatives are difficult to transplant. containers. The potting media was a mix of pine bark and peat Understanding the physiological reasons why one tree species moss (80:20, v:v) and trees were irrigated daily via a micro- has superior transplantability over another is an important factor sprinkler system to achieve a target leaching fraction of 20%. in increasing production of ash replacements. In this study, we Trees were fertilized with either a conventional controlled- examined four difficult to transplant ash alternatives; hackberry release fertilizer (Osmocote Plus 15–9–12 (N–P2O5–K2O) or an (Celtis occidentalis), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), red Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)-listed organic fertil- oak (Quercus rubra), and baldcypress (Taxodium distichum). izer [NatureSafe 10-2-8 and NatureSafe 5–6–6 (N–P2O5–K2O)]. Trees were assigned at random to one of four treatments: 1) The organic fertilizers were blended to provide approximately control, 2) cold storage, 3) sweating, or 4) heeled-in. All treat- the same nutrient ratios as the conventional source. Fertilizers ments except control were maintained for 3 weeks. Trees in were applied at an annual rate of 60 g N per container for trees cold storage were placed in a 4 °C (40 °F) walk-in cooler. Tree in the #25 containers and 25 g of N per container for trees in roots were covered with straw and watered as needed to prevent the #7 containers. We measured height and caliper growth desiccation. The sweating treatment was designed to replicate a each year. Photosynthetic gas exchange was measured peri- common nursery practice used to stimulate growth on recalcitrant odically with a portable photosynthesis system (LI-6400, LI- trees. Trees were placed on the floor of a greenhouse and were COR, Inc.). Foliar nutrient samples were collected in August alternated with layers of burlap and then covered with a large (planetrees) and October (conifers). Leachate losses from sheet of white plastic. The heeled-in treatment was designed to containers were continuously recorded by a series of automated simulate a common nursery practice of storing trees outdoors collection systems equipped with tipping bucket gauges con- prior to planting. We stood the trees up and covered the roots nected to a central datalogger. We collected leachate samples with a pine bark-peat moss (80:20; v:v) mix. After treatment, weekly for nitrate, ammonium and phosphorus analysis. Through trees were assigned at random to one of three evaluations: root the first year of the study, stem caliper growth, net photosynthe- growth potential (RGP) test, container planting, or field planting. sis, and foliar nutrition of ‘Bloodgood’ planetrees was similar We collected data regularly from May to October. Species and with either conventional or organic fertilization. Caliper growth pre-plant treatments affected survival, stem caliper growth, and and net photosynthesis of conifers were greater with conven- shoot terminal growth. Sweating trees before planting decreased tional controlled release fertilizer rather than with organic stem caliper growth and increased shoot die-back. Root growth fertilization. Fertilizer source (conventional versus organic) potential was very low for oak trees and varied by treatment for did not affect foliar nutrition of trees of either conifer spe- hackberry. Baldcypress trees had a relatively high root growth cies. Leachate concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were potential in all treatments. Stem water potential measured im- consistently higher from trees receiving conventional fertil- mediately before and after pre-plant treatments suggest that oak ization than those fertilized with the organic product. Over- trees and baldcypress trees were able to rehydrate during sweat- all nutrient budgets will be presented for both productions ing while water stress levels in hackberry trees remained high systems. (stem water potential < 2.0 MPa). The results suggest that poor Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA SCRI Block Grant, transplanting success reported for oak trees may be related to low Michigan State University Project GREEEN, J. Frank Schmidt root growth potential, whereas poor success of hackberry trees Family Charitable Foundation, Scotts, Inc. may be due to shoot desiccation during storage and handling. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Michigan State University Proj- 10:45–11:00 am ect GREEEN, J. Frank Schmidt Family Charitable Foundation Pre-Plant Storage and Handling of Difficult-to- Transplant Ash Alternatives 11:00–11:15 am Life Cycle Assessment: A Tool to Study Dana Ellison* Sustainability in the Green Industry Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; elliso52@ msu.edu Dewayne L. Ingram* University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; [email protected] Bert Cregg Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; cregg@msu. The sustainability of products and practices, especially as re- edu lated to environmental impact, is being widely discussed and Robert Schutzki interesting claims are being made. However, without accepted Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; schutzki@ standards, misuses and confusion have resulted. One tool being msu.edu used to apply standards to the discussion about sustainability

S166 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is a systematic process very small (less than $250, 000), small ($250, 000–$1 Million), of accounting for the diverse environmental impacts of inter- medium ($1–$5 Million), large ($5–$10 Million), and very large related input components and processes of a product or practice (more than $10 Million). In order to assess which promotion during its complete life cycle, cradle to grave. The international methods are more effective, total promotional efforts were also standards for LCA require certain procedures be followed in the broken down by promotion type, including internet promotions, collection of data, the analysis of the data and the interpretation printed materials, and mass media promotions. and validation of the results. The most common use of LCA is Specified Source(s) of Funding:Horticultural Research Institute to analyze the life cycle of products and services in terms of a carbon footprint. However, a product’s water footprint, or some 11:30–11:45 am other environmental impact measure, could be the objective of a LCA for a production system and its components. The carbon Assssing the Integrated Pest Management footprint of a field-grown maple tree production system will be Practices of Southeastern U.S. Nursery used to demonstrate a LCA. Operations Anthony Lebude 11:15–11:30 am Mills River, NC; [email protected] Firm Size and Advertising Returns in the Green Sarah A. White Industry Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Marco Palma* Steve Frank Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; mapalma@ [email protected] tamu.edu Juang-Horng JC) Chong Ben Campbell Clemson University, Florence, SC; [email protected] Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland Station, Ontario; [email protected] Matthew Chappell The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Charles R. Hall Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; [email protected] Kris Braman The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Hayk Khachatryan University of Florida, Apopka, FL; [email protected] Alan Windham University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; awindham@utk. The objective of this paper is to look at producers’ gains from edu advertising expenditures by firm size in the Green Industry. This paper uses data from the 2009 National Nursery Survey Kelly Ivors with a representative sample of all 50 states with a total of [email protected] 3, 044 usable observations. Most of the literature focuses on Frank Hale evaluating the returns of checkoff programs or generic promo- University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN; [email protected] tion programs. This paper focused on looking at the producer gains. Early efforts to measure the effects of promotion programs William Klingeman relied largely on anecdotal evidence and simple comparisons of University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; wklingem@utk. gross investments in promotion and gross changes in sales. Over edu the years, increasingly sophisticated statistical methods have Joseph C. Neal been developed to isolate and measure the unique contribution North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; joe_neal@ of promotion programs to the performance of the sales of the ncsu.edu commodity being promoted. Most common has been the use of econometric regression techniques and models to statisti- Winston C. Dunwell cally disentangle the effects of promotion program activities University of Kentucky Res. & Ed. Center, Princeton, KY; [email protected] on commodity sales and demand from those of other market forces. Even if the statistical analysis indicates that a promotion Jean Williams-Woodward program has had a positive and statistically significant effect on The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; jwoodwar@uga. market sales, however, the question remains as to whether the edu increase has been large enough to cover the cost of the program. Craig Adkins For that reason, the next step in the measurement process is to [email protected] use the statistical results to calculate some aggregate measure of the effectiveness of the promotion expenditures. We have Amy Fulcher* calculated the benefit-cost ratio (BCR), or the dollar increase in University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] sales for every one dollar invested in promotions by firm size. The southern nursery integrated pest management (SNIPM) Total promotion BCRs were calculated by firm size, including working group sent a web-only survey to ornamental nursery

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S167 stock growers in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South and growth of ten imported species of trees and shrubs under Carolina, and Tennessee to determine pest management prac- the environmental conditions of Riyadh region. The tree spe- tices between June 2009 and March 2010. The survey contained cies were Acacia visco, Acacia salicina, Acacia pruinocarpa, questions about monitoring practices for insects, diseases, and Leucaena greggii, while the shrubs were Caesalpinia mexi- weeds, prevention techniques, intervention decisions, concerns cana, Parkinsonia florida, Senna artemisioides ×sturtii, Senna about IPM including perceptions of what limits the use of IPM artemisioides ×artemisioides, Senna artemisioides filifolia,and practices, and preferred methods of receiving information. A Sophora tomentosa. One-year-old seedlings of these species link to the survey website was sent by electronic mail (e-mail) were planted in the field of the nursery in Mar. 2009, and left using the e-mail listserves of all nursery and landscape trade to grow naturally. Two months later, plant growth measure- commodity groups of each state. Follow-up e-mails were sent ments were taken at an interval of two months for one year. monthly. One-hundred twenty-four completed surveys were The results indicated that there were differences in plant growth used for an estimated response rate of 7.7%. Three pest manage- characteristics among the various tree and shrub species. The ment groups were defined among the respondents using cluster trees of Leucaena greggii gave the highest values of plant analysis. Respondents in Group 1 (G1) (8% of 124 respondents) height (4.64 m), crown height (3.31 m) and crown diameter used a standardized sampling plan to scout deliberately for pests (2.6 m) and had the greatest flowering rate and period. Aca- rather than while performing other tasks. Group 1 monitored for cia salicina reached also 4 m in height and gave the highest pests using sticky cards, kept records from previous years, and values of stem diameter (10.87 cm) and branch number (24). took pictures of pests to aid identification; they also submitted Acacia pruinocarpa gave the lowest plant height (2.41 m), more insect and disease samples to a plant diagnostic clinic crown height (2.27 m) and branch number (17), while Acacia compared with the other two groups. Respondents in G2 (32% visco gave the lowest stem diameter (7.57cm) and crown di- of 124 respondents) scouted frequently and at high levels and ameter (2.03 m) and had no blooming during the study period. were especially vigilant in confirming and naming insects and The shrub species measurements showed that Caesalpinia diseases. They submitted fewer clinic samples than G1 but mexicana gave the highest values of plant height (2.83m), crown used clinic recommendations when deciding pest management height (2.63 m) and stem diameter (9.5 cm) while Sophora strategies. Monitoring techniques consisted of phenology of tomentosa gave the lowest plant height (1.07m), crown height host plants and growing degree days. Respondents in G3 (60% (0.97m) and stem diameter (4.11 cm). Parkinsonia florida as of 124 respondents) primarily waited for a pest or its damage well as the Senna artemisioides subspecies were blooming to appear prior to scouting but did try to identify pests once continuously, giving mass of one yellow color for 10 months, present. Group 3 did not use other monitoring techniques and and the highest flowering rate occurred in March. These spe- underutilized the services of diagnostic clinics. Few respondents cies grow in round shape and have aesthetic characteristics in the study used traps or lures to monitor insect populations. that allow them to be suitable for landscape uses. Although there Less than half counted insects present or tried to identify natural were variations in plant growth characteristics of the studied enemies. Almost no one released beneficial insects or predators, tree and shrub species, generally they performed very well or used biological controls when managing pests. Most growers under the extreme environmental conditions of the Riyadh thought IPM effective and beneficial for both the environment region. and their employees, but many had concerns about the ability Specified Source(s) of Funding: Nursery of General Admin- of natural enemies to control insect pests and questioned the istration of Gardens and Landscaping, Riyadh Municipality, effectiveness of alternatives to chemical controls. Groups 2 and Saudi Arabia 3 utilized cooperative extension almost exclusively, while G1 used a more diverse information stream including resources from outside their state. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Southern Region IPM Center 10:00–11:45 am Kohala 4 Enhancement Grant Ornamental Plant Breeding, 11:45–12:00 pm The Performance of 10 Imported Tree and Genetics and Germplasm Shrub Species Grown under the Environmental Moderator: Yi Li Conditions of Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; [email protected] Fahed Almana* 10:00–10:15 am King Saud University, Riyadh; [email protected] Producing Triploid Plants of Euonymus alatus Yahia A. Ahmad ‘Compactus’ (Burning Bush) from Endosperm King Saud University, Riyadh; [email protected] Tissues This study was conducted at the Nursery of General Admin- istration of Gardens and Landscaping, Riyadh Municipality, Yi Li* University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; [email protected] Saudi Arabia. The study aims at evaluating the performance

S168 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Chandra Thammina and have narrower and smaller leaves. Tetraploids had slightly University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; [email protected] lower pollen stainability than diploids. The most obvious differ- Euonymus alatus, well known as “burning bush, ” is an ex- ence between tetraploids and diploids appears to be in female tremely popular landscape plant in the United States because fertility: with tetraploids having much lower fruit set than of its excellent fall color. As E. alatus is also highly invasive, diploids. development of sterile, non-invasive, seedless triploid E. alatus Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southwest Florida Water Man- is in high demand. Here we report successful production of agement District; Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape triploid E. alatus using endosperm tissues as explants. In our Association; Florida Department of Environmental Protection study, approximately 50% of immature endosperm explants and 14% of mature endosperm explants formed compact, green 10:30–10:45 am calli after culture in dark for 8 weeks and then under light for 4 Systematics of the Corkwoods (Leitneria; weeks on a MS medium. Approximately 5.6% of the immature endosperm-derived calli and 13.4% of mature endosperm-de- Simaroubaceae) rived calli initiated shoots. Eighty-five percent of shoots rooted James A. Schrader* after culture on WPM media. Twelve independently regenerated Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] triploid plants have been identified. Triploid plant regeneration rates observed were 0.42% from immature endosperm explants William Richard Graves Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] and 0.34% from mature endosperm explants, respectively, based on the number of endosperm explants cultured. Because Plants of the genus Leitneria (corkwood) are shrubs that thrive triploid plants are normally seedless and sterile, non-invasive, in shade or sun and grow well in either saturated or drained triploid E. alatus plants that retain the desirable horticultural soils. Although large leaves and upright, thicket-forming stems characteristics of the parent cultivar can be used to replace the distinguish this taxon in the landscape, Leitneria is rarely currently used invasive counterparts. available in nurseries but might be marketed as a stress-resistant specialty plant to those particularly interested in species 10:15–10:30 am indigenous to North America. The genus is restricted to five Induction and Characterization of Tetraploids widely disjunct populations in southeastern Missouri, eastern in Nandina Arkansas, southeastern Texas, southern Georgia, and northwestern Florida. While morphological variation among the Zhanao Deng* populations has been acknowledged for decades, ours is the first University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] formal taxonomic assessment of Leitneria at the infrageneric Sarah M. Smith level. Leitneria historically has been considered a monotypic University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] genus with Leitneria floridana its only species. Our goals were Gary W. Knox to assess genetic variation among populations, to determine if University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] infrageneric divergence exists, and if so, to provide a formal Sandra B. Wilson treatment of infrageneric taxonomy. Based on leaf morphol- University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL; [email protected] ogy, ISSR polymorphisms, ITS sequence character, and geographical isolation, we describe one new species, Leitneria Nandina (Nandina domestica), a popular plant in the landscape, pilosa, and one new subspecies, L. pilosa subsp. zarkana. Our has escaped cultivation in the southeastern United States and infrageneric assessment revealed that L. pilosa, which occurs Hawaii. As prolific seed production is the primary determinant as western disjunct populations in Missouri, Arkansas, and of nandina’s invasive potential, reducing seed production Texas, has undergone species-level divergence from plants would lessen, or even eliminate, the invasiveness of this plant. of L. floridana indigenous to Florida and Georgia. Leitneria The most widely used genetic approach to reducing plant pilosa forms dense trichomes on both abaxial and adaxial seed production has been ploidy manipulation. The objective leaf surfaces, while trichomes are sparse to absent on the leaves of this project was to induce tetraploids in nandina and to of L. floridana. Leaves of L. pilosa are smaller, about half the assess their morphological and fertility changes relative to dip- length, and have a lower length : width ratio than leaves of loids. Two chemicals were used to treat three types of nandina L. floridana. Within L. pilosa, subsp. ozarkana indigenous plant materials for tetraploid induction. None of the treatments to Arkansas and Missouri differs from subsp. pilosa indig- with oryzalin applied to in vitro cultured nandina shoots or enous to Texas by its consistently larger, elliptic to slightly shoot tips of pot plants produced polyploids. Colchicine, oblanceolate or obovate leaves with longer petioles. Leaves applied to growing shoots or germinating seeds, resulted in of L. pilosa subsp. pilosa are narrower and lanceolate. These chromosome doubling. Strong diplontic selection was ob- new taxonomic designations are supported strongly by phe- served in colchicine-treated plants and it caused rapid losses of netic and cladistic analyses of ISSR and ITS markers and by tetraploid cells in shoot tips. Effective treatments have been geographic disjunction of the taxa. Foliar differences docu- applying colchicine to germinating seeds. More than a dozen mented among plants in their native habitats were confirmed of solid tetraploid plants have been obtained. Compared to on plants grown in a common environment and may influence diploids, tetraploid nandina plants appear to be shorter and subsequent selection of genotypes for use in horticulture. narrower in size, have shorter internodes and thicker stems,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S169 10:45–11:00 am 11:00–11:15 am Evaluation of Genetic Structure of Flowering Evaluation of Wild Rosa Species on Dogwood in the Great Smoky Mountains Horticultural Traits for Breeding National Park Xinwang Wang* Denita Hadziabdic* Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; dhadziab@utk. A&M System, Dallas, TX; [email protected] edu Masum Akond Xinwang Wang Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M System, Dallas, TX; [email protected] A&M System, Dallas, TX; [email protected] Raul I. Cabrera Phillip A. Wadl Texas A&M Univ, Dallas, TX; [email protected] University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] James Reinert Timothy A. Rinehart Texas A&M Univ, Dallas, TX; [email protected] USDA ARS SHL, Poplarville, MS; [email protected]. There are more than 130 recognized species in the genus gov Rosa. However, only about 7–10 species of Rosa are found Bonnie H. Ownley in the background of most modern rose cultivars. To expand University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; bhownley@mail. the genetic background for modern roses, breeders should ag.utk.edu more extensively explore wild rose resources. A better knowl- Mark T. Windham edge of wild rose resources will make it possible to incorpo- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; mwindham@utk. rate many valuable traits into garden rose breeding programs edu and to develop improved garden rose cultivars that are more broadly adapted. This research was conducted to evaluate wild Robert N. Trigiano rose species seedlings on horticultural traits growing under University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] greenhouse conditions. Seeds of wild rose were stratified In the past three decades, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) in a refrigerator at approximately 4° C (40° F) until seeds populations have experienced severe declines caused by dogwood sprouted. Sprouted seeds were sown immediately in 18 holed anthracnose. Mortality has ranged from 48% to 98%, raising sheet pots (3.5 inches -18 count 3 inches deep) using a soil- the concern that the genetic diversity of this native tree has less substrate (for example, peat-based mixture or pine bark been reduced significantly. In this study we investigated levels and moss based substrate). Pots were kept at room tempera- of genetic diversity and population structure of flowering dog- ture (≈21 °C, or 70 °F) for 2 days and then transferred to the wood populations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park greenhouse. We treated 99 Rosa species for cold stratification. (GSMNP). Understanding the factors influencing geographic So far, however, only 26 species sprouted during the stratifica- distribution of genetic variation is one of the major concerns tion process (4–6 months). We developed 235 plants from 26 for preserving biodiversity and conservation of native popula- species of roses. Genotypes for these 26 species vary in tions. Nineteen microsatellite loci were used to evaluate the leaves, plant types, and thorns, indicating significant genotypic level and distribution of genetic variation of native flowering diversity. Gardeners may choose to grow thornless roses for a dogwoods throughout the GSMNP. Significant genetic structure variety of reasons. Four thornless rose species in this collec- exists at both landscape and local levels. Two genetic clusters tion will be our potential breeding parents for thornless rose exist within the park separated by the main dividing ridges of breeding. Roses are host to a wide range of insect and disease the Great Smoky Mountains. The differentiation of the clusters pests. For most rose genotypes, aphids and black spot leaf is subtle, but statistically significant, with gene flow evident fungus are the main pest/disease concerns. Until now, no aphid through low-elevation corridors indicating nonrandom mating and black spot infestation have been observed in the genotypes that occurs between related individuals despite wide dispersal resulting from the hybridizations in this study, but it might be of seeds. Although high mortality rate and reduced fecundity still very early in this set of experiments. Infections from pow- caused by dogwood anthracnose severely affected native flow- dery mildew, however, have been observed in some species. ering dogwood populations throughout the entire GSMNP, this This disease covers new leaves and flower buds with a distinctive study confirmed that considerable genetic diversity of flowering white, powder-like growth. Eight wild roses exhibit resistance dogwoods still exists at the population level. It seems unlikely to this disease. Plants will be evaluated for alkalinity toler- that recent demographic dynamics have resulted in a depletion ance and aphid resistance as more plant material is available of genetic variation. for each of the test plants. Specified Source(s) of Funding: United States Department of Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-SCA (58-1230-0-469) Agriculture (Agreement number 58-6404-2-0057)

S170 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 11:15–11:30 am cultivars with very different pigment profiles as a model for Molecular and Biochemical Tools for identifying molecular markers for spathe color. Finally, we Characterization and Cultivar Improvement of have examined species in the genus Anthurium for their genome capacity in the context of phylogenetic relationships to Anthurium andraeanum Hort. better understand the evolutionary origins of genetic, floral and Jon Y. Suzuki* horticultural variation. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA ARS (J.Y Suzuki, B.J. Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI; jon.suzuki@ars. Bliss, D. Gonsalves), National Science Foundation - EPSCOR- usda.gov III, EPS-0903833 (B.R. Clark, R.P. Borris) Barbara J. Bliss 11:30–11:45 am USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI; Barbara.Bliss@ Characterization of Eleven Novel Microsatellite ars.usda.gov Markers from Viburnum dilatatum Benjamin R. Clark Deborah Dean* University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI; brclark@hawaii. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; ddrobert@utk. edu edu Robert P. Borris Phillip Wadl University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI; borris@hawaii. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] edu Robert Trigiano University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] Dennis Gonsalves USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin Xinwang Wang Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI; Dennis. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas [email protected] A&M System, Dallas, TX; [email protected] Viburnum dilatatum is a popular, economically important The most striking and commercially attractive feature of the ornamental shrub because of its year-round appeal. In spring popular cut flower and potted plant Anthurium andraeanum and summer it has beautiful green foliage and attractive Hort. is its spathe, a modified leaf typical of members of small white flowers, and in autumn it takes on dark red to ma- the family Araceae. Spathes are produced in hues of pink, roon hues and becomes laden with glossy, bright red berries. red, orange, coral, white and green. However, the genetics The wide range of desirable traits coupled with the propensity governing spathe color, which is comprised of varying levels to become invasive have created a great deal of interest in the of the anthocyanidin pigments pelargonidin and cyanidin, genetics and breeding of this species. We report the results are still not completely understood, making germplasm of a small insert GT-enriched genomic microsatellite (SSR) selection for breeding and prediction of spathe color in prog- library constructed from V. dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’. Eleven eny for new cultivar development difficult. Recently, we unique microsatellite loci were characterized from a group of have embarked on a project to develop methods to measure 19 taxa including V. dilatatum cultivars, two other Viburnum biochemical variation responsible for the various spathe species, and Sambucus, which is another genus within the colors as well as to identify the associated genetic determi- Adoxaceae. Two to twelve alleles were identified per SSR nants to create diagnostic tools that would support cultivar locus, and the allelic richness ranged from 2.0 to 7.0. The mo- improvement by molecular breeding and biotechnological ap- lecular markers for V. dilatatum exhibited high cross-species proaches. Toward this goal we are developing high throughput transferability to the two species of Viburnum included in the protocols to obtain pigment profiles from spathes using LC/MS, study. Additionally, two of the SSR markers also transferred enabling detailed characterization of underlying biochemical to Sambucus. This set of molecular markers will be useful in phenotypes across sample populations. In a second approach the early detection of feral plants that are growing invasively we have been examining potential sources of genetic deter- causing economical and environmental damage. Moreover, minants for observed spathe color variation by sequencing these markers will be helpful in breeding programs aimed at a gene encoding dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) a key enzyme developing new cultivars of Viburnum, and possibly refining in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. DFR is found in and defining the phylogenetic relationship of V. dilatatum to multiple copies throughout the eudicot and monocot genomes other species within the vast Viburnum genus and to other and it is known that sequence variation within a conserved genera within the Adoxaceae. region of the gene confers substrate-specificity. To date, we have identified distinct DFR genomic DNA sequences and Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA present data of their distribution within and among Anthurium

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S171 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 within the horticulture industry, while also effectively managing 10:00 am–12:00 pm Kohala 2 invasive species. Weed Control and Pest 10:15–10:30 am Management 2 Sweet Corn Response to Linuron Herbicide John B. Masiunas* Moderator: Erica Jane Meier University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Texas State University, Sa, TX; [email protected] Dan Anderson 10:00–10:15 am University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Large-Scale Composting as a Means of Li Sun Managing Invasive Plants in the Rio Grande University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] River Valley Basin Xinyu Zhu Erica Jane Meier* University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Texas State University, Sa, TX; [email protected] Atrazine is the standard broadleaf herbicide for sweet corn in the Tina Marie Waliczek midwestern U.S. The USEPA is reviewing atrazine because of Texas State University, Sa, TX; [email protected] its potential environmental impacts. The use of atrazine has been restricted in some sandy soil areas and resistant weed genotypes Michael Abbott are a problem. There are few acceptable alternative herbicides. Texas State University, Sa, TX; [email protected] Linuron was used on sweet corn until 1995 when re-registration The ecological impacts of invasive species are primarily due to resulted in the label being voluntarily withdrawn. Recently the their rapid growth, clogging waterways as well as outcompeting, herbicide was purchased by TKI NovaSource who is interested even completely displacing native species; which can result in in expanding the label. Our objective was to determine the toler- the reduction of native population densities, species diversity, ance to linuron of ‘Synergy’, an example of a bi-color synergistic and richness. As a waste management system within agriculture, sweet corn cultivar, and the weed management with linuron alone the composting process has been shown to kill plant pathogens or combined with low rates of atrazine. Linuron from 0.26 to and weed seeds if high enough temperatures are obtained for 0.84 kg/ha alone or combined with atrazine or mesotrione did long enough periods of time. Compost has also been used in not reduce sweet corn emergence, height, or yield. Linuron at the horticulture industry to decrease plant disease(s), increase 0.26 kg/ha or greater controlled common purslane (Portulaca the accessibility of nutrients by plants, and as an effective weed oleracea L.); waterhemp and pigweed species (includes Ama- control agent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ranthus albus, tumble pigweed; A. blitoides S. Wats., prostrate effectiveness of a large-scale composting operation to manage pigweed; A. hybridus L., smooth pigweed; A. powellii S. Watts, invasive plants, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water Powell amaranth; A. retroflexus, redroot pigweed; A. rubis Sauer, lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), and common waterhemp; and A. tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer, tall Georgia cane (Arundo donax), by rendering the seeds and other waterhemp), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.); com- propagules non-viable while producing a valuable compost mon lambsquarters, (Chenopodium album L.); other broadleaf product for the agricultural and horticultural industries. The weeds (includes jimsonweed, Datura stramonium L.; and ivyleaf invasive species of interest were subjected to germination and morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. ); and grass (includes oven kill tests, to evaluate if the composting process has the large crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.; fall Panicum, potential through high temperatures to kill seeds and other Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.; and giant foxtail, Setaria propagules. Samples of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), faberi Herrm.) similar to atrazine at 1.56 kg/ha. Linuron may water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), allow atrazine use to be reduced on sweet corn without decreas- and Georgia cane (Arundo donax) plants were obtained by the ing weed control. Further research is needed to determine the researcher during the mid to late summer months (when flower- tolerance of linuron on a range of sweet corn cultivars. ing and fruiting). A mini-incubator was used for the germination tests, where unscarified and scarified seeds were placed in petri 10:30–10:45 am dishes on filter paper moistened with distilled water, held for Evaluation of Herbicide Translocation in 14 days at 80.0 °F, and then observed for radical emergence. Oven kill tests determined at which temperature seeds and other Grafted Watermelon Using Liquid Scintillation propagules are rendered nonviable. The oven kill tests included Spectrometry and Autoradiography unscarified and scarified seeds and other propagules that were Joshua I. Adkins* held for three days at temperatures of 120, 135, and 150 °F. In University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] the field, windrow compost piles were constructed using the recipe: 50% woodchips, 25% cafeteria food waste, and 25% Stephen M. Olson invasive species. Results demonstrate if invasive species can be North Florida REC, Quincy, FL; [email protected] used to produce a nutrient rich resource for various applications

S172 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 William M. Stall Nursery (Grand Haven, MI), and Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] (Grand Haven, MI). Species selected for phytotoxicity ratings at Lincoln Nurseries included Buxus × ‘Green Velvet’, Berberis Gregory E. MacDonald thunbergii ‘Crimson Pygmy’, Ilex ×merservea ‘China Girl’, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’. Species selected for phytotoxicity at Andrew W. MacRae Zelenka Nursery included Euonymus × ‘White Album’, Junipe- University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] rus horizontalis ‘Hughes Gold’, Chaenomeles ×‘ Double Take Bielinski M. Santos Pink Storm’, and Viburnum dentatum ‘Double take’. Species Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, selected for phytotoxicity at Spring Meadow Nursery included University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] Syringa meyeri ‘Paliban’ and Hydrangea amorences ‘Invinci- belle’. Phytotoxicity and efficacy visual ratings were taken at Robert Querns 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the first treatment (WA1T) and 1, 2, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] 4 weeks after the second treatment (WA2T). Liverwort control Watermelon grafting provides resistance to certain soilborne treatments consisted of Bryophyter™ at 1% v/v, Champ DP™ pathogens and may eventually act as an alternative to methyl at 5.5 lb/100 gal, Racer™ at 0.2% v/v, Scythe™ at 10% v/v, bromide fumigation. If watermelon grafting becomes popular in flumioxazin (SureGuard, Valent U.S.A.) at 12 oz/ac + nonionic the United States, farmers will need to know which herbicides are surfactant at 0.25% v/v, dimethenamid-p (Tower, BASF Corp.) safe to use on a grafted crop. In an effort to understand herbicide at 32 oz/ac, TerraCyte Pro™ at 0.5 lb/gal, and WeedPharm™ response differences seen in field trials comparing grafted and at 10% v/v. Scythe and SureGuard were the most phytotoxic, non-grafted watermelon plants, a herbicide translocation study yet most efficacious treatments of the study. SureGuard injured was conducted. Grafted and non-grafted watermelon plants were Hydrangea, Buxus, Berberis, Ilex, and Euonymus. Scythe treated with radiolabeled atrazine and glyphosate to examine was injurious to all species tested. From these trials, it can be herbicide translocation. Treated plant material was subjected concluded to use Scythe only as spot treatments or as a direct to liquid scintillation spectrometry to quantify the amount of spray, which is indicated on the label. The other treatments radiolabeled herbicide in various portions of the plants. Addi- were not consistent with the amount of control; i.e., there was tionally, autoradiographs were created to allow for visualization some control in some of the pots, but liverwort in other pots was of absorbed and translocated herbicide. Plants were harvested totally unaffected. Increasing the rates of those treatments could at 24 and 72 hours after herbicide treatment. No significant provide some additional control. From these trials, SureGuard differences were observed when comparing herbicide distribution could be used over the top of Thuja, Viburnum, and Juniperus, within grafted versus non-grafted plants using liquid scintilla- and possibly Syringa. tion spectrometry. When examining autoradiographs, atrazine Specified Source(s) of Funding: Michigan Nursery and Land- distribution appeared to be quite uniform across treatments. scape Association As for the glyphosate treatments, autoradiographs appeared to exhibit some differences when comparing translocation between 11:00–11:15 am grafted and non-grafted plants for the 24-hour harvest. However, Effect of Light Intensity on the Efficacy no differences between grafted and non-grafted watermelon of Systemic Insecticides in Suppressing plants were noted when examining autoradiographs from Populations of the Citrus Mealybug, treatments that allowed glyphosate to absorb and translocate for 72 hours. Planococcus citri, and Sweet Potato Whitefly B-Biotype, Bemisia tabaci 10:45–11:00 am Raymond A. Cloyd* Phytotoxicity and Efficacy of Several Products Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] to Control Liverwort Kimberly A. Williams Hannah M. Mathers Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; kwilliam@ksu. Ohio State Univ-Hort & Crop Sci, Columbus, OH; edu [email protected] Frank J. Byrne Luke Case* University of California–Riverside, Riverside, CA; frank. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] [email protected] Liverwort control is a concern for many nursery growers, espe- Kenneth E. Kemp cially during propagation in the midwestern US, and the need Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] for liverwort control has been expressed with many Michigan Systemic insecticides are used to prevent outbreaks of popula- nurserymen, and liverwort control is also one of the main fo- tions of phloem-feeding insects such as aphids, whiteflies, and cuses of the IR-4 program for ornamentals. Three cooperating mealybugs in greenhouse-grown crops. However, no informa- nurseries were selected as sites to test the liverwort protocol, tion exists on the impact of light intensity on the movement of which were Lincoln Nurseries (Grand Rapids, MI), Zelenka systemic insecticides in plants and how this may affect efficacy.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S173 Therefore, three greenhouse experiments were conducted to feeding on plants determines the severity of SSL symptoms as determine the movement and activity of two systemic insecticide well as the amount of yield reduction. Both aphid and white- active ingredients that vary in water solubility; imidacloprid and flies vector viruses, and excrete honey dew that facilitates the dinotefuran. Each insecticide was applied at two rates: its desig- development of sooty mold on squash plants. This interferes nated label rate and the label rate of the other insecticide. Each with photosynthesis resulting in reduce yield and a decrease in experiment included one plant species; yellow sage, Lantana plant vigor. In field tests using a randomized complete-block camera (Experiment 1) or poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima design with four replicates, we evaluated diversified cropping (Experiments 2 and 3). Plants were artificially inoculated with treatments that included buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum either sweet potato whitefly B-biotype (SPWF),Bemisia tabaci Moench intercropped with organic squash and white clover, (Experiments 1 and 2), or citrus mealybug (CMB), Planococcus Trifolium repens L. intercropped with organic squash. These citri (Experiment 3), treated with the insecticides at the desig- treatments were compared to a grower standard, white mulch, nated rates, and placed into polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-framed an IPM recommendation, aluminized (reflective) mulch, and a cages modified to simulate light conditions of either ambient or bare ground (control). Aphid and whitefly populations decreased shade. For each experiment, evaluations including light intensity in diversified cropping systems as well as aluminized mulch. in each cage, plant parameters (e.g., stomatal conductance) and Silverleaf disorders were also lower in diversified cropping percent mortality of each insect pest were measured weekly systems. However, only the white and reflective mulch and over a 4-week period. In addition, the concentration of active buckwheat lower incidence of viruses compared with the control. ingredient in plant leaves was determined using an enzyme- Populations of natural enemies increased in diversified cropping linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In general, light intensity system but overall marketable yields were lower in this system. (ambient or shade) had minimal effect on the movement of the Manipulating habitat design may increase the potential for active ingredients in both plant species for all three experiments. increasing marketable yields while still achieving the benefits In Experiment 1, dinotefuran moved into the leaves of yellow of pest reduction, disease suppression and increasing natural sage faster than imidacloprid, resulting in higher mortality of enemy populations. SPWF nymps (>90%) than imidacloprid (<90%). Additionally, Specified Source(s) of Funding: SARE Southern Agriculture the dinotefuran-treated plants had fewer SPWF pupae (<1.2) on Research and Education program the final evaluation period (week 4) than the imidacloprid treatments (19 to 33) and controls (129 to 171). This was similar in 11:30–11:45 am Experiment 2, in which dinotefuran was present at higher concentrations in the leaves of poinsettia and provided quicker and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation for Suppressing higher mortality of SPWF nymphs than imidacloprid across all Verticillium dahliae in Strawberry Production in 4 weeks. However, efficacy was less for CMB in Experiment 3 California where mortality values were <70% among all treatments across Carol Shennan* the 4 weeks although dinotefuran moved into poinsettia leaves University of California, Santa Cruz, CA; cshennan@ucsc. much faster and at higher concentrations (324 to 1271 ng/leaf edu disk) compared to imidacloprid (32 to 414 ng/leaf disk). The two rates of the insecticides resulted in minimal differences on Joji Muramoto the two insect pests regardless of the rates used. University of California, Santa Cruz, CA; [email protected] Steven Koike Specified Source(s) of Funding:Kansas State University Mini- University of California Cooperative Extension, CA; Grants Program [email protected] Mark Bolda 11:15–11:30 am University of California Cooperative Extension, Effect of Diversified Cropping System on Watsonville, CA; [email protected] Beneficial Insects and Key Pests in Zucchini Oleg Daugovish Squash University of California Cooperative Extension, CA; [email protected] Oscar Liburd* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Maren J. Mochizuki University of California Extension, Ventura, CA; Carlene Chase [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Karen Klonsky Several species of aphids including melon aphid, Aphis gos- University of California, Davis, CA; klonsky@primal. sypi Glover, cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch and green ucdavis.edu peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, are key pests of organic Erin Rosskopf squash in north-central Florida. The silverleaf whitefly-B USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, FL; [email protected] biotype, Bemesia tabaci (Gennadius) is also a major pest of organic squash. Feeding by immature whitefly produces squash Nancy Kokalis-Burelle silverleaf (SSL) disorder. The density of immature whiteflies USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, FL; [email protected]

S174 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 David Buttler Steven A. Fennimore University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] Salinas, CA; [email protected] Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), a non-chemical alternative Fungal pathogens Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium to methyl bromide (MB) fumigation developed in Japan and the oxysporum have become increasingly troublesome in California Netherlands, can control soilborne pathogens and nematodes in strawberry production valued annually at $1.8 billion. These strawberries and vegetables. To optimize ASD for California pathogens can be controlled with pre-plant soil fumigation; strawberries, field experiments were conducted in Watsonville however, they proliferate in the refuge created by the non- and Salinas in 2009–10, and are being repeated in Ventura, fumigated buffer zones, causing plant decline and yield losses Watsonville and Castroville in 2010–11. Soil types in trials and can spread from infested zones to non-infested areas. In ranged from sandy loam to silty clay loam. Randomized block a buffer zone with the history of both pathogens in a field at experiments with four replicates were established to compare Ventura, CA we have evaluated three non-fumigant combina- ASD treatments with different carbon sources including rice tions: mustard seed meal at 2200 kg/ha incorporated into beds bran 10 Mg/ha (RB10), rice bran 20 Mg/ha (RB20), and rice and followed by solarization via standard clear polyethylene bran 16 Mg/ha plus mustard seed cake 4 Mg/ha (RB+MC) mulch, mustard meal supplemented by steaming for 10 min at with untreated checks (UTC) and MB or Pichlor 60 fumiga- 60 °C to 25-cm depth and steaming followed by solarization for tion controls (except at the Ventura site). For ASD treatments 2 months. Average day/night soil temperature at 15-cm depth carbon sources were rotor tilled into the soil before or after bed under clear mulch was 33 °C in August and 27 °C in Sept. formation (Ventura site) and drip tape and plastic tarp installed, 2011. In November, 1.5-month-old ‘San Andreas’ strawberry a standard practice. Then 7.5 to 12.5 cm of drip-irrigation was plants were similar in size among all the tested combinations applied intermittently and left for three weeks at which time and 26% larger than untreated. Number of germinated weeds holes were punched in the plastic and transplants planted ~7 under clear mulch was 3-4 times greater for combination with days later. Native Verticillium dahliae populations in soil (0–15 mustard than with steam. Only combinations that included cm) were quantified before and after treatments and during the steam reduced Macrophomina phaseolina sclerotia colonies in harvest period. During the ASD treatments, anaerobicity (Eh), soil compared to untreated check: 43% at 0–15 cm depth and temperature, and moisture content were continuously monitored 88% at 16–30 cm. However, early fruit yields (January–Febru- at 15-cm depth. Marketable fruit yield was evaluated. Soil ary) were similar for all combinations and 73% greater than in Eh reduction near or exceeding 50, 000 cumulative Eh mVhr untreated check. Whole-season yields, Fusarium oxysporum below 200 mV (a threshold for suppressing V. dahliae at 25 °C survival in soil and pathogen-related plant mortality are cur- suggested by earlier pot experiments) was observed for most rently under investigation. Preliminary results suggest that ASD plots across trials. ASD led to a 73% to 100% reduction these non-fumigant treatments may not eliminate pathogens in V. dahliae in soils compared to the UTC in Salinas, Ventura from strawberry rooting depths but may provide substantial and Castroville under moderately high V. dahliae pressure (11 yield improvements in non-fumigated areas. to 25 microsclerotia/gram soil). Strawberry fruit yield in ASD plots in Salinas (2009–10) with moderate V. dahliae pressure was similar to MB and UTC. In Watsonville (2009–10) with Tuesday, September 27, 2011 0 microsclerotia/gram soil, marketable yield was the highest 10:15 am–12:00 pm Kohala 1 in MB (100%), followed by RB+MC (85%), RB20 (82%), RB10 (76%), and UTC (75%). In the summer-planted Ventura Human Issues in Horticulture trial (2010–11) with moderately high disease pressure, early Moderator: Tina Marie Waliczek marketable yield in ASD plots was 80% greater than UTC Texas State University, SanMarcos, TX; [email protected] (P=0.0015). Overall, ASD was very effective in suppressing V. dahliae in soils and resulted in 82 to 100% of the marketable 10:15–10:30 am fruit yield observed with fumigated controls in coastal California Not Presented strawberries. The combination of RB and MC in ASD appears particularly promising. 10:30–10:45 am Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA Methyl Bromide The Effects of Live Plants and Windows in Transitions Program Interior Spaces on Space Usage and Stress Levels of Users 11:45 am–12:00 pm Cole Etheredge* Non-Fumigant Alternatives for Managing Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; ce1063@txstate. Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium edu oxysporum in California Strawberry Tina Marie Waliczek Oleg Daugovish* Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; [email protected] UC Cooperative Extension Ventura, Ventura, CA; The main objective of this study was to examine the effects [email protected] of live plants and windows in interior spaces on space usage

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S175 and stress levels of users. Sites were selected based on their 11:00–11:15 am accessibility to the general population, their expanse of space Soil to Seed: Protecting Water Quality through in that multiple students, faculty, and staff could use the space Soil Erosion and Sediment Control at once, and their general use, meaning that no other resources were available besides seating and tables, such as computers Melanie McCaleb and/or access to food/drink sales. Multiple campus sites were NC State University, Raleigh, NC; melanie.mccaleb@ used including those at the university library, and areas of the gmail.com business building. Assortments of interior plants were used Elizabeth A. Driscoll* based on their aesthetic features, durability, and light and water NC State University, Raleigh, NC; [email protected] requirements. Plants were rotated in and out of the study sites on a 2-week schedule. Observations were taken weekly to tally Our soil and water natural resources provide ecosystem services where students were active in each of the study areas and the such as drinking water and soils for growing food, fiber, and type of activities in which they were participating. Observa- filtering pollutants. Public misconceptions find the aforemen- tions occurred during high traffic times based on catalog course tioned services to be free, invulnerable, and infinitely available. scheduling. Stress measuring questionnaires were administered Through urbanization and other industrial abuse, our water and every week to students that were active in test sites. Results soil are becoming increasingly compromised. Approximately 3 demonstrate the value of interiorscaping in creating comfort- 1.7–1.9 billion m of the storage areas of reservoirs and lakes able work and study environments. Results also help to provide are permanently filled each year with sediment. Erosion re- evidence in the value of plants in reducing stress. lated pollutants cost the country approximately 3.2–13 billion dollars per year, and another 500 million dollars annually just 10:45–11:00 am to remov sediment from harbors, rivers and other waterways (Fifield, 2004). The project “Soil to Seed: Protecting Water The Effect of the National Wildlife Federation’s Quality through Soil Erosion and Sediment Control” seeks Schoolyard Habitat Program on the Science to involve young people in actively identifying water quality Scores, Science Grades, and Environmental issues impacted by soil erosion and sedimentation within their Attitudes of Fourth Grade Students community using an experiential learning approach. The project has been designed to weave together environmental education Benjamin J. Glover* goals and ideals with interactive lessons on soil erosion that Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; bg1132@txstate. utilize the surrounding school campus as a situated learning edu environment. Students explore concepts in soil erosion and Amy L. McFarland sediment control in a real-world context that build a number Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX; [email protected] of important skills including problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and responsibility. The project began as a series Tina Marie Waliczek of day camps within targeted urban and rural counties in North Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; tc10@txstate. edu Carolina. 4-H youth with an interest in environmental science participated and served as a pilot students for the initial testing The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in of ideas. The youth actively provided feedback that allowed the National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitat Program the shaping of their experiences into concrete lessons. Work- (SYHP) had an effect on the standardized science test scores ing with additional rural and urban schools, over one-hundred and individual classroom science grades of fourth grade primary high school students and teachers piloted the refined ideas and public school students in Houston, TX. To conduct the study, offered suggestions and improvements. Lessons range from five pairs of Houston elementary schools were matched by teaching youth fundamentals of soil erosion and sedimentation, city vicinity, as well as student demographics of ethnicity and to identifying and measuring soil properties, and analyzing economics. The treatment group included a total of 306 fourth water quality issues and other important life skills. The cur- grade students whose teachers were using the National Wildlife riculum includes background materials to enhance the content Federation’s SYHP. The control group consisted of a total of 370 capacity of teachers, assessments to verify student learning fourth grade students whose teachers used a more traditional and understanding, and additional ideas to extend concepts curriculum. To measure academic achievement, standardized in the classroom or home environment. Data compiled from test score (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) were surveys completed by participating students in the pilot study compared between the treatment and control groups. Treatment showed an overall increase (15%) in their knowledge content and control group classroom science grades were also compared for the subject, as well as a change in their current practices using a science test. Participation and activity within the garden and behaviors toward protecting the environment. This shift habitats by individual classroom treatment group teachers were was also observed and noted in their attitudes; ability to help considered in analyses. In addition, students were subjected to others, setting goals, making decisions, and many other learner- a test seeking their feelings on the environment and their ef- centered behaviors. fect on it. Results indicate the value of outdoor experimental learning in garden settings to student learning. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Syngenta

S176 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 11:15–11:30 am Montessori whose motto was “follow the child.” A Montessori Connecting Children with Nature through education method is based on spontaneous learning and student Pattern Language Design of Attractive led discovery. This study examined the relationship between a garden program and Montessori education methodologies, chil- Residential Garden Spaces for Active, dren’s ability to delay gratification, and visual motor integration. Constructive, and Symbolic Play Observations and interviews were documented to obtain insight Emily Keys regarding integration of the garden into Montessori programs. The NC State University, Raleigh, NC; [email protected] delay of gratification portion of this research was modeled after previous studies by Walter Mischel and colleagues. To examine Patricia Lindsay a child’s ability to delay gratification, children were asked to NC State University, Raleigh, NC; Lucy_Bradley@ncsu. defer an item of interest (a cookie) while the test administrator edu left the child’s range of view with the promise of a larger reward Lucy K. Bradley* upon administrators return. Visual motor skill development was Raleigh, NC; [email protected] assessed at predetermined intervals during the garden program using the Beery Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) 5th Edition. Dennis Werner Delay of gratification and visual-motor integration related to North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC; dennis_werner@ gardening are new concepts that can have lifelong impacts on ncsu.edu a child’s development. The methodology and instrumentation Elizabeth A. Driscoll developed for this study will be presented to assist researchers NC State University, Raleigh, NC; [email protected] in conducting similar and/or follow up studies. There is a large body of research documenting the current dis- connect between children and nature and the resulting potential 11:45 am–12:00 pm negative consequences to individual children, society and the Growing Minds: An Investigation of Parental environment. There are a number of exciting efforts to reconnect Preference for Play Spaces children to nature in the public realm through specialized design principles for schoolyards, daycares, and public green spaces. Amy L. McFarland Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; am1432@ However, this research and subsequent design principles do not tamu.edu translate well to smaller scale settings, such as an individual backyard. Many children lack access to public spaces and are Jayne M. Zajicek left with their own backyard which in most cases offers minimal Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; jmz4858@ opportunity to interact with nature. In order to capitalize on acs.tamu.edu the enormous educational potential of the residential backyard, Tina Waliczek* this project incorporates both child development research on Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; [email protected] active, constructive and symbolic play as well as the pattern language work of Christopher Alexander to provide parents Research has found that free play is valuable to child develop- and professionals with a process to design successful nature- ment. Children tend to use outdoor play areas in more physi- based children’s gardens as a part of a functional and beautiful cally active ways, and time spent outdoors relates positively to family landscape. increased physical activity in children. However, children today are spending an increasing amount of time indoors rather than 11:30–11:45 am outdoors. Recent research has shown that the amount of time children spend in outdoor play is directly related to parental Growing Minds: Methodology and concerns of their children being exposed to outdoor hazards. The Instrumentation for Examining Delayed purpose of this project was to investigate parental preference for Gratification and Visual Motor Integration various play spaces including indoor and outdoor spaces with through a Unique Garden Program varying degree of artificial and natural elements. The Parental Attitude toward Nature (PAN) and Parental Attitude toward A.J. Sommerfeld Their Child’s Outdoor Recreation (PACOR) scales were used Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; aimejo@ to estimate parental attitudes and compare them to ratings of tamu.edu various play spaces. Statistically significant results from this Tina Marie Waliczek study indicated that parents preferred outdoor play spaces when Texas State University, San Marcos, TX; [email protected] compared to indoor play spaces and specifically those outdoor Jayne M. Zajicek* spaces that were constructed with more near-by natural com- Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX; jmz4858@acs. ponents. Statistically significant correlations linked PAN and tamu.edu PACOR scores with ratings of several play spaces indicating that parents who had higher scores on the PAN and the PACOR Alternative education settings are gaining popularity in the United scales tended to prefer play areas with more natural elements States. One of these schools of thought is derived from Dr. Maria and fewer artificial elements. There was no relationship between

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S177 the participants’ PAN and PACOR scores and their ratings of increased from 7.5 to 15 g/L. The best growth was obtained the indoor play areas. with the 7.5 g/L Nutricote using a commercial peat/vermiculite mixture. This media was used for field testing VEGGIE plant system in the 2010 DRAT test. The VEGGIE nutrient delivery Tuesday, September 27, 2011 system worked well, was able to be maintained by multiple 10:30 am–12:00 pm Kings 3 operators with a minimum of training, and supported excellent lettuce growth for the duration of the 14-day test. The opera- Growth Chambers and Controlled tional DRAT field testing in the HDU identified light quality issues related to morphology and pigment development Environments 2 that will need to be addressed through additional testing. Moderator: Chiwon W. Lee Feedback from the crew, ground support personnel, and hu- North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; chiwon.lee@ndsu. man factors leads was uniformly positive on the psychological edu value of having the crop production system in the pressurized excursion module. Data are being used to design a plant atrium 10:30–10:45 am with LED lighting to evaluate salad crop growth during NASA’s 2011 DRATS test. Growth of Three Lettuce Cultivars in NASA’s HDU PEM during the 2010 DRATS Test Specified Source(s) of Funding:NASA KSC FY10 CTC grant

Gary W. Stutte* 10:45–11:00 am ESC-Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; gary.w.stutte@ nasa.gov Evaluation of Plasma Lights as a New Source of Light for Growing Selected Horticultural Crops Gerard Newsham ESC Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; gerard. in Controlled Environments [email protected] Chiwon W. Lee* Raymond Wheeler North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; [email protected] NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; raymond.m.wheeler@ Eohjin Lee nasa.gov North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; [email protected] NASA’s 2010 Desert Research and Technology Studies Zhangwei Chai (DRATS) of the VEGGIE Food Production System in the North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; xinhua66@hotmail. Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU) Pressurized Excursion com Module (PEM) was the first operational evaluation of salad crop production technology in a NASA analog test. Rooting James H. Flaherty media and slow release fertilizers were evaluated for three North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; [email protected] lettuce cultivars that had shown promise as candidates for a Peter A. Gregoire surface based food production system. These tests involved North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; peter.gregoire@ comparing growth, color and quality of the lettuce cultivars ndsu.edu grown under VEGGIE LED array (Orbitec, Madison, WI) or Biomass Production System for Education [(BSEe), Orbitec, Greta G. Gramig North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; greta.gramig@ndsu. Madison, WI] compact fluorescent lamps using a gravity edu feed water delivery system. Mission relevant conditions of

CO2, temperature and RH were maintained using controlled Lance Brower environment chambers (EGC, Chagrin Falls, OH). Growth North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND; lance.brower@ndsu. data were obtained for the two red leaf lettuce cultivars, edu Outredgeous and Firecracker, and the green Bibb lettuce cultivar, The spectral profile, radiant efficiency, and efficacy of plasma Flandria. Growth and quality was evaluated using different lights as new sources of artificial lighting were evaluated for concentrations (7.5 g/L and 15g/L) of commercial slow release growing selected horticultural crops in growth chambers. The fertilizer (Osmocote Plus 15–9–12, Scotts, Maryville, OH) spectral distribution of radiance from the plasma light source and Nutricote 18–6–8 (Florikan, Sarasota, FL) in either a (Luxim Light Emitting Plasma, supplied by Chameleon Grow peat/vermiculite media (sunshine LP5 Mix, Sungro, Bellview, Systems) more closely approximated that of solar radiation WA) or calcined montmorillonite clay [(arcillite, )Turface compared to high pressure sodium (HPS), fluorescent (FL), Proleague, Profile LLC, Buffalo Grove, IL]. The commercial metal halide (MH), or light emitting diode (LED) lamps. In peat/vermiculite mix generally resulted in larger plants than a growth chamber, growth of 3 cultivars of tomato (Cobra, those grown in arcillite. Increasing the concentration of Os- Roma, Totem) was measured under plasma light, a standard mocote from 7.5 to 15 g/L increased the height, dry mass, and lighting system (FL plus incandescent lamps), and selected leaf area of lettuce cultivars. In contrast, there was a decrease LED lamps. In general, plants grown under plasma light in growth parameters when concentration of Nutricote was produced greater biomass and bloomed earlier compared to

S178 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 plants grown under other light sources. The yield and quality water to pillows from the reservoir. Pillows would be single use of fruits harvested are currently being determined. The efficacy and could be launched into space dry, with seeds pre-planted. of plasma lights is also being examined for culture of lettuce, Preliminary tests examined different rates and formulations spinach and other leafy vegetables. Estimations of radiant ef- of time release fertilizer for growth of lettuce cultivar Outred- ficiency for producingPAR (photosynthetically active radiation) geous, and Nutricote fertilizer (18–6–8) at a rate of 7.5 g/L dry during the entire period of plant culture are being determined media was selected for further analysis. Testing also compared by monitoring electrical power usage by each lamp type. The 1–2 mm arcillite media to a commercial peat-based media and high light intensities measured under the plasma lamps used both allowed excellent root production and distribution. Further in this study (2, 756, 844, 469 µmol·m–2·s–1 at 1, 2, 3 ft away examination of media has been done, with comparisons of arcil- from the light source, respectively) are particularly noteworthy. lite, commercial peat-based media, different ratios of the two, Results of this preliminary experiment suggest that the light and a perlite: vermiculite mix. Additional species have also been emitting plasma lamps, whether used alone or in combination tested, including ‘Flandria’ lettuce, ‘Oak leaf’ lettuce , ‘Sierra’ with other lamps, may provide effective artificial lighting for lettuce, mizuna, ‘Tender leaf’ vegetable amaranth, ‘Bright lights’ plant growth in controlled environments where increased light Swiss chard, ‘Tokyo Bekana’ cabbage, ‘Sugar Pod II ‘ snow intensity is required. pea, ‘Spicy Globe’ basil, ‘Genovese’ basil, Common chives and Greek oregano. Interesting differences were observed, Specified Source(s) of Funding: North Dakota State University with crops such as cabbage growing more rapidly in arcillite, Agricultural Experiment Station while others, such as basil, are inhibited in arcillite compared to peat-based media. Lettuce seems to grow best in a mixture 11:00–11:15 am of peat and arcillite. Tested species and cultivars were selected Species and Media Testing for the VEGGIE based on their reported heat tolerance, as VEGGIE hardware Plant Production System for Space operates at ~3 °C above ambient temperature, as well as flavor when consumed raw, small plant size, high productivity, and Gioia D. Massa* capability for repeated harvest. NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Gerard Newsham This work was supported by ESC Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; gerard. the NASA Innovative Partnership Program and a NASA Post- [email protected] doctoral Fellowship. Janicce L. Harp 11:15–11:30 am ESC Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; janicce.l.harp@ nasa.gov Developing LED LightingTechnologies and Practices for Greenhouse Crop Production Gary W. Stutte ESC-Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; gary.w.stutte@ Cary A. Mitchell* nasa.gov Purdue Univ, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected] Robert C. Morrow A.J. Both ORBITEC, Madison, WI; [email protected] Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; both@aesop. rutgers.edu Raymond Wheeler NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; raymond.m.wheeler@ C. Michael Bourget nasa.gov ORBITEC, Madison, WI; [email protected] VEGGIE is a small space vegetable production system developed John F. Burr as a portion of a NASA Small Business Innovative Research Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected] (SBIR) grant that is designed for flat stowage and deployment Chieri Kubota in space. VEGGIE could supply fresh foods to the astronauts University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. and provide valuable test data for future bioregenerative life edu support technologies. The system provides 0.13 m2 of growing area and can operate in 1g, fractional g, and microgravity with Roberto G. Lopez variety of small plant species. VEGGIE hardware consists of an Purdue Univ, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] LED light cap, a transparent extendable bellows for increased Robert C. Morrow humidity, and a reservoir with a capillary wicking surface. After ORBITEC, Madison, WI; [email protected] testing a number of different direct and plug seeding options for planting, a rooting “pillow” concept was designed. Pillows Erik S. Runkle consists of small bags of media with a hydrophilic wicking Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] surface, tubing for initial wetting, and slits containing wicks A USDA NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) for seed placement and seedling emergence. Time-release project began experimentally during the second quarter of 2011 fertilizer is mixed with the media and capillary wicking draws involving collaborations among the University of Arizona,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S179 Michigan State University, Purdue University, and Rutgers Gary W. Stutte University, as well as the Orbital Technologies Corporation ESC Team QNA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; gary.w.stutte@ (ORBITEC), CCS, Inc. in Japan, commercial greenhouse nasa.gov growers, and energy industries throughout the United States. Raymond Wheeler The focus of the project is to develop hardware, practices, NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; raymond.m.wheeler@ and standards for economically viable, energy-efficient use of nasa.gov light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for diverse applications in the In preparation for construction of a plant atrium facility in greenhouse industry. LEDs are solid state, physically robust, NASA’s Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU), commercial, off very long-lived, and selectable to emit narrow-spectrum wave- the Shelf (COTS) 50-W UFO LED grow lights were evaluated lengths matching pigment absorption for desired plant responses. as plant light sources. Initial comparisons were made between Waste heat is removed separately from photon-emitting sur- a smaller 15.24-cm unit (50-W AIBC Aseeding RB81-630) faces, so emitters can be placed close to crop surfaces without and a larger 26.7 cm unit (50-W AIBC-RB81-630), each with risk of overheating plant tissues. The hypothesis being tested 630 nm reds and 460 nm blues. The smaller unit had 50 LEDs is that significantly less electrical energy is needed to achieve in the ratio of 44 reds to 6 blues. The larger unit had 48 LEDs the same or better plant responses using LEDs than with tra- with 43 red and 5 blue. Both units were rated at 50 W, ran on ditional greenhouse lighting systems, and that LED lighting standard 110 VAC, and had no dimming control. PAR mea- systems will be economically viable within reasonable break- surements and spectral scans were taken of both UFO units at even times over the long term. New LED system designs being different heights below the fixture and at distances out from tested minimize shading of crops from solar irradiation as the the center to determine uniformity. Although both units had a sun tracks across greenhouses. LED systems will be used to 50-W rating, the larger LED array had a 40% greater quantum control photoperiodic floral initiation and development as well output than the smaller unit. Both UFO units showed a similar as photomorphogenic development of a variety of bedding- average decrease in PAR away from the center of the fixture to plant and vegetable-transplant species, to promote rooting of approximately 70% of full level at 18 cm from center at a height cuttings and root development of grafted vegetable and ornamen- of 30.5 cm, but the larger UFO was more uniform overall. The tal transplants, and to provide side and intracanopy supplemental larger UFO unit (50W AIBC-RB81-630) was selected for HDU lighting for high-wire greebhouse tomato production. Metrics and an additional 11 units were obtained and characterized for of performance related to flowering, transplant vigor, and uniformity. These 11 units had a slightly different LED distri- fruit yield using LED lighting will be compared with controls bution than the initial unit, with 42 red and 6 blue LEDs. They using traditional lighting technologies and correlated with also had slight differences in the housing. PAR measurements metrics of electrical energy utilization and daily light integral. of the 11 units at 30.5 cm varied from 185 to 207 µmol·m–2·s–1 Following preliminary testing at the academic institutions, with the average value 196.9 ± 7.3 µmol·m–2·s–1, indicating PAR commercial partners will field test LED prototype hardware output with less than 4% difference between the UFO units. in production settings. Each laboratory and commercial The voltage and current draw of the eleven fixtures were also stakeholder will contribute data and information for economic uniform. An additional large 26.7 cm 50-W unit with 660 nm and life-cycle analyses, and best practices will be developed red LEDs instead of 630 nm ((50-W AIBC-RB81-660) was also to improve LED hardware design prototypes and operation. characterized. This UFO unit had a slightly higher quantum Procedures will be established for comparative, standardized output of 224.9 µmol·m–2·s–1 than the 630 model UFOs, but testing of LED lighting arrays for the greenhouse industry. the power usage was similar between the two LED configura- A robust education / outreach program is being developed for tions. In summary, the UFO LED light fixtures showed good stakeholders and the general public, and an academic training consistency within a batch but models between batches varied. program is being developed at the Universities for future aca- The smaller light had lower output than the larger unit even demic leaders in applied horticultural lighting. though it had a greater number of LEDs. The 660-nm unit had Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA-SCRI award a slightly higher PAR output than the 630-nm unit. 2010-51181-21369 Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research was funded by NASA. 11:30–11:45 am Characterization of Commercially Available 11:45 am–12:00 pm 50-W UFO LED Plant Lighting for Use in Modulation of Consumer-Desired Traits in NASA’s Habitat Demonstration Unit High Value Crops Using LED Illumination as a Gioia D. Massa* Growth Regualtor NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; [email protected] Kevin M. Folta* Kenneth D. Mellott University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] NASA, Kennedy Space Ctr, FL; kenneth.d.mellott@nasa. Gabrielle A. Rose gov University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; rose.gabs@gmail. com

S180 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Jeffery O. Bucove organic no-tillage system using a roller/crimper and two cover LEC- Light Emitting Computers, Inc., Victoria, BC; crop combinations (hairy vetch/rye and winter wheat/Austrian [email protected] winter pea) with a tilled organic system on organic tomato In the conventional context of plant productivity, light is typi- weed management and yield; and 2) compare the economic cally thought merely as the driving force of photosynthesis. performance of the organic no-tillage system to the tilled organic However, the attributes of light (wavelength, fluence rate and system. Plots were laid out in a randomized complete-block photoperiod) impart important information to a growing and design of three treatments with three replications at a certified developing plant that can profoundly influence critical traits organic site on an Iowa State University research farm. The in horticulturally-relevant products. Light emitting diode treatments: 1) organic tilled, with tillage used before and after (LED) derived light systems allow precise manipulation of commercial crop planting; 2) organic no-tillage cover crop plant attributes by stimulating discrete light-sensing circuits. combination of winter wheat and Austrian winter pea; and 3) Species-specific, tailored light programs enable the manipula- organic no-tillage cover crop combination of rye and hairy tion of important high-value traits in controlled environments, vetch were established in each crop section. ‘Roma’ tomato such as anthocyanin accumulation, chlorophyll accumulation, seeds were planted in organic-compliant media in April each biomass production, and control of flowering. For example, year and transported to the field in early June. Results included specific combinations of red, blue, green, amber and far-red excellent weed management in the organic no-till system. Broad- light have been used as “finishing” treatments on red-leafed leaf weeds were managed by the wheat/winter pea mulch early lettuce, producing high-pigment production in plants grown in the season compared to tilled treatment plots, but lost this under other lighting systems. Plants with high per-square-foot advantage at the mid-sampling date when the mulch degraded value such as specialty lettuces and herbs, were grown under at a higher rate than the rye/hairy vetch mulch. Total harvested conventional lighting and LED lighting combinations in an at- fruit weight was equivalent among treatments, averaging 19.2 tempt to define the treatments that maximize plant size, flavor tons/acre in 2006 and 28.4 tons/acre in 2007 across all treat- and color. Treatments of developing strawberry fruits with ments. Tomato quality was high in all treatments, with an supplemental LED illumination show that enrichment of light average of 84% and 87% of harvested tomatoes reaching the qualities can affect fruit qualities. The goal of these trials is to highest grade, in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Total production provide species-specific prescriptions of light treatments that costs for 2006 ranged from $11, 601 to $11, 666/acre, with will enhance consumer-desired traits, adding substantial value cover crop seed, interest, and machinery labor costs varying by to plant products produced in artificial environments—using system. Total costs for 2007 ranged from $12, 149 to $12, 214/ efficient, non-toxic, low-cost, reliable, light sources as the acre. The stability of production costs and constant sale prices principle growth regulators. for tomatoes resulted in returns to management differences derived from yield differences only. Numerically, the tillage Specified Source(s) of Funding: Florida Agricultural Experi- treatment incurred the highest yields for both 2006 and 2007, ment Station with returns of $14, 986/acre and $22, 466/acre, respectively. Among the no-tillage treatments, the vetch-rye cover crop Tuesday, September 27, 2011 produced the higher yields, with returns equaling $11, 922/ 12:30–1:45 pm Kohala 1 acre in 2006 and $21, 679/acre in 2007. Overall, the organic no-till tomato system demonstrated great promise for organic Organic Horticulture 2 vegetable production.

Moderator: Charles Barrett 12:45–1:00 pm University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Grafting Does Not Influence the Nutritional Content of Organic Heirloom Tomatoes 12:30–12:45 pm Charles Barrett* Horticultural and Economic Performance of an University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Organic No-till Tomato System [email protected] Kathleen Delate* Xin Zhao Iowa State Univ, Ames, IA; [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Craig Chase Jeffrey K. Brecht Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] In the most current (2008) U.S. Dept. of Agriculture statistics Vegetable grafting is gaining popularity in the United States on organic agriculture, land under certified organic production as an innovative approach to overcome soilborne pests and increased to 4.8 million acres, with 98, 525 acres in organic diseases. Many recent studies have documented successful vegetable crops. Weed management and soil quality enhance- use of grafting to manage fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt, and ment remain as top organic producer research needs. The ob- root-knot nematodes, as well as various abiotic stresses. How- jective of this experiment was to 1) compare the effects of an ever, it is also important to determine if resistant rootstocks

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S181 influence fruit quality attributes. The objective of this study To assess quality, we measured skin color, firmness, soluble was to examine the grafting effect on nutritional quality of sugars, titratable acidity and phytonutrient content (ß-carotene, organic heirloom tomato fruit. The field trial was carried out lycopene, and lutein). Skin color was influenced by variety, on certified organic land during the spring 2010 season. Two but not planting date or production system. All hybrid varieties popular heirloom cultivars, Brandywine and Flamme, were were firmer than heirloom varieties, and all high tunnel toma- grafted onto two rootstock cultivars, Multifort (interspecific) toes had higher levels of soluble sugars than those grown in and Survivor (intraspecific). Non-grafted and self-grafted scions the open field. Tomato acidity differed by variety, with ‘BHN were used as controls. Treatments were arranged in a random- 589’ being the most acidic. In 2009, phytonutrient differences ized complete block design with 5 replications. Soluble solids, were observed; ‘Valencia’, which produces orange fruit, had the pH, titratable acidity, vitamin C, and carotenoid content were highest amount of ß-carotene compared to other varieties and measured. No significant differences were observed in soluble no lycopene. Lycopene content was greater in high tunnel plots solids, pH, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content among compared to open field plots, and this was affected by variety. grafted and non-grafted treatments. The two scion cultivars, ‘Cherokee Purple’ had higher levels of lycopene than the other Brandywine and Flamme, showed significant differences in varieties. Additionally, fruit from the March planting date had concentrations of the carotenoids including lycopene, ß-carotene, higher levels of lycopene. Lutein content was also influenced and lutein. These differences are most likely attributable to by variety, with ‘Cherokee Purple’ having the highest levels. the varietal differences. ‘Brandwine’, characterized by large, Inversely, fruit from the May planting date had higher levels red beefsteak tomato fruit, contained significantly higher of lutein. The use of high tunnels may not only result in earlier concentration of lycopene than ‘Flamme’, a golf ball-sized production, but increase flavor components and phytonutrients orange tomato. However, there were no significant differences in tomato fruit as well. between grafted and non-grafted treatments within cultivars. The ‘Flamme’ fruit exhibited a significantly higher level of ß- 1:15–1:30 pm carotene than the ‘Brandywine’ fruit except for the comparison Effect of Different Intercropping Arrays between self-grafted ‘Flamme’ and non-grafted ‘Brandywine’, with Dragonfruit (Hylocereus undatus) which was not significantly different. Lutein content also varied between cultivars. Results of this study showed that the use of on Agroecological Outdoor Production of grafting as an effective pest and disease control practice did Habanero Pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) not result in a negative impact on nutritional quality of organic Roland Ebel* heirloom tomato fruit. Overall, the two types of rootstocks, i.e., Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo, José interspecific vs. intraspecific, led to similar levels of measured Ma. Morelos, Quintana Roo; [email protected] attributes. María de Jesús Méndez Aguilar Specified Source(s) of Funding:SARE Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo, José Ma. Morelos, Quintana Roo; [email protected] 1:00–1:15 pm Edward Emanuel Brito Estrella Quality of Hybrid and Heirloom Tomatoes Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo, José Grown for the Early Market Using Season Ma. Morelos, Quintana Roo; [email protected] Extension Structures Héctor Cálix de Díos Mary Rogers* Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo, José University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; Ma. Morelos, Quintana Roo; [email protected] [email protected] Habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) is one of the most Dean A. Kopsell relevant horticultural crops of the Yucatan Peninsula in the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; southeast of Mexico. Although export-orientated greenhouse [email protected] production is increasing in this region, there is a considerable Annette L. Wszelaki amount of small-skilled producers which crop the pepper out- University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; doors for the local markets. Nevertheless, for their focus on [email protected] one single crop, these producers suffer from dependency on high investment costs for synthetic inputs, oscillating market High tunnels allow for earlier crop harvests in temperate prices and a huge gap in their cropping period. Therefore, climates with the added benefit of increasing crop quality. In a trial realized 2009 and 2010 in José María Morelos (center of 2009 and 2010, 3 hybrid (‘BHN 589’, ‘Fletcher’ and ‘Primo the Yucatan peninsula) evaluated the option of outdoor-inter- Red’) and 3 heirloom (‘Arkansas Traveler’, ‘Cherokee Purple’ cropping the pepper with the perennial dragon fruit [Hylocereus and ‘Valencia’) tomato varieties were grown in high tunnels undatus (Haworth) Britton and Rose], a highly demanded crop and in outdoor plots across three planting dates (late March, in this region and on the exportation market. This cactus was mid-April and early May). All plots were managed organically selected due to its uncomplicated crop management and its low in both years. On each plant, the third fruit cluster from the water and nutrient need. Two different arrays regarding pepper bottom was tagged and fruit were harvested when fully ripe.

S182 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 and the fruit planting were compared. Additionally, two ways leaves were sampled and analyzed for nutrient accumulation. of staking the dragon fruit with living stakes were evaluated: Substrates were analyzed for pH and electrical conductivity (1) the hog plum (Spondias purpurea) which provides a third (EC). Among all the fertilizers studied, Oilseed extract fertilizer crop versus (2) Bursera smaruba, commonly used for stabling resulted in the highest substrate pH, smallest plant weight and the dragon fruit in Yucatan. Pest and weed management was width, and lowest nutrient accumulation. Although chemical based on organic farming principles. In order to reduce invest- fertilization produced plants with the greatest weights, alfalfa ment costs for producers, all applied treatments used locally pellets alone or in combination with oilseed extract or fish produced or at least available substances. Fertilization was fertilizers, produced plants with similar height and flower size done using cow manure. Drip irrigation was used. Results as those grown with chemical fertilizer. The largest N leaching showed significantly higher output when pepper and dragon fruit occurred with fish fertilizer. Alfalfa pellets, alone or combined were cropped in different rows (at equidistance of minimum with oilseed extract or fish resulted in the smallest. Chemical 150 cm) compared to an array altering dragon fruit respectively or fish-fertilized plants accumulated more N in the leaves than stable plants and the peppers in the same row - thus, principally those grown in the other treatments. Leaves of plants fertilized due to competition for sunlight (shadow caused by the staking with fish fertilizer contained the highest concentrations of plants). Competition for nutrients was of minor importance. phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese. Re- Comparing Spondias purpurea with B. simaruba as staking sults indicate that it is possible to grow high-quality marigold plants for the dragon fruit, no effect on pepper-output was with organic-based fertilizers. Alfalfa pellets, either alone or shown. In a second trial with the same time scale, pest-, weed- combined with fish or oilseed extract fertilizer produced good and soil-nutrition-management but without intercropping quality plants with limited N leaching. dragon fruit, it was proved that sunlight is essential for habanero pepper production: plants exposed to a daily average of minimum 6 hours of sunlight produced 2, 968 kg·ha–1. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Peppers cropped with less daily sunlight resulted in an output 12:30–1:45 pm Kohala 4 of 1, 103 kg·ha–1. Specified Source(s) of Funding: CONACYT Fondos Mixtos Plant Nutrient Management 2 Moderator: Lea Corkidi 1:30–1:45 pm University of California, Riverside, CA; lea.corkidi@ucr. Organic Fertilizers for Sustainable Production edu of Marigolds 12:30–12:45 pm Touria El-Jaoual* Effects of Mycorrhizal Colonization on University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; touria1@ Nitrogen and Phosphorus Leaching from verizon.net Nursery Containers Douglas A. Cox University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; dcox@psis. Lea Corkidi* umass.edu University of California, Riverside, CA; lea.corkidi@ucr. edu Consumers’ increased awareness of the environment and Donald J. Merhaut sustainability has created new markets for the floriculture University of California, Riverside, CA; donald. industry; hence, a market for organic floriculture is develop- [email protected] ing. Floriculture growers are increasingly adopting organic agricultural practices to meet market demands. Some organic Edith B. Allen management areas such as organic media and pest control have University of California, Riverside, CA; edith.allen@ucr. edu been investigated, but cultural information about using organic fertilizers in a commercial operation is unavailable. The objec- A. James Downer tive of this study was to evaluate plant quality and nitrogen (N) University of Calif Coop Extn, Ventura, CA; ajdowner@ leaching with organic fertilization. Seven fertility regimes ucdavis.edu (one chemical and six organic) were evaluated for marigold Jeff Bohn (Tagetes erecta L.) quality and N losses through leaching. Tree of Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano, CA; jeffb@ In four treatments, chemical 20–2–20, oilseed extract (3–0.4– treeoflifenursery.com 0.8), fish hydrolysate (2–1.8–0.8), and alfalfa-pellet (5–0.4–1.7) Mike Evans fertilizers were used alone. In three treatments, fertilizers were Tree of Life Nursery, San Juan Capistrano, CA; combined: oilseed + fish, alfalfa pellets + fish, and oilseed + [email protected] alfalfa pellets. All liquid treatments received the same amount Mycorrhizal colonization confers multiple benefits to horticul- of N. Leachate was collected six times at 10-day interval tural crops. Inoculation of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal and analyzed for ammonium and nitrate. Sixty-two days after fungi often improves the survival and growth of seedlings transplanting, plant growth was measured, and recently matured

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S183 and cuttings in greenhouse and natural conditions, increases Sulfur as gypsum was applied at Sulf-N26 equivalent rates for plants’ tolerance to water and salt stress, and resistance to 120 lb N/A (65 lb S/A) to additional plots fertilized using UAN diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens. Mycorrhizal coloniza- (UAN + S = UANS) and AN (AN + S = ANS). Yield and ear tion has also been considered a potential tool to decrease nutrient quality parameters were measured. Sulf-N26 had a quadratic runoff and leaching, because it has been shown that mycorrhizal relationship with N rate and yielded highest (14, 858 lb/A) with plants of several species can be produced with a smaller amount 117 lbs N/A. Ammonium nitrate had highest yields using 125 of fertilizers than nonmycorrhizal plants. However, the direct lb N/A while UAN peaked at 110 lb N/A (13, 230 and 13, 329 effect of mycorrhizal colonization on nitrogen (N) and phos- lb corn/A, respectively). Overall, Sulf-N26 is an acceptable phorus (P) leaching has seldom been quantified. Our objective fertilizer source for Mid-Atlantic sweet corn production and was to investigate the effects of mycorrhizal colonization on may offer yield advantages over traditional fertilizer sources. N and P leaching from plants grown in nursery containers. However, we cannot say conclusively yield advantages were due We compared the growth response and the content of nitrate, to S fertilization. More research is necessary to further quantify ammonium, and orthophosphate, in leachates collected from appropriate N rates for various N sources and to determine S mycorrhizal (AM) and nonmycorrhizal (NonAM) plants of fertilizer needs in the Mid-Atlantic. Encelia californica and Rhus integrifolia. Plants were grown with no fertilizer, or with half and full rates of Osmocote con- 1:00–1:15 pm trolled release fertilizer, for 8 weeks. Mycorrhizal colonization Site-Specific Nutrient Management for Onion increased the growth and nutrient uptake of E. californica and R. integrifolia, but was more effective at decreasing nutrient Production in Southern California: Soil leaching from containers with E. californica. Leachates collected Fertility and Fertilizer Usage Comparison from AM plants of E. californica, had significantly lower N and Andre S. Biscaro* P content than those from NonAM plants, at all fertilizer rates. University of California Cooperative Extension, In contrast, only the leachates from AM plants of R. integrifolia Lancaster, CA; [email protected] grown without additional fertilizer had generally lower nutrient content than those from NonAM plants. However, mycorrhi- Steve Orloff zal colonization reduced the fertilizer requirement to achieve University of California Cooperative Extension, Yreka, maximum growth, in both species. AM plants of E. californica CA; [email protected] and R. integrifolia grown with half rates of Osmocote had Timothy K. Hartz greater dry weight than the NonAM ones grown in full rates of University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] Osmocote. Our study shows that mycorrhizal colonization can There have been limited to no studies regarding nutrient reduce N and P leaching either by increasing nutrient uptake, site-specific management (SSM) of onion crops in California, or by allowing the use of lower fertilizer rates and increasing and variable rate (VR) fertilizer application is uncommon nutrient use efficiency. in this area and crop. The objectives of this project were to Specified Source(s) of Funding:HAPCH assess phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) spatial variability in six High Desert onion fields, and to compare fertilizer usage 12:45–1:00 pm and cost differences between uniform rate (UR) and VR application methods. Seventy-nine soil samples were collected Sweet Corn Fertilizer Management in the Mid- based on a grid of 1 sample/2.5 ha in six fields located near Atlantic Lancaster, CA totaling 159.6 ha. Soil samples were analyzed Mark Reiter* for Olsen P and exchangeable K. The VR fertilizer recom- Virginia Tech, Painter, VA; [email protected] mendation maps were created based on the fertility maps and on the grower’s current fertility program. Differences in Virginia farmers produce over 3, 000 commercial acres of fresh nutrient variability and fertilizer usage between UR and VR market sweet corn (Zea mays) yielding 35 cwt/A and valued in varied according to each specific field and their location (north excess of 2.5 million dollars. Fertilizer costs are now a major or south regions of Lancaster). Overall, P and K spatial vari- crop input and farmers are interested in ways to increase their ability and fertilizer savings due to VR application were greater fertilizer use efficiency. Research plots were established at the in the North Fields (85ha), where savings with potassium Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension due to VR application were $5, 296. In contrast to North Center near Painter, VA in Spring 2009 on a Bojac sandy loam Fields where the use of VR application provided a fertilizer (Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults). savings, the South Fields actually had greater P and K fertil- The experiment was arranged as a factorial arrangement of 3 N izer usage since the intensive sampling with the VR method rates (60, 120, and 180 lb N/acre) × 3 nitrogen (N) sources [liquid identified areas of the fields that were deficient. The balance urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN, 30% N), ammonium nitrate (AN, of fertilizer savings due to VR application for all six fields was 34% N), and ammonium sulfate nitrate [Sulf-N26, 26% N and $2, 992 (the economical analysis does not include costs associ- 14% sulfur (S)], plus a 0-N control. Two additional treatments ated with extra soil analysis, labor and equipment acquisition). were applied and analyzed separately to test for S response. Whether or not VR application results in an actual fertilizer

S184 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 savings is secondary, and depends on whether conventional Tuesday, September 27, 2011 sampling (field average) generally over or underestimates the 12:30–2:00 pm Kohala 3 fertility level. The important point is that with grid sampling the VR fertilizer application better matches the actual fertility Marketing and Economics needs of the field. Moderator: Ramu Govindasamy 1:15–1:30 pm Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; govindasamy@ aesop.rutgers.edu Compost as a Limestone Replacement for Substrate pH Adjustment 12:30–12:45 pm Matthew D. Taylor* Role of USAID/FIRMS Project to Boost Up Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; mtaylor@ Export of Fruits and Vegetables from longwoodgardens.org Pakistan Peat moss is the primary substrate component used in the greenhouse industry. The inherent pH of peatmoss can range Waqar Ahmed* USAID, Lahore; [email protected] from 3.0 to 4.0 and is typically increased to a suitable pH with the addition of limestone. Compost is a product that can also Muhammad Azher Nawaz be used as substrate component and has a high inherent pH University of Sargodha, Sargodha; azher490@hotmail. of 6.0 to 8.0. When using compost as a substrate component com lime rates must be reduced or eliminated. The objective was Khalid Saeed Wattoo to determine the resulting pH and electrical conductivity (EC) USAID, Lahore; [email protected] of substrates with varying amounts of limestone and compost. Two different compost were tested and one was created from a Zahoor Hussain 2:2:1 ratio by weight of horse manure : wood chips : fine wood University of Sargodha, Sargodha; [email protected] chips (particle size < 1 cm) and the another was created from Raheel Anwar a 1:1:1 ratio of a mixture green plant material and restaurant University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; raheelanwar65@ food waste : horse manure : wood chips. The experiment was a yahoo.com factorial design with five compost rates (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% by volume), four limestone rates (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 Pakistan is a land of fruits and vegetables, dozens of high g·L–1 substrate) with five replications. Three batches of each quality aromatic fruits and vegetables are available in the compost type were tested with this experimental design giv- fresh state from farm and are available in the local market of ing a total of 6 experiments. The substrate consisted of 25% Pakistan during the whole year. There is a lot of potential for pinebark, 5% calcine clay, 15% vermiculite, 15% perlite with the export of fruits and vegetables from Pakistan to high end the remaining 40% consisting of peat and/or compost based on international markets. The export of mango, Kinnow mandarin, the treatments. Both types of compost responded very similarly dates (dried and cured) in the supermarket and retail market is for both substrate pH and EC. With 0 lime, initial substrate ever surging in the world. To meet the consumer requirements pH increased from 4.5 to 6.7 as compost rate increased. This in international market, measures like GlobalGAP certification, trend occurred at all other lime rates, which had pH ranges of pre and post harvest handling practices, proper processing and 5.2–6.9, 5.6–7.0 and 6.1–7.1 for rates of 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 g·L–1 pack house operations, cool chain management were initiated substrate, respectively. At all lime rates, substrate EC increased at farm level in the country with the financial involvement of with compost rate. Other than with 0% compost, substrate EC FIRMS Project, USAID, Lahore, Pakistan. USAID/FIRMS decreased over time for all treatments. The effect of lime on project started working on the GlobalGAP Certification (Glo- substrate EC was minimal or not significant at all compost rates. balGAP) and infrastructure development of mango in Pakistan These data indicate substrate pH was significantly affected by during 2009. After establishing and maintaining the mango both compost and lime treatments. Growers who use composts processing and cool chain system at selected farms in Sindh in their substrate mix will have to adjust lime rates accordingly and Punjab province, trial sea and air shipments were sent to to achieve the target pH. When using 20% or more compost, international buyers like Total Exotics, UniVeg and Bakkar in initial substrate EC ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 mS. Growers may UK and Holland during 2010. Over 70% success was achieved need reduce fertilization practices offset the nutrient load as- after 33 days of evaluation at the retail stores in UK and Hol- sociated with compost. land. On the basis of last year experience of trial shipments of the mango, order for the air shipments and sea shipments to Specified Source(s) of Funding:Funded by Longwood Gardens Bama, Total Exotics, UniVeg has been confirmed in advance to the mango harvesting season starting from May 2011. Similarly, 1:30–1:45 pm Kinnow mandarin and Dates are being exported to Russia, Not Presented CIS regions, Iran, UK, etc .in larger quantities, and premium is being procured by the exporters by adoption of GlobalGAP

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S185 certification and proper processing facilities in the cluster. To Kathleen Kelley create awareness and up gradation of knowledge about product Pennsylvania State University, University Park, handling; growers/farmers, processors and exporters, trainings Pennsylvania; [email protected] and international fruit logistica was also conducted/arranged to The threat to agriculture and the food supply is increasingly meet the requisite demand of the buyers in high end market. As recognized as a national security problem, especially after a result the number of GlobalGAP certified farms and accept- the events of 11 Sept. 2001. Agroterrorism can be defined as ability of products in international market is ever increasing, the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with which will ultimately boost up the export business of fruits and the goal of generating fear and creating economic instability. vegetables, and uplifting the economy of Pakistan. Several studies have documented the impact of agroterrorism in general, but not in relation to cultural differences and 12:45–1:00 pm food purchasing. This study examined the relationship Semillas De Esperanza Project in Central between ethnic consumers’ increased purchases of locally America grown ethnic greens/herbs because of agroterrorism concern and consumers’ behavioral, perceptional, and demographic James Nienhuis* characteristics. The main argument is that there exists a link University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; between agroterrorism perceptions and consumer behavior. [email protected] The paper raises conjectures through an econometric model Acute poverty and meager economic opportunities exist in and examines these through an ethnic consumer survey and a many rural regions of Central America. Vegetable and seed hypothetical agroterrorism risk to the east coast of the United production are technology driven economic activities that can States. The 2010 telephone survey was conducted to collect significantly contribute to economic growth in communities data from 1117 consumers living along the east coast of the and families and specifically provide new opportunities that U.S. and who identified with one of four ethnic groups (Asian contribute to the economic empowerment of women. The fac- Indians, Chinese, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans), were age 18 tors limiting this horticultural transformation are access to: 1) and older, and were primary food shoppers. A logit model was vegetable cultivars with resistance to endemic diseases, 2) high developed based on a survey question relating to increased quality seed of adapted cultivars, 3) business know-how and purchases of locally grown ethnic greens and herbs due to basic management and marketing skills, and 4) connections agroterrorism concern. The model indicated that 18% of re- to regional supply chains that provide stable, predictable mar- spondents increased purchases of locally grown ethnic greens kets—Hortifruti Wal-Mart Centroamérica. Cultivars developed and herbs due to this concern. Respondent groups more likely by the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) have demonstrated to buy locally grown ethnic greens and herbs due to agroterror- tolerance to diseases endemic to Central America. Quality seed ism concerns included those who felt packaging information is can be produced in the tropics in screen houses. The UW Center very important when selecting ethnic greens and herbs, were for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) is between ages 21 and 35, had post-graduate degrees, had an a small business incubator. Hortifruti is the dominant regional income over $200K, and were females. Results also indicated purchaser, distributor and marketer of vegetables. The supply that those who frequently visit ethnic grocery stores, those chain benefits include: 1) families and women’s groups develop with more number of people in a household, and those with a technology-based seed and vegetable production businesses two-year college degree were less likely to buy locally grown within each country; 2) access to high quality seed of adapted ethnic greens/herbs due to agroterrorism concern. Additionally, cultivars reduces risk, minimizes losses and increases profit- Asian Indian, Puerto Rican, and Chinese respondents were less ability in sustainable production for growers, cooperatives likely to increase their locally grown greens/herbs purchases and women’s groups; 3) increased consumption of vegetables compared to Mexicans, due to agroterrorism concern. Results contributes to a healthier, more diverse diet. will be disseminated to small and medium-sized farmers to Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hort/CRSP USAID assist them with understanding these consumers’ behaviors in an effort to developing marketing strategies to best appeal to 1:00–1:15 pm these ethnic groups. Ethnic Consumer Characteristics Influencing 1:15–1:30 pm the Purchase of Locally Grown Greens and Herbs due to Agroterrorism Concern: U.S. Supply and Demand for Blueberries: An Econometric Analysis A Regression Analysis Ramu Govindasamy* Kimberly Morgan Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS; Morgan@ Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; govindasamy@ agecon.msstate.edu aesop.rutgers.edu Venkata S. Puduri John Michael Riley Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; puduri@aesop. Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS; riley@ rutgers.edu agecon.msstate.edu

S186 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Susan Head* Producers have little indication as to what to grow in a coming Mississippi State Univ., Mississippi State, MS; seh337@ year because of the lack of information between producers, msstate.edu grocers, and consumers within the state. The purpose of this The blueberry industry in the United States has witnessed sig- project is to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the current nificant growth since 2000. The formation of the 2001 Blueberry and future state of the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain Promotion, Research, and Information Order program allowed in the state of Alabama. Different survey instruments will be for grower assessment funding which was used to document the developed to gather the data from consumers, producers, and health benefits associated with blueberries. Increased regional grocery store produce managers. Random sampling of consumers availability and health-focused marketing and promotional ac- will be utilized to garner survey responses; however, purposeful tivity have likely led to the increase in blueberry consumption sampling will be used to develop lists of potential producers (U.S. Highbush Council). Blueberries are predominantly sold and grocery store produce manager participants. Survey results in two forms, fresh and frozen, where fresh berries garner a indicating the current and future purchasing habits of consumers large premium compared to frozen berries. From 1995 to 2009, will then be used for the next two steps of the overall evaluation the total domestic utilization of U.S. blueberry production rose of Alabama’s fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain. Audiences 6.7% annually, with fresh blueberry consumption increasing that would benefit from this study include consumers, fruit and by 13.1% annually. Furthermore, imports of blueberries from vegetable producers, and grocery store produce managers. If other countries rose by 35.0% and 29.5% per year for fresh producers know what consumers are looking for, then they can and frozen berries, respectively – Chile and Canada account meet this demand. Additionally, produce managers at grocery for the majority of fresh and frozen imports, respectively. The stores can work toward stocking produce desired by the public. increase in fresh demand has encouraged additional plantings Evaluating consumer demand is important for making sales, and of blueberries in many areas of the United States over the past knowing what consumers want can aid in that process. two to three years, most notably in the southeast region. The southeastern U.S. share of total production rose from 14.1% 1:45–2:00 pm in 1995 to 21.2% in 2009. The purpose of this study was to Annie’s Project in New Jersey—Challenges in determine those factors that significantly influence blueberry Adapting a Program from Midwest Agriculture supply and consumption. The increased popularity of blueber- to New Jersey Female Horticultural Producers ries has captured the attention of consumers especially with the increased knowledge surrounding the commodity and the push Robin G. Brumfield* to eat healthier foods. A system of supply and demand equa- Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; brumfield@ tions are used to observe the factors that impact the blueberry aesop.rutgers.edu industry and what affect they have on the quantity of utilized Jenny S. Carleo production in the United States. Data used in the regression Rutgers University, Cape May Courthouse, NJ; carleo@ analysis include: state domestic production data from the Eco- aesop.rutgers.edu nomic Research Service (ERS), U .S. monthly frozen blueberry inventories from USDA, monthly imports and export volumes Stephen Komar of frozen and fresh blueberries reported by ERS, grower prices Rutgers University, Newton, NJ; skomar@AESOP. received and disposable consumer income spent on food for Rutgers.edu home consumption, wage rates and herbicide costs for blueberry Robert Mickel production from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Rutgers University, Flemington, NJ; mickel@aesop. energy costs are proxied by the crude oil futures contract price rutgers.edu from the New York Mercantile Exchange, and retail price data Barbara O’Neill accessed from the Agricultural Marketing Service database. All Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; oneill@aesop. price data were adjusted for inflation, and data are available rutgers.edu for the time period 1998 to 2010. These results are essential to members of the blueberry industry in an effort to potentially Annie’s Project began in 2003 in the mid-west as a program improve overall profitability. for farm and ranch women addressing risk management. The six-session, 18-hour course has no standard curricula and is 1:30–1:45 pm tailored to local needs. Most states that have developed An- nie’s projects focused on agronomic crops. New Jersey is the From Field to Plate: How Alabama Fruits and second most densely populated state in the U.S. and has a very Vegetables Are Produced and Marketed and the diverse agriculture. From 2010 USDA state data, 4 of the top Impact of Consumer Demand 5 agricultural commodities in the state in terms of total farm Sara L. Rogers receipts are horticultural crops with the greenhouse/nursery Auburn Univeristy, Auburn, AL; [email protected] sector accounting for 38% for the state’s total farm receipts. A large number of farms participate in direct marketing and agri- Carolyn W. Robinson* tourism. From the 2007 Census of Agriculture, women in New Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Jersey operate 22% of the 10, 327 farms in New Jersey. This

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S187 accounts for only 9% of the 733, 450 acres of New Jersey farms. limitation to the crop to occur at 2–3 weeks after bloom. Valida- The average size of female operated farm is only 29 acres and tion studies indicate that the dry matter production component average market value of products sold is only $22, 170 annually, is robust and that leaf area and light interception is realistic. compared to the New Jersey farm average of $95, 564. Half of Carbon balance at thinning time is well correlated with natural the female operated farms in the state make less than $1000/ drop and response to chemical thinners and is being used to help year. To prepare for our Annie’s Project training, we held two growers predict thinner efficacy. listening sessions of potential participants and followed up with Specified Source(s) of Funding: Partial funding by Federal an online survey to help identify topics and speakers. We found Formula Funds, NY Apple Research and Development Program enthusiasm among potential female participants as well as the and Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission agricultural support community. We found some difference in what New Jersey women want versus what has been offered in 12:45–1:00 pm other states. We found that instead of True Colors (a personal- ity profile survey), New Jersey women wanted information on Practical Use of the “MaluSim” Carbon Balance labor management. We also found that they wanted a greater Model to Predict Chemical Thinner Response of emphasis on price and market risk. Our participants completed Apple a full business plan during the course. Terence Lee Robinson* Specified Source(s) of Funding:This material is based upon work New York State Agr Expt Sta, Geneva, NY; tlr1@cornell. supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2010-49200- edu 06201. Funding for Annie’s Project in New Jersey was provided Alan N. Lakso by the Northeast Center for Risk Management Education, the Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Stephen A. Hoying Highland, NY; [email protected] Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Chemical thinning remains one of the more unpredictable 12:30–2:30 pm Kohala 2 parts of apple production with large variations within years and from year to year. Many factors affect apple thinning re- Pomology 2 sponse including chemical dose, chemical uptake and fruitlet sensitivity to chemical induced abscission. We have measured Moderator: Gregory Peck this variability each year from 2000 to 2010 on mature ‘Royal Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Gala’/M.9, ‘McIntosh’/M.9 and ‘Ace Delicous’/M.26 trees. 12:30–12:45 pm Our data indicate that the sensitivity of the fruitlets to chemical induced abscission is related both to stage of fruit development The “MaluSim” Apple Carbon Balance Model and carbohydrate availability to support fruit growth. The —Validation and Utilization variability related to stage of fruit development is evidenced Alan N. Lakso* by low sensitivity to chemical thinners of small slow growing New York State Agr Expt Sta, Geneva, NY; anl2@cornell. fruitlets at petal fall which are usually about 4-mm diameter edu and high sensitivity to rapidly growing fruitlets between 10 and 15 mm. After fruits reach 20 mm, they are much less sen- Terence Lee Robinson sitive to chemical thinners even though growth rate is high. New York State Agr Expt Sta, Geneva, NY; tlr1@cornell. The physiological or genetic basis for the differing sensitivity edu to chemicals at differing fruitlet stages is not clear. A second “MaluSim” is a simplified carbon balance model to estimate source of variability, is the availability of carbohydrates to seasonal patterns and sums of tree dry matter production, dis- support fruit development which we have estimated using a tribution and fruit development. The model is a “big leaf” tree MaluSim carbohydrate prediction model. Model simulations model (all leaves, all fruit, all roots, etc., treated as one organ from several years showed that there are often periods of par- each) with a daily time step. Shoot growth is based on shoot ticularly negative or positive carbon supply:demand balance numbers, growth rates and fraction of shoots growing. Daily which were associated with severe thinning or mild thinning. photosynthesis is calculated from daily absorbed radiation by a Comparisons of carbohydrate availability and thinning also daily canopy light response. Respiration is summed from each indicate that carbohydrate balance interacts with stage of fruit organ based on seasonal specific respiration, organ weight or area development resulting in different thinning efficacies due to and driven by temperature. Dry matter is partitioned to organs both carbohydrate supply level and fruit development stage. based on demands if there is no limitation, but has different We have generated a family of response curves which can be competitive sink strengths if carbon is limiting. The inherent used to predict thinning response at various fruit sizes and competitiveness is set as: shoots>fruit>roots=structure. A fruit under different carbohydrate balance conditions. We have used abscission submodel is based on a fruit abscission vs growth these curves with the MaluSim model and weather forecasts to rate relationship. Seasonal patterns suggest the greatest carbon predict thinning response for several regions of New York State

S188 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 with good but not perfect success. This information should help Bahar Fallahi growers predict thinning efficacy of sprays and thereby adjust University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] concentrations of chemicals to achieve the optimum crop load. In a long-term study between 2004 and 2007, fruit yield and quality of several strains of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apples (Malus 1:00–1:15 pm ×domestica Borkh) were examined under a drip irrigation system Introducing A Grower’s Guide to Organic Apples, using crop evapotranspiration (ETc), adjusted by percentage of a Science-Based Manual for Growing Organic ground shade. The strain-rootstock combinations used in this Apples in the Northeastern U.S study represent the most commonly planted ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ trees in the apple industry. ‘Pacific’, ‘Brookfield’, ‘Treco’ and ‘Buck- Gregory Michael Peck* eye’ Gala strains (all on RN29 rootstock) had higher fruit yield Virginia Tech, Winchester, VA; [email protected] in most years, resulting in significantly higher cumulative yields Ian Merwin than ‘Scarlet’, ‘Royal’, ‘Ultima’, and ‘Crimson’ Gala strains on Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Bud9 rootstock. ‘Brookfield’, ‘Treco’, ‘Gale’, ‘Buckeye’ Gala on RN29 rootstock had similar average fruit weights and their We recently published A Grower’s Guide to Organic Apples, one weights were often higher than those in ‘Scarlett’, ‘Royal’, and of 13 organic guidelines released through Cornell University’s ‘Ultima’ Gala on Bud9 rootstock. ‘Buckeye’ and ‘Gale’ Gala New York State Integrated Pest Management program. The guide fruits had higher visual red color ratings compared to the other was written in response to the many New York fruit growers strains every year. ‘Beni Shogun’ and ‘September Wonder’ ma- who had expressed interest in producing for the organic sector, tured earlier, while ‘Desert Rose, Autumn Rose’, ‘Myra’, ‘Top where prices are relatively high and demand is increasing, but Export’, ‘Nagafu 12’, and ‘Nagafu 6’ Fuji strains matured later. reliable science-based production information is difficult to ‘Desert Rose Fuji’ had more red color than several other strains find. Growing organic fruit in the Northeast is a challenging and of ‘Fuji’ ‘Top Export’ had striped fruit and maintained its firm- complex operation requiring in-depth knowledge of horticulture, ness after five months of storage at 0 C. Considering all yield insect and disease management, available cultivars and genetic and quality attributes, we recommend ‘Buckeye’ and ‘Gale’ Gala resources, soil fertility and conservation, and strategic market- strains and ‘Desert Rose’, ‘Top Export’, ‘September Wonder’, ing. A Grower’s Guide to Organic Apples compiles and distills and ‘Beni Shogun’ Fuji strains on RN29 rootstock with a drip information from university research trials, making the essential irrigation system under climate conditions of Intermountain elements for organic apple production available to growers, west region of the U.S. extension educators, crop consultants, researchers, and others who desire to produce organic apples. The goal of this guide Specified Source(s) of Funding: Idaho Apple Commission, is to help growers produce the highest quality fruit possible, Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission utilizing organic techniques and systems. The Guide primarily 1:30–1:45 pm focuses on commercial orchard systems, but also provides small- scale producers and hobbyists with appropriate information on Not Presented organic techniques. The Guide includes seventeen chapters and three appendices that describe organic certification regulations, 1:45–2:00 pm site selection and orchard design, disease resistant rootstocks Will Postharvest Foliar Calcium Increase Apple and cultivars (nearly 50 disease-resistant apple cultivars are Fruit Calcium the Following Spring? listed), soil fertility and ground-cover management, crop-load management, organically approved pesticides, key pests and Ron Gehl* diseases, harvest and postharvest handling, and estimated costs NC State University, Mills River, NC; ron_gehl@ncsu. of production. A Grower’s Guide to Organic Apples is avail- edu able as a free download at: http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/ Steve McArtney organic_guide/. Between Jan. 2010 and Jan. 2011, the Guide NC State University, Mills River, NC; steve_mcartney@ was downloaded 6634 times. ncsu.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:New York State Department of Calcium deficiency in fruit of bitter pit-susceptible apple Agriculture and Markets cultivars may be due to early breakdown of xylem function. If calcium is primarily moving into the fruit early in the season 1:15–1:30 pm while the xylem is active, increasing the amount of calcium Fruit Yield and Quality Attributes of Various in stored reserves may increase fruit calcium. A study was Strains of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ Apples under an initiated in 2009 to determine if postharvest foliar calcium ap- Evapotranspiration-Based Drip Irrigation plications can increase calcium in apple fruit in the following year and reduce the incidence of bitter pit in fruit at harvest or Esmaeil “Essie” Fallahi* during storage compared with a standard summer foliar calcium University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] program. The study was conducted on cv. ‘Honeycrisp’/M.7 Bahman Shafii and included four treatments arranged in a RCBD with University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] five replications. The treatments included an unsprayed con-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S189 trol, four postharvest applications of foliar calcium at 10–14 d 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phospharte showed a curvilinear intervals in 2009, a standard program of seven foliar calcium decrease as N supply increased. Concentrations of all the amino sprays at 10–14 d intervals beginning at second cover in 2010, acids increased curvilinearly or linearly with increasing N and a combined treatment of four postharvest foliar calcium supply. Concentrations of organic acids responded to increas- sprays in 2009 and a standard program of seven foliar calcium ing N supply to a much lesser degree: phosphoenolpyruvate, sprays in summer 2010. Fruit and leaf tissues were sampled for oxaloacetate, and pyruvate remained unchanged with only a mineral analyses at three times during 2010. Fruit were har- slight drop observed at the lowest N supply for malate, citrate, vested upon commercial maturity and yield determined. Fruit 2-oxoglutarate, succinate and fumarate. These results indicate exhibiting bitter pit were counted at harvest and discarded. The that, in response to increasing N supply, carbon assimilation number of fruit that developed bitter pit in post-harvest storage and the key enzymes in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle (32 °C) was counted at 14-d intervals. Neither the postharvest are all up-regulated to increase carbon flux in coordination program nor the standard program of summer foliar calcium with nitrogen flux while maintaining the concentrations of were effective in increasing fruit or leaf calcium concentration. most metabolites in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle The overall incidence of fruit with bitter pit was high, with relatively stable. almost 50% of the fruit on control trees exhibiting of bitter pit at harvest. All three foliar calcium treatments reduced the 2:15–2:30 pm incidence bitter pit at harvest to around 30%. The develop- Yield Characteristics of the New North ment of bitter pit increased during storage by approximately American Pawpaw Cultivar Release ‘KSU- 1% each week for all treatments. While calcium in fruit and leaf tissues at harvest were not affected by treatments, all of Atwood’ Compared to Two Common the foliar programs reduced the incidence bitter pit at harvest Commercially Available Cultivars compared with the control. The program of four postharvest Sheri B. Crabtree* foliar calcium sprays in 2009, followed by no foliar calcium Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ sprays during summer in 2010, reduced the incidence of bitter kysu.edu pit as effectively as a summer program of seven applications of foliar calcium. We have extended this study for a second Kirk William Pomper year and have initiated a second site on mature cv. ‘Golden Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@kysu. Delicious’/M.7 trees. edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Apple Research Pro- Jeremiah Lowe gram; North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@kysu. edu 2:00–2:15 pm The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a tree fruit native to most Assimilation and Metabolism of Carbon and of the eastern United States. Pawpaw is in the early stages of Nitrogen in Fruiting Spur Leaves of ‘Gala’ commercial production, and development of cultivars with large fruit, high yields, and good fruit quality is of utmost Apple (Malus domestica) in Response to importance to the further development of a commercial Nitrogen Supply pawpaw industry. KSU-Atwood™ (‘KSU8-2’ cultivar) is the Huicong Wang first cultivar release from Kentucky State University’s paw- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] paw research program. ‘KSU-Atwood’ produces high yields of large, high quality fruit with a mild mango flavor. The objec- Lailiang Cheng* tive of this study was to compare yield characteristics of ‘KSU- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Atwood’ to two high-yielding, widely available commercial Seven-year-old ‘Gala’/M.26 trees grown in sand culture were pawpaw cultivars, ‘PA-Golden’ and ‘Mitchell’. Three mature provided with 8.8, 26.4, 52.7, or 105.4 g N per tree in a modi- replicate trees of each cultivar were selected in the orchards of fied Hoagland’s solution via fertigation and the cropload was the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm. Trunk diameters adjusted to 8 fruits per cm2 trunk cross-sectional area at 10 mm were measured in March, and fruit counts were performed king fruit size via hand thinning. Leaves on fruiting spurs were in July. Fruit were harvested three times per week in Aug.–Sept. sampled during rapid fruit cell expansion period for measuring 2010, and all fruit were weighed to determine average fruit activities of key enzymes and profiling primary metabolites. weights. Statistical analyses were performed using CoStat

Both light-saturated CO2 assimilation and dark respiration statistical software. Average fruit weight was larger for ‘KSU- increased curvilinearly with increasing N supply. A total of 28 Atwood’ (138 g) than for ‘PA-Golden’ (107 g) or ‘Mitchell’ (73 key enzymes and 46 metabolites in carbon and nitrogen me- g). Total yield was 15.1 kg/tree for ‘KSU-Atwood’, compared tabolism were measured. Activities of most enzymes showed to 11.8 kg/tree for ‘PA-Golden’ and 9.6 kg/tree for ‘Mitchell’. a curvilinear or linear increase as N supply increased. Of the Yield efficiency was significantly higher for ‘KSU-Atwood’ carbohydrates measured, sorbitol, sucrose, 3-phosphoglycerate, (0.20) than for ‘PA Golden’ (0.15) and ‘Mitchell’ (0.11). glucose 1-phosphate, myoinositol, maltitol, xylitol, erythritol Sixty-six percent of ‘KSU-Atwood’ fruit were over 100 g, showed a curvilinear increase whereas starch, fructose, glucose compared to 47% of ‘PA-Golden’ and 22% of ‘Mitchell’ fruit.

S190 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 ‘KSU-Atwood’, KSU’s first pawpaw cultivar release, compares cultigens. Interspecific hybrid NH65 × WBN initiated female favorably with ‘PA-Golden’ and ‘Mitchell’ in terms of yield flowers 23 days after transplanting (DAT) below node 4, and characteristics, making it a good choice for farmers interested canopy leaf area averaged 2, 192 cm2. Female flower initiation in establishing or expanding a pawpaw planting. in NH65 × LIC and NH65 × DF occurred at 38 and 42 DAT, respectively, between nodes 9–12. Leaf areas were 11, 437 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Evans-Allen Project No. cm2 in NH65 × LIC and 16, 279 cm2 in NH65 × DF. Plants KYX-10-09-44P of NH65 × LIC and NH65 × DF appeared more compact than those of NH65 × WBN, both because progressive increases in Tuesday, September 27, 2011 internode length from less than 3.0 cm to more than 16.0 cm occurred more rapidly in the latter hybrid, and because the 12:30–2:30 pm Kings 1 former hybrids had thicker stems, 12.42 mm and 12.17 mm in NH65 × LIC and NH65 × DF, respectively, as compared to Vegetable Breeding NH65 × WBN (8.85mm). Moderator: Dilip Panthee Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hatch, NH Agricultural Ex- North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC; dilip_ periment Station [email protected]

12:30–12:45 pm 12:45–1:00 pm Developing Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata Performance of Tropical Pumpkin Lines Interspecific Hybrids for the Processing Derived from Backcrossing for Zucchini yellow Industry mosaic virus Resistance Jacob Uretsky Luis G. Sierra-Rivera University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; j.uretsky@ University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR; luisgsierra@ unh.edu gmail.com J. Brent Loy* Linda Wessel-Beaver* University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; jbloy@unh. University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR; lindawessel. edu [email protected] Very few ZYMV resistant cultivars of Cucurbita moschata Previous reports indicate that F1 interspecific hybrids produced by crossing selected cultigens of C. maxima Duchesne are available to growers in the tropics. ‘Soler’ [SOL], ‘Taina (female) × cultigens of C. moschata Duchesne (male) are Dorada’ [TD] and ‘Verde Luz’ [VL] are three Puerto Rican vigorous and productive. We crossed several bush maxima pro- cultivars of tropical pumpkin susceptible to Zucchini yellow cessing lines (‘Golden Delicious’ type) to ‘Waltham Butternut’ mosaic virus (ZYMV). SOL is known to be widely adapted in (WBN), and two C. moschata processing cultigens, ‘Long Island the tropics. These cultivars were backcrossed to the resistant Cheese’ (LIC) and ‘Dickenson Field’ (DF), in the summer of landrace ‘Nigerian Local’ (NL) in order to develop new lines 2009. Several hybrids from these crosses were grown at the with ZYMV resistance. Resistance to ZYMV in NL has been Kingman Research Farm, Madbury, NH during the summer reported to be a single dominant gene. During backcross- of 2010 and evaluated in both replicated and non-replicated ing, selections were made on the basis of symptom severity experiments. Field data on growth, flowering, fruit set, and (0 = no symptoms) and ELISA readings (<0.300 negative several fruit traits confirmed previous reports that interspecific for ZYMV) following artificial inoculation. After one or two hybrids display vigorous growth, are highly gynoecious, and generations, backcross-derived F1s were selfed. BC-derived set abundant fruit. Hybrids having ‘WBN’ as the male parent F2s were inoculated and evaluated for severity, ELISA and flowered exceedingly early, resulting in fruit set by the fifth horticultural traits, and the best F2 plants were selfed. For node, small fruit size (1.4 kg) and low fruit dry matter (9.5% each backcross-derived population, 8 F3 lines were tested in a DW) of early crown sets. Pruning of crown-set fruit resulted in field trial in Isabela, Puerto Rico along with NL and the three development of two fruit per plant, set between nodes 15 and 20 susceptible recurrent parents. Seedlings were inoculated before that were larger (2.5 kg FW) and had consistently higher DW being transplanted to the field. NL remained completely free (14.2%) than crown-set fruits. A few interspecific hybrids having of symptoms and tested negative for ELISA through all stages ‘LIC’ as the male parent initiated female flowers and set fruit of this research, including in the field test. Average severity much later than crosses to ‘WBN’ and produced several fruit scores and ELISA readings of lines derived from backcrossing per plant, indicating choice of male parent can a significantly were significantly less than scores and readings of the cor- affect flowering pattern. A greenhouse study was conducted responding susceptible parent (VL, TD or SOL), and usually in spring of 2011 to compare internode lengths, main stem not significantly greater than that of NL (the exception being diameters, flowering patterns, and leaf area at first appearance lines derived from TD which had scores intermediate between of female flowers in interspecies hybrids using NH65 as the susceptible TD and resistant NL). Although backcross lines female parent in combination with ‘WBN, ’ ‘LIC, ’ or ‘DF’ were not significantly more susceptible than NL, the values for both disease severity and ELISA were always higher in the

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S191 backcross lines, suggesting that the complete resistance seen important. In C. moschata, cv.Waltham Butternut had relatively in NL was not fully incorporated into these lines. Severity and low amounts of total carotenoids (109 mg/g DW after 60 d ELISA readings were much more variable among plants in plots storage), but about three-fourths of the total were nutritionally of the backcross-derived lines compared to plots of NL, and beneficial carotenoids - lutein (3%3 to 36%), ß-carotene (30 to segregation for some degree of susceptibility continued to be 38%) and a-carotene (5% to 7%). In C. moschata inbred lines observed. Despite NL having very poor horticultural qualities derived from a common F2 population, carotenoid content and and only 1 or 2 backcrosses being made, all three populations profiles varied considerably. Carotenoid content in line NH421 produced some lines that combined good horticultural traits was 216 mg/g DW, and 50% to 60% was ß-carotene. Line NH851 of their recurrent parent along with a better level of ZYMV had higher amounts but similar proportions of ß-carotene and resistance. However, the level of ZYMV resistance in derived lutein as ‘Waltham, ’ but unlike the latter, most lutein was non- lines was not quite as strong as that of NL. This suggests esterfied. A third line, NH910, had lower proportions of lutein ZYMV resistance is controlled by more than one gene in these and ß-carotene than ‘Waltham’, but a-carotene comprised about genetic materials. 33% of carotenoid content. Our results indicate a potential for maximizing contents of specific beneficial carotenoids in squash Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-TSTAR; USDA- through selective breeding. HATCH Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hatch, NH Agricultural Ex- 1:00–1:15 pm periment Station Variability in Carotenoid Content and Profiles in Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata 1:15–1:30 pm Squash Genetic Analysis of Melon Sex Expression Jennifer Noseworthy Feishi Luan* University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; jennifer. Northeast Agricultural Univ, Heilongjiang 150030; [email protected] [email protected] Melon (Cucumis melo L. 2n=2x=24) is an outcrossing horti- J. Brent Loy* cultural crop belonging to subsp. melo in the Cucurbitaceae University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; jbloy@unh. edu family. In melon sex expression is typically andromonoecious, but can also be monoecious, andromonoecious, hermaph- Carotenoid studies of specific cultigens of squash have been rodite, gynomonoecious, trimonoecious, gynoecious and limited, but nonetheless, have shown that some squash culti- androecious. Since monoecious is the goal of our melon breed- gens contain substantial amounts of the nutritionally beneficial ing program, we investigated the inheritance of monoecious sex carotenoids, a-carotene, ß-carotene and lutein, but not zea- expression utilizing molecular markers linked to the monoe- xanthin. Our study focused primarily, but not exclusively, on cious trait. Parental lines were: 3-2-2 from China, thin-skinned comparing carotenoid content and profiles in breeding lines melon, monoecious; Top Mark, from USA, thick-skinned and cultivars of C. maxima Duchesne and C. moschata Duch- and netted melon, andromonoecious; and WI998, from USA, esne developed at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). netted melon, gynoecious. Sex expression of the F1, F2, F6, Plants were grown at the UNH experimental farms in Durham BC1P1 and BC1P2 generations from the crosses 3-2-2 × Top and Madbury, NH, using randomized complete-block designs Mark, WI998 × Top Mark, WI998 × 3-2-2, respectively, were with either three or four replications and two fruit samples per evaluated. Using 350 individuals from the F1 generation from treatment per plot. Comparisons were made over three seasons the 3-2-2 × Top Mark cross, we acquired 152 S2F6 plants to (2008–10), and with different harvesting and storage periods. construct genetic maps. Sex expression was controlled by two Squash mesocarp samples were stored at –80 °C. Carotenoid main genes. Main-gene heritability was 83.3% and minor-gene content was determined spectrophotometrically in acetone, heritability was 8.125%. Segregations of every generation were and profiles were determined by HPLC. There was appreciable investigated and confirmed the genotype of 3-2-2 (monoecious) variability in carotenoid content across seasons, but carotenoid as AAGG, the genotype of WI998 (gynoecious) was AAgg, and profiles among squash cultigens were relatively stable. In most the genotype of Top Mark (andomonoecious) was aaGG. Us- cultigens there were progressive and often linear increases in ing RILs of the 3-2-2 × Top Mark cross to construct a genetic carotenoids from harvest at 40 days after pollination (DAP) to map, a total of 70 SSR markers, 100 AFLP markers and one 60 DAP, and with longer storage time, either 30 d or 60 d at 14 agronomic trait were grouped into 17 large linkage groups °C. Maximum total carotenoid values for all cultigens varied which spanned 1222.9cM with an average marker interval of between 84 and 185 mg/g DW for C. moschata and between 7.19 cM. The longest linkage group was LG1 (spanning 197.4 204 and 518 mg/g DW for C. maxima. Cultigens of C. maxima cM) and the shortest group was LG3 (spanning 11.0 cM). Ten contained substantial amounts of lutein and ß-carotene, and a markers in the same linkage group with the A gene and the few cultigens contained appreciable amounts of zeaxanthin. group spanning 55.7 cM, SSR marker MU13328-3 and AFLP However, between 54% to 67% of the carotenoids in C. maxima marker e33m43-1 were linkage to A gene with 4.8 cM and 6.0 were tentatively identified as principally esterified forms of cM, respectively. neoxanthin and lutein epoxide, neither considered nutritionally

S192 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding:The National Natural Science 1:45–2:00 pm Foundation of China (30871723, 31071812) and The “948” Lycopene Content Profiling in Tomato Lines Project of China Agriculture Ministry (2011-S17) Derived from Diverse Genetic Background 1:30–1:45 pm by Colorimetry and Infra-Red Absorbance Biochemical Aspects of Resistance to Leafminers Methods and Aphids in Lettuce Dilip Panthee* North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC; dilip_ Beiquan Mou* [email protected] USDA-ARS, Salinas, CA; [email protected] Penelope Perkins-Veazie Nasir Masood NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; penelope_perkins@ University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab; ncsu.edu [email protected] Dan Randall Michael Diaz Verivide Ltd, Charlotte, NC; [email protected] California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA; [email protected] Allan Brown NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; allan_brown@ncsu. Jianlong Bi edu University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey Diane Ducharme County, Salinas, CA; [email protected] North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC; Diane_ Host plant resistance is an important component of integrated [email protected] pest management while understanding the biochemical mecha- Christopher Gunter nisms could speed up the resistance breeding. To study the North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC; chris_gunter@ biochemical mechanisms of lettuce plant resistance to its major ncsu.edu insect pests, leafminer (Liriomyza langei) and aphids, 16 let- Lycopene is an important anti-oxidant available in tomato with tuce genotypes with various degree of resistance were planted anti-cancer properties. Because of the potential medicinal use, in growth chambers and a field with four replications. Protein, there is an increased interest in this compound. Improvement of sugars, phenolics, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were extracted tomatoes for lycopene is in the research priority in a number of from plant leaves, and damage by leafminers and aphid numbers breeding programs. As the first step of the improvement effort, we of different species were recorded. Leafminer stings per cm2 were interested to screen the tomato lines derived from a diverse leaf area of young plants were highly correlated with stings/ genetic background for lycopene content with the objectives cm2 of mature plants. This suggests that leafminer-resistant of identifying the superior lines that could be used as parents varieties for mature lettuce plants may also be deployed for to develop high lycopene tomato varieties. We screened 139 baby leaf production. Sucrose concentration of young plants lines derived from Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum pimpinel- was correlated with leafminer stings per cm2 leaf (r = 0.730, P lifolium, Solanum pennellii, and Solanum habbrachaetes with = 0.01) and mines per plant (r = 0.790, P = 0.01), suggesting two replications at Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and that low sucrose content could be used as a marker for early Extension Center (MHCREC), Mills River, NC. The lines con- screening or selection for leafminer resistance. Leafminer stings/ sisted of grape, plum, large fruited round and cherry tomatoes. cm2 were negatively associated with contents of flavonoids The lines were characterized for morphological traits such as (r = –0.560, P = 0.05) and chlorogenic acid (r = –0.598, P = growth habit, external fruit color, fruit shape, fruit size, foliage 0.05), while mines per plant were negatively associated with color, and fruit pedicel jointness. Fruits were sampled at full ripe concentrations of flavonoid (r = –0.700,P = 0.01), chlorogenic stage and sliced into two halves before capturing the images with acid (r = –0.594, P = 0.05) and rutin (r = -0.603, P = 0.05), DigiEye instrument. The same fruits were used for lycopene implying a role of phenolics in the leafminer resistance. Total analysis by colorimetric method, Data generated from DigiEye number of apterous aphids including Myzus persicae, Macro- and colorimetric method were analyzed separately as well as siphum euphorbiae, and Aulacorthum solani per 100 g plant correlations were determined to see if DigiEye can be used for weight was correlated with contents of protein (r = 0.890, P lycopene prediction in tomato breeding program. Statistical = 0.01), ß-carotene (r = 0.828, P = 0.01), lutein (r = 0.819, P analysis revealed that lycopene content ranged from 32 to 132 = 0.01), chlorophyll (r = 0.739, P = 0.01), and glucose (r = mg/kg of tomato sample indicating that there is a possibility of –0.771, P = 0.01) of young lettuce plants, which could serve using some of the lines as parents for improving lycopene content as early indicators of aphid resistance. Aphids per 100 g plant in tomato varieties. Most of the high lycopene containing lines weight were also associated with chicoric acid concentration of were grape tomatoes. No single equation could be developed on mature lettuce plant (r = 0.750, P = 0.01). This study provides the basis of data generated from DigiEye to predict the lycopene insights into the mechanisms of resistance to leafminers and content but individual equation for different color group can aphids as well as screening and selection tools for breeding be used to predict the lycopene content with reasonably high insect-resistant lettuce. correlation coefficient (r = 0.77). Information reported here is

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S193 expected to be useful in tomato breeding program aiming to and breeding studies. A trait-based marker analysis resulted in improve lycopene content. the identification of two locations on chromosomes 1 and 10 Specified Source(s) of Funding: NCDA–Specialty Block Grant with strong effects on LB resistance. Based on a combination of graphical genotypes and plant phenotypes, an F4 individual 2:00–2:15 pm containing both resistance regions but with least genomic background from S. pimpinellifolium was used in a marker-assisted Begomovirus Resistance from the Solanum backcross program, which led to the development of NILs lycopersicum Cultivar Tyking Is Conferred by containing the two resistance regions in the cultivated tomato the Ty-5 Locus genetic background. Research is underway to verify, fine-map and characterize the resistance genes on chromosomes 1 and Samuel F. Hutton* 10. We also are developing fresh-market and processing tomato University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] lines with this new source of resistance. Furthermore, we have Jay W. Scott developed tomato lines with LB resistance conferred by Ph-3 University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] and Ph-2, and efforts are underway to pyramid Ph-3 and Ph-2 David J. Schuster with the new resistance genes. Regarding fruit LYC content, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] previously we identified a new source of high fruit LYC content in S. pimpinellifolium, which has been used to develop various The Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tomato filial (including RILs) and backcross populations (including mottle virus (ToMoV) resistant breeding lines, Fla. 8753 and NILs). These populations were used to identify and map QTLs 994344-SBK, were each crossed to susceptible breeding lines contributing to high fruit LYC content. Specifically, we have to develop F populations for mapping resistance loci. Resistant 2 focused on two major QTLs on chromosomes 12 (lyc12) and 7 and susceptible progeny from two Fla. 8753 populations were (lyc7), which have been fine-mapped. For example, lyc12 has selectively genotyped, and a test for transmission disequilib- been located within 1–2 cM, and NILs containing this QTL has rium at the SlNAC1 locus was highly significant (P < 0.0001). been developed. Simultaneously, the high LYC trait has been Progeny of these selections were evaluated the following incorporated into Penn State tomato breeding germplasm and season, and approximately two-thirds of susceptible selections have developed fresh market and processing tomato breeding showed clear segregation for resistance. The SlNAC1 marker lines with exceptionally high fruit LYC content. A summary of again co-segregated with resistance, and a recessive allele at the breeding lines developed at Penn State, which are available this locus was indicated. Segregation among 120 progeny in for commercial hybrid production, is presented. the 994344-SBK population also indicated a recessive allele at the Ty-5 locus as a major contributor to resistance. ‘Tyking’ was Specified Source(s) of Funding:PDA, PVGA, MAFPA determined to be the donor of the chromosome 4 introgression at the Ty-5 locus in each of these lines. This locus alone did not confer parental levels of resistance, and segregation for an Tuesday, September 27, 2011 additional locus was observed. 12:45–2:30 pm Kings 3 2:15–2:30 pm Crop Physiology 2 Breeding for Late Blight Resistance and High Moderator: Jiwan Paul Palta Fruit Lycopene Content in Tomato University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; [email protected] Majid R. Foolad* 12:45–1:00 pm The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; [email protected] Fruit Quality and Vine Vigor of Cabernet A goal of the Penn State Tomato Breeding Program is to de- Sauvignon Grapevines under Crop Forcing in a velop breeding lines and cultivars of tomato with desirable Warm Region to Produce Cool Climate Quality horticultural characteristics, including early blight (EB) and Fruit late blight (LB) resistance and high fruit lycopene (LYC) con- Sanliang Gu* tent. Here our recent findings in genetics and breeding of LB California State University, Fresno, CA; sanliang_gu@ resistance and high fruit lycopene content are presented. LB, csufresno.edu caused by Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide. Brodie McCarthy Previously, 3 major resistance genes (Ph-1, Ph-2, and Ph-3) California State University, Fresno, CA; brodster43@mail. and a few resistance QTLs were identified, and recently a few fresnostate.edu resistant breeding lines and commercial hybrid cultivars have Hemant Gohil been developed. At Penn State, we screened a large collection California State University, Fresno, CA; hgohil@ of S. pimpinellifolium accessions and identified a few with csufresno.edu strong LB resistance. One accession has been used for genetic

S194 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 An experiment was conducted in a commercial vineyard of 1:15–1:30 pm Cabernet Sauvignon in the San Joaquin Valley of California Variation in Within-canopy Attenuation of Wind to determine the fruit quality and vine vigor when using crop Speed in Container-grown Trees: Measurement forcing (CF) in warm regions. The objective was to shift fruit ripening to the cooler portion of the growing season to pro- Errors and Their Impact on Canopy duce fruit of similar composition of cooler regions. CF treat- Transpiration Estimates ments were conducted 3, 4, or 5 weeks post-anthesis (mid- to Dave M. Barnard* late-June) in 2010 when primary shoots were hedged to six Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; dave. nodes while all clusters, laterals, and leaves were removed. [email protected] All CF treatments were effective in inducing new shoots and clusters to shifted fruit ripening from the hot portion (July and William Bauerle early August) to the cooler portion (October through early Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; bauerle@ November) of the growing season. CF applied 4 to 5 weeks colostate.edu post-anthesis produced the highest yield of high quality fruit We examined the canopy wind speed extinction coefficient a( ) for wine making and was defined as the best time for crop along a canopy depth profile in 10 tree species. Above-canopy forcing. The length of bloom-to-veraison period was slightly wind speed and canopy a values both followed a strong diurnal shorter (60 vs. 65 days) but that of veraison-to-harvest period pattern with higher wind velocities and lower canopy a values was much longer in CF (60 vs. 40 days), in comparison to those during day light hours—indicating that canopy a values scale under conventional cultural practices (CK). Degree hours was with wind speed. Additionally, canopy a values from periods of similar during the bloom-to-veraison period between CF and low above-canopy wind speeds (<1 m·s–1) often yielded errone- CK. However, degree hours >25 °C was much less (50%) while ously high estimates and, when averaged over a 24-hour period, degree hours <25 °C was much greater (2-fold) in CF than CK. were significantly different from day light specific averages. To Fruit of forced crop at harvest had similar Brix, smaller berries, test the impact of this variation on estimates of canopy a values, lower pH, higher TA, and much higher content of anthocyanins we filtered the data to remove observations at low above-canopy (2-fold) and total phenolics (3-fold). CF vines were less vigorous wind speeds and/or to remove night time measurements. By and had more clusters. Yield for CF vines was comparable to investigating the average a value over periods ranging from CK with shoot thinning. Pruning weight as an indicator of vine a single day to an entire growing season, we found a marked vigor was only 20% less than CK. The research demonstrated change in canopy a’s as a result of leaf area development and that CF through complete removal of shoot tips, clusters, and canopy structure dynamics. We used this variation in canopy a leaves can be used to shift fruit ripening and to produce better estimates, from different time scales and filtering methods, to quality fruit and a reasonable yield for Cabernet Sauvignon in parameterize a three dimensional mechanistic canopy transpira- warm regions. tion model (MAESTRA) and assess the impact of different a values on canopy transpiration estimates. Modeled estimates of 1:00–1:15 pm canopy transpiration varied by as much as 30% between averaging Composition of Hydroponic Lettuce: Effect of methods, underscoring the importance of carefully characterizing Plant Size, Season and Time of Day the canopy wind speed extinction profile when above canopy wind speeds are greater than 1 m·s–1. We discuss the pitfalls Martin P.N. Gent* encountered in utilizing averaging methods that, due to averag- Conn Agric Expt Sta, New Haven, CT; martin.gent@ ing errors, do not accurately represent how wind interacts with po.state.ct.us the canopy and propose a simplification in parameterization of The diurnal variation of nitrate and sugars may vary with plant the seasonal pattern of a’s among different nursery-grown trees. size or the ability of plants to buffer the uptake, synthesis, and Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI use of metabolites. Bibb lettuce was grown in hydroponics in a heated greenhouse. Plantings differing in size and age were 1:30–1:45 pm sampled at 3-hour intervals throughout one day in Aug. 2007 and Nov. 2008. Samples were weighed, frozen and freeze Effects of Flooding on Four Different Annona dried, and dried tissue was extracted and analyzed for nitrate, Scion/Rootstock Combinations soluble sugars, and organic acids, using LC chromatography. Xinyu Fu* The increase in dry/fresh weight ratio during the daylight South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; period was greater for small compared to large plants. On a [email protected] fresh weight basis, tissue nitrate of small plants was only half that for larger plants. The variation in concentration with time Huicong Wang was much less for nitrate than for soluble sugars. Soluble sug- South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; [email protected] ars were similar for all plant sizes early in the day, but they increased far more for small compared to large plants in the Xuming Huang long days of summer. South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S195 Commercial annona varieties, such as cherimoya (Annona In addition, these salinity treatments were compared with the cherimola Mill.), sugar apple (A. squamosa) and atemoya (A. response of plantlets to 60 and 80 mM mannitol. Rooted nodal squamosa × A. cherimola), are generally grown on seedling cuttings were produced by growing these cuttings in a normal MS rootstocks and very susceptible to water-logging, even for short medium for 11 days. These rooted cuttings were then removed periods. Annona atemoya Hort. cv. African Pride (AP) was in- and transferred to media containing various salinity treatments. troduced to China in 1980s, and became popular due to its high Ten replicates were used for each treatment and observations were quality and unique flavor. Prevalence of root diseases in wet made up to 43 days after transfer to media. Our results show: soils is the main problem in AP production, which restricts the 1) Under non-stress condition transfer of rooted nodal cuttings development of AP in south China, where rainfall is plenty and suffered from a transfer shock (growth inhibition). However, flooding frequently occurs. It has been found that some annona this growth reduction was cultivar dependent, ‘Norland’ and species like A. montana (M), A. glabra (G) and A. muricata are ‘Atlantic’ being the most sensitive. 2) Rooted cuttings displayed relatively flood-tolerant and can survive continuous flooding and more tolerance to 30 mM NaCl stress that the non-rooted cut- periodic water logging conditions. There is potential increase tings. 3) CaCl2 mitigated NaCl stress injury in both rooted and flood tolerance of commercial annona varieties by the use of non-rooted cuttings. 4) Injury by NaCl does not appear to be flood-tolerant rootstocks. As reported before, the incompatibility due to osmotic stress. We suggest that rooted cuttings may better between these water-logging tolerant species and commercial simulate plant response to saline water irrigation and could be species could be overcome by interstocks, such as hybrid of used for screening for salinity tolerance. ‘AP’ atemoya × A. reticulate (AR). In this study, an experiment Specified Source(s) of Funding:Supported in part by Agriculture was conducted with the aim to study the effects of continu- and Life Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison ous and cyclic soil flooding on four different annona scion/ rootstock combinations: AP/AR/G (scion/interstock/rootstock, 2:00–2:15 pm AR/G (scion/rootstock), AP/AR/M and AR/M, and to identity the suitable ones that may tolerate flooding environment and Hormone-Like Effect of a Natural Lipid, maintain crop growth. Plant growth, leaf gas exchange and Lysophosphatidylethanolamine, Can Mitigate chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured regularly Calcium Deficiency Injury in Potato Shoot after flooding treatment. Both continuous and cyclic soil flood- Cultures ing significantly reduced photosynthesis and shoot extension and leaf production in plantlets of AP/AR/M and AR/M, some Zienab F.R. Ahmed* of which showed wilting within 2 weeks. Flooding slightly University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; zfahmed@wisc. enhanced the growth and photosynthesis rate in the plantlets edu of AP/AR/G and AR/G, which produced vigorous adventitious Jiwan Paul Palta roots. Thus, we recommend A. glabra instead of A. montana University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; jppalta@facstaff. as a rootstock, AR as an interstock to increase flood-tolerance wisc.edu for commercial annona varieties. Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) is natural lipid that has been shown to act as a signaling molecule. Recent evidence 1:45–2:00 pm suggests that LPE can act like auxin promoting shelf life and Genetic Variation for the Tolerance to NaCl growth of plant tissues. Using potato shoot cultures we have Stress in Relation to CaCl2: Rooted versus Non- shown that calcium deficiency can result in shoot tip necrosis Rooted In Vitro Studies resulting in the loss of apical dominance and development of axillary shoots. In the present study we investigated the possibility Nese Okut of promoting root growth by including LPE in the media thus University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; neseokut@yyu. enhancing calcium uptake and mitigating calcium deficiency edu.tr injury. Shoot cultures of three potato cultivars were grown in Jiwan Paul Palta* the presence and absence of 400 ppm LPE in a calcium deficient University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; jppalta@facstaff. media. Shoot tip health and development of axillary shoots was wisc.edu recorded. Three cultivars vary in the media calcium levels for the Micro-propagated plantlets have been used for screening potatoes development of calcium deficiency symptoms suggesting genetic for salinity (NaCl) tolerance. For this purpose nodal cuttings variations for this trait; for each cultivar inclusion of LPE in the are placed in media containing varying concentrations of NaCl. media mitigated the calcium deficiency symptoms at a specific Thus ability of the cuttings to induce roots, inpart, determines thresh hold of media calcium concentration. For example this the tolerance of a given clone to salinity stress. We compared thresh hold of media calcium concentration was about 60 mM the response of rooted vs non-rooted nodal cuttings to salinity for the cultivar Snowden whereas for the cultivar Burbank this stress. Rooted or non-rooted nodal cuttings of ‘Russet Burbank’, concentration was almost 700 ppm. Visual observations showed ‘Dark Red Norland’, ‘Snowden’, ‘Atlantic’, ‘Supperior’ potato that root growth was promoted by including LPE in the media. plants were propagated in vitro on a medium containing 30 mM Our results support the evidence that LPE can have an auxin like effect on plants. NaCl in the presence and absence of CaCl2 (1 mM and 3 mM).

S196 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: spport in part by collage of 2:30–2:45 pm agriculture and life science, university of wisconsin-Madison Crown Buds Limit Floral Productivity in Gentians 2:15–2:30 pm Abscisic Acid Controls Size of Pepper and Uttara Samarakoon Massey University, Palmerston North 4442; Watermelon Transplants [email protected] Shinsuke Agehara* Keith A. Funnell* Texas AgriLife Research, Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, Plant & Food Research, Palmerston North 4442; keith. Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; shinsuke.agehara@ [email protected] gmail.com Ed Morgan Daniel I. Leskovar Plant & Food Research, Palmerston North 4442; Texas AgriLife Research, Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, [email protected] Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; d-leskovar@tamu. edu David Woolley Rapid shoot elongation of vegetable transplants can lead to Massey University, Palmerston North 4442; d.woolley@ massey.ac.nz physical damage during transplanting and delay in field establishment. Abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in shoot growth The development of crop management strategies to schedule inhibition in plants subjected to water deficit. We examined floral productivity in gentians is limited by the lack of informa- the effects of ABA foliar application on transplant growth and tion on the physiology of their growth and the development of yield of jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum L., ‘Colima’) and floral shoots. Since floral shoots arise from buds on the crown, triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, ‘Summer Sweet 5244’). the timing of their appearance, emergence and development to In pepper, ABA was applied once (3.8 mM) at 22, 15, and 8 flowering were tracked over time, using the variety ‘Spotlight’ days before transplanting (DBT) or twice (1.9 mM) at 22 and 15 growing outside or within a greenhouse heated to 15 °C. Al- DBT. At the time of transplanting, plant height showed a similar though different types of buds were identified, only pre-formed reduction of 10% to 14% for all ABA treatments compared with primary-crown buds produced flowering shoots. Irrespective the untreated-control. In contrast, reductions in shoot dry weight of the growing environment, 27% of these crown buds did not varied from 17% to 35%, with the strongest inhibition induced emerge, and these were subsequently shown to be under cor- by the single early application at 22 DBT. This reduction was relative inhibition from developed shoots. The appearance of associated with a decrease in both leaf number and expansion new crown buds for the following season’s flower production of individual leaf. After transplanting, the plant height differ- occurred over 8 months, from early summer to early winter. His- ence diminished by the time of harvest, and no difference was tological investigations revealed that crown buds were initiated found in marketable yield. In watermelon, ABA was applied adventitiously on the crown, with axillary buds subsequently in the similar timings but with half the rate used for pepper. In resulting in the formation of crown bud clusters. contrast to pepper, plant height and leaf number measured at the Specified Source(s) of Funding: Foundation for Research Sci- time of transplanting were unaffected by ABA. However, there ence and Technology (NZ) was a trend for ABA to inhibit leaf expansion, thereby reducing shoot dry weight. The extent of the reduction was similar for all 2:45–3:00 pm ABA treatments (16% to 23%), indicating a similar sensitivity to ABA in different transplant ages. Although vine development Seasonal Variation in Diurnal Photosynthetic in the field was somewhat delayed by ABA, it did not cause any Pattern of Oncidium gower Ramsey over a One- yield difference. The absence of yield difference may be due to Year Period the use of optimum transplant size for the control. The results suggest that ABA foliar application is effective in size control Yao-Chien Alex Chang* National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected]. of vegetable transplants and its growth inhibiting effects are tw only transient. The effectiveness of this method may depend on species and possibly transplant age. Yu-Chen Lu National Taiwan University, Taipei; ajany1206@yahoo. com.tw Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Maurice S.B. Ku 2:30–4:45 pm Kohala 3 National Chiayi University, Chiayi; [email protected]. tw Floriculture 2 Previously we reported that Oncidium gower Ramsey exhibited Moderator: Barbara E. Liedl midday photosynthetic depression in the summer; high tem- West Virginia State Univ., Institute, WV; liedlbe@ perature was speculated to be the major cause of the reduction wvstateu.edu of photosynthesis. In the current study, we further investigated

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S197 how monthly variations in environmental factors affected pho- decreased from 11.1 to 9.8 mm for ‘Lavender’ as the planting tosynthetic rate throughout the entire year. Our results showed density increased from 6 to 12 bulbs per crate. The number of that the diurnal pattern of photosynthetic rate of O. gower fell marketable stems per plant for ‘Coral’ was 1.33 (8 stems per into three types. The diurnal photosynthetic rate curve had a crate) when planted with 6 bulbs per crate and 1.07 (13 stems single peak in January and December, with highest photosyn- per crate) with 12 bulbs per crate. Planting density had no effect thetic rate occurring at midday. In this pattern, light intensity on the number of marketable stems of ‘Sparkling Burgundy’, was the main factor that determined photosynthetic rate. The ‘Lavender’, and ‘Cream’. ‘Coral’ bulbs grown in the warmest second type of diurnal pattern showed two peaks, which was (18°C) forcing temperature flowered quicker (176 d) than the observed from February to June and from September to No- bulbs in the coolest (2 °C) temperature (199 d), which was con- vember. In this type, photosynthetic rate decreased at midday sistent for all cultivars. The 10 °C forcing temperature resulted but recovered in the afternoon, with good recovery observed in in the longest stem length for all cultivars. For example, stem February and March. In particular, net photosynthetic rate was length of ‘Lavender’ at 10 °C was 76.3 cm, while at 18 °C it significantly reduced in March when leaf temperature exceeded was 59.6 cm. As the forcing temperature increased the percent 33 °C and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) exceeded 3 kPa. The of marketable stems for ‘Lavender’ decreased from 100% at third type of diurnal pattern exhibited a severe midday depres- 2 °C to 88% at 18 °C. Forcing temperature had no effect on sion without recovery in the afternoon, and was observed in stem caliper of ‘Cream’ and ‘Lavender’, while ‘Coral’ had the July and August. Specifically, net photosynthetic rate decreased thickest caliper at 2 °C. These results suggest that Eucomis and approached 0 µmol·m–2·s–1 when leaf temperature was may be suitable for heated greenhouse, unheated high tunnel, above 40 °C and VPD was higher than 3 kPa. The highest net or field production and has commercial potential as a specialty photosynthetic rate was observed in February. The critical leaf cut flower. temperature beyond which photosynthetic rate reduction took Specified Source(s) of Funding:International Cut Flower Grow- place increased from 26.2 °C in February to 42.7 °C in July, ers Association and the Joseph H. Hill Memorial Foundation indicating that the photosynthetic temperature response of O. gower changes with season and that the plants can acclimate to 3:15–3:30 pm changing temperatures with its heat tolerance increases gradually from early spring to summer. In Situ Measurements of the Electrical Conductivity of Substrates: The Relationship Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agriculture and Food Agency, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan between Bulk EC, Pore Water EC, and Substrate Water Content 3:00–3:15 pm Alem Peter* Developing Production and Bulb Forcing University of Georgia, Athens, GA; peteralem@yahoo. Protocols for Cut Eucomis com Alicain S. Carlson* Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; ascarlso@ Campinas State University/UNICAMP, Campinas; ncsu.edu [email protected] John Dole Paul A. Thomas North Carolina State Univ, Raleigh, NC; john_dole@ncsu. University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] edu Marc van Iersel New cut flower introductions are necessary to keep and increase University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] consumer interest. The objectives of this study were to deter- Electrical conductivity (EC) is commonly used as an indicator mine the appropriate production and bulb forcing protocols for of fertilizer levels in soilless substrates. EC is normally mea- Eucomis ‘Coral, ’ ‘Cream’, ‘Lavender’, and ‘Sparkling Bur- sured using laboratory tests or the pour through method. In situ gundy’ to be produced as a new specialty cut flower. Planting sensors can simplify EC measurements, and allow for con- location (field versus greenhouse), planting density, and forcing tinuous monitoring. In situ EC sensors generally determine the temperatures after storage were investigated for their effects bulk EC of the substrate, by measuring how well the substrate on stem quantity and quality. Stem length was greater in the (the combination of substrate components, substrate solution, greenhouse than in the field for all cultivars. ‘Lavender’ yielded and air spaces) conducts electricity. Bulk substrate EC depends 44.0-cm stems in the greenhouse and 38.1 cm in the field. Stems on both the amount of dissolved salts and substrate water of ‘Coral’ were thinner in the field (11.9 mm) compared to the content (θ). The confounding effect of θmakes interpretation of greenhouse (13.5 mm) and thickest when planted at 6, versus bulk EC difficult, and models have been developed to estimate 12, bulbs per crate in the greenhouse (14.0 mm). ‘Cream’ bulbs pore water EC from bulk EC and θ (e.g., the Hilhorst model). planted in the greenhouse had more marketable stems per plant Since pore water EC represents the EC of the solution that (1.05) than those planted in the field (0.98). For ‘Coral’, as the roots are exposed to, it may be more relevant for plants planting density increased from 6 to 12 bulbs per plot in the than bulk EC. We determined the relationship between field stem length increased from 46.5 to 49.8 cm. Stem caliper bulk EC, pore water EC, and θ. Fixed amounts of fertilizer

S198 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (0.5, 1.5, or 2.5 g) were mixed with different amounts of tion costs for the grower as well as increasing sales by being water. These solutions were added to 1 L of soilless substrate available on weekends and providing exactly what the florist (peat/perlite and peat/vermiculite) to produce substrates con- wants. However, not all of the plants used in the project did taining the same amount of fertilizer but different θ (0.22–0.55 well for our growers either in production or as a product for m–3·m–3). Bulk EC was measured with seven different EC sale. One example was daffodils, which grew well, but no one sensors [W.E.T sensor and SigmaProbe (Delta T Devices), has been able to sell the flowers locally. In addition, we should ECHO-TE, 5-TE, and GS-3 (Decagon Devices), SMEC 2000 have eliminated or scaled back the perennial and woody crops (Spectrum Technologies), and HydraProbe II (Stevens Water included in the project given the amount of time necessary Monitoring Systems)]. After these measurements were taken, before the first harvest for a demonstration project and the cost pore water was sampled to determine the pore water EC with a to procure the plants. With two years of mixed success, we are standard solution EC meter. Both bulk EC and pore water EC expanding the horizons of our growers by visiting successful increased with increasing amounts of fertilizer. The response growers to learn how they plant, manage and harvest their to θ was more complicated: bulk EC increased and pore wa- flower crops and how to market through direct and wholesale ter EC decreased with increasing θ. The increase in bulk EC opportunities. Lessons learned from this trip are being translated with increasing θ was likely due to a decrease in tortuosity, into an individualized research plan for each grower based on making it easier for current to flow between the electrodes their site, market(s) and abilities. of the EC sensors. Pore water EC decreased with increasing Specified Source(s) of Funding: West Virginia Department of water content, because of dilution of the dissolved salts as θ Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant and Northeast SARE increases. Bulk EC data can be misleading since low values can Partnership Grant either indicate low levels of dissolved salts or low θ. Since pore water EC is more relevant for plants than bulk EC, the collected 3:45–4:00 pm data were used to model pore water EC based on bulk EC and θ. The ability to monitor pore water EC will help grow- Not Presented ers fertilize more efficiently, and may allow for automation of fertilization. 4:00–4:15 pm Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI award no. Supplemental Nutrients Compensate for 2009-51181-05768 Insufficient Light for Plant Growth in an Indoor Vertical Gardening System 3:30–3:45 pm Wan Soon Kim Cut Flower Production for Small Farms in The University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] Southern West Virginia—the Good, the Bad, Na Hee Yoon* and the Possibilities The University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] Barbara Ellen Liedl* Hye Young Son West Virginia State University, Institute, WV; liedlbe@ The University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] wvstateu.edu Ji Hyun Seo Flowers sold in West Virginia are almost entirely brought in The University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] from other states and countries; thus, commercial cut flower production is a venture that could increase the profitability The objective of this study was to determine the effects of and diversify a small family-owned farming operation. Funds light intensity and nutrient solution on the growth of indoor were obtained in 2008 to start a demonstration project to inves- plants in the vertical gardening system. The four common tigate the potential of cut flower production in southern West indoor plants of Hedera helix, H. canariensis ‘Variegata’, Virginia. Six growers in five counties were selected after site Epipremnum aureum, and E. aureum ‘Lime’ were used in visits for this project. Two of our growers were experienced this experiment. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks master gardeners wanting to add a new income opportunity. under two different intensities of fluorescent lighting, 40 and The other four growers had an ongoing farm enterprise with 80 PAR, for 12 hours a day in indoor conditions. The nutri- varying levels of production experience. Four of the six farms ent treatment consisted of three levels: no supply (tap water reported sales in their first year of operation with one reporting below EC 0.1 as control) and EC 0.5 and EC 1.0 adjusted by almost $1, 000, which was amazing given the poor weather Hoagland’s solution modified for foliar plants. Results showed conditions in 2009. Zinnias were successful for all of the that the plant growth typified by leaf number and leaf area was growers and most had success to varying degrees with lil- better in low light intensity with nutrient supplement of EC ies, celosia, sunflowers, and ageratum. Some of the growers 0.5 or EC 1.0 for both Epipremnum spp. and Hedera spp. than found markets/florists were very excited about obtaining local in high light intensity without any nutrient supply (control). cut flowers for products that were either high dollar value or Under the same light intensity of 40 or 80 PAR, Epipremnum shipped poorly. In one case, the florist harvests what she wants showed the largest biomass in EC 0.5 nutrient solution while at the farm, thereby eliminating harvest labor and transporta- Hedera did in EC 1.0 nutrient solution. Total nitrogen content

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S199 was higher in low light intensity of EC 0.5 and EC 1.0 than in Specified Source(s) of Funding: D.C. Kiplinger Endowment, high light intensity without any nutrient supply (control). In Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation, Floriculture and Nursery Re- conclusion, the nutrient supplement at the relatively low light search Initiative intensity was more effective for plant growth than at no nutrient supply (control). These results suggest that supplemental 4:30–4:45 pm nutrients could compensate for poor light conditions in the Solution pH and EC Affect Vase Life of Cut growth of indoor foliar plants. Dendranthema, Dianthus, Helianthus, and 4:15–4:30 pm Zinnia Cross Talk between Drought Stress and Alicain S. Carlson* Developmental Senescence Pathways in North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; ascarlso@ ncsu.edu Petunia John Dole Michelle L. Jones* North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; john_ Ohio State Univ/OARDC, Wooster, OH; jones.1968@osu. [email protected] edu Water quality can have a significant impact on the vase Laura Chapin life of cut flowers. The effects of vase solution pH and Ohio State Univ/OARDC, Wooster, OH; chapin.23@osu. electrical conductivity (EC) on the vase life and various post- edu harvest characteristics of Dendranthema ‘Naru Lavender’, Emma Locke Dianthus ‘Burgundy Sangria’, Helianthus ‘Sunbright’, and Ohio State Univ/OARDC, Wooster, OH; locke.86@osu. Zinnia ‘Benary Giant Scarlet’ were investigated. Vase life of edu Dendranthema increased to 14.6 d in acidic solutions from 6.1 d for distilled water. Solution uptake of cut Dendranthema Nicole Waterland was also greater in acidic solutions (94 mL) compared to West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; distilled water (76 mL). There was no significant difference [email protected] in vase life of Dendranthema when solution EC ranged from The postproduction shelf life and garden performance of 0.50 dS·m–1 (21.7 d) to 4.00 dS·m–1 (19.3 d) from NaCl; ornamental plants is greatly reduced by flower and leaf senes- however, all solutions with NaCl resulted in a longer vase life cence. Developmental senescence occurs as plant organs age, than distilled water. For Dianthus the use of buffers to alter but senescence and death can be accelerated by exposure to pH reduced vase life from 24.4 d for the non-buffered control ethylene or abiotic and biotic stresses. We recently used a to 19.9 d for the citrate buffered solutions, but no effect of proteomic approach to investigate protein profiles in senescing actual pH was noted. Additionally, increasing the EC from 0.00 Petunia ×hybrida corollas. One of the senescence-specific to 4.00 dS·m–1 decreased vase life by 10 d. Cut Zinnia stems proteins in corollas was identified as a putative ASR (abscisic were not influenced by solution pH, but as EC increased from acid, stress and ripening induced) protein. A full length cDNA 0.00 to 4.00 dS·m–1 vase life decreased from 10.6 to 6.8 d. encoding the petunia ASR (PhASR4) was identified from Helianthus vase life was not affected by EC, but decreasing a petunia EST collection. PhASR4 shares 60% amino acid pH increased vase life by 1.1d when held in acidic solutions identity with the tomato ASR4. PhASR4 transcripts were detected compared to basic solutions. The use of commercial holding at basal levels in ‘Mitchell Diploid’ (MD) corollas on the day of solution reduced the negative effects of high EC on salt- flower opening (anthesis) and increased at 6 days after anthesis sensitive Dendranthema, Dianthus, and Zinnia and increased when the flowers were just showing visual symptoms of senes- solution uptake. For Dendranthema vase life was 24.6 d when cence. PhASR4 had 2-fold lower transcript abundance at anthesis held in preservative at an EC of 2.50 dS·m–1, while within ethylene insensitive transgenic petunia corollas (35S::etr1-1). out preservative at the same EC it was reduced to 17.4 d. The increase in transcript abundance accompanying flower For Helianthus, solutions with preservative had a solution senescence in MD flowers was not detected in etr1-1 flowers. uptake 10 mL greater than solutions without preservative. PhASR4 was also found to be very responsive to drought stress. In general, stems with longer vase lives also had a high inci- Petunias were exposed to drought stress by withholding water dence of necrotic leaves and petals, petal wilt and bent neck. until plants were completely wilted. Plants were then rewatered In conclusion, each species had unique reactions to the vase and this cycle was repeated three times. PhASR4 transcripts solution treatments, but the general effects were consistent: increased as soil moisture content decreased. After plants were high solution pH or EC or the use of buffers either had no rewatered, PhASR4 transcript levels decreased. PhASR4s puta- effect or reduced vase life and the use of floral preservatives tive role in developmental and stress-induced senescence and increased vase life. its regulation by plant hormones will be discussed. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Dole Fresh Flowers

S200 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 3:00–3:15 pm 2:45–3:45 pm Kings 3 Characterization of the SR/CAMTA Gene Family in Tomato: Cloning, Gene Expression, Postharvest 2 and Calcium Regulation Moderator: Tianbao Yang Tianbao Yang* USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltville, MD; USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltville, MD; [email protected] [email protected]

2:45–3:00 pm Hui Peng USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltville, MD; hui. Quality Differences among Six Blueberry [email protected] Cultivars after Machine Harvest Bruce H. Whitaker Kristin Abney* USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltville, MD; The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; kabney22@ [email protected] gmail.com William S. Conway Dan MacLean USDA-ARS Food Quality Laboratory, Beltville, MD; University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] [email protected] Before the 1960s, all blueberries, whether destined for the Nearly a quarter of all fresh fruits and vegetables in the U.S. fresh or processed market, were harvested by hand. With the market are lost after harvest due to damages caused by wound- advent of machine harvesting, growers were able to increase ing, low temperature and pathogens, as well as fruit softening harvest efficiency at a reduced cost per acre. However, the caused by the gaseous ethylene. The relationship of calcium to quality of machine harvested fruit has not been consistent postharvest maladies is well known. However, the underlying enough to satisfy fresh market demands. The greatest obstacle molecular mechanisms of calcium beneficial effects remain facing the machine harvest of fresh market blueberries is unclear. Previous studies indicated that a calcium/calmodulin- the excessive softening or bruising caused by the harvester. regulated SR/CAMTA gene family in Arabidopsis plays an im- While improvements in harvester technology, including portant role in disease resistance, cold sensitivity and wounding techniques to soften the impact of falling fruit, have seen response. To better understand the SR/CAMTA’s role in fruit some success, a new approach is to breed firmer fruit that can ripening, we cloned seven SlSRs from tomato (Solanum lyco- withstand the impact of machine harvesting. The objective of persicum L.). qRT-PCR analysis indicated that all SlSRs were this project was to determine is firmer fruit could handle the highly and yet differentially expressed during fruit develop- stress of machine harvesting. Three cultivars and advanced ment. Interestingly, expression of SlSR2 was scarcely detected selections that were characterized as having high firmness at the mature green stage (MG), the critical stage when fruit were harvested in parallel to three industry standard cultivars ripening is initiated. Expression of SlSR3L is essentially fruit by hand and machine from a local grower. Fruit were removed specific. Treatment of MG fruits with ethylene, wounding or weekly from storage (0 to 1 °C, 90% to 95% R.H.), followed low temperature differentially affected expression of all SlSRs. by evaluation for firmness and disorders after 2 hours or 3 SlSR2 was induced by all of these treatments, while other SlSRs days at room temperature (21 °C). The three firm cultigens exhibited varied responses to different treatments. A gel-mobility (Sweet Crisp, Meadowlark, and Farthing) yielded the most shift assay revealed that calmodulin was specifically bound to U.S. #1 grade fruit, while the conventional cultigens (Star, a predicted amphiphilic a-helix region of SlSRs in the presence Scintilla and FL 01-248) were substantially softer after both of calcium. Further functional analysis of tomato SlSRs may hand and machine harvesting. Average fruit size was larger help in understanding the mechanisms of fruit ripening and when harvested by hand, but also had more stem tears. How- senescence. The goal of this work is to better maintain tomato ever, the machine harvested had more attached stems. The fruit quality and extend fruit shelf life. length of storage and simulated shelf-life played a significant role in decreasing fruit firmness and increasing the incidence 3:15–3:30 pm of mold. While using firmer varieties for machine harvesting Use of Combinations of Commercially Relevant helped decrease fruit softening, there is still a need to refine O2 and CO2 Partial Pressures to Evaluate machine harvesting for use in the fresh market. the Sensitivity of Nine Highbush Blueberry Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA grant no. 2008- Cultivars to Modified Atmospheres 51180-19579 (Specialty Crop Research Initiative) Randolph Beaudry* Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; beaudry@msu. edu Nihad Alsmairat University of Jordan, Amman; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S201 Carolina Contreras T.M. Webster Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] James F. Hancock Three fumigant alternatives, methyl iodide plus chloropicirn Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; berrygenetics@ (MIDAS), dimethyl disulfide plus chloropicrin (DMDS), and hotmail.com Telone II plus chloropicrin plus Vapam (3-Way) have exhibited Peter Callow promising results in small plot trials for the control of pests Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] (weeds, pathogens, nematodes) in plasticulture production. The The physics and mechanics of atmosphere regulation in controlled objective of this study was to determine if MIDAS, DMDS and atmosphere (CA) storage causes the sum of the percentages of the 3-Way are alternatives to methyl bromide (MB) with respect to weed control in large, on-farm pepper production trials. The O2 and CO2 in the atmosphere to equal the percentage of O2 study was conducted on three commercial farms located in in the gas used to purge accumulated respiratory CO2. When Colquitt, Echols, and Tift Counties in GA during the spring air is used to purge accumulated CO2, the sum of O2 and CO2 percentages equals 21%. We have, therefore, tested a range of of 2007. Treatments were replicated 4 times at each site. Plots ranged from 0.05 to 0.17 ha in size. Pepper height, pepper stand CO2 and O2 combinations (19/2; 18/3; 16.5/4.5; 15/6; 13.5/7.5; and weed emergence were evaluated throughout the season. Fruit 12/9; 6/15; and 0/21 for CO2/O2, respectively, in percent) that sum to 21% on nine blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were harvested according to grower practices and processed cultivars (‘Duke’, ‘Toro’, ‘Brigitta’, ‘Ozarkblue’, ‘Nelson’, through commercial packing houses. Pepper stands and heights ‘Liberty’, ‘Elliott’, ‘Legacy’, and ‘Jersey’) for their effective- did not differ between treatments. Nutsedges and livid amaranth ness at preserving the quality of blueberry fruit stored for 8 were the predominant weeds in the study. There were no differ- weeks at 0 °C. Quality characteristics included surface mold ences in weed control among fumigant treatments at the Colquitt and decay, skin reddening (associated with fruit pulp browning), County farm; compared to a check plot, all fumigants reduced fruit firmness, pulp discoloration, and ethanol and acetaldehyde weed populations by 99%. Nutsedge and livid amaranth densities were significantly greater in the DMDS (18 to 85 plants/ha) content. As CO2 increased, fruit firmness, skin reddening, and decay declined and the proportion of fruit in the higher internal treatment as compared to the MB (1 to 24 plants/ha) standard at quality categories tended to increase. Ethanol and acetaldehyde the Echols County and Tift County sites. The MIDAS and 3-Way accumulation was minimal, indicating fermentation was not treatments did not differ from the MB standard with respect to induced by the atmospheric conditions applied. Cultivar effects weed control at both sites. Yield differences were only noted at were far more pronounced than atmosphere effects. ‘Liberty’ and the Tift County farm. The mean number of boxes of Jumbo fruit ‘Toro’ stored extremely well, ‘Duke’, ‘Brigitta’, and ‘Legacy’ produced (over 4 harvests) in the DMDS treatment was reduced, stored well, ‘Elliott’ stored moderately well, and ‘Ozarkblue’, statistically, by 4% relative to the MB standard; the reduction in ‘Nelson’ and ‘Jersey’ stored poorly. yield was attributed to weed competition. Although labeled for use on peppers in 47 states, the current price of MIDAS makes Specified Source(s) of Funding:Michigan Agricultural Experi- it cost prohibitive for GA growers. DMDS was registered for ment Station use in plasticulture production by the EPA in 2010. Efforts from this and other studies have shown that a DMDS system must 3:30–3:45 pm include herbicides and must be applied under a high barrier Not Presented mulch to provide weed control and yields similar to MB or the 3-Way. The 3-way system has been the most readily adopted MB alternative in Georgia; in 2010, it was applied on over 70% Tuesday, September 27, 2011 of Georgia’s fumigated acreage. 2:45–4:00 pm Kohala 2 Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA

Vegetable Crops Management 2 3:00–3:15 pm Moderator: Eric Brennan Efficacy of Soil Fumigants and Compost on Soil USDA-ARS, Salinas, CA; [email protected] Disease Management and Yield of Watermelon 2:45–3:00 pm George H. Clough* Methyl Bromide Alternatives for Vegetable Hermiston AREC, Hermiston, OR; george.clough@ Production in Georgia: On-Farm Trials oregonstate.edu L.M. Sosnoskie* Philip B. Hamm Hermiston AREC, Hermiston, OR; philip.b.hamm@ University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] oregonstate.edu B.T. Scully USDA ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] The effect of supplemental compost on the efficacy of three soil fumigants in a polyethylene-mulched, drip-irrigated watermelon A.S. Culpepper production system was examined. Well-aged dairy compost University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] (0, 11.2, or 22.4 t·ha–1) was incorporated into the planting bed.

S202 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 InLine (1, 3 dichloropropene + chloropicrin) was chemigated similar to that from the control (3.1 kg/plot). The integration of at 225 and 337 L·ha–1, Telone C-35 (1, 3 dichloropropene + Brassica cover crops in asparagus production system seemed chloropicrin) was shank-applied at 337 L·ha–1, and K-PAM to be promising. A cover crop rotation including Brassica spe- (potassium methyldithiocarbamate) was shank-applied at 505 cies and rye could be used for long-term soil management in L·ha–1, followed by 337 L·ha–1 chemigated. Soil Pythium, Fu- asparagus production. It appears that the Brassica cover crops sarium and Verticillium dahliae populations were reduced by should be planted early in August when the soil has adequate all fumigants, but K-PAM did not significantly reduce the V. moisture for germination. Residual herbicide should also be dahliae population. Soil borne Pythium and Fusarium levels tested for their impact on cover crop establishment. increased as compost application rate increased with InLine at Specified Source(s) of Funding: –1 USDA-NIFA PMAP Award 225 L·ha and K-PAM. At the end of the season, soil Pythium #2010-34381-21286 levels were higher with C-35 as compared to the Check and Inline treatments, but Fusarium and V. dahliae levels were reduced. 3:30–3:45 pm Compost rate did not influence soil borne plant pathogens at that Integrating Brassica Cover Crops Into Onion time. Yield was not affected by either fumigation or compost application. The use of compost does not appear to provide a Cropping Systems: Implications for Plant benefit in controlling these soil borne pathogens and may reduce Population, Stand Establishment, and Yield the efficacy of some soil fumigants. Ajay Nair* Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] 3:15–3:30 pm Mathieu Ngouajio Cover Crops as Strategy to Enhance Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] Biodiversity in Perennial Cropping Systems: Use of cover crops in vegetable production has become an indis- The Case of Asparagus Production pensable tool to increase soil organic matter, reduce soil erosion, Mathieu Ngouajio* suppress weeds, and improve soil biological activity. Selection Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; ngouajio@msu. of cover crops largely depends upon intended agro-ecological edu service. Brassica cover crops produce substantial amount of above- and below-ground biomass and have the potential to Drey Clark suppress plant parasitic nematodes and soil borne diseases. Due Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; clarkdre@msu. edu to these positive attributes brassica cover crops are widely used and may help improve onion cropping systems. This research Benefits of crop rotation are multiple and well understood by investigated the impact of oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus most growers. Unfortunately, short and medium term crop rota- ‘Defender’) and yellow mustard (Sinapis alba ‘Tilney’) on onion tion is not possible in perennial crops like asparagus (Asparagus stand establishment, growth, yield, and grade distribution on a officinalis) that are established for 15 to 20 years of production. muck soil at the Muck Soils Research Farm, Michigan State Cover crops could help improve biodiversity and capture some of University. A split plot experimental design was set up with the benefits of crop rotation in perennial cropping systems. Cur- cover crop treatment (oilseed radish, yellow mustard, or bare rently cereal rye (Secale cereale) is the most utilized cover crop soil) as the main plot and five onion planting densities (647500, to improve asparagus cropping systems. Studies were conducted 562500, 512500, 430000, and 350000 plants/ha) as sub plots. from 2008 to 2010 to test the potential for integrating Brassica Cover crops were seeded in late summer before planting of onion cover crops in asparagus cropping systems. Treatments included crop the following year in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Onion stand Brassica cover crops [a mixture of oilseed radish (Raphanus establishment and yield responded positively to brassica cover sativus) at 6.0 kg/ha and Oriental mustard (Brassica juncea) at crops. In 2008, overall onion stand was about 44% greater in 3.5 kg/ha in 2008 and 2009], and control without a cover crop. the cover crop plots compared with the control without cover Treatment rows were separated with a guard row to avoid con- crop. The impact of the cover crops on marketable yield varied tamination. Plots were managed following commercial produc- with onion planting density. Although cover crops increased total tion practices. Evaluations consisted of cover crop biomass, total yields, at highest onion plant density (647, 500 plants/ha), good asparagus shoot biomass after the first killing frost (in November), stand establishment in cover crop plots, significantly increased spear yield (in April–June), and soil microbial biomass. Timing the quantity of small bulbs, which were non-marketable. As of cover crop seeding and environmental conditions seemed to onion plant density decreased, the benefit of using the cover influence cover crop establishment. During 2008 season when crops became more evident. At an onion plant density of 430, 000 herbicides were not applied to the trial, cover crop establishment plants/ha which is 75% of normal planting density, cover crops was excellent with about 7.5 t/ha of dry biomass. In 2009 and increased marketable yield by 25% as compared to the control 2010; however, cover crop biomass was only 2.5 and 0.7 t/ha, plot. This could be attributed to excellent onion stand count in respectively, due to the effect of residual herbicides. Total soil cover crop plots as compared to the control plot. Onion stand microbial biomass was reduced under Brassica cover crops. establishment or marketable yield was similar for both cover The cover crops also reduced asparagus fern growth in 2009. crops (oilseed radish or yellow mustard). Positive impact of However, yield from the cover crop treatment (3. 3 kg/plot) was cover crop on onion stand establishment has direct implication on

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S203 onion seeding rate. This work suggests that onion growers using Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-ARS brassica cover crops on muck soils should lower onion seeding rates. Often use of brassica cover crops are cost-prohibitive; however, savings in onion seed cost could help offset some of Tuesday, September 27, 2011 the cost associated with the use of those cover crops. 2:45–4:45 pm Queens 6 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Michigan Onion Committee Genetics, Germplasm, and 3:45–4:00 pm Breeding—Cross Commodity Comparison of Tillage Implements to Moderator: Barbara Hellier Incorporate Broadcast Cover Crop Seed for USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] Small-Scale Vegetable Growers 2:45–3:00 pm Eric Brennan* USDA-ARS, Salinas, CA; [email protected] Genetic Relatedness among Entries within Short-Day Onion Germplasm Jim Leap USDA-ARS, Salinas, CA; [email protected] Christopher S. Cramer* New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM; cscramer@ Cover crops play a critical roles in soil and pest management nmsu.edu in sustainable production systems for high-value vegetables. A cover crop’s ability to scavenge nitrogen and suppress weeds Theodore J. Kisha early in the season requires an adequate population density of Washington State Univ, Pullman, WA; [email protected] cover crop plants. A grain drill is the ideal implement to plant Since onions were first domesticated, many different germplasm cover crops because it plants the seed in evenly spaced rows at pools within Allium cepa have been developed. Some of these a uniform depth. However, small-scale vegetable growers may different germplasms are distinguished by their daylength bulbing not be able to justify the cost of a grain drill, and therefore may sensitivity. Among those different germplasms, short-day onions, use a less-costly planting method such as broadcasting cover those is classified as bulbing when 8–12 hours of daylength are crop seed followed by shallow soil incorporation. Growers need reached, differ in their bulb shape and size, soluble solid content information on (1) the optimal method for shallow incorporation and amount of reducing sugars in their fleshy scales, number of broadcast cover crop seed, and (2) the seeding rate adjustments and color of dry bulb scale layers, local adaptation, and disease for broadcast versus drilled seed. To address these needs, a study and stress resistance. Determining the genetic relatedness within was conducted on a certified organic research farm in Salinas, and between short-day onion germplasm pools would be help- California to evaluate cover crop population density of drilled ful in understanding the development of these germplasms and seed (Drill), versus broadcast seed that was incorporated with entries found within them. Entries were selected that grouped either a tandem disc (Disc), a rototiller (Rototiller), or a spring/ into the following germplasm pools: Bermuda, Creole (red, spike tooth harrow (Harrow). The experimental design was a yellow, white), Grano (red, yellow, white), Italian Red Torpedo, randomized complete block with the four planting methods and and White Mexican. Forty accessions were evaluated at ten five blocks. The cover crop was a mixture of 50% rye Secale( microsatellite loci, and relationships among the accessions were cereale) and 50% purple vetch (Vicia benghalensis), by seed graphically displayed in a neighbor-joining tree and using the weight. The rainfed, winter cover crop was planted in early De- program STRUCTURE. The entry selected as an outlier for this –1 cember at 140 kg·ha on the bed top of 2 m wide beds (furrow to analysis, PI 239633, did not group with any of the germplasm furrow). Population densities of rye, vetch, and total cover crop pools suggesting that this entry is quite different genetically were determined at 14 and 47 days after planting (DAP). At 14 than the short-day entries tested even though this entry exhibits DAP, total cover crop densities were 301 plant/m in the Drill many short-day characteristics. There appeared to be few ge- treatment, and significantly less in the all broadcast treatments netic similarities between entries in different germplasm pools. by 32% (Rototiller), 49% (Disc), and 50% (Harrow); the same Many entries within a germplasm pool, e.g., Creole, grouped patterns occurred for rye and vetch densities. By 47 DAP, there together while entries in other germplasm pools, e.g., Grano, were no difference in vetch density between treatments, how- diverged from one another. White and yellow Grano-type entries ever rye and total densities remained lower in Disc and Harrow exhibited introgression from other germplasm pools. White treatments. This study illustrates (1) that a Rototiller is the better Grano entries separated into three genetically distinct groups. implement than a Disc or Harrow to produce an adequate stand ‘New Mexico Yellow Grano PRR’ appeared to be genetically with broadcast seed, (2), up to 2 times higher seeding rates are distinct from other Yellow Grano entries. Within the Bermuda needed for some broadcasting methods than drilling to achieve pool, ‘Eclipse L303’ appeared to be genetically different than the same population density, (3) that cover crop densities were other ‘Eclipse’ entries. less variable in the Drill than broadcast treatments, and (4) that smaller seeds (rye) were more sensitive than vetch seed to soil Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Plant Germplasm incorporation method. System, USDA-ARS; USDA-ARS; New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station

S204 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 3:00–3:15 pm Clementine cultivars in which low-seeded selections are much Comparison of MatK Sequences and TRAP less frequent. Recently, we have found that some low-seeded Molecular Markers for the Taxonomic cultivars developed by this process produce a very low frequency of seedy fruits. In some cases, several seedy fruit occur on the Characterization of Six Species of the Allium same branch or in a cluster. The distribution of seedy fruit among Section Cepa (Mill.) Prokh. Complex trees within and between trial locations is variable, but is not Theodore J. Kisha strongly associated with location across different cultivars. Pos- USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] sible causes of this problem will be discussed in relationship to possible mechanisms by which low-seeded cultivars may arise. Barbara Hellier* USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Citrus Research Board and California Citrus Nursery Board David C. Tank University of Idaho, Moscow, ID; [email protected] 3:30–3:45 pm Jinguo Hu Breeding for Improved Tuber Quality by USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] Introgressing Tuber Calcium Uptake Trait The USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station Cinthya Zorrilla currently maintains 56 accessions in six of the nine wild species University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; Allium Cepa of section (Mill.) Prokh. In 2003–05 this collection [email protected] was grown for characterization and to verify taxonomic identity. Taxonomic classification based solely on morphological char- Jiwan Paul Palta* acteristics can be difficult because the morphological features University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; jppalta@facstaff. separating some species are slight (e.g., A. fistulosum and A. wisc.edu altaicum; A. galanthum and A. pskemeske). We sequenced a Felix Navarro portion of the chloroplast maturase K gene (matK) and employed University of Wisconsin–Madison, Rhinelander, WI; targeted region amplified polymorphism (TRAP) molecular [email protected] markers to verify taxonomic identity. It was found that a few species-specific mutations in thematK sequences could be used Sandra E. Vega to clarify the identity of these wild species. Maximum likeli- University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; hood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of matK sequences [email protected] confirmed morphological characterization of the wild species John Bamberg and cluster analysis based on Jacard’s Similarity Coefficient USDA-ARS, Sturgeon Bay, WI; [email protected]. from TRAP marker data agreed with these results, indicating gov that TRAP markers can be a quick and inexpensive tool for taxo- ‘Atlantic’ is the standard variety for chipping from the field or nomic characterization of this morphologically difficult group. very short-term cold storage. It has traits desired by the chip Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research supported by industry such as uniformity, high specific gravity and high yield. funding from USDA-ARS CRIS 5438-21000-026-00D However, ‘Atlantic’ tubers are susceptible to common scab and internal defects such as internal brown spot (heat necrosis), 3:15–3:30 pm black spot bruise and hollow heart. In contrast, ‘Superior’ has Mutation Breeding for Low Seed Content in been reported as resistant to common scab and internal defects. Also, previous studies in our program revealed that ‘Superior’ Citrus has high tuber calcium as compared to ‘Atlantic’. The F1 segre- Mikeal L. Roose* gating populations of a reciprocal cross between ‘Atlantic’ and University of California, Riverside, CA; mikeal.roose@ ‘Superior’ was evaluated for specific gravity, yield, common ucr.edu scab, internal quality and external appearance. These evaluations revealed that the phenotypic segregation patterns among Timothy E. Williams reciprocal populations were similar for most traits but differed University of California, Riverside, CA; [email protected] for yield. The characteristics of these populations suggest that: The citrus breeding program at the University of California, 1) this population is segregating for tuber calcium, tuber quality, Riverside has developed and released low-seeded selections of scab incidence, specific gravity and tuber yield; 2) the clones several mandarin (C. reticulata) cultivars by gamma irradiation from this 4X-4X population can be adapted to commercial of budwood followed by selection of trees having fruit with few production in a shorter time than introducing traits from exotic seeds in mixed plantings. This process has been very successful germplasm; 3) the maternal effect on the evaluated traits can in some cultivars where the number of seeds per fruit has been be studied and the best female parent to improve a specific trait reduced 10-fold or more, but others are recalcitrant. Development can be identified for future crosses; 4) these populations can be of the low-seeded cultivars ‘Tango’, ‘DaisySL’, ‘FairchildLS’ and used to map traits of commercial interest and identify molecular ‘KinnowLS’ will be summarized and compared with results for markers linked to them; 5) the desired traits of the two parents

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S205 might be combined to develop a new improved Atlantic; 6) Aaron P. Davis and preliminary analyses suggest there is a genetic association Royal Botanic Gardens, Surrey TW9 3AB; a.davis@kew. between tuber calcium and tuber quality. org Specified Source(s) of Funding:Funded in part by HATCH grant Jean Jacques Rakotomalala from the College of Agicultural and Life Sciences, University FOFIFA, Antananarivo; [email protected] of Wisconsin-Madison The genus Coffea L. (Rubiaceae) consists of 103 described species distributed in Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros and the 3:45–4:00 pm Mascarene Islands (Reunion and Mauritius). Although, very Genotypic Diversity in the Seasonal Expression recently the genus Psilanthus Hook.f. has been added to Cof- of Five Peach Dehydrin Genes fea, bringing the total number of species to 124, and extending the natural geographical range of Coffea to include tropical Carole L. Bassett* Asia and Australia. Of these, two species are economically USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV; Carole.Bassett@ars. important for the production of the beverage coffee: Coffea usda.gov arabica and C. canephora. Madagascar has 59 described species Ksenija Gasic of which 42 are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] or Vulnerable by criteria of the Red List Category system of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The National Center Michael Wisniewski of Applied Research and Rural Development (FOFIFA), the USDA ARS, Kearneysville, WV; [email protected]. main agricultural research agency in Madagascar, manages usda.gov and operates the Kianjavato Coffee Research Station which Temperature and water availability are significant factors driv- has a vast ex situ collection of various Madagascan coffee ing the evolution of abiotic stress tolerance in plants through species. There have been no genetic diversity studies of the natural selection. Levels of both freezing and drought tolerance ex situ germplasm at the Kianjavato Coffee Research Sta- can vary widely between and within species. A common feature tion or the in situ populations of wild coffee in Madagascar. among studies of drought- and cold-induced gene expression has Genetic studies need to be undertaken to better understand if been an increase in the abundance of dehydrins, a sub-group of current management practices are adequately maintaining the late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) genes. Using the recently genetic integrity of these valuable genetic resources. Our study released peach genome sequence, we have identified five ‘sig- focuses on assessing the genetic diversity of the ex situ and nature’ dehydrin genes and their promoters. While dehydrins in situ populations, and gene flow patterns within the ex situ encoded by PpDhn1-3 have been previously described, two collection. One of the outcomes will be to make recommenda- additional deydrins in our study, PpDhn4 and PpDhn5, have tions for the long term conservation of the wild coffee gene not been previously characterized. Using the genome sequence pool. Utilizing six microsatellite markers, our study focuses data, we compared the amino acid sequence similarities of the on three species that are cultivated at the Kianjavato Coffee conceptually translated protein products of this gene family, Research Station and also found locally as narrow endemics in as well as similarities among the promoters of the individual the Kianjavato region: Coffea kianjavatensis, C. montis-sacri, genes. To identify which paralogs might be useful in breeding and C. vatovavyensis. programs to improve cold hardiness, we assessed the expression of the dehydrin gene family in bark tissues sampled from five 4:15–4:30 pm named cultivars in the winter and summer of 2010 (Clemson, Enhancing Genetic Variation in Pawpaw SC). Results from qRT-PCR analysis indicated considerable diversity in dehydrin gene expression between cultivars and (Asimina triloba) Cultivars Using Microsatellite between different dehydrin paralogs. Analysis Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA, ARS and the Clemson Kirk William Pomper* University Research Grant Committee Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@kysu. edu 4:00–4:15 pm Li Lu Genetic Diversity of Narrowly Endemic Wild Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; [email protected] Coffea in Madagascar: Implications for Ex Situ Jeremiah D. Lowe Conservation Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@kysu. edu Sarada Krishnan* Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO; krishnas@ Sheri B. Crabtree botanicgardens.org Kentucky State Univ, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ kysu.edu Tom A. Ranker University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a tree fruit native

S206 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 to eastern North America which is in the early stages of do- designations and elucidate within and among family structure. mestication. Most early 20th century pawpaw cultivars have These data were also used to identify individuals to include in been lost; however, recent cultivar releases and potential new core subsets that represent the broader marker diversity of the cultivar releases may have enhanced cultivar genetic diver- wild populations. These subsets can be specifically targeted for sity. The objective of this study was to compare the genetic further characterization and evaluation trials and may provide variation exhibited among older and new pawpaw cultivars and unique alleles of interest to the breeding community. Kentucky State University (KSU) advanced selections using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Polymorphic microsatellite marker analysis was conducted with nine older pawpaw Tuesday, September 27, 2011 cultivars, six recently released PawPaw Foundation (PPF) 2:45–4:45 pm Kings 1 cultivars, and nine KSU advanced selections. Using 18 microsatellite loci, a total of 179 alleles were amplified in the set Water Utilization and of 244 genotypes. The major allele frequency (0.13–0.96), number of genotypes (2–23), and allele size (96–341 base Management 2 pairs) varied greatly by locus. Eighteen loci were highly Moderator: Adam F. Newby polymorphic, as indicated by high expected heterozygosity Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; newby.15@osu. (He = 0.71) and observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.65) values, as edu well as high polymorphism information content (PIC = 0.69). The di-nucleotide SSRs (GA and CA motifs) loci were more 2:45–3:00 pm polymorphic than tri-nucleotide (ATG and AAT motifs) SSRs. Not Presented The PPF cultivars and KSU advanced selections were more closely grouped genetically than with older cultivars. Older 3:00–3:15 pm cultivars displayed the greatest genetic diversity (Ho = 0.69). The pawpaw cultivar base of older and PPF cultivars does Optimizing Substrate Moisture Measurements appear to be genetically diverse. However, KSU advanced in Containerized Nurseries: Insights on Spatial selections contain unique pawpaw germplasm that should and Temporal Variability enhance the genetic base of cultivars if these selections are Dave M. Barnard* released to the public. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; dave. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Evans-Allen Program Funds [email protected] Alex B. Daniels 4:30–4:45 pm Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; Population Structure and Conservation of Wild [email protected] Pyrus communis William Bauerle Gayle Volk* Colorado State Univ, Fort Collins, CO; Bill.Bauerle@ USDA ARS, Fort Collins, CO; [email protected]. Colostate.edu edu Substrate moisture dynamics were continuously measured Christopher Richards in a container grown nursery environment using a system of USDA ARS, Fort Collins, CO; [email protected]. moisture sensors connected to a wireless data logger network. gov We examined spatial and temporal variation in volumetric water content (VWC, m3·m–3) among containers in ten tree species. Von Mark Cruz Despite equal irrigation, variation in VWC occurred within USDA ARS, Fort Collins, CO; [email protected] (standard deviations averaged 13% to 25% of mean VWC) Nahla V. Bassil and among (P < 0.05 for 61 of 118 days) species. Moreover, USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] seasonal differences in within species variation were evident J. Postman in nine of the ten species. Based on the observed spatial and USDA-ARS-NCGR, Corvallis, OR; Joseph.Postman@ temporal variation in substrate VWC, we recommend species ars.usda.gov specific substrate moisture sensor deployment. We report sub- The wild relatives of the edible European pears (Pyrus communis strate moisture sensor quantities that adequately estimate the L.) are native to the Central Asia and Eastern Europe. We have mean substrate VWC of each species population within ± 5% sampled 260 individuals of wild-collected Pyrus communis ssp. VWC. Given the economic value of water and its control on caucasica and Pyrus communis ssp. pyraster from their native biomass production, we conclude that nursery managers can habitats and used 13 microsatellite markers to determine the maintain optimal substrate moisture with minimal sensor genetic relationships among the individuals. Clustering, ordina- deployment. tion, and population statistics provide support to the subspecies Specified Source(s) of Funding: SCRI

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S207 3:15–3:30 pm Steven N. Jeffers A Survey of the Physical, Chemical and Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Microbial Load in Nursery Irrigation Water Sarah A. White Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Dustin P. Meador* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Increased water consumption by both producers of agricultural commodities and the urban community currently is causing a Paul R. Fisher rise in the demand for water. Growers eventually will need to University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] adopt water conservation and retention technology to ensure Charles L. Guy an adequate water supply for irrigation purposes. The use of University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] constructed wetlands is an ecologically-based option for collection and re-use of irrigation runoff. This technology also Phillip F. Harmon limits export of agrichemicals in runoff water to off-site surface University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] waters. A major concern with using recycled irrigation water Natalia A.R. Peres is the potential to recirculate propagules of oomycete patho- University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] gens through the irrigation system. The goal of our proposed study is to assess the potential susceptibility of plants used in Max Teplitski constructed wetlands to infection by species of Phytophthora University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] commonly found at ornamental plant nurseries. Initially, we The objective was to analyze physical, chemical and biological will evaluate five wetland plant species (Canna flaccida, Hy- water quality in horticulture irrigation systems, from a survey drocotyle umbellata, Pontederia cordata, Sagittaria latifolia, of 24 ornamental plant nurseries in the U.S. (“Locations”). and Typha latifolia) to determine the potential for infection by Within each Location, water was collected from up to five points five species of Phytophthora (P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, (“Sample Types”) which included “Source” from municipal or P. cryptogea, P. nicotianae, and P. palmivora). Tissue culture- well supplies, “Tanks” from enclosed storage containers, “Sub- grown plant liners will be placed into modified 3.8-L aquatic irrigation” from water applied to crops in ebb and flood systems, plant containers filled with a simulated nursery effluent solution. “Furthest Outlet” which were irrigation emitters most distant Plants will be challenged independently by zoospores of each from the Source, and “Catchment Basins” from open outdoor species of Phytophthora, and the persistence and viability of retention areas. On average, Source water had the highest physical these zoospores will be monitored throughout the experiment. and microbial water quality of the Sample Types, with the high- Susceptibility of each wetland species will be determined using est UV light transmission (85%), lowest total suspended solids several techniques. Plants will be rated for symptom severity –1 (3.1 mg·L ), and lowest microbial density of aerobic bacteria over time, and root and shoot weights of treated plants will be –1 [1108 colony forming units (CFU)·mL ]. Average quality of compared to those of non-treated control plants at the end of recirculated water from Subirrigation or Catchment Basins did each experiment to determine the impact of Phytophthora spp. not meet recommended levels for horticultural irrigation water, on plant growth. Excised root pieces also will be embedded in in terms of UV transmission (68 to 72% compared with recom- PARPH-V8 selective medium in an attempt to isolate Phytoph- –1 mended 75%), microbial density (>100, 000 CFU·mL compared thora spp. Our results could have important implications for –1 with recommended <10, 000 CFU·mL ), and chemical oxygen the re-use of nursery runoff water for irrigation. Constructed –1 demand (48.2–61.3 mg·L compared with recommended <30 wetlands or vegetated channels should be established using –1 mg·L ). Irrigation water stored in Tanks or applied at Furthest plant species that are not susceptible to infection by species of Outlets had lower physical and biological quality than Source Phytophthora to ensure that these plants do not contribute to water, and microbial density did not meet recommended qual- the inoculum supply in the irrigation system. The next step in ity standards. Compared with a published clogging index for this project will be to determine if wetland plants can serve as small irrigation emitters, microbial density was a greater risk biological filters to help remove propagules of Phytophthora in recycled sources than physical and chemical parameters, spp. from irrigation water. indicating more effective microbial water treatment is needed when recirculating water. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Fnri

3:30–3:45 pm 3:45–4:00 pm Evaluation of Wetland Plants for Potential Impact of Near-Zero and Zero Leachate Susceptibility to Phytophthora spp. Found in Irrigation Treatments on Zinnia Development Irrigation Water at Ornamental Plant Nurseries and Water Use Garrett A. Ridge* Adam F. Newby* Clemson University, Pendleton, SC; [email protected] Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] Inga M. Meadows Daniel K. Struve Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Ohio State Univ, Columbus, OH; [email protected]

S208 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Claudio C. Pasian floriculture production or in landscapes as the supply of potable/ Ohio State Univ, Columbus, OH; [email protected] freshwater is decreasing. In some regions of the United States The reduction of irrigation leachate would reduce resources producers of both ornamental and agronomic crops are already and space required to store and/or treat leachate due to envi- facing a limited supply of high quality water. Given these facts, ronmental concerns. In order to determine the affects of zero it is necessary to determine the salt tolerance of commonly used and near-zero leachate irrigation practices on irrigation volume, greenhouse bedding plants to minimize potential salt damage leaching fraction, water use efficiency (WUE) and crop growth before use of nonpotable water sources is mandated. In this of Zinnia ‘Profusion Knee High Red’ under greenhouse condi- work, we screened fourteen floriculture species and classified tions and to determine how water status of Sunshine LB2 af- them based on their relative tolerance to sodium chloride salin- fects growth and development of this species, Zinnia seedlings ity. Seedlings of fourteen common annual bedding plants were were transplanted in Dec. 2010 into 5-inch containers filled transplanted into 10 cm pots containing a peat-based substrate with a uniform mass of Sunshine LB2 substrate and placed on and were irrigated daily using drip irrigation. Five salt treatments electronic scales in groups of four within a glass greenhouse. 0 (control), 20, 40, 60 and 80 mM of NaCl were prepared in Substrate was brought to container capacity and the weight of 525–L tanks along with a commercial fertilizer (21N–2.2P–16.6 the four container units (substrate + seedling – container) was K) at 150 ppm N. Treatments were randomly divided so that each recorded as the Effective Container Capacity (ECC). Irrigation bench contained a reservoir with one salinity treatment. Within was applied throughout the experiment so that the weight of the each treatment, five plants were randomly sampled each week container units was maintained at 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of for electrical conductivity (EC) using the pour-thru method. Six the weight recorded at ECC. At time of potting the estimated weeks after transplanting destructive harvest was used to obtain matric potential values were 2.78, 2.41, 2.03, or 1.64 kPa based total shoot fresh weight (FW), plant height and plant width. Total on the substrate moisture release curve. Weight of the container dry weight (DW) was recorded after plants were oven-dried at units was allowed to drop 10% below the target weight before 80 °C for 4 d. Pansy (Viola tricolor) and Zinnia angustofolia, irrigating. A Microsoft Excel macro monitored container unit the most sensitive species examined, exhibited 100% mortality weight in real-time and controlled irrigation events. Irrigation when exposed to 80 mM NaCl. The least affected species based was applied through pressure regulated drip emitters. Total on dry weight was snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) with a 54% water applied to each plant 8 weeks after initiation ranged from reduction as NaCl increased from 0 to 80 mM. Only Fuchsia 2.08 L in the 70% ECC treatment to 4.14 L in the 100% ECC hybrida and snapdragon were unaffected by 20 mM NaCl and treatment. Water Application Efficiency (WAE; water used/ in comparing the control to 40 mM NaCl all of the species had water applied) increased linearly from 0.949 in the 100% treat- a significantly reduced dry weight.Verbena ×hybrida, petunia, ment to 1.0 in the 70% treatment. WUE (g dry weight/L water coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) and Begonia hiemalis used) was greatest among the 90% treatment at 3.54 g/L while were the only species that did not undergo a significant height least among 100% treatment at 2.75 g/L. Despite large differ- reduction in comparing the control to 40 mM of NaCl. A four ences in the total amount of water applied, regression analysis category classification system was developed to describe species revealed no response in dry weights, leaf area, growth indexes, response to salt based on percent plant dry weight reduction; the or flower number. Growth measurements were comparable to classification provides guidance as to which species could be the control group, which had a WAE of only 0.731. Although irrigated with more saline water while not compromising plant plants in the 100% treatment were irrigated with 11.2% more growth and quality. The classification may be used by operations water and produced 5.2 times more leachate, plants in the 90% deciding which plants to grow based on their water quality. treatment had the greatest growth index, shoot dry weight, leaf Specified Source(s) of Funding: Post/Schenkel Memorial En- area, and flower number. EC ranged from 1.15 to 1.78 among dowment, Hatch Funds treatments. Future research will determine if other commercial substrate mixes produce the same results when maintained at 4:15–4:30 pm similar estimated matric potential values. Challenges for Intermountain West Native Specified Source(s) of Funding: Grant funds from cooperating Wildflower Seed Production: Irrigation Ohio nurseries Clinton C. Shock* Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; clinton.shock@ 4:00–4:15 pm oregonstate.edu Assessing Tolerance to Sodium Chloride Salinity Erik Feibert in 14 Floriculture Species Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; erik.feibert@ Gonzalo Villarino* oregonstate.edu Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Lamont Saunders Neil S. Mattson Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; monty.saunders@ Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] oregonstate.edu The use of saline irrigation water may eventually be required for Nancy Shaw USDA Forest Service, Boise, ID; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S209 Ram Sampangi The long-term goals of this research are to provide site-specific University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] information to growers about current irrigation practices, to as- Native wildflower seed is needed to restore rangelands of the sess the ability of these sensors to precisely monitor and control Intermountain West. Commercial seed production is necessary water applications in these diverse and complex production to provide the quantity of seed needed for restoration efforts. A environments, and to increase resource use efficiency and re- major limitation to economically viable commercial production of duce costs. We are also focused on how growers use this sensor native wildflower seed is stable and consistent seed productivity information, specifically which data gives the most benefit to over years. In native rangelands, the natural variations in spring the grower for making irrigation decisions in their operation rainfall, soil moisture, and other factors result in different seed and which has a rapid return on investment. Some questions productivity from year to year. For commercial seed production remain about the quality and quantity of information that growers in an arid environment, supplemental irrigation may be often require (to make the most informed decisions on which sensors required for successful flowering and seed set because soil wa- are necessary), and where sensors are best deployed to achieve ter reserves may be exhausted before seed formation. Thirteen intended objectives. Conversely, we need to quantify the value native forb species were tested for their seed yield response to that this information provides in light of equipment, operational three low rates of drip irrigation at the Oregon State University and maintenance costs. By using databases and graphical soft- Malheur Experiment Station in eastern Oregon. Drip tape was ware to integrate these data (e.g., degree-day, vapor pressure installed 0.3 m deep and 1.52 m apart. Four rows of seed were deficit and daily light integral calculations) into models for drilled 0.76 m apart so that the seed were alligned equidistant plant growth, water use and insect phenological development, from a drip tape. Each plot of each specie consisted of four rows we are entering a realm where this information could have of plants with the middle two harvested for seed yield. Each ir- major benefits not only on reducing water and nutrient use, but rigation treatment consisted of four irrigations that were applied also on pest and disease management decisions. These concepts approximately every 2 weeks starting independently with the will be illustrated using a preliminary cost-benefit analysis based flowering of each forb species. The three irrigation treatments on sensor network data from a field nursery in Maryland and a pot- were a non-irrigated check, 25 mm per irrigation (100 mm/ in-pot container operation in Tennessee during Mar–Oct, 2010. season), and 50 mm per irrigation (200 mm/season). The total Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award no. irrigation requirements for these arid-land species were low and 2009-51181-05768 varied by species. The seed yields of Sphaeralcea parvifolia, S. grossularifolia, and S. coccinea and Penstemon acuminatus did not respond to irrigation. Penstemon speciosus and Lomatium Wednesday, September 28, 2011 dissectum had quadratic seed yield responses to irrigation and 7:45–9:00 am Kohala 4 required ≈100 mm of irrigation. Lomatium grayi, L. triternatum, and Eriogonum umbellatum responded quadratically to irrigation Production and Harvest with optimum near 150 to 200 mm. The other species tested had insufficient plant stands to reliably evaluate their responses to Mechanization irrigation. Species varied considerably in their longivity (2 to Moderator: Roger Duncan 6+ years) and delay to first seed set (1 to 4 years). University of California Coop Extn, Modesto, CA; [email protected] 4:30–4:45 pm Considering the Value of Real-Time Sensor 7:45–8:00 am Information Optical Sensors and Sensor Platforms for Detection of Citrus Greening (HLB) Diseases John D. Lea-Cox* University of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] Reza Ehsani University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected]. John C. Majsztrik ufl.edu University of Maryland, College Park, MD; jcmajsz@ umd.edu Sindhuja Sankaran* University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] Wireless sensor networks are allowing specialty crops growers to collect precise environmental and production data, including Leo Gene Albrigo temperature, relative humidity, total and photosynthetically active Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] radiation, rainfall, leaf wetness, wind speed and direction, soil Disease detection at early stages is a critical component of man- moisture, irrigation water application, leaching volumes and soil/ aging citrus greening (HLB) disease. Multiple optical sensing substrate electrical conductivity. We have established a number techniques for detection of HLB have been investigated. This of sensor networks in nursery and greenhouse operations with presentation covers an overview of various sensing techniques different configurations, to provide instantaneous (typically 5–15 and data analysis methods for detection of citrus greening disease. minute interval) and long-term (seasonal; yearly) information Different approaches such as visible-near infrared spectroscopy, for answering specific research and crop production questions. mid-infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy

S210 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 will be discussed. Among the methods, visible-near infrared Finally, recommendations for the improvement of the harvester spectroscopy offers non-destructive detection of symptomatic components will be presented based on the work flow analyses. HLB-infected citrus leaves; while mid-infrared spectroscopy Specified Source(s) of Funding: Washington State University’s offers the advantage of identification of HLB-infected leaves Ag. Research Center and USDA SCRI at pre-symptomatic stages. In addition to the sensors, there will be a discussion on various ground- and aerial-based sensor 8:15–8:30 am platforms. Low-cost multi-rotor remote sensing platforms and autonomous tractors are examples of two approaches that were Evaluation of the Index of Absorbance used and will be discussed in this talk. Difference (IAD) to Determine Optimal Harvest Specified Source(s) of Funding:Citrus Reserach and Develop- Time of Peach Fruit ment Foundation, USDA Ksenija Gasic* Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] 8:00–8:15 am Terrence J. Frett UML Modeling of Mechanical Harvester Work Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Flow Bradley Rauh Yiannis Ampatzidis* Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, Prosser, WA; [email protected] Gregory L. Reighard Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Matthew D. Whiting Washington State Univ, Prosser, WA; mdwhiting@wsu. Nannan Yang edu Clemson Univ, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Establishing the optimal harvest time is critical in peach produc- Xiaoquang Du tion. Since fruit shelf-life potential and quality are closely related Washington State Univ, Prosser, WA; xiaoqiang.du@wsu. edu to the ripening stage at harvest, determining the right time for harvesting peaches is of utmost importance to everyone in the Qin Zhang fruit growing and distribution chain: growers, distributors and Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, consumers. The predominant way to establish optimal harvest Prosser, WA; [email protected] time is by fruit size and ground color development which can Various forms of mechanical harvesters have been developed for vary from year to year and does not always coincide with best different fruit crops with the general goals of reducing harvesting fruit quality. A newly developed, non-destructive device that costs, improving harvest efficiency, and increasing profitability. estimates fruit ripeness by measuring chlorophyll content (IAD The development of a novel harvest system must address key index) in the fruit, shows promise for both applied and sci- challenges including: variability in canopy architecture, large entific applications. This tool makes it possible to accurately dense canopies, uniform fruit removal, potential yield reductions establish the optimal harvest time by monitoring fruit ripening from uncollected fruit, and fruit damage induced during detach- on the tree, and consequently, to reduce the variability that is ment and/or collection. Our lab group has been investigating present in packinghouse fruit. In this research the IAD device potential mechanical harvest systems for sweet cherry (Prunus was evaluated for its usefulness to non-destructively determine avium L.) and addressing these important factors. We have optimal harvest time by comparing the measured IAD index to reported previously on a prototype mechanical harvest system standard fruit quality parameters such as fruit firmness, soluble that utilizes a rapid displacement actuator (RDA) in a modified solids content, and titratable acidity so to verify the accuracy ‘shake-and-catch’ procedure. The current report describes recent of the IAD to grade peach fruit into ripening classes, character- efforts to improve and/or redevelop this mechanical harvesting ized by different shelf-life potential and consumer acceptance. system by modeling all activities and states of the harvester During the 2009 and 2010 harvest seasons, 5 and 11 different during actual and simulated harvest. The main harvest system peach cultivars, respectively, were analyzed for IAD variability components will be described and the utility of each component at harvest, and fruits were separated into three groups based on outlined. Further, a model describing the work processes of the IAD index where each IAD fruit group has been further subjected harvester will be presented. The model is developed using the to fruit quality testing. Data show there was variability of IAD state diagrams of Unified Modeling Language (UML), to explain index between genotypes and among harvested fruit. Results of how the main harvester components transit from state to state a blind consumer survey using fruit from two cultivars sorted by dynamically. Using these state diagrams the behavior of an object IAD index revealed higher appreciation and willingness to pay (response and action) can be predicted through the entire system. for more ripe fruit, corresponding to the fruits in the lower IAD Inefficient steps in the harvest process will be identified from a category. Broad application potential in fruit production and multitude of sensors (e.g. pressure transmitters for monitoring distribution as well as in scientific research will be discussed. of hydraulic system pressures, accelerometers, RTK GPS) on the Specified Source(s) of Funding:South Carolina Peach Council harvester to capture the time spent in each state during harvest.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S211 8:30–8:45 am orchards in California’s North San Joaquin Valley, where trees A New Low-Cost Aerial Imagery Platform and had been trained to a two-scaffold “V” system. Use of the me- Its Applications for Precision Horticulture chanical blossom thinner reduced hand thinning requirements of green fruit by 22% to 27%, increased fruit size and marketable Reza Ehsani* yield and increased net per acre income by $1251 to $1383. In University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; 2010, the string thinner was evaluated in three orchards where [email protected] trees were trained to a more traditional open center “vase” Joe Maja shape (134–173 trees per acre). In addition, blossom thinning University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] on the sides and tops of trees was compared to blossom thinning the sides only. In these orchards, follow up hand thinning High resolution, multi-band aerial imagery can be used for requirements were reduced by 0% to 29% and fruit diameter many different applications in horticultural crops such as yield was increased by 3.8–4.4 mm at harvest. In one out of three estimation, disease and stress detection. A new low-cost flying orchards, saleable yield was increased significantly (P < 0.05) platform was utilized and equipped with a multi-band camera. by blossom thinning, while yield was significantly reduced The platform has several unique features that make it ideal for in another orchard when blossoms were thinned on the tree applications in horticultural crops. It can take off and land verti- tops and sides. Change in net per acre income ranged from an cally like a helicopter which allows it to be launched and land in increase of $874 to a loss of $328. Although trees trained in any environment or terrain. The camera mount installed on this the traditional vase shape proved more difficult to mechani- system can automatically correct for yaw and pitch angle and cally blossom thin than high density “V” trained trees, follow will keep the camera parallel to the ground. This will eliminate up hand thinning costs can be reduced and yields increased if the need for post geometric correction of the images. It can be performed carefully. Care must be taken during follow up hand flown using a normal RC transmitter. It can lift a payload of thinning to avoid excessive fruit removal and reduced yields. about 5 lbs. The system has the capability of flying to a GPS In an additional experiment, blossom removal at pink bud waypoint or fly according to a pre-assigned flight path. This was equivalent to thinning at full bloom. Flowers were more feature is important for flying the same flight path over and difficult to remove at petal fall but similar levels of blossom over again for comparison with previously collected data. The thinning could be achieved by increasing the rotational speed applications of this platform were investigated for different of the thinner. This study suggested that there is at least a three horticultural crops. An optical multispectral imaging sensor in- week window from pink bud through petal fall in which the corporated on the platform which measures the reflectance from mechanical blossom thinner can be used effectively. the orchard in the visible and infrared regions of the spectra in two dimensions. Vegetation indices computed based on visible Specified Source(s) of Funding:California Canning Peach As- and near-infrared wavebands provide additional information on sociation & SCRI grant the health of the plants. This platform provides a higher resolution than satellite and aerial images. This presentation provides Wednesday, September 28, 2011 information about this system and examples of its applications 8:00–9:30 am Kohala 2 for several horticultural crops. Specified Source(s) of Funding:CRDF BioEnergy Moderator: Dennis T. Ray 8:45–9:00 am University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. Mechanical Blossom Thinning of North San edu Joaquin Valley Processing Peaches 8:00–8:15 am Roger Duncan* University of California Coop Extn, Modesto, CA; Economic Analysis of Various Production and [email protected] Handling Alternatives for Perennial Bioenergy Crops Including Heating a Greenhouse Maxwell Norton University of California Cooperative Extension, Merced, Robin G. Brumfield* CA; [email protected] Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; brumfield@ aesop.rutgers.edu Scott Johnson Zane R. Helsel Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA; [email protected] Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; helsel@aesop. Most processing peach (Prunus persica) varieties must be rutgers.edu thinned in order to obtain acceptable fruit size. Hand-thinning With the current and future needs for clean, renewable energy, is the most costly cultural operation in the production of early numerous crop plants, often referred to as biomass energy crops, harvested varieties. In 2009, a tractor-mounted, string blossom have received significant attention. Switchgrass (Panicum virga- thinner (Darwin PT 250, Fruit Tec, Deggenhausertal, Germany) tum) and other warm season perennial native grasses are among was evaluated in two high-density commercial processing peach

S212 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 those being considered by the U.S. Department of Energy, United regions. Significant differences in leaf and canopy morphology States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and others because and development patterns were observed among the varieties; of their broad geographic adaptation and ability to produce however, effects probably due to timing of planting masked significant amounts of quality biomass even on marginal, non- differences in yield and quality among the varieties. Differences food crop lands. While many factors are involved in considering among genotypes in yield estimates and sugar content were crops like switchgrass as a bioenergy crop, potential economic generally minimal; however, genotypes with the planophile-type returns are one of the most important. We used budgeting and foliage had slightly higher sugar contents than the erectophile sensitivity analyses to evaluate production of switchgrass with genotypes, perhaps due to greater radiation interception and and without irrigation at different yield levels and lengths of CO2 assimilation. These results demonstrate that tropical sugar stand. We evaluated several cost levels of processing harvested beets can be grown profitably in subtropical climate conditions hay into pellet and marketing at the wholesale or retail level with yields similar to those commonly realized in temperate verses on-farm use. Results of the analyses of these various commercial production regions. The data suggest that higher- scenarios revealed several trends. Unless both energy prices and than-average yields are possible when optimal planting dates yields are high in the seeding year, it does not appear profitable and other cultural practices are developed and implemented. to harvest the 1–2 tons that are generally expected. Estimated TSB varieties could serve as a rotational crop to supplement the established yields ranged from 3 to 5 tons per acre for non- sorghum/sugar cane-based bioenergy feedstock supply chains. irrigated crops, and from 5 to 8 tons per acre for irrigated crops. Because the TSB production season is typically short (5–6 Irrigation costs would need to be under about $20/acre-inch to months), the potential for high yields is great in the subtropical break even. Costs for pelletizing reported to us ranged from $40 climate conditions. to $95/ton depending on the amount of pre-processing, type of equipment, etc. It was difficult to find profitable scenarios, 8:30–8:45 am even at high energy prices when those costs exceeded $80/T. Sugar and Ethanol Yield Response of Sweet Retailing of pelletized biomass was more profitable under all Sorghum to Variable In-Row Spacing yield levels compared to wholesaling. On-farm use of pellets for home, shop, greenhouse or other heating provided a Valerie H. Teetor positive return at all yield levels. Considering the volatility University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. of oil prices, farmers (such as greenhouse owners) who have edu requirements for on-farm use, can reduce the input price risk Denise V. Duclos of the cost of fuel by producing their own fuel. The costs of Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] baling, transportation and pelletizing were the three highest costs in the overall production. Practices to reduce these costs Michael J. Ottman such as direct flail chopping of dry standing switchgrass, local University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. group processing and/or utilization in raw (non-pelleted) forms edu could result in substantial cost reductions and the opportunity Carl L. Schmalzel to realize significant profits for production of biomass energy University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; cschmalz@email. on non-food crop lands in New Jersey to replace purchased arizona.edu fuel or to retail or wholesale to others. Dennis T. Ray* 8:15–8:30 am University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. edu Screening Tropical Sugar Beets as Potential Feedstocks for BioEnergy Production Previous studies have shown that sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) can be grown in the arid southwest US with John L. Jifon* fewer inputs than other biofuels crops. The need for specific Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX; [email protected] information for growers on optimal stand density prompted the Commercial sugar beet (Beta vulgaris var.) production for current research. In 2009 and 2010, three varieties (Cowley, sugar takes place predominantly in temperate regions; however, M81E, and Topper) were each planted at five densities (2.5, recently-developed tropical sugar beet (TSB) varieties constitute 4, 6.7, 10, and 20 plants/m). All treatments of each line were a specialty item that can be grown in tropical and subtropical harvested at maturity; in addition, juice samples were analyzed regions as a feedstock crop for biofuel (bioethanol) production. for sugars on a semi-weekly basis. In 2009, the more plants per Field investigations were conducted between 2008 and 2010 area the lighter the weight of the stalks; and they also contained near Weslaco, Hidalgo County, TX, to verify, and to estimate less juice, and had smaller stem diameters. Stems of M81E had productivity, root quality, and susceptibility to bolting poten- significantly smaller diameters than the other two varieties, tial of tropical sugar beet (TSB) varieties under sub-tropical but these stalks had higher sugar concentrations, averaging –1 –1 conditions. None of the seventeen varieties evaluated bolted 652.4 g·L and with the highest at 775.7 g·L . Sugar values during the study period. Estimates of root yield (~20 tons/acre) for Cowley were generally in the middle, while Topper was and root sugar concentrations (12% to 19%) were within the consistently on the bottom. Plants in the densest treatment range of values commonly reported in temperate production were tallest with smaller stem diameters. In 2010, the field

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S213 weights and stem weights of plants from the widest two spac- in hot/dry environments, and continuing questions concerning ings were significantly heavier and contained more juice than the real potential for developing economic yields. Germplasm the two densest treatments. The only significant differences in has been collected from a number of areas around the world. stem diameters existed between the two extreme treatments Differences in phenotypic characters are present among the for M81E and Topper, with the smallest diameter stems in the collections, especially between Indian/South Asian and New 20 ppm treatments. In both years, all three varieties displayed World collections. Obvious differences have not been observed similar trends in sugar accumulation. Very little glucose and within the collections for phenotypic characters. Subsets of fructose are present up until late July (around 80 days after these collections have been surveyed for biodiversity levels planting); less than 10 g·L–1 of each. Sucrose concentration is with SSRs and molecular marker diversity was observed. The below detection limits (5 g·L–1) until the end of August (about significance of observed SSR diversity from a plant improve- 120 days after planting), when a rapid increase up to and in ment perspective has not been established, however. –1 excess of 100 g·L occurs at the final harvest in November (at Specified Source(s) of Funding: Chevron physiological maturity, almost 200 days after planting). The two years of data show that sweet sorghum grown for sugar 9:00–9:15 am in the semi-arid Southwest have higher yields when grown at a stand density between 2.5 and 4 plants/m. When plants are Phenological Changes in Jatropha curcas too close together, competition for resources produces thinner Accessions under South Florida Environmental stalks with less juice. Conditions Specified Source(s) of Funding: Western Region Sun Grant Silvia Nietsche* Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Janaúba; silvia. 8:45–9:00 am [email protected] Jatropha curcas: A Biodiesel Crop for Wagner Vendrame California? University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] Dan Parfitt* Jonathan H. Crane University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; deparfitt@ University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] ucdavis.edu Wanda Montas Shrinivasa Upadhyaya University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; Jatropha (Jatropha curcas, Euphorbiaceae) has been identified [email protected] as a potential biofuel species. The oil extracted from seeds Sham Goyal has proven characteristics as an excellent biodiesel fuel and it University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; ssgoyal@ has been tested in diesel engines and in jet fuel mixes. However, ucdavis.edu breeding in jatropha is practically nonexistent. Important in Uriel A. Rosa breeding programs, data on leaf and flower initiation can lead University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; uarosa@ to the identification of early, mid-season and late genotypes. ucdavis.edu The objective of present study was to describe the phenological changes in jatropha accessions planted at Tropical Research Helen M. Chan and Education Center of the University of Florida, in Homestead. University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; hmchan@ We selected 110 two-year-old trees of jatropha representing ucdavis.edu 17 accessions from 12 countries for evaluations. The trees Jessica Grice lose their leaves during winter; therefore daily observations on University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; jgrice2@ flower initiation were recorded between Apr. and May 2010 gmail.com and leaf initiation was recorded between Feb. and Mar. 2011, when new leaves emerged. The first floral buds were observed Anna Davidson during the last week of Apr. 2010. On 23 Apr. 2010, 46% University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; adavidson@ of all accessions presented flowers. In accessions from Mexico ucdavis.edu flowers initiated on 12 May 2010, thus classified as late Bryan Jenkins genotypes. New leaves started emerging on 3 Feb. continuing University of California, Davis, Davis, CA; bmjenkins@ through 30 Mar. 2011 with different start dates for the acces- ucdavis.edu sions. Two accessions from Indonesia and Honduras were the earliest. Between 21 and 28 Mar., 78% of all accessions started An overview of the development and promotion of Jatropha leaf initiation, and were characterized as mid-season genotypes. curcas as a new biodiesel crop for California is presented. Four All 11 accessions from Mexico remained leafless through research plots were established, of which two continue to be March. Only 1.8% of accessions evaluated were classified as evaluated. Issues limiting the development of the crop in Cali- early genotypes while 10% of all accessions evaluated were fornia are lack of cold tolerance, lack of pollination/flowering classified as late genotypes. The average difference between an

S214 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 early genotype and a mid-season genotype was 46 days. Leaf Wednesday, September 28, 2011 and flower initiation can be affected by water availability, tem- 8:00–9:45 am Kings 3 perature, photoperiod, and genotype. In this study, differences between accessions were genotypic and indicate an existing Weed Control and Pest level of genetic variability. The evaluation and utilization of such variability is essential in breeding programs and can contribute Management 3 for the development of cultivars that are suitable for different Moderator: Gary Bender agro-climates. University of California, Fallbrook, CA; gsbender@ ucdavis.edu 9:15–9:30 am 8:00–8:15 am Correlation of Leaf Anatomy and Plant Growth Whitefly Pesticide Use and Efficacy in Arizona among Clones of Bio-Energy Oil Plant Cornus Ornamental Plants wilsoniana Stacey Bealmear* Jinquan Tong University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; [email protected]. Central South University of Forestry and Technology, edu Changsha, Hunan; [email protected] Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci are a major pest of orna- Qian Ma mental and agricultural crops in Arizona. They cause injury such Central South University of Forestry and Technology, as leaf curl, sooty mold as well as transmit viruses that cause Changsha, Hunan; [email protected] plant death. A recent whitefly dispersal study, conducted in Yuma County, reemphasized that whiteflies are considered major Lijuan Jiang pests between June and October. Average whitefly trap counts Central South University of Forestry and Technology, for this time in 2008 and 2009, were 1000 and 1500 per trap, Changsha, Hunan; [email protected] respectively. A comparison of populations between the City of Changzhu Li Yuma and surrounding agricultural areas found that agriculture Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha, Hunan; in the western regions of Yuma influenced whitefly populations [email protected] immediately adjacent to the city (Bealmear, unpublished 2009). This movement leads to questions about management. A survey Juan Zhou of pesticides used in Arizona agriculture was done in 1995, while Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan; [email protected] similar chemistries are available for ornamental plants these products were not included in the survey. In Feb. and Mar. 2010 Donglin Zhang* a statewide survey was administered to home gardeners to deter- University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] mine which whitefly control products they used. Two hundred Cornus wilsoniana Wangerin, a member of Cornaceae, is a and seventy-nine people, mostly homeowners, responded to the deciduous or evergreen tree or shrub that is endemic to China. survey. Participants from seven counties indicated whiteflies were It is an important plants for its ecological significance and eco- pests in their gardens, Yuma residents responded with the highest nomic value. Its fruits, which have rich oil with high oleic and number. Nine different products were evaluated for efficacy in linoleic acid, had been untilized for edible oild production for July and Aug. 2010 to see which one had the highest efficacy. centuries. Today, this plant is an important biodiesel feedstock Preliminary data showed that while some products reduced in China and brings a lot of research and development atten- whitefly numbers nothing worked consistently throughout the tion. Many existing plantations from natural seedlings had little treatment period. or no use due to its height and lower yield. To establish new Specified Source(s) of Funding: The Arizona Department of plantation, dwarf plants with high yield have to be selected. Agriculture Correlation between leaf anatomy and plant growth of 10 C. wilsoniana clones were analyzed. The findings indicated 8:15–8:30 am that leaf area and thickness had little relationship with plant Not Presented growth. However, leaf anatomical structures, especially thickness of spongy tissues, significant positively correlated with 8:30–8:45 am stem diameter at the ground level. Internode length positively Not Presented correlated with palisade thickness, but negatively related to the spongy layer thickness. So did as to ratio of palisade to spongy 8:45–9:00 am tissues. Internode length determines branch length, as well as Developing an IPM Strategy for Tomato spotted habit and plant height. We could use the palisade thickness and wilt virus in California ratio of palisade and spongy tissues to predict the dwarfness of potential clones of C. wilsoniana. Michelle LeStrange* University of California Cooperative Extension, Tulare, CA; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S215 Robert L. Gilbertson reducing thrips in tomatoes, as well as using resistant cultivars University of California Davis; [email protected] and spatial separation of fields for TSW management in Cali- fornia processing tomatoes. Ozgur Batuman University of California Davis; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Tomato Research Institute Diane E. Ullman University of California Davis; [email protected] 9:00–9:15 am Thomas A. Turini Rye Living-Mulch Effects on Soil Moisture and University of California Cooperative Extension, CA; [email protected] Weeds in Asparagus C. Scott Stoddard Daniel C. Brainard* University of California Cooperative Extension, CA; Michigan State Univ, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] [email protected] Living-mulches growing below the asparagus fern canopy, can provide soil-health benefits and suppress weeds, but may also Eugene M. Miyao suppress asparagus through competition for water or nutrients. University of California Cooperative Extension, CA; [email protected] The central objective of this research was to test whether cereal rye (Secale cereale) living-mulch, in combination with over- Tomato spotted wilt (TSW) caused by the thrips-transmitted head irrigation, could provide comparable weed suppression to virus Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), has steadily increased standard residual herbicides without reducing asparagus yields. in California processing tomato since 2003 and is causing eco- A field experiment was conducted from 2008 to 2010 in a ma- nomic losses. A team of researchers began investigating the ture asparagus planting on sandy soils in western Michigan, to sources of virus inoculum, the population dynamics of thrips, evaluate the effects of irrigation (none vs. overhead), and weed and how to effectively manage TSW in processing tomatoes management system (standard herbicides vs. rye living-mulch) with the objective to develop an integrated pest management on weed suppression, soil moisture content, and asparagus yield. (IPM) strategy. TSWV is found worldwide with an extensive Rye living-mulch and herbicide treatments were established im- host range (over 900 species). It is transmitted by at least nine mediately following asparagus harvest in late June. Rye living- species of thrips, but we determined that western flower thrips mulch reduced available water content in early August by 25% (Frankliniella occidentalis) is the most important vector in Cali- to 50% compared to non-rye treatments, but had no detectable fornia. Not all hosts are equally important in the epidemiology of effect on asparagus yield in either year. Compared to non-rye this disease. In general, TSW susceptible plants on which thrips treatments, rye living-mulch reduced emergence and growth can complete their entire lifecycle play the most important role. of fall-germinating weeds including dandelion and horseweed. Extensive surveys (2004–10) for TSWV reservoirs in common However, in 2 of 3 years, rye resulted in greater densities of weeds in and around susceptible crops revealed very low infec- summer annual weeds during fern growth. After 3 years, the tion incidence (<0.1%). However, in fall of 2010 weedy fallow density of summer annual weeds including Powell amaranth fields with relatively high numbers of TSWV-infected plants and sandbur was much higher in rye treatments than where (7% sowthistle and 5% prickly lettuce plants) were discovered standard residual herbicides were used. Our results suggest that and are now considered important potential inoculum sources. 1) soil-improving rye cover crops can partially suppress weeds, The role of almonds, onion, and alfalfa (reported non-hosts but may also compete with asparagus for soil moisture in dry of TSWV) as potential sources of TSWV-carrying thrips was years unless irrigation is used; and 2) successful use of rye living investigated and ruled out after monitoring thrips over a three- mulches for weed management will depend on identification of year period. TSWV was not detected in collected insects by a complementary weed management practices to avoid build-up sensitive PCR-based test. Tomatoes and peppers (known hosts) of the summer annual weed seedbank. were proven to be capable of amplifying the virus in summer during the tomato growing season. Another potential inoculum Specified Source(s) of Funding: Michigan State University source of TSWV in tomatoes are “bridge” hosts, which are TSW Project GREEEN; Michigan Department of Agriculture susceptible crops grown during winter months when tomatoes are not grown. These crops, lettuce, radicchio, and fava bean, were 9:15–9:30 am surveyed for thrips and TSWV infection over the past four years Evaluation of Mulches, Soil Applied Fabric and and confirmed to be hosts of TSWV. In particular, radicchio is Sub-Irrigation for Control of Adult Diaprepes a very susceptible host and sustains high thrips populations. In abbreviates L. Emergence from Soil surveys conducted from 2007–2010 thrips populations associated Gary Bender* with tomato transplant greenhouses were relatively low with no University of California, Fallbrook, CA; gsbender@ obvious thrips damage or TSW disease observed on transplants ucdavis.edu grown in monitored greenhouses. An integrated pest management (IPM) program includes strategies for susceptible crop Loretta Bates and weed sanitation, reducing movement of thrips to tomatoes University of California, Fallbrook, CA; lbates@ucdavis. from potential winter weed hosts and susceptible winter crops, edu

S216 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Jim Bethke 9:30–9:45 am University of California, Fallbrook, CA; jabethke@ Phenology of the Root Weevil Diaprepes ucdavis.edu abbreviatus in Lemon Groves in San Diego Gary Tanizaki County, California University of California, Fallbrook, CA; gtanizaki@ ucdavis.edu Loretta Bates* Joseph Morse University of California, San Marcos, CA; lbates@ University of California, Fallbrook, CA; joseph.morse@ ucdavis.edu ucr.edu Jim Bethke Kris Godfrey University of California, San Marcos, CA; jabethke@ California Department of Food and Agriculture, ucdavis.edu Sacramento, CA; [email protected] Gary Bender The Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviates L. (Cole- University of California, San Marcos, CA; gsbender@ optera: Curculionidae) was discovered as the cause of an early ucdavis.edu decline and death of citrus trees and some ornamental plants along coastal Orange and Los Angeles counties in 2005 and Joseph Morse University of California, Riverside, CA; joseph.morse@ San Diego County in 2006. Quarantine was established and an ucr.edu attempt to eradicate this invasive pest was initiated in 2006, but we discovered that soil applications of the pesticides bifenthrin Kris Godfrey and imidacloprid, and entomopathic nematodes did little to California Department of Food and Agriculture, control Diaprepes larvae in the clay soils along the coast. The Sacramento, CA; [email protected] California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) determined The root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Circu- that this pest could not be eradicated and the quarantine was lionidae), a native of the Caribbean and a pest in Florida since discontinued in 2009. Research efforts to control this pest are 1964, was identified as a pest in southern California in 2005 and now focused on cultural and other biological control methods. in San Diego County in 2006. The phenology of the Diaprepes We conducted a study in a six yr old lemon grove in 2009 and root weevil was examined in San Diego County, California, and 2010 to evaluate the effect of blocking adult emergence from compared with similar data reported from Florida. Transects soil by using a thick mulch layer, a small-meshed landscape were set up in six hillside groves of rough lemons. Four of the fabric and a dry soil barrier (created by sub-irrigation). The groves had been part of the CDFA eradication spray program, non-treated replicates served as the controls. We hypothesized while two had not. The 0.5 to 1.5 acre (0.2–0.6 ha) groves were that at least one of these barriers could interfere with the life on hillsides with heavy clay soil. Although the groves differed cycle of this pest and eventually reduce the adult populations in size, the transect setup was identical in the six groves. Each in the foliage of lemons. The trial was set up with 9 tree units transect consisted of 10 contiguous trees arranged in a diagonal for each of the four treatments (with the center tree as the data line across each grove from northwest to southeast. Emergence tree, monitored weekly by Tedders traps), this was replicated of adult weevils was monitored using modified Tedders traps four times. The mulch treatment consisted of a 6-inch (21 cm) placed ≈2 ft (0.6 m) from the trunk of each tree comprising layer of composted wood chips, the landscape fabric consisted each transect. Traps were checked weekly or biweekly from of a 144 sq ft of small meshed fabric (Weed-X Pro) under Mar. 2008 through Dec. 2009. The number of adult weevils each tree, and the dry soil barrier treatment was created by which emerged from the soil and collected in the Tedders installing three underground drippers under each tree (output traps reflected seasonal activity and abundance of Diaprepes. matched the 15 gal//hr applied by micro-sprinklers on the Patterns of Diaprepes adult emergence varied seasonally with control trees). Almost 100% reduction of adult emergence was changes in soil moisture and temperature in both California and achieved when the landscape fabric was kept intact (2009) but Florida. In both wet and dry years, California weevil popula- emergence occurred in 2010 when the fabric was torn by grove tions show only one seasonal emergence peak in late summer operations. Adult emergence was reduced to about 70% in the or fall, (July–November), unlike the two peaks reported in some sub-irrigation treatment in 2009 when the summer was hot weevil populations in Florida. Southern California winters are and dry, but emergence occurred in 2010 during periodic rains colder than those of weevil infested areas in Florida and southern toward the end of summer. The mulch treatment kept the soil California summers are much drier. Year-to-year differences moist in between irrigations and this resulted in greater adult in weevil densities appear to reflect differences in humidity emergence (compared to the controls) during 2009 and 2010. and soil moisture. Statistically, more weevils showed up in the Landscape fabric appears to be successful as a cultural control previously treated groves which had older infestations than in measure for Diaprepes adult emergence from soil. the untreated, more recently infested groves. Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Dept. of Food and Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Dept. Food and Agriculture 2009 Specialty Crops Block Grant Agriculture Specialty Crops Block Grant

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S217 Wednesday, September 28, 2011 most rain events. Growth of Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama Red’ 8:00–10:00 am Kohala 3 was correlated with θ thresholds in both locations despite the different environmental conditions. Nursery Crops 2 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Funding provided by USDA- Moderator: John Majsztrik NIFA-SCRI Award no. 2009-51181-05768 University of Maryland, College Park, MD; jcmajsz@ umd.edu 8:15–8:30 am Monitoring Environmental Conditions and 8:00–8:15 am Substrate Water Content for More Efficient Growth of Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama Red’ in Irrigation in Nurseries Response to Sensor-Controlled Irrigation in Two Paul A. Thomas* Outdoor Nursery Settings University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Amanda Bayer* Matthew Chappell University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; hortprod@uga. John M. Ruter edu University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] John M. Ruter Matthew Chappell University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Sue Dove Marc van Iersel The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Marc van Iersel Decreasing water availability is necessitating more efficient University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] water use by horticultural operations. Best management prac- Excessive irrigation in greenhouses and nurseries leads to nutrient tices (BMPs) are often employed in efforts to conserve water; leaching and runoff. Obstacles to implementing more efficient however, BMPs do not account for water requirements of irrigation practices include determining when plants need to plants. Soil moisture sensors can be used to control irrigation be irrigated and how much water should be applied. We have by irrigating when substrate volumetric water content (θ) drops deployed wireless sensors networks in commercial nurseries below a particular threshold. Sensor technology, along with to provide growers with real-time information concerning the automated irrigations systems, allow for more precise irrigation environmental conditions and substrate water content of specific and improved water conservation compared to traditional BMPs. crops. Growers can access this information through an on-site Quantifying plant growth responses to varying θ thresholds can computer, while the researchers can access that same computer increase our understanding of plant water requirements. The aim over the internet. This allows for frequent communications and of this research was to measure growth of Hibiscus acetosella feedback between the growers and researchers concerning irriga- ‘Panama Red’ (PP#20, 121) in response to various θ thresholds. tion management. The soil moisture sensors are used to determine Experiments were performed on commercial-style nursery pads when crops need to be irrigated, while rain gauges can provide in Watkinsville (USDA hardiness zone 7b) and Tifton, GA valuable information about how much irrigation water is applied. (USDA hardiness zone 8a) to understand both plant and system In data obtained in 2010–11 trials, a significant change in substrate responses to environmental conditions frequently encountered water content following irrigation was seen, clearly allowing in outdoor environments. Soil moisture sensors were used to growers to estimate leaching. A rapid decrease in substrate water maintain θ above specific thresholds (0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, content following irrigation suggests that water is running out –1 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.45 L·L ). A datalogger converted the of the containers, thus allowing growers to determine whether soil dielectric readings from capacitance sensors to θ using a they are leaching. Having easy access to this information allows substrate-specific calibration. Theseθ readings were compared growers to make adjustments in their irrigation practices, chang- to the programmed threshold for a given plot. When the sensor ing either the volume and/or duration of application. Real time reading was below the threshold, the datalogger opened a sole- charts allow growers to see the impact that that these changed noid valve and irrigation was applied for 120s. Sensor readings practices have. The next step in improving irrigation is the use were taken and recorded every 20 minutes. The daily irrigation of wireless dataloggers that not only monitor a crop, but that can volume for a plot was calculated from the number of irrigation make irrigation decisions as well. Growers will be able to enter events and the volume of water applied per event. Plant growth specific irrigation set points, and the datalogger can then use –1 was greatly reduced at θ threshold below 0.35 L·L . Plant height, those set points to irrigate crops as needed. The issues involving shoot dry weight, and area of the uppermost fully expanded leaf installation of this system will be discussed. all increased with increasing θ. Growth of plants maintained at the lowest thresholds was stunted with mortality observed at the Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award no. 0.10 L·L–1 threshold. Maintenance of θ thresholds was disrupted 2009-51181-05768 by rain events, with recovery occurring within 10 days after

S218 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 8:30–8:45 am Water use is an essential component of ornamental plant pro- Determining Carbon Source for Adventitious duction, yet relatively little is known about the volume of water Root Development Using Carbon 13 Isotope required to maintain acceptable growth rates of nursery crops. The objective of this study was to determine the daily water use Labeling and Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometry (DWU) of Hydrangea macrophylla, and also investigate the Michael Martin* effects of various environmental factors on DWU. The DWU University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] of two hydrangea cultivars, ‘Pia’ (compact) and ‘Fasan’ (large), was calculated by weighing plants with load cells before and Matthew Chappell after every irrigation event for 83 days. There was little differ- The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] ence in DWU of the two cultivars, which ranged from 50–300 Adventitious root development during the process of asexual mL/plant. Daily light integral (DLI) was the most important propagation is a foundation of the horticulture industry. In on- environmental factor affecting DWU, with DWU increasing going efforts to reduce production costs by decreasing the time with increasing DLI. The combination of plant age, final leaf required to propagate and produce a finished plant, growers should area, DLI and their interactions explained 83.2% and 90.8% of be knowledgeable regarding the point that a propagule develops day-to-day variation in DWU of ‘Fasan’ and ‘Pia’, respectively. adventitious roots and becomes “self-sufficient”. Knowing this Vapor pressure deficit and temperature explained only about point could substantially decrease the amount of time a cutting 4% to 6.5% of DWU. The results suggest that growers may be remains in a specialized high humidity propagation environment, able to determine the required irrigation volume for hydran- thereby decreasing square foot cost to the grower by allowing geas based on plant size and DLI. We hope to use these data to more propagation cycles per year. Popular theory suggests that a develop a simple tool to predict hydrangea water use based on major source of carbon for callus and adventitious root formation environmental conditions. comes from the carbon stored in the leaf and stem tissues prior to Specified Source(s) of Funding: the severance of the cutting from the stock plant. It has become USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award no. evident that little scientific information is available concerning 2009-51181-05768 the source of carbon utilized for adventitious root development. Utilizing 13C isotopic pulse-chase methodology, this study de- 9:00–9:15 am termined the source of carbohydrates employed in adventitious Tolerance of Oenothera elata Transplants to root formation. This study also determined if asexual propagules Postemergence Herbicides photosynthesize prior to adventitious root development and if so, the time whereby cuttings begin to photosynthesize. These Keylee Decker* Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. results allow recommendations to be made that maximize the edu financial, temporal and physiologic efficiency of asexual plant propagation. Cuttings of Hibiscus asetocella ‘Panama Red’ did Amber Bates not develop adventitious roots until 9 days after cuttings were Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. harvested and stuck. Using repeated measures (ANOVA), results edu demonstrate that cuttings initially (9 and 12 days after cuttings Gerald Henry were taken) utilized carbohydrates for adventitious root formation Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. in similar proportions from newly produced photosynthates and edu preexisting carbohydrate stores produced by stock plants (day 9, P = 0 .3262; day 12, P = 0.9941). Using the same statistical Vikram Baliga analysis; after day 12, cuttings predominately used carbohydrates Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. produced by cutting photosynthesis (day 15, P < 0.0001; day edu 18, P = 0.0006; day 21, P < 0.0001). Cynthia B. McKenney Specified Source(s) of Funding:UGA Departmental Funds Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ttu. edu 8:45–9:00 am Greenhouse experiments were conducted in the summer of 2010 Water Consumption of Hydrangea macrophylla at Texas Tech University to evaluate the response of Oenothera as Affected by Environmental Factors elata transplants to postemergence herbicides. Plugs (3.5 cm in diameter) were transplanted into 11.3-L pots filled with a Brown- Lucas O’Meara* field sandy clay loam (loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Arenic The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; lucasomeara@ Aridic Paleustalfs) with a pH of 8.0 and organic matter content

gmail.com of 1.2%. Fertilizer (14N–14P2O5–14K2O) was applied at time of Marc van Iersel transplant at a rate of 24 kg N/ha. Irrigation was applied through The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] an automated system throughout the study to ensure optimal growth and prevent wilt stress. Pots were maintained weed free Matthew Chappell by hand weeding in order to eliminate plant competition. Eight University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] herbicide treatments and a non-treated control were examined.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S219 Treatments were applied using a CO2 backpack sprayer equipped analysis. Urea analysis was conducted using the colorimetric with XR8004VS nozzle tips and calibrated to deliver 375 L/ha Quantichrom® Urea Assay Kit and a UV-vis spectrophotometer. at 221 kPa. Postemergence herbicide treatments were applied 21 At 0, 4, 24, and 48 h, 0, 7%, 48%, and 72% of the initial amount days after transplant and consisted of glyphosate at 1.68 kg ai/ha, of urea was hydrolyzed, respectively. The remaining amount quinclorac + mecoprop + dicamba at 0.69 kg ae/ha, glufosinate of urea over time was described by the linear relationship y = at 0.84 kg ai/ha, fenoxaprop at 0.1 kg ai/ha, fluazifop at 0.45 –1.5329x + 97.528; R2 = 0.9157. Using this regression equation, kg ai/ha, mesotrione at 0.21 kg ai/ha, sulfosulfuron at 0.06 kg all the urea is predicted to be hydrolyzed in 64 h. Hence, urea ai/ha, and quinclorac at 0.42 kg ae/ha. The trial was arranged appears to be a suitable and economical way to pre-charge PTS in a randomized complete-block design with 5 replications of to satisfy immobilization so that growers can fertilize PTS as treatments. Percent phytotoxicity was assessed visually 3, 5, 7, other conventional substrates. 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment (DAT) using a scale of 0 (no Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Nursery and Landscape phytotoxicity) to 100% (plant death). Oenothera elata plants Association were harvested 28 DAT, separated into above and belowground biomass, dried, and weighed. Data were subjected to analysis of 9:30–9:45 am variance and means were separated using Fisher’s Protected LSD at the 0.05 significance level. All treatments, except fluazifop An In-Depth Analysis of Water and Nutrient (5%), exhibited 26 to 49% phytotoxicity 7 DAT. Glyphosate Management in the Nursery and Greenhouse and fluazifop exhibited 4 and 22% phytotoxicity, respectively, Industry in Maryland 28 DAT. All other treatments exhibited >50% phytotoxicity John C. Majsztrik* 28 DAT. All treatments, except fluazifop, exhibited significant University of Maryland, College Park, MD; jcmajsz@ reductions in shoot weight (62% to 91%) compared to the non- umd.edu treated check 28 DAT. All treatments, except fluazifop, exhibited significant reductions in root weight (72% to 96%) compared John D. Lea-Cox to the non-treated check 28 DAT. University of Maryland, College Park, MD; [email protected] Andrew Ristvey 9:15–9:30 am University of Maryland, Queenstown, MD; aristvey@ Urea Hydrolysis in Pine Tree Substrate umd.edu Kathryn M. England David Ross Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] University of Maryland, College Park, MD; dsross@umd. edu Alex X. Niemiera* Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Agriculture contributes a substantial portion of non-point source nutrient and sediment loads that reach the Chesapeake Bay. Robert D. Wright Research in this area has traditionally focused on agronomic Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] farm contributions, with limited research on the nursery and Pine tree substrate (PTS) is a relatively new container substrate greenhouse industry. In order to obtain a better understanding that is an alternative to peat (P) and pine bark (PB). The unique of the impact of this industry in Maryland, site specific data physical and chemical characteristics of PTS compared to P was collected. All known operations in the state (approximately and PB warrant research to understand how to manage the 350 were mailed information about the project, and asked to fertilization of PTS- grown crops. The relatively high carbon voluntarily participate. Of those, 47 operations agreed to site to nitrogen ratio (C:N) ratio of PTS requires the application of visits and were interviewed to better understand current nutrient, more N fertilizer than used with P and PB since a significant irrigation, and management practices. Data were gathered at the portion of applied N is lost to immobilization. If PTS were management unit level (groups of plants managed similarly) for: pre-charged with urea, the least expensive fertilizer N source, fertilizer ratio, rate, and timing, irrigation use by season, and then growers could inexpensively fertilize to compensate for nutrient irrigation/runoff mitigation practices. Of the operations immobilization. The rate of urea hydrolysis (conversion to that were visited, 27 had a greenhouse component, with a total ammonium) is unknown in PTS. Thus, the objective of this of 188 management units and 64 acres of greenhouse produc- experiment was to determine the urea hydrolysis rate in PTS tion area. Twenty-seven operations had a container-production over time. PTS was manufactured from freshly harvested lob- area representing 155 management units, totaling 177 acres lolly pine trees (Pinus taeda L.), chipped and hammer-milled (not including roadways, buildings and vegetative buffers). to a 15.8 mm particle size. PTS was tested for urea hydrolysis Seventeen field operations were visited, with 96 management at 0, 4, 24, and 48 h. Urea (46% N; 1mg N/g dry weight) was units covering approximately 1050 acres of growing area (not –1 added in solution (1000 mg N·L ) to 1 g dry weight substrate. including roads and buildings). Rates of N, P2O5 and K20 applied At each sampling time, substrate was saturated with 30 mL 2M were found to vary greatly for similar container sizes in both KCl-phenylmercuric acetate solution which inhibited urease greenhouse and container nursery operations, with minimum activity. Substrate samples were shaken for 1 h, and solutions and maximum values often varying by an order of magnitude filtered; an aliquot of each sample (n=4) was set aside for urea or more. Field operations were found to have similar nutrient

S220 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 application rates, while irrigation rates were more variable. Based that may now have a new tool in controlling growth rate in this on this research a number of recommended rates are reported genera at a much lower cost per unit. for a variety of container sizes and species. For example from Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southeastern Growers, Inc. & the container database, there were 22 management units that Georgia Green Industry Association reported using 8 L containers. Nitrogen rates varied from 116 kg N/ ha to 709 kg N/ ha for operations in the lower and upper quartile respectively. It was also found that the amount of water Wednesday, September 28, 2011 applied per hectare had large variations, even within similar 8:15–9:45 am Kings 2 container sizes and spacing. Summer irrigation rates varied from 91, 000 to 356, 000 L / ha for lower and upper quartile Produce Quality, Safety, and values respectively. In general greenhouse and container nursery operations had a wide range of values for fertilizer application Health Properties 2 rate and irrigation volume for similar plant types and spacings. Moderator: J. Wyatt Brown We concluded that a majority of growers can likely reduce ir- CA Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; rigation and/or fertilization rates without affecting plant quality [email protected] since similar operations are producing similar plants with lower water and nutrient rates. 8:15–8:30 am Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA-SCRI Award no. Consumer Perceptions of Flavor for Colored 2009-51181-05768 Bell Pepper

9:45–10:00 am Christine E. Coker* Coastal Res & Ext Center, Biloxi, MS; cec117@ Effectiveness of Low Dose PGR Application on ra.msstate.edu Acer ×freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ Corey Wheeler Matthew Chappell* Coastal Res. & Ext. Center, Biloxi, MS; [email protected] The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; hortprod@uga. edu Mike Ely Coastal Res & Ext Center, Biloxi, MS; beaumont@c-gate. Michael Martin net University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Wes Schilling With increasing labor cost and plant growth regulator (PGR) Coastal Res & Ext Center, Biloxi, MS; Schilling@ cost, it is becoming increasingly difficult for growers to maintain foodscience.msstate.edu plant (canopy) size in situations where in-ground or large con- Consumer concerns about decreasing food safety and food tainer shade trees must be held over due to a lack of sale(s). This budgets have spawned a revival in home gardening. Colored study was initiated at the request of GA growers to investigate if bell peppers are more expensive in the market than green bell low-dose PGR applications could be effective in holding growth peppers, although produced identically. Growing colored bell rates down in plant material that needs to be held over past its peppers in the home garden may provide savings in the house- intended sale date; principally due to slow sales seen in the last hold food budget. The objective of this study was to evaluate 24–36 months. PGR treatments combinations in this study were the visual acceptability, perceived flavor acceptability, as well based on three factors: (1) application dates (a) at dormancy as as actual flavor preference of colored bell peppers. Peppers were sap-rise started (24 Mar. 2010), (b) at bud swell but prior to bud grown in a high tunnel at the Beaumont Horticultural Unit using break (4 Apr. 2010), and (c) at 48h post bud break (7 Apr. 2010); commercial production standards. Two consumer-based sensory (2) the PGR chemical including (a) Cutlass G (flurprimidol), panels (n=120) were conducted to evaluate the acceptability of (b) TopFlor (flurprimidol), and (c) Embark (mefluidide); (3) the six bell pepper cultivars. For the visual appearance test, each application rate including (a) 10% label rate, (b) 50% label rate, panelist was presented with a tray containing 6 labeled whole (c) 100% label rate and (d) control without PGR application. peppers. Panelists were asked to evaluate each whole pepper Results indicated that based on the growth rate of the control based on appearance, and how acceptable they thought the flavor treatment, Cutlass and Embark failed to significantly control of the sample would be based on appearance of the whole bell growth rate of Acer ×freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ regardless pepper. Each panelist was then asked to evaluate bell pepper of application rate or application timing. TopFlor, applied as strips for appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall accept- a soil drench at 10% label rate, significantly reduced season- ability. A 9-point hedonic scale (1 = dislike extremely; 9 = like long growth rate of ‘Autumn Blaze’ when applied between sap extremely) was used to score responses for both visual appear- rise and bud swell. Once bud swell initiated, the 10% TopFlor ance and consumer acceptance tests. Fisher’s Protected Least rate no longer exhibited season-long reduction in growth rate. Significant Difference test was utilized to separate main effect However, both 50% and 100% label rate of TopFlor showed treatment means when significant differences occurred among significant control of ‘Autumn Blaze’ growth rate regardless treatments. The cultivar ‘Colossal’ was the most preferred pepper of application date. These results are promising for growers

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S221 based on visual appearance alone. ‘Colossal’ is a commercial at 40 Mg/ha, and chemical or organic fertilizers provided 75 kg cultivar which sets green fruit which eventually turns to red, a N–75 kg P2O5–75 kg K2O/ha. Elements in whole shoots were familiar color combination for consumers. ‘Valencia’, a green determined by plasma spectrophotometry. In the greenhouse, to orange cultivar was also liked by the panelists. Panelists’ heritage cultivars had about 10% higher P, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn perceived flavor acceptability, based on visual appearance alone, concentrations than modern cultivars with no differences oc- closely correlated to appearance acceptability. When panelists curring for the other elements. Differences for each element were presented with strips independent of whole peppers, rat- occurred among phenotypes and nutritional regimes but with ings given for visual appearance of the strips did not follow no consistent trends for phenotypes or regimes. In the field, the same order as ratings for the whole peppers. ‘Valencia’ few differences occurred with nutrient concentrations among was found to be significantly more visually acceptable than the the fertility regimes, phenotypes, or origin of the cultivars. In other cultivars. In terms of aroma, ‘Tequila’ ranked significantly the greenhouse or field, differences among individual cultivars higher than the other cultivars, but did not score well for appear- for each element were large with some cultivars having nearly ance and perceived flavor acceptability. This may be a result twice the concentrations of nutrients of others and with consider- of its unusual fruit color, ranging from lilac to mottled. Flavor able uniformity in cultivar rankings among the elements. Some acceptability among cultivars ranged from 6.0 to 6.7 with no interactions occurred between nutritional regimes and cultivars. significant standouts. The texture of ‘Valencia’ and ‘Colossal’ This work suggests that cultivars can be selected for production were most preferred and also received high scores for overall of nutrient-dense lettuce. acceptability when all traits were combined. The least preferred Specified Source(s) of Funding:UMass Experimental Station cultivars were yellow-fruited ‘Sirius’ and ‘Super Heavy Weight’. 8:45–9:00 am 8:30–8:45 am Volatile Compounds in Southern Rabbiteye Mineral Nutrient Density of Lettuce in Response Blueberry Varieties Commonly Grown in to Cultivar Selection and Nutritional Regimes Mississippi and Louisiana, Harvested at Various Md J. Meagy Maturities University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; jmeagy@psis. umass.edu John C. Beaulieu* USDA ARS, New Orleans, LA; [email protected]. Touria El-Jaoual* gov University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; touria1@ verizon.net Rebecca E. Stein USDA ARS, New Orleans, LA; [email protected]. Allen V. Barker gov University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; barker@pssci. umass.edu Steven W. Lloyd USDA ARS, New Orleans, LA; [email protected] Geunhwa Jung Casey C. Grimm University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; jung@psis. USDA ARS, New Orleans, LA; [email protected]. umass.edu gov Kalidas Shetty Recently, superfruits such as blueberries have received much University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; kalidas@ attention as scientists, marketers and consumers push forward foodsci.umass.edu knowledge and demand for high antioxidant, healthier diets. Mineral nutrient deficiency in vegetable-based foods is a sub- Blueberries are rich in nutritional value, contain high levels of stantial concern in human diets. Depleted soil fertility and high anthocyanins and antioxidants with beneficial health attributes yielding cultivars have been associated with low nutrient contents yet, studies are lacking in regard to bitterness and astringency in vegetables. Research is needed to develop systems that intro- and sensory attributes and volatiles. Several years have passed duce nutrient-dense crops to the markets. This study explored if since aroma volatiles have been assessed in rabbiteye blueber- mineral nutrient densities of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) can be ries, and only a few varieties were assayed. Volatile composi- increased though selection of cultivars and nutritional regimes. tion of five commonly grown rabbiteye varieties (‘Brightwell’, Eighteen cultivars including butterhead, romaine, and loose-leaf ‘Climax’, ‘Premier’, ‘Powder blue’ and ‘Tifblue’) from two phenotypes of heritage and modern origins were studied in green- locations (Clinton, LA and Bush, LA), harvested at 4 maturi- house and field experiments at the University of Massachusetts. ties (white, pink, firm-blue and soft-blue) were evaluated by In the greenhouse, Hoagland solution #1, commercial inorganic SPME GC-MS. Fifty-five volatiles were identified, including fertilizer (20–10–20 peat-lite special plus additional Ca), and 14 aldehydes, 7 alcohols, 12 esters, 4 ketones, 15 terpenoids, a commercial organic fertilizer (3–1.5–4 containing calcium) and 3 furans. Order of abundance in soft-ripe fruit was gener- were the nutrient regimes. In the field, conventional (10–10–10), ally aldehydes (51.4%) > esters (33.7%) > alcohols (7.9%) compost, and an organic fertility regime of soybean meal, bone > terpenoids (5.1%) > ketones (1.5%) > furans (0.4%). An meal, and potassium sulfate were assessed. Compost was applied exception was noted in ‘Climax’ where esters (51.3%) topped

S222 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 aldehydes (35.9%), although this variety was past peak harvest followed by incubation overnight at 37 (TPC) or 45 (FC) time. In all varieties, aldehydes were highest in the pink stage degrees Celsius. Total organic carbon was measured using a and decreased with maturity. Esters were very low at white and commercial test kit. The RVFCWs achieved 2 log reduction for pink stages and increased ≈5 to 10-fold at soft-blue. Alcohols TPC (p < 0.0001), and 3 log reduction for FC (p < 0.0001) (no decreased with increasing maturity whereas terpenoids increased. statistical difference found between the RVFCWs constructed The five most abundant compounds in most soft-blue varieties with recycled PET and volcanic tuff). In addition, the RVFCWs were ethyl acetate, (E)2-hexenal, acetaldehyde, hexanal and achieved 51.5% removal of TOC (p < 0.0001) (no statistical (E, E)2, 4-hexadienal. These 5 compounds comprised 79.0%, difference found between RVFCW types). The results of this 78.8%, 75.6%, 72.7%, and 69.6% of the total compounds in study indicate that RVFCWs can achieve appreciable removal ‘Tifblue’, ‘Brightwell’, ‘Premier’, ‘Powder blue’ and ‘Climax’, efficiencies for TPC, FC, and TOC. Therefore, RVFCWs may respectively. In total, the most prevalent 10 compounds recov- be a viable, low cost technology for treating greywater prior ered by our method comprised 90.7% of the total compounds to reuse as irrigation water. In addition, RVFCW construc- recovered. Determining actual concentrations and ascribing the tion cost can be drastically reduced by utilizing recycled PET importance of these volatiles in regard to overall berry and juice plastic as a primary wetland bed media without compromising astringency and bitterness, as compared against polyphenolic treatment efficacy. attributes, is a long-range goal. Specified Source(s) of Funding: United States Department of Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA ARS CRIS project Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative

9:00–9:15 am 9:15–9:30 am Evaluation of a Low Cost Treatment System Correlation of Transit Temperatures with the for Recycled Greywater Use in Irrigation of Potential for E. Coli O157:H7 Growth on Pre- Produce Cut Greens Lawrence Goodridge* J. Wyatt Brown* Colorado State University, Colorado, CO; Lawrence. CA Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Bronte Roberts Keith Vorst Colorado State University, Colorado, CO; melantai@ California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, lamar.colostate.edu CA; [email protected] Bledar Bisha Elliot Ryser Colorado State University, Colorado, CO; bledar.bisha@ Michigan State University, East Lansing, East Lansing, colostate.edu MI; [email protected] The reuse of waste water in produce production will continue Ritchard Cisneros to gain traction as sources of fresh water become increasingly California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, scarce. Grey water (wastewater arising from activities such CA; [email protected] as bathing, washing clothes and washing dishes) is one potential Preharvest sources for contamination of leafy greens are source of waste water that could be used during irrigation of numerous and extremely varied with no microbial reduction produce. However, this water may contain foodborne-patho- strategies currently available to completely ensure the safety genic organisms, and must first be treated to remove bacteria of fresh-cut leafy greens at the time of consumption. It is prior to reuse. There is a need to develop cost effective meth- therefore imperative that the cold-chain be established and ods to remove pathogenic bacteria from grey water prior to maintained from packaging through retail purchase to minimize its reuse. The objective of this study was to construct and exposure to E. coli O157:H7 and other food-borne pathogens. evaluate portable, vertical flow constructed wetland units for The specific objectives of this study are to: 1) measure the tem- its ability to remove bacteria from grey water. A total of four 2 perature of leafy greens during transcontinental transport and 1-m , portable, recycled vertical flow constructed wetlands (RVFCW) were built for this study. Two RVFCWs were built distribution using a RFID temperature and positioning sensor; with recycled, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic as the 2) based on microbial studies, develop a series of statistical primary wetland bed media, and the other two were constructed models from the data that define the least favorable conditions E. coli using volcanic tuff. The wetlands were dosed with 350 L·d–1 for O157:H7 growth in leafy greens during transport of greywater six times during a three month period. Water and distribution; and 3) determine the robustness of these samples were taken at four different locations within the treat- models using various fresh-cut leafy-green salad mixes. Though ment stream, and analyzed for total plate count (TPC), Fecal collection is ongoing, data have shown that temperatures Coliforms (FC), and total organic carbon (TOC), as indicators >4.4 °C can occur in commercial trailers during transconti- of the presence of fecally associated bacteria. Bacterial counts nental shipment of leafy greens during summer, or can be <0 were analyzed by plating 1 ml of sample on Petrifilm plates, °C in commercial trailers during winter, both situations potentially leading to increased microbial growth on the product.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S223 Based on initial findings, microbial studies and statistical Wednesday, September 28, 2011 modeling have been initiated. However, progress has been very 10:15 am–12:00 pm Queens 6 slow or even thwarted due to concerns by commercial packer/ shippers of unfavorable exposure and liability, and this will be Vegetable Crops Management 3 discussed. Moderator: Jonathan R. Schultheis 9:30–9:45 am North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jonathan_ [email protected] Impacts of Packaging Design on Antimicrobial

Effects of ClO2 Gas 10:15–10:30 am Siriyupa Netramai Fuel Type and Releasing the Heated Air Near Mahidol University, Bangkok; [email protected] Plant Roots Reduced Production Cost of Maria Rubino* Greenhouse Tomatoes Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; mariar@ Hanna Y. Hanna* msu.edu LSU AgCenter, Bossier, LA; [email protected] Rafael Auras A study was conducted to determine the effects of a constructed Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; aurasraf@ interplant bottom heating system using diesel fuel and an above- anr.msu.edu plant heating system using natural gas on heating and production Bassam Annous cost of greenhouse tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). Two USDA, Wyndmoor, PA; [email protected] identical greenhouses of size 30 × 96-ft were used for this study. The interplant bottom-heated greenhouse consumed an average In this study, chlorine dioxide (ClO2), an antimicrobial gas, is of 195, 790, 000 Btu during the heating period (January–March) being considered for in-package vapor phase decontamination to raise the air temperature 5 ft above the floor to the optimum for fresh cut Romaine lettuce. The work addressed effects of level for greenhouse tomato production. The above-plant-heated packaging design on achieving uniform gas distribution, which greenhouse consumed an average of 208, 100, 000 Btu to do could improve decontamination efficacy of ClO2 gas. Three types the same. Using the interplant bottom heating system reduced of flexible bag with different interior designs were used to pack- energy consumption by 6%. Average cost was $6.22 and $9.10 age Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated fresh cut lettuce. These per million Btu from diesel fuel and natural gas, respectively. bags contained gas reservoirs (GRs), which released 2 levels The difference is approximately a 32% reduction in fuel cost of ClO2 gas, i.e., 4 and 8 mg ClO2/kg lettuce per day, located based on fuel type. The interplant bottom heating system raised in specific locations within the bags, i.e. from only one side of root-media temperature to near the optimum level for tomato the bag, from both sides, and in the center (one-GRs, two-GRs, growth and increased total yield by 9.5%. Producing 1 lb of and middle-GRs, respectively). The samples were kept at 4 °C tomatoes in the interplant bottom-heated greenhouse required and stored for 1, 4, and 7 days. Reduction in cell population 13, 266 Btu at a heating cost of $0.08; however it required of E. coli O157:H7, from different sections of the bag, were 15, 459 Btu in the above-plant-heated greenhouse at a heating determined. The results showed that ClO2 gas in the package cost of $0.14. Less energy, cost-effective fuel, and increased reduced population of E. coli O157:H7 up to 1.24 ± 0.09 log10 yield reduced heating cost per production unit by 43% in the CFU/g of lettuce and increasing the level of ClO2 gas per day interplant bottom-heated greenhouse. increased the log10 CFU/g reduction of E. coli O157:H7. The highest log10 CFU/g reduction was found in the sample taken 10:30–10:45 am adjacent to GRs. The performances of bag with two-GRs proved that it was possible to achieve the same degree of disinfecting The Effect of Healing Chamber Environments effect and still maintaining the appearance of the treated produce on the Survival of Grafted Eggplant, even by reducing ClO2 dose to half. The study also indicated that Watermelon, and Tomato increasing releasing spots per bag or maximizing gas releasing area could improve inactivation efficacy of antimicrobial gas Sacha Johnson Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA; sacha. inside the package. These findings could be used in the re-design [email protected] of packaging systems such as bags for leafy green products that will include an antimicrobial gas as the mean to improve safety Carol A. Miles* and prolong shelf-life. The use of ClO2 gas in packaging system Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA; with optimal design could be an effective component in a hurdle [email protected] strategy to compliment the sanitation process that takes place Successful grafting of vegetables requires high relative humid- in the production line. ity for approximately one week following grafting to reduce Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA (NIFSI 2008-01573) transpiration of the scion material until rootstock and scion vascular tissue are healed together and water transport is re-

S224 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 stored. Although there is general consensus that high humidity improve yield in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production is required for successful grafting of herbaceous plants, the due in part to enhanced nutrient and water uptake. However, effect of healing chamber environment on survival of grafted the response of grafted tomato plants to different nitrogen and vegetable crops has not been systematically compared in tem- water supplies has not been fully examined in comparison with perate climates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the non-grafted plants, especially under field conditions. An experi- impact of three healing chamber environments on the survival ment was conducted during the growing season of spring 2010 of grafted eggplant, heirloom tomato, and watermelon. The to determine the yield response of grafted tomatoes to different experimental design was a randomized complete block repli- combinations of irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilization rates, cated three times with 72 plants of each crop per treatment per and to develop the nitrogen fertilization program for grafted replication. The three healing chambers included: 1) a frame tomato production in sandy soils in Florida. A popular tomato covered with plastic sheeting and shade cloth with a humidifier cultivar Florida-47 was grafted onto two selected interspecific that misted plants for 20 s every five mi (research design); 2) rootstocks including ‘Beaufort’ and ‘Multifort’. Non-grafted a frame covered with plastic sheeting and shade cloth misted ‘Florida-47’ was used as control. Plants were grown in twelve every 2 days (industry design); and 3) a frame covered with combinations of two irrigation regimes (Low and High) and six shade cloth (control). Three vegetable crops, ‘Epic’ eggplant, nitrogen rates (56, 75, 148, 224, 298, and 372 kg ha–1) using a ‘Cherokee Purple’ heirloom tomato, and ‘Crisp’n Sweet’ trip- split-plot experimental design with 4 replications. The field was loid watermelon were self-grafted using the splice grafting fumigated to eliminate interference of pest factors. The main technique, placed in the healing chambers for 7 days, and then effects of irrigation regimes and N rates were significant but no acclimated over 4 days to ambient greenhouse conditions. Plants interaction effect was observed on total and marketable yields. were evaluated daily for signs of wilting and graft failure for Interestingly, high irrigation regime resulted in significantly 14 days following grafting. Temperature was approximately lower yields than the low regime. At each nitrogen application the same for all 3 healing chambers (73 to 76 °F) while rela- level, significant difference between grafted vs. non-grafted tive humidity levels varied (81% in Trt. 1, 86% in Trt. 2, and plants was detected whereas the two rootstocks did not show 42% in Trt. 3). There was no significant difference in tomato differential response. The total and marketable yields were in- survival due to treatment, suggesting that tomato grafting can creased by 27 and 31% using grafted plants compared with the be successful with minimal healing chamber infrastructure and non-grafted control, respectively. Within each irrigation regime, management. Although eggplant survival was higher in Trts. it appeared that compared to other models tested the exponential 1 and 2 (both 90%) than in the control (60%), this difference model provided a better prediction of the marketable yields of was not significant. Watermelon survival in all treatments was grafted and non-grafted plants as a function of the nitrogen low (splice grafting technique is not optimal for watermelon), rates. Based on this exponential model and with 99.9% of the although there tended to be higher survival in Trts. 1 (10%) asymptotic maximum attainable marketable yield, the optimum and 2 (20%) than in the control (0). The larger goal of this N fertilization rates to reach optimum marketable yields were experiment was to provide growers with information regard- estimated as 258 and 153 kg ha–1 for the grafted and non-grafted ing effective and cost-efficient grafting healing chambers. A plants respectively, despite the irrigation regimes. The results healing chamber with a humidifier has higher costs than the indicated that higher than currently recommended nitrogen rate industry healing chamber and equivalent graft survival rates, might be required for grafted ‘Florida 47’ tomato with vigorous suggesting that a humidifier is not cost effective for grafting in interspecific rootstocks to optimize the marketable yield. temperate climates. Specified Source(s) of Funding:SARE Specified Source(s) of Funding: Washington State University, Northwest Agriculture Research Foundation, Washington State 11:00–11:15 am Commission for Pesticide Registration Extended Field Storage in Processing Tomatoes: Does It Fit in CA Production? 10:45–11:00 am Optimizing Field Grown Tomato Yield: Effects Michelle LeStrange* University of California-Cooperative Extension, Tulare, of Grafting, Irrigation, and Nitrogen Inputs CA; [email protected] Desire Djidonou* Gordon E. Anthon University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] University of California, Davis; [email protected] Xin Zhao Diane M. Barrett University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] University of California, Davis, CA; dmbarrett@ucdavis. Grafting technology has evolved into a unique component of edu sustainable production of cucurbits and solanaceous vegetables Average annual production of processing tomatoes in California in many countries outside of the U.S., particularly under inten- is about 12 million tons per year, accounting for more than 90% sive cultivation. In addition to managing soil-borne diseases, of the U.S. crop and about 40% of worldwide production. Since grafting with vigorous interspecific rootstocks is suggested to the 1960’s harvesting has been by machine where all fruit from

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S225 an entire field is collected in a single pass, resulting in a mix of rows, 3” between plants and 10” between rows. Data collection fruit with a range of maturities. After sorting to remove unripe consisted of total marketable and unamarketable yields, pod size green fruit, tomatoes are transported by truck to processing plants (length and width), fresh pod weight, color and percent brix. where they are converted into a variety of products, including Weather conditions during the trials were cold to cool. During whole peeled tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. A major Dec. 2010, there were four freeze events on 7 Dec., 8 Dec., 14 challenge in this production system is coordination of harvests Dec., and 15 Dec., but pods were not affected. Only the top of with available processing plant capacity. Often it is necessary the bush was damaged. Snap beans ‘Ambra’, ‘Bronco’, ‘Carlo’, to delay harvesting until sufficient processing capacity becomes ‘Dusky’, ‘Eureka’ and ‘Prevail’ had the highest yields, but not available. This “field storage” affects the average maturity of the deepest green color, a desirable bean quality by the market. the fruit being processed. Certain processing tomato cultivars Higher yields in ‘Ambra’, ‘Bronco’, ‘Dusky’, and ‘Prevail’ have been bred for high production during hot temperatures were due to higher fresh pod weight and width. There were no and Extended Field Storage (EFS). Seven field trials from 2005 differences in pod length and brix among varieties. Based on through 2009 in the San Joaquin Valley evaluated a cultivar’s yield and color, no single variety outperformed the others in potential for EFS by harvesting at maturity and then delaying the most favorable categories. However, a grower may want to harvest up to four weeks. In some trials planting dates were ar- choose a variety based on his/her individual needs. ranged so that the second harvest coincided with the first harvest Specified Source(s) of Funding:None of a successive planting. This planting and harvest arrangement supplied information on variety performance over a range of 11:30–11:45 am time and temperature. Yield, harvest quality (maturity, color, soluble solids, pH, etc.), and product quality (pH, titratable acid- Optimizing Pickling Cucumber Planting ity, sugars, lycopene, etc.) were measured. We determined the Density for Once-Over Machine Harvest in the magnitude of maturity effects in several California processing Southeastern United States tomato cultivars. Overall average yield decreased by more than 5 tons/acre with each successive planting date. Average yield Jonathan R. Schultheis* decreased with each successive harvest, but not all varieties North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jonathan_ [email protected] had a similar response. There was a benefit of planting earlier to maximize fruit set during favorable temperatures and holding Allan C. Thornton fruit in the field rather than planting later. Allowing tomatoes to Clinton, NC; [email protected] remain on the vine for up to 4 weeks after ripening resulted in an W. Bradfred “Brad” Thompson increase in fruit pH of between 0.01 and 0.02 unit per day for the North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; brad_ cultivars examined. As pH increased, titratable acidity decreased, [email protected] due to a loss of citric acid. Glucose and fructose concentrations declined with increasing maturity after ripening. Other quality The primary goal of this study was to determine the best plant- parameters (color, lycopene, total pectin, pectin solubility, and ing density with a current, commercially grown cultivar in the Bostwick consistency) showed little change. southeastern US which resulted in the best yield. Planting was 12 May 2010 with ‘Lafayette’. Treatments were replicated Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Tomato Research four times on a commercial farm in North Carolina. Spacing Institute and California League of Food Processors between row centers was 76 cm and plot length 18.3 m which was divided into three 6.1 m subplots. An initial seeding rate of 11:15–11:30 am 360 thousand plants/ha (THPH) was used and the 4-row plots Snap Bean Variety Evaluations on Yields and were thinned at the 1 to 2 true leaf stage to 8 planting densi- Postharvest Quality in Florida ties which ranged from 74 to 346 THPH. Harvest began when plots contained fruit that reached grade 4 (oversize fruit). First Crystal A. Snodgrass* harvest was 12 July, 45 days after planting (DAP). A second University of Florida, Manatee County Extension Service, and third destructive harvest was made 46 and 47 DAP. To Palmetto, FL; [email protected] simulate once-over harvest, plants from the middle two rows in Monica P. Ozores-Hampton the subplots were pulled by hand. All fruit, grade 1 and larger, University of Florida, Immokalee, FL; [email protected] were removed from the plant and graded into marketable grade Florida ranks first nationally in the production, acreage and total (1, 2 and 3), and cull grades (grade 4; misshapen). Fruit in each value of fresh market snap beans with approximately 52% of grade were weighed and counted. Marketable and total yields for the total U.S. market with 32, 800 acres valued at $172 million. the first destructive harvest were similar for planting densities Today the bean industry not only demands high yield, but also between 74 to 247 THPH, while yields were depressed with requires deep green color as the most favorable characteristics. higher planting densities (296 and 346 THPH). No planting Therefore, the objective of this trial was to update existing treatment had more than 3% oversize fruit. The percentage Florida snap bean variety recommendations. A bush-type snap grade 1 fruit for the lowest planting density (74, 000 THPH) bean variety trial was conducted in sandy soil (Myakka City, was 6%. At the highest planting densities (296 and 346 THPH) FL.). Beans were planted in fall on 5 Oct. 2010 with double grade 1 fruit averaged 20%. Conversely, the percentage grade 3

S226 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 fruit for the low planting density was 42% and 22% at the high 35 but had no effect on the other cultivars. Density in numbers planting density. Total marketable fruit for the populations that of buds per height of MS differed among cultivars. ‘Roodnerf’ ranged from 74 to 247 THPH was 9.0 to 10.1 MT/ha, while at had the highest bud density (1.18 bud/cm), followed by ‘Van- 296 and 346 THPH marketable yields were 7.7 and 5.3 MT/ha, couver’, ‘Dimitri’, ‘Franklin’, and ‘Diablo’ in a group (1.02), respectively. When harvest was delayed two days, marketable and then by ‘Oliver’ and ‘Nautica’ (0.79). Topping reduced the yields increased about 35%. Percentage grade 3 fruit increased density in all varieties. ‘Oliver’ and ‘Franklin’ showed more regardless of planting density and averaged a 20% increase from disease damage than the other cultivars. Topping had no effect the first/early harvest while the percentage of oversize fruit on disease damage. ‘Vancouver’ and ‘Roodnerf’ followed by averaged 6% across planting densities. Number of fruits per ‘Dimitri’ and ‘Diablo’ then ‘Oliver’ showed best results for plant decreased as planting density increased (2.1 to 0.4 fruit yield, bud density, and resistance to diseases. ‘Nautica’ and per plant). Yields were similar when planting densities ranged ‘Franklin’ showed worst results. In general, topping had a nega- from 74 to 247 THPH. There is the potential to save money if tive effect on the parameters associated with Brussels sprouts planting densities can be reduced yet similar yields obtained marketability as stalks. which occurred in this initial study. Specified Source(s) of Funding: North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association Wednesday, September 28, 2011 10:15–11:45 am Kohala 3 11:45 am–12:00 pm Viticulture and Small Fruits 2 Evaluation of Cultivars of Brussels Sprouts for Parameters Associated with Their Marketability Moderator: S. Kaan Kurtural as Stalks California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] Touria El-Jaoual* University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; touria1@ 10:15–10:30 am verizon.net Aronia: An Old Fruit Crop, New to Alternative Ruth V. Hazzard Horticulure University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; hazzard@ Andrew Ristvey* umext.umass.edu University of Maryland, Queenstown, MD; aristvey@ Wesley R. Autio umd.edu University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; autio@pssci. Sudeep Mathew umass.edu University of Maryland, Queenstown, MD; samathew@ Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea gemmifera) because of their umd.edu value in diets are getting increased attention from consumers, A new alternative crop is being studied by University of but production is labor intensive and plagued by crop diseases. Maryland Extension for organic fruit production. The Black Selling Brussels sprouts on the stalk reduces labor compared to Chokeberry or Aronia, to which it is commonly referred, is an selling loose buds. The objective of this study was to evaluate eastern U.S. native with a long history of fruit production in cultivars of Brussels sprouts for parameters associated with eastern Europe. As an alternative crop, Aronia has many ben- marketability as stalks. The marketable stalk (MS) was not to efits, having considerable market potential. The fruit is about exceed 56 cm (22 inches) and was defined as the section with the size of a large blueberry and comes in clusters of about 10 dense, uniform, firm, and large (at least 1 inch of diameter) to 20, making them relatively easy to harvest. A mature plant buds. We evaluated the stalks for the bud number, yield, bud (about 7 to 8 years) can yield over 15 lb, but they start fruiting density, and disease damage. The effect of mechanical topping within two years after planting (averaging 3 or 4 lb of fruit by removing the apical bud when the lowest buds were about per plant). The fruit is closely related to an apple and is dark 2.5-cm in diameter was studied as a factor affecting yield and purple in color. The color is attributed to high concentrations of bud size. Seven cultivars (‘Vancouver’, ‘Franklin’, ‘Nautica’, flavonoids including anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Due ‘Diablo’, ‘Dimitri’, ‘Roodnerf’, ‘Oliver’) were evaluated to health-promoting effects, there is great interest in fruits and with or without topping. Height of MS did not differ among vegetables containing high concentrations of flavonoids, which cultivars. Topping reduced the heights of MS with ‘Diablo’, are considered potent antioxidants. Recent studies have shown ‘Vancouver’, and ‘Roodnerf’ from 50.8, 50.8, 48.3 cm to 33, that Aronia has a very high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capac- 38, 28 cm respectively, but had no effect on the other cultivars. ity (ORAC) compared to other fruit, including blueberries. The ‘Vancouver’ had the highest yield (780 g) and ‘Franklin’ had the fruit has potentially beneficial properties for health with regards lowest yield (400 g). Topping reduced yield in ‘Diablo’ from to the function of coronary arteries, antimicrobial properties for 700 g to 470 g but had no effect on the other cultivars. Number urinary tract health, gastrointestinal cancer-fighting properties of buds per MS did not vary with cultivars. Topping reduced and a recent USDA study using insulin resistant rats, suggests the number of buds in ‘Roodnerf’ and ‘Vancouver’ from 59 to the fruit possibly aids in the management of diabetes. At the

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S227 University of Maryland’s Wye Research and Education Center, to a density of 5 count shoots/30 cm of row (CLL); 7 count an active orchard with the varieties ‘Nero’ and ‘Viking’ has shoots/30 cm of row (CLM); or mechanically box-pruning been maintained and observed for about 5 years to determine to a 10-cm hedge with no shoot thinning (CLH), respectively. the cultural management, potential pest species, and fertility Control vines were irrigated to 70% of ET from fruit set needs to optimize yield. This fruit seems relatively easy to until harvest (RDIC). Other vines either received 70% of full grow, with little input, maximizing profit and reducing time vine ETo until to veraison, after which the rate was cut to for return on investment. A University of Maryland Extension 50% of ETo (RDIL) or had their irrigation cut to 50% of ETo program is presently underway to promote the interest of this before veraison (RDIE), but not thereafter. Application of fruit as an alternative crop for farms. mechanical shoot thinning at Stage 17 of the E-L scale by removing 25% of the total shoots exposed with the CLM re- 10:30–10:45 am sulted in exposing about 70, 600 shoots per hectare with count shoots spaced about 4.6 cm along the cordon. This exposure Not Presented translated to about 4 leaf layers and about 12.6 m2 of leaf area to ripen the clusters retained on the vines. The leaf area to fruit 10:45–11:00 am ratio achieved with the CLM treatment exposed just enough leaf Use of NAA and Vegetable Oil to Delay Bud area to ripen the crop level retained on the vines. The combi- Break in Vitis spp. nation of the CLM and RDIE treatments decreased the berry weight harvest by 12% without any decrease in harvest weight Paul E. Read* compared to hand-pruned control resulting 25 tons/ha yield. University of Nebraska Dept Hort, Lincoln, NE; pread@ To achieve vine balance with a crop load value of 9.9 kg/kg unl.edu 2 and a leaf area to fruit ratio of 0.75 m /kg for Syrah in the San Issam M. Qrunfleh Joaquin Valley of California, a combination of CLM and RDIE University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE; iqrunf@ is needed. The combination of CLM with RDIE results in higher hotmail.com total iron-reactive phenolics, higher tannin concentration and Delaying bud break is one approach to aid viticulturists in similar anthocyanin concentration to hand-pruned control with avoiding the negative impact of late spring cold weather events, RDIC at harvest. This study provides important information for which are especially common in continental climate regions. growers considering mechanizing canopy management opera- Field experiments were initiated on a commercial vineyard near tions while scheduling RDI where best results were achieved Raymond, Nebraska by spraying ‘Edelweiss’ grapevines with with the combination of CLM and RDIE treatments to achieve several rates of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and a soybean vine balance. oil-based commercial oil, Amigo oil. Treatments were applied Specified Source(s) of Funding: American Vineyard Founda- in January, February, March and April in 2009 and 2010. Bud tion, Bronco Wine Company, and West Coast Grape Farming break delay ranged from 2 to 6 days in 2009 and 8 to 12 days Management in 2010. Oil and 1000 ppm NAA exhibited the most significant delays, with no negative impact on yields, cluster weights, berry 11:15–11:30 am weights, soluble solids, pH and tiratable acidity. Nutrient Uptake and Use in Young ‘Pinot Noir’ Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Nebraska and Grapevines Nebraska Grape and Wine Board R. Paul Schreiner* USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; paul.schreiner@ars. 11:00–11:15 am usda.gov Interactive Effects of Mechanical Canopy Jungmin Lee Management and Regulated Deficit Irrigation USDA-ARS-HCRU worksite, Parma, ID; Jungmin.Lee@ on Syrah Grapevines ars.usda.gov Dave Terry Nutrient uptake and allocation patterns were determined in Fresno, CA; [email protected] four year-old grapevines (‘Pinot noir’ clone 115 on 3309C S. Kaan Kurtural* rootstock) by destructively harvesting entire vines at major California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA; phenological stages over two years. In addition, half of the [email protected] vines were irrigated less frequently between veraison and fruit harvest to determine if access to soil water at this time would Canopy microclimate of Syrah 06/1103P grapevines were altered influence nutrient uptake or berry nutrient levels (particularly and exposed to Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) with varying YAN). Even though vine water use and water status were reduced severity and timing to mitigate the crop load. Four crop load in the dry treatment, irrigation had only minor effects on vine levels were imposed by dormant pruning to 22 spurs (control) growth or nutrients. Total vine dry matter was reduced in one with no further manipulation, and mechanically box-pruning year by ~4% and whole-vine P content was reduced across both others to 10 cm hedges and mechanically thinning the canopy years by ~3% in the dry treatment. Yield, juice YAN, and other

S228 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 berry quality parameters were not altered by irrigation. Vine Wednesday, September 28, 2011 nutrient uptake of macro- and micro-elements was similar for 11:45 am–12:00 pm Kohala 4 both years, except for N which was taken up during the dormant period (after leaf senescence) in one year only. Although, the Consumer Horticulture and Master peak time of N uptake occurred between budbreak and bloom in both years. Peak uptake of P and B was similar between the Gardeners time periods of budbreak to bloom and bloom to veraison, while peak uptake of K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Zn, and Cu occurred between Moderator: Mary L. Lamberts bloom and veraison. Vines utilized stored reserves of N, K, and S University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] from roots and trunks to help supply early season canopy demand. Roughly one-third of canopy demand for K and S was supplied 10:45–11:00 am from stored reserves between budbreak and bloom, while 30% to “A Taste of Technology”—Advanced Master 43% of canopy N was supplied from reserves up until veraison. Gardener Training Young ‘Pinot noir’ vines carrying their first normal crop had a net uptake of 12 lb of N per acre, ~25 lb of K and Ca per acre, 3 Robert E. Call* lb of P per acre, and 4 lb of Mg per acre. The timing of nutrient University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Willcox, uptake by young vines was generally consistent with previous AZ; [email protected] findings in mature (24-years-old) ‘Pinot noir’ vines grown in the Master Gardener volunteers (MGV) enjoy learning and same region. However, young vines utilized proportionally less increasing their skills. Advanced training for MGV is a method stored N, little or no stored P, and young vines began to replenish to keep trained personnel actively involved in the program. root and trunk reserves of macronutrients earlier in the growing A five week, hands-on, advanced training course entitled, season than older vines studied earlier. “A Taste of Technology, ” was begun 25 Jan. 2006. A second course was begun 7 Apr. 2008. A third training in a neighbor- 11:30–11:45 am ing county began 13 Apr. 2009. The last training began on 12 The Influence of Leaf Removal and Chemical May 2010. The objective of the trainings was to improve the Sprays on Cluster Compactness and Fruit Rot knowledge and skill sets of MGV so they can be more effective. Classes met in the Computer Laboratory at the University in Riesling Grapevines of Arizona, South Campus once a week for up to 3 h. Topics Thomas J. Zabadal* were: desktop computer hardware components and software Michigan State University, Benton Harbor, MI; zabadal@ programs; emailing; web browsing and searching; webpage msu.edu design and posting; digital photography and enhancement; GPS/GIS; and PowerPoint® presentation construction and Jennifer Wells delivery. Presentations were made by Extension personnel and MIchigan State University, Benton Harbor, MI; wellsj12@ MGV. The average attendance for each session was 16 MGV. msu.edu Evaluations were all positive with an overall rating of 4.6, on a Paolo Sabbatini scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high). Many benefits have occurred from MIchigan State University, Benton Harbor, MI; sabbatin@ this advanced training program. Some examples are: MGV msu.edu now maintain the Cochise County Master Gardener Website Fruit rot causes significant crop loss in many compact-clustered (http://ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/); they give educational ® wine grape varieties grown in a cool, humid climate, which PowerPoint presentations; digital photography is used to has frequent rainfall in the fruit-ripening period. Grapevines of archive images of pests and other problems in a database; all the compact-clustered Riesling variety, which were grafted on communications for the MGV program are done electronically. 3309C rootstock and managed with the Scott-Henry training Over 1025 subscribers of the monthly newsletter are noti- system, were grown at the Michigan State University Southwest fied using email and only 105 physical copies are made and Michigan Research and Extension Center near Benton Harbor, mailed, a decrease of 93%. GPS/GIS programs are being Michigan. During the 2008, 2009 and 2010 growing seasons these used to identify and list locations of ornamental plants on vines were manipulated in the fruit zone with combinations of Campus. leaf removal and single sprays of clove oil, ammonium nitrate, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, ammonium sulfate 11:00–11:15 am or copper sulfate at full bloom. Leaf removal was essential to Developing YouTube Videos to Demonstrate control fruit rot. These chemicals reduced cluster compactness as How to Plant a Vegetable Garden—Part I well as the incidence and severity of fruit rot. There was minimal influence of these vine manipulations on the survival, fruitfulness Mary L. Lamberts* and yield for the basal two nodes of fruit spurs in the year after University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] treatment. The influence of these strategies for control of fruit Adrian Hunsberger rot and yield on whole vines is currently under investigation. University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Michigan State University

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S229 Mary Shedd McCready been gained about EMG needs and desires for more advanced University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] training, continuing education units, sustainable and organic gardening information, and diagnostic tools. Engagement of Michael Gutierrez both contributors (EMGs and EMG coordinators), and casual University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected]. or repeat participants of this social media effort is continually edu being evaluated. It is hoped that the potential for the blog and A renewed interest in vegetable gardening, for both health and social media efforts will continue to grow and become more economic reasons, has created a new audience for Extension active in terms of generating site visits, shared learning, and Agents. Many of these people have never grown any plants or increased brand recognition for the EMG program. only have experience with house plants. These novice gardeners are not familiar with direct seeding techniques that are second 11:30–11:45 am nature to their more seasoned counterparts. Unfortunately, available information mistakenly assumes a basic familiarity Managing Master Gardener Volunteer with growing plants from seed. Even videos about planting a Programs without County Extension Educators vegetable garden address this issue by showing how to read a Pamela J. Bennett* seed packet or by very quickly having someone plant a single Ohio State University Extension, Springfield, OH; seed. The Miami-Dade County Extension’s YouTube Videos [email protected] on direct seeding focus on very specific topics such as the dif- In 2009, Ohio State University Extension received state bud- ference between large and small seeds, determining the correct get cuts resulting in the loss of 23 Extension educators around depth of planting, and making a very inexpensive seed tape for the state. Of those 23, at least 7 of them were Agriculture and very small seeds. These videos can be found at http://miami- Natural Resources Educators with active Master Gardener vol- dade.ifas.ufl.edu. unteer (MGV) programs. As a result of the reduction in force, these county MGV programs were left without leadership and 11:15–11:30 am guidance at the county level. This presentation will discuss how The National Extension Master Gardener Blog the leadership and management of the county programs have and Social Media Effort: Opportunities for transitioned and have remained successful. The topics discussed Expanding Volunteer Learning Opportunities includes developing a financial and liability factsheet in order for and National Program Brand Recognition MGVs to understand how to manage finances and still remain protected in their volunteer role for the university, developing Karen Jeannette* a program management guide for County Extension Directors University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; jean0027@umn. and MGVs to understand their roles in the new leadership situ- edu ations, as well as general day-to-day management issues such Richard E. Durham as reporting state hours, policy implementation, and managing University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; rdurham@uky. projects in the county. edu 11:45 am–12:00 pm Monica A. David University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Teaching Master Gardeners about Pesticide Labels The Consumer Horticulture Community of Practice launched the Extension Master Gardener blog (http://blogs.extension. Mary L. Lamberts* org/mastergardener) in May 2010 to serve as a national focal University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] and contact point for the Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Adrian Hunsberger program, engage EMGs in sharing knowledge across state University of Florida, Homestead, FL; [email protected] and county lines, and to ultimately provide new opportunities to increase EMG program brand recognition. Generating dis- Master Gardeners (MGs) are sometimes asked questions related covery, interest, and use of the newly launched EMG blog was to pest control for both landscape plants and edible gardens. quickly discovered to be dependent on the ability to engage Master Gardener Coordinators have MGs follow university rec- the nation’s vast network of Extension professionals (largely ommendations when making any pest control recommendation, EMG Coordinators), EMGs, and the general gardening public but not all MGs are familiar with pesticides. In Miami-Dade either as blog post contributors, or participants in the conver- County, Florida, the Commercial Vegetable Agent teaches the sation via other social networks. To generate repeated use of portion of the training class that deals with using pesticides cor- the blog, and serve as additional channels for engaging EMGs rectly. She uses labels from commonly used products, showing around volunteer experiences, use of an official Facebook fan where to find relevant information on the label and about basic page and Twitter account were employed as part of the overall safety when using pesticides. Topics include: Directions for Use, strategy to increase the reach and engagement opportunities which includes plants on which the different pesticides can be for the nation-wide EMG program. Through these additional used; Personal Protective Equipment; the importance of observ- channels and networking opportunities, insightful feedback has ing pre-harvest intervals for any edible plants in a garden and

S230 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 why this is important; and the need to follow time to planting before the next review stage. Horticulture 481, Advanced Garden restrictions for a very commonly used herbicide. This talk will Composition at Iowa State University is the capstone design give specific examples from actual labels and survey results of course for students in the Department of Horticulture’s Land- local Master Gardener knowledge on this topic. scape Design, Installation and Management Option. Students complete five major projects in this course, each with multiple design stages. Throughout the design process for each project Wednesday, September 28, 2011 students verbalized their self-reflections during in-class design 10:45 am–12:00 pm Kohala 2 reviews. This allowed peers to provide input and suggestions for each student. At the completion of each project, students Teaching Methods completed a three-question self-reflection and submitted it with the assignment. This self-reflection helped the student and the Moderator: Jeff Kuehny instructor evaluate current strengths and deficiencies and helped Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; jkuehny@ the instructor personalize instruction for each student to help agcenter.lsu.edu them further their design skills and abilities. 10:45–11:00 am 11:15–11:30 am A Seed Lab Exercise in Plant Propagation Student Perceptions on the Use of Laboratory Richard A. Criley* Test Kits in Their Online Nutrition Course University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; criley@ hawaii.edu Kimberly K. Moore* Fort Lauderdale, FL; [email protected] While most plant propagation laboratory exercises with seeds address such topics as breaking dormancy, germination, and It is well accepted that laboratories are essential for training viability testing, additional ideas can be derived from seed tech- and providing a hands-on experience. However, most live nology courses. In the plant propagation course at the University laboratories have evolved into lessons in following directions of Hawaii, students collect fruits, extract the seeds, and carry out rather than a mechanism for providing new experiences in which various dormancy-breaking, germination, and viability exercises students get to apply knowledge from lecture. The recent report on their own seeds. Over the years, many different kinds of seeds from the Department of Education indicated that the inclusion have been accumulated. Some are readily associated with the of online simulations as well as online and live manipulations plants they came from because of special characteristics such trigger learner activity and enhance learning. Overall students as colored arils, presence of fibers, or other superficial features. have rated their experience with the online virtual laboratories/ A set of cards has been created using 10 different seeds glued demonstrations as excellent (5) or above average (4) suggesting onto them. Students are asked to create a key to distinguish that students appear to be open to online laboratory experiences. among the different kinds of seeds using criteria such as size, However, many students would like some hands-on components shape, texture, color, position of the attachment point (hilum), added to their online classes. Students enrolled in my online presence of external features, etc. This leads to a capacity to courses are often in locations far removed from me and many identify seeds and to determine contaminants in seed lots. Some students have limited time flexibility during the day or evening of these factors also lead to techniques to separate seeds from to take advantage of a set laboratory. The use of ‘kits’ that can be chaff and contaminating seeds. Additional advantages of the checked out from locations around the state allowed students the exercise are that no special growing-out space is required and it opportunity to apply techniques discussed online to real world can be used near the end of a semester when there is insufficient situations in their lives. This presentation summarizes student time to grow out seedlings. perceptions on the effectiveness of using nutritional test kits.

11:00–11:15 am 11:30–11:45 am Using Student Self-Reflection to Improve Youth Motivational Factors Related to Landscape Design Abilities Performance in a State Horticulture Career Development Event Ann Marie VanDerZanden* Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] Amy J. Jones Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jones176@purdue. Self-reflection is an important part of any learning process and edu can be an effective way for learners to evaluate their strengths, deficiencies and areas they want to improve. Because landscape Neil Knobloch design is an iterative process with multiple stages of review before Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; nknobloc@ a final design is created, incorporating student self-reflection purdue.edu can be a valuable teaching tool. Providing opportunities for Levon Esters reflection during the different design phases allows students Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; lesters@purdue. to evaluate their current design and implement modifications edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S231 Kathryn S. Orvis* build motivation and reach acceptable competence levels for Purdue University & YDAE, West Lafayette, IN; orvis@ landscape industry certification. purdue.edu The purpose of this study was to describe high school students’ 11:45 am–12:00 pm knowledge, motivation, and learning experiences in a competi- The Alliance for Cooperative Course Sharing in tive out-of-school state horticulture career development experi- the Plant Sciences ence. The study was a census (N = 59) of all youth participants in the senior division (i.e., grades 9–12) at the 2010 (state) Jeff Kuehny 4-H/FFA Horticulture Career Development Event (CDE).This Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; Horticulture CDE prepares youth for horticultural careers and [email protected] degree programs by covering topics determined beneficial by the Michael R. Evans National Junior Horticulture Association (NJHA). Three knowl- Department of Horticulture, Fayetteville, AR; edge/skill-based exams were used to assess youth competence: a [email protected] general knowledge, identification, and product evaluation exam. Janet C. Cole The general knowledge exam included 20 true/false questions Oklahoma State Univ, Stillwater, OK; janet.cole@okstate. and 60 multiple choice questions concerning 12 categories: 1) edu Plant Nomenclature, 2) Environment and Horticulture Plants, 3) Plant Nutrition, 4) Vegetables, 5) Garden Flowers, 6) Fruit Richard L. Harkess* and Nut Production, 7) Turf, 8) Landscaping, 9) Managing Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape, 10) Plant Propagation, [email protected] 11) Greenhouse Structure, and 12) Commercial Horticulture Many colleges of agriculture have become smaller with faculty Production. The identification exam included identifying 100 positions not being filled resulting in a decreased number of specimens broken down into four categories. There were 25 course offerings. This phenomenon has resulted in less diverse specimens each of 1) flowers and indoor plants, 2) landscape and thorough curricula in the undergraduate and graduate plant ornamentals, 3) fruits, nuts and berries, and 4) vegetables. This agricultural sciences. To address these problems the University contained any part of the plant (leaves, flowers, fruits, stems). of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, Oklahoma State Uni- The Product evaluation exam contained two classes each of 1) versity and Mississippi State University created the Alliance fruits, nuts, and berries, 2) vegetables, 3) flowers and indoor for Cooperative Course Exchange in the Plant Sciences (AC- plants and 4) Landscape Ornamentals, making a total of 8 CEPtS). The ACCEPtS program serves as the mechanism for the classes: blueberries, strawberries, kale, potatoes, celosia, petu- participating institutions to share teaching resources to reduce nias, holly, and blue spruce. Youth’s motivation (intrinsic value, course duplication, offer students courses taught by experts utility value, attainment value, cost, and self-efficacy), and a in the subject matter, jointly develop core classes as well as ranking of learning resources utilized for CDE preparation were classes related to emerging issues that they would otherwise be described. Relationships between youth performance (general unable to offer students, and increase the efficiency with which knowledge exam, identification exam) and youth’s motivational they utilize teaching resources. So that this program could be factors were explored. Youth were “somewhat” motivated to properly instituted a memorandum of understanding (MOU) participate in the horticulture CDE based on mean responses was developed and approved by the participating institutions measuring intrinsic value (M = 2.76, SD = 0.89), attainment and designates operations, institutional responsibilities, stu- value (M = 3.06, SD = 0.85) and utility value (M = 3.30, SD = dent registration and enrollment, tuition exchange and course 0.77) using a five point summated rating scale. Highest ranking delivery. The first nine courses developed by ACCEPtS have resources utilized included old tests and quizzes, flashcards, been taught at least once with a total 320 students enrolled and websites. Youth did not perform horticultural competencies for 888 credit hours. Future plans include expanding both the at a level required in the horticulture industry; however youth number of courses shared as well as the number of institutions motivation factors (utility value, attainment value, and intrinsic participating in the ACCEPtS program. The development of value) were related to youth performance. This research shows the MOU, course delivery methods and student feedback will that learning resources and contest preparations need to have be described. more horticultural knowledge applications so that youth can

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S232 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Poster Presentations • 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Sunday, September 25, 2011 (002) Study on Flowering Period of Potted 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom Mini Phalaenopsis According to the Watering Floriculture 1 Methods in Indoor Environment Sun Jin Jeong* (001) Effect of GA3 and Ethephon on Stamen National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Development of Rhododendron delavayi Franch Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; sunjin75@ korea.kr Zhang Ximin* Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected] Young Ran Lee Shen Gang National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; leeyr628@ cn rda.go.kr Yi Yin Yun Jin Song Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected] National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; nature0113@ Donglin Zhang rda.go.kr University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] Sang Mi Lee Chen Xun National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang; zhxm409@ Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; sangmilee@ yahoo.cn rda.go.kr To extend the bloom duration, plant growth regulator, GA3, Jae Wook Lee ethephon, 2,4-D and daminozide, had been sprayed on the wild National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural populations of R. delavayi. The time of flowering duration was Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; ljw1634@ recorded after spraying in our preliminary experiments and the rda.go.kr results indicated the extension of bloom time. In order to better Ji Hye Moon understand the effect of GA3 and ethephon with mixture of 2,4-D and daminozide on the florescence, the stamen development National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; jhmoon@rda. was observed using the transmission electron microscope after go.kr spraying GA3 and ethephon. The results indicated that 100 mg/ kg and 200 mg/kg GA3 could promote stamen development Wan Soon Kim and the lower concentration was better than that of the higher University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] concentration. The anther development was full and surface Sphagnum moss used primarily as Phalaenopsis planting me- structure expanded. A lot of pollen grains were found in the dium has the following characteristics : it takes a lot of time to pollen sack. Pollen sack closed and no pollen grain had been absorb enough water when it is dry. Usually overhead watering seen under 100 mg/kg GA3 mixed with the 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/ can cause lots of water loss. In addition, put the pot in a water kg, 200 mg/kg daminozide respectively. Anther development bucket can lead to waterborne infection.To solve these problems, was not full and showed surface sunken. This inhibiting effect and find easy way to assess the water management of Phalae- was enhanced as the increase of daminozide and 2,4-D. Spraying nopsis, percentageoffreshflowersaccordingtofourkindswatering- 100 mg/kg GA3 mixed the 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg methodswhichwere No watering, Every week watering, Wick 2,4-D respectively, the development of the pollen was decreased watering (which water was supplied after confirming the dried with the increase of 2,4-D. At the same time, pollen sack was sphagnum moss, and the remaining water was discarded after closed and no pollen grain was observed. Ethephon inhibited the moss absorbed enough water), and Humidity supply (which the development of stamen with the increase of ethephon supplied humidity only with filled water up to under media, but concentration. The pollen sack was open and the pollen grain the water wasn’t reached to media) was investigated. During 10 was visible when the wild population R. delavayi were sprayed weeks, daytime environment (07:00~19:00) was investigated as with 200 mg/kg ethephon. The pollen sack was closed under 989.1 Lux (light intensity), 23.4 °C (temperature), and 46.6% the 400 mg/kg ethephon. When 500 mg/kg ethephon mixed the (Relative humidity) respectively. Percentage of fresh flow- 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg 2,4-D respectively, the pol- ers treated with Humidity supply decreased rapidly until 3rd len development declined as the increase of 2,4-D. When 500 week. It showed 40% from 3rd to 6th week and was reduced to mg/kg ethephon mixed the 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg less than 10% at 8th week. Percentage of fresh flowers treated daminozide respectively, the pollen development increased with with No watering showed more than 50% until 7th week and the increase of daminozide. Growth regulators did affact the lost ornamental value at 8th week. Percentage of fresh flowers stamen development and the combinations of grwoth regulators treated with Wick watering and Every week watering maintained might positively or negatively impacted anther development. ornamental value more than 70% until 10th week. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Science and Technological Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Institute of Horticultural Project of Guizhou Province and Herbal Science, Rural Development Adminstration, Korea

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S233 (003) The Causes of Acidification in the ers in Hawaii report that lateral flow immunoassay tests from Sphagnum Moss Substrate during the different manufacturers sometimes yield contradictory results Cultivation of Phalaenopsis when detecting CymMV. For example, one plant tested positive for CymMV using a Glift test kit and negative using an Agdia Yao-Chien Alex Chang* ImmunoStrip test. This plant was subsequently tested for the National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] presence of CymMV using RT-PCR using primers designed to Wan-Yi Yen amplify the CymMV coat protein gene. A DNA amplicon was National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] produced from that reaction, but was approximately 400 base pairs smaller than expected. Further, during a survey of orchid Yin-Tung Wang hybrids we found 9 plants that tested positive for CymMV Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; yintung. using the Agdia orchid ImmunoStrip test and tested negative [email protected] for CymMV using RT-PCR (three primer pairs for different Sphagnum moss is widely used as a substrate for the commercial regions of the CymMV genome). While infection with ORSV cultivation of Phalaenopsis in Asia. Drop in pH of the sphagnum was common, there were no discrepancies between ORSV test moss substrate during Phalaenopsis cultivation has been reported methods., We are working toward resolving the discrepancies in many studies, but the causes of this phenomenon remained between the CymMV detection methods. unclear. In this study we investigated the possible factors that Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA would lead to the sphagnum moss substrate acidification during the cultivation of Phalaenopsis. Fertilization resulted in lower (006) Auxin Application Method Affects Rooting initial pH (pH measured by the pour-through technique at the of Herbaceous Perennials first fertigation) of the substrate. Regardless of fertilization, the Holly L. Scoggins* pH of the sphagnum moss substrate without Phalaenopsis plant Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] increased over time, while a decrease in pH was observed in the sphagnum moss substrate having a Phalaenopsis plant in it. John R. Freeborn The effect of substrate characteristics on pH was also studied by Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Phalaenopsis growing plants in sphagnum moss, artificial textile Joyce G. Latimer fiber or pine bark. Artificial textile fiber had the highest initial Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] pH, followed by pine bark and sphagnum moss, but acidification was observed in all substrates with increasing time in cultiva- Mara Grossman tion. Growth of algae on sphagnum moss was found not to be Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] a contributing factor in the pH change of the sphagnum moss The rooting performance of five taxa of herbaceous perennials substrate, because the acidification of the moss was not affected was studied: Agastache ‘Purple Haze’, Gaura lindheimeri ‘Sis- by the exposure to or blockage from light. Therefore, the roots kiyou Pink’, Lavandula ×intermedia ‘Provence’, Leucanthemum of Phalaenopsis plants are the primary factor contributing to ×superbum ‘Snowcap’, and Salvia nemorosa ’May Night’. the acidification of the sphagnum moss substrate. Water-soluble salts (20%) of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agriculture and Food Agency, 1500 mg·L–1 were applied to unrooted cuttings with one of four Council of Agriculture, Taiwan methods: control (no hormone), basal dip, foliar dip (to imiti- ate foliar spray), or immersion. Measurements of each cutting (005) Evaluation of Detection Methods for were taken 14 days after sticking (DAS) and 21 DAS. After Cymbidium mosaic virus visual ratings were made on a scale of 1 (no roots) to 5 (ready Kiersten Akahoshi* to transplant), roots of all crops were washed and scanned using University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; [email protected] the WinRHIZO imaging system to determine the root surface area and root volume. Dry weight of roots and shoots was also Susan C. Miyasaka measured. Rooting was highly variable among taxa and treat- University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] ments; some showed little difference between control and IBA Michael Shintaku treatments (Gaura, Leucanthemum). If there was a response to University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hilo, HI; [email protected] IBA, there was either no difference among application methods (Lavandula) or the immersion application resulted in optimum Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV) and Odontoglossum ringspot rooting (Agastache, Salvia). virus (ORSV) are the two most important orchid viruses worldwide. A common and convenient method for detecting these Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Agricultural Council viruses is the lateral flow immunoassay test. Lateral flow im- (007) Effects of UVB Light on Edema and munoassay tests are reliable and sensitive for virus detection, Intumescence Development carry approximately the same cost as reverse-transcription followed by PCR (RT-PCR) and are complete in less than 30 Nicole A. Rud minutes. Additionally, growers can complete these tests in the Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; nicole.rud@ field without expensive lab equipment. However, orchid grow- rockets.utoledo.edu

S234 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Kimberly A. Williams* (at widest point) were measured. Sowing date had a significant Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] effect on plant height and Inflorescence caliper of E. simplex. Plants grown from seed sown on 1 Apr. were significantly M.B. Kirkham shorter and had smaller caliper flowers than plants grown from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] seed sown 1 Dec. All other treatments were intermediate and Intumescence and edema development are physiological dis- there was no effect of sowing date on inflorescence height. orders that are often referred to interchangeably and primarily More importantly, there was no significant difference for all affect plant leaves. When damage is severe, economic loss measurements between the first, second and third sow dates. results from reduced aesthetic value or yield losses correlated This indicates a sowing date as late as 1 Mar. can be suitable with reduced photosynthetic area. We evaluated whether UVB for the production of E. simplex and will not have a negative light affects the incidence and severity of these disorders on ivy effect on plant height or inflorescence size. geranium (Pelargonium peltatum L’Herr ex. Ait.) ‘Amethyst’, Specified Source(s) of Funding:Longwood Gardens ‘Lambada’, and ‘Sybil Holmes’ and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. hirsutum ‘Maxifort’ and var. esculentum ‘Trust’) in separate greenhouse experiments for each genus. UVB-emitting fluorescent light bulbs were mounted over plants without Sunday, September 25, 2011 (+ UVB-light) and with (– UVB-light) UV-absorbing polyethyl- 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom ene. Numbers of leaves affected by the disorders were counted twice weekly. Dissection and scanning electron microscopy Growth Chambers and Controlled (SEM) was performed on fresh samples. Edema development Environments on ivy geranium occurred uniformly in the ± UVB-light treatments. Intumescence development on tomato var. esculentum (175) Effects of High Tunnels and Secondary did not occur in either UVB-light treatment, but it was different Row Covers on Temperatures and Off-Season across treatments on tomato var. hirsutum: + UVB-light resulted Production of Zinnia Cut Flowers in 6% of leaves and 1% of leaflets affected whereas–UVB-light resulted in 30% of leaves and 12% of leaflets affected. Dissecting Vasile Cerven* and SEM showed clearly that a single edemata is comprised of Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; hundreds of cells that swell as one unit and then collapse whereas [email protected] intumescences are comprised of groups of individual cells that Guihong Bi grow individually to the point of bursting. The disorders are Truck Crops Branch, Mississippi State University, Crystal distinctly different and caused by different phenomena. Springs, MS; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:Gloeckner Foundation William B. Evans Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; wbe1@ (008) The Effect of Seed Sowing Date on Growth ra.msstate.edu and Inflorescence Size ofEchium simplex Mengmeng Gu Matthew D. Taylor* Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; mtaylor@ [email protected] longwoodgardens.org This study was conducted to evaluate the use of secondary Yoko Arakawa row covers for off-season production of zinnia, a warm sea- Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; yarakawa@ son cut flower (Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’) in high longwoodgardens.org tunnels in central Mississippi. There were four secondary Tower of Jewels (Echium simplex) is a rare plant native to the cover treatments in each of three high tunnels: no secondary Canary Islands with an enormous inflorescence that regularly cover as control, spun-bonded polypropylene, polyethylene, reaches over 1 m in length. Production of this crop for ornamental and felted black landscape fabric. The row covers were value is challenging since it is a biennial crop and takes well over pulled over 5 ft. tall frames built over the crop rows. A defini- a year to flower from seed. The objective of this experiment was tive high tunnel venting and row covering protocol was used to determine the optimal seed sowing date to minimize production based on the actual external and internal temperatures for the time while maintaining plant and inflorescence size.E. simplex daytime and forecasted external temperatures for the night. Air seeds were sown on four dates (1 Dec. 2008; 1 Feb., 1 Mar., and temperatures were recorded inside and outside of the tunnels, and 1 Apr. 2009) with 3 replications. Plants were greenhouse grown under each cover treatment. During Dec. 2009, the maximum, in Kennett Square, PA and following the seeding stage, day/night minimum and average air temperatures inside the high tunnels temperatures were maintained at 7/13 °C and the greenhouse were higher by 17.9, 4.9, and 8.0 °F, respectively, compared was vented at 16 °C. After 26 Feb., night temperatures were to the temperatures outside the tunnels. However, there were increased to 10 °C. All plants bloomed at similar times and all no significant differences among air temperatures under the were in full bloom (all flowers showing white) by 8 Apr. 2010. four secondary cover treatments inside the high tunnels. High At full bloom, plant height and inflorescence height and caliper tunnels and high tunnels + secondary row covers added 414

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S235 and 444 more base 50 °F growing degree days (GDD50), respec- winters and hot, humid summers, it is difficult to stably produce tively, compared to the outside GDD50 accumulation. However, leafy vegetables all year round. In recent years, this problem

GDD50 under secondary covers were not significantly differ- has been addressed by hydroponic culture of leafy vegetables ent from that in the uncovered control. When the minimum in a greenhouse or plant factory. Though small scale, about five temperature outside of the tunnels decreased to the teens in artificial light plant factories are commercially operated in South early Jan. 2010, no secondary row cover treatment prevented Korea. These plant factories grow mainly leafy vegetables such as significant plant injury from these severe frost events. We lettuce. However the hydroponic practice of raising seedling leafy were unable to produce marketable zinnia cut flowers in high vegetable has not been established in a plant factory system. This tunnels in central Mississippi beyond the frost free period study was conducted to identify the effects of growing media and in 2009–2010 even with the secondary covers used in this periods on the growth of leafy vegetable seedlings in an artificial study. light plant factory. Lettuce and pak choi were leafy vegetables studied. Two growing—wool and urethane sponge—and periods Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Agricultural Food of 12, 14, and 18 days after germination were compared. As a Research Initiative of the National Institute of Food and Ag- result, the growth of both leafy vegetables seedlings was better riculture in rock-wool than in urethane sponge because of high moisture (176) The Influence of Growing Media and holding ability. However, the early growth stage of seedlings was not as good because of poor rooting during germination. Periods on the Growth of Two Leafy Vegetable Germination ratio in the urethane sponge was lower because of Seedlings in a Plant Factory System the low water contents at the top surface of the medium. Among Hyo-Gil Choi* the three growing period treatments, the growth of seedling at National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, 14 days was the best with respect to the aerial growth and root Rural Development Administration, Busan; hg1208@ activity. If water content is kept more than 97% of saturation korea.kr moisture capacity, the urethane sponge medium would be proper in plant factory system because of its higher germination ratio Joon-Kook Kwon and better growth of roots. National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, Rural Development Administration, Busan; kjk0412@ Specified Source(s) of Funding:Protected Horticulture Research korea.kr Station, NIHHS, Rural Development Administration, Korea Kyoung-Sub Park (177) Rootstock Effects on Nitrogen Assimilation National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, in Tomato Plants under Greenhouse Conditions Rural Development Administration, Busan; unicos75@ korea.kr Desire Djidonou* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Jong-Gyu Woo National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, Xin Zhao Rural Development Administration, Busan; Woojgyu@ University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] korea.kr With regard to enhanced vigor and yield observed in grafted Il-Rae No tomato plants, few studies have examined the underlying physi- National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, ological mechanisms in addition to improved nutrient uptake. Rural Development Administration, Busan; irno12@korea. The objective of this study was to determine changes of nitrogen kr assimilation in leaves and roots of tomato plants as a result of grafting (Solanum lycoperscium). A popular tomato cultivar Ho-Jung Jung Florida-47 was used as scion and grafted onto two interspecific National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, tomato rootstocks including ‘Beaufort’ and ‘Multifort’. Non- Rural Development Administration, Busan; junhj817@ grafted and self-grafted ‘Florida 47’ were used as controls. The korea.kr plants were grown under greenhouse conditions and provided Myeong-whan Cho with an optimum supply of essential nutrients and water using National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, a controlled fertigation system. Levels of nitrate and reduced Rural Development Administration, Busan; phescho@ nitrogen and nitrate reductase activity in leaf and root samples korea.kr were measured at three growth stages, i.e., vegetative, first harvest and final harvest. Grafting with the two vigorous rootstocks did Yum-Im Kang not alter positively the activity of nitrate reductase as similar National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Sciecnce, levels of enzyme activity were observed between the grafted Rural Development Administration, Busan; yunimy@ korea.kr and non-grafted plants throughout the production cycle. There was a greater activity of the nitrate reductase in the leaves than There is high consumer demand for leafy vegetables all year in the roots, indicating a higher level of nitrate assimilation in round in Korea due to special culinary culture, such as wrapping the leaves. Similar patterns were also observed on the nitrate meat in leafy vegetables (called “ssam vegetable”). With cold concentrations in leaves and roots without significant differences

S236 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 between grafted combinations and controls. However, the two Specified Source(s) of Funding:MSU AgBioResearch & Project rootstocks significantly increased the total and marketable yields GREEEN of ‘Florida 47’ as compared to non-grafted and self-grafted con- (179) Photoautotrophic Arabidopsis Culture trols. Specifically, grafting with ‘Multifort’ resulted in an increase of 61% and 62% of the marketable yield in comparison with (PAC): Development of In Vitro Experimental the non-grafted and the self-grafted ‘Florida-47’, respectively. Platform to Assure Normal Plant Physiology More in-depth studies are warranted to better understand the Chieri Kubota underlying physiological mechanisms that drive the enhance- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. ment in vigor and yield of grafted tomato plants in addition to edu nitrogen assimilation. Analysis of the plant growth hormones Mark A. Kroggel* including cytokinin and auxin is underway which may provide more insights into the physiological processes contributing to University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; [email protected]. the enhanced productivity of grafted tomato plants. edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:UF-IFAS Masami Y. Hirai RIKEN, Yokohama, Kanagawa; [email protected] (178) Low Tunnel Strategies for Microclimate Plant tissue culture serves both as a propagation and a research Modification and Early Vegetable Production tool to grow small plants under aseptic conditions. Plant bio- Rebekah M.S. Faivor* logical studies using model plant species (i.e., Arabidopsis spp.) Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; struckr1@ sometimes employ tissue culture as the research platform to test msu.edu the biological hypothesis of interest. Especially for Arabidopsis Mathieu Ngouajio spp., tissue culture has been employed as a preferable contained Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; ngouajio@ experimental system assuring uniform growth, presumably due msu.edu to the environmentally sensitive nature of Arabidopsis plants. The most widely used tissue culture technique employs full or Profitability of vegetable production in the North Central Region reduced strength of Murashige and Skoog salts with 10-30 g/L of the United States is limited by the temperate climate, which sucrose and agar or alternative gelling agent inside a closed shortens the growing season. Therefore, most growers plant and vessel placed under relatively low light intensity. MS medium harvest at the same time, which drives prices down (sometimes has 4–5 times greater nitrogen concentration (one third of which below breakeven point) and negatively affects, their income. is in the form of NH4–N) than a typical hydroponics solution. The goal of this study was to improve profitability of fresh Sucrose has been known as a transcriptional factor affecting gene market vegetables in Michigan and the North Central Region. expression involving hexokinase activities or flowering. Sucrose We achieved this goal by developing, testing, and demonstrating has been also shown to reduce Rubisco activities. Limited ven- new low tunnel strategies for frost protection and early harvest tilation of tissue culture vessels results in CO2 concentrations as within an open field setting. Low tunnels are a way for growers low as the compensation point during photoperiod. Therefore, to start planting earlier, so they can harvest earlier, and receive simple removal of sugar from the medium would not achieve a higher price for their produce before vegetable prices begin normal photoautotrophic plant growth, and other environmental to decline. This study tested black plastic mulch on raised beds conditions need to be improved all together. To address this along with various plastic materials used as low tunnels (clear issue, we demonstrated photoautotrophic Arabidopsis culture and white perforated plastic) as well as their combination with (PAC) using A. thaliana (Col-0), a widely used genotype. Plants a spun-bond material (for heat trapping) for frost protection were germinated in medium containing half strength MS and and earliness in fresh market cucumber and tomato production 10 g/L sucrose for one week and transferred to vented vessels . Results showed that by putting plastic mulch and our new containing sugar-free medium with hydroponic salts under 160 low tunnel design (perforated plastic low tunnel plus a band of mmol·m–2·s–1 PAR. Photoperiod was set at 10 hours throughout spun-bond plastic inside the tunnel) air temperature during frost the experiment to avoid flowering. Agar and rockwool were events was increased up to 4 °F inside the tunnels. Growing examined as substrate. Biomass of photoautotrophic Arabidop- degree days were increased by 100 to 300 degree days and both sis plants was 3 times greater than that of plants grown under tomatoes and cucumbers were harvested about 2 weeks earlier conventional conditions in petri dish. Photoautotrophic plants within the low tunnel treatments compared to the open control developed more normal morphology and greener leaves with treatments. The fresh market price at the Detroit terminal was more trichomes than conventional ones. PAC will be advanta- tracked and confirmed important drop in prices in the middle geous when one wants to test transgenic lines or materials that of the season compared to the beginning of the season. An are difficult to test in greenhouse. A user-friendly PAC manual economic analysis of the systems showed that the greatest total was developed based on this demonstration. Methodological revenue was with the clear single layer treatment for cucumber ideas to test environmental factors such as humidity and CO2 and white dual layer treatment for tomato. This study suggests concentration will be presented. This controlled environment that profitability of vegetable production can be improved with culture platform that allows whole-plant experimentation using the use of low tunnels. transgenic or tissue culture materials in vitro will be a major

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S237 contribution, with increasing demand for translational plant Nobuaki Hayashi biology using other crop species beyond Arabidopsis. Osaka prefecture university, Sakai, Osaka; sr20402@edu. osakafu-u.ac.jp Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Arizona Ryosuke Endo (180) Opportunities Using Light Emitting Osaka prefecture university, Sakai, Osaka; endo@envi. Diodes to Produce High Quality Crops osakafu-u.ac.jp Meriam G. Karlsson* Yoshiaki Kitaya University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK; mgkarlsson@alaska. Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai Osaka; kitaya@envi. edu osakafu-u.ac.jp Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are considered an alternative to light We evaluated the photosynthetic light responses of cucumber sources currently used for year round high quality greenhouse (Cucumis sativus) leaves adapted to illumination from 3-band crop production. The opportunity to customize the spectrum may fluorescent lamps (FL) with high red:far-red (R:FR) light or be an advantage although many questions remain in respect to metal-halide lamps (ML) that provided a spectrum similar the most appropriate configuration and wavelength composition to that of natural light. The seedlings were grown under to best support crops for desired growth and development. LED FL (R:FR = 7.0) or ML (R:FR = 1.2) in growth chambers at a grow lights are often designed with two monochromatic peaks photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) ranging from 100 centered on blue (~ 450 nm) and red (630–660 nm) wavelengths. to 500 μmol·m–2·s–1. We also grew the seedlings under natural The higher rate of photosynthesis observed in the blue and red light in a greenhouse. The average PPFD in the greenhouse, spectral regions, is the primary reason for developing these types valued in 12 h photoperiod, was 420 μmol·m–2·s–1. The gross of LED grow lights. Although the carbon assimilation rate may photosynthetic rate (Pg), quantum yield of photosystem II be high, morphology and flowering responses are also affected (ΦPSII), and photosynthetic electron transfer rate (ETR) of resulting in potential undesired plant qualities compared to the first foliage leaves were Φ evaluated at PPFDs ranging natural or continuous spectrum light sources. The addition of from 0 to 1800 μmol·m–2·s–1 using a photosynthesis and fluo- orange (600 nm), orange-red (630 nm) and white LEDs has been rescence measuring system when first foliage leaf expanded. suggested to improve and balance the overall spectrum for crop Illumination was supplied by red and blue LEDs in a combi- growth. Studies are needed to identify crop production applica- nation ratio of 9:1 for the measurements. The photosynthetic tions where LEDs of limited as well as more balanced spectral light response curve of seedlings adapted to FL illumina- energy distribution offer advantages. For instance, poinsettias tion was similar to those of sun leaves, and the responses of exposed to panels of red LEDs (peak emission at 665 nm) seedlings adapted to ML illumination were similar to those supplemented with 20% blue LEDs (peak emission at 456 nm) of shade leaves. The response curve of seedlings adapted to for a limited time period prior to short days resulted in overall FL illumination at PPFD of 100 μmol·m–2·s–1 was almost same shorter plants. Rooted poinsettia cuttings were transplanted to as that of seedlings adapted to ML illumination at PPFD of 300 12.5 cm diameter containers, the plants were pinched 28 days –2 –1 μmol·m ·s . The maximum Pg, ΦPSI and ETR of seedlings later and grown under LEDs for two weeks. Photosynthetic adapted to FL illumination was 1.3–1.4 times those of seedlings photon fluxμ (400 to 700 nm) at plant height was approximately adapted to ML illumination regardless of the growing PPFD –2 –1 200 μmol·m ·s from the LEDs. Plants were returned to the level. The seedlings adapted to FL illumination had greater mass greenhouse and short days (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) initiated 10 and chlorophyll content per leaf area than those adapted to ML. days later. The conditions in the greenhouse were natural light The greater photosynthetic ability of seedlings adapted to FL supplemented with high-pressure sodium irradiance. For the three illumination was probably due to the improved ETR resulting cultivars ‘Freedom Red’, ‘Freedom White’ and ‘Freedom Jingle from physiological and morphological changes resulting from Bell’, overall plant height was reduced with 3 to 5 cm at the high R:FR illumination. The photosynthetic light response of marketing stage. Freedom White and Jingle Bell produced one seedlings adapted to natural light seemed to be similar to that additional flowering shoot following initial exposure to LEDs. of seedlings adapted to ML illumination at the same growing Additional studies are underway to evaluate if pre-conditioning PPFD level. of propagation material with a monochromatic LED spectral distribution may improve final branching, flower formation and (182) Influence of Ratio of Red and Blue yield of greenhouse and field grown crops. LEDs on Leaf Index, Growth, and Phenolic Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hatch Compounds in Red Leaf Lettuce (181) Photosynthetic Light Responses of Ki-Ho Son* Cucumber Leaves Adapted to Illumination from Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; sonkh@ Different Light Sources chungbuk.ac.kr Toshio Shibuya* Min-Jung Lee Osaka prefecture university, Sakai, Osaka; shibuya@envi. Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; mjdd@ osakafu-u.ac.jp chungbuk.ac.kr

S238 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Eun-Young Kim Claudio C. Pasian Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; forevera18@ Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] nate.com Real-time precise monitoring of substrate water status allows Min-Jung Song growers to control irrigation more precisely so that adequate Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; hi_kate@nate. water is applied to the plant while avoiding excess leachate that com requires resources and space to store and/or treat. Electrical probe moisture sensors that measure certain electrical proper- Myung-Min Oh ties within the soil in order to quantify volumetric water content Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; moh@ have gained popularity. Sensors must be calibrated for individual chungbuk.ac.kr substrates and may need to be recalibrated often throughout the Light-emitting diode (LED) with a short wavelength range can production of a single crop. Monitoring and controlling substrate be used in closed plant production systems as an artificial light water status using gravimetric data is an effective method that source. Red and blue lights are known as effective wavelength requires less technical expertise and equipment than dielectric ranges for photosynthesis. In this study, we determined the ef- moisture sensors, crop modeling, or photosynthetic rate measuring fect of ratio of red and blue LEDs on leaf index, growth and equipment. An automated irrigation system that allows irriga- the accumulation of phenolic compounds in red leaf lettuce tion events to be scheduled according to substrate gravimetric (Lactuca sativa L. ‘Sunmang’). Lettuce seedlings grown under water content and that allows various irrigation regimes to be normal growing conditions (20 °C, fluorescent lamp + high applied simultaneously was built in 2010. Fifteen DigiTOL® 8213 –2 –1 pressure sodium lamp 175 μmol·m ·s , 12 h photoperiod) for Bench Scales were leveled on a greenhouse bench. Each scale 18 d were transferred to incubators at 20 °C equipped with dif- was connected to a laptop personal computer running Windows ferent combinations of red (655 nm) and blue (465 nm) LEDs XP via a DB-9 serial cable. A solid state relay module with (Red:Blue = 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4 or 5:5) under the same light five solid state relays was also connected to the computer via a –2 –1 intensity and photoperiod (175 μmol·m ·s , 12 h photoperiod). DB-9 serial cable. A macro was written within Microsoft Excel Leaf width, leaf length, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of 2007 using Visual Basic programming language that intercepts shoots and roots, SPAD value, total phenolic concentration, data from the individual scales using WinWedge 3.0, a software and antioxidant capacity were measured at 2 and 4 weeks after program that allows Windows to communicate with electronic LED treatment. Leaf index of LED treatments containing blue devices. Containers are filled with a uniform mass of substrate LEDs regardless of the ratio was similar with that of control at potting and placed on the scales. An oven-dried sample of during whole growth stage. However, 100% red LED treatment substrate taken at potting allows gravimetric water content to be induced significantly higher leaf index than the other treatment. calculated according to weight. The macro logs weight data from Moreover, all the growth characteristics such as fresh and dry each scale at a set frequency. The weight at which an irrigation weights of shoots and roots and leaf area were the highest event is triggered and stopped can be set accordingly for each in 100% red LED treatment among the treatments. The ratio scale. When an irrigation event is triggered for a specific scale, of blue LED was negatively associated with lettuce growth. the macro sends a signal via WinWedge to the solid state relay Lettuce plants exposed to 10:0 showed around 4 times higher module that closes a relay switch and activates a solenoid valve fresh weight of shoot than those under 5:5 at 4 weeks after LED exclusive to the specified scale. During an irrigation event, the treatment. In contrast, SPAD value, total phenolic concentra- macro logs the weight according to the frequency set by the tion, and antioxidant capacity increased in lettuce grown under user. When the weight reading of that scale reaches the specified high ratios of blue LED such as 5:5, 6:4, and 7:3. Absence of point, the solenoid valve is deactivated. The macro checks the blue light, which indicates 10:0, induced a significant decrease weight once more after a specified amount of time has passed. in SPAD value, total phenolic concentration and antioxidant If channeling has occurred and the target weight has not been capacity. Especially, lettuce plants under 5:5 or 6:4 contained reached, another irrigation event is triggered. significantly high total phenolics than control plants as well as Specified Source(s) of Funding: grants from cooperating Ohio lettuce plants under 10:0. Thus, this study suggests that the ratio nurseries of red and blue LEDs is a crucial factor for morphology, growth, and the concentration of phenolics with antioxidant properties of red leaf lettuce. Sunday, September 25, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Biwon Tech. Co. Ltd. 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom (183) The Use of Gravimetric Data for Real- Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants Time Irrigation Monitoring and Control in Greenhouse Crop Production (051) Modification of Growth and [6]-Gingerol Adam F. Newby* Concentration in Zingiber officinale Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected] Charles L. Rohwer* Daniel K. Struve University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; rohw0009@umn. edu Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S239 Vincent A. Fritz from tissue cultured plants were grown using hydroponic methods University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; [email protected] for 8 successive crop cycles. First, ginger pieces were grown in 26-L pots. To conserve growing medium and increase aeration, Ann M. Bode an upside-down 3-L pot was placed on the bottom of the larger University of Minnesota, Austin, MN; [email protected]. pot. Three 50 g seed pieces were planted in a 26-L pot that was edu filled with peat mix: medium perlite: coir (1:1:1, v:v:v). Pots Todd Schuster were placed in elevated polyethylene-lined tanks (0.6 × 2.4 m × University of Minnesota, Austin, MN; [email protected]. 14 cm high) which were protected by open-sided, plastic-covered edu rain shelters. Pots were continuously sub-irrigated with 5 cm of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a tropical plant grown for a complete nutrient solution (1.5–2.0 mS). Plants were topped its fleshy rhizome of culinary importance. Properties of ginger after 8 months, allowed to dry for 3 weeks, and then pots were associated with human health are at least partly due to [6]-gin- emptied and rhizomes washed and roots removed. Average gerol, a pungent vanilloid. We are interested in understanding yield per pot was 4.9 kg of rhizomes which were cut into seed how to grow ginger in high tunnels in the upper Midwestern pieces to plant the next crop. In the second method, ginger was United States to diversify farm income, but also how to enhance grown in heavy duty, perforated plastic slings (23 cm × 2.4 m [6]-gingerol concentration in the rhizome. In all experiments, × 15 cm high) filled with growing medium. Slings rested on rhizomes were obtained in March and planted in raised beds 5 cm upside-down nursery trays in channel-type tanks made by in a 9.1 × 14.6-meter double-poly high tunnel in April in Min- rolling out heavy duty plastic sheets over a level greenhouse nesota. Three separate experiments were each performed two bed. Fertilizer stock solutions were injected into drip irrigation separate years. First, enhanced shoot proliferation and early lines and a float valve maintained a 5-cm level nutrient solution emergence were stimulated by soaking 2 clones of ginger (blue in the tank. Plants were top-irrigated as well as sub-irrigated for and yellow) in ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid; 500 8 months. After the foliage dried and was removed, the entire or 1000 mg·l–1) prior to planting. Second, 2 varieties of ginger sling was taken to a washing table where the sling was tipped (yellow and white) were planted on 4 consecutive weeks in April. over and the growing medium washed from the rhizomes. The All plants were harvested on the same day in November, and average rhizome yield from each sling was 14.5 kg. rhizome yield and [6]-gingerol concentration were measured. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Western Sustainable Agriculture And third, yellow and white ginger were planted and covered Research and Education (WSARE) with 0 to 70% shade cloth to determine optimum shading for rhizome yield and [6]-gingerol concentration. Ethephon increased (053) Phenolic Composition of Basil Plants Is shoot growth in ‘blue’ but not ‘yellow’ ginger and did not affect Differentially Altered by Plant Nutrient Status [6]-gingerol concentration. Earlier planting enhanced rhizome and Inoculation with Mycorrhizal Fungi biomass accumulation but had little effect on [6]-gingerol yield per unit area. Increasing shade reduced the rhizome:shoot ratio Carolyn F. Scagel* and decreased rhizome dry matter, but increased [6]-gingerol USDA ARS Hort Crops Res Unit, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] concentration per gram fresh weight. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Minnesota Agricultural Experi- Jungmin Lee USDA–ARS-HCRU worksite, Parma, ID; Jungmin.Lee@ ment Station ars.usda.gov (052) Production of Edible Ginger Clean Seed Basil (Glomus intraradices) has a high market demand and by Sub-Irrigation Methods in Hawaii has economically important uses in culinary applications, food flavorings, fragrance additives, and pharmaceutical and indus- Bernard A. Kratky* trial products. Basil plants are known to produce phenolic com- University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] pounds that are potentially beneficial to human health. Quality Susan C. Miyasaka of basil used in certain fresh and dry products is a function of University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] its production of secondary metabolites, including phenolics. Nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus (P) can alter Ferol White plant production of secondary metabolites. Root infection by University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can also alter plant nutri- Edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a spice and vegetable crop ent status and therefore may also alter production of phenolic produced on the Island of Hawaii. It is asexually propagated from compounds. The objectives of this study were to assess (1) rhizomes, called seed pieces, which are saved from a previous whether P-availability and inoculation with AMF influences crop. Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum race 4) causes se- the phenolic composition of basil plants; and (2) how phenolic vere yield losses of edible ginger. Many ginger fields are infested composition is related to plant nutrient status. Four cultivars with Ralstonia and there is a high risk that ginger seed pieces of basil (‘Cinnamon’, ‘Siam Queen’, ‘Sweet Dani’, and ‘Red collected from these fields will be infected with the pathogen. Rubin’) were inoculated (Glomus intraradices) or not with Two growing methods were developed to produce rhizomes that AMF and grown in a soilless substrate with a complete liquid are free from Ralstonia. Clean ginger seed pieces that originated fertilizer containing either 16 mg·l–1 P (low-P) or 32 mg·l–1 P

S240 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (high-P). Fourteen-week-old plants were assessed for growth Rita M. Moraes (biomass), AMF colonization, concentrations of anthocyanins, University of Mississippi, University, MS; rmoraes@ total phenolics, specific polyphenolics, and mineral nutrients. In olemiss.edu general, increased P-rate and inoculation with AMF increased David E. Wedge fresh and dry biomass production. Non-inoculated plants were USDA–ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, not colonized by AMF and AMF colonization of inoculated plants University, MS; [email protected] was not influenced by P-rate. Across all cultivars, increased P-rate enhanced uptake (concentration and content) of P and Nurhayat Tabanca Ca. Inoculation with AMF enhanced uptake of N, K, S, Mg, USDA ARS, University, MS; [email protected] and B in low-P plants and enhanced uptake of S, B, and Zn in A research partnership between Mississippi State University high-P plants. Differences in uptake of other nutrients between and the University of Mississippi was established in 2000 to low-P and high-P plants and between non-inoculated and AMF- develop new crops, production systems, and products that may inoculated plants were a function of plant size. Rosmarinic acid enhance human health and the region’s economy. This research was the predominant polyphenolic produced by all cultivars initiated with a USDA-NRI grant to develop a domestic source and differences in rosmarinic acid content between treatments of podophyllotoxin which is the starting material for the semi- were a function of plant size. Increased P-rate and inoculation synthetic anticancer drugs etoposide, teniposide, and etopophos. with AMF enhanced production (concentration and content) American mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.) and eastern of several polyphenolics and resulted in treatments altering red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) were evaluated as alternative the phenolic composition in the whole plant and aboveground sources of podophyllotoxin. The objectives of the podophyl- structures. Across all cultivars, P-rate and AMF inoculation lotoxin project were to secure a reliable domestic source and to only had a similar production enhancing effect on one phe- provide a high quality product to the pharmaceutical industry nolic compound–chicoric acid. Results indicate that fertilizer while providing opportunities for agricultural producers of high- management can be used to alter phenolic composition of basil value specialty products. Later, the partnership has extended to and that AMF inoculation may provide an additional strategy scientists of USDA/ARS (Natural Products Utilization Research for optimizing basil quality beyond benefits obtained from just Unit) that have evaluated basil (Glomus intraradices), skull- altering plant nutrient status. cap (Scutellaria baicalensis), peppermint (Mentha ×piperita), (055) Cannabis USA: Snapshot 2011 artemisia (Artemisia annua), and oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) as new specialty crops for Mississippi farmers. Kerrie B. Badertscher* Scientists at the USDA/ARS Thad Cochran Southern Horti- Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kbadertscher@ cultural Laboratory in Poplarville, MS, continue to evaluate otokehort.com a number of plant species, such as Mayan marigold (Tagetes Kurt D. Badertscher nelsonii) and dog-fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), for their Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kdbadertscher@ antifungal and insecticidal activity and they have characterized otokehort.com and compared fiveEucalyptus essential oils and their repellent activity against the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti). As Cannabis cultivation for medicinal use is now legal at varying for the near future, the partnership will focus on botanicals to levels in 15 states with several more pending in 2011. An up- treat and prevent diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes, date and review will be offered via a compare and contrast of obesity, and cancer, thus we will evaluate inulin containing various laws and their implications to horticulturists involved crops such as yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) and some of in the production of medicinal-grade Cannabis. A review will our native rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) as new or also be on valued-added products inc. MIPs (Medically Infused improved specialty crops for Mississippi. The MSU Extension Products) and other issues facing the industry as a whole. Service will facilitate a tour of the research plots and facilities (056) Specialty Crop Collaborations in at Mississippi State University and at the Natural Products Mississippi: Past, Present, and Future Utilization Research Unit, University of Mississippi for interested ASHS members. Thomas E. Horgan Verona, MS; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: ARS Specific Coop. Agree- ment, CRIS Lelia S. Kelly* Mississippi State University Extension Service, Verona, (057) Volatile Compounds from Buds and MS; [email protected] Fruits of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils Eugene K. Blythe Fang Xiaoping* Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. [email protected] cn Charles Cantrell Yi Yin USDA–ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected]. University, MS; [email protected] cn

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S241 Hu Guangping process of utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. social, educational, psychological, and physical adjustment of cn body, mind, and spirit, has a history in medicine for rehabilitating and healing. Yet, the characteristics of plants and plant materials Hu Peiqi that counter disorders associated with mood changes, burnout, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. cn and increased heart rates have not been studied. To determine plant traits that would exhibit positive effects on individuals, our Donglin Zhang laboratory recruited university students in a psychology class University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] to view and touch plant materials, ascertaining favored physi- Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. belongs to Magnoliaceae and cal characteristics of plants as a suggestion of plant traits that its dried bark (root and branch bark) could be used as medicine. would have positive effects on stressed and depressed patients. A number of studies on the volatile oils of Magnolia officinalis Large-sized, flowering, aromatic plants were more attractive to had been reported. But the extraction method used in these studies test subjects than smaller, non-flowering non-aromatic plants. A was exclusively steam distillation given by ‘Chinese Pharma- follow-up study using computer generated pictures and students copie’ (Ed. 2005). There have been no reports on the volatile in a plant science class demonstrated a preference for colored oils of buds and fruits of Magnolia officinalis. We employed the flowers over white flowers and indecision over robust and simple headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) to extract flower shapes. All studies had the approval of the University of the bud and fruit volatile oils and gas chromatography-mass Massachusetts Office of Human Research Protection. spectrometry (GC-MS) for composition analysis. A total of 31 (378) People’s Psychophysiological Responses to compounds were identified from the bud extraction. Among Tropical Trees in Urban Landscapes of Hawaii them, caryophyllene (25.04%), [2R-(2α.,4a α, 8a ß)]-α, α, 4a-trimethyl-8-methylene-decahydro-2-naphthalenemethanol Andrew Kaufman* (14.82%) and borneol (11.83%) were main components. A total University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; of 32 compounds were identified from the fruit extraction. The [email protected] major components were borneol (14.78%), caryophyllene oxide Previous studies have indicated the affects of plants and natural (11.24%), and ß-eudesmol (9.76%). There were no significant landscapes have on people’s emotional and physiological states. differences in major volatile components between the buds and These studies have shown that interacting or being near plants fruits, but their contents were different. Both buds and fruits of can reduce people’s stress levels, help increase their reaction Magnolia officinaliscould be utilized for extracting compounds time in performing certain tasks, aid in their recovery from for medicinal purposes. hospital stays, and increase their concentration. In addition, Specified Source(s) of Funding: The National Science and other studies have revealed that people have preference for Technolog Supporting Plan particular tree shapes, tree colors and urban landscapes with trees and shrubs as opposed to those without. For Hawaii, this is extremely relevant since Hawaii is one of the world’s top travel destinations. Specifically, due to the millions of dollars that are Sunday, September 25, 2011 spent on trees and tree care for a variety of social, environmental 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom and economic benefits to the State, the need for proper tree care is even more relevant given that tourism is the State’s number Human Issues in Horticulture one economy and the large amount of trees planted in urban areas. An alarming aspect of tree care in Hawaii is that people (377) Plant Characteristics That Help Alleviate seem to have an almost antagonistic relationship against them Human Stress instead of embracing trees in the landscape for their aesthetic Maiko Inoue and environmental qualities. Examples of this throughout the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; craker@pssci. islands are the way trees are maintained and pruned. Large umass.edu heading cuts, those that leave stumps are the norm, and are not only unsightly, but severely shorten the life of a tree exposing Lyle E. Craker* it to disease and pest invasion. This becomes problematic when University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; craker@pssci. the tree structure fails such as falling limbs of weakly attached umass.edu re-growth limbs without warning and becomes a hazard tree Depression is a serious human problem, and estimates by the jeopardizing property and lives. Improper pruning cuts of World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that depression af- this magnitude are not only detrimental to the trees, but it is fects about 121 million people worldwide. Fewer than 25% of hypothesized that peoples’ responses to viewing these trees those affected, however, receive appropriate care due differences negatively impacts their emotional and physiological states. in the level and duration of depression, lack of trained health The main goal of this study is to characterize the differences in providers, side effects of medications, costs of treatment, social peoples’ emotional and physiological responses to proper and stigmas associated with mental disease, and variation in gender, improper tree care practices in Hawaii. This has been accom- age, and symptoms among individuals. Horticulture therapy, the plished through respondents viewing video pictures of proper

S242 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 and improper tree pruning while psychophysiological measures Jeff L. Sibley (EEG, EMG, GSR, and HR) were recorded. Respondents also Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] completed a questionnaire relating to the pictures they had just Robert E. Lyons viewed. The value of this research is that it expands the current University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] body of knowledge of peoples’ psychophysiological responses to environmental stimulus beyond the aesthetics of the built land- Children’s gardens have been around for centuries with the first scape, and also provides new information to encourage proper children’s gardens appearing in Europe in the 1600’s (Virginia pruning techniques which can be implemented in urban areas. Tech, 2002). Contemporary children’s gardening began in 1993 when the American Horticultural Society held its first sympo- (379) A Model for Establishing and Maintaining sium based on youth gardening entitled “Children, Plants, and the Campus Landscape as a Significant and Gardens: Educational Opportunities” (Sealy, 2001). Since that Dynamic Outdoor Classroom, Laboratory, and symposium thousands of school gardens have appeared across Therapy Center the country (Robinson-O’Brien and Story, 2009). Two such examples are “The Edible Schoolyard Project”, in Berkley, Andrew Pulte* California and the “Growing Up Green Charter School” in University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] Long Island City, NY. Benefits that have been reported include Susan Hamilton increases in teamwork, improved nutrition and environmental University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] attitudes, and respect, both for self and others (Edible, 2010 and Growing Up Green, 2009). While school gardens are generally Research has shown that plants and the landscapes around us accepted as beneficial, few peer-reviewed studies have been do have an impact on our everyday lives. Plants, as one of the conducted to examine the effect that gardening at school has on most common organisms we interact with every day, have been students (Ozer, 2007 and Robinson-O’Brien and Story, 2009). shown to reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and to have mentally In January 2009 a garden project began at Fayetteville School, restorative and psychological benefits. These benefits can include a K-12 school on 17 acres in Fayetteville, AL. While the project but are not limited to improving our ability to cope with the is still ongoing, much of the original design has been installed, stress of everyday life and improving our ability to focus and including an expansive children’s garden and over 400 trees and concentrate. Additionally, recent research suggests that univer- shrubs. Fayetteville’s students have been involved in planting sity athletes show performance improvements when competing dates with each of the 650 students having the opportunity to in venues with views of vegetation. These findings underscore plant at least one plant. Many have planted countless plants and the role and value that the campus landscape can have upon the even been involved in researching and choosing plants for the university community. A study that seeks to identify the factors garden. The objective of the landscape project at Fayetteville that contribute to a useful and beneficial campus landscape is School is “to engage students in the pursuit of knowledge, to teach proposed and will be discussed. Many universities who teach them responsible environmental practices, and to instill a desire plant sciences and horticulture are limited by the landscapes for lifelong learning” (Campus, 2010). The focus of this study surrounding their university structures. Often, a hands-on ex- is three-part. Part one will examine the effects of the landscape perience with plant material is forfeited due to lack of suitable project at Fayetteville School on student attendance and student specimens on or adjacent to campus. Surveys of recent University perceptions of the school. Faculty and parent perceptions of the of Tennessee graduates in the area of Plant Sciences point to school, pre and post landscape project, will also be examined. Part a desire for more hands-on practice and experience leading up two will gather perspectives of student intellectual and personal to their degree. The need for a high quality teaching landscape development from the school principal, assistant principal, and for those teaching and studying plant sciences and horticulture the teachers most involved in the landscape project. Student was identified. Often, lack of resources and a suitable demon- standardized test scores will then be compared to the different stration landscape are to blame. A model of how a university faculty perspectives. The final part of the study will measure can establish and maintain its campus grounds as a significant the effect of the landscape project on middle and high school and dynamic outdoor classroom and laboratory for an array of students’ environmental attitudes. academic disciplines will be discussed. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Auburn University Specified Source(s) of Funding:The University of Tennessee (380) Growing in the Garden: A Study of the (381) Garden-Based School Nutrition Landscape Project at Fayetteville School Education: Assessment through Reliable Instrument Development Ann Fleener* Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Matthew Kararo Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; mkararo@purdue. Carolyn W. Robinson edu Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Neil Knobloch Donald J. Eakes Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; nknobloc@purdue. Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S243 Kathryn S. Orvis* Melissa Bopp Purdue University & YDAE, West Lafayette, IN; orvis@ Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; purdue.edu [email protected] Over the past decades, obesity has become an epidemic in the Tanis Hastmann United States. One way to fight against obesity is with programs Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] that not only aim to teach students healthier eating habits and how to grow and eat their own food, but also to spread their David A. Dzewaltowski nutritional knowledge to the rest of their families. Eat Your Way Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] To Better Health (EYWTBH) is one such program that is offered School gardening programs are increasingly becoming a tool to third-grade classrooms in Indiana through the Purdue Coop- to foster improved student health. The purpose of this project erative Extension Service and extension educators collaborating was to evaluate an after-school garden program for 4th and 5th with local elementary schools. The program was first offered in graders that was developed and implemented based on social the fall of 2008 and is currently (2011) in its final grant-funded ecological theory. Social Ecological Theory proposes that mul- semester. One way that efforts and budgets can be optimized tiple levels of influence (individual, club, school, community) in the fight against obesity is to measure the effectiveness of determine health behavior. For this project, at the individual the program, which was attempted through pre-post surveys level, child self-efficacy (a child’s expectation that he/she can administered to both the program participants and their parents/ do a behavior at a level to reach an outcome), proxy self-efficacy guardians. The instrument, developed by the authors, combined (a child’s expectation that they can get their parent(s) to act on previously validated self-efficacy scales, gardening questions, their behalf), outcome expectancies (a child’s expected outcome and food consumption indexes. Pre- and post-surveys were of a specific behavior), and behavior for gardening, being physi- administered in the classroom before and after the program. cally active, being less sedentary and consuming more fruits and The youth survey measured four main variables: behavior with vegetables were targeted through the curriculum. A pre-post- regards to fruit and vegetable consumption, interest in differ- 6-month follow-up quasi-experimental design was used (Sept. ent food items as snacks, self-efficacy with regards to fruit and 2008–Oct. 2010). Students who participated in at least 40% of vegetable consumption, and social intention with regards to the garden club meetings (n = 76) during year 1 were included fruit and vegetable consumption. The parent survey measured in this analysis. One-way ANOVA(s) were used to analyze four main variables: knowledge about the USDA daily fruit and changes in self-efficacy to garden, parental proxy self-efficacy vegetable serving recommendations, attitudes pertaining to fruits for gardening, fruit and vegetable availability, and physical and vegetables, and behaviors pertaining to gardening, fruit and activity. Child gardening outcome expectations and behaviors vegetable consumption, and snacking. Pre-survey results show for physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, time Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.87 for behavior, 0.88 for interest, 0.81 spent sedentary and time spent gardening were also measured. for self-efficacy, and 0.94 for social intention. Post-survey data Results from the analysis showed a significant increase in child show Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.88 for behavior, 0.88 for interest, self-efficacy to garden (mean of 3.6 on a scale of 1 to 5 pre- 0.79 for self-efficacy, and 0.90 for social intention. Preliminary garden club to 4.5 at 6-month follow-up, P = 0.001) and time results of self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption in youth spent gardening (mean of 5.9 min/day pre-garden club to 22.2 and parents pre- and post-program show modest improvements. min/day at 6-month follow-up, P = 0.001). No other significant Youth reported consuming a mean of 2.88 servings of fruits and differences were found. vegetables before the program, and a mean of 2.93 servings after Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Research Initiative of the program. Parents reported a mean of 1.59 servings of fruits the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Exten- and vegetables being consumed in their homes daily prior to the sion Service program, and 1.66 servings after the program. Small changes in fruit and vegetable consumption point to weakness in the length (383) After-School Garden Club to Provide of the program, 10 weeks, indicating that a longer program may Physical Activity for Children aid in behavior change needed to improve healthy eating habits. Cynthia Domenghini* Specified Source(s) of Funding: Indiana State Department of Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Health Candice Shoemaker (382) The Use of Social Ecological Theory to Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; cshoemak@ Develop and Implement an After-School Garden oznet.ksu.edu Club Curriculum for Overweight and Obesity David A. Dzewaltowski Prevention Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Cynthia Domenghini* Gregory Welk Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] Candice Shoemaker The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; cshoemak@ children do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. oznet.ksu.edu Children in the United States are not meeting this recommenda-

S244 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 tion which is concerning as insufficient time spent being physi- we collect some basic information about the collaborating cally active is a risk factor for becoming overweight and the farm family so that we can make an assessment of their short- rates of overweight and obesity are continuing to rise. School term and long-term goals. This poster presents a summary gardening programs are increasingly becoming a tool to foster of the client information we have gathered over the past two improved student health. While research evidence can be found years. Of the 174 farm families’ surveyed to-date, there are 23 on the impact of school gardens on children’s food choices it is African American, 6 Latino, and 4 Asian families. The rest are lacking on gardening’s role in physical activity. The objective Caucasians (134), of whom 46 are women head of households. of this study was to determine the amount of physical activity A large majority of them are part-time farmers, and off-farm that occurs during an after-school garden program for 4th and employment is necessary to meet their family’s needs. Over 5th graders. As part of a larger school gardening intervention 65% of the respondents have either a high school diploma and/ for overweight and obesity prevention, children participating or some college education. One reason for this could be that in an after-school garden club wore an Actigraph accelerometer most of our target counties are within easy driving distance for one club session in the fall (n = 36) and spring (n = 25) to from the state’s two largest metropolitan cities which offer obtain an objective measure of physical activity done during many learning opportunities, and that the rural population is a club meeting. Participants wore the accelerometer on a belt taking advantage of this. Fifty-six percent of ISFOP clients own around their waist for 1 1/2; hours which was the entire duration less than 20 acres of land, and generate an annual income of of a garden club session. Estimates of moderate or vigorous $5,000 or less from farming. They do enjoy living in the coun- activity levels were predicted to demonstrate the contribution try (or at least on a couple of acres for urban farmers), but are an after-school gardening program can have in helping children equally eager to boost their farm income. As can be ex- meet the physical activity recommendation. pected, most of our collaborators are diversified farmers: almost 60% of them grow vegetables, and this is followed Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Research Initiative by poultry (22%), fruit trees and berries (18%), beef cattle of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Ex- (16%), and goats (12%). Their biggest challenges are accessing tension Service start-up capital, getting the needed training, and finding niche markets. Sunday, September 25, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA 1890 Extension 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom (353) Arkansas Farmers’ Markets Support Local Food Systems Local Economy and Provide Opportunities for (352) Profiles of Under-Served Farmers in Strengthening Community Capacity Missouri Heather Friedrich University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; heatherf@uark. Kamalendu B. Paul* edu Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; [email protected] Curt R. Rom* University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Sanjun Gu Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; Janet Bachmann [email protected] NCAT-ATTRA, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Katie Nixon Taylor Kinzel Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; tkinzle@uark. [email protected] edu Miranda Dushack Farmers’ markets in Arkansas have been increasing in number Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; and attendance as more people seek a connection to their food [email protected] purchases, especially knowing from where their food came and Launched in Fall 2008, the Innovative Small Farmers’ Outreach who grew it. In 2009, twelve farmers’ markets in northwest and Program (ISFOP) provides agriculture-related information and central Arkansas were evaluated using the rapid market assess- training to the small, under-served farmers and ranchers in some ment techniques, Mystery Shopper evaluation and Customer Dot selected Missouri counties. Our typical clients live on farms, surveys. A Mystery Shopper evaluated market characteristics ,on make their own farming decisions, provide most of the needed a Likert scale from 1-5, for things such as appearance, signage, labor, and the total family annual income is less than $50,000. parking, flow, etc. Customer Dot surveys were collected from ISFOP’s eight Farm Outreach Workers (FOWs) provide services 644 customers regarding reasons for shopping at the market, to 16 counties in the East Central and West Central regions of money spent at market, and shopping at other local businesses. Missouri, and although we work across racial divide, we pay The evaluation revealed several trends. In general, markets need special attention to serving the minority population living in the improved directional signs and way-finding for the market, for Program area. In order for us to provide the needed assistance, both access and parking, and additional seating was needed for

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S245 market customers. Markets ranked high on reasonable park- Sunday, September 25, 2011 ing access, vendor friendliness and, logical traffic/pedestrian 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom flow through the market. Customer survey results verified that for 75% of customers the most important reason for shopping Pomology at the farmers market was the availability and access to local produce. Additionally, 77% of survey consumers said they (066) Lack of Correlation between Instrumental would visit nearby businesses not associated with the market Firmness Values and Sensory Perception of but in proximity to the market. These results demonstrate the Fruit Texture in Apples additional economic value of the market to the local business community and identify the opportunity for collaboration with Diane Doud Miller* other local businesses. Ohio State Univ-OARDC, Wooster, OH; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-FMPP Jozsef Racsko The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH; [email protected] (354) Customer Survey for ASU Regional Textural characteristics of the apple fruit are one of the most important components of eating quality. To estimate textural Farmers’ Market preference of consumers for apples for fresh consumption, pen- J. Kim Pittcock* etrometric measurements are being used. Such measurements Arkansas State University, State University, AR; are widely accepted for both research and industrial (at retailers/ [email protected] supermarkets) purposes. Present study evaluated the correlation between instrumental firmness measurements (Effegi-type) and William P. McLean consumer preference for fruit texture, and described textural char- Arkansas State University, State University, AR; acteristics of the cortex tissue of apple cultivars at the ultrastruc- [email protected] tural level. Untrained consumer panels with over 100 attendees Patrick Stewart in each session carried out the sensory assessments (3 different University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; pstewart@uark. sessions with 4 cultivars each session). Preference ratings given edu by consumers did not closely correlate with instrumental firm- 2 A customer survey was conducted at the ASU Regional Farm- ness data (R = 0.1318), therefore penetrometric firmness values ers’ Market during the summer of 2008. The market was in did not seem to be accurate predictors of textural preference of its third year of operation and further information was needed consumers for apples. Scanning electronmicroscopy imaging to determine the future direction that the market needed to of broken cortex surfaces (for mimicking a bite into an apple take. The survey was designed by the ASU Center for Social fruit) revealed that in cultivars characterized by crisp texture, Research and by the farmers’ market Board of Directors. The such as ‘Candy Crisp’, cells usually broke apart with emptying customers completed the survey at both the Saturday morn- the entire cell content on the fracture surface when biting into ing market and the Tuesday afternoon market during July. an apple (“Fracture-type”). In contrast, in non-crisp non-firm Farmers’ market dollars were given to customers for completing cultivars, such as ‘Red Delicious’, whole cell separation was the survey, which were then used to purchase $3 of produce from observed on the fracture surface of the cortex without apparent a vendor. The survey was scored in the following two catego- cell damage, i.e., breaking, and emptying the cell content (“Cell- ries depending on the question: 1). poor, fair, good, excellent to-cell debonding type”). Non-crisp but still firm cultivars, such or do not know, and 2). very, somewhat, never, or not at all. A as ‘Granny Smith’, were characterized by cell rupture on the total of 412 individuals completed the survey, with the median fracture face of the cortical tissues (“Rupture type”). No close age of 56. The respondents were 71% female, 92% Caucasian, relationships between structural characteristics (cell size, cell 71% were from a two person household, and 52% had a col- wall thickness) of apple cortex and instrumental firmness values lege and or graduate degree. Other categories surveyed and or sensory texture preference were found. Within a cultivar, their results were: 75% were repeat customers from the previ- decreasing firmness values were measured with increasing fruit ous year, 75% lived within 10 miles of the market, and 70% size. Ultrastructural characteristics of the cortex tissues were thought it was important to shop at a farmers’ market primar- essentially the same for both small and large fruit of a cultivar ily to support the local farmers. Only 33% thought it was very with the difference of larger intracellular spaces in latter case. important for the produce to be grown by the vendor, with an Specified Source(s) of Funding:NCR-SARE Grant additional 33% believing it was only somewhat important. One-half of the customers considered it very important for (067) Effects of RED and FAR-RED LED on the produce to be grown in Arkansas vs. another state. Price the Growth and Fruit Quality of ‘Fuji’ Apple was also considered to be very important for 57% of the re- Cultivars sponders. Seok-Beom Kang* Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–Agricultural Market- National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, ing Service RDA, Gunwi-Gun; [email protected]

S246 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Yang-Yik Song these new systems a planting of ‘Jonagold’ (Rubinstar) and ‘Fuji’ National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, (Daybreak) on B.9 and M.9 NAKB T337, respectively, was RDA, Gunwi-Gun; [email protected] established in 2008 at the Horticulture Research Farm at Rock Springs, PA. Four training systems the A, TS along with a Tall Moo-Yong Park Trellis (TT) and Minimally Pruned (MP) are being evaluated. National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, RDA, Gunwi-Gun; [email protected] Annual data collected included trunk circumference, trunk growth, number of flower clusters, number and weight of Jong-Chul Nam harvested fruit and size distribution of harvested fruit. Labor National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, efforts for pruning, and training were also measured for each RDA, Gunwi-Gun; [email protected] system. Calculated data included trunk cross sectional area (cm2), efficiency (g/cm2), percentage of fruit set, and crop load Hun-Joong Kweon 2 National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, (# fruit/cm ). Crop load was adjusted by hand in both 2009 RDA, Gunwi-Gun; [email protected] and 2010. The trees bore their first crop in 2009, the year after planting. There were no significant differences in yield between Ka Yeon Jeong training systems in either 2009 or 2010 although ‘Fuji’ tended to [email protected] have greater yields than ‘Jonagold’ and trees in the MP system As the light emitting diodes (LED) industry improves, its price for both cultivars tended to be slightly greater. Time required decreases thus, some farmers take advantage of its application to prune and train trees to the different training systems was in crop production. One application is the use of RED LED in significantly different. In 2008 the TT system required the least greenhouses and open fields in order to increase productivity of amount of labor time. However, in subsequent years, 2009 & crops regardless of weather conditions. The aim of this study is 2010, the TT required more labor primarily due to summer to find out the effects of RED and FAR-RED LED lighting on pruning of the system the growth and fruit quality of 10-year old ‘Fuji’/M26 apple in Specified Source(s) of Funding:State Horticultural Association an apple orchard during the night after sunset for 20 weeks (10 of Pennsylvania Endowment Committee June–10 Oct. 2010). Treatments of the experiment consisted of control, FAR-RED (730 nm, 2 and 4 hour) and RED (620 nm, 2 (069) Nutritional Practices That Affect Fruit and 4 hour) with 20 LED/pcb/tree. Results of the study revealed that there was no difference in Pn of apple among the treatments. Quality and Storage Potential of European Pear However, the number of growth and length of secondary shoot in California were significantly higher in RED LED with 4 h than the Control Chuck A. Ingels* which tends to decrease as times of FAR-RED lighting increase. University of California Cooperative Extension, Sacramento, Fruit size of over 300 g increased more in RED LED with 2 and CA; [email protected] 4 h than FAR-LED compared to the control. In our experiment, fruit weight of the apple significantly increased due to effects of Kitren Glozer RED LED compared to the control. However, color of the fruit University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] was significantly promoted in FAR LED than RED LED. From Bill V. Biasi this result, we concluded that RED lighting could promote more growth and development of an apple tree by increasing weight University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] of the fruit than under the FAR-RED lighting condition, whereas Elizabeth J. Mitcham FAR-RED lighting could improve coloring of fruit’s surface University of California, Davis, CA; ejmitcham@ucdavis. under the bad weather conditions just like climatic changes. edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:RDA California’s Delta European pear trees are up to 100+ years old and are intensively farmed in a highly sensitive waterway. (068) Early Results of Apple Training System Production for fresh market has largely supplanted emphasis Trials on canning pears and quality can be influenced by a number Robert M. Crassweller* of factors. We are investigating nutrient effects on fruit quality Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; and disorders and management by K fertigation (annual vs bien- [email protected] nial) and Ca (foliar and fertigated). “Black end” (BE) disorder occurs sporadically, mainly on Asian rootstocks, and has been Donald E. Smith proposed to be caused by rootstock metabolites, water stress, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; poor drainage and/or nutrient imbalance (typically lower fruit [email protected] calcium, magnesium, and manganese, and higher nitrogen and In recent years the apple industry has a seen dramatic change in phosphorus). In several affected orchards (mostly ‘Bartlett’) we production systems. New training systems being adopted include found no water potential differences, strong rootstock effects, and the Axe (A) and Tall Spindle (TS), with recent work suggest- high K:Ca, N, K (fruit) and high K, low N (leaf) for BE trees. Soil ing that tall narrow canopies that lend themselves to the use of associated with BE trees was lower in K and N, however. Foliar mechanized platforms may be more economical. To evaluate and fertigated Ca were ineffective against ‘BR. K fertigation

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S247 frequency (Year 1 vs. Year 1+2) to ‘Bartlett’/P. calleryana trees block design, with treatments implemented over 0.54 acre rows. with low N application (~63 lb/A) and preharvest soil-applied All treatments other than the standard hand-pruning treatment

CaNO3, was tested for nutrient effects on fruit quality. July and were followed by less-detailed hand-pruning, using pole saws October analysis of leaves from shoots (SL) and bearing spurs and pole lopers from the ground. Within each of three blocks, (BSL) were compared for K treatment effects. No K differences treatments were implemented over three consecutive rows, with were found between July leaf types, and levels were adequate. all data collected from the central row. Pruning treatment af- July “Year 1+2” BSL levels of N, P, S, Cu, (K+Mg):N, K:Ca, fected tree height, with flat topped rows exhibiting significantly Mg:Ca, and N:Ca were significantly higher, and Ca, Mg, Fe, shorter height than other treatments. Pruning treatment did not Mn significantly lower than “Year1” levels. Similar results were affect canopy light interception. Neither fresh nor dry yield was found with July SL, and to a lesser degree “Year 1+2” SL were affected by pruning treatment; however, one block exhibited low for K, Ca and Mn. October SL and BSL potassium was much higher yield than the other two blocks. Use of pruning towers higher in “Year 1” vs “Year 1+2”; Ca was higher in SL and Mg plus a cursory follow-up with hand pruning from the ground lower in “Year 1+2” BSL vs “Year 1”. Conditioned fruit ripening resulted in increased fruit size as estimated by dry fruit weight; 6 days postharvest was uniform in the “Year 1” treatment, but however the distribution of fruit within size categories was not “Year 1+2” fruit tended to not ripen and where ripening occurred affected, suggesting that pruning treatments would not affect it was not uniform. “Year 1+2” fruit firmness was reduced by fruit value based on size. The results suggest that mechanized ~2 lb after storage compared to “Year 1” fruit; after ripening pruning techniques may be employed without adverse affect on 4 days, “Year 1+2” fruit showed increased internal browning. yield or fruit size; however, implementation of these treatments Strong negative correlations for July BSL nutrients included: over successive years is necessary to evaluate the long-term N with K, (K+Mg):Ca, K:Ca, Mg:Ca; P with Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, implication of pruning treatments on the economics of yield. Fe; B with Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, N/Ca. Strong positive correlations Specified Source(s) of Funding:California Dried Plum Board for July BSL included: N with S; P with B, (K+Mg):Ca, K:Ca, Mg:Ca and N:Ca. Firmness was positively correlated to N:K (071) Mechanical Blossom Thinning in Peaches and Zn and negatively to Cu in July BSL. Using a Darwin String Thinner Specified Source(s) of Funding:Fertilizer Research & Education Janine Hasey* Program, California Department of Food & Agriculture University of California, Yuba City, CA; jkhasey@ (070) Mechanical Pruning of ‘French’ Prune ucdavis.edu (Prunus domestica) in California’s Southern San Scott Johnson Joaquin Valley Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA; [email protected] Carolyn DeBuse* Becky Phene Davis, CA; [email protected] Kearney Ag Center, Parlier, CA; [email protected] Elizabeth Fichtner Kevin R. Day University of California, Tulare, CA; ejfichtner@ucdavis. University of California, Tulare, CA; [email protected] edu Hand thinning is a major expense for stone fruit growers, so Franz Niederholzer research on chemical and mechanical methods is critically UC Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA; needed. In 2009, research using a Darwin String Thinner was [email protected] shown to effectively remove flowers throughout the canopy at UC Kearney Agricultural Center (UCKAC) and in several William H. Krueger orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley. When adequate University of California, Davis, Orland, CA; whkrueger@ thinning was achieved it reduced considerably the follow-up ucdavis.edu hand thinning costs. The Darwin equipment attaches to a tractor Commercial orchards of ‘French’ prune (Prunus domestica) and has dozens of 24” long individual strings along a 10’ spindle in California are typically hand pruned using lopers and lad- that easily removes blossoms when it rotates. The best results ders—the most expensive on-farm activity of the season for were obtained in trees trained to “V” and quad “V” orchards of growers. However, recent studies conducted in the northern heavy setting varieties. We are reporting on two separate studies Sacramento Valley suggest that mechanical pruning techniques, conducted in 2010. The objectives of Study 1 were to determine in combination with less-detailed hand-pruning from the ground, the Darwin’s effectiveness in extra early to late cling peach may reduce pruning costs without adversely affecting yield or varieties with renewal pruned vase, quad “V”, or semi-quad fruit size. In 2010, a study was conducted in the southern San “V” training systems in California’s Sacramento Valley. Study Joaquin Valley to determine the impact of mechanical pruning 2’s objectives were to quantify the effects of various parameters on tree height, canopy light interception, yield and fruit size. In such as spindle rotation speed, ground speed, string type and February 2010, four pruning techniques (standard hand prune string configuration along the spindle to define the settings for with lopers and ladders, mechanical flat-topping, mechanical achieving a given level of thinning. In Study 1, the Darwin plus V-Cut, and hand pruning from pruning towers using hydraulic- follow-up hand thinning was compared to hand thin only using powered saws) were established in a randomized complete eight 2-tree replications in 5 different peach varieties at three

S248 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 sites. Data included percent blossom removal and fruit set; fruit fruit were cut in half and pulp and seed were removed with a diameter, weight and time to hand thin; and fruit size and yield spoon and processed using a modified Roma Sauce Maker to at harvest. For all varieties, fruit on blossomed thinned trees was separate seeds from pulp and macerate the pulp. The pulp/seed significantly larger than fruit on the control trees at hand thinning mixture was run through the strainer 3 times to obtain as much time. Blossom thinning resulted in higher saleable yields in the processed pulp as possible. Individual fruit weights and seed quad “V” and renewal pruned vase-shaped trials whereas sale- weights were measured on 15 fruit each of the five cultivars able yields were reduced in the semi-quad “V” trials. Blossom by weighing whole fruit, removing the seeds, and measuring thinned trees had fewer fruits per tree than those hand thinned the weights of clean seeds. Processed pulp recovery rate var- only indicating that trees were over thinned by hand. Study 2 ied significantly among cultivars, with Susquehanna (44%), was conducted in 5 freestone peach or nectarine “V” or quad KSU-Atwood (41%), and Sunflower (41%) having a greater “V” systems near UCKAC. Within each of these orchards we percentage of pulp recovered from fruit compared to Mitchell tagged many individual flowering shoots. Flower counts were (24%); PA-Golden (33%) was not statistically different from made before and after treatment. Generally, 150 shoots were either group. Susquehanna (230 g), KSU-Atwood (182 g), and tagged for each individual treatment. We have concluded that Sunflower (204 g) had higher fruit weights than PA-Golden increased thinning can be achieved by faster spindle rotation, (132 g) or Mitchell (62 g). A positive correlation was found slower tractor speed, thicker strings and by leaving no gaps between fruit weight and percent pulp recovered (r = 0.73). between strings. We also found differences among varieties and Larger-fruited cultivars had a lower percentage of seed, with stages of bloom. Thus, 50% flower removal could be achieved Susquehanna (4%), KSU-Atwood, Sunflower, and PA-Golden under many different conditions. (all 8%) having less seed by weight than Mitchell (13%). With large fruit weights, a high rate of processed pulp recovery, and Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Tree Fruit Agree- a high fruit:seed ratio which enables more efficient processing, ment and California Canning Peach Association Mechanization the cultivars KSU-Atwood, Susquehanna, and Sunflower are Research Fund good choices for pawpaw growers and processors. (072) Processed Pulp Recovery Rate and Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA 1890 Institution Percent Seed Contained in Five North American Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grant Pawpaw Cultivars (CBG) Sheri B. Crabtree* (073) Cytotoxicity of Pawpaw Fruit Extracts on Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ kysu.edu PC12 (Rat Adrenal Pheochromocytoma) Cells Kirk William Pomper Hideka Kobayashi* Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@ Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; hideka. kysu.edu [email protected] Jeremiah D. Lowe Changzheng Wang Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@ Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; changzheng. kysu.edu [email protected] The North American pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the largest Kirk William Pomper tree fruit indigenous to the United States and is being grown on a Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@ small scale commercially. Pawpaws produce a unique fruit with kysu.edu a creamy yellow-orange flesh and a mango/banana-like flavor. Consumption of neurotoxic phytochemical constitents can pose Interest is growing in pawpaw as an alternative fruit crop. The a serious heath risk to those who are unsuspecting. Chronic fruit’s short shelf life and difficulty with postharvest handling consumption of fruits and/or teas made from soursop (Anonna and storage present an impediment to further commercial de- muricata L.) and cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) has velopment. Marketing the frozen fruit pulp as a value-added been suggested as a culprit of onset of atypical parkinsonism in product is one solution to this problem. However, pawpaw fruit Guadeloupe. Despite the initial report on the linkage between pulp extraction is labor-intensive and made difficult by the row benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and atypical parkisonism, annon- of large inedible seeds contained in the fruit, and valuable pulp acin and other acetogenic constituents (polyketides) may be may be lost through ineffective extraction methods. The objec- actually responsible for the disease. Pawpaw [Asimina triloba tive of this study was to determine if processed pulp recovery (L.) Dunal] is a relative of soursoup and cherimoya, and the rate differs by pawpaw cultivar. Three sets of five ripe fruit of edible portion of pawpaw also contains acetogenins, and also five commonly available pawpaw cultivars (KSU-Atwood, been found cytotoxic to a few cancer cell lines. The objective Mitchell, PA-Golden, Sunflower, and Susquehanna) were se- of the study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of pawpaw fruit lected. These cultivars were selected based on varietal fruit size, extract against rat brain tumor cells in vitro. Pawpaw pulp was with Mitchell and PA-Golden being small fruited cultivars, and first extracted in acetone and lyophylized. The lyophlized powder texture differences that were previously observed; Susquehanna was then reconstituted with double distilled water (DDH2O) and tends to have a firm flesh and PA-Golden has soft flesh. The fractioned with DDH2O, 50% methanol (MeOH), 100% MeOH,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S249 100% acetone, and then 50% acetone. PC12, a dopamigenic Robert Mangan phytochromocytoma cell line was cultured in RPMI-1640 me- USDA ARS KGSRC, Weslaco,, TX; Robert.Mangan@ars. dium containing 5% horse serum and 10% fetal bovine serum. usda.gov Cultures were incubated in a 37 °C humidified chamber with 5% Changes in the levels of different polyphenols and polyamines CO2. Cells were subjected to various concentrations of pawpaw in different plant spices have been implicated in modulating extracts at 24 h and analyzed 48 h after the treatment. Of all feeding behaviors and oviposition of several insects. Our extracts tested, fraction 3 was found to be the most cytotoxic. studies showed that citrus plants exposed to cold temperature, Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA 1890 Capacity Build- (4 °C) for 7 days and then brought in to room temperature for ing Grant 24 hours, attracted more psyllids (more than twice) than the plants that were continuously kept at room temperature (26 ± (074) Influence of Regulated Deficit Irrigation 1 °C). We therefore investigated the levels of polyphenols and Strategies Applied to ‘Arbequina’ Olive Trees on polyamines in citrus leaves that were given a chilling treatment Oil Yield and Oil Composition and compared the levels of these compounds to the levels in the control plants that were kept at room temperature. The results of Richard C. Rosecrance* these experiments showed distinct changes in some polyphenols California State University, Chico, Chico, CA; and polyamines in the cold treated plants. For example, levels [email protected] of rutin and chlorogenic acid decreased in the leaves of the William H. Krueger sour orange seedlings that were given chilling treatment before University of California, Davis, Orland, CA; whkrueger@ bringing to room temperature (and keeping at room temperature ucdavis.edu for 24 h before the test) as compared with levels of respective Matt Lohse compounds in leaves of control plants. Polyamine levels (e.g., Carriere Family Farms, Glenn, CA; mattlohse12@yahoo. Putrescine) increased more than 2× in cold treated plants mea- com sured 2 h after bring the plants to room temperature but decline sharply in plants that were kept for 24 h at room temperature Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is an irrigation strategy to after chilling treatment . This data and its relation to attractive- manipulate yield, quality and vegetative growth with water stress ness to Asian citrus psyllids will be presented. at specific phenological stages. Regulated deficit irrigation has been used in some fruit crops to improve water use efficiency, Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS control vegetative growth, and maintain or improve fruit quality. A few regulated deficit irrigation trials with oil olive varieties have been conducted in Europe but little research is available Sunday, September 25, 2011 for high density olive oil production under California conditions. 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom Therefore, we conducted a 3-year study to determine the effects of 4 different RDI treatments (40% ETo, 30% ETo, 20% ETo, Undergraduate 1 and a variable ETo treatment) and 2 different soil types (loam and grvelly loam) on oil production, fruit yield, fruit set, and (404) Plant Sciences Undergraduate Student fruit size. RDI treatments produced similar fruit yields and oil Involvement in Professional Organizations and production in 2009 and 2010; however, the more water stressed Conferences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville treatments produced significantly greater oil production per ton of fruit. Shoot extension growth was significantly reduced in the Amanda Plante 20 and 30 ETo treatments compared with the 40 ETo. This is University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN; important because fruit are produced on previous year’s wood. [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: California Olive Ranch, and Andrew Pulte* Californaia Agriculture Research Initiative University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] (075) Association of Biochemical Changes in Horticultural organizations and symposia provide great opportunities for students to network and increase their knowl- Cold Treated Sour Orange Seedlings to Increase edge about certain areas of the field. These events can also Asian Citrus Psyllid Infestation be great chances for students to find and interact with future Nasir S.A. Malik* employment and internships both by networking and through USDA ARS KGSRC, Weslaco, TX; [email protected]. the organization itself. Many horticultural organizations are usda.gov 501(c)–3 non-profit associations. Typically these organizations have very low numbers of undergraduate student members. An Jose Perez online survey was used to determine how involved students are Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX; jose.perez@ars. in professional groups and societies related to their major, how usda.gov they are informed about opportunities to participate with these Joesph Patt associations, how they would prefer to be contacted, and if they USDA ARS KGSRC, Weslaco, TX; [email protected] attend conferences related to their major. Surveys were made

S250 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 available to all students online with specific emails to Plant ing. Every week following transplanting, the marigolds were Science undergraduates. Completed surveys were retuned by evaluated by taking measurements of plant height, number of 25 (18.5% response rate) student participants. Although 64% flower buds present, bud size, and number of flowers present. of respondents were not involved in horticultural organizations, In March, the roots and shoots were separated, measured, and 92% of respondents acknowledged that such organizations are oven dried at 70 °C for 72 h. The results indicate that there was at least somewhat useful to Plant Sciences students. About 60% a significant difference between flower numbers (P < 0.01) and of survey respondents had never attended a horticultural confer- shoot dry weights (P < 0.04). VAM had a significant effect on ence. Results of this survey will be provided to organizations and flower numbers and shoot dry weights. schools in conjunction with ongoing efforts to increase student Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA Evan-Allen Program participation in horticultural organizations. (406) Best Practices for Campus Community (405) Azospirillum and Vesicular–Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Use in Ornamental Crop Gardens Production Samantha E. Jones* University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Miriam H. Dorman* University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Curt R. Rom MD; [email protected] University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Corrie P. Cotton Although community gardening on college campuses is not University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, a new concept, they have recently grown in popularity. How- MD; [email protected] ever, campus community gardens have not been extensively researched and information regarding best practices has not Fawzy M. Hashem yet been developed and would be a useful tool for both existing University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, campus community gardens and institutions wishing to begin MD; [email protected] a community garden. Campus community gardens provide an Sustainable horticulture is an issue of increasing importance in interactive and service-learning education tool in agriculture, response to a growth of environmental consciousness and con- agribusiness, horticulture, landscape design and use, social sci- servation. A particular area of sustainable horticulture that has ences, and human nutrition. Campus community gardens provide not been widely explored in the United States is the reduction of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to gain practical, chemical fertilizers through the use of beneficial microorganisms life-long skills pertaining to growing food and access to fresh for the enhancement of ornamental plant performance. A two-part fruits and vegetables. In order to understand current practices of study took place at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore organization, operation, use and purposes of campus community Agricultural Experiment Station. A survey was constructed and gardens, an online survey was conducted of approximately one distributed amongst target horticultural professionals, explor- hundred campus community garden advisors and/or managers. ing their perceptions of microorganism applications. Key areas The survey included demographic information, management, emphasized in the survey were fertilizers and irrigation practices funding, liabilities, risks, obstacles and successes, uses, and (i.e., type of fertilizer/s used; interest in reducing fertilizer input; operations of the gardens. Follow-up visits to five campus com- interest in reducing water usage). Keeping in mind that 35% of munity gardens provided further information regarding on-site survey responders used multiple types of fertilizer, inorganic garden management and specific best practices of the garden. was most commonly used, utilized by 91%; organic was used From this information, a manual of best practices will be devel- by 43%. Ninety-four percent stated their interest in reducing oped to further the understanding of campus community garden fertilizer input, while 100% were interested in reducing water logistics, in addition to providing encouragement for institutions usage. When asked about employment of microbial inoculants, without campus community gardens to establish a garden. 79% confirmed their interest. Geared by the survey results, a Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Arkansas research preliminary study was then conducted in which Azospirillum grant (nitrogen-fixing bacteria) and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) fungus (improves the uptake of nutrients, confer drought and disease resistance, and reduce pest infection and (407) Variation in Rhododendron calendulaceum damage) were applied to marigolds. Marigold treatment-free Germination Behavior Influenced by Seed seeds were germinated in a growth chamber, transplanted into Morphology and Site Specific Characteristics six-inch pots containing treatment-applied promix, then placed Eric J. Limbird* in a greenhouse in a randomized complete design from January Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; to March 2011. Four repetitions of four treatments were applied [email protected] as follows: 1) Control; 2) 2 mL/pot Azospirillum; 3) 1 teaspoon/ pot VAM; and 4) 2 mL/pot Azospirillum plus 1 teaspoon/pot Nathan C. Phillips VAM. Liquid fertilizer (20–20–20) was added to all treatments Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; at a rate of 238 ppm nitrogen every 2 weeks after transplant- [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S251 William M. Hamilton peat or 4 perlite :1 peat (by volume) rooting substrate; 0, 1000, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; 3000, or 8000 ppm IBA as Hormodin 1, 2, or 3; and either an [email protected] open, intermittent mist bench (7 s mist/30 min during the day) Rhododendron calendulaceum, a species endemic to the Ap- or a white polyethylene tent (mist for 30 s at 0900 and 1300 palachian mountain region of the Eastern U.S., is a species of HR). All cuttings were in the same greenhouse with 18/15.5 horticultural and ecological significance. In the wild, this species °C D/N temperatures, 16 hour days, and bottom heat at 21 °C. exhibits a high degree of inter- and intra-population variation in Each cutting was defoliated up to 4 cm from the base, wounded morphological and physiological characteristics. Inherent differ- on the bottom 15 mm, dipped in water and then in the hormone ences among populations suggest that variations in germination treatment to a depth of 15 mm before sticking in moist media behavior may exist in wild collected seeds. Investigation of the in 606 flats (63.5 × 63.5 × 76.2 mm cells) and placing on the seed and site specific characteristics separating existing popu- bench. Misting was with deionized water and cuttings were lations can potentially lead to an identification of a particular irrigated as needed with culinary water. Since cuttings were native seed source suitable for widespread propagation, and not placed randomly in flats, the flats were randomly assigned aid in the development of ecological preservation protocols. new positions within mist bench or tent treatments every two Our objectives were twofold: 1) investigate morphological weeks. On 21 Jan. 2011 all cuttings were analyzed for rooting. and environmental differences through seed and site analyses Un-rooted cuttings were rinsed, re-dipped with hormone and to accurately gauge the influence of seed size parameters and returned to their previous conditions. On 25 Mar. 2011 the environmental factors on germination behavior, and 2) conduct evaluation was repeated and final data taken including rooting, standard germination studies, including cold stratification, and number of roots per cutting, presence of callus, foliage qual- identify variation in germination characteristics according to ity, and root or stem disease. Overall 25% of cuttings rooted, seed source. Eight separate wild collected sources of R. ca- with up to 14 roots per cutting. The highest rooting percentage lendulaceumseeds were used in this study. Variation in overall (66%) was found in the poly tent, 8000 ppm IBA, and 2 perlite seed and embryo parameters within and among sources were : 1 peat treatment. These results indicate that while recalcitrant, identified. Significant differences in germination percentages selected specimens of juvenile Utah juniper can be successfully existed between collections, with values ranging from 39.8% propagated by cuttings. to 74.6% in non-stratified seeds, and 50.7% to 76.3% in seeds Specified Source(s) of Funding:Utah Department of Agriculture subjected to cold stratification. Significant differences existed and Food, Specialty Crop Block Grant between T50 and T10-90 values among seed source collections, with seed size being highly correlated with germination uniformity (T10-90). Cold stratification showed no significant improvement Sunday, September 25, 2011 of overall germination percentages in the sources tested. Our 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom findings demonstrate that germination behavior differs greatly between seed source locations, impacted by seed size parameters, Vegetable Crops Management 1 and site specific environmental factors. (197) Characterizing Differential N Use pecified Source(s) of Funding: S Middle Tennessee State Uni- Efficiency in Processing Sweet Corn versity Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Charles L. Rohwer* (408) Cutting Propagation of Juniperus University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; rohw0009@umn. edu osteosperma Vincent A. Fritz Kevin Richard Cope* University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; [email protected] Utah State University, Logan, UT; kevin.cope@aggiemail. Carl J. Rosen usu.edu University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; rosen006@umn. Larry A. Rupp edu Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) is a major processing crop in the Junipers are a diverse group of landscape plants with potential upper Midwestern United States. Our objective was to update for application in drought tolerant landscapes. The Utah juniper nitrogen recommendations using modern cultivars of sweet (Juniperus osteosperma) is of particular interest because it is corn under multiple crop management strategies. Nitrogen (N) highly adapted to the Intermountain region and some specimens -efficient cultivars of sweet corn show a biphasic yield response have characteristics desirable in landscape design. However, to nitrogen fertilization (initial yield increase, followed by no unlike other junipers, Utah juniper is not easily vegetatively response beyond a moderate amount of fertilization), whereas propagated. The effect of media, auxin concentration, and N-inefficient varieties show a quadratic response to nitrogen. propagation environment on rooting of cuttings was examined We measured fresh kernel cut weight (t·ha–1) and percent usable by collecting 15 cm terminal cuttings from several wild, juvenile ears for corn on the cob freezing (%COC) to determine interac- Utah junipers in Park Valley, UT on 16 Nov. 2010. Cuttings tions among two sweet corn varieties [‘Magnum II’ (N-efficient) were randomly assigned to treatments (n = 18) of 2 perlite : 1 and ‘GSS 1477’ (N-inefficient)], 6 N rates (0 to 225 kg·ha–1),

S252 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 planting date (May or June), and planting density (54, 62, or (199) Sweetpotato Tip Rot Disorder Is 69 thousand plants per ha). We found ‘GSS 1477’ treatment Enhanced by Preharvest Application of interactions to be higher order than ‘Magnum II’. Response Ethephon and Reduced by Curing to N was similar for % COC ears and fresh kernel cut weight. Interplant competition for N was greater for ‘Magnum II’. Re- Ramon A. Arancibia* cord June rainfall in 2010 may explain why increased interplant Mississippi State Univ-MAFES, Pontotoc, MS; raa66@ competition reduced %COC in ‘Magnum II’ in the June planting msstate.edu but not in the May planting, and why at lower planting density Jeffrey L. Main and moderate N, May-planted ‘GSS 1477’ yielded greater fresh Pontotoc, MS; [email protected] cut weight compared to the June planting. Leaf chlorophyll Xiang Wang at the 8–10 leaf collar stage predicted fresh cut yield, but the Mississippi State Univ-MAFES, Pontotoc, MS; xw119@ prediction was different for May- and June-planted sweet corn. msstate.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Midwest Food Processing Tip rot is a new sweetpotato disease/disorder in Mississippi Association with unknown etiology. Since pathogen isolations have been (198) Preharvest Applications of Ethephon inconsistent, a relationship of this disorder with stress has been suggested. This disorder is manifested as a small sunken Increases Phenolics and Skinning Tolerance in and irregular area of 1/4;” to 1” in diameter at or close to the Sweetpotato proximal end of the storage root and appears after several Ramon A. Arancibia* weeks in storage. In many cases necrosis continues internally. Mississippi State Univ-MAFES, Pontotoc, MS; raa66@ To simulate stress, ethephon was applied to Beauregard (B14) msstate.edu prior to harvest in six locations with and without tip rot history. Treated and non-treated as well as cured and non-cured Jeffrey L. Main storage roots were stored for 4-8 weeks and evaluated for tip Pontotoc, MS; [email protected] rot incidence. Preharvest applications of ethephon increased Xiang Wang the phenolic content in the cortex and stele by 57% and 86%, Mississippi State University, Pontotoc, MS; xw119@ respectively. Tip rot was observed mostly in ethephon treated msstate.edu storage roots and increased with ethephon rate (r = 0.78) up Preharvest foliar application of ethephon has been suggested to 5.2%. In contrast, curing reduced tip rot incidence to 0.6%. to set the skin of sweetpotato storage roots and reduce skin- These results suggest that the higher phenolic content as a result ning at harvest. Therefore, the objective of this study was to of ethephon application enhances the appearance of the tip rot determine the association of ethephon with skinning incidence disorder, but curing minimizes this response. and with the activation of the lignin pathway as a way to Specified Source(s) of Funding: FSMIP-AMS-USDA toughen the skin. Ethephon was applied 1, 3 and 7 days before harvest (dbh) at rates of 4.4 oz/ac, 8.8 oz/ac, 17.6 oz/ac, (200) A Cut Above the Rest: The Utilization and 26.4 oz/ac. Ethephon treatments were devined the day of of Resistant Tomato Rootstocks in Managing harvest. Control treatments consisted in devining the plants Southern Bacterial Wilt in the Eastern United 1, 3 and 7 dbh. Skinning incidence ranged between one and 11 skins (wounds) per root. Skinning was the same among States ethephon rates and controls at each application time. However, Jeremey H. Taylor* devining or applying ethephon 3 and 7dbh reduced skinning Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, St. Louis, MO; incidence to 3 skins per root in comparison to 1dbh (5.4 skins [email protected] per root). Since phenolic compounds are the precursors of lignin Pieter J. Westerbeek for skin lignification, samples of storage roots were analyzed Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, St. Louis, MO; pieter. for phenolic content right after harvest. Phenolic content, as [email protected] chlorogenic acid equivalents, was the same in the skin for all Michael H. Dobrow treatments and ranged between 9 and 14 mg/g FW. In con- Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, St. Louis, MO; michael. trast, the average phenolic content in the cortex and stele of [email protected] untreated roots were 0.75 mg/g FW and 0.43 mg/g FW respectively. Ethephon applications increased phenolic content Southern Bacterial Wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is between 25% and 146% depending on ethephon rate and tissue. an extremely devastating soilborne pathogen severely impacting Although ethephon is applied to the foliage, these results sug- open field commercial tomato production in the Eastern United gest that somehow it activates the phenolic/lignin pathway in States. Unfortunately, no current cultural practices or quality the roots which may be contributing to skin set and skinning resistant varieties are available to aid commercial producers in resistance. managing the pathogen. However, an old technique providing new possibilities is the use of resistant rootstocks grafted with Specified Source(s) of Funding: SCRI-USDA commercial tomato varieties. In Spring, four rootstocks having

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S253 conferred resistance to Southern Bacterial Wilt were placed with the average being 37.49 ± 10.39 tons/acre. Fertigation in 6 replicated small plot trials in NC and TN. All rootstocks strategies significantly affected the incidence of BER in both were grafted with the commercial variety FL 47R and were years. Overall, there was a higher incidence of BER in 2010 evaluated for disease efficacy and equivalency in plant and when compared to 2009. Tomatoes grown in soils subjected to fruit quality. In each of 6 locations Cheong Gang and Shin acidification had higher incidence of BER when compared to Cheong Gang consistently showed no incidence to bacterial tomatoes grown with CAT. Total soluble solids did not differ wilt under elevated disease pressures. Both rootstocks with any fertigation treatment with an average Brix index of performed extremely well producing equal to better fruit quality, 6.5° in 2009 and 5.5° in 2010. yield, and size distribution when compared to all treatments Specified Source(s) of Funding: California State University including the ungrafted FL 47R. The high resistance to South- –Agricultural Research Initiative (CSU-ARI) ern Bacterial Wilt provided by Cheong Gang and Shin Cheong Gang along with improved plant and fruit quality may offer (203) Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Soil new possibilities for producers struggling to maintain commercial tomato production in the Eastern United States. Respiration from Tomatoes Grown with Elevated Carbon Dioxide Specified Source(s) of Funding: Monsanto Dave Goorahoo* (202) Fertigation Strategies to Optimize Tomato California State University–Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] Production in Salt-Affected Soils Florence Cassel S.* Florence Cassel S. California State University –Fresno, Fresno, CA; California State University–Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Dave Goorahoo Natalio Mendez California State University –Fresno, Fresno, CA; California State University–Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Prasad Yadavali Shawn Ashkan California State University –Fresno, Fresno, CA; California State University–Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Growers in the Central Valley of California are transitioning Gerardo Orozco to higher value crops and more efficient irrigation systems Fresno, CA; [email protected] to maximize production yields. Particularly, growers facing low returns from cotton under flood irrigation practices are now Increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentra- growing vegetable crops, such as tomatoes, using drip irrigations, including nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), tion system. However, such transition poses new challenges, has been partly attributed to agricultural activities. N2O is primarily in heavy clay soils affected by saline-sodic conditions. emitted from soil to the atmosphere as part of the nitrogen Such problems include the sensitivity of vegetable crops to (N) cycle, and the addition of N through fertilizers increases salinity and their susceptibility to diseases and calcium de- N2O emissions. CO2 enters the atmosphere as the result of ficiency. Therefore, the challenge is to increase soil calcium fossil fuel, solid waste, wood burning and other industrial availability to plants and reduce soil pH in the root zone in production processes. However, CO2 can also be sequestered order to ensure maximum crop yield and quality. Hence, the by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. Sustainable objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of four ferti- agricultural practices are necessary to minimize GHG emis- gation practices on tomato yield, incidence of blossom-end rot sions while maintaining optimal crop production. Particularly, (BER), and total soluble solids (Brix index). The experiment it is important to quantify N2O emissions and soil respiration was conducted in Central California on a Lethent silty clay soil in fields fertilized with N sources and subjected to elevated with salinity ranging from 2 to 8 dS/m within the 0-1 ft depth. atmospheric CO2 levels. The objective of this study was to Processing tomatoes were transplanted in 2009 and direct- assess N2O emissions and soil respiration in tomatoes grown seeded in 2010. The following four fertigation treatments under both ambient and elevated CO2 levels and fertilized were compared: 1) urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), referred with urea ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate. to as the control and commonly used in central California, 2) During the summer of 2010, tomatoes were planted on a water acidification using urea sulfuric acid (US-15), 3) calcium sandy loam soil and subjected to two CO2 levels (ambient and ammonium nitrate (CAN), and 4) calcium thiosulfate (CAT). 1.5 times ambient). The tomatoes were irrigated with a sub- All treatments were applied through a sub-surface drip system surface drip irrigation system. Daily levels of atmospheric and replicated four times in a randomized complete-block CO2 within the plant canopy were monitored using CO2 Ana- design. Results of the first year study conducted in 2009 indi- lyzer. An EPA approved static flux chamber assembly and a ® cated that tomatoes fertigated with CAT produced the highest Photoacoustic Field Gas-Monitor- INNOVA 1412 were used yield (66.2 tons/acre; P < 0.002). However, no significant for N2O emission measurements before and after fertilization yield differences were observed among treatments in 2010 events. A CIRAS-2 portable photosynthesis system with an

S254 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 attached CO2 flux chamber was used to measure the soil respi- Sunday, September 25, 2011 ration rates. Measurements were conducted at 84, 106 and 114 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom days after transplant (DAT). For the CO2 enriched plots, mean daily CO2 levels within the crop canopy ranged from 580 ppm Organic Horticulture Posters to 400 ppm during the 7 hours of application. Mean ambient (339) Influence of Production Practices CO2 concentration was 358 ppm. For the CO2 enriched plots, mean N2O concentration decreased from 0.22 (± 0.02) ppm on and Storage on Grapefruit Vitamin C and 84 DAT to 0.14 (± 0.02) ppm on 114 DAT. In contrast, there Flavanones was an increase in the N O levels from 0.04 (± 0.01) to 0.17 2 Kranthi K. Chebrolu* (± 0.03) ppm from the plots where tomatoes were exposed to Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, ambient conditions. Generally, there was a moderate (r = 0.64) TX; [email protected] negative correlation between the N2O levels measured in the CO enriched plot versus those measured in the ambient plots. G.K. Jayaprakasha 2 Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, There was no significant difference (α ≥ 0.05) in both the soil TX; [email protected] respiration rates and tomato yields between CO2 enriched and non-enriched plots. Generally, soil respiration rates decreased John L. Jifon during the course of the study. Texas AgriLife Research at Weslaco, Weslaco, TX; jifon@ tamu.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: California State University - Bhimanagouda S. Patil Agricultural Research Initiative (CSU-ARI) Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, TX; [email protected] (204) Tomato Production on Colored Barks and Increased consumer awareness of the potential health benefits of Plastics in Northeast Arkansas foods produced with minimal chemical use is partly responsible J. Kim Pittcock* for increased organic production. Studies related to the impact Arkansas State University, State University, AR; of the production system (organic or conventional) and storage [email protected] on Rio Red grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) bioactives are Kimberly R. Lee limited. Grapefruits were harvested in Oct. 2008 from organic Arkansas State University, State University, AR; krlee@ and conventional orchards and packed in a commercial packing astate.edu shed in Mission, TX. Furthermore, grapefruits were stored at Three cultivars of tomatoes were grown on plastic and bark mulch room temperature and 9 °C for 5 weeks and analyzed for vita- during two successive summers to study the impact they have on min C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid) and flavanones production. Plastic mulch has been used on vegetable production each week. Later, the grapefruits were subjected to sensory for several decades and has shown to increase production. A evaluation. Significantly higher levels of vitamin C were found comparison of plastic mulch vs. colored wood mulch has yet to in organically grown grapefruits compared to conventional be reported in the literature. ‘Arkansas Traveler’, ‘Better Boy’, grapefruits. No significant losses in vitamin C were found and ‘Celebrity’ transplants were placed in the field in May of during the 5-week storage. Among the flavonoids analyzed, each year. Mulch treatments were red plastic, red bark, black narirutin concentrations were 41% higher in organically-grown bark, non-colored mulch and a control of no mulch. The bark fruits compared to conventional fruits, whereas, the levels of mulch was applied to a depth of two inches. The plots were poncirin were 10.5% higher in conventional grapefruits. Nar- irrigated with drip tape and watered weekly when rainfall was ingin (928.41 μg/g), neohesperidin (30.89 μg/g) and didymin not sufficient. The study was set up in a randomized complete (75.85 μg/g) levels present in organic grapefruits were not block with each treatment replicated three times and six plants significantly different compared to conventional grapefruits. represented one treatment. Tomatoes were harvest every 2 These results suggested that the production system and storage to 3 days throughout the summer beginning in mid-July and have an influence on grapefruit bioactives with no significant concluded in late September each year. During the first sum- effect on fruit taste and flavor. mer, ‘Arkansas Traveler’ tomatoes grown on black bark were Specified Source(s) of Funding: This project is based upon significantly different than the other treatments. ‘Better Boy’ the work supported by the USDA-NIFA # 2010-34402-20875 tomatoes grown on red bark and red plastic were significantly “Designing Foods for Health” through the Vegetable & Fruit different than other treatments. ‘Celebrity’ tomatoes grown on Improvement Center. red bark, non-colored mulch and black bark were significantly different. The following year black bark was significantly dif- (340) Organic Weed Management Strategies for ferent on each tomato cultivar. Apple Trees Specified Source(s) of Funding: Arkansas State University Renae Moran Horticulture Program University of Maine, Monmouth, ME; rmoran@maine. edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S255 M. Elena Garcia* (341) Early Performance during the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; megarcia@ Establishment of an Organic Apple Orchard uark.edu with Varied Ground Cover Management Lorraine Berkett Treatments and Nutrient Sources University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; lorraine.berkett@ uvm.edu Curt R. Rom* University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Terry Bradshaw University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; tbradsha@uvm. Jason D. McAfee edu University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; jmcafee@uark. edu Sarah Kingsley-Richards University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; sarah.kingsley@ Heather Friedrich uvm.edu University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; heatherf@uark. edu Morgan Cormwell University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; mcromwel@uvm. M. Elena Garcia edu University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; megarcia@uark. edu Four weed management strategies were established in 2009 and continued into 2010: 1) periodic mowing; 2) Herbi- Donn Johnson cide 1, herbicide application as needed from June to July; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; dtjohnso@uark. 3) Herbicide 2, application as needed from June to August; edu and 4) bark mulch applied once in 2009. The herbicide Jennie Popp GreenMatch which contains the active ingredient d-limonene University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] was applied at the labeled rate in a 1-m band under the trees. Bark mulch was also applied in a 1-m band. The orchard was Mary Savin planted in 2007 with ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Snowsweet’ on M.26 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] rootstock. Bark mulch continued to suppress weed growth Orchard groundcover management and nutrition are signifi- in 2010. Herbicide and mowing both reduced weed biomass cant issues challenging sustainable organic apple production. but not as much as mulch. Mulch increased trunk and shoot Because of the interaction between ground cover and nutrition, growth compared to herbicide and mowing. Tree growth these management practices must be studied simultaneously. with both herbicide treatments was similar to mowing. Leaf Research was initiated in 2006 to study and develop effective level of N was lower in mulched trees compared to Herbicide organic fruit tree best management practices for the South, with 1, but was similar to mowing and Herbicide 2. The effect of focused emphasis on ground cover and nutrient management, as weed management strategies on soil moisture was inconsis- well as to develop economic production budgets to determine tent throughout the season. Mulch had greater soil moisture feasible production methods. In Mar. 2006 the University of than mowing 27 May through 4 June and again from 7 July Arkansas planted ‘Enterprise’/M.26 in a replicated orchard to to 30 Aug., but similar soil moisture level at other dates. The examine the effects of three organic fertilizer treatments [con- Herbicide 1 treatment did not increase soil moisture com- trol, composted poultry litter (PL) and commercial pelletized pared to mowing. Herbicide 2 increased soil moisture from fertilizer (CF)] and four groundcover treatments [shredded 29 July to 30 Aug., but was similar to mowing on other dates. paper (SP), wood chips (WC), green municipal compost (GC) Mid-day stem water potential was not affected by weed man- and mow-blow (MB)], with the goal of developing organic agement strategies. Trees were in their first cropping year, management recommendations for southern environments. but the relative amount of bloom per tree and fruit yield at The effects of nutrient and ground cover treatment interactions harvest were not affected by weed management strategies. on tree growth, canopy and root development; soil biological, Four weed management strategies were established in 2009 chemical and physical characteristics;and foliar nutrient content, and continued into 2010: 1) periodic mowing; 2) Herbi- and weed density were evaluated. Significant differences have cide 1, herbicide application as needed from June to July; been determined among the organic production systems after 3) Herbicide 2, application as needed from June to August; five seasons of growth. WC and GC increased tree size, height, and 4) bark mulch applied once in 2009. The herbicide trunk cross-sectional area, and leaf development. Late season GreenMatch which contains the active ingredient d-limonene foliar nutrition showed no difference among treatments and after was applied at the labeled rate in a 1-m band under the trees. five growing seasons all ground cover treatments and nutrient Bark mulch was also applied in a 1-m band. The orchard was treatments had adequate and similar foliar nutrient contents, planted in 2007 with ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Snowsweet’ on M.26 however foliar N was in the low range. WC and PL had great- rootstock. est early season soil N and GC increased late season soil N. Ground covers of WC or GC provided for adequate growth for Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-Integrated Organic early cropping during the first 5 seasons, however, early yield Program has been suppressed by environmental factors. WC and GC had

S256 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 significantly greater cumulative fruit yields compared to SP and Vegetable production requires adequate amounts of plant avail- MB but fruit diameter and average fruit weight was not affected able soil nutrients to meet plant growth and yield requirements. by treatment in the first 3 cropping seasons. In an ongoing 4-year field experiment, various winter and summer cover crops (CC) were evaluated for their effects on Specified Source(s) of Funding:SSARE vegetable productivity, nutrient cycling, and weed management. (342) Influence of Organic Mulches on Three winter (hairy vetch, mustard or rape, winter wheat) and Mycorrhizal Colonization of Apple Trees in an three summer (chickling vetch or bean, buckwheat, proso mil- Organic Orchard let) cover crops (9 treatment combinations) were evaluated for modifying the short-term nitrogen (N) availability of soils when Raven Anai Bough* growing organic snap beans, broccoli, and sweet corn. Average University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; rbough@uark. soil mineral (0–15 cm) N varied by as much as 40% depending edu on the winter-summer CC combination. Highest N levels were Curt R. Rom measured in the hairy vetch-millet or hairy vetch-buckwheat University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] when taken 5 weeks after bean and sweet corn emergence (early July). Rape-Buckwheat and Wheat-Buckwheat CC had interme- Jason D. McAfee diate levels of soil mineral N. In contrast, rape-chickling vetch University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; jmcafee@uark. and wheat-chickling vetch had the lowest soil mineral N levels. edu Soil mineral N levels were highly correlated to bean, broccoli The demand for organic food products has increased within the and sweet corn productivity levels and biomass production of past decade. It is of interest to determine best management prac- the different CC. Plant stands were unaffected by CC combi- tices for organic orchards to provide information to producers. nation. However, yield of all vegetables were greatest in the Compared to conventional orchards, organic orchards have higher hairy vetch-millet or hairy vetch-buckwheat combinations and mycorrhizal colonization. Currently, it is accepted that arbuscular lowest in the rape-chickling vetch and wheat-chickling vetch mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a symbiotic relationship with a CC’s. While productivity levels are still considered low, year host plant that promotes root growth in the host, increases phos- to year improvements are noted with CC that produce higher phorous and water uptake, provides pathogenic resistance, and amounts of biomass. provides stress resistance in exchange for carbohydrates. Mulch Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hatch Funding is one of the primary elements of organic orchard management and provides ground cover, water retention, and a slow release (344) Summer Cover Crops for Fall Cabbage nutrient source. A mulch that provides a suitable environment Production in Louisiana for mycorrhizae in addition to these characteristics would be a key management tool in an organic orchard. The objective of this Carl E. Motsenbocker* research was to compare AMF colonization and apple tree growth Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; under the influence of organic mulches. Model plants of apple [email protected] rootstocks (M106) were grown in a greenhouse in sterile media William B. Evans with one of three inoculant treatments and were treated with one Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; wbe@ of four mulch treatments. The inoculant treatments were two dif- ra.msstate.edu ferent commercial inoculants and a control. The mulch treatments Robert Williams were wood chips, compost, shredded paper and a control. It was Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; hypothesized that different mulch treatments would have variable [email protected] influences on mycorrhization, plant growth, and nutrient uptake. The presence, absence, and percent colonization of mycorrhizae Andrea Morales Cordero in relation to plant growth and foliar nutrient content were evalu- Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; ated. In addition, the qualities of the two commercial inoculants [email protected] were assessed for population establishment. The findings of this Field experiments were conducted in Baton Rouge, LA to evalu- experiment will be used to evaluate effective mulch treatments ate the growth and yield of cabbage transplanted into plots that for an organic apple orchard to promote mycorrhizal symbiosis previously had one of two summer cover crops, Sunn hemp in order to enhance plant growth and health. (Crotalaria juncea) or sesame (Sesamum indicum) incorporated Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Arkansas Honors in the fall. The cover crops were broadcast at recommended rates College at two timings (10 June 2010, early planting; 17 July 2010 (late planting), into 3.7 × 18.4 m three-row plots using untreated seeds (343) Unique Winter and Summer Cover Crop and incorporated using a fence harrow. On 15 Sept. 2010, a 1-m2 Combinations Improve Bean, Broccoli, and area of cover crop and weed shoot mass was sampled, and the Sweet Corn Productivity soil sampled. Cover crop plots were harvested 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) using a forestry cutter and flail mower, and Dan Drost* then incorporated by multiple passes of a disk harrow. Cover Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] crop plots were divided into 3 sub-plots 6.0 m long receiving

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S257 two rates of composted chicken litter organic fertilizer (166 tool for maximizing N fertility benefits from incorporated cover and 332 kg N per ha) and an unfertilized control. Cabbage was crop residues. Although increasing the proportion of vetch (and machine transplanted into plots at a 30-cm in-row spacing and the total amount of nitrogen) in the cover crop mixture generally the middle ten plants of each sub-plot record row were harvested, benefitted pepper yields, evaluations of overall mixture perfor- graded, and individually weighed in Mar. 2011. In addition, soil mance must ultimately be based on a systems-level consideration and foliar samples were taken at harvest for nutrient analysis. of the numerous services that cover crops can provide, as well The preliminary results indicate that cabbage yield was affected as their relative costs. by fertilizer treatment and visible differences were observed. Specified Source(s) of Funding: 1. USDA North Central Re- In addition, the 90-day sesame cover crop treatment had lower gion SARE (Project Number GNC09-108) 2. Michigan State cabbage yield than the sunn hemp treatments. University Project GREEEN (Project Number GR09-068) 3. Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA SARE The Ceres Trust (345) Rye–Vetch Cover Crop Species Proportion (346) Comparing Weed Barrier Options for and Polyethylene Mulch Affect Total Biomass Organic Pepper Production Production, Soil Nitrate Accumulation, and Bell Jeanine M. Davis* Pepper Yield Mt. Hort. Crops Res. Ext. Ctr., Mills River, NC; jeanine_ [email protected] Zachary D. Hayden* Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; haydenza@ Emily R. Bernstein msu.edu Mt Hort Crops Res Ext Ctr, Mills River, NC; Emily_ [email protected] Mathieu Ngouajio Amy C. Hamilton Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; ngouajio@ Mt Hort Crops Res Ext Ctr, Mills River, NC; Amy_ msu.edu [email protected] Daniel C. Brainard Surveys of 150 growers in western North Carolina indicated Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; brainar9@ that weeds are a major limitation to profitability in organic msu.edu crop production. Nationally, weed management is considered a The unique and often complementary traits of cereal and le- top priority for organic research. There are few effective weed gume species make cover crop mixtures composed of these two control options for organic vegetables and questions arise as to functional groups promising for vegetable cropping systems. which method is the most economical and which has the lowest Informed management of the relative species proportions in labor requirements. The objective of this study was to compare the mixture could provide an important means of optimizing the use of several weed management practices in production of performance to serve various farmer goals. In a study conducted organic bell peppers (Capsicum annuum). Material costs, labor on sandy soils in Michigan, a variation of the replacement series needed to keep the plots weed-free, costs of implementing those experimental design was used to investigate 1) how the relative practices, and yield, were measured. Plants were grown on raised composition (seeding rates) of a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) beds with drip-irrigation. Practices and products used were in and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mixture influ- accordance with the National Organic Program standards. Treat- enced biomass production and total residue quality, and 2) the ments included black landscape fabric, wheat straw mulch, white interactive effects of residues of these cover crop mixtures and and red clover living cover crop sown at time of transplanting, black polyethylene mulch (PM) on bell pepper (Capsicum an- black plastic mulch, and a bare ground control. A hoe was used nuum) performance and soil nitrate dynamics. Cover crop main to weed the bare ground treatment. Weeds were hand pulled in plot treatments consisted of a gradient of 7 rye:vetch mixture the other treatments. There were four replications of the five proportions from 100% rye (94 kg/ha) to 100% vetch (42 kg/ treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design. ha), in addition to a no cover crop control. Subplots consisted The study was conducted at the Mountain Research Station in of bell pepper grown either with or without PM. Soil nitrate Waynesville, NC. In the first year of the study, 86% less labor levels were monitored through biweekly soil sampling during was required to keep the landscape fabric and black plastic mulch the growing season. Although relative biomass yields of vetch in treatments weed-free compared to the other three treatments. mixture varied greatly with year and planting date, total residue The straw, living mulch, and bare ground treatments required C:N generally decreased with increasing proportion of vetch. the same amount of labor to be kept weed-free. Although there Cover crop mixtures with higher proportions of vetch generally was no difference in total yields among the weed management resulted in higher soil nitrate concentrations during the growing treatments, the living mulch treatment produced fewer U.S. season, but both the magnitude and duration of the increases Fancy grade peppers and more U.S. No. 1 grade peppers than in soil nitrate following cover crop incorporation were greater the other four treatments. Just comparing materials used for the under PM than without. In general, total bell pepper yields were weed barrier treatments, wheat straw was the most expensive higher following cover crop mixtures with greater proportions of and the living mulch was the least expensive. Taking all factors vetch. However, total yields were uniformly higher for peppers into consideration, the landscape fabric and black plastic were grown on PM. Our results suggest that PM may be an important the most profitable weed management strategies. This study will

S258 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 be repeated in 2011, and data from both years will be presented. compost and fertilized with either combination of organic granu- Specified Source(s) of Funding: NC Dept. of Agriculture & lar and nutrient solution sources produced the highest organic Consumer Services, USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant marketable yields of 71% to 83% of the hydroponic control. It is anticipated that this research will significantly contribute to (347) Evaluating Nutrient Management Systems sound recommendations for nutrient management strategies for for Organically Produced Greenhouse Colored sustainable organic greenhouse colored bell pepper production. Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida assistant- ship Allison L. Beyer* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] (348) Food Safety and Yield of Heirloom Danielle D. Treadwell Tomatoes Grown on Compost and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Mychorrhizae-amended Soil at a Transitioning Daniel J. Cantliffe Organic Site University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Michael A. Gunderson Lurline E. Marsh* University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] MD; [email protected] Michael R. Alligood University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Fawzy M. Hashem University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; fmhashem@ Greenhouse vegetable systems can be certified organic by umes.edu a United States Department of Agriculture accredited certification agency, but these systems are typically focused on Corrie P. Cotton transplant production. Higher price premiums associated with University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; cpcotton@ greenhouse and certified organic produce (compared with field umes.edu and conventionally-grown produce) distinguishes organic Brett Smith greenhouse vegetable production as a strong market incentive University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, and a potentially viable, scale-neutral opportunity for growers. MD; [email protected] Successful non-chemical pest management strategies that have The use of organic amendments, such as poultry compost to been adopted by greenhouse growers, including biological con- soil may pose food safety risk if pathogenic microorganisms are trol, are consistent with the National Organic Program’s Final present. A field study was conducted on an organic transitioning Rule. However, growing media, fertilizer source and application site in summer 2010 at the University ’s Agriculture Experiment strategies remain important and challenging issues for organic Station to determine the effect of vesicular arbuscular mycor- greenhouse production. The objective of this project was to rhiza (VAM) and poultry compost on the food safety and fruit identify the organic greenhouse nutrient management system yield of two tomato cultivars, Debaro Plum and Brandywine that produces the greatest yield and quality of red bell pepper Red. Tomato seedlings were transplanted at the field site and (Capsicum annuum L. ‘X3R Red Knight’) while maintaining subjected to four treatments; control, VAM, poultry compost, and economic sustainability. Treatments that varied in container VAM + poultry compost. The experimental design was a split growing media (three levels) and fertilizer source (five levels) plot with the two varieties as the main plot and the treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with as subplots with four replications per treatment. The treatments four replications in an experiment conducted at the University had no significant effect on the yield or food safety of the fruits of Florida’s Protected Agriculture greenhouses near Citra, FL which were negative for the presence of both E. coli and Salmo- in fall of 2010. Organic media treatments were a 1:1 ratio (by nella. Tomato cultivar Debaro plum yielded significantly higher volume) of peat and pine bark without compost, with 30% marketable fruits (9.98 kg /five plants) than the later and larger yard waste compost, or with 30% poultry litter compost. Four fruited Brandywine Red cultivar (1.74 kg /five plants). These organic fertilizer regimes included dry granular sources only, a results indicate that the soil amendments used in this study did nutrient solution delivered through the irrigation system only, a not pose a food safety risk factor to tomato fruits of Debaro combination of granular sources applied at planting and nutrient Plum and Brandywine Red. solution beginning at sidedress, and a combination of nutrient solution beginning at planting and granular sources applied at Specified Source(s) of Funding:NIFA-Evans Allen sidedress. The organic systems were compared to a conventional hydroponic fertilization regime of mineral-based nutrient solution (349) Pre-Plant Compost and Subsequent applied through the irrigation system. Throughout the season, Fertigation Rates Alter Landscape Performance data was collected on plant height, leaf nitrogen status using a of Organically Grown Marigold SPAD meter, and the pH, electrical conductivity and nutrient concentrations of leachate samples. At harvest, data was col- Guihong Bi* lected on fruit yield and quality and whole plant fresh and dry Truck Crops Branch, Mississippi State University, Crystal weight. Peat and pine-bark substrate amended with poultry litter Springs, MS; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S259 William B. Evans John B. Masiunas* Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; wbe1@ University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] ra.msstate.edu In order to obtain the expected benefits of a cover crop, the Mengmeng Gu cover crop must grow vigorously. One of the main determinants Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; of growth rate is planting date. We determined the appropriate [email protected] planting dates for three summer cover crops for use on organic vegetable farms in the Great Lakes region. We measured how Vasile Cerven quickly soil was covered and the ability to compete with weed Truck Crops Branch, Mississippi State University, Crystal seedlings, as well as biomass production during the available Springs, MS; [email protected] growing period in trials on Certified Organic Land in three Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of pre-plant states across the region. Spring-sown mustard (cvs ‘Tilney’ and compost and subsequent fertigation on landscape performance ‘IdaGold’) performed well starting with seedings as soon as the of organically grown marigold. A locally produced composted ground can be worked (as early as March 15 in central Illinois, broiler litter was used for initial soil amendment in the field at March 31 in central Michigan and April 5 in central New York). three rates: 0, 3 tons/acre (low rate), and 6 tons/acre (high rate). The latest date for successful spring establishment of mustards A liquid catfish processing byproduct MultiBloom (2–2–2 or was May 1 in Illinois and May 15 in New York and Michigan, 2N–0.8P–1.6K) was chosen as organic fertilizer for fertiga- with reduced biomass production and minimal weed suppres- tion after transplanting at three rates: 0, 100 ppm N (low rate), sion for later-May plantings. Central Illinois is warmer, more and 200 ppm N (high rate). Results showed that incorporating fertile and has less flea beetle pressure, allowing planting as late composted broiler litter into the soil before transplanting sig- as May 1 without significant weed competition or inadequate nificantly increased plant growth index [PGI = (height + widest biomass. For late summer plantings, buckwheat required 600 width + perpendicular width) ÷ 3] on both 20 and 40 days after GDD50 from planting to frost or mowing to produce sufficient transplanting (DAP). Plants receiving the high compost rate had growth and weed suppression. In central NY, this corresponds to similar PGI as plants receiving the low rate. Regardless of the a cutoff date of mid-August. Sudangrass required 750 GDD50, compost treatment, plants receiving the low fertigation rate had with a cutoff in early August. Mustard could be sown until late significantly higher PGI than plants receiving the high fertigation August, requiring 1700 GDD32. These cover crops suppressed rate on 40 DAP, and plants that did not receive any fertigation warm-season weeds (pigweed and lambsquarters) until low fall had similar PGI as plants receiving the high fertigation rate. On temperatures inhibited the cover crops, but cool season weeds 52 DAP, plants that received the high compost rate had signifi- (such as chickweed and shepherds purse) continued to grow cantly more flowers than plants receiving the low compost rate. after these cover crops were terminated by frost. A variety of Plants that did not receive any compost had the lowest number environmental factors determined the extreme planting dates for of flowers. Regardless of compost treatment, plants receiving these cover crops, but these limits can now be estimated for the the high fertigation rate had similar number of flowers as plants whole region. Ample opportunities exist for establishing before receiving the low fertigation rate, and plants that did not receive or after vegetable crops. any fertigation had the lowest number of flowers. These results This research was supported by a grant from the USDA-NIFA indicate that appropriate rates of pre-plant compost applica- Organic Research and Extension Initiative. tions and subsequent fertigation can lead to good performance of marigolds in an organic landscape setting. However, just as with synthetic fertilizer sources, higher rates of organic fertil- Sunday, September 25, 2011 izers may not be needed and can actually reduce plant quality. We recommend users of these materials test them thoroughly 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom before incorporating them into their practices. Ornamental Plant Breeding Specified Source(s) of Funding: Special Research Initiative, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mis- (133) Induction of Morphological Mutants of sissippi State University Chrysanthemum Cultivar Hi Maya by Gamma Ray Irradiation (350) Planting Opportunities for Successful Mi Kyoung Won* Establishment of Summer Cover Crops Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research & Extension Integrated into Organic Vegetable Production Services, Yesan; [email protected] Systems in the Great Lakes Region Ha Seung Pak Thomas Björkman Chungcheongnam-do ARES, Yesan; [email protected] Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Cheol Hwi Lee Daniel C. Brainard Chungcheongnam-do ARES, Yesan; [email protected] Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; brainar9@ Dong Chan Kim msu.edu Chungcheongnam-do ARES, Yesan; [email protected]

S260 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Man Hyun Jo by their cold hardiness. The University of Helsinki introduced Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research & Extension several cultivars derived from R. brachycarpum ssp. tigerstedtii Services, Yesan; [email protected] with flower buds cold-hardy to –39 °C. When these cultivars are grown at latitudes south of Helsinki, Finland (60°N), such Byung Jun Choi as in St. Paul, MN (45°N), initiation of vegetative growth in Chungcheongnam-do ARES, Yesan; [email protected] the spring often occurs simultaneously with flowering resulting Si Yong Kang in ‘bypass shoots’ which can obscure flowers, reducing their Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic ornamental value. We initiated experiments comparing bypass Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup; [email protected] shoot development between a Finnish hybrid ‘Haaga’ and Eun Mo Lee ‘Catawbiense Album’, a cultivar that does not typically exhibit Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research & Extension simultaneous vegetative and reproductive budbreak when grown Services, Yesan; [email protected] in Minnesota. In one experiment, cultivars were placed in one of four growth chambers with temperature and photoperiod Yeu Seok Kwon conditions representative of those found in St. Paul or Helsinki Chungcheongbuk-Do Agricultural Res & Extn, Chungbuk; during spring budbreak. Bypassing was quantified using the [email protected] number of days between floral and vegetative budbreak. Both The objectives of this study were to investigate the changes of cultivars developed bypass shoots in all four environments, al- morphological features by gamma ray irradiation and identify though bypassing was greater in St. Paul photoperiod treatment favorable mutants in chrysanthemum (Dendranthema gran- chambers. Cultivars differed with vegetative budbreak occurring diflorum). ‘Hi Maya’ with pink color and incurved petal type nearly 13 days before flowering for ‘Haaga’ compared to two which was bred at Yesan Chrysanthemum Experiment Station days for ‘Catawbiense Album’. We analyzed whether auxin was used as the materials for this experiment. This cultivar was may be involved in bypass shoot development. Indole-3-acetic irradiated to the plants at young stage with three doses(20, 30, acid (IAA) and napthalaneacetic acid (NAA) were applied to 40 Gy) of gamma ray. When irradiated plants were cultivated decapitated shoots at the beginning of forcing to determine if in the artificial soil, more than 92% of them survived regardless auxin could suppress the growth of lateral vegetative buds. Both of doses of the gamma ray. Four types of flower color mutants auxins suppressed bypass shoot development, although synthetic such as white, ivory, light pink and dark pink were obtained. NAA was more effective. Tissue samples from floral organs as The frequencies of flower color mutation increased from 2.0 to well as upper shoot segments were collected and analyzed for 4.4% when the doses of gamma ray decreased. However those endogenous free IAA levels using gas chromatography-mass of flower shape mutation increased from 1.2 to 2.8% when spectrometry. Samples were collected at three growth phases: the doses increased. Selected radiomutants showed changes at Day 0 of being placed in a warm greenhouse for forcing, in phenotypic features such as flower diameter, the number of at the first sign of floral budbreak, and when all flowers in an ray florets and plant height. Resistance to white rust showed no inflorescence were open. The amount of free IAA was highest difference in level of the original and the radiomutants. Among at the beginning of forcing and declined throughout flowering. the three doses of gamma ray, 20 Gy was the most effective to IAA was found in both stamens and carpels and was greater induce promising flower color mutants of ‘Hi Maya’. in ‘Catawbiense Album’ than ‘Haaga’ at all growth phases Specified Source(s) of Funding:Chungcheongnam-do Agricul- and tissue types. A diverse collection of USDA Zone 5-hardy tural Research and Extension Services rhododendrons was evaluated at Holden Arboretum (Kirt- land, OH) for bypass shoot development over two years. This (134) Factors Influencing Simultaneous Floral germplasm evaluation revealed the trait is heavily influenced and Vegetative Budbreak in Rhododendron by environment; more bypassing occurred after colder winters subg. Hymenanthes when flower buds were partially or fully aborted. Laci L. High Specified Source(s) of Funding:Minnesota Landscape Arbore- University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; highx021@umn. tum and Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station edu John E. Erwin* (135) Fertility and Reproductive Pathways in University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; erwin001@umn. Diploid and Triploid Miscanthus sinensis edu Todd J. Rounsaville Stephen L. Krebs NC State University, Mills River, NC; [email protected] The Holden Arboretum, Kirtland, OH; slkrebs@ holdenarb.org Darren H. Touchell Stan C. Hokanson NC State University, Mills River, NC; darren_touchell@ ncsu.edu University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; hokan017@umn. edu Thomas G. Ranney* Use of broad-leaved, evergreen rhododendrons (Rhododendron NC State University, Mills River, NC; tom_ranney@ncsu. subg. Hymenanthes) in northern landscapes is primarily limited edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S261 Miscanthus sinensis is a popular ornamental grass and has addi- 0–150 Gy gamma rays and then recovered in MS (Murashige tional potential as a bioenergy crop. In some regards, the ability and Skoog) medium supplemented with 1 μM benzyladenine of M. sinensis to withstand a broad range of climatic and cultural (BA) for 1–2 month. Shoots that recovered from the gamma conditions is desirable, but its propensity to rapidly colonize ray treatment were rooted in 1/2; MS medium with 0.5 μM open and disturbed environments has allowed it to naturalize naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and grown in the greenhouse. and become weedy in some regions in the U.S. Considering The growth of shoot tips exposed to gamma rays significantly the value of this crop, the development and documentation of inhibited and subsequently in vitro rooting was reduced. An infertile forms would be desirable. Triploid plants were evalu- average of 55.1 % of shoots rooted when treated with 50 Gy ated for male (pollen viability staining) and female (seed set gamma rays, whereas only 15.7 and 12.6 % of shoots rooted and germination) fertility. Pollen viability staining, seed set, when exposed to 100 and 150 Gy gamma rays, respectively. and germination of seeds from triploid plants was reduced 19, All unrooted and a few rooted plants eventually died. Various 73, and 39%, respectively compared to the controls. Overall, phenotypic variations were observed in survived plants grown relative female fertility of individual triploids clones [(% seed set in the greenhouse. Variations included leaf shape and size, × % germination for triploid)/(% seed set × % germination for leaves with or without hairs, stem shape and size, internode diploid control)] was reduced substantially and ranged from 49% length, plant structure (branching), and flower color, size, and to 0.7%. Additionally, we examined the reproductive pathways number, etc. Stability of these altered morphological traits is of triploid plants by evaluating the 2C genome sizes of progeny being evaluated. derived from open pollinations. The limited progeny arising from Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research was supported open pollinated triploids were predominantly aneuploids with in part by McIntire-Stennis Project ND06212 and Landscape 2C genome sizes intermediate between diploids and triploids. Plant Development Center There was no clear evidence of apomixis, selfing, or triploid × triploid fertilization events observed among triploid parents. (137) Production and Short-Term Storage of Formation of unreduced gametes was infrequent for both ploidy Synthetic Seeds from Encapsulated Begonia levels (~1.4%). The considerable reduction in female fertility in Shoot Tips some triploid clones combined with the limited production of primarily aneuploid progeny, provides highly infertile alterna- Hamidou F. Sakhanokho* tives to existing diploid cultivars. USDA–ARS, Poplarville, MS; Hamidou.Sakhanokho@ ars.usda.gov Specified Source(s) of Funding: U.S. Department of Agricul- ture, Agricultural Research Service, Floriculture and Nursery Cecil Pounders Research Initiative; North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and USDA–ARS, Poplarville, MS; [email protected]. Hoffman Nursery. gov (136) Mutations in Buddleia Induced by James M. Spiers USDA–ARS, Poplarville, MS; [email protected] Gamma Ray Irradiation Synthetic seeds were formed from in vitro grown Begonia (cvs Wenhao Dai* ‘Sweetheart Mix’ and ‘Baby Wing White’) shoot tips using 3% North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND; wenhao.dai@ sodium alginate in Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) ndsu.edu salt solution as the gel matrix and 100 mM calcium chloride Victoria A. Magnusson for complexation. Synthetic seed formation was achieved by North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND; vicki. releasing the sodium alginate/explant combination into 100 [email protected] mM calcium chloride solution asceptically for either 30 or 45 Mutation induction by physical mutagens, such as gamma ray, minutes. The control consisted of non encapsulated shoots. X-ray, and fast neutron, has been proved to be very effective Both control and encapsulated shoots were transferred into for plant improvement including many horticultural species. sterile Petri dishes and stored at 4 °C for 0, 2, or 4 weeks. Buddleia davidii, known as butterfly bush, is commonly used Conversion of synthetic seeds into plantlets was assessed in for landscaping. Its heavy flowers and long bloom period are either MS medium or soil (Jiffy 7 peat pellets). After 4 weeks, attractive to gardeners. However, this species has a few concerns conversion percentage improved from 6.7% (control) to 100% such as lack of flower color, excessive growth, and invasive- in MS medium and from 0% (control) to 80% in soil for the 45 ness due to its prolific seed production. Attempts to improve min treatment. Synthetic seed derived plantlets easily developed Buddleia davidii using conventional breeding methods have into mature plants. resulted in limited success. Different ploidy levels of species Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS in the genus Buddleia may impede the interspecific crosses; therefore, elite traits cannot be efficiently integrated into new (138) Breeding Potential from One Hundred plants. In this study, mutagenesis by gamma ray irradiation Miles of Rhododendron in Guizhou, China was employed to induce colorful, compact, and sterile pheno- Huamei Wu* types. In vitro shoot tips of two Buddleia cultivars, B. davidii Guizhou Academy of Science, Guiyang, Guizhou; ’Potters Purple’ and Buddleia ‘Lochinch’, were exposed to [email protected]

S262 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Xiuqin Long troduced to the U.S. from China, is a heat and drought tolerant Guizhou Academy of Science, Guiyang, Guizhou; plant. However, it has been listed as an invasive species in at [email protected] least 10 states in the Eastern U.S. In an attempt to induce sterility, seeds collected from an E. racemosa plant of unknown Xun Chen origin were irradiated with 0, 6, 12, or 18 kilorads of gamma Guizhou Academy of Science, Guiyang, Guizhou; [email protected] radiation. Three grams of seeds were irradiated per radiation level. Following treatment, seeds were sown and germinated Donglin Zhang in a greenhouse. The number of seedlings that germinated University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] per treatment was: 0 krad = 106 plants, 6 krad = 97 plants, 12 Yin Yi krad = 8 plants, and 18 krad = 0 plants. Only four plants in the Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected]. 12 krad treatment survived to maturity. Plants bloomed in the cn spring of 2011, and pollen was stained with fluorescein diacetate and evaluated for viability based on fluorescence. Pollen Jiayong Huang was collected from three flowers of each plant on three dates. Baili Rhododendron County, Bailidujuan, Guizhou; Three control plants were evaluated and mean pollen viability [email protected] ranged from 78% to 88%. Most pollen from control plants was One-hundred mile Rhododendron natural community is one uniform in size and highly fluorescent. Ten plants from the 6 of the natural wonders, which nourishes more than 40 taxa of krad treatment were evaluated. Pollen grains from most of the Rhododendron. After several years of exploration, the complex- 6 krad plants were highly variable for size. Five of the plants ity of mixed forests and difficulty for taxon delineation brought had less than 50% viable pollen, while three plants had pollen our attention. Although eight new species had been documented viability and appearance similar to the control plants. All four and more than 10 unidentified taxa had been listed, many natural of the plants from the 12 krad treatment had reduced pollen hybrids could be directly keyed out from morphological features. viability. Only 4% of the pollen was viable on one of the 12 Rh. delavayi is one of the dominant species in the community krad plants, another had 20% pollen viability, and two plants and it could be crossed with Rh. agastum, Rh. irroratum, as well had 45% viability. Similar to the 6 krad plants, the nonstain- as Rh. decorum. From wild selection, a total of 16 clones had ing pollen of 12 krad plants was highly variable for size. No been collected and evaluated for their stability of morphologi- obvious morphological differences were observed in leaf or cal characteristics and ornamental potentials. Seeds had been flowering characteristics from any of the radiation treatments. collected from questionable taxa and germinated. More than Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Georgia Research 40,000 seedlings had been transplanted for further evaluation Foundation and selection. Artificial hybridization has been initiated with goal to extend bloom seasons and duration, increase diversity of flower size and color, and select commercial feasible plants. Sunday, September 25, 2011 From 33 identified taxa, the diversity of flower colors is from white (Rh. decorum, Rh. petrocharis), yellow (Rh. ambigum, 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Rh. molle), pink (Rh. agastum, Rh. denudatum), purple (Rh. brevinerve), to deep red (Rh. delavayi, Rh. rufohirtum). Flower Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 1 size ranges from 1 to 12 cm in diameter and corolla shape from (023) ‘Summer Sunset’: A New Ornamental tube to funnel to bell. Rh. mucronatum has fragrance during Blueberry Variety its bloom. To properly utilize these source plants, we look forward to breeding better Rhododendron for our demanded D. Scott Nesmith* nursery market. Georgia Experiment Station, Griffin, GA; snesmith@ griffin.uga.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Science and Technology De- partment in Guizhou Mark Ehlenfeldt Blueberry & Cranberry Res Lab, Chatsworth, NJ; mark. (139) Reduced Pollen Viability on Exochorda [email protected] Plants from Irradiated Seeds racemosa There is growing interest in edible ornamentals by both the Carol D. Robacker* home garden and landscape industry. Consumers are increas- University of Georgia–Griffin Campus, Griffin, GA; ingly attracted to edible plants that offer aesthetic appeal [email protected] while providing them with the opportunity for garden fresh Amanda J. Hershberger produce on their patio or outdoor living space. The blueberry University of Georgia–Griffin Campus, Griffin, GA; (Vaccinium sp.) hybrid ‘Summer Sunset’ was jointly released [email protected] in 2010 by The University of Georgia and USDA–ARS for the edible ornamental market. The new variety ripens with Exochorda racemosa (Lindl.) Rehder, common pearlbush, is early rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) varieties in a spring-flowering shrub with white flowers that grows three the Southeastern U.S. ‘Summer Sunset’s’ novel appeal is the to five meters tall, with an upright loose form. Pearlbush, in- presence of an array of multi-colored berries as the fruit goes

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S263 through stages of ripening. Berries are generally medium size (025) Garden Performance of Napier Grass (14 to 16 mm diameter), and progress in color (based on Royal Cultivars at Three Locations in Texas Horticultural Society’s Color Chart) from RHS Yellow-Green 145 C, to RHS Orange-Red 34 C and N34 C, to RHS Red 47 H. Brent Pemberton* C, to RHS Red-Purple 59 C, to RHS Black 202 A when fully Texas A&M Agr Res & Ext Ctr, Overton, TX; ripe. Fruit are slightly tart when first ripe, and gradually get [email protected] sweeter as they hang. The plant of ‘Summer Sunset’ is vigor- Michael A. Arnold ous, reaching a height of 1.2 m with a canopy width of more Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; ma-arnold@ than 0.75 m on 3-year-old plants. The new variety is estimated tamu.edu to have a chilling requirement of 500 to 550 hours below 7 °C, and will likely perform well in USDA hardiness zones 6b thru Cynthia B. McKenney Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; cynthia.mckenney@ 9a. A patent for the new variety has been applied for. Propaga- ttu.edu tion rights are controlled by University of Georgia Research Foundation, Technology Commercialization Office, GSRC Andrew R. King Boyd Bldg, Athens, Ga. 30602-7411. (www.ovpr.uga.edu/tco/). Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; aking@ Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Georgia Research tamu.edu Foundation William R. Roberson Texas A&M Agr Res & Ext Ctr, Overton, TX; (024) Investigations to Determine the [email protected] Ornamental Quality of Selected Rabbiteye Wayne Hanna Blueberry Cultivars for Their Utilization as University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] Functional Landscape Fifteen vegetatively propagated cultivars of Napier grass (crosses Richard Joel Potter between Pennisetum purpureum, P. glaucum, and P. squamula- Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] tum) from a breeding program at the University of Georgia, both named and experimental, were examined at three locations in Elina D. Coneva* Texas for garden performance. Locations were College Station Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] (30.61N 96.32W; USDA Hardiness Zone 8B), Lubbock (33.57N Jeff L. Sibley 101.80W; USDA Hardiness Zone 7A), and Overton (32.29N Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] 94.95W; USDA Hardiness Zone 8A). Soils and rainfall also Fenny Dane varied between locations with a Boonville Series Fine Sandy Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Loam and 97 cm per year in College Station, an Amarillo Fine Sandy Loam and 46 cm per year in Lubbock, and a Bowie Fine Jay D. Spiers Sandy Loam and 114 cm per year in Overton. All plants were Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] planted in May 2010 into a field using 122 cm centers in the Kenneth M. Tilt row. Plants were drip irrigated as needed. Garden performance Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] based on growth and appearance was rated monthly and heights Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade) are the were measured during the latter part of the growing season at primary blueberry species produced in Alabama. Selected each location. Performance differed by location. Top performing well-established and newly released rabbiteye cultivars, in- cultivars at College Station were Tifton 11, Tifton 26, Tifton 40, cluding ‘Alapaha’, ‘Baldwin’, ‘Brightwell’, ‘Climax’, ‘Ira’, and Tifton 125; Top performing cultivars at Lubbock were Tifton ‘Montgomery’, ‘Onslow’, ‘Powderblue’, ‘Premier’, ‘Tifblue’, 6, Tifton 8, Tifton 12, Tifton 13, and Tifton 125; Top performing and ‘Yadkin’, were studied at the North Alabama Horticulture cultivars at Overton were Princess Caroline, Tifton 11, Tifton 40, Research Center, Cullman, AL (lat. 34°11’ N; long. –86°47’ E; Tifton 114, and Tifton 8. Plants were taller in College Station and USDA Hardiness Zone 7B) to evaluate their ornamental quali- Overton than in Lubbock except for ‘Tifton 13’ which grew to a ties for use as functional landscape plants by analyzing berry similar height at all three locations. There was significant fungal skin color, cultivar summer and fall foliage color, and bush leaf spotting on ‘Princess’ at Overton, but not at the other two form. The results of our study suggest ‘Alapaha’ and ‘Yadkin’ locations. Also at Overton and College Station only, there was had long lasting red fall foliage, with ‘Yadkin’ displaying a significant grasshopper feeding on ‘Princess Molly’. Flowering lighter, more intense fall color and ‘Alapaha’ having duller and was not observed at any of the locations. Performance of these darker fall foliage. ‘Ira’ and ‘Premier’ were found to have intense, Napier grass cultivars was generally outstanding at the three long lasting yellow fall color. ‘Powderblue’ had the most waxy Texas locations and selections are anticipated that will become and attractive summer foliage and fruit appearance. The growth highly recommended landscape plants for this part of the U.S. habit of all studied cultivars tended to be upright, with ‘Alapaha’ However, recommendations for cultivars may be determined and ‘Onslow’ expressing the most upright plant growth habit. by region. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Department of Horticulture, Specified Source(s) of Funding:Texas Superstar Program–Texas Auburn University A&M University System

S264 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (026) Timing and Hormone Effects on growth regulators such as gibberellic acid biosynthesis inhibi- Rooting of Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus tors may reduce shoot growth thus reduce labor requirement for Butterscotch’ Cuttings maintaining a rose planting. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of granular flurprimidol (Cutless 0.33 G) Huiwen Xue and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) Osmocote 14–14–14 on Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Knockout® Red roses established in landscape beds. In Experi- Changsha; [email protected] ment 1, Cutless 0.33G was applied at 0, 5, 10, or 20 lb/1000 ft2 Xiaoling Jin* (0, 0.7, 1.5, or 3 lb a.i. per acre) as single applications in spring Central South University of Forestry & Technology, or two applications of 5 and 10 lb/1000 ft2 applied at 3 months Changsha; [email protected] apart in spring and late summer. In Experiment 2, Cutless 0.33G 2 Haiyang Liu was applied at 0, 7, or 14 lb/1000 ft to plants being fertilized 2 Central South University of Forestry & Technology, with CRF at 0, 2, or 4 lb/1000 ft nitrogen rates with the 4 2 Changsha; [email protected] lb/1000 ft treatment applied as two applicaitons. In Experiment 1, plant size index at Sept. 2010 and Mar. 2011 indicated that Donglin Zhang 2 University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] two applications at 10 lb/1000 ft product provided prolonged growth control without the need for trimming. This treatment Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus Butterscotch’ is a beautiful also resulted in more flowers and higher overall visual quality ornamental plant for green hedges and group planting in the among all treatments. In Experiment 2, plants treated with 14 landscape. To produce quality rooted cuttings for the demanded lb/1000 ft2 Cutless and fertilized with 4 lb/1000 ft2 N rate had market, stem cuttings were collected in June, July, August, and the highest visual quality. In both experiments, plants treated early September from newly sprouted twigs and treated with with flurprimidol had darker foliage than untreated plants. IBA, NAA, and powdery IBA at 1000, 3000, and 8000 mg·L–1, Specified Source(s) of Funding: respectively. Rooting percentage and rooting quality (number of LAES roots per cutting) were after two months. Timing significantly (028) Greening the Highways—Out-Plant affected rooting of stem cuttings. The rooting percentage ranged Survival of Deciduous Trees in Stressful from 10.2% (September) to 22.4% (July). Hormone greatly improved the rooting of stem cuttings. The highest rooting rate Environments (63.5%) and the highest number of roots per cutting (7.5) were Michele Bigger* observed under the treatment of powdery IBA (hormodin #3, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; bigger.1@osu. 8000 mg·L–1). Powdery IBA had better effect than that of liquid edu IBA and NAA. Low concentrations (1000 and 3000 mg·L–1) of Hannah M. Mathers liquid IBA yielded 35.6% and 30.3% rooting rates, respectively. –1 Ohio State Univ-Hort & Crop Sci, Columbus, OH; However, high concentration of IBA (8000 mg·L ) and NAA [email protected] (8000 mg·L–1) produced 20.2% and 19.7% and reduced the ability of root elongation.. NAA at 1000 and 3000 mg·L–1 had the root- Lynnell Sage ing percentage lower than that of IBA. The findings confirmed Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, ON; that growth regulator could be a useful for increasing rooting [email protected] percentage and quality of Euonymus japonicus ’Microphyllus Highway landscapes are highly stressful environments for plant Butterscotch’. Cuttings should be collected in July or August growth. Furthermore transportation departments lack a budget and prepared with hormodin#3. for proper maintenance following installation. These constraints (027) Effects of Flurprimidol and Fertilization have led to observations of less than 10% survival rates (Mathers, ® 2010). Production of nursery material is an important factor for on Growth Regulation of Knockout Rose in success with transplant and survival. Ohio State University has Landscapes developed a tree liner production system utilizing a retractable Yan Chen* roof greenhouse (RRG) (Cravo Equipment, Ltd., Brantford, LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, Hammond, ON, Canada) that has reduced production time, increased LA; [email protected] consistency amongst the crops grown, and increased survival in out-planted material as compared with conventional produc- Regina P. Bracy tion systems (Mathers et al, 2010). To understand survival in LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, Hammond, stressful environments, six trial sites were planted in June 2010 LA; [email protected] along Highway 401 in Toronto, Ontario. In total 5,042 trees Allen D. Owings were planted, a subset of trial species included: 140 Autumn LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, Hammond, Blaze Maple (Acer freemannii ‘Jeffersred’), 125 Whitebarked LA; [email protected] Himalayan Birch (Betula jacquemontii), 80 Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis Gleditsia triacanthos Knockout® roses are popular shrub roses that are more disease ), and 180 Honey Locust ( ). resistant and have become popular in southern landscapes. They All trees were produced in 3-gal containers in either a RRG can easily grow to 5 ft tall and require regular trimming. Plant or in a vented-gutter house (VGH) and were greater than 120

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S265 cm at the time of out-planting. Growing media for all species to directly address aesthetic issues in addition to interpretation was amended with 0%, 0.55, 1.0% or 2.0% Geohumus® of environmental benefits. by volume. Geohumus® (Geohumus International, GmbH) is a Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Delaware Sus- material that aids with reducing water stress (Mathers, 2010). tainability Fund Significant differences were found in both height and caliper between the sites. RRG tree liners showed significant height and caliper growth when compared with VGH liners 19 weeks following planting. RRG trees the 0% GeoHumus® showed Sunday, September 25, 2011 similar growth to the trees with 0.5%, 1% or 2% additions. VGH 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom liners had increased caliper growth with GeoHumus® amended media that was species and site specific. A significant positive Plant Biotechnology correlation occurred between height growth and to a lesser (108) Transcriptions of MYB Gene and extent caliper with soil test results for zinc (Zn), bicarbonates and total salts. Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Genes in Oriental Hybrid Lily ‘Marrero’ Are Suppressed by High Specified Source(s) of Funding:Farm Innovation Program (FIP) through Landscape Ontario; Geohumus International GmbH; Temperature Vineland Research and Innovation Centre; The Ohio State Yunsong Lai* University and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo; [email protected] (030) Student Perception of Campus Sustainable Landscapes: University of Delaware Laird Masumi Yamagishi Campus Case Study Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo; [email protected] Kristen Saksa* Anthocyanin is the major pigment in tepals of Oriental hybrid lily University of Delaware, Newark, DE; kristen.saksa@ (Lilium spp.). We have identified theLhMYB12 gene, which en- gmail.com coded an AN2 type R2R3-MYB protein controlling anthocyanin Susan S. Barton biosynthesis in lily tepals. Here, we show that high temperature University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] suppressed the transcriptions of LhMYB12 and anthocyanin Sustainable landscapes are increasingly recognized for their biosynthesis genes resulting in poor coloration in flower tepals potential to restore ecological benefits to urban and suburban land- of Oriental hybrid lily ‘Marrero’. Potted ‘Marrero’ plants were scapes. Greater adoption of sustainable landscapes requires public grown in incubators at 20 °C under a 16 h day-length. When acceptance of sustainable landscaping practices. Environmental the first flower was blooming, the plants were treated by high interpretation is recognized as a method of cultivating public temperature at 35 °C for two days while the control plants were acceptance of sustainable landscape management. Sustainable kept at 20 °C. In order to identify susceptible tepal stages to high landscaping practices have been implemented on the University temperature, the tepal development was divided into four stages of Delaware’s Laird Campus, but the landscape management has according to the coloration. The tepals at stage 1 (St1) contained been met with some reluctance from the university community. no anthocyanin. The tepals at stages 2 (St2), 3 (St3) and 4 (St4) This research examines student perception of the sustainable contained anthocyanin pigments: pigmentation started at St2, landscape on Laird Campus and the impact of interpretation on pigmentation continued at St3, and the maximum pigmentation student perception of the landscape. Students living on Laird at St4. The buds for each stage were determined when the high Campus were surveyed before and after an interpretive campaign temperature treatment started. After the treatment, all plants designed to describe the benefits of sustainable landscaping. The were continued to grow at 20 °C, and flower tepals at full bloom results of this study found that the majority of students perceive were collected. Pigments and RNA were extracted from inner the landscape to be attractive, sustainable, well maintained, and tepals. Anthocyanin contents were determined by absorbance functional, providing encouragement for the use of sustainable at 515 nm. Transcriptions of LhMYB12, LhCHS, LhF3H and landscaping practices on university campuses. Reduced mow- LhDFR were evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR. As a result, ing, as it is implemented on Laird Campus, was identified as the most dramatic decrease in anthocyanin concentration was at the sustainable practice least likely to be considered acceptable St3. The anthocyanin concentration in the St3-tepals decreased by students. Sustainable landscaping interpretation improved by 80% at anthesis. However, the coloration of the St1 buds was student awareness and acceptance of sustainable landscaping not affected. This indicates that the susceptibility of lily buds to practices. Changes in students’ awareness and acceptance of high temperature is dependent on their developmental stages. sustainable landscaping practices increased with greater levels Transcriptions of LhMYB12, LhCHS, LhF3H and LhDFR were of engagement with the interpretation campaign. In contrast to suppressed by the high temperature treatment. Because Lh- students’ increased awareness and acceptance of sustainable MYB12 regulates the transcription of anthocyanin biosynthesis landscaping practices, students’ perception of the landscape’s genes, high temperature suppressed LhMYB12 transcription appearance did not significantly improve after the interpretation resulting in the decrease of biosynthesis gene expression and campaign, suggesting the need for future interpretation campaigns in poor accumulation of pigments.

S266 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Honeydew, an inodorus class of muskmelon, has both important Research, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science nutritional and commercial values in the market. Green-fleshed and Technology of Japan honeydew with non-netted smooth rind not only provides a good (110) In Vitro Protocol Development for source of vitamin C, folate and potassium, but may also reduce a potential food safety issue concerning bacterial contamination Alexandrian Laurel in the netted rind muskmelons. Our project goal is to enhance Guochen Yang* honeydew’s nutritional value and flavor. Genetic transformation North Carolina Agr & Tech State University, Greensboro, is a useful tool to assist traditional plant breeding in order to NC; [email protected] integrate novel genes within and across species. A reliable and highly efficiency plant regeneration system is the foundation of Zhongge (Cindy) Lu transformation. However, limited regeneration research has been North Carolina Agr & Tech State University, Greensboro, reported for honeydew melons, and no transformation research NC; [email protected] has been reported. Our research focus has been to develop Alexandrian laurel (Danae racemosa L.) is a commercially a successful regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens- popular broadleaf, dark evergreen shrub with arching branches mediated transformation system using our elite honeydew line, that range up to three feet in height and four feet wide. Normal ‘150’. Therefore, we were to develop a highly efficient shoot propagation is by seeds and division. When grown from seeds, regeneration system using different plant growth regulators in however, germination often takes up to one and a half years and this study and to examine ploidy variation which is a common successful germination is only about 20%. Moreover, because problem resulted from tissue culture. Four combinations of of its slow-growth rate, it typically takes up to six years to plant growth regulator treatments using BA, ABA and IAA produce a saleable one-gallon size plant. Because of the time were tested on shoot regeneration from cotyledonary explants. it takes to reach maturity, a growth protocol that could greatly MS basal medium supplemented with BA 1 mg·L–1 and ABA expedite the plant development is highly desirable. This study 0.26 mg·L–1 appeared to be the best in terms of highest shoot focused on developing protocols for efficient germination, regeneration frequency and lowest curvature tendency. Overall, seedling quality enhancement, and multiple seedling produc- 50% to 60% of regenerated plants were identified as polyploid tion. We were able to develop an efficient in vitro germination (tetraploid or mixoploid) based on flow cytometry analysis. The protocol using a GA3 treatment that took only 2 to 3 months for morphological characteristics of leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds seeds to germinate and achieved a germination rate 80 to100%. of the polyploid regenerants were compared with diploid plants. The vigor and growth of micro-propagated plantlets also were So far, no significant difference has been identified in polyploid characterized by healthier looking and more abundant roots honeydew plants with respect to plant and fruit morphology. than conventionally seed propagated plants. We also tested the Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–CSREES Special Grant cytokinins BA and TDZ as a means of increasing in vitro shoot “Designing Foods for Health” 2009-34402-19831 multiplication and seedling quality enhancement. We found that BA balanced seedling development by simultaneously accelerat- (112) Understanding the Mechanisms ing shoot growth and slowing down root growth, whereas TDZ Regulating the Development of Intumescences significantly promoted shoot multiplication and proliferation by in Tomato through Genomic Analyses producing 5–20 shoots per seed. Kimberly A. Williams* (111) Shoot Regeneration and Ploidy Variation Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; kwilliam@ksu. in Tissue Culture of Honeydew Melon (Cucumis edu melo L. inodorus) Qingyu Wu Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; qingyuwu@ksu. Yan Ren edu Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; [email protected] Sunghun Park Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Haejeen Bang M.B. Kirkham Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] University, College Station, TX; [email protected] Intumescences are physiological disorder characterized by cell Jean Gould hyperplasia that have been observed in tomato and other plant Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M species for over 100 years. Extensive intumescence develop- University, College Station, TX; [email protected] ment can result in significant yield losses. Previous research Bhimanagouda S. Patil focused on identifying the environmental conditions that result Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M in intumescence development, but fundamental physiologi- University, College Station, TX; [email protected] cal and molecular changes of plants during the development Kevin M. Crosby* of the disorder remain to be explored. Our previous research Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Texas A&M has suggested that intumescences can be induced by blocking University, College Station, TX; [email protected] plant exposure to ultraviolet light in the wavelength range of

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S267 280–320 nm (UVB). To investigate the physiological changes ence genes is essential. Currently, no studies on identification of of tomato leaves during the development of intumescences and reference genes in blueberry are available. The objectives of this understand how UVB influences intumescence development, we study were to develop an effective method for extracting RNA grew the intumescence-sensitive cultivar of tomato, Solanum from different tissues and to identify potential reference genes lycopersicum L. var. hirsutum Humb. & Bonpl. ‘Maxifort’, for qRT-PCR analyses in blueberry. Total RNA of high quality in either with UVB or blocked UVB environments. Leaves and yield was successfully extracted from eight different tissues grown under the blocked UVB condition developed extensive (stem, leaf, flower bud, flower, fruit, immature fruit, branch intumescences. Leaf tissue was subjected to microarray analysis and fruit abscission zone) using a modified CTAB extraction using Affymetrix tomato GeneChips. A comparison of the gene method. The average yield of RNA ranged from 18.43 to 303 expression profiles of leaves with and without intumescences μg·g–1 fresh wt. The expression stability of 12 potential reference indicated that there were 1604 genes that showed differentially genes was evaluated using three different statistical methods regulated patterns. The changed genes were involved in several (geNorm, NormFinder and Coefficient of variance analysis). important cellular process groups, such as hormone response, Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (UCE), Ubiquitin 2 (UBQ2), DNA synthesis and repair, metabolic pathways, and cell wall Clathrin adapter subunit complex 1 (CACS1), Phosphoprotein biosynthesis. Interestingly, almost all the photosynthesis genes phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and eukaryotic initiation factor 4 a1 covered in this tomato genechip were uniformly repressed in the (eIF4a1) were found to be the most stably expressed genes in leaves with intumescences, which suggests that intumescences blueberry. Further, the expression stability of the above genes may reduce yield by decreasing the efficiency of photosynthe- was tested in the branch abscission zone following treatment with sis. By conducting biological pathway analysis, we found that abscission inducing compounds. CACS1, eIF4a1, and UCE were ethylene biosynthesis and its downstream signal transduction found to be the most stably expressed genes and were sufficient pathway were more active in leaves with intumescences; this for accurate normalization under these experimental conditions. suggests that intumescences may be controlled by regulating We recommend a preliminary evaluation with the above five ethylene signaling. By investigating the interaction between genes to identify reference genes suitable for the experimental UVB treatment and intumescence gene regulation networks, conditions under consideration in blueberry. we also identified an important gene, 3-beta hydroxysteroid Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI dehydrogenase, that could be induced by UVB treatment but suppressed in leaves with intumescences. This enzyme may be (114) Optimizing Shoot Proliferation and Plant a key in explaining why UVB exposure can abate intumescence Regeneration of Punica granatum development in tomato. The results of this study provide further insights into the mechanisms regulating the development of Sadanand Dhekney* intumescences in tomato. Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA; dhekneys@ fvsu.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:Gloeckner Foundation Sitther Viji (113) Tools for Blueberry Transcriptomics: Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA; vijig@fvsu. An Efficient RNA Extraction Protocol edu and Identification of Reference Genes for Anand K. Yadav Normalization of Gene Expression in Blueberry Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley, GA; yadava@ fvsu.edu Tripti Vashisth* University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Michael Hotchkiss Byron, GA; [email protected] Lisa Klima Johnson University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] The effect of cultivar, explant type and developmental stage, macro- and micronutrient composition of culture medium and Anish Malladi growth regulator concentration on plant regeneration of Punica University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] granatum was studied. Leaves, nodal segments and shoot apical Blueberry is a rapidly emerging fruit crop. Progress in our under- meristems were obtained from field-grown trees and surface- standing of blueberry physiology can be greatly enhanced through sterilized by constant agitation in 25% commercial bleach for 5 the application of transcriptomics tools. RNA of high yield min followed by 3 rinses of 5 min each in sterile distilled water. and quality is an indispensable prerequisite for transcriptome Shoot apical meristems (5.0 mm long) were cultured on MS and analysis. However, isolation of RNA of high quality and yield C2D medium containing 4.0, 8.0 or 12 μM BAP. Leaves were in blueberry is difficult due to the abundance of polyphenolics cultured on MS medium containing 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0 μM BAP and and polysaccharides, especially in the fruit. Quantitative real- 1.0 or 2.0 μM NAA. Severe necrosis of explants was observed time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is a robust method to after 3 days of incubation on culture medium resulting in tissue quantify transcript abundance. Accuracy of qRT-PCR data greatly death and loss of cultures. Necrosis was significantly reduced relies on the reference genes used for normalization, as it can by etiolating shoots and leaves with a 7-day-dark treatment. influence interpretation of the gene expression data. Therefore, Apical meristems excised from rapidly growing etiolated shoots prior to qRT-PCR analysis, analysis of the stability of the refer- exhibited maximum survival (40%) and shoot proliferation. In-

S268 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 direct organogenesis was observed from unopened leaf explants provide lead compounds for specific bioactivity tests and product (1.5–5.0 mm long) cultured on MS medium containing 4 μM development. Using a bioassay-linked-metabolomics method it BAP and 1.0 μM NAA. Among the various media and growth is possible to efficiently compare extracts made from different regulator concentrations tested, maximum shoot proliferation populations of plants and to detect specific bioactive constituents was observed after 9 weeks of culture on C2D medium contain- from un-fractionated plant extracts. ing 4.0 μM BAP. Among the various cultivars tested, the best Specified Source(s) of Funding: UMN Plant Biological Sci- response was observed in ‘Wonderful’, followed by ‘Entek Habi ences Research Fellowship and UMN Minnesota Agricultural Saveh’, ‘Kala Bala Mirusal’ and ‘Salavatski’. Plant regeneration Experiment Station/College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural was obtained by rooting proliferating shoots on C D medium 2 Resource Sciences research assistant award containing 0.4 μM NAA. The developed protocols are currently being refined and will be suitable for large-scale micropropaga- (116) Genome-Enabled Development of New tion of pomegranate cultivars. Tools to Accelerate Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) Specified Source(s) of Funding:1890 Institution Funding, NIFA Research Asha Brunings (115) Characterization of Biologically Active University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Rhus typhina Extract Using a Bioassay-Linked- Metabolomics Method Maureen A. Clancy University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Amanda C. Martin* University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; mart2406@umn. Hernan G. Rosli edu Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas (IIB-INTECH), Chascomus; [email protected] Donald L. Wyse University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; wysex001@umn. Srikar Chamala edu University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Adrian D. Hegeman Scott Carle University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; hegem007@umn. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] edu Frederick Varn Plants produce natural products to interact with the environment University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] and some of these plant metabolites have biological activity be- Marcos Civello yond their intrinsic role. Bioactive compounds have the potential Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas (IIB-INTECH), to be made into useful products including drugs against resistant Chascomus; [email protected] pathogens, “organic” agricultural pesticides, and preservatives for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic products. Critical in the W. Bradley Babazuk process of developing a biologically active plant extract into a University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] useful product is the identification and quantification of extract Thomas M. Davis bioactive constituents. Using a bioassay-linked-metabolomics University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; tom.davis@ method may provide a way to probe un-fractionated plant extracts unh.edu to get this information. Additionally, it is important to assess differences in bioactivity level among extracts made from plants Kevin M. Folta* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] collected from distinct geographic locations. To test this method several collections of leaf and berry tissue from the Minnesota With publication of the diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca) native plant Rhus typhina, which displays antimicrobial and anti- genome, it is now possible to leverage this information into new oxidant activity, were collected throughout the state of Minnesota. discoveries that will benefit basic biology and the strawberry Separate 70% ethanol extractions were made and evaluated for industry. To facilitate exploitation of genomic and transcriptomic antimicrobial activity against four representative microorganisms resources, several sets of molecular tools have been designed for that cause disease and spoilage: gram+ Staphyloccocus aureus, strawberry gene expression studies: (1) constitutively expressed gram- Escherichia coli, the filamentous fungiFusariam solani, normalization controls for qRT-PCR; (2) promoters/transforma- and the yeast Candida albicans using both disc-diffusion and tion vectors with tissue-specific activity. While quantitative turbidity growth assays. Assays to evaluate extract constituent RT-PCR is becoming the norm for gene expression studies, the redox potential were used to assess antioxidant activity. Un- suite of validated reference genes has lagged behind in straw- fractionated extracts were then analyzed by reversed-phase liquid berry, with anecdotal evidence that genes usually used for this chromatography-electrospray ionization- mass spectrometry purpose (actin, ubiquitin, etc) show variations depending on to obtain metabolic fingerprints. These were analyzed using tissue context or plant treatment. Computational analysis of 454 supervised multivariate statistical techniques to identify the sequencing reads generated from diverse tissues and treatments of principle components driving differences in bioactivity among F. ×ananassa (Folta et al., 2010) identified candidate transcripts extracts. Structural elucidation of these identified features will likely to show equal representation across conditions. Candidates

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S269 were tested against diverse tissues, genotypes, developmental a 77% EC formation was observed, in contrast with 38% with states and environmental conditions, revealing previously un- 100 and 200 μM. The first treatment mentioned increased over reported reference genes that should offer superior performance 25% the formation of EC compared with the previously reported. in normalizing quantitative assays. Identification of sequencing Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad de Colima reads arising only from discrete tissues allowed development of tissue-specific promoters and vectors to be used in driving tissue and developmentally constrained transgenic constructs. Putative fruit-specific promoters, including a 3’ deletion series Sunday, September 25, 2011 of each candidate sequence, were cloned upstream of reporter 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom genes, and then transferred to Arabidopsis thaliana and diploid strawberry. Stable transformants in these species using these Postharvest 1 constructs facilitates description of temporal, developmental, (221) The Effects of Fruit Size on Fruit Quality and tissue-specific expression patterns driven by these candidate and Postharvest Life of ‘AU Golden Dragon’, promoter sequences. The optimized primer sequences for qRT- PCR normalization control and a series of binary vectors featuring ‘AU Golden Sunshine’ and ‘Hort 16A’ Kiwifruit strawberry fruit-specific promoters will be freely distributed to (Actinidia chinensis) hasten research in this important species. James Spiers* Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Science Foundation Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Grant IOS 0941335 Jason Stroman Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] 117) Effect of Benzylaminopurine and Activated Carbon on Embryogenic Calli Formation in William Dozier Explants of Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera L.) Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Cultured In Vitro Floyd M. Woods Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Blanca-Isabel Mendoza-Macías Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; [email protected] Elina D. Coneva Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Salvador Guzmán-González* Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; sguzman@ Bryan S. Wilkins ucol.mx Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Elpidio Peña-Beltrán The objectives of this study were to determine whether fruit Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; elpidio3@ size affects the fruit quality and storage life of three cultivars hotmail.com of Actinidia chinensis ‘AU Golden Dragon’, ‘AU Golden Sun- shine’ and ‘Hort 16A’ kiwifruit were harvested from the Chilton Juan-Manuel González-González Research and Extension Center, Clanton, AL. Three different Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; glezglez@ucol. marketable sizes (small, medium, and large) were used for this mx study. The fruit quality of ten fruit per size category was as- Carlos Oropeza-Salín sessed initially, and remaining fruit was placed in cold storage Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Mérida, at 0 °C with 90% to 95% humidity. Fruit quality of ten fruit Yucatán; [email protected] per size category was assessed every 14 days for the duration The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) is very important because of the study. Regardless of fruit size, the soluble solids (SS) of its widespread use by humans; unfortunately, the plantation content, internal (golden) color, and the SS:titratable acidity area has been greatly diminished as a cause of disease like the (TA) increased while the firmness and TA of the fruit decreased lethal yellowing disease, making necessary a massive production over time in cold storage. Fruit size had no effect on the SS:TA, of disease-resistant seedlings. At the present time the most effec- internal color, or % dry matter (DM) in ‘Hort 16A’. The small tive way of propagation is the somatic embryogenesis, however, ‘Hort 16A’ fruit was firmer in weeks 10 and 14 compared to the formation of embryogenic callus (EC), somatic embryos and medium and large fruit. Fruit size did not affect firmness, % germination is low. The purpose of this study was to evaluate DM, and internal color of ‘AU Golden Dragon’ over time in the effect of the combination of 6-benzylaminopurine (0, 25, cold storage. Small ‘AU Golden Sunshine’ fruit had lower SS, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μM) and activated carbon of different less (golden) internal color development, and greater firmness in particle size (6-BAP; ≤ 45 μm and ≥ 45) in the embryogenic the later weeks of cold storage compared to medium and large calli formation after 60 days of culture. During the incubation fruit, which indicates that the small fruit may be stored longer period it was observed the formation of callus, callus embryo- than larger fruit. Initial fruit quality analysis indicated that ‘AU genic and non embryogenic callus. It must be notice that in this Golden Sunshine’ medium and large fruit were more mature at study, most EC formation was observed at 60 days, not 90 as harvest, which likely contributed to the reduced cold storage in other studies reported. With treatment of 25 μM of 6-BAP, life of the larger fruit compared to the small fruit.

S270 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (222) Heat Stress and Fruit Maturity Affects (223) Evidence for Oxidative, Free Radical- the Volatile Composition of Apples during mediated Metabolism of 1-Methylcyclopropene Storage in Fresh-cut Tissue and Cell-free Homogenates Charles F. Forney of Apple Fruit Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; charles. Jinsu Lee* [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Lihua Fan Donald J. Huber Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL; djhuber@ufl. [email protected] edu Jun Song* Christopher B. Watkins Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; jun. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] [email protected] Previous studies have demonstrated significant and variable Michael A. Jordan non-target sorption of 1-MCP by fruit and vegetables. In many Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; Michael. cases, sorption is markedly enhanced upon tissue processing [email protected] (slices). In this study, non-specific sorption of 1-MCP was examined in fresh-cut tissues and cell-free homogenates (CFH) Heat treatments of apple fruit can be used as quarantine of five apple cultivars. Fruit were processed into cubes of ap- treatments or to impart physiological changes to prolong proximately 10 g, enclosed in sealed jars, and provided with fruit storage life. Stress imparted by heat can impact the 20 μL·L–1 gaseous 1-MCP. There were significant differences volatile composition of apple fruit and thus its flavor and in the sorption of 1-MCP by fresh-cut tissues from different quality. Many factors can affect the response of fruit to heat apple cultivars. Fresh-cut ‘Jonagold’ and ‘McIntosh’ absorbed stress including stress severity, fruit maturity, cultivar, and 1-MCP over 6 h with the highest capacity showing 97.5 ± 0.46 storage duration. The objective of this study was to determine and 97.6 ± 0.40%, respectively, followed by ‘Cameo’ at 93.9 ± how these factors affect volatile composition and fruit qual- 0.08%. ‘Honeycrisp’ had the lowest capacity with 88.5 ± 0.63%. ity, of ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Cortland’ apples. Fruit harvested at Sorption rates showed a similar trend among cultivars. 1-MCP 3 maturities, immature (pre-climacteric), commercial harvest sorption rates for fresh-cut ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘Cameo’, ‘Jonagold’ maturity (CHM) and post climacteric maturity (PCM, CHM and ‘McIntosh’ were 100.8 ± 0.4, 111.9 ± 3.6, 127.9 ± 3.1, and plus 4 weeks) were subjected to heat stress treatments of 46 °C 130.9 ± 2.6 ng kg–1 s–1, respectively. Sorption of 1-MCP by CFH air for 0, 4, 8, or 12 h. Following heat treatments, fruits were from the different cultivars paralleled the sorption by fresh-cut stored in air at 0 °C and evaluated after 0, 1, 2, or 3 months. tissues. The similar patterns of 1-MCP sorption of fresh-cut tis- Headspace volatiles released from whole fruit were collected sue and CFH of different apple cultivars indicated that 1-MCP on adsorbent tubes and analyzed using thermal desorption sorption was influenced by 1-MCP metabolism. The capacity and GC-MS. In addition, peel and flesh browning, firmness, to sorb 1-MCP was markedly influenced by tissue aging, with titratable acidity, and soluble solids were measured. Esters, tissue of ‘Delicious’ aged for 6 h showing a 60% reduction in which provide fruity aroma notes, were the most abundant 1-MCP sorption compared with freshly prepared tissue., Removal class of volatiles account for 60% and 86% of the total volatiles of cut-surface tissue following tissue aging resulted in nearly measured in ‘Cortland’ and ‘Jonagold’ apples, respectively. Heat 80% recovery in 1-MCP sorption rate and capacity. Therefore, treatments of 4 or 8 h increased the ester content of immature wounding and aging operate in opposing fashion in controlling ‘Jonagold’ apples 2.5- and 1.8-fold 24 h after treatment, but 1-MCP sorption in fresh-cut apple. The similarity of changes in the 12 h treatment reduced ester content 50%. In contrast, ester oxygen consumption rate and 1-MCP sorption rate in fresh-cut content of ‘Cortland’ apples subjected to the same treatments tissue provided further evidence that oxidation contributes to was reduced 30% to 65%. The effects of heat treatments on 1-MCP metabolism in fresh-cut tissue. 1-MCP sorption rates over more mature fruit and following longer storage times tended initial 2 h for fresh-cut tissue and CFH under 0.02 kPaO was to decrease fruit ester content when compared to untreated 2 reduced by 74 and 68%, respectively, compared with 20 kPaO2. control fruit. After 3 months of storage, ester content of PCM Ascorbate inhibited 1-MCP sorption 82 and 65% in fresh-cut ‘Cortland’ and ‘Jonagold’ fruit that had been treated for 12 h tissue and CFH, respectively. Hypotaurine, a quencher of the was only 9% and 18% of controls. Heat stress-induced reduction hydroxyl radical, suppressed 1-MCP sorption by fresh-cut slices of ester content was often not accompanied by any visual loss and CFH by 88 and 68%, respectively. The data suggest that the of quality. However, fruit with the greatest loss of ester also oxidative burst associated with fresh-cut processing enhances developed skin and flesh browning. Heat stress that caused a sorption of 1-MCP through oxidative destruction. The data loss of volatiles was often accompanied by a decrease in fruit are consistent with free radical-mediated stress models for the titratable acidity, but no effect on soluble solids content was surface of fresh-cut tissues (Acta Hort. 682:1819) and provide observed. information useful in understanding the responses of fresh-cut Specified Source(s) of Funding: Agriculture and Agri-Food fruit and vegetables tissues to 1-MCP. Canada Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S271 (224) A Diagnostic Toolbox for Integrated Transfer of biomarker-based diagnostic concepts and tools for Management of Apple Postharvest Necrotic industrial use will be actively pursued so new technology can Disorders be employed in the field. Specified Source(s) of Funding:NIFA–SCRI, Washington Tree David Rudell* Fruit Research Commission, AgroFresh Inc. USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] (225) Postharvest Ripening and Fermentation of Christopher B. Watkins Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Noni Fruit (Morinda citrifolia) in Hawaii Kate Nishijima* James P. Mattheis U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA– USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] ARS, Hilo, HI; [email protected] James Giovannoni Marisa Wall USDA–ARS, Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY; U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA– [email protected] ARS, Hilo, HI; [email protected] Maarten Hertog Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is a tropical plant used traditionally BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, in Polynesia, Southeast Asia and other regions for medicinal Heverlee, Belgium; [email protected] purposes. Noni fruit and juice extracts are reportedly therapeutic for diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. Bart Nicolaï Research was conducted to determine the physiology of noni BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium; [email protected] fruit ripening, as well as the chemical and microbial changes that occur during noni fermentation. Mature noni fruit at the Bradley Rickard firm yellow stage were harvested, measured for respiration and Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] ethylene rates, and held in sealed glass jars for juice produc- Jason Johnston tion up to 42 days at 22 °C. Noni juice exudates were analyzed The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research weekly for pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), Ltd., Auckland; [email protected] and bacterial and fungal populations. Ripening noni fruit had a non-climacteric respiratory pattern with an average rate of Ines Hanrahan –1 –1 34 mg·kg ·h of CO2 at 22 °C and no detectable ethylene Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Wenatchee, production. The various profiles indicated differences among WA; [email protected] fresh and fermented samples and storage duration. Bacterial A. Nathan Reed populations did not differ from 0 to 35 d, but increased signifi- AgroFresh, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] cantly at 42 d. The only fungus consistently isolated (85%) from fermented juice was Mucor circinelloides f. sp. circinelloides, Yanmin Zhu which had populations that peaked at 14 d. Head space analysis USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] indicated that CO2 was highest at 14 and 21 d (25 and 20 kPa,

Apple postharvest physiological disorders, characterized by peel respectively), while O2 was never lower than 8 kPa. TSS was or flesh necrosis, result in significant yearly financial losses. 9.8% in fresh noni, and decreased to 5.7% after 14 d and 4.9% Unfortunately, current chemical and cultural control systems at 42 d. The greatest decline in TSS at 14 d coincided with the are lacking or provide little assurance that apples will not highest Mucor populations and CO2 levels. The pH was greatest develop disorders in storage or elsewhere in the supply chain. (3.8) in fresh noni juice and lowest (3.5) after 14 d storage. The An alternative control strategy, based on biomarker-based risk volume of noni juice exudates followed a normal distribution assessment and diagnostics, could provide storage managers pattern with storage time and peaked at 21 d. The significant with effective tools that predict, diagnose, and distinguish these changes observed at 14 d for Mucor population, CO2, pH, and disorders to efficiently target treatments, guide storage manage- TSS levels preceded the highest juice yield that occurred at 21 ment and marketing decisions, and improve quality assurance d. Although the optimal duration for maximum juice production throughout the supply chain. Biomarker-based tools will be was 21 d, noni biological and chemical factors are dynamically developed for disorders that impact nationwide apple fruit sales changing over storage duration and can affect juice quality dur- including superficial scald, carbon dioxide induced injury, diffuse ing the course of fermentation. browning of the flesh, and soft-scald/ soggy breakdown. Tools Specified Source(s) of Funding:Federal will be developed by contrasting metabolic responses related to different postharvest disorders and/or provoked by postharvest (226) Antimicrobial Effect of Chitosan Coating regimes that alter disorder incidence and severity. Candidate Containing an Essential Oil against Salmonella biomarkers and metabolic fingerprints will be discovered using enteritidis on Fresh-Cut Apples untargeted metabolic and gene expression profiling approaches. The economic feasibility of biomarker-based tools will be Saowalee Jongrattananon evaluated according to the different roles of stakeholders within University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR; the apple supply chain and different apple production regions. [email protected]

S272 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Jaheon Koo* were identified and 41 apple genotypes were allelotyped for this University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR; gene to determine to what extent a relationship existed between [email protected] allelotype and loss of fruit crispness. Paired t-tests suggest that there were no relationship between allelotype and crispness Muthusamy Manoharan maintenance. However, genotype sample size was small and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR; [email protected] may have been inadequate to detect any effect. MdACS1 was also allelotyped in the 41 apple genotypes to determine if there Processing involved in preparing fresh-cut products increases might be an additive effect with MdEXPA2 allelotype, and was the risk of bacterial growth and contamination by breaking found to be unsuitable as a marker for maintenance of apple the natural exterior barrier of the produce. Chitosan and fruit crispness in the crosses used in this study. essential oils are widely used as antimicrobial agent against a wide range of target organisms. The objective of this study Specified Source(s) of Funding:Minnesota Agricultural Experi- was to assess the antimicrobial effect of chitosan (CH) ment Station coating containing rosemary essential oil (RO) against Sal- (228) A Natural Lipid, monella enteritidis on fresh-cut apples. S. enteritidis was inoculated onto the surface of fresh-cut apples to give an Lysophosphatidylethanolamine, May Promote initial inoculation of approximately 6.3 log CFU/g. Apple Ripening While Reducing Senescence in Banana samples were dipped in solutions of glacial acetic acid (AA, Fruit pH 5.6), 1% CH, 0.1% RO, and mixture of 1% CH and 0.1% Zienab F.R. Ahmed* RO (CH+RO), respectively. Inoculated samples without any University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; zfahmed@wisc. treatment were used as control. All samples were stored at edu 5 °C for 15 days. S. enteritidis counts of CH and CH+RO treated samples were reduced by 3.0 to 3.5 logs on day 0 and did not Jiwan Paul Palta grow back throughout the study, while S. enteritidis counts of University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; jppalta@facstaff. control, AA and RO treated samples were reduced by 2.0 to 3.0 wisc.edu logs after 15 day storage. Total plate counts of CH and CH+RO Ripened banana fruit has very short shelf life. Fruit ripening is treated samples were reduced by 2.0 logs on day 0 and showed a very complex process especially in banana and it is generally additional 1.5 to 2.0 log reduction after 15 day storage, whereas assumed that ripening leads to senescence. We have recently total plate counts of control, AA and RO treated samples showed provided preliminary evidences that a postharvest dip in a 1.0 to 1.5 log reduction after 15 day storage. The results of this natural phospholipid, lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), study indicate that chitosan coating has a potential to inhibit has the potential to improve shelf life of banana fruit. We have the growth of S. enteritidis in fresh-cut apples. now further investigated this by measuring ethylene production, respiration, total soluble solids, firmness and ion leakage in LPE (227) Examination of Expansin Genes as treated fruit daily until the fruit become overripe. Fruits at ripen- Related to Apple Fruit Crispness ing stage of about 2.5 (50% green) were dipped in LPE or water Diana Trujillo* for 30 minutes and stored at room temperature. LPE treatment University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN; truji033@umn. stimulated ethylene production while lowering the respiration edu rate at the same time. LPE treated fruit had lower total soluble solids, higher fruit firmness and lower ion leakage compared Harpartap Mann to control. After 5 days of dipping treatment, the retardation of Monsanto Canada Inc., Winnipeg, MB; harpartapmann@ senescence by LPE was usually apparent; the LPE treated fruit gmail.com were at stage 5 when the color of the fruit was yellow without Cindy B.S. Tong any dark spots i.e. they were marketable, however, the control University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] fruits had dark spots showing signs of senescence and loss in market value. These suggest that LPE can promote ripening The possible relationship of seven expansin genes and MdACS1 while retarding senescence. to maintenance of apple crispness during storage was examined. Expression of expansin genes MdEXPA1, MdEXPA2, MdEXPA3, Specified Source(s) of Funding:Supported in part by college of MdEXPA4, MdEXPA5, and MdEXPA7 was quantified among agriculture and life science, University of Wisconsin–Madison apple cultivars that remained crisp or lost crispness between harvest and after 8 weeks of cold storage. MdEXPA1 was expressed (229) Physical and Nutritional Quality Changes in low quantities in fresh fruit while MdEXPA4, MdEXPA5, and of Pomegranate as Affected by Different Storage MdEXPA7 expression was not detected among fresh or cold Conditions stored apple cultivars. Among the expansin isoforms studied, Harwinder S. Sidhu* MdEXPA2 and MdEXPA3 were the most abundantly expressed. University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] A new expansin isoform, with homology to PcEXPA1, and low expression levels in fresh and cold-stored apples, was isolated in Dan MacLean this study and designated MdEXPA8. Two alleles of MdEXPA2 University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S273 Tigist Tadesse SO2 for their efficacy in controlling mycelial spread and spo- Haramaya University, Ethiopia, Dire Dawa rolation of fungal pathogens. Fruit were hand-harvested and transported to UGA where fruit were treated with 100 μL·L–1 With global demand for pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) –1 on the rise, there is an interest by growers in the southeastern chlorine, 4.4 g·L BioSave 10LP, 250 ppm-hour SO2 fumigation, United States in the fruit as a new commercially viable option. or stored with SO2 emitting sheets, then stored and removed The interest is primarily related to the high phytonutrient content bi-weekly up to 6-weeks (0–1 °C, 90 to 95% RH). After re- of the fruit. However, little is known of the postharvest quality moval from storage, fruit were warmed overnight (21 °C), and and storage potential of the locally grown cultivars. For this then evaluated 1 and 4 days post-removal for firmness, soluble study, 13 cultivars were harvested at two maturities (early and sugars, and titratable acids, and mold. An artificial inoculation study was also performed where fruit were cut and inoculated late) and each stored at 2 different conditions: regular air storage 2 (RA; 5 °C, 90% to 95% RH) or controlled atmosphere storage with 1 × 10 conidia per mL of Glomerella cingulata or Greeneria uvicola, permitted to dry, then treated with BioSave 10 LP, 100 (CA; 3% O2, 5% CO2, 5 °C, 90% to 95% RH) for 3 months. –1 After harvest and removal from storage, fruit were evaluated for μL·L chlorine, or a 240 ppm-hour SO2 fumigation prior to being numerous physical quality parameters, such as weight, colour, sealed in polyethylene containers under a continuous stream of skin smoothness, and disease, as well as physiochemical param- humidified air. Mycelial and spore development was monitored eters, such as total soluble sugars (TSS), titratable acids (TA), 1, 3, and 5 days after inoculation using a subjective score. There and phytonutrient content, after 1 and 7 days at room temperature was a substantial loss in firmness over the 6 weeks of storage, (21 °C). It was found that the TSS content of stored fruits was with the most significant drop occurring within the first 2 weeks affected by the maturity at harvest. The late harvested fruits had after harvest. Of the fruit that were treated with BioSave 10 LP, significantly higher TSS than early harvested fruits. TSS was also sulfur dioxide fumigation, or sulfur dioxide emanating sheets, affected by the interaction between storage condition and day. only the latter displayed any retention in fruit firmness, reduced The fruits stored in CA had significantly lower shriveling and molds, and greater overall fruit quality. For the artificial inocu- smoother rind than fruit stored under RA conditions. Although lations, it was found that all 3 treatments reduced the amount TSS was approximately equal in the majority of the cultivars, of molds when compared to the positive controls, for the first the sugar to acids ratio varied considerably, ranging from 5 to 3 and 5 days post-inoculation. Thus, sulfur dioxide, when used 30. There were also significant differences between weight and as a slow-release sheet placed around the packaged fruit, was juice content of the arils, which is an important consideration very effective at controlling molds and maintaining firmness and for the fruit destined for juice production. Two disease causing was more effective than a one-time fumigation or a BioSave 10 organisms recently identified on Georgia pomegranate fruit are LP treatment. However, a treatment of BioSave 10 LP, chlorine Cercospora and Botryosphaeria, with relatively frequent inci- or an SO2 fumigation were effective at controlling artificially dences of the former with a possible natural resistance of some inoculated fruit for 3 and 5 days post-inoculation. The results cultivars apparent. Total phenolic content and DPPH radical from this study suggest there are opportunities for the industry to scavenging tended to decrease with harvest maturity, while total help control postharvest fungal pathogens of Muscadine grape. oxyradical scavenging capacity tended to increase. Significant Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southern Region Small Fruit differences in anthocyanin content were found, both among Consortium and IR-4 cultivars and in response to storage and shelf effects. Results suggest that numerous cultivars are of sufficient quality to be (231) Quality and Market Life of Individually considered for commercial production in Georgia. Shrink-Wrapped Satsuma Mandarins David H. Picha* (230) BioSave 10-LP and SO2 for Postharvest Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Control of Muscadine Pathogens Rouge, LA; [email protected] Dan MacLean* Mary S. Bowen University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Patrick J. Conner Rouge, LA; [email protected] University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] ‘Early St. Anne’ satsuma mandarin fruit were individually Bharati Killadi shrink-wrapped in polyolefin films of different thickness and Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow; stored at 4 and 21 °C for up to 18 weeks. The market life of [email protected] unwrapped fruit held under simulated retail store conditions of 21 °C, 40 % relative humidity, was 3 weeks, with a weight loss Postharvest temperature management and chlorine washes of 21 %. The market life of unwrapped fruit held at 4 °C was are the primary tools available to growers for maintaining extended to 6 weeks, with a weight loss of 12.5%. In contrast, quality and controlling fungal pathogens postharvest of Mus- shrink-wrapping extended the market life of satsuma fruit held cadine grape. However, latent infections from the field by at 21 °C for up to 11 weeks, with a final weight loss ranging fungal pathogens Glomerella cingulata and Greeneria uvicola between 5-6 %. A maximum market life of 18 weeks was ob- results in the mycelial spread and sporolation during storage. tained from the shrink-wrapped fruit held at 4 °C, with a final The objective of this study was to evaluate BioSave 10LP and weight loss of only 1.5% to 2.0 %. The appearance and overall

S274 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 eating quality of the shrink-wrapped fruit was better than the Hugo Sepulveda unwrapped controls. Increasing the film thickness from 45 to Santiago; [email protected] 100 gauge slightly reduced the amount of fruit weight loss. Fruit Marcelo Orellana soluble solids content and pH increased during storage, with a CEPOC University of Chile, Santiago 8829808; concomitant decrease in titratable acidity. [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI Different rootstocks may influence some quality factors in the bunch and berries of table grapes (Harmon y Weinberger, 1966; (232) Fresh Cut ‘Cripps Pink’ Apple Stored in Ezzahouanni y Williams, 1995; Gonzalez y Muñoz, 2000): Modified Atmosphere Packaging color, berry weight, pH, bunch looseness, acidity, Soluble Alejandra Machuca Solids, among others. Reports include rootstock behavior in CEPOC, University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] limiting soils, or extreme conditions. Nevertheless, if different rootstocks are grown non limiting soils may not induce major Gabriel Martinez differences in berry and bunch quality (Ureta, 1993; Ansaldi, CEPOC, University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] 2006; Sagardia, 2006). As consequence, post harvest behavior, Javier M. Obando-Ulloa should be similar. Postharvest evaluations: Red Globe grape CEPOC, University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] bunches were harvested from vines on Harmony roots and on its own roots at 18 °Brix and packed on the field in 7 kg carton L. Antonio Lizana* boxes. (3 boxes per experimental units). Boxes were precooled CEPOC, University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] and cold storage at –1 °C and 0 °C (pulp temp. 0 °C and 2 °C. Victor H. Escalona and 90% RH). Evaluations on fruit condition at 30, 60, 90, CEPOC, University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] and 120 days of storage. Parameters measured: Loose berries ‘Cripps Pink’ apple is an interesting alternative as a fresh cut (% weight); Browning of rachis (1 = bright green to 5 = dark product due to its taste and attractive fresh skin appearance brown); % rot berries; water loose % (by weight difference); and flesh color. In addition, the modified atmosphere packag- dehydration, each 5 days while bunches were stored at 20 °C ing (MAP) is a common technique used to prolong shelf life after cold storage; also in all cases soluble solids, acidity, skin of the fresh cut product. The aim of this study was to evaluate color; polar and equatorial berry diameter and berry volume. the quality of apple wedges treated with anti-browning solution Results shows that most of parameters analyzed did not present (AA 0.5% w/v + EDTA 0.5% w / v) and MAP. The whole apples differences, in appearance, quality factors, chemical analysis and –1 sensory evaluations. Some slight differences that appeared in were immersed in NaCl2 at 200 mg·L for 5 min. Subsequently, the apples were cut in wedges, immersed in anti-browning solu- some of the fruit analysis through the 120 days of cold storage, tion, packed in MAP using films with high (HP = 6000-8000) ware attributed to handling, and external factors, than being –2 –1 induced by the rootstock influences. Differences in titriable and low (LP = 3-6) O2 mL·m ·d , permeability and stored for 10 d at 4 °C. Wedges immersed in tap water were used as control. acidity observed at harvest time were maintained during for the At the beginning, the wedges showed a high respiration rate 120 days of postharvest storage. No differences were found in (20 mg·kg–1·h–1) and after 10 days the values were about the evolution of the parameters measured during 120 days of 10 mg·kg–1·h–1, while the steady atmospheres were 7.1% and cold storage of Red Globe table grape from vines on Harmony and from its own roots. Differences identified at harvest, (ma- 0.6% O2, and 3.1% and 5.1% CO2 for HP and LP, respectively. The anti-browning solution delayed the enzymatic browning lic acid; skin color) were maintained throughout cold storage on the cut surfaces of the wedges. After ten days of storage, L postharvest life. values were 75.9 and 74.2 for treated and control fruit. These data Specified Source(s) of Funding:CEPOC–University of Chile would show that the anti-browning combined with MAP delayed the changes in flesh color. The best appearance of wedges was reached by the combination of AA 0.5% w/v + EDTA 0.5% w/v Sunday, September 25, 2011 and MAP with low O2 levels (LP film). In conclusion, ‘Cripps 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Pink’ wedges kept a good quality by using AA 0.5% p/v + EDTA

0.5% p/v under 1 to 3% O2 and 2 to 5% CO2. Undergraduate 2 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Fondef D07i1026 (Conicyt- (409) Optimizing Plant Type and Planting Date Chile) for High Tunnel Strawberry Production (233) Postharvest Quality Evaluation of Red Tiffany Maughan* Globe Table Grapes Grown on Harmony and Utah State University, Logan, UT; tiffany.nef@aggiemail. on Its Own Roots usu.edu L. Antonio Lizana* Brent Black Cepoc; [email protected] Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S275 Dan Drost was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) that Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] consisted of 15 seeds of species per Petri plate with five plates High tunnels are an effective method for producing early-season per treatment, and three replications. The entire experiment was strawberries, but annual strawberry systems require that planting conducted twice. Treatments included lettuce as an indicator crop date be optimized to provide an appropriate balance between due to sensitivity to allelopathic compounds, a deionized (DI) vegetative and reproductive growth. Planting too early results water control, a low concentration (50 mg dried residue, powder in excessive runners, whereas late planting results in insufficient dissolved in 198 ml of DI water), and high concentration (100 crown and root development. Planting dates were compared mg in 198 ml of DI water). Lettuce was incubated in the dark at over two seasons for both plug and bare-root dormant plants 22 °C and evaluated after three days. Chile seeds were incubated of ‘Festival’ and ‘Chandler’ in a high tunnel located in North under fluorescent lights for ten days. Both crops were evaluated Logan, Utah (41.74° N lat., 1460 m elevation). Each planting for vigor (radicle length) and percent germination, normalized to date, cultivar and plant type combination was replicated in three the control, and analyzed statistically. Lettuce and chile showed 6-plant plots. Plants were evaluated for runner and branch crown different sensitivities to the same residue. Sorghum residue at formation, and early yields. Based on early yields (before May the lowest concentration caused a complete inhibition of both 20), optimum plug planting date for both ‘Chandler’ and ‘Festival’ germination and radical elongation in chile. In contrast, oats was approximately 1 Sept. Bare-root dormant ‘Festival’ plants reduced chile germination by 37% and 87% in the low and high established on 16 July produced early yields of 258 g/plant, residue concentrations, respectively. In addition, radicle length which was equivalent to the 31 Aug planted plugs. However, was reduced by 38% and 79% for low and high residue concen- plug plants from the optimum planting date produced 1.7 run- trations, respectively. These laboratory results provide evidence ners per plant, compared to 7.7 runners per plant for dormant that rotational crops affect subsequent vegetable growth, and may transplants. Although dormant plants cost significantly less and affect cropping system choices. produced equivalent yields, removing unwanted runners would Specified Source(s) of Funding:New Mexico Chile Association, present significant added management costs. Chile Initiative Project, Hatch, and state and federal funds ap- Specified Source(s) of Funding:Utah Department of Agriculture propriated to the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station and Food (411) The Effects of Methyl Jasmonate and (41o) Effect of Rotational Crop Residues on Glutathione on Tissue-cultured Flax (Linum Chile (Capsicum annuum) Germination and usitatissimum L.) Vigor Amanda Thomas* Samuel Diaz* University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; amanda. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] [email protected] Heather Wakely Mark E. Uchanski University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; heather. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] [email protected] Sharon Gillies Allelopathy is the chemical inhibition of one plant, or organism, University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; Sharon. by another plant due to the release of chemicals into the environ- [email protected] ment that act as germination or growth inhibitors. The compounds left behind by one crop plant (often grains) can affect the growth Ron Wilen of subsequent crop plants. Ninety-seven percent of the produc- University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; Ron. ers in southern New Mexico reported they plant chile peppers [email protected] in rotation with other crops, including small grains. However, Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seeds were germinated on agar the effect of rotational crops on chile pepper performance and with 1% sucrose. When hypocotyls reached 2 cm in length, they yields has not been explored. In 2008-2010, residues of twelve were cut into 0.75 cm pieces. Eight hypocotyls were placed per common rotational crops were collected from agricultural fields. petri plate containing MS media at pH 5.8, 3% sucrose, and 0.8% These residues included chile (roots and stems), wheat (stubble agar. A total of 10 plates were used per treatment and experiment and roots), cabbage (roots and leaves), broccoli (roots, leaves, was repeated three times. Filter sterilized methyl jasmonate was and stems), cotton (roots, stems, and fibers), sorghum (stubble, added at 0.050 μM, 1.0 μM, 5.0 μM, 10.0 μM concentrations. and roots), onion (skins, leaves, and roots), alfalfa (stubble and Filter sterilized glutathione was added at 100 μM, 200 μM, and roots), and rye (stubble and roots). Allelopathic substances were 300 μM. Methyl jasmonate effects were concentration depen- extracted in cold water, lyophilized, and stored at –80 °C until dent, and inhibited callus formation. Glutathione effects were use. For each experiment, lyophilized crop residues were rehy- also concentration dependent, with significant increase of root drated, filter sterilized, and evaluated in the laboratory. Surface growth in callus at 300 μM. Shoot growth was inversely related sterilized chile (‘NuMex 6-4’) seed and lettuce (‘Black Seeded to the glutathione concentration. Simpson’) were the crop plants of interest. The experiment Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of the Fraser Valley

S276 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (412) Evaluation of Trichoderma, Vesicular– Chlorophyll content was measured at the time of sampling. Arbuscular Mychorrizae, and Azospirillum on Results showed no significant variations among treatments. Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper: Vegetative Future studies will be conducted to access the effects of various beneficial microorganisms on Jamaican Scotch Bonnet pepper Stage production. Felix Buabeng* Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Evan-Allen Program University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD; [email protected] (413) Evaluation of Trichoderma, Vesicular– Luke O. Lee Arbuscular Mychorrizae, and Azospirillum on University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper: Flowering MD; [email protected] Stage Corrie P. Cotton Luke O. Lee* University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; cpcotton@ University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, umes.edu MD; [email protected] Fawzy M. Hashem Felix Buabeng University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; fmhashem@ University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, umes.edu MD; [email protected] Robert B. Dadson Corrie P. Cotton University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; cpcotton@ MD; [email protected] umes.edu Hot pepper import and consumption has become an increas- Fawzy M. Hashem ing concern in the United States over the last decade due to University of Maryland, Princess Anne, MD; fmhashem@ population variable. Although its market is still small and umes.edu mainly consists of consumers from ethnic minorities, the demands for peppers continue to increase due to the large ethic Robert B. Dadson population on the Delmarva Peninsula. Therefore, developing University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, a mechanism to intensify the production of hot peppers in MD; [email protected] the United States and especially on the Delmarva Penin- The production of ethnic and specialty crops to support the sula will help reduce the rate of importation of hot peppers changing and growing demographic can be a potential niche and help supplement family income in this region. Since market for small farmers. Jamaican Scotch Bonnet peppers beneficial microorganism have been recognized for their exhibit inherent quality attributes such as its flavor and benefits to plant growth and reduced disease incidence, this pungency, which makes it marketable among the large Carib- study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma, bean, Hispanic, and African populations on the Delmarva Vesicular-arbuscular mychorrizae (VAM), and Azospirillum Peninsula. However, the crop is highly susceptible to numer- on production and incidence of fungal diseases of Jamaican ous soil-borne pathogens that significantly affects yield. Some Scotch Bonnet peppers grown in the greenhouse. Three beneficial microorganisms are known for their symbiotic phenology stages of development were analyzed within a functions, which can reduce plant diseases, enhance disease larger study: Vegetative Stage [0–45 Days after Transplanting resistance, or improve plant nutrient availability. This study (DAT)], Flowering Stage (45–75 DAT), and Fruiting Stage was conducted to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma, Vesicular- (75–120 DAT). This study analyzed the vegetative stage of arbuscular mychorrizae (VAM), and Azospirillum on production development. Seeds were planted in 72-celled trays filled and incidence of fungal diseases of Jamaican Scotch Bonnet with promix, and placed in a growth chamber until seeds were peppers grown in the greenhouse. Three phenology stages of germinated and their true leaves formed. Plants were then development were analyzed within a larger study: Vegetative placed in the greenhouse. Two eight-week-old seedlings were Stage [0–45 Days after Transplanting (DAT)], Flowering transplanted in single 9-inch pots containing a 3:1 soil/promix Stage (45–75 DAT), and Fruiting Stage (75–120 DAT). This growing medium. Treatments were applied at the time of study analyzed the flowering stage of development. Seeds were transplanting. The pots were placed in a randomized complete planted in 72-celled trays filled with promix, and placed in a design consisting of seven treatments: Control, Trichoderma growth chamber until seeds were germinated and their true (1/4 tsp), VAM (1 tsp), Trichoderma + VAM, Azospirillum (2 leaves formed. Plants were then placed in the greenhouse. ml), Azospirillum + VAM, Trichoderma + Azospirillum + VAM, Two eight-week-old seedlings were transplanted in single with four replications per treatment. Liquid fertilizer (20–20–20) 10 1/8 inch pots containing a 3:1 soil/promix growing medium. was added at a rate of 238 ppm nitrogen every two weeks after Treatments were applied at the time of transplanting. The transplanting. Heights of plants were recorded every two weeks pots were placed in a randomized complete design consisting after transplanting. Shoots and roots were separated, measured of seven treatments: Control, Trichoderma (1/4 tsp), VAM and oven dried at 70 °C for 72 h to determine the dry weight. (1 tsp), Trichoderma + VAM, Azospirillum (2 ml), Azospiril-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S277 lum + VAM, Trichoderma + Azospirillum + VAM, with four between soil surface and the graft union in each treatment were replications per treatment. Plant heights were measured and recorded. There was no difference in survival rates between liquid fertilizer (20–20–20) was added at a rate of 238 ppm plants grafted above and below the rootstock cotyledons. nitrogen every two weeks after transplanting. Shoots and roots However, when exogenous abscisic acid was applied, survival were separated, measured and oven dried at 70 °C for 72 h. rate of plants grafted below the rootstock cotyledons was Chlorophyll content was measured at the time of sampling. significantly lower. Rootstock sucker incidence was higher in The results indicate that there was a significant difference plants grafted above the rootstock cotyledons although suckers between shoot dry weight (P < 0.01). Trichoderma + VAM took a longer time to develop in ‘Florida-47’ self-grafts. Soil had a significant effect on shoot dry weight. Future stud- surface to graft union distance was also shorter for plants grafted ies will be conducted to access the effects of various ben- below the rootstock cotyledons. From our study, we recom- eficial microorganisms on Jamaican Scotch Bonnet pepper mend grafting of tomatoes below the rootstock cotyledons to production. reduce sucker incidence. However, care must be taken during transplanting to ensure that the graft union is well above the Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Evan-Allen Program soil surface to prevent formation of adventitious roots from the union. The influence of abscisic acid on the survival rate (414) Effects of Grafting Position and and growth characteristics of grafted tomato plants deserves Exogenous Abscisic Acid on Survival of Grafted further research. Tomato Plants and Rootstock Sucker Incidence Specified Source(s) of Funding: UF IFAS Shuan Hao Teo* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; shuan.hao.teo@ (415) Using Molecular Markers to Identify ufl.edu Invasive Knotweed Species (Fallopia sp.) Xin Zhao Alan Sum* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; alan.sum@ Craig Campbell student.ufv.ca Valent BioSciences Corp., Ocoee, FL; craig.campbell@ Allan Arndt valent.com University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; allan.arndt@ Vegetable grafting is commonly practiced in Asia and many ufv.ca Mediterranean countries to overcome problems associated Sharon Gillies with intensive cultivation. Benefits from grafting include University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; sharon. increased resistance to soil-borne pathogens and nematodes, [email protected] improved yield and fruit quality, and enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses. The tube grafting method is widely Invasive knotweeds rank in the top ten most invasive species used in North America to produce grafted tomato transplants in many areas of North America. They are a problem in many because of its ease and speed. However, sucker production agricultural regions. The most common invasive knotweed from axillary meristems of rootstock cotyledons is commonly species is Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), less common experienced and additional labor cost is required for their re- is Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinense). Together, these moval. To avoid this problem, grafting can be performed below two species of knotweeds are able to form an interspecific the rootstock cotyledons to remove the axillary meristems hybrid called Fallopia ×bohemica. The abundance of the associated with the cotyledons. This study was conducted to hybrid Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia ×bohemica) may be determine the effects of different grafting positions on sur- underestimated. The identification of the different knotweeds vival rate and sucker incidence in grafted tomato transplants. is difficult because the hybrid can be almost identical to Abscisic acid is known to be involved in promoting stomatal one or the other parent. In this study we used 10 molecular closure, thereby reducing transpiration rate. In this study, we markers to attempt to separate the species. Two of these mark- also assessed the effectiveness of exogenous abscisic acid ap- ers target the amplification of the ITS (Internal transcribed plication on increasing survival rate of grafted tomato plants. spacer) regions of the knotweeds, one marker targets the sec- ‘Multifort’ and ‘Florida-47’ were used as the rootstock and ond intronic seqeunce of the leafy gene, while the rest amplify scion, respectively. Four-week old tomato seedlings were mitchondria genes. Initially, patterning of the PCR products grafted above and below the rootstock cotyledons, with and are assessed to see if differentiation is possible. After, the PCR without exogenous application of abscisic acid in different products are sent to Bio Basic for sequencing. We found that treatments. Self-grafts of ‘Multifort’ and ‘Florida-47’ were the primers Japanese knotweed ITS 1, rpoB, rpoC1 and rbcL used as controls. After grafting, the plants were kept in a are able to effectively separated the three knotweeds. We were healing chamber for 4 days, followed by gradual acclimatiza- able to confirm that the Fraser Valley region has many hybrid tion to greenhouse conditions for another 4 days. Plants were knotweed sites. then transplanted into 4-inch pots to mimic field conditions. Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of the Fraser Valley The survival rate, number of rootstock suckers, and distance

S278 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Sunday, September 25, 2011 (150) ‘Caro-Tex 312’—An F1 Hybrid, High 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Yielding, Multiple Disease Resistant Orange Vegetable Breeding 1 Habanero Pepper Cultivar Kevin M. Crosby* (149) Extension-Led Breeding of Snap Peas, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; k-crosby@ Enhanced Production of Nutrient-dense tamu.edu Vegetable Legumes Justin Butcher Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Doreen Main [email protected] Washington State University, Pullman, WA; dorrie@wsu. edu Kil Sun Yoo Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; k-yoo@ Rebecca McGee tamu.edu USDA–ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] Daniel I. Leskovar Clarice J. Coyne Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; d-leskovar@tamu. USDA–ARS Plant Introduction, Pullman, WA; clarice. edu [email protected] Richard L. Fery Carol A. Miles* USDA–ARS, Charleston, SC; [email protected] Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA; [email protected] The Texas A&M University and the USDA–ARS U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston announce the release of a new, F1 Keithanne Mockiatis hybrid Habanero pepper cultivar. ‘Caro-Tex 312’ produces a Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; kmockait@indiana. large, orange-fruited Habanero pepper with typical shape and edu high pungency. It also possesses unique yield, early maturity Vegetables for the fresh and frozen markets contribute $12 and disease resistance attributes not currently available in other billion of farm gate value for U.S. agricultural economies, Habanero pepper cultivars. ‘Caro-Tex 312’ carries the single positively contributing to farms and rural communities. Pro- dominant genes for resistance to root knot nematodes (Meloido- cessing vegetables contribute $2 billion with peas representing gyne spp.) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), both in the 14% of the total value. In order to compete in the increasingly heterozygous condition. Due to the dominant nature of these global economy of vegetable production U.S. farmers must of- two genes, resistance expression is not expected to differ from fer the highest quality, nutritionally superior vegetables using the respective inbred lines used as parents. In separate field and competitive production and marketing practices. We propose greenhouse screenings, no difference was observed in TSWV a strategy of marker-assisted selection quickly followed by resistance between the inbred parent UV88-2004, and ‘Caro-Tex genomic assisted breeding to efficiently develop varieties 312.’ In addition, in 2 separate field evaluations at Uvalde, TX, adapted to local markets and environments. Transcriptomes both the parent inbred and the F1 hybrid exhibited resistance to from high through-put sequencing of specific tissues and chal- Pepper Mottle Virus (PepMoV), though inheritance of the re- lenges will identify sufficient SNPs for gene-trait associations sistance has not been determined yet. Fruit quality of ‘Caro-Tex to achieve these snap pea breeding objectives. National and 312’ has been excellent in three separate field trials. Heterosis for international collaborations will permit genome-wide associa- fruit size, total yield and earliness was evident at all locations, tion studies (GWAS) for the most important snap pea traits compared to the parent lines. Fruits were significantly larger including maturity classes, market quality, high vitamin C, than the standard open-pollinated cultivars- ‘Peto Orange’ and mineral nutrients, protein and improved genetic resistances to ‘TAM Mild Habanero’. In addition, fruit from ‘Caro-Tex 312’ disease and abiotic stress. Combining the expertise and efforts were significantly larger than those from ‘Kukulkan’ F1 hybrid of geneticists, plant breeders, Extension specialists and social cultivar at College Station and Uvalde. Fruit color was darker scientists, we will create a dynamic synergy to successfully orange than ‘Kukulkan’ at College Station and Weslaco, but not develop and promote nutrient dense snap peas for consumption as dark as ‘Peto Orange.’ Colored fruit maturity was 7-10 days by children and young adults benefiting growers and their local earlier than ‘Kukulkan’ and 20-25 days earlier than ‘Peto Orange’ communities. Few public vegetable breeders are left and thus at College Station, Weslaco and Uvalde. Fruit wall thickness of fewer improved germplasm and cultivars are being released, ‘Caro-Tex 312’ was significantly greater than either parent at reducing U.S. competitiveness and sustainability (Dias 2010). Weslaco and College Station, but not as thick as that of ‘Kukul- Engaging Extension scientists trained in on-farm breeding can kan.’ Capsaicin content of ‘Caro-Tex 312’ (9,100 ppm, dry weight open new markets and opportunities for vegetable producers. basis) was less than that of ‘Kukulkan’ (15,160 ppm), but fruit We will present a model for training Extension scientists in was still very hot. Yield differences between ‘Caro-Tex 312’, conducting variety trials and in on-farm breeding and present the parent lines and five other experimental lines and cultivars a new web site (www.gabcsfl.org). were remarkable. Total yields from 3 harvests at College Station, TX and Charleston, SC revealed highly significant differences

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S279 between ‘Caro-Tex 312’ and all other entries, including other as the global onion market (primarily Mexico and South and

F1 hybrids. In addition, ‘Caro-Tex 312’ continued to set heavily Central America) to supply fresh onions year-round for the do- after the third harvest, compared to the other entries. The unique mestic market. Increased availability of long-day early maturing attributes of this new hybrid cultivar should appeal to Habanero onion varieties for Wisconsin and other northern U.S. (latitudes pepper growers in the U.S. and elsewhere. greater than 38°N) areas would enable these growers to retain Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–CSREES Designing more of this market for longer periods of time. Although early Foods for Health 2006-34402-17121, 2009-34402-19831 maturing onions typically yield less than later maturing varieties, the economic incentive to be earlier to market is advantageous (151) Variation in Oxalic Acid Content among for Wisconsin growers. For example, a Wisconsin grower can Commercial Table Beet Cultivars and Related secure $0.50 to 2.00 more per 50lb bag for a delivery of onions Crops in mid-August than in mid-September, which could translate into a 10% to 20% differential, depending on the year. The Amy K. Freidig University of Wisconsin Onion Breeding Program currently has University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; five early onion synthetic populations that are being prepared [email protected] for release. In our current field trials, all five populations are Irwin L. Goldman* reaching maturity as early (two populations) or markedly earlier University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; (three poulations) than most of the selected commercial variet- [email protected] ies. Our program is committed to the goal of releasing material that can be used as germplasm by other breeders and the com- Oxalic acid (C O 2–) is a compound of interest as a resultof 2 4 mercial seed industry for cultivar development.The Wisconsin its relationship with kidney stone formation and antinutritive early onion synthetic (WEOS) population breeding project was properties. Because table beet [Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris

S280 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 or tolerant to Iris yellow spot (IYS) and/or thrips damage. Onion blue) and leaf waxiness (scale of 1–4, where 1 = glossy and 4 germplasm, that is less attractive to thrips feeding, would aid in = waxy) when grown in Las Cruces, NM. Ten plants/plot were the development of disease-tolerant cultivars. In the hopes of rated individually at three separate times for IYS severity (scale finding IYS-tolerant onion germplasm, 48 onion plant introduc- of 0–4, where 0 = no symptoms, 1 = 1 to 2 small lesions per leaf, tion accessions were evaluated for leaf characteristics, onion 2 = > 2 medium-sized lesions per leaf, 3 = lesions coalescing thrips number/plant, and IYS disease severity. Accessions were on more than 25% of the leaf, and 4 = > 50% leaf death). At 16 evaluated for leaf color (scale of 1–4 where 1 = light green color weeks post seeding, plants of NMSU 07-54-1 had fewer thrips/ and 4 = blue), leaf waxiness (scale of 1–4, where 1 = glossy and plant than plants of other entries. At 20 weeks, plants of ‘Early 4 = waxy), and leaf axil pattern (scale of 1–4, where 1 = very Red Burger’, NMSU 07-56-2, NMSU 07-57-2’, ‘Stockton Early open and 4 = tight) when grown in Las Cruces, NM. Thrips Yellow’, and ‘Stockton Red’ averaged less than 10 thrips/plant number was counted from ten plants per plot at three separate and had fewer thrips/plant than plants of most other entries. Most times throughout the growing season. Ten plants/plot were rated entries had leaves that were light to dark green in color. Plants individually at three separate times for IYS severity (scale of of 07-54-1 had glossy leaves while 39 entries had semi-glossy 0–4, where 0 = no symptoms, 1 = 1 to 2 small lesions per leaf, leaves. At 20 weeks, plants of NMSU 08-43, NMSU 07-54-1, 2 = >2 medium-sized lesions per leaf, 3 = lesions coalescing on and NMSU 09-58 expressed less severe IYS symptoms than more than 25% of the leaf, and 4 = more than 50% leaf death). plants of other entries. The disease incidence at 16 weeks was Twelve accessions were rated as having light to dark green leaf lower for NMSU 07-33-1, NMSU 09-58, and ‘NuMex Centric’ color, three were rated as having semi-glossy to glossy leaves, than other entries. Seven individual plants, that exhibited few and one possessed an open leaf axil pattern. PIs 165498, 258956, IYS disease symptoms, were selected at bulb maturity from 4 and 264320 possessed semi-glossy foliage that was dark green different entries. These plants are being self-pollinated in the in color. Thrips number per plant was highest at 12 weeks post hopes of finding individual progeny that possess a higher level transplanting while the number decreased afterwards up to 16 of IYS tolerance. weeks. At 12 weeks, plants of PI 165498 had fewer thrips per Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research was funded by plant than plants of other accessions. At 16 weeks, PIs 249899, the USDA–CSREES Specialty Crop Research Initiative, grant 288073, and 391509 exhibited less severe IYS symptoms than award 2008-51180-04875 and the New Mexico Agricultural other accessions. Through this evaluation, accessions have been Experiment Station. identified that possess characteristics favorable for the development of thrips and/or IYS disease tolerant/resistant cultivars. (155) Characterization of Component Factors Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research was funded by Associated with Differences in Cucumber Fruit the USDA–CSREES Specialty Crop Research Initiative, grant Size and Shape award 2008-51180-04875 and the New Mexico Agricultural Marivi Colle* Experiment Station. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; collemar@ (154) In Search of Onion Germplasm Tolerant msu.edu to Iris yellow spot virus Mona Shaaban Christopher S. Cramer* Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; [email protected] New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] Rebecca Grumet Iris yellow spot virus is a relatively new foliar disease of onion Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; grumet@ that causes bulb size reduction. Disease symptom expression msu.edu is exacerbated by hot, dry climatic conditions that also favor Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit size and shape are critical the virus vector, onion thrips. Through their feeding on leaf determinants of market class (e.g. pickling vs. long glasshouse tissue, onion thrips reduce bulb size and yield. They are at- type) and fruit quality. To elucidate the underlying basis for tracted to onion leaves that are blue to bluish green in color variation, and to assist in targeted identification of fruit size and and have a thick waxy coating. Some research suggests that shape QTL, two genotypes of cucumber, GY14 (pickling) and they are less attracted to leaves that are light green in color and 9930 (“Chinese Long”), that markedly differ in fruit size and possess little or no wax on their surface. Onion germplasm, shape, and for which full genome sequence is available, were that is less attractive to thrips feeding because of certain leaf chosen for study. Ovaries and fruit were analyzed from anthesis characteristics, would aid in the development of disease toler- to 20 days post-pollination (dpp) for length, diameter, length ant cultivars. Thirty-two entries were evaluated for the thrips and diameter ratio (LD), time and period of cell division and number/plant, leaf characteristics, and Iris yellow spot (IYS) expansion, number of cells and cell size. Fifty plants of each disease symptoms. IYS-infected onion bulbs were placed on the genotype and their F1 progeny were grown in the greenhouse borders of the disease evaluation field to ensure that the virus and one fruit was allowed to develop on each plant. Ten fruits was present for evaluation. Thrips number was counted from out of fifty from each genotype were measured daily for fruit ten plants/plot at three separate times. Entries were evaluated length and diameter, and LD until 20dpp. Of the remaining 40 for leaf color (scale of 1–4 where 1 = light green color and 4 = fruits, five fruits from each genotype were harvested every 2

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S281 days for a period of 16 days for the determination of mesocarp The SSP for West Africa was established at the CSIR-Crops cell size and cell number. Preliminary results showed that Research Institute (CRI) in Kumasi, Ghana, in 2010, and is at anthesis both GY14 and 9930 have equal number of cells working to develop less sweet genotypes for use in staple foods across the fruit, however, 9930 has more cells along the length of West Africa and processed products. Parental germplasm has of the fruit than GY14. Additional variation between genotypes been selected for population improvement through recurrent results from the period of cell division and cell expansion post- selection, based on quality attributes (largely through literature pollination. Increase in cell number in GY14, and 9930 was review) including sugar profile, taste, dry matter content, and observed until 6dpp, and 10dpp, respectively. On the other hand, on local adaptation. Selection sites and partners have been cell size increased more sharply from 8-16dpp in GY14 than identified in 3 regions of Ghana, the Central, Volta and Upper in 9930. At 16dpp, GY14 has fewer but larger cells than 9930. East Regions, where sweetpotato is important, and which vary These preliminary results suggest that GY14 and 9930 differ for in agroecology. Selecting genotypes in important production several growth related factors including cell number at anthesis zones allows for strong research-extension linkage and assur- and post-anthesis, time and period of cell proliferation and cell ance of client-orientation of the breeding effort. Though CRI in expansion post-pollination, and final cell size, that contribute Kumasi is not in an important production region, sweetpotato to the fruit variation between the two genotypes. virus disease pressure is high and allows for resistance screen- Specified Source(s) of Funding:BARD grant IS-4341-10 ing. Initial trials were conducted to implement an accelerated sweetpotato breeding program which speeds up the selection (156) Sweetpotato Breeding in Ghana under the process by evaluating across locations from the earliest clonal Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative evaluation, allowing for early identification of stable genotypes. Evaluation of large numbers of genotypes for the recurrent Edward E. Carey* selection effort will be facilitated through the use of near in- International Potato Center, Kumasi; [email protected] frared reflectance spectroscopy to measure sugars, starch and Ebenezer Obeng-Bio carotenoids. Tissue culture and screenhouse facilities at the International Potato Center, Kumasi; e.obeng-bio@cgiar. CSIR-Crops Research Institute have allowed for assembly org of a collection of elite sweetpotato genotypes for use in breed- Marian D. Quain ing, as disease-free planting material and for international CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi; marianquain@ distribution. hotmail.com Specified Source(s) of Funding:Bill and Melinda Gates Foun- Joseph N Lamptey dation CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi; jniilamptey@ yahoo.co.uk Sunday, September 25, 2011 J.N. Asafu-Agyei CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi; asafuagyei@ 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom yahoo.com Viticulture and Small Fruits 1 A. Adjei Adjekum Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Program, (077) Highbush and Half-high Blueberry Trials Kumasi; [email protected] on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Kwadwo Obeng-Antwi Danny L. Barney* CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi; USDA–ARS, Palmer, AK; [email protected] [email protected] Kim E. Hummer Sweetpotato is playing an increasingly important role in African USDA–ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, agriculture, combating food insecurity and undernourishment, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] particularly vitamin A deficiency. The Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) aims to reposition sweetpotato in While cultivation of domestic small fruits and harvesting of African food economies, and improve the lives of 10 million wild, native small fruits are popular in Alaska, little research has families by 2019. The SPHI works through diverse research been published on the adaptability of highbush and half-high and development partnerships and seeks to ensure that women blueberries in southcentral Alaska. Although the area is subject and children benefit from its efforts. The Sweetpotato Action to harsh winters and a short growing season, summer conditions for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA), of SPHI, supports are relatively mild with daylength ranging from 14 to 19 hours pre-breeding and capacity-building efforts from regional Sweet- during June-August. In June 2009, three highbush (Vaccinium potato Support Platforms (SSPs) in Uganda, Mozambique and corymbosum L.) and six half-high (V. corymbosum × V. angusti- Ghana. From these locations, national and regional partners folium) blueberry cultivars were planted in replicated blocks on work together breeding for adaptation and quality attributes, two commercial farms near Kenai, Alaska, approximately 106 selecting and disseminating superior cultivars, and maintain- kilometers southwest of Anchorage. Despite limited snow cover, ing pathogen-tested germplasm for international distribution. prolonged freezing air temperatures as low as –32 °C, and soils

S282 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 remaining frozen for 6 months at a time, all of the plants survived. Puncture forces were measured for fruit with the skin removed Fall frost damage and winter freezing/desiccation injury were from the berry, but these results did not correlate with sensory common and ranged from mild to severe, depending on cultivar. ratings. The results of sensory and instrumental measures sup- Despite frost and winter damage to shoots and canes, fruit set port the distinction made between crisp and non-crisp berries, and quality beginning in 2010 were good, with ripening taking and suggest that crispness is related to the sensory perception place late in the season. Harvestable crops were produced on of bursting energy, flesh firmness, and skin toughness. ‘Northblue’ and ‘Northsky’ cultivars 14–15 months after planting. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Florida Blueberry Growers Based on plant survival and productivity, selected half-high and Association highbush blueberries appear to offer opportunities for small- acreage production on the Kenai Peninsula targeting local, direct (079) Mechanical Harvest Potential of Three markets and food processors, as well as for home production. Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS-CRIS Jeffrey G. Williamson* (078) Correlation Between Sensory and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Instrumental Measurements of Crisp Textured James W. Olmstead Blueberries University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. edu Kendra Blaker* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Steven A. Sargent University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Anne Plotto USDA ARS SAA, Winter Haven, FL; anne.plotto@ars. Adrian D. Berry usda.gov University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Three southern highbush blueberry cultivars, (‘Sweetcrisp’, Elizabeth Baldwin TM USDA, Winter Haven, FL; [email protected] ‘Farthing’, and Meadowlark ) were evaluated for their mechanical harvest potential in north-central Florida. Four James W. Olmstead replicates of hand and machine harvested plots were randomly University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. assigned within a single row (20 plant plot for machine-harvest edu and 6 plant plot for hand-harvest). Hand-harvested plots were The University of Florida blueberry breeding program has been picked prior to machine harvest to remove all mature fruit at developing Southern highbush blueberry cultivars for over 50 each harvest date, and the harvesting head on the harvester was years. During this period, fruit firmness has been a primary turned off when passing over the hand-harvested plots. A Korvan selection trait, and a novel texture most often described as 8000 harvester was used for three harvests: early-, mid- and “crisp” was identified. The anatomical and physiological basis late-season. After each harvest, all dropped berries beneath four of this trait is not understood, nor the manner of inheritance. tagged plants from each plot were collected, sorted by color However, two releases from the program, ‘Bluecrisp’, and stage (green, red, blue), and weighed. All machine-harvested ‘Sweetcrisp’, possess this crisp fruit texture, and many ad- berries were stored in lugs overnight at 10 °C prior to sorting on vanced seedling selections have been subjectively identified. a commercial packing line the next morning. Fresh weights of Prior to fruit evaluation of this large group of seedlings, we cull (soft or off-color) and marketable berries were determined are attempting to better understand the anatomical differences for each plot. Marketable berries were packed into 170 g (6 leading to a crisp fruit texture, as well as develop a common oz) clamshells and into flats (12 clamshells/flat). Subsamples set of descriptors that align sensory evaluation of fruit texture from machine- and hand-harvested fruit were evaluated the with instrumental measures that could be used for quantitative day of packing for the percentage of soft and/or mechanically measurements during breeding selection. Therefore, sensory and injured berries and then frozen at –30 °C for further analysis instrumental characteristics were measured in 36 cultivars and (soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH). Four clamshells advanced selections considered by breeders at the University per cultivar/harvest method were stored at 1 °C for 14 days. of Florida to have the crisp texture. A trained sensory panel Initial and final weights were measured for each clamshell evaluated fresh fruit based on five textural categories: bursting per storage period to calculate percent moisture loss. After 7 energy, flesh firmness, skin toughness, juiciness, and mealiness. and 14 days, stored berries were evaluated for overall quality The class of crisp berries scored highest among sensory scores including shrinkage, firmness, mold, and general appearance. for bursting energy, flesh firmness, and skin toughness. Sensory After 14 days of storage, fruit were frozen at -30 °C for future scores for mealiness and juiciness did not correspond to either quality analysis (soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH). the crisp or non-crisp class. Compression and puncture forces Packout differed between mechanical- and hand-harvested correlated with each other, and both instrumental measures were berries of all cultivars, with 94% of the hand-harvested berries significantly different between crisp and non-crisp cultivars. graded as marketable on the day following harvest versus 81% Compression and puncture forces correlated with sensory scores for mechanically-harvested berries. The lower percentage of for bursting energy, flesh firmness, and skin toughness, but did marketable berries was due primarily to a greater proportion not correlate with sensory scores for mealiness and juiciness. of immature (red and green) berries from mechanically- versus

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S283 hand-harvested plots. During grading, a greater percentage (081) Identification of Tetraploid Hybrids of soft berries were noted for mechanically- versus hand- Between Vaccinium arboreum and Vaccinium harvested treatments, but this difference was small compared corymbosum by Flow Cytometry to differences in the amount of immature fruit harvested. The greatest challenge for mechanically harvested blueberries was Hilda Patricia Rodriguez_Armenta* increased fruit softening during storage where hand-harvested University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] fruit remained firmer than mechanically harvested fruit for all James W. Olmstead cultivars and harvest times. Soft fruit were most prevalent for University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. mechanically-harvested berries after 14 days of storage. edu (080) Pollination Biology of Alaska Bog Wild species are often utilized in horticultural breeding programs as sources of novel and/or increased levels of traits not Blueberry, Vaccinium uliginosum present in the cultivated germplasm. The University of Florida Tina Buxbaum* blueberry breeding program is no exception, with the crosses University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK; involving wild Vaccinium species occupying up to 20 percent [email protected] of the breeding resources each cycle. Recently the focus has been on utilizing Vaccinium arboreum, commonly known as Patricia S. Holloway sparkleberry, as a source of several adaptive characteristics of University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK; interest for blueberry production, such as tolerance to higher soil [email protected] pH, a deeper root system, and single trunk architecture. One of Insect visitors were identified and pollen loads examined for seven the primary barriers to incorporation of wild Vaccinium species wild stands of Vaccinium uliginosum, Alaska bog blueberry, the in the breeding program is the lack of chromosome number most important wild-collected fruit in Alaska. Visitors included congruence among species. Vaccinium species range from dip- 212 insects, 133 of which carried Vaccinium spp. pollen with loid (2n = 2x = 24) to hexaploid (2n = 6x = 72), with cultivated 21 of individuals holding more than 500 pollen tetrads. The southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) being insects with high pollen loads were primarily Bombus species (2n = 4x = 48). In some cases, a bridge between ploidal levels (B. frigidus, B. centralis, B. perplexus, B. jonellus, B. mixtus, occurs naturally, as is the case in diploid Vaccinium darrowii, B. balteatus, and B. sylvicola), and one Apis mellifera (honey where a relatively high frequency of unreduced gametes can bee) specimen. Two flower flies or hover flies (Syrphidae) be utilized to cross directly with tetraploid species. However, contained more than 100 tetrads. The top five pollinator species in diploid Vaccinium arboreum, unreduced gamete production differed between upland and lowland sites, though B. frigidus is rare, and direct hybridization with other diploid Vaccinium- and B. jonellus occurred at both. Apis mellifera was collected species resulted in high levels of sterility. This is presumably only at lowland sites. Insect activity occurred primarily be- due to genome divergence, as V. arboreum is in the Vaccinium tween 8:00 am (08:00) and midnight (24:00). After 8:00 pm section Batodendron, whereas all cultivated blueberries belong (20:00) the honey bee visitations ceased, while Bombus spp. to section Cyanococcus. Therefore, V. arboreum seed were visitations continued until about midnight. Fruit production treated with colchicine to induce chromosome doubling for occurred in plants enclosed in insect exclusion screens but at the purpose of developing plants that could be directly hybrid- significantly lower levels than unprotected plants. Attempts to ized with tetraploid V. corymbosum. Putatively tetraploid V. attract bumble bees using the blue colored cap from blue vane arboreum plants were identified by pollen and stomata size traps (Japanese beetle traps) or blue flagging did not increase and used to cross with tetraploid V. corymbosum germplasm. fruit set or size. Under greenhouse conditions (av daily temp The resulting hybrid selections are presumed to result from –2 –1 15 °C, daylight supplemented with HID sodium, 240 μM·m ·s , an amphidiploid pairing of the genomes of V. arboreum and 16-h photoperiod), anthesis lasted about three weeks with peak V. corymbosum . The objective of this research was to confirm bloom occuring around the day 12-13. Fully opened flowers that tetraploidy of the hybrids and colchicines-seedlings treated by lasted 4–5 days had receptive stigmas, indicated by a creamy flow cytometry prior to their utilization in backcross and hybrid exhudate, for an average of 3.4 days. Floral nectar is produced, breeding methods. with an average nectar standing crop of 0.2103 μL + 0.1128μL one day after the beginning of anthesis. No correlation existed Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA–SCRI-FLA- between maximum daily temperature and nectar production but HOS-004960 was negatively correlated with relative humidity (av 28.4%). Pollen was released from flowers by vibration over a wide range (082) Evaluation of Vegetative Growth and of frequencies (150–850 Hz). Although flowers showed a peak Cropping Potential of Selected Rabbiteye resonace frequency of 250–300 Hz, pollen was not released in Blueberry Cultivars Grown on Old Crop versus higher quantities at this frequency, nor was there a peak at any Pasture Land Soils known insect vibrational frequency for buzz pollination. Richard Joel Potter Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–NIFA Alaska Berries Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] New Products, New Markets

S284 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Elina D. Coneva* pedigree information, 25 descend from four highly used clones: Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Florida 4A (V. darrowii), Earliblue (V. corymbosum), Myers (V. virgatum), and Black Giant (V. virgatum). Because of this Jeff L. Sibley potentially narrow germplasm base, previous breeders sought to Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] include new sources of wild germplasm in crossing designs. To Fenny Dane assess the utility of these crosses within the context of a recur- Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] rent selection program, coefficients of coancestry were calcu- Jay D. Spiers lated from pedigree information for two groups of germplasm: Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] cultivars released from the breeding program, and final stage selections–the genotypes selected each year for replicated trial- Kenneth M. Tilt ing prior to cultivar release decisions. The average coefficient Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] of coancestry among cultivars released from the program (n = Three-year-old ‘Austin’ and ‘Climax’ rabbiteye blueberries 26) was 0.051. In 1993, the average coefficient of coancestry (Vaccinium ashei) grown on two soil types in Columbia, AL among final stage selections was 0.095 (n = 10), with nearly half (lat. 31°15’N; long. 85°9’E; USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8A) of the selections showing a half-sib relationship or greater (> were studied during 2009-2010 to evaluate the effect of the soil 0.125). By 2010, the average coefficient of coancestry among quality based on land’s prior use on blueberry vegetative growth, final stage selections (n = 24) was 0.036. yield, and fruit quality. The soil previously used for peanut crop Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida production had 2% organic matter, a high soil pH, and a high phosphorus level, while the soil previously left to pasture had (084) Influence of Weed Mat and Surface twice as much organic matter, lower pH, and lower phosphorus. Sawdust Mulch on Soil Nutrient Availability Foliar analysis revealed similar levels of elemental content of and Soil Chemical Properties under Organic the leaves from plants grown on old crop land versus plants Blueberry Production grown on pasture land. Both blueberry cultivars had greater fruit set when grown on pasture land in comparison with the Luis R. Valenzuela-Estrada same cultivars grown on old crop land. Cultivars ‘Austin’ and Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; valenzul@onid. ‘Climax’ grown on pasture land produced as much as three orst.edu times greater yields than the same cultivars grown on old crop David R. Bryla* land. Plants grown on pasture land were also noticeably more USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] vigorous in comparison with the plants grown on old crop land. Higher plant vigor and yields may be a result of the alleviation Dan M. Sullivan of establishment stress provided by the higher organic content Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; dan.sullivan@ found on the pasture land type of soil. Proper soil amendment oregonstate.edu prior to planting may serve to alleviate some of the differences Bernadine C. Strik in rabbiteye blueberry plant performance. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; strikb@hort. oregonstate.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Department of Horticulture, Auburn University Weed control represents one of the most important cultural management aspects for organic blueberry production. Two of the (083) Maintaining Diversity in a Recurrent most common ways to control weeds in blueberries is by the use Selection Breeding Program for Southern of surface sawdust mulch or by landscape fabric, often referred to Highbush Blueberries as weed mat. Soil temperature and soil moisture frequently differ under these two mulches due to differences in their physical and James W. Olmstead* chemical properties. Because mineralization of organic amend- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. edu ments is intimately tied to temperature and moisture, the type of mulch used may affect nutrient availability to plants. Thus, to The University of Florida blueberry breeding program has devel- better predict crop growth and productivity in organic blueberry oped southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) systems, a proper understanding of how mulches influence the cultivars using a phenotypic recurrent selection strategy for over availability of soil nutrients is critical. Data were collected 50 years. Florida-native Vaccinium species such as Vaccinium during the third and fourth year after planting from an organic darrowii Camp and Vaccinium virgatum Aiton were used as trial of ‘Duke’ blueberries fertilized with fish emulsion. Plants sources for the low chilling requirement necessary for production were spaced 0.75 × 3.0 m apart on flat or raised beds covered in sub-tropical climates. However, the reliance on relatively few with either a 5-cm deep layer of Douglas-fir sawdust mulch or sources for low chilling requirement during the early stages of a single layer of black, woven weed mat fabric. Soil solution the breeding program resulted in a small number of founding was collected bi-weekly using suction lysimeters installed at clones for southern highbush blueberry cultivars developed at two depths under each mulch and bed type and measured for the University of Florida. Of the 26 cultivars released from the pH, EC, and NH4-N and NO3-N concentrations. Soil macro- and University of Florida blueberry breeding program with complete micronutrient concentrations were also measured periodically

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S285 using ion exchange resin membranes. Results indicated that berry with 0 or 83 kg·ha–1 N to 1.4 g/berry with 167 or 250 kg·ha–1 solution pH and EC were higher under sawdust (5.7–6.1 and N. Overall, regardless of N source, yield was higher each year 151–202 μs·cm–1) than under weed mat (5.3–5.7 and 125–179 with fertigation than with granular fertilizer, and 67-83 kg·ha–1 –1 μs·cm ) while nutrient availability, including NH4-N, which N was adequate to maximize yield and fruit size during the first is considered the preferred form of N for blueberry, was often 3 years of production. greater under weed mat than under sawdust. Weed mat also Specified Source(s) of Funding:Oregon Blueberry Commission increased soil temperatures by as much as 5 °C during the day compared to sawdust, which likely promoted higher decomposi- (086) Seasonal Changes in the Photochemistry, tion and mineralization of the fish fertilizer. Overall, weed mat is Quantum Efficiency and Net Photosynthesis of an effective weed control option that resulted in soil conditions the Wild Blueberry considered better for blueberry through increased soil nutrient concentrations and lower soil solution pH and EC. David Percival* Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:OREI; Oregon Blueberry Com- mission; Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research Lindsay Hainstock Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; hainstockl@nsac. (085) Effects of Nitrogen Source and Rate and ca Method of Fertilizer Application on Yield and Jyoti Kaur Fruit Size in ‘Bluecrop’ Highbush Blueberry Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; [email protected] The seasonal variation carotenoid concentration, chlorophyll Oscar L. Vargas a and b levels, dark (Fv/Fm) and light adapted (Fv’/Fm’) dark Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; vargasoo@hort. oregonstate.edu and light adapted variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (an indication of the quantum efficiency of PSII photochemis- David R. Bryla* try) and net photosynthesis of the wild blueberry (Vaccinium USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] angustifolium Ait.) was examined in the vegetative (i.e., sprout) A study was done to determine the effects of N source and rate and cropping phases of production. Chlorophyll levels ranged –2 –2 and two common methods of fertilizer application on yield and from 2.0 to 12 μg·cm and 0.042 to 1.4 μg·cm for chlorophyll fruit size in a maturing field of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium a and b respectively, were significantly lower in the cropping corimbosum L. ‘Bluecrop’). Plants were fertilized by drip fertiga- phase of production, and were also lower in the latter stages of tion (weekly from mid April to mid August) or with a triple-split the growing season. Similarly, carotenoid concentrations ranged –2 application of granular fertilizer (April, May, and June) using from 0.67 to 4.1 μg·cm and were lower in the cropping phase urea or ammonium sulfate applied at a rate of 0, 67, 133, and of production. However, caretonoid concentration and dark and 200 kg·ha–1 N in 2008 (year 3), 0, 75, 150, and 225 kg·ha–1 N in light adapted variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/ 2009 (year 4), and 0, 83, 167, and 250 kg·ha–1 N in 2010 (year Fm and Fv’/Fm’) decreased marketably at the mid point of the 5). In 2008, which was the first year of fruit production, fertiga- growing season presumably as a result of photoinhibition. Net tion increased yield compared to granular fertilizer, producing photosynthetic values of upright stems ranged from 2.1 to 7.6 –2 –1 3.8 and 2.7 t·ha–1 of fruit, respectively, while N source had no μmol·m ·s , were substantially higher in the vegetative phase effect on yield in fertigated plants but was higher on average of production and also decreased significantly in the latter part with granular urea than with granular ammonium sulfate. Av- of the growing season. Results from this investigation indicate erage individual berry weight was also higher with fertigation that the wild blueberry has a relatively low photosynthetic rate, than granular fertilizer and, regardless of application method, may be prone to photoinhibition and is carbohydrate supply (i.e., was greater when plants were fertilized with 67 kg·ha–1 N than source) limited when compared to other temperate fruit crops. –1 with 0, 133, or 200 kg·ha N. The following year in 2009, yield Specified Source(s) of Funding:Atlantic Innovation Fund averaged 8.2 t·ha–1 with fertigation and was similar among plants fertigated with 75-225 kg·ha–1 N and averaged 7.2 t·ha–1 with granular fertilizer and, in this case, was similar with 75 Sunday, September 25, 2011 and 150 kg·ha–1 N but lower with 225 kg·ha–1 N. Berry weight was not affected by N source or fertilizer method in 2009 but 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom was affected by N rate, decreasing in average weight from 1.6 Weed Control & Pest Management g/berry without N to 1.5 g/berry with 75 and 150 kg·ha–1 N and 1.4 g/berry with 225 kg·ha–1 N. Finally, in 2010, yield was again (267) Evaluating Mustard Seed Meal for higher with fertigation than with granular fertilizer, averaging –1 Weed Control and Crop Yield in California 14.4 and 12.1 t·ha , respectively, but was not affected by N Strawberry Production source or N rate when N fertilizer was applied. The average size of the berries, however, was smaller with fertigation than Jayesh B. Samtani* with granular fertilizer in 2010, averaging 1.4 and 1.5 g/berry, University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; jbsamtani@ respectively. Berry weight also decreased that year from 1.5 g/ ucdavis.edu

S286 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 John B. Weber (268) Integrating Mustard Seed Meal with University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; jbweber@ Steam and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ucdavis.edu for Weed Control in California Strawberry John S. Rachuy Production University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; jsrachuy@ ucdavis.edu Jayesh B. Samtani* University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; jbsamtani@ Steven A. Fennimore ucdavis.edu University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; [email protected] Joji Muramoto PICA-UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA; [email protected] The loss of methyl bromide (MB) has created a need to develop and evaluate management tools for the control of soil Carol Shennan borne pests for California (CA) strawberry growers. Although University of California, Santa Cruz, CA; cshennan@ucsc. alternative fumigants are registered for use in CA strawber- edu ries, they face a multitude of regulatory constraints that make John B. Weber the use of these products difficult. Hence there is a need to University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; jbweber@ evaluate alternative products that do not involve fumigant ucdavis.edu use. In the past few decades, several studies have evaluated the efficacy of plant-derived allelochemicals that are produced Raquel Serohijos from glucosinolates for weed and pathogen suppression. Re- University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; rcserohijos@ cently, potential has been found for dehydrated plant tissues ucdavis.edu and glucosinolate containing mustard meal pellets to suppress Steven A. Fennimore weeds and pathogens. A study was initiated in Oct. 2009 at University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; Salinas, CA, to evaluate the effects of mustard seed meal (MSM) [email protected] derived from white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) on weed control A prior study showed that mustard seed meal (MSM) applied and fruit yield in commercial strawberry production systems. pre-plant at varying dose rates cannot effectively replace standard The study included six treatments applied once, pre-plant, with MBPic fumigation in California (CA) strawberry production. four single bed replicates in a randomized complete-block In this study initiated in 2010 in Watsonville, CA, we evaluate design. Each bed was 1.3 m wide by 19.8 m long. Treatments MSM in combination with steam or anaerobic soil disinfesta- were MSM at 560, 1120, 2240, and 4480 kg·ha–1, methyl –1 tion (ASD) and compare it to a standard fumigation practice. bromide:chloropicrin (MBPic 67/33% v/v) at 392 kg·ha , Treatment applications were made once, pre-plant, and included and an untreated control. MSM treatments were applied with MSM at 3362 kg·ha–1, steam at ≥ 70 °C for 20 min, ASD, steam a fertilizer applicator by shanking into the soil up to a depth + MSM, ASD + MSM, Pic-Chlor 60 [1,3- dichloropropene of 15 cm. MBPic was applied through the drip system. (40%) and chloropicrin (60%)] at 336 kg·ha–1 and an untreated Strawberry ‘Albion’ was planted on 24 Nov. 2009. Weed control. The study was arranged in a randomized complete density, weed fresh biomass and hand weeding times were block design with four single bed replicates. Each bed was 1.4 periodically recorded through the growing season. Weed data m wide and 12.2 m long. MSM was applied with a fertilizer collected and analyzed indicates that regardless of the dosage, applicator by shanking into the soil up to a depth of 15 cm on 7 MSM treatments did not control weeds. None of the treatments Oct. ASD plots were treated with rice bran at 19,700 kg·ha–1 on injured strawberry plants. Crop plant diameter rating collected 7 Oct. and were subject to a total irrigation of 2.5 acre-inches on 15 Mar. 2010 indicated that the strawberry plants grew applied intermittently from 8 Oct. to 9 Nov. Steam was generated most vigorously in the MBPic plots, but those treated with –1 using a diesel fired steam generator and delivered to the beds MSM treatments at 1120, 2240 and 4480 kg·ha were almost using steam spikes at 0–25 cm depth to ≥ 70 °C for 20 min on as vigorous. Berries were harvested from 29 Mar. through 14 Oct. Pic-Chlor 60 was applied via drip system on 18 Oct. 18 Oct. 2010. There was a dose response from the MSM treat- Strawberry ‘Albion’ was planted on 22 Nov. Before treatment ments on strawberry yield, with yield being the highest in application, weed seed bags containing 25 seeds each of com- MSM treatment at 4480 kg·ha–1. However, yield from MSM –1 mon chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.], common knotweed treatment at 4480 kg·ha was not as good as in MBPic treat- (Polygonum arenastrum Jord. ex Boreau), common purslane ment. Results from this study imply that MSM will need to (Portulaca oleracea L.), little mallow (Malva parviflora L.) be integrated with other tools to effectively replace MBPic and 10 tubers of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) were fumigation. inserted at two locations in the bed center at 15 cm depth. These Specified Source(s) of Funding: Mustard Product Tech- bags were removed post treatment application and analyzed for nologies, USDA–ARS PAW Methyl Bromide Alternatives their viability. Overall, the steam treatment alone, or with MSM Program were as effective as Pic-Chlor 60 in providing weed propagule control, where as, MSM and ASD alone were ineffective. Con- trol of common purslane was slightly better in Pic-Chlor 60

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S287 than steam treatments, while in case of little mallow, the steam without a crop on 07 September 2010 at 150 and 200 lbs granular treatments provided a more effective control than Pic-Chlor 60. product./A; dimethanamid + pendimethalin was applied on the Weed density data taken over a 3 m long distance covered with same date at 150 lbs. granular product/A only. Chemical treat- clear tarp toward the center of each plot indicates that steam and ments were compared to an untreated control (UTC). Spurge steam + MSM were the only treatments providing weed control control was compared in containers with a regular planting comparable to Pic-Chlor 60 fumigation. medium composed of 2 parts fine mulch, 2 parts volcanic cinder and one part coarse mulch to containers with regular planting Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS PAW Methyl medium plus a two inch coarse mulch topdress. Weekly spurge Bromide Alternatives Program germinations were counted and percent of the container covered by spurge mat was calculated at 30 days after treatment (DAT) (269) Potential Impact of Biotech Sweet and 60 DAT. Data was analyzed using JMP 8.0.2. There was Corn (MON 89034 × MON 88017) on Pest no improvement in spurge control applying the higher rate of Management in the Southern United States dithiopyr, trifluralin + isoxaben or trifluralin + isoxaben + oxyfluorfen. The addition of the coarse mulch topdress improved Roberto Cordero spurge control in trifluralin + isoxaben and trifluralin + isoxaben Monsanto, Sebastian, FL; [email protected] + oxyfluorfen. At 60 DAT, greatest control was achieved using Wilmar Morjan dimethanamid + pendimethalin, although trifluralin + isoxaben Monsanto, St. Louis, MO; wilmar.e.morjan@monsanto. + oxyfluorfen and dithopyr performed better than the UTC. com Specified Source(s) of Funding: BASF, Dow AgroSciences, Anabella Fabellar Desert Tree Farm Monsanto, St. Louis, MO; anabella.c.fabellar@monsanto. com (271) Minimizing on-Farm Point Source Jeanmarie Harty Contamination of Select Herbicides by Soil Monsanto/Seminis, Arroyo Grande, CA; Microbes [email protected] Frieda Eivazi* Cristita V. Subere* Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; Monsanto Company, Kunia, HI; cristita.verna.q.subere@ [email protected] monsanto.com Kamalendu B. Paul VT Triple PRO sweet corn from Monsanto (MON 89034 × MON Lincoln University in Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; 88017) provides economic and environmental benefits through [email protected] resistance to multiple Lepidopteran pests and Western and Pesticides and other anthropogenic pollutants once introduced Northern corn rootworms, as well as tolerance to the glyphosate into the environment are subjected to biological and nonbiological family of herbicides. The objectives of the study was to assess transformation processes. Microorganisms play a vital role in the performance advantages (Lepidoptera control) of VT Triple maintaining the environmental quality through their metabolic PROTM sweet corn hybrids compared to conventional, equivalent activities. The highly versatile metabolic capabilities of fungi hybrids during spring and fall production for the fresh market, and bacteria can be used to reclaim polluted ecosystems. A va- and to measure yield protection by MON 89034 × MON 88017 riety of biological, chemical, and physical methods have been against Lepidopteran pests under different insecticide programs. used for degradation and detoxification of pesticides. However, Trials resulted in less than 3% ear damage by fall armyworm conventional clean- up methods are costly and not always and/or earworm on VT Triple PRO sweet corn, suggesting that effective. Agrochemical storage and handling practices have insecticide sprays can be significantly reduced when producing been targeted as a potential point source contamination of soil sweet corn with VT Triple PRO versus conventional systems. and groundwater. Use of “biobed” to contain and biodegrade Specified Source(s) of Funding:Monsanto Company pesticides may be a cost-effective alternative. A biobed is an in-ground treatment unit designed to contain spills of pesticides (270) Spurge Management in Nursery and degrade the chemicals through microbial activity. Microbial Containers activity may be enhanced by altering conditions conducive to degradation. In this study, the technical potential of using biobed Kelly Young* was evaluated in a series of ex-situ experiments using small University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ; [email protected] scale biobeds with mixtures of “top soil, peat, and straw” as Weedy spurges (Euphorbia hyssopifolia, E. maculata, E. nutans substrate. Herbicides used included glyphosate, atrazine, ace- , and E. prostrata) are among the most difficult to control weeds tochlor, and metolachlor, the most widely used herbicides for in nursery containers in the desert southwest. Nursery manag- crops. The herbicide-degrading potential of the biobed substrate ers complain that available granular herbicides are ineffective. mixtures was determined by analyzing sub-samples to measure Dithiopyr, trifluralin + isoxaben and trifluralin + isoxaben + residual herbicide concentrations. The greatest concentration of oxyfluorfen were topdressed into one gallon nursery containers herbicide residue was found when organic matter was included

S288 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 in the biobed media, especially when 50% of the media volume the most common species surveyed. Lastly, we have compared comprised of peat. The results of enzyme activity indicated that the effect of mode of Botryosphaeria spp. entry into a plant by addition of straw as carbon source in the biobed media enhanced placing inoculum on stems and at the site of lenticels and by acid and alkaline phosphatases activities and the activity was wounding (with a needle). Although lesion size increased with correlated with the amount of straw added. wounding, lesion size did not increase further with wounding at the site of lenticels. Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA Specified Source(s) of Funding:State funds (273) Chemical and Biological Control of (274) An Automated Variable Rate Sprayer Botryosphaeria Species on Oriental Persimmon for Spot Application of Agrochemicals in Wild (Diospyros kaki) Blueberry Peter C. Andersen* University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] Qamar Zaman Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; qzaman@ Pratibha Srivastava nsac.ca University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] Y.K. Chang James J. Marois Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; [email protected] University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] David Percival* Russell F. Mizell III Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; [email protected] University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] A.A. Farooque Phillip F. Harmon Nova Scotia Agric College, Truro, NS; [email protected] University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] Arnold W. Schumann Botryosphaeria spp. are ligninolytic ascomyceteous fungal or- University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] ganisms that incite diseases of Oriental persimmon, apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum and Southern highbush blueberries in A commercial prototype variable rate (VR) sprayer was devel- Florida. Botryosphaeria spp. have a very broad host range and oped for control of 16 individual nozzles on a 12.2 m sprayer there is no adequate chemical control. Disease manifestation in boom for spot-application of agrochemicals in wild blueberry most crops is the formation of black cankers on the trunk and fields. The sprayer boom was divided into 16 sections and was limbs, while it causes gummosis in stone fruit trees. Previously, situated 76 cm above the ground. The variable-rate control the causal agent of Botryosphaeria cankers on deciduous fruit system consisted of eight digital color cameras mounted on was thought to be B. dothidea; however, recent work in Florida a separate boom in front of the tractor, a MidTech Legacy has shown that B. obtusa, B. rhodinia, and B. ribis may be more controller, flow valves, solenoid valves and two 8-channel variable rate controllers (VRC) interfaced to a Pocket PC using common. We have chosen to study Botryosphaeria on Oriental ® ® persimmon because of an excellent market for the fruit, and be- wireless Bluetooth radio with Windows Mobile compatible cause Botryosphaeria will often limit the tree lifespan to 5 to 10 software. Each camera covered two sections of the boom (97 years. Our objectives were to: 1) test the efficacy of fungicides cm each section). Cameras were attached using USB serial against Botryosphaeria spp.; 2) survey phenolic compounds cables to the computer. Custom developed software, installed naturally occurring in plants for efficacy againstBotryosphae - in the computer, was capable of processing the images to de- ria spp.; 3) survey cultivated and native woody plant species tect weeds, bare spots and blueberry plants in real-time, and for the presence of Botryosphaeria spp. and;4) determine the weed or plant triggering signals were sent through a labjack influence of wounding and mode of inoculum entry on disease actuator to the VRC to spray agrochemical in the specific boom manifestation. The fungicides Tilt, Headline, Folicur, Domark, section where the weeds or plants have been detected. The and Topsin offered only partial control of Botryosphaeria species commercial prototype VR sprayer was tested and evaluated in at relatively high (10 to 25 mM) concentrations, and the use of wild blueberry fields in central Nova Scotia for precise spot- fungicides is not viewed as a promising tactic. We have made a application of herbicides and fungicides. Accurate and precise serendipitous discovery concerning the efficacy of a bacterium, applications were obtained, significant reductions in herbicide Bacillus subtillis against Botryosphaeria spp. in vitro, and this is and fungicide applications were observed and substantial cost an area of investigation. The effect of naturally occurring phe- savings were attained. nolic compounds (vanillic acid, syringic acid, catechol, veratric Specified Source(s) of Funding: Atlantic Innovation Fund acid, 2,6-dimethoxy benzoic acid, ferulic acid, benzoic acid, 2,6-dimethoxy phenol, p-courmaric acid and guaiacol) varied (275) Genetic Variation in a Biocontrol Target with the compound and Botryosphaeria spp. in vitro. We have Weed: The Strawberry Guava Species Complex surveyed cultivated and native tree species for the presence of Botryosphaeria spp. using morphological indices and the poly- Petter Johansen* merase chain reaction technique. B. rhodinia and B. ribis were University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; petterj@ hawaii.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S289 Richard Manshardt losses continue every year. R. solanacearum is persistent in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; soil and following crop failure, fields are abandoned and left [email protected] unsuitable for ginger production for many years. We are able to detect this pathogen in environmental samples including field M. Tracy Johnson soil using SMSA liquid culture enrichment followed by PCR. USDA Forest Service, Volcano, HI; [email protected] This detection method is being used for developing strategies The leaf-galling scale insect, Tectococcus ovatus, has been pro- for reclaiming fields for ginger production and we are working posed for introduction in Hawaii as a host-specific biocontrol toward developing a more quantitative assay using combina- agent to limit invasive strawberry guava (SG) populations in tion of enrichment and real-time PCR. We are also performing mid-elevation native forests. Our objective is to characterize the controlled greenhouse studies to evaluate soil amendments genetic variation in SG populations in Hawaii, with the goal to including enriched compost and vermicompost preparations, inform the biological control efforts currently being developed. for their ability to reduce pathogen populations in naturally Specimens collected on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu infested field soil prior to planting. were evaluated for fruit and vegetative morphology, ploidy as Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–WSARE determined by flow cytometry, and microsatellite variation at four chloroplast SSR loci and four nuclear SSR loci. Results supported three previously recognized taxa and several new Monday, September 26, 2011 categories. Psidium littorale was uniform with regard to fruit morphology (yellow, spindle-shaped), ploidy (8x), and SSR 9:45–10:15 am Grand Promenade polymorphisms, suggesting that it may be a fertile allo-octoploid or a sterile apomict. Similarly, P. lucidum was nearly, but not OREI Poster Session completely, uniform in the same aspects (yellow, spherical fruits; (OREI-1) Improving the Safety and Postharvest ~6x ploidy), suggesting a fertile allo-hexaploid or an apomict Quality of Field-grown Organic Leafy Greens: with some residual sexual function. P. cattleianum displayed a single uniform chloroplast SSR genotype, but numerous Assessment of Good Agricultural/Production nuclear SSR genotypes, ploidy variation between 6.5x and 7x, Practices along the Farm-to-Fork Continuum and red fruit color of variable hue and intensity, suggesting that Sadhana Ravishankar* sexual reproduction is operative in this nominally heptaploid The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; sadhravi@email. form and that it produces mainly aneuploid progeny. A fourth arizona.edu form (Psidium “X”) with fruit color (orange) and ploidy (7.5x) intermediate between those of P. cattleianum and P. littorale Divya Jaroni originally suggested a derivation through interspecific sexual Southern University, Baton Rouge, CA; divya_jaroni@ suagcenter.com crossing. However, the presence of unique chloroplast and nuclear SSR alleles found in the orange-fruited forms and not in either Kelly Bright of the putative parent species indicates that some of these may The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; bright@email. represent a new taxon not previously described in Hawaii. The arizona.edu broad range of strawberry guava genotypes documented in this Jorge M. Fonseca survey, compounded by the potential for new variation arising The University of Arizona, Yuma, AZ; jfonseca@ through sexual processes, argues that efficacy of biological ag.arizona.edu control of this species complex in Hawaii can be accurately estimated only after extensive testing of representative genotypes. Jitu Patel USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Forest Service Charles Gerba (276) Effect of Composts on Field Soils Affected The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; gerba@ by Bacterial Wilt of Edible Ginger in Hawaii ag.arizona.edu Sharon Motomura* Mendel Friedaman University of Hawaii–Hilo, Hilo, HI; smotomur@ USDA–ARS Western Regional Research Center,Produce hawwaii.edu Safety and Microbiology Research, Albany, CA; mendel. [email protected] Susan C. Miyasaka University of Hawaii–Hilo, HI; [email protected] Kurt D. Nolte Yuma County Cooperative Extension, AZ; knolte@ Michael Shintaku ag.arizona.edu University of Hawaii–Hilo, Hilo, HI; [email protected] The long-term goal of this project is to improve the profitability Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most of organic leafy green farms by developing and implementing important disease affecting edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) commercially feasible technology and operational production/ in Hawaii. Serious outbreaks began occurring in 1993 and large handling programs to assure the safety and quality of organic

S290 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 leafy greens. The mechanisms by which Escherichia coli M. Elena Garcia O157:H7 attach to and internalize organic leafy greens and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; megarcia@uark. attach to harvesting equipment surfaces were studied. Rapid edu attachment was seen in 5 minutes, with cut surfaces having Donn Johnson greater attachment than intact. Strains that expressed curli and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; dtjohnso@uark. were more hydrophobic, attached at higher numbers compared edu to non-expressing strains. Wild type and cellulose deficient strains persisted better than curli deficient and curli and cellulose Jennie Popp deficient mutants on spinach cultivars. In vitro studies showed University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] that growth regulators may interfere with bacterial biofilm for- Mary Savin mation. A contaminated tool used to core iceberg lettuce cross- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] contaminated as many as 75 lettuce heads. Low level chlorine (1.3 ppm free chlorine) washes prevented cross-contamination Orchard groundcover management and nutrition are significant from field-contaminated lettuce to non-contaminated lettuce. issues challenging sustainable organic apple production. Because Environmental factors and agricultural practices that affect of the interaction between ground cover and nutrition, these leafy green safety and quality were evaluated. Survival of E. management practices must be studied simultaneously. Research coli in different compost teas and biostimulants was studied was initiated in 2006 to study and develop effective organic in the lab and field, through foliar application using different fruit tree best management practices for the South, with focused spray systems. Different spray applicators showed that big emphasis on ground cover and nutrient management, as well as drops held higher bacterial numbers up to 24 h; however, no to develop economic production budgets to determine feasible organisms were detected after day 10. Irrigation water samples production methods. In March 2006 the University of Arkansas from Yuma, AZ, were collected and analyzed for indicator planted ‘Enterprise’/M.26 in a replicated orchard to examine the organisms, quality parameters, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, effects of three organic fertilizer treatments [control, composted hepatitis A virus, and norovirus. Salmonella was detected in poultry litter (PL), and commercial pelletized fertilizer (CF)] 2 sediment samples. Generic E. coli (< 1-27.2 MPN/100 ml) and four groundcover treatments [shredded paper (SP), wood and coliforms (131.4- > 2419.6 MPN/100 ml) were identified. chips (WC), green municipal compost (GC), and mow-blow Efficacies of postharvest interventions (plant compounds, or- (MB)], with the goal of developing organic management recom- ganic sanitizers, antimicrobial edible films) against pathogens mendations for southern environments. The effects of nutrient were tested in vitro and on organic lettuce and spinach. In vitro and ground cover treatment interactions on tree growth, canopy studies showed complete reductions of test microbes with many and root development, soil biological, chemical and physical plant compounds, while up to 3 log reductions were achieved characteristics, foliar nutrient content and weed density were with some plant compounds and organic sanitizers on leafy evaluated. Significant differences have been determined among greens. Antimicrobial edible films were also very effective, the organic production systems after five seasons of growth. WC showing 3 logs to complete reductions of E. coli O157:H7 and and GC increased tree size, height, trunk cross-sectional area, S. enterica in packaged leafy greens. An aggressive outreach/ and leaf development. Late season foliar nutrition showed no education program for stakeholders (leafy green growers difference among treatments and after five growing seasons all and processors; manufacturers of natural antimicrobials and ground cover treatments and nutrient treatments had adequate organic sanitizers; and consumers) was started. These groups and similar foliar nutrient contents, however foliar N was in have been informed regularly on the results of this project at the low range. WC and PL had greatest early season soil N and stakeholder meetings. Information generated is being used in GC increased late season soil N. Ground covers of WC or GC extension and microbiology courses. Numerous media outlets provided for adequate growth for early cropping during the have provided coverage/stories on this project to reach a wide first 5 seasons, however, early yield has been suppressed by variety of audience. environmental factors. WC and GC had significantly greater cumulative fruit yields compared to SP and MB but fruit diam- (OREI-2) Early Performance during the eter and average fruit weight was not affected by treatment in the first 3 cropping seasons. Establishment of an Organic Apple Orchard with Varied Ground Cover Management (OREI-3) Influence of Weed Mat and Surface Treatments and Nutrient Sources Sawdust Mulch on Soil Nutrient Availability Curt R. Rom* and Soil Chemical Properties under Organic University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Blueberry Production Jason McAfee Luis R. Valenzuela-Estrada University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; valenzul@onid. orst.edu Heather Friedrich University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; heatherf@uark. David R. Bryla* edu USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S291 Dan M. Sullivan Sarah Kingsley-Richards Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; dan.sullivan@ University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; sarah.kingsley@ oregonstate.edu uvm.edu Bernadine C. Strik Morgan Cormwell Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; strikb@hort. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; mcromwel@uvm. oregonstate.edu edu Weed control represents one of the most important cultural man- Four weed management strategies were established in 2009 agement aspects for organic blueberry production. Two of the and continued into 2010: 1) periodic mowing; 2) Herbicide 1, most common ways to control weeds in blueberries is by the use herbicide application as needed from June to July; 3) Herbicide of surface sawdust mulch or by landscape fabric, often referred to 2, application as needed from June to August; and 4) bark mulch as weed mat. Soil temperature and soil moisture frequently differ applied once in 2009. The herbicide GreenMatch which contains under these two mulches due to differences in their physical and the active ingredient d-limonene was applied at the labeled chemical properties. Because mineralization of organic amend- rate in a one-meter band under the trees. Bark mulch was also ments is intimately tied to temperature and moisture, the type of applied in a one-meter band. The orchard was planted in 2007 mulch used may affect nutrient availability to plants. Thus, to with ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Snowsweet’ on M.26 rootstock. Bark better predict crop growth and productivity in organic blueberry mulch continued to suppress weed growth in 2010. Herbicide systems, a proper understanding of how mulches influence the and mowing both reduced weed biomass but not as much as availability of soil nutrients is critical. Data were collected mulch. Mulch increased trunk and shoot growth compared to during the third and fourth year after planting from an organic herbicide and mowing. Tree growth with both herbicide treat- trial of ‘Duke’ blueberries fertilized with fish emulsion. Plants ments was similar to mowing. Leaf level of N was lower in were spaced 0.75 × 3.0 m apart on flat or raised beds covered mulched trees compared to Herbicide 1, but was similar to mow- with either a 5-cm deep layer of Douglas-fir sawdust mulch or ing and Herbicide 2. The effect of weed management strategies a single layer of black, woven weed mat fabric. Soil solution on soil moisture was inconsistent throughout the season. Mulch was collected bi-weekly using suction lysimeters installed at had greater soil moisture than mowing May 27 through June two depths under each mulch and bed type and measured for 4 and again from July 7 to Aug. 30, but similar soil moisture level at other dates. The Herbicide 1 treatment did not increase pH, EC, and NH4-N and NO3-N concentrations. Soil macro- and micronutrient concentrations were also measured periodically soil moisture compared to mowing. Herbicide 2 increased soil using ion exchange resin membranes. Results indicated that moisture from July 29 to Aug. 30, but was similar to mowing on solution pH and EC were higher under sawdust (5.7–6.1 and other dates. Mid-day stem water potential was not affected by 151–202 μs·cm–1) than under weed mat (5.3–5.7 and 125-179 weed management strategies. Trees were in their first cropping –1 year, but the relative amount of bloom per tree and fruit yield μs·cm ) while nutrient availability, including NH4-N, which is considered the preferred form of N for blueberry, was often at harvest were not affected by weed management strategies. greater under weed mat than under sawdust. Weed mat also Four weed management strategies were established in 2009 increased soil temperatures by as much as 5 °C during the day and continued into 2010: 1) periodic mowing; 2) Herbicide 1, compared to sawdust, which likely promoted higher decomposi- herbicide application as needed from June to July; 3) Herbi- tion and mineralization of the fish fertilizer. Overall, weed mat is cide 2, application as needed from June to August; and 4) bark an effective weed control option that resulted in soil conditions mulch applied once in 2009. The herbicide GreenMatch which considered better for blueberry through increased soil nutrient contains the active ingredient d-limonene was applied at the concentrations and lower soil solution pH and EC. labeled rate in a one-meter band under the trees. Bark mulch was also applied in a one-meter band. The orchard was planted Specified Source(s) of Funding:OREI; Oregon Blueberry Com- in 2007 with ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Snowsweet’ on M.26 rootstock. mission; Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-Integrated Organic (OREI-4) Organic Weed Management Program Strategies for Apple Trees (OREI-5) Planting Opportunities for Successful Renae Moran University of Maine, Monmouth, ME; [email protected] Establishment of Summer Cover Crops Integrated into Organic Vegetable Production M. Elena Garcia* Systems in the Great Lakes Region University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; megarcia@uark. edu Thomas Björkman Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] Lorraine Berkett University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; lorraine.berkett@ Daniel C. Brainard uvm.edu Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; brainar9@ msu.edu Terry Bradshaw University of Vermont, Burlington, VT; [email protected] John B. Masiunas* University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected]

S292 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 In order to obtain the expected benefits of a cover crop, the Bart Nicolaï cover crop must grow vigorously. One of the main determinants BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, of growth rate is planting date. We determined the appropriate Heverlee, Belgium; [email protected] planting dates for three summer cover crops for use on organic Bradley Rickard vegetable farms in the Great Lakes region. We measured how Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] quickly soil was covered and the ability to compete with weed seedlings, as well as biomass production during the available Jason Johnston The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research growing period in trials on Certified Organic Land in three Ltd., Auckland; [email protected] states across the region. Spring-sown mustard (cvs ‘Tilney’ and ‘IdaGold’) performed well starting with seedings as soon as the Ines Hanrahan ground can be worked (as early as March 15 in central Illinois, Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Wenatchee, March 31 in central Michigan and April 5 in central New York). WA; [email protected] The latest date for successful spring establishment of mustards A. Nathan Reed was May 1 in Illinois and May 15 in New York and Michigan, AgroFresh, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] with reduced biomass production and minimal weed suppres- Yanmin Zhu sion for later-May plantings. Central Illinois is warmer, more USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] fertile and has less flea beetle pressure, allowing planting as late as May 1 without significant weed competition or inadequate Apple postharvest physiological disorders, characterized by peel biomass. For late summer plantings, buckwheat required 600 or flesh necrosis, result in significant yearly financial losses. GDD50 from planting to frost or mowing to produce sufficient Unfortunately, current chemical and cultural control systems growth and weed suppression. In central NY, this corresponds to are lacking or provide little assurance that apples will not a cutoff date of mid-August. Sudangrass required 750 GDD50, develop disorders in storage or elsewhere in the supply chain. with a cutoff in early August. Mustard could be sown until late An alternative control strategy, based on biomarker-based risk August, requiring 1700 GDD32. These cover crops suppressed assessment and diagnostics, could provide storage managers warm-season weeds (pigweed and lambsquarters) until low fall with effective tools that predict, diagnose, and distinguish these temperatures inhibited the cover crops, but cool season weeds disorders to efficiently target treatments, guide storage manage- (such as chickweed and shepherds purse) continued to grow ment and marketing decisions, and improve quality assurance after these cover crops were terminated by frost. A variety of throughout the supply chain. Biomarker-based tools will be environmental factors determined the extreme planting dates for developed for disorders that impact nationwide apple fruit sales these cover crops, but these limits can now be estimated for the including superficial scald, carbon dioxide induced injury, diffuse whole region. Ample opportunities exist for establishing before browning of the flesh, and soft-scald/ soggy breakdown. Tools or after vegetable crops. will be developed by contrasting metabolic responses related to different postharvest disorders and/or provoked by postharvest This research was supported by a grant from the USDA–NIFA regimes that alter disorder incidence and severity. Candidate Organic Research and Extension Initiative. biomarkers and metabolic fingerprints will be discovered using untargeted metabolic and gene expression profiling approaches. Monday, September 26, 2011 The economic feasibility of biomarker-based tools will be 9:45–10:15 am Grand Promenade evaluated according to the different roles of stakeholders within the apple supply chain and different apple production regions. SCRI Poster Session Transfer of biomarker-based diagnostic concepts and tools for industrial use will be actively pursued so new technology can (SCRI-1) A Diagnostic Toolbox for Integrated be employed in the field. Management of Apple Postharvest Necrotic Specified Source(s) of Funding:NIFA–SCRI, Washington Tree Disorders Fruit Research Commission, AgroFresh Inc. David Rudell* USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] (SCRI-2) Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids for Kentucky Bluegrass Sod Production Christopher B. Watkins Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] Shane Griffith James P. Mattheis University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; [email protected] USDA ARS, Wenatchee, WA; [email protected] James Giovannoni Douglas J. Soldat* University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; USDA–ARS, Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] [email protected] Maarten Hertog John C. Stier University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; jstier@ BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, wisc.edu Heverlee, Belgium; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S293 Richard Wolkowski are not. Onion thrips cause drastic yield losses, are difficult to University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; control, and spread Iris yellow spot virus, that is a devastating [email protected] foliar disease. Disease symptoms are exacerbated by hot, dry Linking sod production to waste management via land application climatic conditions that also favor rapid thrips multiplication and of municipal biosolids can lead to beneficial disposal of nutrient reduced control efficacy. Currently, no onion cultivar is resistant rich waste. Biosolids may also mitigate the loss of soil from sod or tolerant to Iris yellow spot (IYS) and/or thrips damage. Onion fields during harvest operations. The objective of this study is germplasm, that is less attractive to thrips feeding, would aid in to increase the profitability and sustainability of sod produc- the development of disease-tolerant cultivars. In the hopes of tion by developing a biosolids-based sod production system in finding IYS-tolerant onion germplasm, 48 onion plant introduc- Wisconsin. Four replications of seven treatments were arranged tion accessions were evaluated for leaf characteristics, onion in a randomized complete-block design at a sod production thrips number/plant, and IYS disease severity. Accessions were farm in Marshall, WI on a Dodge silt loam (Fine-silty, mixed, evaluated for leaf color (scale of 1–4 where 1 = light green color superactive, mesic Typic Hapludalfs). Plot size was 25 m by 8 and 4 = blue), leaf waxiness (scale of 1–4, where 1 = glossy and m, and all operations were performed using farm equipment. 4 = waxy), and leaf axil pattern (scale of 1–4, where 1 = very Two biosolids materials were utilized from the Madison Metro- open and 4 = tight) when grown in Las Cruces, NM. Thrips politan Sewage District (dewatered class B biosolids cake and number was counted from ten plants per plot at three separate cake mixed with sand and sawdust), and were applied at three times throughout the growing season. Ten plants/plot were rated rates based on their estimated supply of plant available nitrogen. individually at three separate times for IYS severity (scale of The final treatment was a control which mimicked conventional 0–4, where 0 = no symptoms, 1 = 1 to 2 small lesions per leaf, sod maintenance techniques including synthetic nitrogen fertil- 2 = >2 medium-sized lesions per leaf, 3 = lesions coalescing on izer. Biosolids were incorporated to a depth of 5 cm and plots more than 25% of the leaf, and 4 = more than 50% leaf death). were seeded with Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). Stand Twelve accessions were rated as having light to dark green leaf density, turf color, and soil volumetric moisture content were color, three were rated as having semi-glossy to glossy leaves, measured weekly during establishment in 2009 and 2010. Once and one possessed an open leaf axil pattern. PIs 165498, 258956, turf established measurements included turf quality, turf color, and 264320 possessed semi-glossy foliage that was dark green clipping yield, soil moisture, and sod tensile strength. Soil cor- in color. Thrips number per plant was highest at 12 weeks post ing to a 30 cm depth in 10 cm increments was performed prior transplanting while the number decreased afterwards up to 16 to treatment application and again one year after biosolids were weeks. At 12 weeks, plants of PI 165498 had fewer thrips per applied to track the annual change in soil elemental composition. plant than plants of other accessions. At 16 weeks, PIs 249899, Data show that all rates and sources of biosolids result in similar 288073, and 391509 exhibited less severe IYS symptoms than establishment as the standard sod production practice, which other accessions. Through this evaluation, accessions have been consisted of inorganic fertilizer applied annually at 250 kg·ha–1 identified that possess characteristics favorable for the develop- of N. Turf quality and color increased with N fertility and were ment of thrips and/or IYS disease tolerant/resistant cultivars. greatest when cake was applied at 500 or 1000 kg·ha–1 of plant Specified Source(s) of Funding: This research was funded by available N, though not statistically different than the standard the USDA–CSREES Specialty Crop Research Initiative, grant practice. Sod strength increased with decreasing nitrogen fertil- award 2008-51180-04875 and the New Mexico Agricultural ity and was greatest for the 250 kg·ha–1 of N application of cake Experiment Station. and mix. Preliminary soil testing results show that increases in soil P may limit the application rate of biosolids. These results (SCRI-4) Fruit Development Period in suggest that biosolids-based sod production can meet or exceed a Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum current agronomic goals for sod production in Wisconsin. L.) Population Segregating for Chilling Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-SCRI Requirement (SCRI-3) Evaluation of Onion Plant Rachel A. Itle* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Introduction Accessions for Leaf James F. Hancock Characteristics, Onion Thrips Number per Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; hancock@ Plant, and Iris Yellow Spot Disease Severity msu.edu Christopher S. Cramer* Chad E. Finn New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; finnc@hort. [email protected] oregonstate.edu Onion leaf color, waxiness, and axil pattern has been associ- Edmund J. Wheeler ated with onion thrips feeding preference. Plants, that possess Grand Junction, MI; [email protected] a closed leaf axil pattern, blue to dark green leaf color, and Julie Graham waxy leaves, are preferred by onion thrips while plants, that Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Julie. possess an open pattern, light green color, and glossy leaves, [email protected]

S294 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Susan McCallum (SCRI-5) Growing Blueberry Knowledge via Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Susan. Social Networks [email protected] Denise Attaway* Blake Branch LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. Grand Junction, MI; [email protected] edu Nahla V. Bassil Natalie Hummel USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; nhummel@agcenter. Lisa J. Rowland lsu.edu USDA ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected]. Krisanna Machtmes gov LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; KMachtmes@agcenter. James W. Olmstead lsu.edu University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] The All About Blueberries Community of Practice (CoP) was Once a plant enters dormancy, accumulation of adequate built to help guide blueberry producers in the southeastern re- chilling is a key component necessary for the onset of normal gion of the United States in methods to maximize productivity, reproductive and vegetative development. The range of chill- decrease production costs and increase the marketability of their ing accumulation required for highbush blueberry (Vaccinium crops. The All About Blueberries CoP is incorporating the best corymbosum L.) cultivars varies from near 150 hours at 0–7 °C existing Cooperative Extension publications and developing new to greater than 1,000 hours. Knowledge of the chilling require- research-based extension recommendations related to blueberry ment for a blueberry cultivar is critical to properly identify the production and consumption on its website: www.extension.org/ climatic range suitable for production. To determine the quan- blueberries. The website officially launched 31 Aug. 2010. Social titative trait loci (QTL) associated with chilling requirement, Networking sites such as Facebook, WordPress and Twitter are an intra-specific cross between the northern highbush ‘Draper’ being utilized to help draw traffic to the website. Information (> 800 h chill requirement) and southern highbush ‘Jewel’ (< found on the website is posted on the Social Network pages with links to the information on the website. A broader audience is 200 h chill requirement) was made to create a segregating F1 population consisting of 105 individuals. Plants were then reached by using these Social Network sites and, thus, traffic to clonally propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings in 2007 and the website is increasing. The CoP is using Google Analytics to planted in four U.S. locations in 2009. The locations were measure website activity. In the seven months since the website selected based upon varying degrees of total chill hours and launched, 15,646 pageviews have been made. Facebook ranks winter temperatures and include: Gainesville, FL; Manor, GA; 7 of 29, and Twitter ranks 18 of 29 in Entrance Sources used Corvallis, OR; and Grand Junction, MI. The chilling requirement to view information on the website. WordPress Site Statistics of each individual in the population was calculated by budbreak reveal a total of 1,311 views of blogs posted on the site. These of potted plants removed from an unheated greenhouse after 50 figures are constantly increasing. In addition to these sites, the chill-hour intervals using a modification of the Utah Chill Unit CoP also is using Flickr, an online photo management and shar- Model for peach. The impact of insufficient chill accumulation ing application, to obtain photos to use in building the website. was expected to be greatest at the Georgia and Florida sites; Using Flickr allows the CoP to reach a broader audience with however, abnormally cool winter temperatures resulted in higher its message about blueberries. All of the online tools used by than normal chill accumulation by March 1, 2011, particularly the All About Blueberries CoP are free to use and free to acin Florida (approx. 300 hours average, 580 hours in 2011). Thus, cess. Using Social Networks to share knowledge is a great way we had the unique opportunity to study the interplay between to reach more people. According to Uday Saxena, “If utilized chill hour requirement and fruit development period at the well, social media can lead to great success . . . it is possible to Georgia and Florida locations. Plants in Georgia and Florida conduct regular business online.” were evaluated for all segregating characteristics related to Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Award Number fruit development period in 2011, including flower and leaf 2009.51181.06093 developmental stages, overall plant characteristics, fruit quality traits, and post harvest quality. Variation was observed within (SCRI-6) Growth of Petunia as Affected by and between locations suggesting environmental and genetic Substrate Moisture Content and Fertilizer Rate control over traits related to fruit developmental period. The Alem Peter* observed phenotypic variation present in this population will University of Georgia, Athens, GA; peteralem@yahoo. be used for future QTL studies to enable the identification of com genomic regions associated with these traits, with the ultimate goal of developing marker-assisted breeding strategies to select Paul A. Thomas for variation in fruit developmental period. University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–NIFA–SCRI X08- Marc van Iersel 5358-634 University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S295 The rising costs of farm inputs, including fertilizer, have be utilized to cross directly with tetraploid species. However, increased the cost of producing plants in the recent years. In- in diploid Vaccinium arboreum, unreduced gamete production creasing water scarcity and rising concerns over environmental is rare, and direct hybridization with other diploid Vaccinium impacts of excessive water and fertilizer use in the horticultural species resulted in high levels of sterility. This is presumably due industry are posing additional challenges to the industry. In to genome divergence, as V. arboreum is in the Vacciniumsec- greenhouse production, much of the applied fertilizer can be tion Batodendron, whereas all cultivated blueberries belong to lost through leaching if irrigation is excessive. Soil moisture section Cyanococcus. Therefore, V. arboreum seed were treated sensor-controlled irrigation can greatly reduce or even eliminate with colchicine to induce chromosome doubling for the purpose leaching, thus allowing for lower fertilizer rates. The objective of developing plants that could be directly hybridized with of our study was to determine the optimal fertilizer rates for tetraploid V. corymbosum. Putatively tetraploid V. arboreum petunia grown at different substrate volumetric water contents plants were identified by pollen and stomata size and used to (θ). Petunias (Petunia ×hybrida ’Dreams White’) were grown cross with tetraploid V. corymbosum germplasm. The resulting at four substrate θ levels (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m3·m–3) and with hybrid selections are presumed to result from an amphidiploid eight fertilizer rates of controlled release fertilizer (Osmocote pairing of the genomes of V. arboreum and V. corymbosum . 14–14–14; 14N–6.1P–11.6K) applied at rates ranging from 0 to The objective of this research was to confirm tetraploidy of the 2.5 g/plant. Shoot dry weight increased with increasing fertilizer hybrids and colchicines-seedlings treated by flow cytometry prior rates up to 1.3–1.7 g/plant, irrespective of θ. Shoot dry weight to their utilization in backcross and hybrid breeding methods. θ also increased with increasing substrate and plants were more Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA–SCRI-FLA- θ θ response to fertilizer at higher (i.e. fertilizer × interaction). HOS-004960 Substrate water content and fertilizer rate also affected leaf size; θ the size of leaves doubled as the set point increased from 0.10 (SCRI-8) In Vitro Storage and Cryopreservation to 0.40 m3·m–3 and increased by 16% to 34% as the fertilizer rate increased from 0 to 2.5 g/plant. Water use varied with the of ‘Ohelo Seed and Tissue Cultures θ set point; approximately 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 L/plant was needed Barbara M. Reed* to grow petunias from plug seedling to full bloom in 23 days at USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] θ of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m3·m–3, respectively. Esther E. Uchendu Specified Source(s) of Funding: Funding provided by USDA- University of Guelph, Guelph, ON; [email protected] NIFA–SCRI Award no. 2009-51181-05768 and the American Floral Endowment Sugae Wada Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; wadas@hort. oregonstate.edu (SCRI-7) Identification of Tetraploid Hybrids between Vaccinium arboreum and Vaccinium Francis T.P. Zee USDA–ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; Francis.Zee@ars. corymbosum by Flow Cytometry usda.gov Hilda Patricia Rodriguez-Armenta* ‘Ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum Smith) is a native shrub of Ha- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] waii and Maui commonly found in disturbed, open sites at 640 James W. Olmstead to 3700 m elevation. Three cultivars: Kilauea, Red Button, and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Nene were selected for ornamental use due to their compact Wild species are often utilized in horticultural breeding pro- form and bright red and waxy new growth. This study tested in grams as sources of novel and/or increased levels of traits not vitro cold storage and cryopreservation of shoot tips of these present in the cultivated germplasm. The University of Florida cultivars and cryopreservation of seed for germplasm preser- blueberry breeding program is no exception, with the crosses vation. Shoot cultures in tissue-culture bags were maintained involving wild Vaccinium species occupying up to 20% of the in good condition in 4 °C cold storage for 16 months before breeding resources each cycle. Recently the focus has been on requiring repropagation. Shoot tips were moderately desiccation utilizing Vaccinium arboreum, commonly known as sparkle- sensitive, but could be cryopreserved by any of three protocols. berry, as a source of several adaptive characteristics of interest Regrowth following controlled rate cooling was 42% to 50%; for blueberry production, such as tolerance to higher soil pH, encapsulation dehydration 60% to 75%; and PVS2 vitrification a deeper root system, and single trunk architecture. One of the 45% to 70%. Wild collected seed was tested for germination primary barriers to incorporation of wild Vaccinium species in after 3 month at room temperature or –20 °C storage and after the breeding program is the lack of chromosome number con- cryopreservation. Room-temperature stored seed displayed gruence among species. Vaccinium species range from diploid dormancy that was broken by cryopreservation. High levels of (2n = 2x = 24) to hexaploid (2n = 6x = 72), with cultivated germination were noted for the –20 °C stored seed and the cryo- southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) being preserved seed. These studies show that ‘ôhelo germplasm can (2n = 4x = 48). In some cases, a bridge between ploidal levels be successfully cold stored as tissue cultures or cryopreserved occurs naturally, as is the case in diploid Vaccinium darrowii, as shoot tips or seeds. where a relatively high frequency of unreduced gametes can Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI

S296 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (SCRI-9) Preharvest Applications of Ethephon Eugene K. Blythe Increases Phenolics and Skinning Tolerance in Mississippi State University, Poplarville, MS; blythe@ Sweetpotato pss.msstate.edu Donna Marshall Ramon A. Arancibia* USDA–ARS, Poplarville, MS; Donna.Marshall@ars. Mississippi State Univ-MAFES, Pontotoc, MS; raa66@ usda.gov msstate.edu In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer Jeffrey L. Main demand for fresh blueberries throughout the year, which also Pontotoc, MS; [email protected] increases the demand for sites suitable for growing blueberries. Xiang Wang Commercial blueberries, particularly Vaccinium corymbosum, Mississippi State University, Pontotoc, MS; xw119@ have very specific needs for optimum growth; hence, growing msstate.edu sites are limited. They require acidic soil (pH 4.0–5.5), good Preharvest foliar application of ethephon has been suggested drainage, thorough aeration, and a constant moderate amount to set the skin of sweetpotato storage roots and reduce skin- of moisture. V. corymbosum has a fibrous, shallow root sys- ning at harvest. Therefore, the objective of this study was to tem, making it susceptible to drought and wind damage. To determine the association of ethephon with skinning incidence overcome these restrictions, they could be grafted onto a plant and with the activation of the lignin pathway as a way to adapted to less desirable growing conditions. One potential toughen the skin. Ethephon was applied 1, 3 and 7 days be- rootstock is V. arboreum, which has the ability to grow in fore harvest (dbh) at rates of 4.4 oz/ac, 8.8 oz/ac, 17.6 oz/ac, many areas that could not be used for commercial blueberries. and 26.4 oz/ac. Ethephon treatments were devined the day of In the past, propagation of V. arboreum has been difficult, harvest. Control treatments consisted in devining the plants but there has not been much research on the subject. Cur- 1, 3, and 7 dbh. Skinning incidence ranged between one and rently, V. arboreum plants are commercially propagated from 11 skins (wounds) per root. Skinning was the same among seeds. Asexual propagation techniques will be necessary for ethephon rates and controls at each application time. However, rapid clonal propagation of selected varieties of V. arboreum. devining or applying ethephon 3 and 7dbh reduced skinning The objective of this experiment was to identify an ideal way incidence to 3 skins per root in comparison to 1dbh (5.4 skins to propagate V. arboreum using stem cuttings. We determined per root). Since phenolic compounds are the precursors of rooting success of juvenile and mature tissue of hardwood lignin for skin lignification, samples of storage roots were and softwood cuttings subjected to different concentrations analyzed for phenolic content right after harvest. Phenolic of rooting hormones. The results of this experiment can content, as chlorogenic acid equivalents, was the same in the be used to determine the feasibility of using stem cuttings to skin for all treatments and ranged between 9 and 14 mg/g FW. commercially propagate selected varieties of V. arboreum. In contrast, the average phenolic content in the cortex and Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Sustainability and stele of untreated roots were 0.75 mg/g FW and 0.43 mg/g Profitability of U.S. Blueberry Production FW respectively. Ethephon applications increased phenolic content between 25% and 146% depending on ethephon rate (SCRI-11) Soil Moisture Sensors for Monitoring and tissue. Although ethephon is applied to the foliage, these and Controlling Subirrigation: A Case Study results suggest that somehow it activates the phenolic/lignin pathway in the roots which may be contributing to skin set and with Hibiscus skinning resistance. Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI-USDA Campinas State University /UNICAMP, Campinas; [email protected] (SCRI-10) Propagation of Vaccinium arboreum Marc van Iersel* for Use as a Rootstock for Commercial University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Blueberries Roberto Tezteslaf Campinas State University /UNICAMP, Campinas; bob@ Jessica R. Bowerman* feagri.unicamp.br Auburn University, Auburn, AL; jessbowerman@gmail. com Subirrigation has the potential to reduce water and nutrient runoff from greenhouses and allows for recycling and reuse James D. Spiers of the nutrient solution. However, subirrigation systems are Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] usually controlled by timers, irrespective of plant water re- Elina D. Coneva quirements. Our objectives were to automate a subirrigation Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] system using soil moisture sensors to monitor and control substrate water content and to quantify the effect of substrate Ken Tilt water content on hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama Red’) Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] growth. Automation was accomplished by connecting three

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S297 capacitance soil moisture sensors per bench to a datalogger. non-melting types. The firm-melting genotypes had improved When the substrate water content dropped below a thresh- skin quality, skin color, and taste after 2 weeks of storage old [10, 18, 26, 34, or 42% (v/v)], irrigation was turned on and maintained higher skin quality with reduced incidences for 3 minutes, followed by complete drainage. Results indi- of flesh browning after 4 weeks compared to melting types. cated that sensors were effective in monitoring and controlling After 4 weeks of cold storage, the firm-melting genotypes had subirrigation, and that substrate water content thresholds can the least browning of all types and the non-melting genotypes be used to regulate plant growth. The treatments with low sub- had superior skin quality and skin and flesh color over all other strate water content resulted in fewer irrigations, less nutrient types. SSC differences were not observed. The pH of 67% of solution use, and reduced plant dry weight and height. the genotypes increased during 4 weeks of storage. No significant difference was observed in storage performance among Specified Source(s) of Funding: Funding provided by the pre-storage treatments. Capes Foundation (Brazilian department of Education, grant no. BEX 1390/10-4) and USDA-NIFA–SCRI (Award no. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Partial funding through Ros- 2009-51181-05768) BREED

(SCRI-12) Storage Performance of University (SCRI-13) Testing a Modified Airblast Sprayer of Arkansas Peach and Nectarine Genotypes for Use in Citrus Harvested at Different Maturities and Leo Gene Albrigo* Subjected to Pre-storage Treatments Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] Paul J. Sandefur* Lav R. Khot University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; psandefu@uark. Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] edu Reza Ehsani John R. Clark University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; [email protected] Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] The University of Arkansas peach breeding program focuses Schumann Arnold on diverse flesh types in peaches and nectarines. Breeding Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] has led to firm-melting and non-melting genotypes that are William M. Larzelere firm when well-mature, intended to allow for fruit to be picked Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] at a higher quality state than melting-flesh genotypes. How- ever, no postharvest evaluations have been conducted. Fruit Andrew Landers from 30 genotypes with flesh types including non-melting, Cornell University, Geneva, NY; andrew.landers@cornell. standard-melting, and firm-melting were sampled. Genotypes edu also varied for low- to standard-acid flavor, pit adherence, An airblast sprayer was modified with individually adjust- soluble solids content (SSC), and flesh color. Fruits were able volume spray nozzles and an adjustable louver diverter harvested at two maturity stages, minimum maturity (com- for the lower 60% of air volume. These are to be controlled mercial ripe) and well-mature (tree ripe). After harvest, fruit based on laser sensor determination of tree size and canopy were conditioned for 24 hours at ~20 °C and then exposed to density. A previously designed tower collector for spray 2 min of ~1 °C hydro-cooling with 100 ppm chlorine, a 2 min pattern was modified to allow collection of spray driven by high hot water dip at ~50 °C, or rinsed with ~20 °C water. Fruit velocity air at lower heights, 1 to 8 feet, for basic determina- were then stored at ~1 °C for 4 weeks and sampled weekly. tion of spray deposition with height. Surround clay product Prior to evaluation, fruit were warmed at ~20 °C for 24 hours. was used in the spray mix for visual determination of leaf SSC, pH, skin quality and color, flesh color, flavor, and flesh deposition in field tests. Without control of air flow or spray browning were evaluated. A three-way interaction for maturity, nozzle volume, excessive spray was delivered to the first genotype, and storage length was found for the variables. After 8 feet of tree height. The effects of adjusting nozzle vol- 4 weeks of cold storage, both melting and non-melting fruit ume and air flow on spray deposition are reported for basic harvested at the well-mature level showed greater reductions in spray delivery and deposition on front and back of leaves at flesh and skin color quality, skin condition, and taste, and had different tree heights and depth into the canopy. Without controls more flesh browning than fruit harvested at minimum maturity. outer leaf surfaces were over-sprayed up to 8 feet of height The standard melting, white genotypes picked at the well-mature with poor penetration to inner leaves while upper tree leaves level had poorer flesh and skin color, skin condition, and taste received lower than desirable deposits. compared to standard yellow melting genotypes picked at the same well-mature stage. This trend was not found in the Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Florida and firm-melting or non-melting types. After 2 weeks of storage, SCRI the melting genotypes showed higher levels of flesh browning and diminished flesh and skin color, quality, and taste over

S298 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Monday, September 26, 2011 Girisha Ganjegunte 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom Texas Agric. Expt. Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected]. edu BioEnergy The use of marginal land (saline soils and saline water) for pro- (281) Yield Potential and Oil Quality of Pappea ducing biofuel feedstocks will help reduce energy dependence on foreign oils, while minimizing the direct competition with capensis Eckl. & Zeyh. (Jacket Plum Tree) for food production. To be grown successfully in marginal land, Biodiesel Production bioenergy crops must be tolerant to drought and salt stresses. Elsa S. Du Toit* The objective of this study was to evaluate the drought and salt University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; [email protected] tolerance of selected oilseed crops during germination stage. A total of 9 treatments (solutions) were created, a control (distilled M.O. Cloete water, DI), four drought levels of –0.30, –0.58, –0.80, –1.05 University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; michele.cloete@ MPa, which were equivalent in osmotic potential to the four tuks.co.za salt stress levels of 50, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl. Drought and P.J. Robbertse salt stresses were created by adding PEG (Polyethylene) and University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; hannes.robbertse@ NaCl to DI water, respectively. Twenty seeds of two genotypes up.ac.za of canola DKW 47-15 and DKW 45-10, three genotypes of camelina Cheyenne spring, BSX-WG1, and BSX-WG3, and Pappea capensis Eckl. & Zeyh. is a member of the Sapindaceae three genotypes of safflower CW 1221, CW-99-OL, and PI family and widely distributed throughout Southern Africa. This 406002 were sown in Petri dishes containing a filter paper wet- tree is considered drought and frost tolerant, with its edible ted with respective treatment solutions. Genotype and treatment fruit being of economical importance. The seed contains a high interactively affected germination for canola and camelina. For concentration of oil that shows great potential to be used as a safflower, germination rates differed among genotypes and was bio-diesel. No information is available on the phenology of the affected by treatments, but no interaction between genotype and tree, seed yields or the quality of the oil. In this study it was found treatment was observed. Treatment and genotype interactively that the trees are andromonoecious, starting with male flowers affected the radical and hypocotyls elongation of camelina and and switching to the production of female flowers. Flowers and safflower. For canola, high drought and salt stresses reduced fruit are borne on shoot terminals mostly on the canopy surface. radical and hypocotyls elongation. Results indicated different The seed, embedded in an aril, is contained in a capsule. A frame responses to drought and salt stresses among genotypes of all counting technique was applied to determine fruit and seed yield three crops. Further studies are needed to evaluate the tolerance per tree. An average of 21.85 kg of seed was obtained from trees to drought and salt stresses during seedling emergence and early with an average canopy surface area of 20 m2. The seed contains growth stages for potentially tolerant genotypes. about 73.5% oil which conformed to the 14.81 litres of oil we obtained from 21.85 kg seed. From these results extrapolations were made, showing that yields of 3018 kg of seed (1996.41 litre oil) from 200 trees per hectare should be possible. The oil Monday, September 26, 2011 was extracted with a press and samples were analysed by the 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom company ‘BioServices’ in Randburg, South Africa, according to the American Oil Chemist Society standards and it was found Crop Physiology 1 suitable for the use in bio-fuel production as a B5-blend. This is a first study attempting to estimate the fruit/seed/oil yield of (321) Anthocyanin Composition and Pappea capensis trees. There is a strong correlation between Concentration in the Pericarp of Litchi chinensis yield obtained from frame counting and manual harvesting. Sonn. Figures where obtained from wild population trees, therefore higher yields can be expected from grafted and cultivated trees. Xiaojing Li* South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; Specified Source(s) of Funding:NRF (National Research Foun- [email protected] dation South Africa) Huicong Wang (282) Production of Oilseed Crops on Marginal South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; Land: Drought and Salt Tolerance of Selected [email protected] Oilseed Crops during Germination Stage Zehuai Wang Genhua Niu* South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; Texas Agric. Expt. Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected] [email protected] Seiichi Miyamoto Jianguo Li Texas Agric. Expt. Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected]. South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou; Jianli@ edu scau.edu.cn

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S299 Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is one of the important sub- vine resulted in a similar number of forced shoots and clusters tropical fruit crops in China, which has diverse varieties with compared to that of complete removal, but lower vine vigor, different fruit colors. Red color on litchi fruit is the expres- smaller clusters, and lower yield of forced crop. Retaining leaves sion of anthocyanins. Anthocyanin-accumulating fruit often or laterals in combination with or without primary clusters had display a range of intermediary colors from green to pink, similar inhibiting effect, producing fewer forced shoots and then red or blue and finally purple to black with increasing clusters, approximately 50% that of complete removal or when anthocyanin and decreasing chlorophyll levels. In the present only primary clusters were retained. Retaining both leaves study, the composition and concentration of anthocyanins were and laterals or retaining all produced the least forced shoots surveyed by high performance liquid chromatograpy and pH- and clusters, suggesting that the inhibiting effects of leaves differential spectrum method for assessing genotypic variation and laterals are cumulative. Highest yield of forced crop and in the pericarp of sixty litchis, including early, mid and late pruning weight of forced shoots were observed when all pri- season varieties. Anthocyanin concentration ranged from none mary clusters, leaves, and laterals were removed. The research to 1170 mg·m–2 in the pericarp of litchi. Cyanidin-3-glucoside demonstrated the need for complete removal of shoot tips, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were identified as the dominant clusters, laterals, and leaves to achieve maximum vine vigor anthocyanins in red litchi varieties. The concentrations of and yield when crop forcing is used to force vine regrowth in anthocyanins in the pericarp of litchi were codetermined by order to produce better quality fruit of Cabernet Sauvignon in genetical background and environmental factors, while the warm regions for winegrape production. relative levels of individual anthocyanins were determined Specified Source(s) of Funding: California State University only by genetical background. Consistent relative levels of –Agricultural Research Institute (CSU-ARI) individual anthocyanins were detected in the pericarp of same cultivar from different production year, area and pigmentation manipulative treatments. Cyanidin-3-rutinoside was the most (324) Volatile Organic Compound Emissions abundant anthocyanins in the majority of varieties tested. The from Citrus in California Airsheds relative peak area of cyanidin-3-rutinoside was greater than John F. Karlik* 90% and 80% in late season and mid season varieties respec- University of California Coop Extn, Bakersfield, CA; tively. In early season varieties, however, cyanidin-3-glucoside [email protected] was the predominant anthocyanins, which had more than 60% Craig E. Kallsen relative peak area. University of California Coop Extn, Bakersfield, CA; Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Natural Science [email protected] Funds of China Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are emitted from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, and in the lower atmo- (322) Inhibiting Effect of Primary Clusters, sphere may participate in photochemical reactions with ox- Leaves, and Laterals on Vine Regrowth and ides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce ozone, particulate matter, Yield Components in Cabernet Sauvignon and other secondary air pollutants. Green plants are sources of biogenic VOC, with emission strength dependent upon Grapevines under Crop Forcing species-specific emission rate and amount of leaf mass, as Sanliang Gu* well as environmental factors such as light and temperature. California State University, Fresno, CA; sanliang_gu@ Understanding the biogenic VOC contribution in a region is csufresno.edu critical for formulating effective air quality attainment policy, since reductions in photochemical products depend on reduc- Brodie McCarthy tions of precursor VOC, NOx, or both. A study to measure California State University, Fresno, CA; brodster43@ VOC emissions from five Citrus species and varieties was mail.fresnostate.edu conducted using a dynamic enclosure technique, followed by Hemant Gohil a field study focusing on orange ‘Parent Navel’ using an eddy California State University, Fresno, CA; hgohil@ covariance technique. Emission rates per g dry leaf mass were csufresno.edu low compared to previously identified high-emitters such as Our previous research has demonstrated the potential of crop certain native oak species and eucalyptus. Also, the principal forcing to shift fruit ripening of grapevines to the cooler por- VOC emitted by citrus were the oxygenated VOC methanol tion of the growing season in warm regions. An experiment and acetone, but isoprene and its oxidation products were found was conducted in a mature Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in at low levels. These results indicate the citrus species studied Fresno, CA in 2010 to determine the inhibiting effect of primary have an emission profile unlike those of high-emitters and also clusters, leaves, and laterals on current season compound bud unlike native pines and oaks surrounding California’s Central break, vine regrowth and yield components under crop forc- Valley. Despite the extensive land area of citrus cultivation in ing. At pea-sized berry stage vines hedged to 6 nodes were California, these results imply low BVOC contribution from subjected to removal of all possible combinations of primary citrus to regional air masses. clusters, leaves and/or laterals. Retaining primary clusters on the Specified Source(s) of Funding: Citrus Research Board

S300 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (325) Investigations into Enzymatic and Non- -3-coumaroyl-glucosides (3-C-G). All the Mv based glucosides Enzymatic Antioxidants in Different Cultivars comprised 70% to 75% while all 3-G forms comprised 50% to of Blueberry 70% of the total anthocyanins. As skin anthocyanins increased during berry ripening, all forms of De, Pt, Pn, and Mv gluco- Chaim Kempler sides increased, but all forms of Cy glucosides as well as De-, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; Chaim. Pt-, Pn- and Cy-3-C-G were at very low concentration or did [email protected] not exist. The green-soft and pink berries did not accumulate Tissa Kannangara* non Mv based anthocyanins at 10 °C after 4 days, either with or Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; without ABA. De-, Pt-, Pn-3-G and Pn-3-A-G reached maximal [email protected] at 20 °C, Mv-3-G and Mv-3-A-G at 30 °C and Mv-3-C-G at David Ehret 40 °C with or without ABA. ABA enhanced the accumulation Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; David. of Mv based anthocyanins at 30 and 40 °C as well as 3-G based [email protected] anthocyanins at 20, 30 and 40 °C. The research suggests that ABA enhances skin anthocyanins at high temperatures possibly The consumption of fruits rich in antioxidants is encouraged in by preventing their degradation. It also demonstrates a greater the prevention and treatment of illnesses such as cancer. Berries degradation potential of non Mv based anthocyanins at higher (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry) are rich sources of dietary an- temperatures while all 3-C-G were least affected by and least tioxidants and hence plant breeders interested in improving fruit sensitive to temperatures. quality may use antioxidants as a selection criterion, in addition to parameters such as sugar content or titratable acidity. In the Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agricultural Research Institute, present investigation we compared the enzymatic antioxidants, Constellation Wine U.S., and Valent BioSciences Corporation superoxide dismutase(SOD) and peroxidase, and non-enzymatic (328) Comparative Evaluation of the Mode antioxidant anthocyanin in a number of blueberry cultivars. of Action and Efficacy of Blossom Thinning Titratable acidity, sugar content, fruit size and firmness were also determined. Anthocyanin content was determined using Materials in Apple both the pH differential method and high performance liquid Jozsef Racsko* chromatography. Blueberries used in the investigation were The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH; racsko.1@osu. harvested from 4-year old plants grown in the Fraser Valley of edu British Columbia and a total of seven varieties and four selections Diane Doud Miller were examined in the study. The cultivar ‘Draper’ had the highest Ohio State Univ-OARDC, Wooster, OH; miller.87@osu. SOD followed by ‘Reka’. In contrast, peroxidase activity was edu higher in ‘Reka’ than in ‘Draper’. The data demonstrates genetic variation in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels Present study summarizes the major results on blossom thinning among cultivars. This variation may be used to select for these experiments in apples obtained at the Ohio State University . important compounds in berry breeding programs. Five sets of lab and field trials were established to study blossom thinners/thinning programs from both physiological and Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada practical viewpoints. In Trial 1, a comparison of potential thin- (326) Effect of Temperature and Abscisic Acid ning materials with physical (petroleum oil, PO–2%; kaolin on Profile of Skin Anthocyanins in Cabernet clay, KC–12.5%; and carnauba wax emulsion, CW–20%) and chemical mode of action (ammonium thiosulfate, ATS–1.5%; Sauvignon Berries lime sulfur, LS–2%; and sodium chloride, SC–2%) were evalu- Hemant Gohil ated in ‘Fuji’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivars. Although the California State University, Fresno, CA; hgohil@ efficiency of thinners with chemical mode of action in reduc- csufresno.edu ing fruit set was significantly higher than the physical group Sanliang Gu* in both cultivars, they had considerable phytotoxic effects on California State University, Fresno, CA; sanliang_gu@ young leaves (decreased relative chlorophyll content, reduced csufresno.edu photosynthesis). Scanning electronmicroscopy imaging of surface morphology of apple stigmas revealed considerable An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of tempera- differences among the materials applied, however, no visual ture and Abscisic acid (ABA) on skin anthocyanins in Cabernet differences of anthers were observed. Pollen germination was Sauvignon grapes in 2009. Berries detached from rachis with not significantly reduced by chemicals with physical mode of intact pedicels were submerged for 10 minutes in ABA solution action but by caustic materials. The timing experiment (Trial 2) at 600 ppm for green-soft, pink and red berries at veraison, two in ‘Golden Delicious’ with CW (20%) or ATS (1.5%) showed that weeks prior to harvest. Berries were then placed in plastic bags single applications at 50% full bloom were the most effective, with small holes, incubated at 10, 20, 30, and 40 °C for 4 days, compared to the applications at 0%, 20%, or 80% full bloom. and analyzed for individual anthocyanins, including delphinidin Multiple sprays at 20% + 50%, 50% + 80% or 20% + 50% + (De), cyanidin (Cy), petunidin (Pt), peonidin (Pn), and malvidin 80% were equally effective. Trial 3 was set up on the comparison (Mv) -3-glucosides (3-G); -3-acetyle-glucosides (3-A-G); and of thinner concentrations in ‘Golden Delicious’; 10, 20, or 40%

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S301 CW and 0.5, 1.5, or 4% ATS were sprayed at full bloom. Single in one trial), color, and storage breakdown. ReTain failed to applications of any of these concentrations caused reduction in reduce fruit drop prior to commercial harvest in most of the fruit set but they were not significantly different from each other. trials, however ReTain did reduce drop of fruit remaining on 4% ATS caused severe leaf damage and fruit russetting. In Trial trees after commercial harvest in some trials, presenting the 4 (cultivar comparison), no significant differences were found opportunity to extend harvest. ReTain-treated fruit were firmer in fruit set among cultivars tested, however ‘Golden Delicious’ than NAA-treated fruit in some trials. There was generally no and ‘GoldRush’ seemed to produce more russetted fruit after 2% difference in other measured attributes. CO2 production rate LS+PO application at full bloom than ‘Fuji’, ‘Honeycrisp’, or was slightly higher and fruit softer and yellower when treated ‘Gala’. Trial 5 in ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivar with 2% LS + PO 14 days prior to harvest (DPH) versus that treated 28 DPH in applied at full bloom on the comparison of different growing 2010. Preharvest applications of ReTain have failed to show sites (Berlin Heights, Wooster and Carroll) pointed out that no consistently measureable benefit as a “stop drop”, however, significant difference exists in the efficiency of blossom thinners some potential to extend the harvest window is evident. Also, among geographical locations within the state of Ohio. one postharvest trial showed improved storeability. Preharvest Specified Source(s) of Funding:OSU/OARDC treatment options that should be explored include repeated treatments and varying target applications dates based on fruit 329) Experiences with AVG (Aminoethozyvinyl maturity. In conclusion, multiple trials have as yet been unable Glyceine) to Reduce Fruit Drop and Maintain to show the unambiguous ability of ReTain to reduce pear fruit Fruit Frimness in California and Southern drop and maintain fruit firmness, however positive results in Oregon Pear Orchards some cases and the need to find alternatives for organic pear production recommend future work. Rachel B. Elkins* Lakeport, CA; [email protected] Monday, September 26, 2011 Elizabeth J. Mitcham University of California, Davis, CA; ejmitcham@ucdavis. 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom edu Floriculture 2 William V. Biasi University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] (009) Soil Moisture Sensors for Monitoring and David Sugar Controlling Subirrigation: A Case Study with Southern Oregon Experiment Sta, Medford, OR; david. Hibiscus [email protected] Rhuanito Soranz Ferrarezi Kitren Glozer Campinas State University /UNICAMP, Campinas; University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Chuck A. Ingels Marc van Iersel* University of California Cooperative Extension, University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Sacramento, CA; [email protected] Roberto Tezteslaf Campinas State University /UNICAMP, Campinas; bob@ The increase in organic pear acreage in the western U.S. has feagri.unicamp.br created the need for an alternative to the standard, very effective 1-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA), which is normally applied 7 to Subirrigation has the potential to reduce water and nutrient 10 days prior to the beginning of pear harvest. The fermentation runoff from greenhouses and allows for recycling and reuse of by-product plant growth regulator ReTain®, aminovinylglycine the nutrient solution. However, subirrigation systems are usually (AVG), inhibits ethylene production and is acceptable for controlled by timers, irrespective of plant water requirements. organic use. Multiple trials have been conducted since the late Our objectives were to automate a subirrigation system using 1990s to determine if preharvest applications could 1) extend soil moisture sensors to monitor and control substrate water the harvest window by maintaining fruit firmness, and 2) re- content and to quantify the effect of substrate water content on place NAA as a “stop drop” in organic pear orchards, since hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama Red’) growth. Automa- ReTain has been adopted for this use with anecdotal success. tion was accomplished by connecting three capacitance soil Replicated single-tree and field scale, grower-applied trials moisture sensors per bench to a datalogger. When the substrate were conducted on northern Califonia ‘Bartlett’ and southern water content dropped below a threshold [10, 18, 26, 34, or Oregon ‘Bartlett’, ‘Bosc’, and ‘Comice’ trees, both organic and 42% (v/v)], irrigation was turned on for 3 minutes, followed by conventional. ReTain was applied from 1 month to 7 days prior complete drainage. Results indicated that sensors were effective to harvest and data collected prior to harvest through 4 months in monitoring and controlling subirrigation, and that substrate of cold storage, depending on trial. Preharvest data included water content thresholds can be used to regulate plant growth. (variously) number of fallen fruit, fruit firmness, soluble solids The treatments with low substrate water content resulted in and fruit size. Postharvest quality data included fruit firmness, fewer irrigations, less nutrient solution use, and reduced plant dry weight and height. soluble solids, CO2 and ethylene production (also preharvest

S302 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Funding provided by the Capes santhemum with different flowering-heat-delay sensitivity is Foundation (Brazilian department of Education, grant no. BEX presently limited. This study determined day/night temperatures 1390/10-4) and USDA-NIFA–SCRI (Award no. 2009-51181- (30/25 °C and 20/15 °C) under 12-h photoperiod conditions on 05768) shoot apical development and flowering stages in heat-delay- insensitive ‘Kaa Luoh-Lii’ and heat-delay-sensitive ‘Repulse’. (010) Growth of Petunia as Affected by All plants had formed receptacles with shoot apical diameters Substrate Moisture Content and Fertilizer Rate of ca. 0.35 mm on day 13, and had initiated floret primordia on day 18 for both temperature treatments. On day 46, shoot apical Alem Peter* diameter ranged from 9 to 11 mm in ‘Kaa Luoh-Lii’ for both University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] temperature treatments while the apical diameter of ‘Repulse’ Paul A. Thomas was 15 mm at 20/15 °C, compared to only 5 mm at 30/25 °C. University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Shoot apical stage in ‘Kaa Luoh-Lii’ did not differ between temperature treatments. In contrast, after the initiation of outer Marc van Iersel floret primordia, ‘Repulse’ had a slower further development at University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] 30/25 °C than at 20/15 °C. Leaf number below the inflorescence The rising costs of farm inputs, including fertilizer, have did not differ between temperature treatments in both cultivars. increased the cost of producing plants in the recent years. In- The 30/25 °C treatment did not delay any flowering phase in creasing water scarcity and rising concerns over environmental ‘Kaa Luoh-Lii’, but delay the time to show color and anthesis impacts of excessive water and fertilizer use in the horticultural in ‘Repulse’ by 31 days and 33 days, respectively. industry are posing additional challenges to the industry. In Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Science Council, greenhouse production, much of the applied fertilizer can be Executive Yuan lost through leaching if irrigation is excessive. Soil moisture sensor-controlled irrigation can greatly reduce or even eliminate (012) Categorizing 19 Bedding Plant Varieties leaching, thus allowing for lower fertilizer rates. The objective of our study was to determine the optimal fertilizer rates for into Temperature Response Groups Based on petunia grown at different substrate volumetric water contents Their Estimated Base Temperatures (θ). Petunias (Petunia ×hybrida ’Dreams White’) were grown Tasneem Vaid* 3 –3 at four substrate θ levels (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m ·m ) and with Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; vaidtasn@ eight fertilizer rates of controlled release fertilizer (Osmocote msu.edu 14–14–14; 14N–6.1P–11.6K) applied at rates ranging from 0 to 2.5 g/plant. Shoot dry weight increased with increasing fertilizer Erik S. Runkle rates up to 1.3 - 1.7 g/plant, irrespective of θ. Shoot dry weight Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; runkleer@ also increased with increasing substrate θ and plants were more msu.edu response to fertilizer at higher θ (i.e. fertilizer × θ interaction). The effect of average daily air temperature on the flowering time Substrate water content and fertilizer rate also affected leaf size; and plant quality was quantified for 19 varieties of 16 common the size of leaves doubled as the θ set point increased from 0.10 bedding plant species. Antirrhinum, Calendula, Diascia, Gom- to 0.40 m3·m–3 and increased by 16% to 34% as the fertilizer phrena, Gerbera, Impatiens, Heliotropium, Matthiola, Nicotiana, rate increased from 0 to 2.5 g/plant. Water use varied with the Nemesia, Nierembergia, Osteospermum, Pelargonium, Petunia, θ set point; approximately 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 L/plant was needed Tagetes, and Torenia were grown in five glass greenhouse to grow petunias from plug seedling to full bloom in 23 days at compartments maintained at constant temperature setpoints of θ of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 m3·m–3, respectively. 14, 17, 20, 23 or 26 °C. The 16-h photoperiod consisted of the Specified Source(s) of Funding: Funding provided by USDA- natural photoperiod with supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting from 0600 to 2200 HR. The photosynthetic daily light NIFA–SCRI Award no. 2009-51181-05768 and the American –2 –1 Floral Endowment integral during this experiment varied from 8 to 26 mol·m ·d . Days to flower from transplant (DTF), flower or inflorescence number (FN), branch number (BN), number of nodes below the (011) Effects of Temperature on Shoot Apical first open flower (NN), and plant height or length of the longest Development and Flowering in Chrysanthemum lateral branch (PH) were measured when the first flower opened Cultivars with Different Heat-Delay Sensitivity on each plant. As temperature increased from 14 to 26 °C, DTF Ching-Hsueh Wang decreased for all crops except Impatiens walleriana Hook. Plant National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] quality parameters (FN, PH, and BN) increased as temperature decreased for 13, 7 and 8 species, respectively. Linear regres- Der-Ming Yeh* sion analysis was performed on the flowering rate (reciprocal of National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] days to flower) data to estimate the base temperature (Tmin) for Delayed anthesis is induced by heat in chrysanthemum [Den- each species, which is the temperature at which the flowering dranthema ×grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitam. ]. However, research rate is zero. Tmin ranged from -2.8 °C in Calendula officinalis L. of high temperature effect on developmental phases in chry- to 10.9 °C in Gomphrena globosa L. Varieties were placed into

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S303 three temperature response categories based on their estimated Gregory Lang T_min. Cold-tolerant, cold-intermediate, and cold- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; langg@msu. sensitive crops were those with estimated base temperatures edu of < 4 °C, 4 to 7 °C, and >7 °C, respectively. This temperature Michelle Kong response categorization helps growers identify the relative toler- UC Cooperative Extension, Stockton, CA; mkong@ ance of crops to low growing temperatures for energy-efficient ucdavis.edu greenhouse production. Cherry culture would benefit by efficient supply of demand- Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Floriculture and Nurs- driven nutrients, nitrogen being the most critical. Our research ery Research Initiative, MSU’s Project GREEEN, and private addressed measures of tissue N flux and N application at specific companies that support MSU Floriculture research. physiological timings. Three California ‘Bing’ orchards (planted 1998) were selected by rootstock and location: seedling P. ma- (013) Extending Plant-Perceived Daylength haleb (Lodi), and clonal Gisela-6 (Gi6) and seedling Mazzard Using Solar-Powered Lights on Rudbeckia hirta (contiguous orchards, Linden). Ten nitrogen treatments, varied H.C. Wien* by timing, form and amount (~45, ~90, ~150 lb/acre) of N, and Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; [email protected] rootstock/location effects were evaluated 2008-2010, with treatments adapted annually to project goals of optimized, demand- Rudbeckia hirta is a showy perennial widely used as a cut flower, driven N for cropping, fruit quality and vigor. Patterns of N flux whose yellow, orange and red flowers are suggestive of fall were similar across orchards; preceding ‘bud-swell’, storage conditions. Unfortunately, an absolute requirement for long days N increased in buds with peak N levels at least 25% higher in for flower stem extension limits their production potential in the fruiting spur leaves (FSL) during rapid fruit development than fall. In a greenhouse light gradient experiment we established postharvest. Approximately half of tissue N present prior to that the daylength light response requires an irradiance of about bloom, fruiting and harvest was present postharvest (September), 3 umoles/m2/sec. To establish this, pots of ‘Indian Summer’ suggesting that about half the nitrogen available in the fruiting rudbeckia were planted at right angles to a row of incandescent spurs was removed by the crop. Highest fall N was found in bulbs on a greenhouse bench. Black-out curtains maintained a vegetative and reproductive buds (VB, RB) treated with bloom- 12-hr. photoperiod on the bench, while the lights were on a 16 N + postbloom-N and 45 lb N/acre postharvest (PH), whereas hr. timer. To determine if rudbeckia could be produced with long all other treatments were either lower (VB) or only the 90 lb stems in a late summer planting in a high tunnel, we compared PH treatment was lower and other treatments were intermedi- daylength extension methods using mains-powered electric ate (RB). Rootstock differences (tree architecture, precocity) lights and solar-powered lamps with unlit controls. In the 2009 strongly influenced cropping and vigor responses. Location season, stem length was greatest with mains lights, whereas and use of CAN17 for dormancy-release strongly influenced the solar lamps produced a light beam too narrowly focused to frost damage risk, yet CAN17 (commonly used in California’s light large areas. The experiment was repeated in 2010 using low-chill conditions) also reduced yields without frost. In the solar-powered ‘Christmas lights’ draped over the leaves of the Mahaleb orchard pre-leaf fall urea tended to enhance vigor and plants, and mains-powered lamps. Although in this case light bloom-N + postbloom-N tended to reduce vigor; no effects distribution of the solar lamps was better, light output from the on vigor were found in Mazzard or Gi6 orchards. Cumulative tiny lights was insufficient to stimulate the daylength response. yield and yield efficiency across orchards tended to be highest Currently, inexpensive solar-powered lights are not suitable for in those treatments with bloom-N (total N ~45, ~90 lb/acre) stimulating daylength response in rudbeckia. and lowest in CAN17 + 45PH + urea pre-leaf fall (~90 lb/acre Specified Source(s) of Funding: Association of Specialty Cut N, Mahaleb; ~90 and ~150 lb/acre N, Mazzard). Yield differ- Flower Growers ences in the Gi6 orchard were not due to N treatments, rather tree-to-tree variability, with the exception of CAN17 treatments Monday, September 26, 2011 (reduced yields). Fruit maturity (by color) was unaffected by N treatment. Fruit quality was generally not influenced by N 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom treatment, although fruit size in the second harvest (Mahaleb Plant Nutrient Management 1 and Mazzard orchards, 2010) was reduced by CAN17 + 45PH + urea pre-leaf fall (~90 and ~150 lb/acre N). (300) Optimizing Nitrogen Availability in Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of California Davis ‘Bing’ Cherry Growth for High Yield and Fruit Quality (301) Silicon (Si) and Titanium (Ti) Influence Growth of Selected Annual Bedding Plants Kitren Glozer* University of California, Davis, CA; [email protected] Brittnay E. Whitted Joseph A. Grant Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] UC Cooperative Extension, Stockton, CA; jagrant@ David E. Kopsell ucdavis.edu Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected]

S304 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Dean A. Kopsell* Robert L. Rhykerd The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; dkopsell@ Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] utk.edu Dean A. Kopsell* Robert L. Rhykerd The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; dkopsell@ Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] utk.edu Soilless media is used to grow annual bedding plants; Carl E. Sams however, this media lacks levels of beneficial elements found The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@ naturally in soil. Previous research has shown that silicon (Si) utk.edu supplementation can improve overall plant growth, as well as The perennial herb watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) is inhibit biotic and abiotic stresses in select horticultural crops. consumed raw as a salad green following production in natural Titanium (Ti) supplementation can also increase overall plant water systems or greenhouse hydroponic culture. The shoots health. This study investigated the effect of foliar Si and Ti of this herb contain high levels of secondary plant compounds applications on key quality factors of five annual bedding which have beneficial impacts on human health. One such plant species grown in soilless media. The five plant species class of compounds is the sulfur(S)-containing glucosinolates Pelargonium hortorum selected were geranium ( × ), impatiens (GS). Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient in human Impatiens walleriana Viola wittrockiana ( ), pansy ( × ), petunia health which can have anti-carcinogenic properties when Petunia hybrida Antirrhinum majus ( × ) and snapdragon ( ). Fo- consumed at levels of 200 μg/day, depending on age, sex and liar applications of sodium silicate (NaSiO ) and Ti-ascorbate 3 health status. Selenium has been shown to substitute for S in (Tytanit®) were used to supply beneficial Si and Ti. Silicon plant biochemical pathways. Watercress can accumulate plant treatments were 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg·L–1 of Si. Titanium secondary carotenoid compounds, such as ß-carotene and lutein, treatments were 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg·L–1 of Ti. Several which function to reduce certain cancers, cardiovascular and key horticultural traits were affected in the study, depending eye diseases, and enhance the immune system. Therefore, the on the species and concentration of Si and Ti applied. Silicon effect of Se on secondary compounds in watercress was inves- treatments affected plant height for all five species, while Ti tigated. Seeds of watercress were germinated under greenhouse treatments only affected geraniums, petunias and snapdragons. conditions at 22°C day/14°C night and transferred to nutrient Plant height increased, then decreased quadratically for gera- solution culture in Normal, IL (lat. 40°30’N), and Knoxville, niums with both Si (P = 0.003) and Ti (P = 0.001) treatments TN (lat. 35°57’N), in Fall 2010 using a modified Hoagland’s as well as pansies with Si treatments (P = 0.002). Snapdragon solution containing Se treatment concentrations of 0, 0.125, plant height increased linearly in response to Si (P = 0.024) –1 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg·L of Se, delivered as sodium and Ti (P = 0.003) treatments. The number of days to flower selenate (Na2SeO4). Treatments were arranged in a random- (anthesis) for petunias had a linear decrease with Ti treatments ized block design with 4 replications, containing 6 plants per P P ( = 0.01) while impatiens had a linear increase with Si ( = replication. Plants were harvested after 28 days in solution, P 0.005) and Ti ( = 0.02) treatments. Geraniums responded with weighed for biomass, lyophilized, and stored at –80 °C prior a quadratic decrease, then increase for the number of days to to extractions and tissue analysis for GS and carotenoids using P flower with Ti ( = 0.001) treatments. The chlorophyll content, HPLC methodologies. Elemental Se and S concentrations were as estimated with a SPAD meter, of impatiens and pansies measured in oven-dried shoot tissues using ICP-MS. Shoot P had a linear decrease in response to Ti ( = 0.05) treatments, tissue fresh mass decreased linearly (P = 0.08) in response to P while geraniums had the same response to Si ( = 0.04) treat- increasing Se treatments. Total levels of GS increased, then ments. Silicon and Ti supplementations were found to affect decreased quadratically (P = 0.002) in response to increasing key horticultural traits of annual bedding plants. However, this levels of Se in the nutrient solution. The GS compound glu- response was species specific and further research is needed to conasturtiin also increased, then decreased quadratically (P = assess the specific impacts of Si and Ti on additional annual 0.009) in response to increasing Se. Gluconasturtiin is the GS crops grown in soilless media. compound that hydrolyses to form 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate, Specified Source(s) of Funding: Illinois State University Re- which has been shown to be chemopreventative. There were search Grant; College of Applied Science and Technology linear increases in shoot tissue Se (P = 0.05) and S (P = 0.003) (Internal funding). in response to increasing Se in solution. Linear decreases were measured for total carotenoids (P = 0.009), ß-carotene (P = 0.01), (302) Glucosinolates and Carotenoids in lutein (P = 0.01), and total chlorophyll (P = 0.009) in response Watercress Are Influenced by Selenium to increasing Se treatments. Results demonstrate that although Fertilization Se supplementation can increase nutritionally important GS and Se tissue concentrations in watercress, carotenoids may Laura Manion be negatively affected. Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Illinois State University Col- David E. Kopsell lege of Applied Science and Technology University Research Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] Grant Program

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S305 (303) Response of Lisianthus (Eustoma factors can resemble nutrient deficiency stress. To document grandiflorum Raf.) Cultivar Echo Blue to visual symptoms of plant nutrient deficiencies, 150 ‘Semil- Different Nitrogen Concentrations lion’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grape plants were planted in sand culture in 2008. Since that time, the plant a have been Ana Maria Castillo* grown so that at least 5 plants of each cultivar have had N, University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Cu, Cl, Fe, B, Mn, or Zn with held, while at [email protected] least 10 plants have had complete nutrient solution supplied Edilberto Avitia to them. Starting in 2010, during the growing season, photos University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; were taken of each plant weekly. In 2010, 3 replicate plants [email protected] of each treatment per variety were destructively harvested, divided into plant components, and analyzed for plant nutrient Joel Pineda concentration. This poster will display the visual similarities University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; and differences in symptoms of the red versus the white grape [email protected] plants. Citlaly Hernández Specified Source(s) of Funding: Washington State Wine Ad- University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; visory Committee; Washington State University Agricultural [email protected] Research Center Maria T. Colinas-Leon University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; (305) Influence of Fe Source on Marigold [email protected] Nutrition, Substrate Chemistry, and Nutrient Luis Alonso Valdez Runoff: Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn Centro de Investigación en Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo 25253; [email protected] Joseph P. Albano* U.S. Horticultural Res Lab, Fort Pierce, FL; joseph. Lisianthus is an ornamental species that is little known prob- [email protected] ably because it is not widely cultivated by flower growers; in consequence, research on mineral nutrition is scarce. Lisianthus Fertilizers used in the production of greenhouse crops is becoming an interesting alternative for cut flower production usually contain Fe chelates. There is considerable information because consumers are enticed by its very attractive, delicate on the effects of Fe-chelates on Fe nutrition; there is less in- flowers and extended vase life. The objectives of the present formation available, however, on the effects of Fe chelates on study were to determine the response of lisianthus to vary- other micronutrient metals in plant nutrition, substrate solu- ing concentrations of nitrogen (N) in the nutrient solution, to tion, and leachate runoff. Therefore the objectives of the study establish the N concentration associated with higher quality were to determine the effects of Fe source on these factors dur- of cut flowers, and to define the distribution of dry mass and ing the production cycle of marigold. Iron source treatments nutrients in plant organs. The effects of N concentration in the consisted of iron sulfate (FeSO4), iron ethylenediaminetet- nutrient solution (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 500 y 600 raacetic acid (FeEDTA), iron ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid mg·L–1) on growth, nutrimental status, dry mass and mineral (FeEDDS), iron diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (FeDTPA), nutrient distribution, and vase life were studied. Plants grown and iron ethylenediamine-N,N’-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic) –1 acid (FeEDDHA) added to a base nutrient solution at the rate with solutions containing N at 100 and 250 mg L exhibited –1 the best growth, biomass accumulation and vase life. Leaf N of 1 mg·L Fe final concentration. Treatments were applied concentration on these plants was from 2.16 to 3.22%, which to marigold (Tagetes erecta, ‘First Lady’) growing in peat- may correspond to the sufficiency levels of lisianthus, and based media in six-celled grow-packs. Iron treatment was not significant for foliar Fe, Mn, or Zn, averaging 165 μg·g–1 Fe, were associated with increased leaf calcium and potassium –1 –1 concentration, decreased magnesium, and modified dry mass 228 μg·g Mn, and 35 μg·g Zn. Iron treatment was significant for foliar Cu with FeEDDHA, FeDTPA and FeEDDS having and nutrient distribution in plants. Dry mass distribution ex- –1 –1 hibited the following ranking: stems>leaves>roots = flowers. a mean value of 6.85 μg·g vs. 4.58 μg·g in the FeSO4 treatment. Substrate analysis by pour-through technique over the Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad Autonoma Chap- course of the study revealed that the FeDTPA treatment had ingo the highest levels of Cu (by 82%), Fe (by 69%), Mn (by 14%), and Zn (by 66%) in substrate solution extract. Leachate runoff (304) Visual Deficiency Symptom Differences was collected over the course of the study with the FeDTPA between Red and White Wine Grapes treatment had the highest levels of Cu (by 33%), Fe (by 61%), and Zn (by 25%); while Mn was highest in the FeEDTA treat- Joan R. Davenport* ment by 16% in runoff. WSU Prosser, Prosser, WA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS Research Project Detecting and diagnosis deficiency symptoms on wine grapes 6618-13000-003-00D is challenging since many environmental and disease stress

S306 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (306) Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirements for Harold Tanouye Processing Tomatoes in Indiana Hilo, HI; [email protected] Elizabeth T. Maynard* The Hawaiian anthurium industry is primarily located in Purdue University, Valparaiso, IN; [email protected] East Hawaii. There, low cost volcanic cinder media, abundant moisture and uniform temperatures created a large export Efficient use of nitrogen (N) is important to reduce production industry which has now been eclipsed by other producers. costs, conserve natural resources, and minimize negative envi- A long term trial was conducted with local nurseries to de- ronmental effects of crop production. Field trials were conducted termine how water and nutrient management limit anthurium to evaluate the need for new N fertilizer rate recommendations yield, flower quality and unit production costs. Despite high for processing tomatoes. Tomato cultivars ‘111’ and ‘9704’ rainfall (>200 cm/y) and concomitant low light environments, were grown at N rates from 0 to 240 lbs/acre in a replicated anthurium yields were limited by water availability and trial on sandy loam soil in a corn-soybean-vegetable rotation. phosphorus supply. Under rainfed conditions with standard N was supplied from urea either before transplanting, or both slow release fertilizer application additional daily pulse irriga- before and 35 days after transplanting (DAT). Seedlings were tion increased total flower yield by 13% and large flower yield transplanted on 11 June 2010, at a density of 9,680 plants per by 21%. When P availability was increased in the standard acre, and harvested 7–10 Sept. For ‘111’ yield of red and turning nutrient management regime or plants were pulse fertigated fruit (yield) was significantly greater at 180 lbs/acre N than at (1120uS) yields rose by 24% and 25% respectively and large 0 lb/acre N (26.4 vs. 22.3 tons/acre, respectively). For ‘9704’, flower yields increased by 35% and 48% respectively. Analy- yield was significantly greater at 90 lbs/acre N than at 180 lbs sis of leaves sub-tending mature flowers indicated yield and or 0 lb/acre N (24.9 vs. 18.4 and 20.6 tons/acre, respectively). flower size increased when leaf P was raised above the current Other treatments were not significantly different. Bacterial spot Hawaii recommendation of 0.17%. Irrigation trials under and high temperatures during bloom may have limited yield. cover showed fertigation multiple times each day is required Aboveground dry weight (DW) of ‘111’ showed a positive linear to maximize anthurium yield grown in 15-L containers of response to N rate at 95 DAT. DW of ‘9704’ showed a curvi- volcanic cinder. Flower yields increased consistently with linear response: increasing up to about 120 lbs/acre N and then fertigation frequency. Compared to single daily fertigation, leveling off. For both cultivars, the percentage of DW in fruit total and large flower yields increased by 20% and 30% re- decreased from 70% to 65% as N rate increased from 0 to 240 spectively when plants were fertigated six times per day. The lbs/acre. Total N uptake at 95 DAT showed a linear response to yield response to fertigation frequency is not due to lack of N rate for both cultivars, increasing from 85 to 138 lbs/acre as total moisture retained in the cinder medium. The container N rate increased from 0 to 180 lbs/acre. For ‘9704’, N uptake volumetric water holding capacity was 3300 mL (22% by per ton of yield increased linearly from 3.87 to 7.85 lbs as N volume) while potential plant uptake from the container aver- rate increased from 0 to 180 lbs/acre. For ‘111’ N uptake per aged only 200 mL/d. It is our contention that two factors limit ton of yield was not correlated with N rate, and ranged from water and concomitantly nutrient availability to anthurium 4.16 to 5.00 for 0 to 180 lbs/acre N. Leaf N concentration was grown with volcanic cinder. First, the coarse root structure of greater than the published sufficiency range of 2.5–4% on all the plant exploits only a small faction of the container volume dates tested. Available soil N from 0 to 24 inches averaged 112 and secondly, the poor capillarity of the cinder is inadequate to lbs/acre before planting and fertilization. On Oct. 13 available maintain sufficient water and nutrient flux to the root surface. N to 24 inches increased from 34 to 249 lbs/acre as N rate A partial budget analysis of fertigation management options increased from 0 to 240 lbs/acre. A postharvest soil N test may demonstrated a large and increasing return to greater fertigation be useful to assess whether fields have excess N and to guide frequency despite leaching fractions of over 80%. If Hawaiian future N fertilization plans. A second year of research is planned anthurium growers are to maintain a competitive position in to identify repeatable results. world markets it is imperative growers increase yield and flower Specified Source(s) of Funding:1) Mid-America Food Proces- quality through a variety of means, including better water and sors Association; 2) Red Gold, Inc. nutrient management. (308) Nutrient and Water Constraints to Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Federal Floriculture Anthurium Productivity in East Hawaii Research Grant Paul W. Singleton* (309) Exploring the Accumulation of Se and S in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kula, HI; niftal@hawaii. Tropical Plants edu Dharmalingam Pitchay* Joanne Lichty Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; dpitchay@ University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kula, HI; lichty@hawaii. tnstate.edu edu Shanmugavelu Sithambaram Noel Nakamura Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kula, HI; lichty@hawaii. Institute, Serdang, Lumpur; [email protected] edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S307 Wan Zahari Mohamed the demand for sites suitable for growing blueberries. Com- Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development mercial blueberries, particularly Vaccinium corymbosum, have Institute, Serdang, Lumpur; [email protected] very specific needs for optimum growth; hence, growing sites Selenium (Se) is considered as one of the essential elements are limited. They require acidic soil (pH 4.0-5.5), good drainage, for normal growth and developments of plants and animals. It thorough aeration, and a constant moderate amount of moisture. has the potential for preventing cancer related diseases in hu- V. corymbosum has a fibrous, shallow root system, making it man beings and animals. The intake of Se has to be in organic susceptible to drought and wind damage. To overcome these form but then most plants can only uptake in inorganic form, restrictions, they could be grafted onto a plant adapted to less and the bioavailability of Se to plants is determined by several desirable growing conditions. One potential rootstock is V. ar- environmental and genetic factor of a particular plant species. boreum, which has the ability to grow in many areas that could A study was conducted to investigate the accumulation of Se in not be used for commercial blueberries. In the past, propaga- tropical plant species. Leaf and flower tissue samples from more tion of V. arboreum has been difficult, but there has not been than 100 taxa and 47 plant families were collected from herb much research on the subject. Currently, V. arboreum plants garden in Serdang (3°16’67” N and 101°70’00” E), Malaysia. are commercially propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation The plant tissue samples were analyzed for Se and S concentra- techniques will be necessary for rapid clonal propagation of tion using ICAP. There was a significant difference in Se and S selected varieties of V. arboreum. The objective of this experi- concentration within families, genera and species. Lowest tissue ment was to identify an ideal way to propagate V. arboreum Se concentration was found in Euphorbiaceae, Tiliaceae and using stem cuttings. We determined rooting success of juvenile Cannaceae with <1 µg per gram of dry matter; and the highest and mature tissue of hardwood and softwood cuttings subjected was in Gramineae, Plumbuginaceae, and Acanthaceae with to different concentrations of rooting hormones. The results of >350 µg per gram of dry matter. Among the genus, inophyllum, this experiment can be used to determine the feasibility of us- auriculata, vulgaris, and javanica were the hyperaccumulators ing stem cuttings to commercially propagate selected varieties of Se with more than 330 µg per g of dry matter. However, there of V. arboreum. was a variation in tissue Se concentration among the various Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA Sustainability and Profit- taxa of each genus and family. The tissue S concentration ranged ability of U.S. Blueberry Production from 3.0 to 0.03% of dry matter with highest S concentration in Melastomataceae. There was no correlation between the Se (165) Rapid Screening of Young Oak Seedlings and S concentration among the tropical species sampled. The images and tissue Se, S concentration of these tropical species for Growth Potential are presented. Lisa Richardson-Calfee Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Monday, September 26, 2011 J. Roger Harris* 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Propagation 1 Growth rates of nursery-grown oaks are reported to vary considerably, and otherwise desirable species are not commonly grown (164) Propagation of Vaccinium arboreum for because of slow growth when young. In this study, we investigated Use As a Rootstock for Commercial Blueberries a method for rapid screening of very young oak seedlings for predicting potential for growth in a production nursery. Acorns Jessica R. Bowerman* from single maternal trees of Quercus montana Wild. (chestnut Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] oak), Quercus palustris Münchh. (Pin Oak), Quercus velutina James D. Spiers Lam. (Black Oak), and Quercus alba L. (White Oak) were col- Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] lected from the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA in fall of 1999 and subjected to stratification at 5 °C for approximately Elina D. Coneva 3 months. Single acorns were then planted in individual cells Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] of 50-cell liner trays and grown in a heated greenhouse until at Ken Tilt least 90% of individuals per species had set first buds. Height Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] at first budset was recorded for individual seedlings. Trees were then transplanted into # 1 containers and grown outdoors at Eugene K. Blythe the Urban Horticulture Center near the Virginia Tech Campus Mississippi State University, Poplarville, MS; blythe@pss. until October, 2000, at which time they were planted in single msstate.edu nursery rows with trees approximately 70 cm apart. All trees Donna Marshall were grown in the ground for 3 additional growing seasons ( USDA–ARS, Poplarville, MS; [email protected]. = 4 total from seed), and final trunk diameters were measured gov 15 cm above ground level in February 2004. Species varied In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer demand dramatically in growth over the four years. Chestnut Oak and for fresh blueberries throughout the year, which also increases Pin Oak had the greatest growth, followed by Black Oak and

S308 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 White Oak. Height at first budset was highly correlated with (167) Improving the Early Growth of Woody trunk diameter four years after planting for White Oak, but not Cuttings by Warming the Basal End at Low Air Chestnut, Pin, or Black Oak. The utility of screening a group Temperature of germinated oak seedlings in this manner would therefore be species-specific and beneficial for White Oak production. Toshio Shibuya* White Oak is considered by most to be a superior adult tree but Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; shibuya@envi. it is seldom available in the nursery trade because slow growth osakafu-u.ac.jp increases production costs for the finished product. Our data Shuhei Tsukuda indicate that superior growth could be expected if, for example, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; s.t1224@ 50% of the shorter plants were discarded at first budset during dream.com the propagation stage. Our data also indicate that Chestnut Oak grows as rapidly as the popular Pin Oak and may therefore be Shuji Shiozaki an alternative for this often over-planted species. Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; ssgvo67@ plant.osakafu-u.ac.jp Specified Source(s) of Funding:none Ryosuke Endo Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka; endo@envi. (166) Stem Cutting Propagation of Ilex rotunda osakafu-u.ac.jp Thunb. Yoshiaki Kitaya Yingcui Tian Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai Osaka; kitaya@envi. Central South University of Forestry & Technology, osakafu-u.ac.jp Changsha; [email protected] We investigated the effects of warming the basal end of pop- Xiaoling Jin* lar cuttings at low air temperature on their early growth after Central South University of Forestry & Technology, planting, to develop an advanced propagation technology that Changsha; [email protected] can provide the cuttings in which rooting preparation are well Donglin Zhang advanced regardless of the weather. [Expt. 1] Single-node leafy University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] cuttings of poplar (Populus ×canadensis) were warmed with a temperature of 30 °C or non-warmed, at an air temperature of Jiwu Cao 10 °C and a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 10 Central South University of Forestry & Technology, μmol·m–2·s–1 with continuous lighting in a cold chamber for 8 Changsha; [email protected] days. The warming treatment was applied to the cuttings by Ilex rotunda Thunb. is widely cultivated in the landscapes around soaking the basal end of cuttings in warmed water. The cut- warm temperate regions for its loaded red fruits. To asexually tings were supported by insertion up to the cut-end in a hole propagate it, effects of collection time, rooting media, cutting in an adiabatic board floating on the water. The warmed and length, and rooting hormones on the rooting of I. rotunda non-warmed cuttings were then grown in a growth chamber at stem cuttings were investigated. Timing had significant influ- air temperature of 30 °C and a PPFD of 100 μmol·m–2·s–1 for ence on rooting percentage and quality. Cuttings collected in 8 days. Control cuttings were grown at air temperature of 30 October rooted at 79.7%, which was significantly higher than °C and a PPFD of 100 μmol·m–2·s–1 for 16 days immediately these collected in March (42.5%) and May (38.6%). Rooting after obtaining the cuttings. The shoot dry weights of warmed quality, as indicated by number of roots and mean root length, and non-warmed cuttings after the growing period were greater was significantly better if the cuttings were collected in Octo- than that of control. The leaf necrosis of cuttings was reduced in ber. Number of roots per cutting was 14 in October and 5 in warmed cuttings compared with non-warmed and control cut- March and May. Rooting media should be perlite and peat moss tings. There was no significant difference between root growths (3:1 by volume), which produced the highest rooting percent- of warmed and control cuttings. The warming treatment at a low age at 71.7% and better root quality. Each cutting should be air temperature probably reduced water stress of the cuttings 8–10 cm long. The root percentage was significantly lower by improving their rooting after the start of growing. [Expt. 2] (20.7%) if cutting was 5 cm long. Root quality showed the The warming treatment (30 °C) was applied to poplar cuttings similar trend as the rooting rate. Rooting hormone concentrations with dormant terminal bud for 18 days at the beginning of 46 (hormodin #1, #2, and #3) had significant impact on rooting days’ low temperature (5 °C) storage. Non-warmed cuttings of cuttings. Stem cuttings treated with hormones had better were stored 46 days without the treatment. The warmed and rooting rate and rooting quality. The highest rooting percent- non-warmed cuttings were then grown in the growth chamber age (83.3%) was obtained under the treatment of hormodin #1 at air temperature of 25 °C and a PPFD of 100 μmol·m–2·s–1 for –1 (1000 mg·L ). To produce the quality cuttings, growers should 63 days. The control cuttings were grown in the growth cham- collect stem cuttings in October, prepare cuttings at 8–10 cm, ber for 109 days immediately after obtaining the cuttings. The treat with hormodin #1, and place the cuttings on perlite and both rooting and sprouting was improved in warmed cuttings, peat moss media. whereas the only rooting or spouting was improved in control Specified Source(s) of Funding:Ministry of Forestry in China or non-warmed cuttings, respectively.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S309 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Japan Society for the Promo- cuttings, Other treatments presented inhibition, dehydration tion of Science (JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) and death of cuttings. (General), 21380157) from 2009 to 2011, and a research grant Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad de Colima from the Iwatani Naoji Foundation in 2009. (169) Taken Root of Cuttings of Nerium oleander (168) Propagation of Forssk. Adenium obesum L. with Different Concentrations of Indolacetic to Different Concentrations of Indolbutíric Acid Acid Juan-Manuel González-González Juan-Manuel González-González Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; glezglez@ucol. Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; glezglez@ucol. mx mx Salvador Guzmán-González* Salvador Guzmán-González* Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; sguzman@ Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; sguzman@ ucol.mx ucol.mx Francisco Radillo-Juárez Francisco Radillo-Juárez Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; radillo55@ Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; radillo55@ hotmail.com hotmail.com Daniel-Hiram Tintos-Rueda Luis-Enrique Alcaráz-Serrano Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; tintos@ucol. Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; alcaraz@ucol. mx mx Nerium oleander L. is a woody and everlasting native shrub Adenium obesum belongs to the family Apocinaceae, they are of the Mediterranean zone that is cultivated in the whole world succulent plants, normally they possess juicy stems and leaves, as ornamental plant. It produces very showy inflorescences in as consequence of a water storage in his tissues. Generally they the shape of corymbs terminals and it thinks that it is about are own plants of places with few rainfall. These plants also 400 you will cultivate with a wide variety of colors. Of the answer to the asexual multiplication and in addition they can different fitohormones, the indolacetic acid (IAA) is the com- multiply for seeds. One the chemical substances that have been pound that is in use with major frequency, for being directly like more effective to stimulate the production of adventitious involved in the process of taken root of stakes. The utilization roots in stakes is the indolbutíric acid (IBA). The aim of this of these hormones in the agriculture, has very diverse uses: experiment was to determine the ideal concentration of indol- in cultures, in nurseries and in the plantations, with the butíric acid in the asexual spread of A. obesum for cuttings. It intention of increasing the percentage of taken root on hav- was carried out in the commercial nursery “The Ceiba” placed ing accelerated the radical initiation and having increased in the city of Caleras, Colima, Mexico. Since vegetative mate- the number and quality of the roots of many ornamental spe- rial cuttings were used apicales of parent plants of A. obesum, cies. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of with length of 15 cm, placed in handles with a mixture of fine IAA different concentrations in the taken root of cuttings of dust of coconut and land of slime, in relation 2:1 v/v. The N. oleander established in conditions of tunnel. This work concentrations that constituted the evaluated treatments were: was realized in the nurcery “Colima’s Select Plants,” in Co- 0, 750, 1500, 3000, 6000, 9000, 10500 and 12000 ppm of the lima, Mexico. The process of taken root of the plants was in commercial product RADIX “IBA 35 %”. The basal ends of propagation plates of 50 cavities, with a mixture of fine dust the cuttings submerged during 10 seconds in IBA solutions. To of coconut 80% and land of dam 20%, for 30 days. The evalu- disinfect the handles, they were immersed in a basin by water ated treatments were: 0, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, by chlorine to 5 %. The fine dust of coconut I wash two times 9000 and 10000 ppm of IAA. The experimental design was to lower the electrical conductivity. The cuttings stood firm completely at random, with 9 treatments and five repetitions; and placed in tunnel of taken root and under mesh with 30 % the experimental unit was formed by ten cuttings. The evaluated of shade. The experimental design was completely at random, variables were the number of roots and leaves for cutting, as with eight treatments and ten repetitions; the experimental well as number of cuttings successfully. The results indicate that unit was formed by one plant. The evaluated variables were the best treatment after 30 days, was 10000 ppm with 90% of the number of leaves for cutting and survival of cuttings. The alive cuttings; 9000 ppm had 80% and from 8000 ppm ensued results indicate that the best treatment after 60 days, was of with 70% of alive cuttings; the witness concluded with 40%. 3000 ppm with 90% of alive cuttings; those of 1500 ppm and Other treatments presented dehydration and progressive death 750 ppm turned out to be equal with 80% of alive cuttings and of the cuttings. finished intervals; the witness concluded with 60 % of alive Specified Source(s) of Funding: Universidad de Colima

S310 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Monday, September 26, 2011 Denise Rodriguez 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, El Paso, TX; [email protected] Seed and Stand Establishment This study was to quantify the variations of 43 pepper genotypes in tolerance to salt during germination. Seeds of 43 genotypes of (277) Use of Sieved Compost Plus Hydrogel peppers were germinated in five solutions: 0 (control, distilled for Solid Matrix Priming of Native Wildflower water), 50, 100, 150, or 200 mM NaCl solutions. The actual Seeds electrical conductivities of the above solutions were 0, 5.2, 9.7, 14.0, and 18.3 dS/m. Twenty five seeds (one experimental unit) M.W. Olszewski* were placed evenly on a germination paper, which was wet Temple University, Ambler, PA; [email protected] with treatment solutions. The paper was folded and placed in R.S. Goldsmith a pre-labeled zip-lock plastic bag and placed in a temperature- Temple University, Ambler, PA; [email protected] controlled room (23.5 °C). There were four replications per treatment (solution). Seed was considered germinated when the A.F. Groch primary root was 5 mm or longer. Germination was counted Temple University, Ambler, PA; [email protected] three times a week for 2 weeks in Expt. 1 and twice a week C.A. Young for 3 weeks in Expt. 2. The treatments were the same in both Temple University, Ambler, PA; courtney3579@gmail. experiments. At the end of the germination experiment, the com radical and hypocotyls lengths of three seeds per replication were measured. The two experiments generally had similar Seeds of dense blazing star [Liatris spicata (L.) Willd.], smooth results for most genotypes on tolerance to NaCl salt. About 30 blue aster (Aster laevis L.), purple coneflower [Echinacea genotypes were moderately tolerant or tolerant to NaCl salts purpurea (L.) Moench], and Oxeye sunflower [Heliopsis he- based on final germination percent, time to germination, and lianthoides (L.) Sweet] were solid matrix primed in a carrier radical and hypocotyl lengths. Six genotypes were sensitive or containing fine particulate yard and greenhouse waste compost moderately sensitive to salt stress during germination. Based on blended with hydrogel (SuperSorb F; Aquatrols Corporation, our previous research on salt tolerance at seedling and mature Paulsboro, NJ) and distilled water at seed:carrier ratios of 1:6 plant growth stages in the greenhouse and field conditions, or 1:30 for 9 d at 15 °C in darkness followed by seed drying peppers were more tolerant to salt during germination (radical (room temperature with air-flow for one week). The compost elongation) than other growth stages. Further studies are needed based carrier allowed percentage water content of 228% and to determine the salt tolerance for seedling emergence, seedling 138% (dry weight basis), respectively, during priming matric growth and reproductive growth stages. potentials of –0.5 MPa and –1.0 MPa. Seed germination testing at 20 to 30 °C (14–10 h; 106 μmol·m–2·s–1 of light at the warmer Specified Source(s) of Funding: Rio Grande Basin Initiative, temperature) indicated that priming decreased days to 50% USDA-NIFA germination 31-61% and increased final germination percentage (FGP) 18-63%, compared to nontreated seed. Following (279) Allelopathic Potential of Fruits and Seeds priming with 1:6, rather than 1:30, seed:carrier at -0.5 MPa of Five Common Woody Landscape Plants or -1.0 MPa, smooth blue aster seed germinated more rapidly than nontreated seed. Except for smooth blue aster, both low Assessed by Lettuce Germination Bioassays and high seed:carrier ratios at either matric potential decreased Nathan C. Phillips* days to 50% germination compared to nontreated seed. All Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; solid matrix priming treatments increased FGP compared to [email protected] nontreated seed except for 1:6 seed:carrier at -0.5 MPa (dense Lauren M. Jones blazing star, purple coneflower, and smooth blue aster), for Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; 1:6 seed:carrier at -1.0 MPa (purple coneflower), and for 1:30 [email protected] seed:carrier at -0.5 MPa (smooth blue aster). In conclusion, a compost based carrier system has potential as an inexpensive Justin Stefanski solid matrix priming technique for increasing seed performance University of Tennessee/Tennessee State University, of native wildflower seed. Lebanon, TN; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: The Burpee Foundation, Inc. The effects of fruit and seed extracts of five species (Pyrus calleryana, Cornus florida, Cratageus phaenopyrum‘Vaughn’, (278) Genotype Variations in Tolerance to Malus ‘Donald Wyman’, Ilex ×attenuata ‘Fosteri #2’) were Salinity in Peppers during Seed Germination investigated for their allelopathic potential on lettuce seed germination. Collected fruits and seeds were dried, and five Genhua Niu* grams were triturated prior to a 24-hour soak in dH O, 15% Texas Agric. Expt. Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected]. 2 EtOH, or 30% EtOH. The supernatants were filtered, resulting edu in one aqueous, and two ethanolic solutions for each species.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S311 The solutions were mixed with Captan fungicide at 0.9 g/L and acid (10,000 ppm). After soaking, the seeds were sown in petri added to 47-mm petri dishes with filter pads containing 30 ‘Black dishes lined with moistened filter paper and incubated at ambi- Seeded Simpson’ lettuce seeds. Each of the 15 treatments was ent conditions (22 °C). Percent germination after one month replicated 5 times, and germination was recorded daily over 16 indicated that liquid smoke flavoring was the most effective days. Lettuce seeds in both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts soaking treatment for improving seed germination. Seeds soaked of Malus ’Donald Wyman’ and Pyrus calleryana demonstrated in 1% v/v liquid smoke flavoring exhibited 40.8% germination significantly lower overall germination percentages compared in contrast to 20.0% germination in 10,000 ppm gibberellic acid to the other species. Furthermore, T50 and T10-90 values were and 0.5% germination in distilled water. significantly greater in these two species germinated in the Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hawaii Department of Transpor- aqueous and 15% ethanol solutions. All species germinated at tation and the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural lower rates in the 30% EtOH solutions, with C. florida failing to Resources Conservation Service germinate a single seed. Due to the apparent inhibitory effects of the Malus ‘Donald Wyman’ and Pyrus calleryana extracts, another experiment was conducted subjecting lettuce seeds to Monday, September 26, 2011 decreasing concentrations of the extracts. Germination inhibi- 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom tion was again observed in these experiments, most clearly with the Malus extracts exhibiting increasing germination rates with Vegetable Crops Management 2 decreasing concentrations of the solution. Our results suggest possible allelopathic properties inherent in the fruits and/or seeds (205) Are the Yield and Commercial Quality of Malus ‘Donald Wyman’ and Pyrus calleryana. Further studies of Grafted Muskmelon Plants Affected by the of this allelopathic potential could be beneficial in considering Pruning? proximal plantings of these species in the landscape, or the use of plant material from these species in composting, and the Rafael Aguilar-Castellanos possible future development of bio-herbicides. Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jfarias@ucol. mx Specified Source(s) of Funding: School of Agribusiness and Agriscience María Victoria Huitrón-Ramirez Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jfarias@ucol. (280) Improving Germination of Piligrass mx (Heteropogon contortus) Seeds Using Liquid Javier Farias-Larios Smoke Flavoring Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jfarias@ucol. Orville C. Baldos* mx University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] José Gerardo López-Aguirre* Joseph DeFrank Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jglopez@ucol. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] mx Glenn S. Sakamoto Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important vegetable crop USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, in Colima State. Soil-borne diseases may cause a decrease Hoolehua, HI; [email protected] in cultivated area of this important crop. There are different ways to prevent this problem such as crop rotation and soil Piligrass is a drought and fire adapted, native perennial bunchgrass fumigation; however these management practices have some that is increasingly being utilized for restoration and re-vegetation disadvantages. Grafting is an important technique for vegetable in Hawaii. In recent years, there has been growing interest in production and has become a common practice in Western utilizing piligrass in a number of applications including land- Mexico. In this study, the influence of several pruning intensities scaping, stream bank stabilization, roadside re-vegetation, buffer in grafted muskmelon plants and their effect on plants growth, strip plantings, forage and biofuels. While efforts are currently fruit quality and yield were evaluated. Vegetable material was underway to expand its uses in Hawaii, piligrass seed produc- Magenta variety melon plants grafted on Shintosa camel force tion technologies remain largely undeveloped. Seed dormancy pumpkin. The experiment was carried out in the commercial is one particular aspect that needs to be studied since piligrass ranch “Las Carmelitas,” in the State of Colima, 19°09’04.3’’ N seeds require at least 6 months of dry after-ripening in order to L and 103°32’13.90’’ W L, and 541 above sea level. Soil texture obtain germination. To improve germination and immediate use is sandy soil, pH = 4.4. Four treatments were evaluated: Plant of piligrass seeds, it is necessary to develop treatments to break with No-pruning (T1), Plant with pruning on main shoot (T2), seed dormancy. The use of smoke and aqueous smoke extracts Plants with pruning on main and secondary shoots (T3), and has been shown to stimulate seed germination in a number of plants with pruning on secondary shoots. Plants were growth species. In this study, the effectivity of liquid smoke flavoring under tunnel with transparent plastic, and were daily irrigated, on improving seed germination of 1 month old piligrass seeds according to phenological step. Pruning was done when plant was evaluated. Piligrass seeds were soaked for 15 minutes in had 5 true flowers, 15 days after transplant. Drip irrigation distilled water, liquid smoke flavoring (1% v/v) and gibberellic was applied and plants were fertilized according to producers

S312 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (150-100-180), three steps: 1) at the time of planting, 2) at (207) Effects of Grafting Methods on the the beginning of plants guide, 3) at the flowering beginning. Growth Characteristics of Grafted Muskmelon When plants were harvested, the variables measured were: fruit Transplants number per plot, fruit size, commercial quality (¢ªBrix content), three fruits per plot were selected randomly. Treatments were Wenjin Guan* distributed in randomized complete blocks by four replicates. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Results shown that plants with pruning on main shoots had Xin Zhao not significantly affected on yield, compared with test, but University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] respecting to treatments T3 and T4 significance was detected Vegetable grafting is considered as a promising alternative to on yield. Respecting to size fruit, 9 was predominant. T1 and methyl bromide for controlling soil-borne diseases and improv- T4 treatments had the highest yield. Pruning had no effect on ing crop yield. Grafting methods that determine efficiency of ¢ªBrix content in melon fruit. this technique have been continuously developed to meet dif- Specified Source(s) of Funding: Universidad de Colima ferent demands. In cucurbits, hole-insertion and one-cotyledon (206) Impact of 1-MCP Spray during Flowering grafting are the most commonly used methods. When using hole-insertion method, both cotyledons of the rootstock plant on Fruit Set and Yield of Cantaloupe are remained while grafting clips are not needed. In contrast, Daniel I. Leskovar* one-cotyledon method removes one cotyledon of the root- Texas AgriLife Research, Vegetable and Fruit stock plant and the grafting union is supported by a grafting Improvement Center, Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, clip. Owing to incomplete removal of the apical meristem Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; d-leskovar@tamu. tissue from the rootstock plant, re-growth of rootstocks, also edu referred as rootstock suckers, is the major concern about these Shinsuke Agehara two methods. Cotyledon-devoid method that removes both Texas AgriLife Research, Dept. of Horticultural cotyledons of rootstock plants has been proposed to eliminate Sciences,Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX; shinsuke. the rootstock sucker problem. In this study, hole-insertion, [email protected] one-cotyledon and cotyledon-devoid grafting methods were compared by grafting ‘Athena’ muskmelon (Cucurmis melo) The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of onto three squash interspecific hybrid rootstocks including field spray applications of 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropane, ‘Strong Tosa’, ‘Tetsukabuto’, and ‘Just’. In addition, a melon AFXRD-038 powder, SmartFresh®) during flowering rootstock ‘Dinero’ was used. Non-grafted scions and rootstocks on fruit set and yield of cantaloupe cv. Mission. Experiments were used as controls. The results showed that the graft sur- were conducted in a grower’s field in Batesville, Texas. Seeds vival rate did not differ significantly among the three grafting were planted on 30 March (early planting) and 21 April 2010 methods. Rootstock suckers were developed in most plants (late planting). Standard planting configuration, fertilization, grafted onto squash interspecific hybrid rootstocks when using irrigation and pest control practices were followed. 1-MCP (10 –1 hole-insertion and one-cotyledon methods. Interestingly, fewer g a.i. ha ) was applied at three timings (7, 14 and 7+14 days suckers were observed with the ‘Dinero’ rootstock while sucker after appearance of the first female flower, DAF). Sequential development was delayed. Number of true leaves, chlorophyll female flowers and fruit counts (>1.3 cm diameter) were made content, leaf area, aboveground biomass and root fresh weight in each planting and leaf chlorophyll index was measured dur- were measured 22 days after grafting. Plants grafted with hole- ing development. Harvests began 5 July and 12 July 2010, for insertion and one-cotyledon methods demonstrated significantly the early and late planting, respectively. 1-MCP increased early –1 higher levels of aboveground biomass compared with plants fruit set as compared to control (0 g a.i. ha ) when measured 14 grafted with cotyledon-devoid method and non-grafted scions. DAF in late planting. Leaf chlorophyll index was reduced by Furthermore, it indicated that grafting methods that maintain 1-MCP at 14 DAF in both plantings. Although senescence-related at least one cotyledon of the rootstock plant might help to pro- declines in leaf chlorophyll index were observed thereafter in duce grafted melon transplants with greater vigor. Root fresh both experiments, the extent was reduced by 1-MCP at 39 DAF weight was significantly lower in the grafted plants than that in late planting. There were intense rain events from the end of non-grafted rootstock plants. This may be attributed to the of June through the middle of July, causing high decay fruit influence of the scion on root development and/or the delay of production of up to 50% in early planting. However, this decay root growth by the grafting and healing process. was significantly reduced by 1-MCP compared with control. In late planting, 1-MCP significantly reduced the percentage of Specified Source(s) of Funding: SARE sunburn fruits. In both experiments, there was a trend for 1-MCP (208) Yield and Fruit Quality of Late- to increase marketable yield by increasing both fruit size and Transplanted Seedless Watermelons in Central the percentage of marketable fruits. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of 1-MCP use in cantaloupes, more research is needed Missouri across a wider range of field conditions and environments. Sanjun Gu* Specified Source(s) of Funding:AgroFresh Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO; sanjun.gu@ lincolnu.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S313 Growers in central Missouri usually transplant watermelons in cultivars. Fall-bearing cultivars are not as prone to “sunburn” mid- to late-May. In the past three years, however, the frequent as summer-bearing types since they begin producing after the rainfalls had made this normal transplanting difficult. The ob- hottest temperatures have passed. A multi-site replicated trial jective of this preliminary study was to test the yield and fruit was planted in 2006 to evaluate 12 fall-bearing cultivars for quality of late-transplanted watermelons and to identify varieties suitability to Utah’s alkaline soils and high-elevation arid cli- that might suitable for late planting. Thirteen triploid watermelon mate. The most detailed data were collected on 10 cultivars at varieties were chosen in this study. Seeds were started in a the Kaysville research farm (41° 01’ N lat., 1330 m elev., 164 greenhouse on 1 June; seedlings were transplanted on 15 July day freeze-free season). Plots were evaluated in 2007 for stand in raised beds covered with black plastic on George W. Carver establishment, and from 2008 to 2010 for yield, fruit size and Farm in Jefferson City, MO. Vines of diploid variety “sidekick” fruiting season. The highest yields were for the cultivar ‘Joan J’, were planted as pollenizers. The experiment was conducted as averaging 3.58 kg per row meter, followed by ‘Polana’,’ Caroline’ a completely randomized design with four replications. There and ‘Polka’ with 2.59, 2.40 and 2.35 kg/m, respectively. ‘Polka’ were 4 plants in each replication. Watermelons were harvested and ‘Caroline’ gave the most consistent yields from year to year. only once on 21 Sept. Fruit weight, sugar content and sensory ‘Polka’ and ‘Joan J’ were the earliest fruiting with average first quality were measured shortly after harvesting. Results showed harvest 22 days before ‘Heritage’, followed by ‘Summit’ and’ that all varieties grew vigorously and produced ripen fruit. Polana’ at 19 and 18 days before ‘Heritage’, respectively. Early, Marketable yield ranged from 20.3 to 40.3 tons/acre. ‘Yellow high yielding cultivars will be required to provide economically Buttercup’ had the highest yield although some fruit did not viable yields in Utah’s high elevation arid climate. ripen enough. All other varieties are red-flesh with similar yield Specified Source(s) of Funding:Western SARE per vine. ‘Yellow Buttercup’ produced the highest number of fruit (seven per vine), but with relatively light fruit, an average (089) Metabolomic Variation in North Carolina of 11.6 pounds/fruit. ‘Tri-X313’, ‘Tomcat’, ‘Intruder’, ‘7167’, ‘ACX 7125T’, ‘Summer Sweet 5244’ and ‘4674’ had similar Red Raspberry average fruit weight, about 13.5–15.9 lb/fruit. The sugar con- Christine Bradish* tents (°Brix) were not different among varieties, ranged from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; cmbradis@ 10.9 to 12.4. In conclusion, almost all tested red flesh variety ncsu.edu performed well. ‘Tri-X314’ seemed to be the overall winner. The two solid dark-green varieties ‘SSX 7402’ and 9601 were Penelope Perkins-Veazie NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; penelope_perkins@ excellent. The yellow flesh variety, ‘Yellow Buttercup’ tended ncsu.edu to produce too many fruit. Its rind was thicker and some fruit was over- or under-ripen, which might be corrected by doing Gina Elizabeth Fernandez a series of harvests. The late-transplanting may be a good way North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; gina_ for Farmers’ Market vendors to provide a continuous supply [email protected] of watermelons. Raspberries and other berry polyphenols contain powerful Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA 1890 Extension and antioxidants, and regular consumption of these compounds SCBG may help prevent and/or moderate chronic diseases. Metabo- lomic methods for compositional analysis of fruit samples have applications for human health and breeding programs. Monday, September 26, 2011 In this study, metabolomic variation was determined among 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom three fall-fruiting red raspberry cultivars (‘Autumn Britten’, ‘Caroline’, and ‘Nantahala’) grown at three locations in North Viticulture and Small Fruits 2 Carolina with varying day/night temperatures (harvest season max/min averages of 32°/21°, 28°/16°, 24°/14 °C) and eleva- (087) A Comparison of Fall Raspberry Cultivars tion (214, 630, 917 m above sea level). A metabolite profile for a High-Elevation Arid Climate quantifying 10 flavonoid compounds in 27 freeze-dried fruit samples from the 2010 growing season was assembled using Rick Heflebower* liquid-chromatography-time-of-flight-mass-spectrometry (LC- Utah State University, St. George, UT; [email protected] TOF-MS) technology. Additionally, assays analyzing total Brent Black anthocyanins, total phenolics, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Power (FRAP) of samples were used to determine cultivar, location, harvest date, and temperature effects. Differences Thor Lindstrom in metabolite composition were seen among cultivars and Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] locations, with cyanidins varying most and pelargonidin least Raspberries have become a popular option for small-acreage among cultivar and location. The highest levels of cyanidin- farms in Utah, where fresh local fruit is closely associated 3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-sophoroside, with the summer tourism industry. However, small acreage and quercetin-3-galactoside were found in ‘Caroline’, and producers have come to rely heavily on older summer-bearing were highest when grown at lowest elevation and highest day/

S314 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 night temperature. ‘Autumn Britten’ had the highest levels of (Concord, Fredonia, Niagara and Catawba) only TIP, CUT, and quercetin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, and kaempferol- CONT treatments were used. Fruit was harvested and yield, 3-glucoside, with location effects varying by metabolite. The cluster number, cluster weight, and berry weight recorded. ‘Royalty’ purple raspberry background of ‘Nantahala’ was ex- The following spring, canes were counted and graded by di- hibited through much higher levels of cyanidin-3-sambubioside ameter as a measure of quality, with mid-diameter canes (8-12 (2.53 mg/g DW) in comparison with levels in ‘Caroline’ (0.159 cm) being most desirable. In 4 of 6 varieties tested, pruning mg/g DW) and ‘Autumn Britten’ (0.719 mg/g DW). Consistent treatments (TIP, CUT, RMVD) increased the number of high with individual metabolite measurement, ‘Caroline’ averaged quality mid-diameter canes, and reduced the number of poor the highest in total phenolics (2498.44 mg GAE/kg) and FRAP quality small diameter canes over CONT. This resulted in a antioxidant capacity (13.76 μmoles Trolox eq./g FW) across much better situation for pruning the following season. Fruit the three locations, followed by ‘Autumn Britten’ (2338.88 yield was low and only Marquette and Catawba had enough mg GAE/kg, 12.76 μmoles Trolox eq./g FW) and ‘Nantahala’ fruit to harvest. On Marquette TIP resulted in highest yield and (2169.24 mg/kg, and 11.97 μmoles Trolox eq./g FW, respec- cluster number, while on Catawba, yield and cluster number tively). For total anthocyanins, ‘Caroline’ (690.49 mg/L) and was highest in CONT. We conclude from this study that grow- ‘Autumn Britten’ (690.82 mg/L) were significantly higher than ers should consider complete removal of frost-damaged shoots, ‘Nantahala’ (470.71 mg/L). Among production environments if practical, to insure availability of high quality canes for the and averaged across cultivars, fruit grown at medial elevation following season. and temperature was highest in total anthocyanin levels (695.17 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Indiana Wine Grape Council mg/L), and fruit grown at the two lowest elevations and two highest temperatures was highest in total antioxidants (13.12 (091) Quantification of Antioxidant Capacity μmoles Trolox eq./g FW) and total phenolics (2381.12 mg/kg). and Content of Two Blackberry Cultivars Specific metabolite quantification versus total anthocyanin and Grown in Oklahoma total phenolic trends indicate that genetic and environmental effects vary by individual metabolite and composition. These Youri Joh* methods and results can be utilized in breeding programs to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; youj@okstate. identify key metabolites contributing to antioxidant proper- edu ties and health benefits for humans, and further tailoring for William G. McGlynn functional foods. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; william. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Kannapolis Scholars [email protected] Fellowship:USDA Transdisciplinary Training Program in Eric Stafne Functional Foods Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; youj@okstate. edu (090) Response of Grapevines to Shoot Manipulation Following Spring Frost Damage Blackberry (Rubus sp.) is a good source of antioxidants and contains high amount of phenolic compounds, mainly anthocyanins. Bruce P. Bordelon* Anthocyanins, a part of the flavonoid family, are common pig- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; bordelon@purdue. ments in many berry fruits and have been studied for their health edu benefits. Two blackberry cultivars (Apache and Ouachita) that Spring frost events occur in the Midwest U.S. occasionally are commonly grown in the Midwest were harvested from two and can cause significant damage to grapevines. The extent of locations, one in Oklahoma and one in Arkansas. Assays were damage depends on the developmental stage of shoots at the conducted to determine total phenolics and anthocyanin contents. time of the frost event. A very hard freeze usually kills all Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays were also exposed green tissue, causing vines to develop shoots from conducted in order to measure antioxidant activity. All of the secondary buds at count nodes, or latent buds from old wood. blackberries were collected during summer, 2008 and stored at However, frost events that are at or near the critical tempera- about –5 °C prior to analysis. The berries were processed and ture threshold can cause partial death of shoots resulting in samples were taken for further analysis at three different stages: development of lateral shoots from basal nodes. This leads to whole berries, juice, and wine. Whole berries were extracted low vigor, non-fruitful shoots that become poor quality canes using 40% acetone, 40% methanol, 20% deionized water and for the next season’s fruit production. After such a near critical 0.1 % acetic acid prior to analysis; juice and wine were analyzed temperature frost even in April 2010 we set up a trial to compare without further extraction. Folin-ciocalteu method was used to different methods of shoot manipulation on six grape variet- measure total phenolic contents and the pH differential method ies to determine the effects on current season’s crop and cane was conducted to evaluate anthocyanin contents. ORAC assays quality for the following season. On two varieties (Marquette were performed using a fluorescein probe with sample incubation and Sunbelt) shoots were either 1) tipped to remove the dead at 37 °C, an excitation frequency of 485 nm, and an emission tissue (TIP), 2) cut back to the basal node (CUT), or 3) shoots frequency of 535 nm. Correlations were observed between total and spurs completely removed back to old wood (RMVD). phenolic contents, anthocyanin contents and ORAC assays. Control (CONT) vines were left untreated. On four varieties Blackberry extract had the highest amount of total phenolics,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S315 anthocyanins, and ORAC followed by juice and wine samples. expert consultation with Extension specialists or crop consul- Overall, Apache berries had higher concentrations of phenolics, tants. Frequently, grape problems are time-sensitive and a rapid anthocyanins and higher ORAC values than Ouachita. For both diagnosis is desired so that appropriate corrective actions can cultivars, blackberries from Arkansas had lower concentrations be quickly taken. The Grape Doctor is the first of its kind web- of phenolics and anthocyanins as well as lower ORAC values based interactive grape problem diagnosis tool. It is a featured than blackberries grown in Oklahoma. resource of the eXtension Grape Community of Practice and can Specified Source(s) of Funding:Oklahoma State University be accessed at . The Grape Doctor uses a symptom-based diagnostic approach corresponding (092) Seed Germination of Myrica nana Cheval to the perspective of a grower observing an unknown problem in the vineyard. A series of illustrated menus progressively guides Yang Lichang the diagnosis through selection of the problematic part of the Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. cn vine (e.g., leaves), characterizing the problem (e.g., leaf spots), and describing the symptoms (e.g., size, shape, color, location Yi Yin of spots). Diagnostic results are presented as an illustrated list Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected] of potential causes of the problem, ranked by probability (high, Zhang Ximin* medium, low). Problem names are hyperlinked to a Problem Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. Profile page that provides additional information to assist the cn diagnosis. Problem Profiles contain photos and narrative descriptions of: primary symptoms or signs, secondary or occasional Donglin Zhang symptoms or signs, patterns of occurrence, occurrence in the University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] U.S., associated risk factors, problems with similar symptoms or Myrica nana Cheval, an evergreen shrub, belongs to Myricaceae. signs, and additional actions to assist the diagnosis. A database It is a species with narrow geographical range and endemic to was constructed of problems associated with grape production Yunnan, Western Guizhou and Chaou (Tibet) in China. The in the United States, including diseases, insects, other pests, germination rates of M. nana are normally low under natural nutritional deficiencies and toxicities, physiological disorders, conditions, resulting in the losing of M. nana germplasm re- weather related injuries, herbicide and chemical phytotoxicity, sources and habitat. To improve the seed germination, M. nana etc. Members of the eXtension Grape Community of Practice seeds were stratified at cold for 3–30 months under clay and contributed their expertise in viticulture, plant pathology, ento- sand. The results showed that at least 180–days of cold stratifica- mology and other related disciplines to contribute, review and tion was required. The germination rate reached the highest at edit database items for technical accuracy. The Grape Doctor 60.8% after 240-day stratification, then decreased slowly until currently has more than 150 grape problems in its database. A 2.5 years when the seed completely lost its viability. Media for smartphone application is under development to facilitate real- stratifications also played an important role for seed fermina- time problem diagnosis in the field. tion. Seeds under the clay had only 26.0% germination while Specified Source(s) of Funding: Wine & Food Foundation of 48.5% under the sand. Humidity significantly affected the seed Texas, Viticulture Consortium West, & American Vineyard germination and the highest germination rate of 52.5% was Foundation obtained under 26.24% humidity. Higher or lower humidity decreased the seed germination. Temperature was also a major (094) DMDS in Combination with Reduced factor that influenced the seed germination and the germination Rates of Chloropicrin for Sustainable rate reached the highest at 35.5% under 8 °C. Seed germina- Strawberry Production and Soilborne tion of M. nana could be significantly increased if stratufying Pathogens Control in California properly and further invstigation should be conducted to achieve higher germination rates. Mona Othman* University of California, Davis, Salinas, CA; mnothman@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: The National Science and ucdavis.edu Technology Supporting Plan With the challenges strawberry growers face in the process (093) The Grape Doctor—A Vineyard Problem of replacing methyl bromide (MeBr) while maintaining yield Diagnosis Tool threshold, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) with its zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) appears to be a promising solu- Edward W. Hellman* tion. Dimethyl disulfide DMDS is a yellow solution with Texas A&M University, Lubbock, TX; ewhellman@ ag.tamu.edu strong garlic-like odor. Field experiments were conducted for the growing season of 2009-2010 in Watsonville and Salinas, Fritz A. Westover CA to investigate the efficacy of DMDS with reduced rates Texas AgriLife Extension, Houston, TX; fawestover@ of chloropicrin on strawberry yield, soilborne pathogens, and ag.tamu.edu major resident weeds. Chloropicrin treatments were drip applied Identification of the cause of vineyard problems, especially with and without sequential application of different rates of those that are non-routine, often can be difficult and may require DMDS. Beds were tarpped with virtually impermeable

S316 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 film (VIF) for all treatments and with standard polyethylene rot (BFR). In certain years, growers have had severe economic STD PE for methyl bromide chloropicrin mix (MeBr/Pic). Se- losses due to these two diseases. Fungicides are by far the quential applications of DMDS took place five days following most frequently applied pesticide and are applied on a frequent the primary application. Strawberry plants were transplanted preventative schedule. Consequently, fungicide applications four to six weeks after the sequential applications. The results account for nearly 15% of total production costs. Researchers suggest that DMDS sequential and DMDS/chloropicrin pre- have been working for the last 3 years on a disease forecast mixed applications can sustain strawberry yields to levels similar system to advise growers on the timing of their fungicide to, or in some cases, higher than those obtained by MeBr/Pic applications. Temperature and leaf wetness were used in the standard fumigation. In Watsonville, the sequential application modeling system. The goal of the disease management system of DMDS at 350 lb/acre following low rate of chloropicrin is to develop and implement precision disease management that 100 lb/acre produced total and marketable yield 7% higher will reduce the total number of fungicide applications while than MeBr/Pic per plant. Total and marketable yield from all maintaining excellent disease control and manage emerging treatments were significantly higher than total and marketable or existing fungicide resistance. Reducing pesticide input and yield from untreated control but were not significantly different selecting reduced-risk fungicides over captan and thiram will from yield by methyl bromide mix. In Salinas, the pre-mixed reduce environmental impact, risks to pesticide applicators, application of DMDS at 350 lb/acre and Pic at 100 lb/acre and consumer exposure to pesticides. To achieve this goal a produced marketable yield was 2% higher than yield produced web-based forecast system, the Strawberry Advisory System, by MeBr/Pic and produced total yield equivalent to yield for the timing of the fungicide sprays for these two diseases produced by methyl bromide mix. In pathogens control, DMDS was developed and trialed by grower cooperators. Growers was found effective against Verticillium dahliae and Pythium received a text message and/ or e-mail message each time there ultimum. At planting and at harvest in Salinas, DMDS provided was a risk for either disease and the level of risk would be 100 percent control over verticillium, which was similar to stated in the message. Grower cooperators were asked to spray MeBr/Pic. At planting in Watsonville, pre-mixed DMDS at designated blocks in their field only when there was a notice of 350 lbs/acre and pic at 100 lbs/acre controlled pythium by risk of disease from the Advisory System. Yields, from blocks 88.5% comparing 95.9% by MeBr/Pic. Therefore, DMDS can of plants that were sprayed according to the disease forecast be a promising alternative to MeBr with high efficacy and system and those sprayed by the grower’s regular preventative efficiency because of maintaining threshold yield and provid- method, were taken for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. By ing effective control against two major soilborne pathogens. using the Strawberry Advisory System, growers were able to Meanwhile, DMDS enabled the use of lower rates of Pic, save money by cutting down the number of fungicide sprays which potentially reduces buffer zones, and hence, contrib- they applied while still able to produce a comparable number utes to profitability. The use of DMDS can be counted as a of marketable fruit. step toward sustainable production by meeting the demands Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA on higher yields while using resources that have minimum impact on environment and human. (096) Integrating Canopy Management Specified Source(s) of Funding: This project was funded by Practices of Pinot Grigio United Phosphorus, Inc. and the USDA–ARS Area Wide Pest S. Kaan Kurtural* Management Program for Methyl Bromide Alternatives. California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA; [email protected] (095) Precision Disease Management Advisory To better understand the optimal canopy management techniques System for Strawberry Production in Florida necessary to meet the demands of both vineyard and cellar, a Alicia J. Whidden* study was conducted analyzing the interactions amongst canopy Hillsborough Co. Extn Service, Seffner, FL; ajwhidden@ management steps for Pinot Grigio in the southern San Joaquin ifas.ufl.edu Valley. The treatments were arranged factorially where two Natalia A.R. Peres pruning methods (spur vs. mechanical box-pruning), three shoot University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] density levels (low (23 shoots/m), medium (33 shoots/m), high (49 shoots/m)), and two leaf removal methods (east-side leaf Clyde Fraisse removal, or none) were applied to alter the canopy microclimate University of Florida; [email protected] in four randomized complete blocks. Pruning method and shoot Florida is the second largest strawberry growing region in the density interacted to affect the count shoots and total shoots U.S. with Hillsborough County having 90% of the state acre- retained per meter of row. Canopy microclimate was affected age. Strawberries are planted in the fall and production goes by pruning method, shoot density, and leaf removal treatments. through the winter into early spring. Florida’s climate is sub- Light interception into the fruiting zone was 49 % higher for tropical and very humid. Winter cold fronts typically bring rain spur pruned vines compared to mechanically box-pruned, and to the area ahead of the front. Due to the very humid condi- was 44% higher for low shoot density compared to high shoot tions, strawberry yield can be severely affected by two major density treatments. A 17% decrease in leaf layer number was fruit diseases, anthracnose fruit rot (AFR) and Botrytis fruit observed for vines with leaf removal. Yield was impacted by

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S317 both dormant pruning and shoot thinning methods where an late-season harvests. Further studies are needed to determine increase of 42% in mechanically box-pruned vines was seen how long harvest windows can be extended by foliar nutrient compared to spur pruned, and increase of 27% from low to applications. high shoot density. Crop load and vine vigor were impacted Specified Source(s) of Funding: Agricultural Research Initia- by the interaction of shoot density and leaf removal. Leaf area tive of California to fruit weight ratio reached the desired range (0.8-1.2 m2/kg) for medium shoot density treated vines that were mechanically box-pruned. Wine phenolics analysis indicated a three way Monday, September 26, 2011 interaction amongst pruning method, shoot density, and leaf removal indicating quantitative wine parameters were multi 12:00–12:45 pm Kona Ballroom dependent on canopy management methods. Waste Utilization in Horticulture Specified Source(s) of Funding: American Vineyard Founda- tion; Bronco Wine Company (296) Separation of Furocoumarins and Polymethoxyflavones from Grapefruit (097) Foliar Nutrient Sprays Affect Early Byproduct Using Flash Chromatography Harvest Season Fruit Cracking of ‘Wonderful’ Ram M. Uckoo* Pomegranate Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, John Chater* TX; [email protected] California Polytechnic Institute and State University, San Bhimanagouda S. Patil Luis Obispo, CA; [email protected] Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Lauren C. Garner TX; [email protected] California Polytechnic Institute and State University, San G.K. Jayaprakasha Luis Obispo, CA; [email protected] Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Fruit split of pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a physiological TX; [email protected] disorder resulting in rind cracking late in fruit development. This Citrus fruits are a rich source of furocoumarins and poly exposes arils, reducing the number of marketable fresh market methoxyflavones (PMF’s) which have demonstrated several fruit and the mass of processing fruit. To assess the efficacy of biological activities. Considering the need for both animal and foliar nutrients in the mitigation of pomegranate fruit split in human clinical trials, large scale separation and purification of California’s San Joaquin Valley, research was conducted at two these compounds is essential. In the present study, a simultaneous commercial 9-year old ‘Wonderful’ orchards (Site 1 and Site separation of furocoumarins and PMF’s from citrus grapefruit 2, respectively). Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4 at 3000, 4000, or 5000 byproducts was developed. Cold pressed citrus peel oil was –1 mg·L ), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 at 1%, 2%, or 3%), potas- subjected to silica column chromatography to separate the oil sium nitrate (KNO3 at 1%, 2%, or 3%), or a control treatment and waxes. The remaining defatted constituent was collected of deionized water was applied by backpack sprayer at early by eluting with acetone. The enriched extract was subjected fruit set (July; fruit green to breaker with caliper ~50 mm). to separation on a silica gel column flash chromatography MgSO4and KNO3 treatments were applied again at late fruit using a step gradient of hexane and acetone solvents. The flow set (August; fruit red with caliper of ~70 mm). A randomized rate was maintained at 60 mL/min for a run time of 45 min. complete-block design with whole-tree experimental units and Separation of peaks were monitored at 210 and 340 nm and 25 blocks was utilized, for a total of 250 trees at each site. Trees the separated peaks were collected in fractions. These fractions at Site 1 were harvested at the beginning of their commercial were analyzed by HPLC, pooled and concentrated result- harvest period (October) and trees at Site 2 were harvested at ing in isolation of two furocoumarins (bergamottin- 1.53 g; the end of their season (November). Nutrient analyses conducted 0.8 % yield and bergapten- 59 mg; 0.03 % yield) in gram prior to and after treatment applications demonstrated that nu- level quantity and three PMF’s (tangeretin- 41 mg; 0.02 % trients were taken up by the leaves and increased fruit nutrient yield, heptamethoxyflavone- 64 mg; 0.03 % yield and content. Zinc treatments resulted in phytotoxicity at Site 2. nobiletin- 31 mg; 0.02 % yield) in milligrams quantity. The Data collected included yield (fruit number and mass) of split purity and identity of the isolated compounds was con- and unsplit fruit at harvest, mass and caliper of individual fruit firmed by spectral analysis using HPLC and NMR. The flash and postharvest evaluation of arils, including number and mass chromatography method was tested to be repeatable with per fruit. At Site 1, percent fruit split decreased in response to low % RSD yield of the separated compounds. Utilization of –1 5000 mg·L ZnSO4, 1% KNO3 and all MgSO4 without negative simultaneous isolation method for isolation of value added effects on other fruit quality parameters. At Site 2, treatments products from citrus grapefruit byproducts could be beneficial did not result in a significant reduction in any harvest parameter to the citrus processing industry. To the best of our knowledge measured. This indicates that foliar applications of MgSO4 or this is the first report on separation of furocoumarins and PMF’s KNO3 have potential commercial use to decrease pomegran- from grapefruit byproducts using flash chromatography. The ate fruit split, though treatments may not be effective during present research report is based on work supported by the

S318 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 “Designing Foods for Health” through USDA CSREES Grant mix. Preliminary soil testing results show that increases in soil P # 2010-34402-20875. may limit the application rate of biosolids. These results suggest Specified Source(s) of Funding:The present research report is that biosolids-based sod production can meet or exceed current based on work supported by the “Designing Foods for Health” agronomic goals for sod production in Wisconsin. through USDA CSREES Grant # 2010-34402-20875 Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-SCRI (297) Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids for Kentucky Bluegrass Sod Production Monday, September 26, 2011 Shane Griffith 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; [email protected] Genetics and Germplasm 1 Douglas J. Soldat* (118) Analysis of ITS DNA Sequences of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; [email protected] Korean Native Chrysanthemum John C Stier Su Jeong Kim* University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; jstier@ National Institute of Crop Science, Pyeongchang; wisc.edu [email protected] Richard Wolkowski Kwang Soo Cho University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI; National Institute of Crop Science, Pyeongchang; kisun@ [email protected] snu.ac.kr Linking sod production to waste management via land applica- Ki Oug Yoo tion of municipal biosolids can lead to beneficial disposal of Kangwon National University, Chuncheon; kisun@snu. nutrient rich waste. Biosolids may also mitigate the loss of soil ac.kr from sod fields during harvest operations. The objective of this Ki Sun Kim study is to increase the profitability and sustainability of sod Seoul National University, Seoul; [email protected] production by developing a biosolids-based sod production This study investigates the molecular phylogenetic relationships system in Wisconsin. Four replications of seven treatments among 15 species in the genus Chrysanthemum and one spe- were arranged in a randomized complete block design at a sod cies of their close related genera Ajania pacifica, an outgroup production farm in Marshall, WI on a Dodge silt loam (Fine- on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludalfs). Plot size ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). The study selected the sequence was 25 m by 8 m, and all operations were performed using analysis of ITS regions and evaluated the differences in ge- farm equipment. Two biosolids materials were utilized from netic variation. A total 640-641bp was sequenced at the 5.8S the Madison Metropolitan Sewage District (dewatered class B ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2. The biosolids cake and cake mixed with sand and sawdust), and were 5.8S coding region is 164bp, and has no sequence variations. applied at three rates based on their estimated supply of plant The length of the ITS sequences aligned using the clustal V available nitrogen. The final treatment was a control, which program was 640-641bp, and the lengths of the ITS 1 and ITS mimicked conventional sod maintenance techniques including regions were 254-255bp and 222bp, respectively. The evolution- synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. Biosolids were incorporated to a ary rate was very slow in Chrysanthemum ITS region targeting depth of 5 cm and plots were seeded with Kentucky bluegrass 18S rRNA sequence analysis of the nucleotide length of 14bp, (Poa pratensis). Stand density, turf color, and soil volumetric 26S rRNA with coding region 9bp. The speed was high in the moisture content were measured weekly during establish- DNA sequence evolution particularly in ITS region which ment in 2009 and 2010. Once turf established measurements was due to the use of good taxa. However, it did not show included turf quality, turf color, clipping yield, soil moisture, large variation in the genus chrysanthemum category. The GC and sod tensile strength. Soil coring to a 30-cm depth in content was lower in spacer region ITS1 (46.9 to 51.0%) in 10-cm increments was performed prior to treatment applica- chrysanthemums than ITS2 (51.8 to 53.2%) in Asteraceae tion and again one year after biosolids were applied to track plant family. The results of the study suggest that the molecular the annual change in soil elemental composition. Data show techniques used could be useful for the phylogenetic analysis that all rates and sources of biosolids result in similar establish- of Korean chrysanthemum with variations in morphological ment as the standard sod production practice, which consisted characteristics. of inorganic fertilizer applied annually at 250 kg·ha–1 N . Turf quality and color increased with N fertility and were greatest when cake was applied at 500 or 1000 kg·ha–1 of plant available (119) Identification of Haploid Seedlings in Low N, though not statistically different than the standard practice. Chill Peach Germplasm Sod strength increased with decreasing nitrogen fertility and –1 José X. Chaparro* was greatest for the 250 kg·ha N application of cake and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S319 C. Eduardo Vallejos of those seed components was performed in this study. The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] targeted components were protein, starch, tocopherols, phytos- Peach is one of a few tree species capable of generating haploids. terols and total phenolics in the seeds of mung bean germplasm Haploidy represents an important tool for the rapid generation which were analyzed using liquid chromatography and ELISA of homozygous genotypes in peach breeding programs. The analysis. A collection of mung beans was composed of 1125 potential impact is even greater in the case of peach rootstocks accessions from diverse origins so that our results could be where it takes multiple generations to develop inbred lines that useful for breeders to develop advanced varieties. As the re- a δ come true to seed. Spontaneous peach haploids are generated sults of tocopherols, -tocopherol, ß-tocopherol, -tocopherol, γ at a low frequency and have been reported previously. All -tocopherol and total tocopherol content were diverse as the range of 0.10~17.00, 0.20~0.90, 0.10~17.40, 85.40~126.50, peach haploids available at the National Clonal Germplasm –1 Repository for Fruit and Nut Crops were derived from high chill and 89.70~144.60 μg·g , respectively. For the results of sterols, germplasm, and are of limited utility in our breeding program. campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol and total phytosterol content were diverse as the range of 29.20~121.40, 147.60~297.50, We have initiated an effort to identify and collect a panel of low –1 chill haploids to determine the feasibility of using them in our 354.2~542.10, and 537.60~862.40 μg·g , respectively. Protein rootstock breeding program. Putative haploids were identified content was diverse as the range of 20.48~28.62 % and starch was 113.57~204.20 mg·g–1. Total phenolics content was diverse either as twin seedlings, i.e., hemitwin embryos contained within –1 a common seed coat, or by their reduced growth and narrow leaf as the range of 651.00~991.00 μg·g . To develop the calibration phenotype. An initial search of seedling populations identified equations for rapid and nondestructive determination of each 3 putative haploid seedlings belonging to 3 different low chill components, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRs) parents. Two of the parents represented peach scion germplasm. spectra (1104–2494 nm) of samples ground into flour n( = 106) The third parent was an interspecific Prunus persica × P. kan- were obtained using a dispersive spectrometer. A modified partial suensis F hybrid used in rootstock breeding. Flow cytometry least-squares model was developed to predict each component, 1 the coefficients of determination (R2) of the models were poor was used to measure the nuclear DNA content and confirm the 2 haploid status of the seedlings. Microsatellite marker analysis except for protein. The R for protein was 0.99 which could be with 37 SSR markers distributed evenly across the peach ge- useful for the mass screening and rapid quantification of seed nome revealed that 2 of the 3 seedlings had a single SSR allele protein in mung bean germplasm. at all the SSR loci. Specified Source(s) of Funding:RDA fund (Rep. of Korea) Specified Source(s) of Funding:Florida Foundation Seed (121) Confirmation of Hybridity and (120) Evaluation of Seed Protein, Starch, Identification of Self-Fertile Genotypes of Tocopherols, Phytosterols and Total Phenolics Tecoma spp. (Bignoniaceae) for Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Germplasm Ryan Contreras* and Application of near-Infrared Reflectance Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; ryan.contreras@ Spectroscopy (NIRs) for Rapid Prediction hort.oregonstate.edu Young-Yi Lee* John M. Ruter University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] Jung-Bong Kim Joann Conner University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] Sok-Young Lee Yajuan Zeng University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] Ho-Sun Lee Peggy Ozias-Akins University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] Tecoma Juss. is a genus of 14 species, primarily distributed in Young-A Jeon the neotropics, which is desired for its bright flowers includ- NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] ing yellows, oranges, and reds. The genus has been reported Gyu-Taek Cho as self-incompatible but reports are conflicting. Interspecific NAAS, RDA, Suwon; [email protected] hybridization and self-pollination of several species of Tecoma were conducted to develop novel forms for the nursery industry. Yong-Beom Lee Morphology and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) were University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] used to confirm hybridity. We report the development of fertile The objective of this study was to evaluate seed nutritional hybrids from the cross between T. garrocha Hieron. and T. stans components in mung bean (Vigna radiata) germplasm which (L.) Juss. ex H.B.K. that were then successfully backcrossed is conserved in genebank of Korea, National Agrobiodiversity to both parents and self-pollinated to produce F2 progeny. Center (NAC). And NIR application for rapid determination Tecoma garrocha, T. stans, and T. guarume A. DC ‘Tangelo’

S320 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 were identified as self-fertile. To our knowledge, we present the Francis T.P. Zee first report of three species hybrids in Tecoma with pedigrees USDA–ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; Francis.Zee@ars. of (T. garrocha × T. stans) × T. capensis (Thun.) Spach. and usda.gov (T. garrocha × T. stans) × T. guarume ‘Tangelo’, respectively. ‘Ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum Smith) is a native shrub of Leaf morphology of F1 hybrids of T. garrocha × T. stans were Hawaii and Maui commonly found in disturbed, open sites intermediate between the parents and we demonstrate the util- at 640 to 3700 meter elevation. Three cultivars: Kilauea, Red ity of GISH in identifying hybrids. Furthermore, we verify that Button, and Nene were selected for ornamental use due to their self-incompatibility is not ubiquitous in the genus. compact form and bright red and waxy new growth. This study Specified Source(s) of Funding: Hatch Funds and Georgia tested in vitro cold storage and cryopreservation of shoot tips Cultivar Development Grants of these cultivars and cryopreservation of seed for germplasm preservation. Shoot cultures in tissue-culture bags were main- (122) The U.S. Cool-season Grass Collection: tained in good condition in 4 °C cold storage for 16 months A Source for Novel Ornamental Grass before requiring repropagation. Shoot tips were moderately Germplasm desiccation sensitive, but could be cryopreserved by any of three protocols. Regrowth following controlled rate cooling Vicki L. Bradley was 42% to 50%; encapsulation dehydration 60% to 75%; and USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] PVS2 vitrification 45% to 70%. Wild collected seed was tested for germination after 3 months at room temperature or –20 °C Barbara Hellier* storage and after cryopreservation. Room-temperature stored USDA ARS, Pullman, WA; [email protected] seed displayed dormancy that was broken by cryopreservation. More than 20,000 accessions of cool-season grasses are High levels of germination were noted for the –20 °C stored maintained in Pullman, Washington at the U.S. National seed and the cryopreserved seed. These studies show that ‘ôhelo Plant Germplasm System’s Western Regional Plant Introduc- germplasm can be successfully cold stored as tissue cultures or tion Station (WRPIS). This grass collection, representing 1,032 cryopreserved as shoot tips or seeds. taxa from 105 countries, is used as a source for education, Specified Source(s) of Funding:SCRI research, and breeding materials by foreign and domestic scientists and educators. The collection has been underexploited (124) Overview of the Tropical Genetic as a source for ornamental plants; only 11 grass seed orders, out of more than three thousand submitted between 1991 and Resources Program at the USDA–ARS Tropical 2010, listed evaluation for ornamental potential as the use for Agriculture Research Station the germplasm. More than 400 cool-season grass accessions Brian Irish are planted in the field for regeneration at the WRPIS annu- USDA ARS TARS, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected]. ally, and a number of accessions have been observed to have gov ornamental potential. Selections with potential ornamental value such as showy seed heads, pleasing form, and interesting Ricardo Goenaga* foliage, have been made from accessions of Koeleria macran- USDA–ARS, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected]. gov tha, Melica transylvanica, and Eragrostis tef, as well as other taxa. As the desire for low-input landscape plants increases The lack of well established, organized, characterized and prop- and the ornamental grass industry becomes more economi- erly maintained germplasm collections could mean the loss of cally important, the U.S. cool-season grass collection may be potentially useful genetic resources for a given crop species. As an important source of novel ornamental germplasm for the part of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and in a nursery trade. long-term effort for the conservation of plant genetic resources under USDA–ARS National Program 301 (Plant Genetic Re- Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Program 301, Plant sources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement), the Tropical Genetic Resources, Genomics, and Genetics Improvement Agriculture Research Station’s (TARS) germplasm program in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, curates tropical and subtropical plant (123) In Vitro Storage and Cryopreservation of germplasm. In addition to a number of tropical and subtropical ‘Ohelo Seed and Tissue Cultures fruit collections, the program is responsible for the curation Barbara M. Reed* of cacao (Theobroma cacao), both tropical and temperate USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] bamboo collections as well as tropical woody and herbaceous ornamentals. The program’s main responsibilities are to acquire, Esther E. Uchendu propagate in a disease-free manner, maintain, characterize, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON; euchendu@uoguelph. evaluate and distribute (for research and educational purposes) ca plant germplasm. Characterization efforts focus on phenotypic Sugae Wada traits useful in distinguishing among accessions as well as mor- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; wadas@hort. phological traits of agronomic importance. Molecular markers oregonstate.edu are utilized for the identification of mislabeling, understanding

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S321 genetic relationships among accessions, estimating genetic Arizona cypress and ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae have indeterminate diversity and identifying genetic gaps within the collections. growth patterns and continued to increase their shoot dry weight Recent efforts have focused on a collaborative project for the throughout the growing season. Similar trends were observed development of microsatellite or SSR markers for a number of for height and growth index. Caliper, which is often an excellent tropical crop germplasm collections maintained at USDA–ARS indicator of root growth, increased steadily in Arizona cypress NPGS repository sites. All passport, morphological (including (500% increase) and ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (100% increase), voucher images) and molecular data for accessions are publicly but was unchanged in Nordmann fir and Engelmann spruce. accessible through the Genetic Resources Information System There was significant mortality among Engelmann spruce (GRIN) database. Results from recent research conducted on (36.46%) and Nordmann fir (17.71%) throughout the duration tropical genetic resources at TARS are discussed further. of the study. However, root growth did increase once cooler Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS fall temperatures arrived. Mortality among Arizona cypress and ‘Green Giant’ was negligible (1.04% and 8.33%, respectively). This data suggests that species with indeterminate growth Monday, September 26, 2011 characteristics are aided by increased root growth and may establish more rapidly than species with determinate growth 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom patterns. Species with determinate growth characteristics may Nursery Crops be aided by fall planting. Specified Source(s) of Funding: KDA Specilaty Crop Block (040) Root and Shoot Growth of Four Field Grant Grown Conifer Species (041) Photoperiodic Flowering Induction in Joshua R. Pool* Carex pensylvanica Lam. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Esther E. McGinnis* Jason J. Griffin University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; mcgi003@umn. Haysville, KS; [email protected] edu Cheryl R. Boyer Alan Smith Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; crboyer@k-state. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; smith022@umn. edu edu Stuart L. Warren Mary Hockenberry Meyer Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; slwarren@ksu. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; meyer023@umn. edu edu Carex pensylvanica A field study was conducted to observe root and shoot growth (Pennsylvania sedge) is native to upland forests and savannas in the eastern half of North America and of four conifer species to determine establishment adaptability in the Midwest and lower Great Plains. These regions are has horticultural utility as a groundcover for dry, shady areas. known for periods of extended drought as well as extreme high For landscape and restoration projects, it would be desirable and low temperatures. Conifers play an integral role in wind to directly sow achenes instead of using vegetative propagules. C. pensylvanica abatement, control of soil erosion, wildlife habitats, as well However, typically has low achene production in its native habitat. As a first step in improving achene as being aesthetically pleasing in a landscape setting. Liners production, we studied the environmental factors influencing of Thuja ‘Green Giant’ (‘Green Giant’ arborvitae), Cupressus arizonica (Arizona cypress), Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann floral induction and initiation. In the first experiment, half of fir), and Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) were planted the plants were vernalized (4 °C) for 12 weeks under either 8- on 7 Apr. 2010 Roots of Engelmann spruce and Nordmann fir or 16-hour photoperiods. The remaining nonvernalized plants were subjected to either 8- or 16-hour photoperiods at 22 °C. were trimmed to a length of 17.8 cm prior to planting. ‘Green – Giant’ arborvitae and Arizona cypress were planted with their All plants were exposed to irradiance levels of 200 umol·m 2·s–1. After the initial 12-week treatment, plants were held for an entire root systems. In the absence of rainfall, plants received –1 additional 8 weeks under either 8- or 16-hour photoperiods at drip irrigation weekly for 6 hours at a rate of 300 L·h ·100 m. Two plants per species per rep were harvested with their entire 22 °C. All combinations of treatments were tested. In a second root systems every 28 days. Plants were then washed and data experiment, plants were exposed to 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, or 14-hour –2·s–1) for 10 collected on root and shoot growth. Root and top dry weights photoperiods (22 °C, irradiance of 300 μmol·m weeks. Data collected for both experiments included days to were recorded following 7 days of drying at 66 °C. Each species visible bud, first anthesis, and number of reproductive culms. exhibited an initial increase in shoot: root ratio during spring The first experiment showed that C. pensylvanica is an obli- growth. However, as root growth continued throughout the gate short day plant and that vernalization does not accelerate growing season this ratio steadily decreased. Throughout the flowering. In the second experiment, 100% of plants flowered growing season, shoot dry weight of Nordmann fir and Engel- under 6, 8, 10, and 12-hour photoperiods; however, flower- mann spruce was relatively unchanged, which was expected ing was completely inhibited under the 14 hour photoperiod. from these species with determinate growth patterns. However,

S322 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Therefore, environmental conditions for production of achenes R. Thomas Fernandez can be optimized. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; fernan15@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Minnesota msu.edu Bert Cregg (042) Technologies to Shorten Tree Whip Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; cregg@msu. Production Time in Ohio edu Jeffrey A. Andresen Phoebe Gordon* Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; andresen@ Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; gordon.575@osu. msu.edu edu William Northcott Hannah M. Mathers Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; northco2@ Ohio State University–Hort & Crop Sci, Columbus, OH; msu.edu [email protected] From 23 June through 16 Oct. 2009 and 6 June through 31 Oct. Currently caliper tree production in Ohio relies on tree whips 2010, four conifer taxa were grown in 10.2-L (#3) containers grown in the Pacific Northwest, which impedes the Ohio and subjected to four irrigation regimes based either on daily nursery industry due to damaged nursery stock and limited water use (DWU) or a control application rate. The plants grown selection. One of the obstacles to growing tree liners in Ohio is were: 1) Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Filicoides’, 2) Chamaecyparis the shorter growing season. Use of retractable roof greenhouses pisifera ‘Sungold’, 3) Thuja occidentalis ‘Holmstrup’, and 4) has been shown to produce larger trees than outside production Thuja plicata ‘Zebrina’. The four irrigation treatments were: 1) (Stoven, 2006). Pots that air prune root systems, which are control application of 19 mm·d–1 per container; 2) irrigation ap- useful for improving root architecture through fewer girdling plied to replace 100% DWU (100DWU); 3) applications alternat- roots, have been shown to increase plant size as well (Maguire, ing 100% DWU with 75% DWU in a 2-day cycle (100–75); and 2007; Mathers, unpublished data). Three different species, Quer- 4) a 3-day application cycle replacing 100% DWU on the first cus shumardii, Platanus occidentalis, and Gleditsia triacanthos day and 75% DWU on the second and third days (100–75–75). were started from seed in Feb. 2010 from germplasm collected Irrigation treatments were applied every 24 h. Irrigation volume, in Columbus, OH. Trees were planted into four different air runoff volume, runoff nutrient content, and plant growth were pruning pots–a Jiffy® peat pot, a Rootmaker®, Root Accelerator® monitored. Irrigation treatments did not affect (P > 0.05) plant ® and Elle paper pot or a control 3-gal pot. After one month, all growth index [GI = (height + width1 + width2) / 3] in 2009. In plants in the root pruning pots were up-shifted into three gal- 2010, GI of plants in the DWU treatments was equal to or greater lon pots, which they grew in for the remainder of the growing than control plants for C. obtusa ‘Filicoides’. Irrigation did not season. Plants were split between a retractable roof greenhouse affect growth of plants from the other taxa in 2010. Total water environment and outside on a black geofabric. After entering applied for 100DWU, 100–75, and 100–75–75 treatments was dormancy, plants were measured for caliper, height, shoot and 22%, 32%, and 56% less, respectively, than the control of 117 root weights. Q. shumardii average growth in height, dry root L per container in 2009 and 24%, 18%, and 24% less than the weight, and dry shoot weight, and caliper was higher in the control of 165 L per container in 2010. Scheduling irrigation Rootmaker® or planted directly into the 3-gal pot. G. triacanthos based on DWU reduced runoff volumes collected from growing height was higher in any air pruning pot compared to the control – 3– areas and daily losses of NO3 –N and PO4 –P when compared 3-gallon pot, but dry shoot weight, dry root weight, and caliper to the control. In this study, irrigation was reduced in the DWU were affected only by the Rootmaker®. G. triacanthos grown treatments which led to reduced runoff volumes and quantities in the retractable roof greenhouse had an average caliper larger – 3– of NO3 –N and PPO4 –P. than trees grown outside. Q. shumardii was larger in height, dry Specified Source(s) of Funding:MSU Project GREEEN, MDA root weight, dry shoot weight, and caliper when grown in the Hort Fund, Spring Meadow Nursery , Renewed Earth, Harrell’s retractable roof greenhouse than outside. These data suggest that Inc. a combination of a retractable roof greenhouse and air pruning pots can speed the growth of specific tree species to the same rate as ones grown in the Pacific Northwest. (044) Physiological Effects of Salinity Stress and a Stem Canker Pathogen on Red Maple (Acer Specified Source(s) of Funding:Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center rubrum var. October Glory) Drew Zwart* (043) Nursery Runoff Water Nutrient Content University of Washington, Seattle, WA; [email protected] and Volume and Plant Growth of Four Conifer Soo-Hyung Kim Taxa Subjected to Four Irrigation Treatments University of Washington, Seattle, WA; soohkim@u. Nicholas A. Pershey* washington.edu Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; persheyn@ In the typical urban or planned landscape, tree decline is often msu.edu linked to a variety of abiotic and biotic stress factors as opposed

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S323 to a single highly virulent pathogen or one damaging abiotic potential to produce these species sustainably in nurseries is stress event. The purpose of this ongoing study is to determine poorly understood. Our objectives were to determine if eight the physiological effects on red maple of salinity stress, inocu- actinorhizal and rhizobiarhizal taxa with ornamental potential lation with the stem canker pathogen Phytophthora cactorum, could be grown to marketable size and ornamental quality without and combination of the two. Three-year-old maple trees were supplemental fertilizer, to determine the suitability of these spe- obtained in April as bare-root whips (2–3 m height from soil, cies for production without fertilizer, and to compare responses 15-mm caliper) and replanted in 5-gal containers in a washed during production without fertilization of symbiotic species and sand media. Trees were grown out-doors (Seattle, WA) for one functionally similar non-symbiotic species. Woody plants of season to recover from transplant shock and maintained under four actinorhizal species and four rhizobiarhizal species, along well-irrigated (drip) conditions with weekly fertilization with with a non-symbiotic species functionally similar to each, were full-strength Hoagland’s #2. In the fall prior to leaf senescence produced with either a standard fertilizer treatment or without half of the trees were stem-inoculated with agar plugs taken from fertilization. All plants were grown in a soilless medium that, for the margin of actively growing colonies of P. cactorum, which plants not fertilized, was inoculated with 150 mL of field soil. was isolated from the margin of a bleeding canker on red maple, At the end of production, plants were measured for nodulation, while the other half were mock-inoculated with a sterile agar greenness of foliage (SPAD units), health (blind ratings by three plug. Inoculations were made by slicing an inverted U-shaped horticulturists), and size (shoot height and dry weight). Two of flap of bark and inserting the plug upper-surface facing inwards the four actinorhizal species and all four rhizobiarhizal species between the bark and phloem tissue. Wounds were immediately formed root nodules in the inoculated/non-fertilizer treatment, wrapped in sterile gauze, moistened with sterile water, wrapped while no plants in the un-inoculated/fertilizer (control) treatment in parafilm, and covered in foil. The following spring upon full nodulated. Among the nodulated taxa, two actinorhizal species leaf expansion, salinity treatments were imposed on half of the [Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl. and Alnus maritima (Marsh.) Muhl. inoculated and half of the mock-inoculated plants through weekly ex Nutt.] and two rhizobiarhizal species [Maackia amurensis flooding of the container with a 200-mM NaCl solution. Plant Rupr. & Maxim. and Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze] grew health and physiological responses including growth, chlorophyll larger, were rated as healthier, and developed greener foliage in content, chlorophyll fluorescence, carbon assimilation, and stress the non-fertilizer treatment than did plants of these species that metabolites were determined. Differences in size of the necrotic received fertilizer. Size of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in the two lesion expanding from the inoculation point are indicative of treatments was similar, but nodulated, non-fertilized plants were relative disease resistance and are compared between treatments. less healthy and less green, and size, health, and greenness of In addition, we report the internal conductance to carbon dioxide Laburnum alpinum J. Presl. were reduced by inoculation and no gi under all treatments using two independent methods. Recent fertilization. All non-symbiotic species in the non-fertilizer treat- research indicates that gi may be altered under stress conditions ment showed marked reductions in size, health, and greenness and may act as an important limitation to carbon assimilation of foliage. Responses of A. nitida, A. maritima, M. amurensis, under abiotic or biotic stress. To our knowledge this parameter and A. angustissima demonstrate potential to produce certain of photosynthetic performance has not been reported for red actinorhizal and rhizobiarhizal nursery crops sustainably with maple under stress or disease conditions. little or no fertilizer input. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Bartlett Tree Expert Company Specified Source(s) of Funding:Iowa State University

(045) Container Production of Actinorhizal (046) Cotton Waste Amended Substrates Impact and Rhizobiarhizal Woody Plants without Azalea and Juniper Growth Supplemental N–P–K Elizabeth D. Bridges James A. Schrader* North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; edbridge@ Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] ncsu.edu William Richard Graves Helen T. Kraus Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] North Carolina State Universtiy, Raleigh, NC; Helen_ [email protected] Actinorhizal and rhizobiarhizal plants can form mutualistic symbioses with soil-borne bacteria housed in root nodules, Brian E. Jackson* a relationship in which the plant receives fixed atmospheric North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; brian_ nitrogen while providing energy and a controlled environment [email protected] for the microsymbiont. Actinorhizal plants form N -fixing sym- 2 Ted E. Bilderback bioses with actinomycetes from the genus Frankia Brunchorst, North Carolina State Universtiy, Raleigh, NC; Ted_ and rhizobiarhizal plants (mostly legumes) form N2-fixing [email protected] symbioses with rhizobial bacteria mainly from two genera, Alternative substrates that replace pine bark (PB) completely or Rhizobium Frank and Bradyrhizobium Jordan. While a few partially are needed as PB supplies are running short in some areas actinorhizal and rhizobiarhizal plant species are recognized of the country and prices are increasing. Cotton stalks (CS) and for their outstanding performance in stressful landscapes, the

S324 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 cotton gin trash (CGT) are plentiful waste products of the cot- for the development of circling and malformed roots. Root ton industry and have shown promise as substrate amendments. injury sustained during production may negatively affect tree Substrates constructed from whole pine trees (PTS) have also health when planted in the landscape. Our research uses Pyrus shown promise as substrates. Cotton wastes have not been evalu- calleryana Decene. ‘Glen’s Form’ (Chanticleer®) to compare ated when mixed with pine tree based substrates. Rhododendron tree production using two non-conventional, fabric container obtusum ’Sunglow’ and Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’ were types (Root Pouch®, Averna & Associates, Hillsboro, OR, and potted on 7 May 2010 into 2.8 L black plastic containers filled Smart Pot, High Caliper Growing-Root Control, Inc., Okla- with either PB or PT based substrates that had been amended homa City, OK) along with BP containers. Our hypothesis (v/v) with cotton stalks composted without an N source (CS), is that the use of fabric containers will reduce the severity of cotton stalks composted with an N source (Daddy Pete’s Plant root zone temperature fluctuations seen with BP, promote the Pleaser, 0.5–0.5–0.5, Stony Point, NC) (CS+N), or cotton gin development of healthier root systems, enhance tree growth trash (CGT). The pine tree substrate base was produced from rate, shorten production time and produce trees that show less freshly harvested loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda) that were stress and establish more quickly when planted in the landscape. delimbed, chipped, and ground in a hammer mill through a Trees are being grown in a nursery production setting using 5/8-inch screen. A factorial treatment arrangement of these current industry standards. In addition to container type, two substrate bases (PB and PT) and amendments (CS, CS+N, and overwintering treatments are being examined—trees are either CGT) resulted in six substrates: 4:1 PB : CS (PBCS), 4:1 PB : consolidated pot-to-pot in a block or left “lined out” in rows. CS+N (PBCS+N), 9:1PB : CGT (PBCGT), 1:1 PT : CS (PTCS), Standard tree growth measurements are taken throughout the 1:1 PT : CS+N (PTCS+N), and 4:1 PT : CGT (PTCGT) arranged growing season. A portion of the trees are destructively har- in a RCBD. Additions of CS, CS+N, and CGT were made to PB vested in the first, second and third seasons following initial or PT to achieve similar water holding capacities. An industry planting in containers. Trees are planted into the landscape control of 100 % PB substrate was included in the experimental during the first through third growing seasons; trees will be design for comparisons. All substrates were amended with 3.0 fully excavated and harvested (after one, two and three grow- lb/yd3 (1.4 kg·m–3) dolomitic lime at mixing. On 17 May, PB- ing seasons) to compare transplant root and shoot growth. based substrates and the 100% PB control were topdressed with Post transplant stress of trees will be determined during the 2.6 g N and PT-based substrates were topdressed with 3.4 g N growing season using chlorophyll fluorometry, pre-dawn leaf supplied by a polymer-coated, slow release fertilizer, 17–5–10 water potential and infrared leaf temperature. In 2010 there (17N–2.2P–0.83K) (Harrell’s, Sylacauga, AL). Shoot and root were no statistical differences in height, dry leaf weight, dry growth of azalea and juniper were greatest with PB amended shoot weight and dry root weight among the three container with CGT and smallest with PTS amended with CGT. Substrate types. Trees growing in BP had greater caliper than those in bases of PB and PTS blended with composted CS either with the fabric containers. Trees growing in BP had more circling or without an additional nitrogen (N) source produced similar roots than those produced in both fabric container types. Con- shoot and root growth in both azalea and juniper. tainer media temperatures, measured with thermocouples in two locations in each container, also varied by container type. Specified Source(s) of Funding: North Carolina Department The southwest side of all container types exhibited the widest of Agriculture diurnal temperature fluctuations; however, fluctuations were greatest in BP (as much as 30 °C within a few hours). (047) Nursery Tree Production and Transplant Success of Pyrus calleryana ‘Glen’s Form’ Specified Source(s) of Funding: Colorado State University (Chanticleer®) Influenced by Container Types Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colo- rado Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Program and and Overwintering Treatments Colorado Nursery Research and Education Foundation Alison Stoven O’Connor* Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; astoven@ (048) Effect of Storage Time on Pine Tree larimer.org Substrate Bulk Density, Particle Size and Cation James E. Klett Exchange Capacity Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; jim.klett@ Linda L. Taylor colostate.edu Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] Anthony J. Koski Alex X. Niemiera* Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; tony.koski@ Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] colostate.edu The most commonly used container type for nursery tree Robert D. Wright production is the black plastic (BP) container. Roots of plants Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] grown in BP can be injured by the wide diurnal temperature Pine tree substrate (PTS) is a relatively new container substrate fluctuations which occur during most of the growing season. that can serve as a replacement for pine bark and peat. However, The longer trees remain growing in BP, the greater the potential there is relatively little research documenting the physical and

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S325 chemical property changes that occur in PTS during storage in 0.08 m3 plastic bags and stored on shelves in an open shed in with and without amendments. The objective of this work was Blacksburg, Virginia. Substrates were subsampled at 1, 42, 84, to determine how storage time of PTS with and without lime 168, 270, and 365 days. At each subsampling, six 1-L containers and peat amendments influenced substrate bulk density, particle of each treatment were potted with 2-week-old marigold (Tag- size distribution, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). PTS etes erecta ‘Inca Gold’) seedlings. Marigolds were fertilized at was manufactured (Apr. 2009) from freshly harvested loblolly each watering with 250 mL of a 300 mg·L–1 nitrogen 20–10–20 pine trees (Pinus taeda L.), chipped and hammermilled to two fertilizer solution (Jack’s Professional, Allentown, PA). After 3 sizes, 4.7 mm without peat amendment (PTS), and 15.8 mm weeks, substrate solution pH and marigold dry weight (DW) were amended with 25% peat (v/v, PTSP). A peat /perlite (4:1 v/v, determined. Marigold DW was lower in freshly manufactured PL) treatment served as a control. Substrates were amended with (day 1) PTS and PTSP for all lime treatments than DW values dolomitic limestone at 0 or 1 kg·m–3 for PTS, 0 or 4 kg·m–3 for for PL (all pH values ≥ 5.5). At subsampling day 42, only the PTSP, and 6 kg·m–3 for PL. Substrates were placed in 0.08 m3 DW of the PTSP no lime treatment (pH 5) was less than PL (all plastic bags and stored on shelves in an open shed in Blacks- other pH values ≥ 5.8). Day 84 DW values were higher for PTS burg, VA and subsampled at 1, 168, and 365 days. Day 1 bulk with 1, 2, or 4 kg·m–3 lime treatments (pH values ≥ 6.3) than densities (PTS 0.11 g·cc–1, PTSP 0.12 g·cc–1, PL 0.11 g·cc–1) for PL (pH 5.7). At day 168 there were no DW differences for remained unchanged throughout the 365 days, with or without any PTS or PTSP treatment compared to PL, however DW was lime addition. Particle size distribution remained the same for low in all treatments presumably due to a seasonal effect. At PTS with no lime over 365 days, but for PTS with 1 kg·m–3 day 270 only the marigold DW of unlimed PTS (pH 5.4) and lime there was an increase in medium size particles (0.5 to 2 PTSP (pH 4.0) treatments were less than PL. By day 365 only mm) by day 168 with no change thereafter. For PTSP without DW of PTSP no lime (pH 4.3) was lower than PL (pH 5.9). lime, there was a decrease in medium size particles and an Although no clear trends were found in marigold DW relative increase in fine particles (< 0.5 mm) by day 168 and no change to substrate solution pH, lime amendment was necessary for thereafter. For PTSP with 4 kg·m–3 lime, there was no change maximum marigold growth in stored PTS, and especially for in distribution throughout the experiment. For PL, there was a PTS amended with peat. DW values for limed PTS and limed decrease in coarse and medium size particles and an increase PTSP treatments were only lower than PL treatments at day 1 in fine size particles by 6 months and no significant change indicating that by day 42 and thereafter some inhibitory influ- thereafter. CEC values (PTS 2 cmol·L–1, PTSP 5 cmol·L–1, PL ence of PTS was absent. –1 13 cmol·L ) were the same throughout the experiment for all Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Nursery and Landscape of the substrate treatments, with or without lime. The physical Association; Virginia Agricultural Council and chemical characteristics of PTS and PTSP monitored in this study remained relatively stable over one year of storage. –3 (050) Alternative Nursery Substrates for the Particle size changes observed in PTS with 1 kg·m lime and Great Plains: Maclura pomifera PTSP with no lime occurred within the first 6 months and had no measurable effect on bulk density or CEC. Zachariah W. Starr Specified Source(s) of Funding:Virginia Nursery and Landscape Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Association; Virginia Agricultural Council Cheryl R. Boyer* Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; crboyer@k-state. (049) Effect of Substrate Storage Time on edu Marigold Growth in Pine Tree Substrate Jason J. Griffin Linda L. Taylor Haysville, KS; [email protected] Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] The search for sustainable, local substrate resources is active Alex X. Niemiera* across the United States. In the Great Plains region, weedy Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] tree species are prime targets for alternative substrate research due to a lack of native pine species. Maclura pomifera (Osage Robert D. Wright Orange) is one such species that can be found in fields, along Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; [email protected] fencelines and creekbeds. Maclura wood is highly resistant to Pine tree substrate (PTS) is a relatively new alternative to pine decay, which may make it an ideal alternative substrate option bark or peat based substrates. The objective of this research was for long-term woody crops. The objective of this study was to to determine the effect of PTS storage time with and without evaluate growth of redbud (Cercis canadensis) and crapemyrtle lime and peat amendments to PTS on plant growth, topics that (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Arapaho’) in substrates composed of have not been extensively researched. PTS was manufactured pine bark or Maclura ground to pass one of four hammer mill from freshly harvested loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda L.), and screen sizes (0.48, 0.95, 1.27, or 1.91 cm). Substrates were pre- amended with 25% peat (v/v, PTSP). A peat/perlite (4:1 v/v, PL) plant incorporated with 20% sand (by volume), control release treatment served as a control. The PTS and PTSP substrates were fertilizer (Osmocote, Scotts, Marysville, OH) and a micronutri- amended with dolomitic limestone at rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, or 6 ent package (Micromax, Scotts, Marysville, OH). Liners were kg·m–3; PL was amended with 6 kg·m–3. Substrates were placed planted into 8.7-L containers and placed on a gravel nursery pad

S326 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 with overhead sprinkler irrigation (2.54 cm/day). The study was measured the root permeability of plants for a pressure chamber terminated 154 DAP (days after planting). For redbud, there and the water potentials of exudates, which were able to infer were no differences in growth index ([height + widest width the amount of total solutes of permeation solution, by using an + perpendicular width]/3), trunk caliper, or root dry weight at isopiestic psychrometer. By comparison between Dutch and 154 DAP. However, shoot dry weight was greatest in 1.91 cm Japanese varieties, the root permeability of R was higher than Maclura and the least in pine bark. In crapemyrtle there were that of D, but there was no difference significantly between D/m no differences in root dry weight, however, plants grown in and R/r. The water potentials of exudates were similar between pine bark or 0.95 cm Maclura had the greatest growth indices. D and R, and D/m and R/r. By comparison between non-grafted Plants grown in pine bark had greater shoot dry weight than and grafted plants, we found that there were no significant dif- those grown in 1.27 cm Maclura. In many alternative substrates ference between D and D/m of the root permeability, and the container capacity is low and air space is high. This occurred water potential of exudates of D/m was lower than that of D. with the larger screen sizes of Maclura (1.27 and 1.91 cm). Pine On this basis we found that the root of the Dutch variety was bark used in this study had the opposite relationship with high able to absorb more solutes by grafting. When R was grafted container capacity (68.8%) and low air space (4.7%). Substrates on ‘Receive’, growth was inhibited, and the root permeability composed of 0.48 cm and 0.95 cm Maclura remained in the and the water potential of exudates became lower than R. This ideal ranges for container capacity and air space. Results of this indicate that absorption of water and solute was decreased by study indicate that Maclura pomifera may potentially make an grafting, resulting the vegetative growth inhibition. acceptable substrate component in the production of woody nursery crops. However, more studies are needed to determine (311) Phosphorous and Potassium Nutrient long-term status of the substrate and production protocols before Management for Tart Cherry Productivity and widespread use in the industry can be recommended. Quality Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS Floriculture and Sean Rowley Nursery Research Initiative Utah State University, Logan, UT; sean.rowley@ aggiemail.usu.edu Monday, September 26, 2011 Grant Cardon 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] Plant Nutrient Management 2 Brent Black* Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] (310) Difference of Root Permeability of Dutch Recent work with apples has shown that supplemental phos- and Japanese Varieties of Single-Truss Tomato phorus (P) and potassium (K) improve fruit quality under Plants high crop load conditions when conventional soil tests would indicate sufficiency. Fruit producers in Utah are interested in Tomomi Kakita* whether or not a similar positive response could be obtained Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. for tart cherries (Prunus cerasus ’Montmorency’). Different ac.jp rates and formulations of P and K were applied to replicated Kotaro Mukai single-tree plots of mature tart cherries in 2009. Formulations Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. included steric potassium (SK), steric phosphorus and potassium ac.jp (SPK), potassium sulfate (SOP), and 16:16:16. Fruit and leaf tissue samples from the treatments were compared for P and K Yosuke Sato content, and fruit quality was evaluated on the basis of soluble Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. ac.jp solids, titratable acidity and color. The 16:16:16 formulation applied twice during the early growing season showed the most Mio Nakamura significant increase in fruit quality and the highest tissue P and Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. K concentrations. These early results indicate that growers can ac.jp improve tart cherry fruit quality with a relatively low-cost source Takashi Ikeda of P and K fertilizer. Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Utah Department of Ag and Food ac.jp In order to investigate physiological difference between Dutch (312) Vermicompost Can Provide Adequate and Japanese beef tomato varieties, we examined permeability Micronutrients for the Production of of roots to nutrient solutions and the water potentials of exu- Greenhouse Cucumbers dates. We grew non-grafted Dutch ‘Dundee’ (D) and Japanese ‘Reiyo’ (R) varieties of single-truss tomatoes in hydroponically. Tissa Kannangara* Also ‘Dundee’ grafted onto Dutch ‘Maxifort’ (D/m) and ‘Reiyo’ Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; grafted onto Japanese ‘Receive’ (R/r) were used in this study. We [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S327 Xiao Wu Growth and yield response of collards leaves to mineral nutri- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, BC; Xiao. ent stress was evaluated in NFT hydroponic culture over a 68- [email protected] day cropping cycle. Seedlings of collards Brassica oleracea, Both macro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Acephala ‘Champion’) raised in 2.5 cm rockwool cubes were Mn, Fe, B, Mo) are fed hydroponically to plants in the production transferred into NFT culture at the second true-leaf stage and of greenhouse grown crops including cucumbers. Even though grown for 16 days in a conditioning nutrient solution prepared –1 the amount of micronutrients required by plants is miniscule in from a complete fertilizer [15N–2.2P–12.5K at 200 mg·L of comparison to that of macronutrients, yet micronutrients exert N plus micronutrients (C1)]. From days 17 to 68 after transfer a great influence on plant growth. Most of the micronutrients (DAT) into NFT culture, three nutrient treatments were initi- serve as cofactors of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide ated by replacing the conditioning nutrient solution (C1) with dismutase, catalase, peroxidase etc. and are incorporated into either irrigation water from a well water source (C1–C0), a fresh –1 structural molecules. Since composts contain micronutrients C1 solution (C1–C1), or 15N–2.2P–12.5K at 300 mg·l of N (Kannangara et al., 2006) in addition to growth promotion and (C1–C2). Water loss due to evapotranspiration was continuously disease suppression properties (Kannangara et al., 2000) in this replenished from the same source used to prepare the nutri- study we examined whether composts can provide adequate ent solution. At 37 days after initiation of nutrient treatment micronutrient for growth and production of cucumber plants (DNT), nutrient stress (C1–C0) caused significant (P < 0.05) in the greenhouse. Three sets of plants were grown. One set reduction in marketable yield (fresh weight of young, fully grown on sawdust potting medium was fed with hydroponic expanded leaves (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW), leaf area (LA) solution containing both macro and micro nutrients. A second and leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) compared with C1–C1 and set grown on sawdust potting medium was fed with hydroponic C1–C2. Specific leaf area (SLA) was significantly (P < 0.05) solution devoid of micro nutrients. A third set grown on saw- increased in C1–C0 compared with C1–C2, but not C1–C1; and dust potting medium amended with 10% vermicompost was leaf water content (LWC) was not affected by nutrition regime. fed with hydroponic solution devoid of micronutrients. The By 68-DNT, all the above parameters were significantly lower activities of leaf antioxidant enzymes and isoenzyme profile of in C1–C0 compared with C1–C1 and C1–C2. Whereas LDW antioxidants as determined by native gel electrophoresis, leaf decreased and LCC remained unchanged from 37 to 68-DNT; chlorophyll content and cucumber fruit number and fruit yields LFW, LWC, LA and SLA increased significantly (P < 0.05) in were examined. Leaf chlorophyll content, fruit yield and fruit C1–C2. Both in C1–C0 and C1–C1, LFW, LDW and LA declined number in plants grown without micronutrients on sawdust very significantly from 37 to 68-DAT, but LWC, LCC and SLA alone were significantly reduced compared to those grown with were not affected at C1–C1. Mineral nutrient stress significantly micronutrients and those grown without micronutrients but had decreased leaf succulence, and consequently fresh weight yield 10% vermicompost compost in the potting medium. Fruit yield of collards during a 68-day cropping cycle despite culture in of plants grown without micronutrients but had compost in the liquid hydroponic system. potting medium were slightly higher than plants that received Specified Source(s) of Funding: This study was supported by both macro and micro nutrients. Significant differences in the USDA–NIFA Grant No. MOX-HYDROPONICS-05. Lincoln antioxidant activity and the isoenzyme profiles of the anti- University –Missouri. oxidants were noted between plants grown with and without micronutrients. For example, peroxidase activities which reflect (314) Amelioration of Sandy Soil Using Organic plant stress were significantly higher in plants grown without Fertilizers and Biofertilizers and the Effect on micronutrients on sawdust than those grown on potting mixes Chili Plants’ Growth containing compost. Jose Gerardo Lopez-Aguirre* Specified Source(s) of Funding: Agriculture and Agri-Food Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; jglopez@ucol. Canada mx (313) Mineral Nutrient Stress Altered Javier Farias-Larios Growth and Yield of Collards Leaves in NFT Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; [email protected] Hydroponic Culture Nick Pierre Guzman-Tejeda Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; jglopez38@ Jonathan N. Egilla* hotmail.com Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; [email protected] Luis Alfonso Verduzco-Rosas Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; jglopez38@ Rose Ogutu hotmail.com Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; [email protected] Salvador Guzman-González Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; sguzman@ Isabelle Nyirakabibi ucol.mx Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO; [email protected] Sergio Aguilar-Espinosa

S328 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; saguilar@ucol. Octavio Pérez-Zamora mx Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jfarias@ucol. mx Maria Del Rocio Flores-Bello Universidad de Colima, Tecoman, Colima; [email protected] José Gerardo López-Aguirre* Increase of agronomic activity and looking for have a lesser ef- Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jglopez@ucol. fect on environment, is going to have an integral management of mx soil because some producers do an uncontrolled application of In the commercial nursery, the Desert Rose plants are multiplied chemical products, but this application can be an adverse effect by cutting and grown with potting media enriched with 40% on soil, and crop production can decrease. In sandy soils are of forest soil and other mixes such as and other mixes such as applied enough nutrients, because macroporosity nutrients can river sand, coconut fiber and pumice. However, the plant qual- be leached. For the previous reason, in sandy soils, is necessary ity is not adequate, and more time in nursery is required. An to apply products for structure and fertility amelioration. The alternative is the use of organic substrates in the potting media objective of this work was to study the effect of vermicompost for growth of Desert Rose. In the State of Colima this ornamen- and cachaza (subproduct of the sugar industry) with Biofertilizer, tal flower has been a good alternative for producers because based on arbuscular mycorrhizal, on sandy soil, using chili plants, present a great economical relevance. In this study, the effect under nursery conditions. The experiment was carried out in the of several organic substrates in the potting media for growth of Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Desert Rose under greenhouse conditions was evaluated dur- Colima. Soil samples were taken from the experimental field at ing 75 days. The experiment was carried out in the Facultad de 20 cm depth. Samples were dried to the air, and sieved (2 mm). Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Three organic substrates Later were mixed with the organic fertilizers and biofertilizer, were evaluated, vermicompost, compost and bocashi, at three forming the treatments: 100, 150, 200 and 250 of each organic rates: 10%, 20%, and 30% (v/v). The control was san, coconut fertilizer. Firstly, seed were germinated and inoculated with bio- fiber and pumice mixture. Treatments were arranged in split fertilizer. When seedlings were 45 days old, were transplanted to plot design and completely randomized with six replicates. plastic bags containing soils mixed with organic fertilizers. Were Three pots were considered as experimental unit. A. obesum imposed 10 treatments, included only soil without AM spores were obtained by cutting from plants in commercial nursery. and only AM spores, each treatment had four replications and Substrates were physically and chemically well characterized 10 plants as experimental unit. 45 days after transplant, height and plants of 35 cm height were grown on them during 75 days. plant, diameter stem, leaves number, dry and fresh root weight Plant growth was enhanced and several important horticultural and dry and fresh aerial weight were measured. Also electrical parameters, such as stem diameter, plant height, shoots number conductivity, pH, anions and cations soluble, were measured and flower number, were improved in Desert Rose grown on in soil in ratio 1:5 before organic fertilizers application and 20 vermicompost and compost-containing media. Results shown days after organic fertilizers application. Results shown that that plant height was had the highest values in treatment with pH, electrical conductivity, and soluble cations and HCO3 were 10% of vermicompost. Respecting to flower number, did not increased significantly respecting to original soil. At the final of was detected statistical differences between treatments with the experiment, values of the same parameters were also higher organic fertilizers, similar effects were shown to stem diameter. than the original soil before organic fertilizer application. Treat- Shoots number were measured at the final of the study and results ments with cachaza mixed with AM had the highest values for shown that treatment with 30% of vermicompost had the highest leaves number, stem diameter and height plant, also for fresh values (50), and control had only 18%. Bocashi with 10% was and dry aerial weight. Respecting to fresh and dry root weight, the treatment where flower number was the lowest, and treat- plants in treatments with cachaza mixed with AM and in original ment with 30% of bocashi and control were the highest values. soil, results were statistically similar. Ours conclusions are that Because of these observations and analyses, we concluded that AM fungi application mixed with cachaza in sandy soil have bocashi incorporation in potting media had not beneficial effects beneficial effects for chili plants growth, but is necessary take on Desert Rosa plants growth. in count that some chemical parameters are increased, Electrical Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad de Colima, Facultad Conductivity, pH, and soluble cations, also soluble bicarbonates. de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad De Colima, Facultad De Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (316) Can Mycorrhizae Products Aid in Phosphorus Uptake in Bedding Plant (315) The Use of Organic Substrates on Desert Production? Rose Growth under Greenhouse Conditions Marietta Loehrlein* Eva Yolanda Panduro-Calvario Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois; mm- Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; [email protected] [email protected] Javier Farias-Larios Annual plants grown for the bedding plant market use soil- Universidad de Colima, Tecomán, Colima; jfarias@ucol. less media and water soluble fertilizer for optimal production. mx Phosphorus fertilizer in runoff poses an environmental problem.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S329 When elevated levels of phosphorus are present in surface water, The use of organic and inorganic media in hydroponic produc- algal blooms often result. Algal blooms use up oxygen, result- tion of vegetables has increased significantly because substrates ing in low oxygen levels (hypoxia) for fish and other aquatic facilitate the management of plants, since growing crops is life. Some states are already regulating or banning the use of more difficult when cultivated in soil. In the present study we phosphorus in the landscape industry.Mycorrhizae are a group evaluated the effect of five substrates [volcanic rock (tuff), of soil-borne fungal organisms that can develop a symbiotic perlite, two kinds of coir (one from Mexico and another from relationship with certain plant species. One of the beneficial Sri-Lanka) and pine sawdust] on growth and production of two results is increased phosphorus uptake. They occur naturally, tomato cultivars (Caiman F1 and Tequila F1). Treatments were and are commonly present in natural areas. However, greenhouse set in a completely randomized design with four replicates; production of bedding plants is an artificial environment which the parameters measured included the volume of irrigation and excludes such soil-borne organisms. Soilless media is composed leacheate water. Leacheate pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and of a blend of organic and mineral ingredients that would not temperature were also measured. The leaching fraction and normally be inoculated with mycorrhizae or other naturally- water consumed by plants were calculated, as well as leaf area, occurring soil-dwelling organisms.Mycorrhizae products are total dry mass, and fruit yield. Compared to irrigation solutions, available for adding to soilless media, and some soilless media leachate water exhibited significant substrate effects on EC products are formulated with mycorrhizae in them. However, (from 1.73 to 2.53 dS·m–1) and pH (from 6 to 7.3). Pine sawdust mycorrhizae may not survive under the conditions present during showed the highest difference in pH and EC between irrigation media shipping and storage. Mycorrhizae products are dated for and leacheate water. The leaching fraction and water consumed freshness and must be used within a specified time. They also by plants were affected according to the developmental stage must be stored under optimal conditions to maintain viability. as well as to substrate type. There was a significant direct cor-

Marigold (Tagetes patula) and zinnia (Zinnia pumila) seeds were relation between pH and fruit yield. In Caiman F1 there was a germinated in two types of soilless media: pre-packaged and significant positive effect of pH on total dry mass. There was mixed on-site and seedlings were evaluated for their response a significant negative correlation between the leaching fraction to two commercially available mycorrhizae products: Mighty and fruit yield. EC and temperature in nutrient solution had no Myco and Mycormax. The former product was mixed into the significant effects on leaf area, dry mass, and fruit yield in the soilless media before planting and the latter product was applied substrates evaluated. as a drench after seeds were planted. Both products were used at Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad Autonoma Chap- the recommended rates. Shoot and root weights suggested that ingo for both marigolds and zinnias, roots were larger on the control treatments as compared to both mycorrhizae products. Zinnia (318) Influence of Mychorrhizae and Poultry shoots were largest with Mycormax, but marigold shoots were Compost on Tomato Production in a High largest on control plants. Tissue testing for essential nutrients Tunnel indicated mixed results with respect to phosphorus uptake in marigolds and zinnias when comparing the two soilless mixes Corrie P. Cotton* and the two mycorrhizae products. Mixed results were also University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, found with respect to other essential plant nutrients. MD; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:Midwest Ornamentals Fawzy M. Hashem University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, (317) Comparison of Organic and Inorganic MD; [email protected] Growing Media for Tomato Production Beneficial microorganisms, such as mychorrhizae, are known Joel Pineda for their benefits to plant growth and development. Vesicular- University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; arbuscular mychorrhizae (VAM) fungi have been attributed to [email protected] improved uptake of macro and micronutrients and improved water availability. A preliminary high tunnel experiment was Ana Maria Castillo* conducted to examine the effect of VAM and poultry compost University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; application on the production of Debarao Plum tomatoes [email protected] grown under the Delmarva Peninsula environmental condi- J. Armando Ramirez tions. Tomato seeds were germinated in Sunshine Mix #1 in University Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo CP 56230; 2-inch cells in a plant growth chamber, and then moved to the [email protected] greenhouse when their first true leaves formed. Seedlings were Luis Alonso Valdez transplanted to 4 1/2 inch pots when they were approximately Centro de Investigación en Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo 6 weeks old, and continued to grow in the greenhouse until 25253; [email protected] they were transplanted in the high tunnel. Treatments were applied at the time of transplanting. The tomatoes were planted Jose Cinco Patron in a randomized complete block consisting of four treatments: Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Puebla 72000; Control, VAM, poultry compost, and VAM + poultry compost, [email protected] with four replications of each. Seedlings were transplanted at

S330 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 the rate of 3 plants per row and 0.90 m between plants. The (320) Effect of Provenance on Vaccinium tomatoes were staked and twine was added as needed during arboreum Soil pH Tolerance the growing season. One month after transplanting, 750 ml of liquid fertilizer was applied to each tomato plant. Fruits were Jonathan C. Meador* harvested beginning the first week in July and ending the last Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] week in October. Fruits were harvested at the red stage, divided James Spiers into Grade 1 and Grade 2, counted, and weighed. No significant Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] variations were found for harvested yield among treatments. Future studies will be conducted to assess the effects of various Elina D. Coneva beneficial microorganisms (VAM fungi, plant growth promot- Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] ing rhizobacteria (PGPR), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Jeff L. Sibley (AMF)) on tomato production. Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Evan-Allen Program Rebecca L. Darnell (319) Effect of the Concentration of University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Vermicompost Aqueous Extract (Vermicompost Tolerance to more alkaline soil types would aid commercial Tea) on Pak-Choi (Brassica rapa, Chinensis cultivation of blueberries in areas with higher pH soils. Vaccinium arboreum, sparkleberry, has been found growing in areas with group) Yield, Quality, and Soil Biological soil pH levels as high as 7. The tolerance of a range of pH levels, Properties along with a monopodial trunk and excellent drought resistance Archana P. Pant* make V. arboreum an ideal candidate for use as a rootstock. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; apant@ We tested the effect provenance has on the soil pH tolerance hawaii.edu of sparkleberry. Our experiment was set up as a five by four factorial testing five provenances and four different pH levels: Theodore J.K. Radovich 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0. The experiment was conducted using a University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; theodore@ deep-water culture hydroponic system based on previous work hawaii.edu by Darnell and Hiss (2006). Each 2-liter jug was covered with Susan C. Miyasaka aluminum foil to prevent light infiltration to the root zone. Each University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] jug was fitted with an airstone submerged in nutrient solution and attached to an aquarium pump that provided oxygen to the Nguyen V. Hue roots. The nutrient solution was buffered with 5.0 mM MES. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; nvhue@ The pH and nutrient solution temperature was measured every hawaii.edu other day, and the solution was changed on a weekly basis. Two greenhouse trials and two field trials were conducted to Plant water usage was recorded and replenished using aerated investigate the effects of vermicompost tea (aqueous extract) on bottles containing nutrient solution without plants. Nitrate growth, tissue N and phytonutrient content of pak choi (Bras- and Fe uptake were recorded by measuring depletion from the sica rapa chinensis), and on soil biological properties. In the nutrient solution. Plant height, widest width, root length and greenhouse experiments, plants were fertilized with chicken root spread were recorded at the time of experiment initiation manure-based thermophilic compost. In the field trials, three and again at completion. Based on information gathered from fertilizer treatments: 1) rendered meat by-product (Tankage), this experiment, further testing will be conducted to reinforce 2) soluble fertilizer (16:16:16) and, 3) chicken manure-based our findings and to select potential rootstock candidates. thermophilic compost were applied. Aerated vermicompost teas were prepared using chicken manure-based vermicompost and water at various ratios. Pak choi plants were treated with 10%, Monday, September 26, 2011 5%, 3%, and 1% vermicompost teas in the greenhouse experi- 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom ments; and 10% and 5% teas in the field trials. Applications of vermicompost tea significantly increased plant growth, N Postharvest 2 content, total carotenoids and total glucosinolates in plant tissue; this response was greatest in the chicken manure-fertilized treat- (234) Postharvest Ripening of Field Grown Bell ments. Such positive responses were associated with increased Peppers (Capsicum annum L.) N uptake. Vermicompost tea also improved soil respiration and dehydrogenase activity. Plant growth, phytonutrient con- Sharon Gillies* tent and microbial activities in soil increased with increasing University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; sharon. concentrations of vermicompost tea. The findings suggest that [email protected] vermicompost tea could be used to improve plant nutrient status Alexandra M. Kabool in vegetable production and enhance soil biological properties. University of Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC; smkabool@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: WSARE, TSTAR shaw.ca

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S331 Field grown bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are com- Specified Source(s) of Funding: Fulbright fellowshhip to first mercially grown in many areas and fruits are usually harvested author until frost occurs. If left on the plant, chilling injury occurs rapidly in mature green fruit, and less so for fully ripe fruit. In the Fraser (236) Composition and Postharvest Valley, field grown papers are therefore harvested at the mature Performance of Broccoli Cultivars green stage because of the length of time it takes for peppers to Marita I. Cantwell* fully ripen. The market value of fully ripened fruit (red/yellow/ University of California, Davis, CA; micantwell@ucdavis. orange) can be double that of green fruit. Our study attempted edu to see if peppers could be ripened after harvest to increase their value. Peppers were harvested at 10% to 20% colour change in Gyunghoon Hong the fall and put in either 22 °C or 13 °C storage. Fruit were either UC Davis, Davis, CA; [email protected] left open in boxes, sealed in plastic bags modified atmosphere The composition of florets (% dry matter, sugars, chlorophyll packaging (MAP), or sealed in microperforated packaging. and carotenoids, Vitamin C, and glucosinolates), antioxidant Our results indicated that the ideal temperature for postharvest activity, head firmness in relation to water loss, and storage ripening was 13 °C, at this temperature the peppers also had life all differed significantly among 12 commercial cultivars the least incidence of rot and fruit were firmer. Microperforated (Avenger, Bravado, Emerald Crown, Endurance, Expo, Green packaging also significantly improved ripening and helped Magic, Heritage, Imperial, Ironman, Legacy, Marathon, and maintain fruit firmness. MAP packaging reduced fruit quality: Patron) of broccoli grown in two trials (June and October har- colour development was uneven and most fruit failed to ripen. vests) in Salinas, CA during 2010. At 10 °C, storage life (defined Rot was significant in all the MAP packaged fruit, with fruit as the days to initiate yellowing) ranged from 10 to more than becoming slimey. A significant difference in cultivars was also 18 days. Head firmness ranged from 70 to 99 N. Conditions to found, with one cultivar ripening quicker at 22 °C, however, induce water loss (15 °C 75% RH for 20 h) resulted in a range rot and dessication were more prevalent at this temperature. of 3.6 to 5.3% weight loss which corresponded to head firm- Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of the Fraser Valley ness loss from 10–38%. There was not a direct relationship between % weight loss and firmness loss among the cultivars. (235) Postharvest Quality and Chilling Vitamin C concentrations were high in florets of all cultivars Tolerance of Bell Pepper Varieties and ranged from 110-196 mg/100 g FW. The % dry weight of florets ranged from 11.5–14.0% and that of stem tissue ranged Emma Bayogan from 6.8-8.6%. Total sugar content of florets and stem tissues University of the Philippines Mindanao, Davao City; averaged 12.4 (9.2–17.3) and 18.7 (13.3–25.0) mg/g FW, re- [email protected] spectively. Fructose, glucose and sucrose comprised 43, 39 and Marita I. Cantwell* 18% of total sugars, respectively. Antioxidant activity ranged University of California, Davis, CA; micantwell@ from 44 to 90 mg Trolox equivalents/100g FW, with activity of ucdavis.edu most cultivars near the average of 66. Total glucosinolate and The recommended storage temperature for mature-green bell glucoraphinin concentrations ranged from 7.5 to 10.7, and 1.2 peppers is 7.5 °C, but they are often stored at 5°C or lower to to 5.0 μmole/g DW, respectively. Glucoraphinin concentrations minimize softening associated with water loss. At 5°C, however, averaged 32–45% of total glucosinolates. chilling injury can occur after 10–14 days. Mature-green bell (237) Time-Dependent Changes in the peppers from 10 and 18 varieties were harvested from 2 trials in commercial fields near Stockton CA and stored in commer- Longitudinal Sugar and Respiratory Profiles of cial carton boxes at 5 °C and 7.5 °C for 14 days plus 3 days at Asparagus Spears during Storage at 0 °C 20 °C to simulate marketing conditions. Two additional tests Sven Verlinden* with cv. Baron and cv. Classic were conducted to assess quality West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; sven. changes up to 21days at the two storage temperatures. Varieties [email protected] differed significantly in pericarp thickness (5.6–7.8 mm), % dry matter (5.7% to 6.8%), firmness at harvest (21–44N), % weight Randolph Beaudry loss, and in development of defects during storage (shrivel, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; beaudry@ surface pitting, decay, color change, calyx browning and seed msu.edu discoloration. Depending on variety, 3 days at 20 °C resulted Robert C. Herner in an average weight loss of 2.3% to 3.5%, with corresponding Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; herner@ decreases of 20-50% in firmness. Weight loss during storage at msu.edu 5 and 7.5 °C averaged 1.1 and 2.3% over 14 days. Decay and Silvanda D. Silva surface pitting defects, indicative of chill-induced injury, were CCA/UFPB, Areia PB; [email protected] higher at 5 °C, while shrivel and weight loss was significantly higher at 7.5 °C. However, overall visual quality scores or The rate of respiration and the concentration of sucrose, glucose, marketability were similar for peppers stored at 5 °C and 7.5 and fructose were measured along the length of intact asparagus °C for 7, 14 and 21 days. (Asparagus officinalis L. cv. Giant Jersey) spears during 23 d

S332 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 of storage at 0 °C. The respiration rate was highest at the tip rate of electrolyte leakage from tissue slices at all temperatures (section 1), decreasing as the distance from the tip increased and induced brown discoloration with decease in L* values and (section 2 through 5, with the section 5 being more basal). Sugar increase in a* values of fresh-cut lotus root at 10 °C. The brown levels were measured in sections 1 through 4. Sugar content discoloration of the fresh-cut lotus root was less at 5 °C than at was lowest at the tip and increased, unlike respiration, with 10 °C and the fresh-cuts did not develop browning during stor- distance from the tip. Sugar content in each segment declined age at 1 °C. The high pressure treatment reduced phenyl alanine with time. We calculated the difference in the flux in hexose ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and respiration rate and did not equivalents between sugar loss and that of respiration in the affect texture of fresh-cut lotus root at all temperatures. These different segments over time. Positive number indicates carbon results indicate that high pressure at 400 MPa for 10 min would flux via sugar depletion to be greater than that accounted for be useful as a physical sterilization of fresh-cut lotus root when by respiratory losses and suggests net translocation of sugars stored in film packages filled with water at 1 °C after treatment. out of that segment or reallocation of sugars to structural (non- Specified Source(s) of Funding:Kinki University respiratory) uses. Negative numbers suggest alternative (non- sugar) carbon supplies such as proteins and lipids are being (239) The Chemistry of a Great Tasting Tomato used for respiration or that sugar translocation into the tissue occurs. Hexose consumption was positive for all segments Denise M. Tieman* during the first day of storage and ranged from 301.5 pmoles·g– University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] 1·s–1 to 774.4 pmoles·g–1·s–1 for section 1 (tip) and section 3, Peter Bliss respectively. These high initial rates of hexose consumption University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] are directly related to the high initial hexose levels in all section. Hexose consumption declined dramatically during the Dawn Bies University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] next 6 days of storage and ranged from –11.0 to –14.5 pmoles g–1·s–1 in the tip and section 2, respectively. In segment 3 and Adilia Blandon-Ubeda 4, hexose consumption between day 1 and 7 was 0.7 and 41.1 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] pmoles·g–1·s–1, respectively. Taken together with our data on Mark Taylor sucrose, glucose and fructose levels these observations support University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] the contention that significant amounts of hexoses are used in processes other than respiration including carbon relocation and Charles Goulet possibly cell wall biosynthesis. In support of carbon relocation University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] and/or cell wall biosynthesis it can be noted that the basal sec- Melissa Hamner Mageroy tion 4 underwent greater carbon loss through hexose depletion University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] than respiration, closely followed by section 3. Asli Odabasi Specified Source(s) of Funding: Michigan State University University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Experiment Station David Clark (238) Storage Quality of Fresh-Cut Lotus Root University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Treated with High Pressure and Stored in Film Charles Sims Packages Filled with Water University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Hidemi Izumi* Linda Bartoshuk Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; lbartoshuk@dental. Takahiro Arakawa ufl.edu Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] Harry Klee Tsutomu Itazaki University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] It is widely recognized that the flavor quality of many com- Megumi Ishimaru mercially produced fresh fruits has declined. We have taken a Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] systematic approach to defining the chemical composition of a Microbiological and physiological quality of fresh-cut lotus good-tasting tomato by exploiting the surprisingly large chemical was evaluated after high pressure treatment with 400 MPa for variation found within the species. Tomato flavor is determined 10 min, held in film packages filled with water and stored at 1, by complex interactions of a diverse set of chemicals that are 5, and 10 °C. The high pressure treatment reduced the counts sensed by the taste and olfactory systems. These chemicals include of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, coliform groups, and lactic sugars (glucose and fructose), acids (citrate and malate) and a acid bacteria to non-detectable levels on fresh-cut lotus root. set of less well defined volatiles. We have identified the most During storage, the bacterial counts remained below the limit important chemicals contributing to good flavor. Knowing how of detection (2.4 log CFU/g) until day 4 at 10 °C, day 6 at 5 the components of tomato flavor co-vary with preference, and °C, and day 10 at 1 °C. However, the treatment increased the creating a system to “engineer” these preferences constitutes a

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S333 new direction in the chemistry of human flavor preferences for alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol and hexyl alcohol the tomato fruit specifically, and naturally grown food prod- and lower affinity for methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. During ucts in general. Eighty tomato varieties spanning the range of storage, AAT activity of ‘Takami’ melon changed from 0.056 biochemical diversity were tested by consumers to generate μmol·gfw–1·h–1 on day 0 to 0.0381 and 0.0359 μmol·gfw–1·h–1 a subjective sensory profile of perceptions, including overall on day 2 at 4 °C and 8 °C respectively. The results from our liking. A total of 44 sugars, acids and volatiles were either sig- research concluded that fresh-cut ‘Takami’ melon produced nificantly positively or negatively correlated with overall liking. very little amount of ethyl acetate compared with that of other Many of the positively correlated volatiles were not previously varieties used in this study and AAT activity of the melon was associated with tomato flavor. Conversely, several volatiles slightly decreased during storage. widely accepted as being important contributors to flavor did Specified Source(s) of Funding: Toyo College of Food Tech- not correlate with liking. The lack of correlation for the highly nology abundant C6 volatiles was validated with transgenic fruits that do not synthesize these volatiles. Finally, regression analysis (241) Visual and Compositional Quality of and reverse engineering created a model, identifying target Bulk and Packed Yellow Summer Squashes levels of each flavor chemical that essentially define the recipe for an ideal tomato. This synthetic approach to understanding Displayed under Simulated Retail Conditions the chemistry of liking for complex natural products provides Cecilia Nunes* breeders with the knowledge to achieve flavor improvements. University of South Florida Polytechnic, Lakeland, FL; Such a synthetic approach establishes a formalized method for [email protected] improving a complex natural food. Sharon Dea Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Science Foundation USDA–ARS, Winter Haven, FL; Sharon.Dea@ARS. USDA.GOV (240) Ester Production and Alcohol Jean Pierre Emond Acyltransferase Activity in Fresh-cut Melon University of South Florida Polytechnic, Lakeland, FL; during Storage [email protected] Sumithra K. Wendakoon* During distribution and retail display, fruits and vegetables Toyo College of Food Technology, Kawanishi, Hyogo; are often exposed to undesirable temperature and humidity [email protected] conditions which often result in increased waste at the retail Takeo Horie and consumer levels. Yellow summer squashes (cv. Medallion) Toyo College of Food Technology, Kawanishi, Hyogo; were harvested from a commercial operation and shipped to a [email protected] distribution center (DC) in Florida. At the DC, 2 d after harvest, squashes were sorted and either commercially machine packaged Hidemi Izumi in expanded polystyrene trays covered with a polyvinylchloride Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] film or remained unpackaged for bulk retail display. Squashes Changes in volatile ester production and alcohol acyltransferase were transported the next day by truck to a retail store in Gaines- (AAT) activity of fresh-cut Japanese muskmelon varieties dur- ville, FL, collected from the store, and stored under optimum ing storage were investigated. Green fleshed ‘Andes’, ‘Arus’, (10 °C and 90% RH) or simulated retail display conditions (4 and ‘Takami’ and orange fleshed ‘Northland red’ were cut into °C or 14 °C and 90–92% RH). Visual and instrumental color, approximately 3 × 3cm pieces, placed in a plastic box and firmness, shriveling, chilling injury, decay incidence, and com- stored at 4 °C and 8 °C for 3 days. Production of volatile aroma positional quality (pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids and total compounds during storage was determined by gas chromatog- sugar contents) were evaluated initially at the DC and after a 4-d raphy using head-space (HS) and solid-phase microextraction simulated retail display period. Overall, packed yellow summer (SPME) methods. AAT activity of fresh-cut melons with storage squashes had significantly lower weight loss, and retained bet- was also determined. Ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, isoamyl ter quality in terms of color, firmness, shriveling and chilling acetate, and hexyl acetate were detected as predominant ali- injury than bulk fruit during 4 days of simulated retail display phatic esters in ‘Andes’, ‘Arus’, and ‘Northland’ red melons. conditions. The greater weight loss in bulk squashes compared Those esters except ethyl acetate were isolated as predominant to packaged fruit was associated with lower acidity, and lower esters from ‘Takami’ melon on day 0 and day 1, while only a soluble solids, total and reducing sugars content. Shelf life of slight amount of ethyl acetate production was detected on day bulk squashes was limited by poor visual color, shriveling, 2. Melon samples, which were stored at 8 °C showed higher softening and development of chilling injury symptoms, and amount of ethyl acetate production than those stored at 4 °C. ended within 2 to 3 days depending on retail display conditions. Production of ethyl acetate in ‘Andes’ and ‘Arus’ melons was Packed squashes had a shelf life longer than or equal to 4 days, moderately increased on day 1 and then decreased maybe due and shriveling was the only shelf-life limiting quality factor for to cutting stress. The optimum pH activity of AAT from ‘Arus’ squashes stored at maximum retail-display temperature (14°C). melon was observed at pH 8. The enzyme extracted from Results from this study demonstrate the importance of using ‘Arus’ melon showed higher substrate specificity for butyl an appropriate protective package in addition to maintaining

S334 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 the optimum temperature during distribution and retail display. Eva Almenar* Moreover, initial quality evaluation should be performed upon Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; ealmenar@ reception at the DC, and before yellow summer squash are msu.edu displayed at the retail store, in order to estimate the remaining Rafael Gavara shelf life before this product becomes unacceptable for sale. Spain’s Superior Council for Scientific Investigations Specified Source(s) of Funding: Industry Funded (CSIC), Valencia; [email protected] (243) Effect of Curing and Storage Conditions Pilar Hernández-Muñoz on Postharvest Quality of Vidalia Sweet Spain’s Superior Council for Scientific Investigations Onions (CSIC), Valencia; [email protected] Microbial growth has been typically overcome by direct ap- Manish K. Bansal* plication of an antimicrobial agent on a food surface which University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] may result in the rapid diffusion or neutralisation of the active Dan MacLean substance. Currently, the food industry is showing increased University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] interest in the development of bio-based packaging materials as carriers of natural antimicrobial agents in order to reduce Vidalia onions are very susceptible to storage disorder botrytis financial losses due to food deterioration and also to achieve neck rot (BNR) caused by fungal pathogen Botrytis alli. Post- demands consumers more concerned about environmental harvest storage methods are important to control the incidence protection. Biopolymers having antimicrobial activity have of BNR. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and curing before generally been prepared by incorporating one type of ac- storage can reduce the risk of BNR. Curing can be performed tive agent into the film with a unique mechanism of release either in field or artificially using forced-air heat curing (~37°C). depending on the volatility of the agent, either migration by In other crops, such as grape and litchi, postharvest fumigation direct contact with the food or release into the headspace with sulfur dioxide (SO ) is used effectively to control botrytis 2 of the packaging system. The combination of antimicrobial while ozone (O ) is used as a water and surface sterilant. How- 3 agents could lead to improved effectiveness against micro- ever little is known about the use of these fumigants in storage organisms by virtue of synergistic interactions that could be of Vidalia onion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the established between them along with the combination of the abilities of these storage conditions to control the postharvest different release mechanisms. In this study proteinaceous botrytis incidence on three Vidalia onion varieties: ‘WI-129’, films obtained from wheat gluten were used as carriers for the ‘Sapelo Sweet’, and ‘Caramelo’. All varieties were undercut, delivery of two naturally occurring antifungal compounds which then either harvested immediately (zero cure), field cured (2 show potential advantages for the replacement of traditional days), or forced-air heat cured (3 days at 37 °C). Bulbs were chemical preservatives: cinnamaldehyde, a volatile obtained then sorted and stored in regular air storage (0 to 1°C, 70% RH), from cinnamon essential oil, and Natamycin, a macrolide SO (2500 ppm; one time fumigation), O (1 ppm; continuous 2 3 polyene produced during fermentation by Streptomyces natal- exposure), or CA (3% O , 5% CO ). After 2 and 4 months, bulbs 2 2 ensis. The antifungal activity of the films against three major were removed from storage, and evaluated after 1 and 14 days for postharvest decay fungi: Penicillium spp., Alternaria solani quality and incidence of disorders. In general, for all cultivars, and Colletotrichum acutatum was assayed in vitro over 7 days. BNR incidence was greater after 4 months of storage, and after The release rate of the antimicrobial volatile, added to 1.5%, 14 days at room temperature. There were numerous significant 3% and 5% (g/100 g protein), was evaluated in the headspace interactions between the curing and storage factors. However, of bioassay systems by solid-phase microextraction and gas heat curing was significantly better at reducing postharvest chromatography. The addition of 1.5% cinnamaldehyde to incidence of BNR than either field or zero curing. Of all the the film produced a 33% inhibition for Penicillium spp., and storage treatments, SO resulted in the lowest incidence rate of 2 approximately 28% and 16% for C. acutatum and A. solani, BNR after both 1 and 14 days of simulated shelf-life periods. respectively, after 7 days at 23 °C. Greater cinnamaldehyde Results suggest that thorough curing is important for reducing contents produced greater inhibitions. The effectiveness of the incidence of BNR, while treatments such as SO have poten- 2 cinnamaldehyde was different depending on the inoculated tial for significantly reducing post-storage losses due to BNR. fungi, being Penicillium spp. the most sensitive. The con- Specified Source(s) of Funding: Vidalia onion committee, centration of the volatile was very reduced by the third day, SCRI, the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Reseasrch Center, and and new compounds appeared due to fungal metabolism. The the Vidalia Onion Research Laboratory. addition of 1% natamycin in the presence of cinnamaldehyde (244) Antifungal Activity of Biopolymers Made raised the percentage of inhibition to 73% for Penicillium spp., while C. acutatum and A. solani were largely unaffected. The from Wheat Gluten Containing Naturally results obtained highlight the potential for active systems of Occurring Cinnamaldehyde and Natamycin this type, comprising a renewable matrix containing naturally Mari Pau Balaguer occurring antimicrobial substances, for the control of fungal Spain’s Superior Council for Scientific Investigations growth especially Penicillium spp. (CSIC), Valencia; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S335 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Project AGL2009-8776 (Span- scientists to become formal participants. Committee participa- ish Ministry of Science and Innovation) tion will provide a venue for horticultural scientists to network and collaborate with peers from other disciplines, institutions, and regions interested in the organic farming-soil health-food Monday, September 26, 2011 quality connection. Development of multi-disciplinary grant 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom proposals and projects is one anticipated output resulting from these networking and collaboration opportunities. Publication Produce Quality, Safety, and of refereed manuscripts is another. Formation of this Coordinat- ing Committee has generated an invited book chapter presently Health Properties undergoing review, and plans to develop a multi-institutional and -state planning grant for submission to the USDA Organic (251) A New Multi-State Research Coordinating Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative in 2012. Committee for Linking Food Quality to Soil Health Benefits Following Adoption of Organic (252) Range of Black Raspberry (Rubus Management Systems occidentalis L.) Anthocyanin Content from 26 Patrick Carr* Seedling Populations North Dakota State University, Dickinson, ND; patrick. [email protected] Jungmin Lee* USDA–ARS-HCRU worksite, Parma, ID; Jungmin.Lee@ Cynthia Cambardella ars.usda.gov USDA–ARS, Ames, IA; [email protected] Craig Cogger Michael Dossett Puyallup, WA; [email protected] Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; dossettm@hort. oregonstate.edu Kathleen Delate Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] Chad E. Finn USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; finnc@hort. William B. Evans oregonstate.edu Mississippi State University, Crystal Springs, MS; wbe@ ra.msstate.edu Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.) has long been recognized as a rich source of anthocyanins. Despite renewed Jennifer Reeve interest in this crop for its potential health benefits, its range Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] of anthocyanin, and other phenolic, contents have not been Xin Zhao well examined. Our objective was to establish baseline values University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] for significant phytochemicals from a large number of black Research has established that soil health benefits result from raspberry genotypes (n = 190) over multiple years, which will adopting organic farming practices. However, the relationship become a focal step toward determining the feasibility of new between the soil health benefits derived from organic farming cultivars, innovative product development, and nutraceutical methods and food quality is poorly understood. A multi-state usages. Twenty-six sibling families resulting from crosses were coordinating committee was formed in 2010 to foster improved established in a research field. They were in a randomized com- coordination among scientists working on the organic farming- plete block design with four replications each, which consisted soil health-food quality connection. Southern Coordinating of one to eight sibling seedlings, depending on the number of Committee 083, Quantifying the Linkages Among Soil Health, seedlings available. Berries were analyzed by HPLC-DAD or Organic Farming, and Food, provides the vehicle for multi- HPLC-MS, under conditions previously published by our labo- disciplinary scientist teams in north central, northeastern, ratory. Peaks were monitored at 280 and 520 nm. Identification southern, and western U.S. regions to organize and work jointly was based on UV-VIS spectra, retention times, mass spectra, on identifying the cause-effect linkages between organic farm- then quantified by DAD with cyanidin-3-glucoside. Here we ing practices, soil and food quality, and the environment. The present anthocyanin concentration and profiles, as well as inaugural meeting of the Coordinating Committee was held total phenolics, from the fruit of 26 black raspberry seedling in November, 2010, at Long Beach, CA, in conjunction with populations (190 samples over two growing seasons) derived the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy. A from cultivated and wild parents. There was a greater than two- Coordinating Committee goal in 2011 is to increase the current fold difference in total anthocyanin concentration between the number of eight horticultural scientist participants on the com- lowest and highest population’s pigmentation (ranging from mittee by at least 50%. Convening the Coordinating Committee 244.8 - 541.3 mg·100 mL–1). The relative amounts of the two just prior to the 2011 American Society for Horticultural Science major anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3- annual meeting in Waikoloa, HI, and presenting this poster xylosylrutinoside) in black raspberry fruit were significantly paper will familiarize Society members with the committee and different. Total phenolics were found to vary less (206.7 - 330.4 its goal. We are hopeful that articulating benefits of committee mg·100 mL–1). This information will provide a valuable baseline participation will provide motivation for interested horticultural for researchers interested in studying the health effects of these

S336 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 compounds, product developers in the nutraceutical market, and (254) Variation in Antioxidant Enzyme breeders interested in developing new cultivars with improved Activities among Blueberry Cultivars fruit chemistry traits. (Vaccinium species) pecified Source(s) of Funding: S USDA and Northwest Center Shiow Ying Wang* for Small Fruits Research USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] (253) Antioxidant Capacities and Flavonoid Hangjun Chen Constituents of Various Blueberry Cultivars U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] (Vaccinium species) Mark Ehlenfeldt Shiow Ying Wang* Blueberry & Cranberry Res Lab, Chatsworth, NJ; mark. USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] [email protected] Hangjun Chen Fruit from 42 blueberry (Vaccinium species) cultivars including USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] 36 rabbiteye rabbiteye cultivars (Vaccinium ashei Reade), three Mark Ehlenfeldt V. ashei hybrid derivatives and three northern highbush (V. cor- USDA, ARS, Chatsworth, NJ; [email protected]. ymbosum L.) standards were evaluated for antioxidant activities gov (AA), levels of antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (AsA-POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione Mary J. Camp peroxidase (GSH-POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), dehydro- USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] ascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase Fruit from forty-two blueberry cultivars, including thirty-six (MDAR), and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD)], and antioxidant rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei Reade), three V. ashei hybrid deriva- nonenzyme components [ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione tives and three northern highbush (V. corymbosum L.) standards (GSH)]. The results showed that cultivars had varying levels of were evaluated for antioxidant capacity [against peroxyl free AA, a wide range of antioxidant enzyme activities, and various radicals], hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide amounts of nonenzyme components. The correlations between radicals, and singlet oxygen radicals], flavonoid content, and AA and all of the enzyme activities or nonenzyme components the contribution of each identified phenolic compound to total were positive and high in the 42 cultivars tested in this study. The antioxidant activity. Considerable variations were found in these correlation coefficients ofr values between AA and CAT, SOD, parameters among cultivars. Extracts from fruit of rabbiteye DHAR, MDAR, GSH-POD, GR, G-POD, and AsA-POD were had higher levels of scavenging capacities for oxygen species 0.91, 0.91, 0.91, 0.91, 0.90, 0.90, 0.90, and 0.90, respectively. compared to V. ashei hybrid derivatives (‘Pearl River’, ‘Snow- The correlations between AA with ASA and GSH were 0.94 and flake’, and ‘Pink Lemonade’) and northern highbush blueberry 0.92, respectively. Among all 42 cultivars, ‘Early May’ had the standards (‘Bluecrop’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Elliott’). The contribution of highest activities of the AA, AsA-POD, G-POD, DHAR, and individual phenolics to total antioxidant capacity was generally MDAR; and the highest amounts of ASA and GSH; whereas dependent on their content in the berries and their structure. ‘Elliott’ had highest levels of GR, GSH and SOD. The cultivars Among 42 blueberry cultivars, the rabbiteye ‘Early May’ with high antioxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities could contained the highest amount of chlorogenic acid, myricetin be useful in the breeding program for the development of more 3-arabinoside, quercetin derivatives and delphinidin-, cyanidin-, nutritious blueberry cultivars with improved health-promoting petunidin-, and malvidin-based anthocyanins, and also had the quality for consumers. highest antioxidant activity. Other rabbiteye cultivars ‘Owen’, Specified Source(s) of Funding:U.S. Department of Agriculture ‘Bluegem’, ‘Clara’, Climax’, and ‘Centurion’ also had high levels of flavonoids and antioxidant activities. In contrast, the pink-fruited V. ashei hybrid ‘Pink Lemonade’ had the lowest (255) Nutraceutical Value of Selected Accessions content of flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The antioxidant of Tejocote Fruits (Crataegus spp.) from activity of V. ashei hybrid derivatives was mainly derived from Mexico chlorogenic acid, myrecetin, and quercetin (62.5%), whereas MA. Rosario García-Mateos* anthocyanins (malvidin, petunidin, delphinidin and cyanidin) Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. were the main contributors to the antioxidant activity of rabbiteye Mexico; [email protected] cultivars (76.2 \%) and northern highbush standards (76.8%). Blueberry cultivars with high phenolic content, antioxidant Nieto-Angel Raul activity and radical scavenging capacity have potential to be Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. used as parents in blueberry breeding programs to develop Mexico; [email protected] new blueberry cultivars with high flavonoid content and high Maria T. Colinas-Leon antioxidant activity. Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. Specified Source(s) of Funding:U.S. Department of Agriculture Mexico; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S337 Emmanuel Ibarra-Estrada and expensive, and requires use of HPLC for identification. Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, Mex.; rosgar08@ Since lutein is a component of the chloroplast, and used to hotmail.com help prevent photo-oxidation of chlorophyll, we wanted to test From the 150 existing species of Crataegus spp. (Rosaceae), the idea that green color or total chlorophyll could be used by 13 are found in Mexico, some of them endemic. Traditional breeders as an indirect but rapid and accurate means of medicine has used the plant in multiple ways, e.g., heart screening for lutein content in vegetables. Zucchini squash, tonic, hypertension control, stomach pain and circulatory representing 9 selections and ranges of green color (from yel- trouble reliever. In reference to these uses, in China and some low to dark green) were harvested from plots in Clinton, NC countries of Europe a growing economic activity has been then transported to Kannapolis, NC for green color, chlorophyll developed around the antioxidant content of the tejocote and lutein analysis using reflectance colorimetry, ethanol plant in the form of extracts and syrups which justify their extraction, and HPLC analysis. Color values hue, chroma, L, medicinal properties. However, as per the Mexican species, and a* yielded a fit of 0.5 with lutein content. Chlorophyll both the content and the antioxidant activity are unknown, so extraction with ethanol was much faster than HPLC analysis research on the Mexican wide diversity and genotypic vari- and provided a linear correlation with lutein with a fit of 0.8. ability should be enhanced in order to explore more about the Total chlorophyll content in peel ranged from 20 in yellow fruit characteristics and to determine the nutraceutical and squash to 72 mg/100 g in dark green selections. Lutein content functional properties of the extracted products (antioxidants), in peel ranged from 1 to 8.4 mg/100 g. These results indicate thus contributing to the efficient use of the plant and to new that breeders may be able to use extracted chlorophyll to esti- marketing alternatives for the producer. Based on the above, mate lutein content in zucchini. this piece of research was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant Specified Source(s) of Funding: NC State activity (DPPH method) and the content of phenolic compounds and total flavonoids of 20 tejocote fruit accessions from the (257) Methyl Jasmonate Increases Germplasm Bank of the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (92 Glucobrassicin Concentration in accessions). Results showed that seventeen out of the twenty Brassica fruit accessions under study presented a higher content of Oleracea var. Capitata ‘Quisto’ and ‘Ruby phenolic compounds (52–558 mg·100 g–1 fresh fruit weight) Perfection’ in comparison to the one described for some fruits (>180 mg Charles L. Rohwer* in 100 g of a fresh fruit sample). No tendency was registered University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; rohw0009@umn. of the phenolic content and flavonoids in relation to the ori- edu gin and species of the accessions. Accessions 18, 22, 55 and 100 from the Mexican states of Chiapas and Puebla showed Vincent A. Fritz a higher antioxidant activity, since a lower concentration was University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN; [email protected] required to inhibit 50% of the DPPH radical scavenging activity. Glucosinolates are generally thought to act in planta as However, accessions 22 and 25 presented the highest phenolic feeding deterrents to generalist herbivores and as oviposi- concentrations, while the highest level of total flavonoids was tion or feeding signals for specialist herbivores. Chewing observed in accession 100. herbivory and wounding in cruciferous vegetables causes the plants to synthesize glucosinolates through a jasmonate- Specified Source(s) of Funding:UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA depending signaling cascade. Exogenous jasmonate application CHAPINGO can enhance accumulation of defensive metabolites, including glucosinolates. Glucobrassicin is an indole glucosinolate (256) Total Chlorophyll as a Rapid Estimation in cruciferous vegetables that is hydrolyzed to the chemopre- of Lutein in Zucchini Squash ventive indole-3-carbinol during consumption and digestion. Penelope Perkins-Veazie* The objective of this research was to study delayed effects NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; penelope_ of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on glucosinolate concentra- [email protected] tion in cabbage with different baseline concentrations of glucobrassicin. ‘Quisto’ and ‘Ruby Perfection’ cabbage were Guoing Ma grown in a split-plot design on raised beds and sprayed with NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; [email protected] water, surfactant + solvent in water, or surfactant + sol- Jonathan R. Schultheis vent + 0.5 mM MeJA at 2, 6, or 2 + 6 days before harvest. NC State University, Raleigh, NC; jonathan_schultheis@ ‘Quisto’ contained less glucobrassicin than ‘Ruby Perfection’ ncsu.edu on a fresh weight basis, but ‘Quisto’ head fresh weight was Zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a rich source of lutein, greater. MeJA applied 2 days before harvest slightly increased containing 2.1 mg/100 g. Lutein is a carotenoid pigment found glucobrassicin concentration in ‘Ruby Perfection’ but not to be helpful in preventing macular degeneration in the eye, ‘Quisto’. and may also offer antioxidant protection of eyes in those Specified Source(s) of Funding: Minnesota Agricultural Ex- who smoke or are overweight. Analysis of lutein is tedious periment Station

S338 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (258) The Effect of Field Methyl Jasmonate (259) Enhancement of Health Promoting Treatments on Glucosinolate and Phenolic Bioactivity of Broccoli Florets through the Concentrations in Broccoli Florets Combined Treatments of Selenium and Methyl Kang Mo Ku* Jasmonic Acid University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL; Hyoung Seok Kim [email protected] University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] John A. Juvik Sonia E. Volker University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Glucosinolates and phenolic compounds found in the edible Elizabeth H. Jeffery portions of brassica vegetables are reported to provide puta- University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] tive health-promoting bioactivity. This experiment focuses on the effect of MeJA treatment on glucosinolate and phenolic John A. Juvik* Univeristy of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] concentrations in broccoli head tissue under field conditions. The effect of MeJA on glucosinolates and total phenol and Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. Italica) is a good source of flavonoid content in the florets of the commercial broccoli several health promoting phytochemical compounds including hybrids ‘Pirate’, ‘Expo’, ‘Green Magic’, ‘Imperial’, and glucosinolates (GSs) and flavonoids. Dietary supplementation ‘Gypsy’ were assayed in replicated field plantings in 2009 of selenium (Se) in human diets has also been shown to reduce and 2010. 250 micromoles of MeJA was sprayed on aerial the risk of cancer. This research reports on enhancement of plant tissues four days prior to harvest at commercial matu- health promoting bioactivity in broccoli floret tissue through rity. Replicate samples were harvested, freeze-dried, and later the combined treatment of selenium and methyl jasmonic acid assayed for glucosinolates and total flavonoids (quercetin and (MeJA). Two broccoli genotypes were subjected to root fertil- kaempferol) by HPLC and for total phenols by spectropho- ization with solutions of Na2SeO4 and MeJA sprays to aerial tometry. The MeJA treatment significantly increased glucoi- portions of the plants. A low level of Se fertilization (0.17 mM berin (16%), glucoraphanin (10%), gluconasturtiin (59%), of Na2SeO4) in conjunction with MeJA treatment displayed no and neoglucobrassicin (345%) concentrations but decreased significant changes in total aliphatic GS concentrations with gluconapin (37%) among the genotypes across the two years. 1.9 and 1.5 fold increases in indolyl and total GSs concentra- The year effect was significant on glucosinolate concentrations, respectively across the two genotypes. To analyze health tions in control and treated groups except for gluconasturtiin promoting bioactivity of broccoli tissues subjected to different and neoglucobrassicin in the MeJA treatment. There was a treatments, activity of the antioxidant enzyme, GPx1 (glutathione significant treatment by genotype interaction where MeJA peroxidase 1), and the phase I and II detoxification enzymes, increased neoglucobrassicin and gluconasturtiin in four of the CYP1A (cytochrome P450 1A) and NQO1 (NADPH-dependent genotypes with exception of ‘Pirate’. In contrast, total phenol quinone oxidoreductase 1), whose activities are associated and flavonoid concentrations were not influenced by MeJA with reduced cancer risk, were measured in vitro in a mouse across the genotypes. There was, however, a significant year hepatoma cell line. Se or Se combined with MeJA treatment effect, where the total phenol content of hybrids grown in 2010 significantly increased activity of hepatic GPx1. MeJA and was 81% higher than the same genotypes grown in 2009 for the combined treatment of MeJA with Se also significantly both the control and treatment groups. Quercetin and kaemp- increased activities of hepatic CYP1A and NQO1. These re- ferol concentration of hybrids grown in 2010 was 192% higher sults suggest that Se- and indolyl GS-enriched broccoli with than the total flavonoid content in 2009. Interestingly, MeJA improved health-promoting properties can be generated by the treatment increased total flavonoid content in 2009 but had no combined treatment of Se with MeJA. effect in 2010, suggesting there was a interaction between MeJA Specified Source(s) of Funding: HATCH funding treatment and the different environment conditions in 2009 and 2010. Partitioning of variance indicated that the aliphatic (260) Zeaxanthin Levels Increase in Mustard glucosinolates (glucoiberin, progoitrin, and glucoraphanin) (Brassica juncea L. ‘Florida Broadleaf’) concentrations were primarily influenced by the genotype Microgreens Following High Light Treatment (over 40% of total variance). Concentrations of the indolyl glucosinolate neoglucobrassicin were largely influenced by Dean A. Kopsell* MeJA treatment (61%). Both year (26%) and genotype (28%) The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; dkopsell@ described much of the variance for glucobrassicin. In contrast, utk.edu total phenol (85%) and total flavonoid contents (53%) were Niko I. Pantanizopoulos strongly affected by the different environmental conditions in The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; 2009 and 2010 and to a lesser extent by the genotype (3% and [email protected] 8% respectively). Carl E. Sams Specified Source(s) of Funding: HATCH account The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@ utk.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S339 David E. Kopsell substrate specificities which has both ß-galactosidase / exo-ß- Illinois State University, Normal, IL; [email protected] (1→4)-galactanase activities. It is important to examine the The xanthophyll cycle pigments of zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, structure of TBG4 to clarify this unique substrate recognition and violaxanthin are vital for energy dissipation of excess mechanism. An extracellular TBG4 was crystallized from 0.1 absorbed light. Environmental stress which acts to lower a M tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) buffer using poly- plant’s photosynthetic rate will increase the need for xantho- ethylene glycol (PEG) as a precipant. The crystals belonged phyll carotenoids. Carotenoids are some of the most effective to space group P21212 or P212121, with cell dimensions a = antioxidants in nature; therefore, it would be beneficial to in- 92.34, b = 95.73, c = 158.93Å. The crystals diffracted to 2.2Å crease zeaxanthin in vegetable crops for human consumption. resolution using synchrotron radiation. Calculation of the Mat- Microgreens are a specialty leafy green harvested shortly after thews coefficient suggested the presence of two monomers per the first true leaves have emerged. They are harvested just above asymmetric unit (VM = 2.16Å/Da). the roots and consumed fresh, as opposed to sprouts which are Specified Source(s) of Funding: Kinki University funded part eaten whole. The objective of this study was to increase zea- of this research associated with this abstract xanthin concentrations in mustard (Brassica juncea L. ‘Florida Broadleaf’) microgreens through exposure to high light treat- (262) Effects of Growing Conditions and ments just prior to tissue harvest. Mustard microgreens were Fertility Levels on Health-Promoting grown in a modified environment using Sure to Grow® pads of Phytochemicals in Tomato and Pac-Choi polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) fibers. Seeds were germinated Rojee Pradhan on the pads and grown under a 14 h photoperiod under normal Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; rchipalu@ksu. light treatment (NLT) conditions (275 μmol·m–2·s–1) in controlled edu environments. Upon emergence of the first true leaf, a nutrient Rhonda Janke solution of 40 mg Nitrogen per L (from 20N–8.8P–16.6K) was Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] used to submerge the growing pads and light treatments were initiated. Microgreens were grown under either a NLT at 275 Edward E. Carey International Potato Center, Kumasi; [email protected] μmol·m–2·s–1, or a high light treatment (HLT) at 463 μmol·m–2·s–1. Microgreens were harvested after both light treatments had ac- C.B. Rjashekar* cumulated 36 h during the photoperiod. Leaf pigments were ex- Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] tracted from freeze-dried tissues and measured for chlorophylls A field experiment was conducted at the Kansas State Horticul- and carotenoids using HPLC separation. Significant decreases ture Research and Extension Center, Olathe, KS during 2009 in chlorophyll (P ≤ 0.001) and (P ≤ 0.01) concentrations in and 2010 to determine the effects of growing conditions (high the HLT indicated high light stress had occurred. There were tunnel and open field), fertility levels and management practices significant decreases in ß-carotene (P ≤ 0.01) and neoxanthin (conventional and organic) on the accumulation of health promot- (P ≤ 0.001) in the HLT; however, lutein concentrations were ing phytochemicals in pac-choi (Brassica rapa L. cv. Mei Qing unchanged. A 133% increase in zeaxanthin (P ≤ 0.001) and Choi) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Bush Celebrity). a 50% increase in antheraxanthin (P ≤ 0.01) concentrations Tomato was grown as a summer crop while pac choi was grown occurred under the HLT. Doubling the zeaxanthin level in both as spring and fall crops in 2009. Tomato grown in open field microgreens with a simple change in light management could had higher levels of antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content be a way for producers to increase the nutritional value of this and individual phenolic compounds including rutin, p-coumaric increasing popular specialty crop. acid and chlorogenic acid than that grown in high tunnels. The Specified Source(s) of Funding:Tennessee Agricultural Experi- rutin content of field-grown tomatoes was approximately four ment Station. times higher than those grown in high tunnels. The ruitn accumulation increased with fruit ripening while other phenolic (261) Crystallization and Preliminary compounds including ferulic acid decreased during the ripening X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Tomato process. However, some phenolic compounds such as caffeic ß-Galactosidase 4 acid and p-coumaric acid were found only in the ripening fruits but not in green fruits suggesting that ripening stage may have a Megumi Ishimaru* significant impact on the accumulation of phenolic compounds. In Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] pac choi the dominant phytochemical was sinapic acid followed Masahiro Eda by querecitin-3-O-glucoside, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai; [email protected]. and ferulic acid. Levels of many of these phenolic compounds ac.jp were significantly higher in field- grown pac-choi than when grown in high tunnels for both spring and fall crops. Typically, Hidemi Izumi the spring pac-choi crop was richer in phytochemicals compared Kinki University, Kinokawa; [email protected] to the fall crop. In both tomato and pac-choi, low fertility tended In tomato fruits, at least seven ß-galactosidase genes are to improve their phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant expressed during fruit development and maturation. Tomato capacity. The consistent observation that open field improves ß-galactosidase 4 (TBG4) have unique enzyme properties and the phytochemical accumulation in these crops may suggest a

S340 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 favorable impact of higher light intensity and its quality on the rameters including O2/CO2 concentration, pH, soluble solids, crop quality. However, crops grown in high tunnel produced color and conductivity were evaluated following 0, 3, 7, 9, 12, significantly higher yield than those grown in open field, but and 15 days of storage. Results showed that samples treated with lower health-promoting qualities. Thus, consideration of with MG plus NS had significantly lower microbial loads (P < open field and high tunnel production in these crops may involve 0.001) at 4 °C and 7 °C. After 6 days of storage at 7 °C, aerobic a trade-off between the yield and health-promoting qualities. plate counts were higher than 107 cfu/g in controls while they Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-IOP were reduced by 3–4 logs in MG plus NS treated samples. The addition of MG plus NS maintained the shelf-life of fresh-cut (264) Antimicrobial Effect of Commercial squashes for up to 15 days compared to 9 days for 0.5% MG Fermentation Product and Edible Coating on treated or the control samples at 4 °C. It was determined that storage temperature played an important role in maintaining Fresh-cut Squashes quality of fresh-cut squashes. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences Lihua Fan* in microbial loads and product quality were found between 4 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. °C and 7 °C in all treatments. Considering overall quality and [email protected] shelf life, MG combined with NS was recommended to treat fresh-cut squashes prior to storage at 4 °C. En Yang Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou; en.yang@agr. gc.ca (265) Interregional Research Program (IR-4) for the Field Assessment of Fungicides, Herbicides Craig Doucette Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. and Insecticides/Acaricides on Ornamental [email protected] Horticultural Crops in Southeastern U.S Jun Song B.A. Fraelich Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; USDA–ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] [email protected] B.T. Scully* Yueming Jiang USDA ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou; lihua.fan@ S.M. Schneider agr.gc.ca USDA–ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] Sherry Fillmore C.L. Palmer Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; sherry. Rutgers University, Princeton, NJ; [email protected]. [email protected] edu Brad Walker The Interregional Research Project (IR-4) is a national public Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; lihua. program that amplifies pest management options for specialty [email protected] crop growers by providing phytotoxicity data needed for the In recent years consumer preferences toward minimally pro- registration of agricultural chemicals for specialty crops including cessed fresh fruits and vegetables have been continuously floral, fruit, herb, nursery, nut and vegetables. Nursery research increasing. However, minimal processing, such as sorting, on ornamental crops primarily addresses herbaceous annual/ peeling, coring, shredding and slicing may increase the chance perennial and woody ornamentals. Experiments are designed of microbial spoilage and contamination of products. Therefore, to measure phytotoxicity of specific pesticide/commodity developing new approaches to extend shelf-life and maintain combinations that address insects, weeds, and plant diseases of product safety/quality represents a major task for the fresh-cut ornamental crops in the southeastern U.S. These phytotoxicity processing industry. The objective of this study was to evalu- data are used to support new registration or re-registration of ate the potential use of commercial fermentation products as reduced risk pesticides on ornamental crops. Over a 5-year natural antimicrobials and/or edible coating for fresh-cut period, the IR-4 nursery project on the southeastern Coastal squashes in relation to storage temperature. The antimicrobial Plain completed 152 ornamental phytotoxicity trials. These effects of commercial fermentation product, MicroGARD® 730 included 105 herbicide trials using 11 herbicides to treat 33 (MG), and edible coating, NatureSeal® (NS), added to fresh- ornamental species and applied as either a broadcast granular cut squashes were assessed. The following were used to treat or “over the top” liquid. It also included 29 insecticide and 18 fresh-cut squashes: 0.5% MG; 1% MG; 2.5% NS; 0.5% MG fungicide combinations using 2 fungicides and 3 insecticides plus 2.5% NS; and 1% MG plus 2.5% NS. Samples without to treat 33 ornamental species using either foliar or drench ap- treatment were served as controls. Following treatments, 240 g plications. Regional data are compiled from around the U.S. samples were put into each of polyethylene bags and stored at and ultimately submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection 4 °C and 7 °C. Changes in the microbial loads including total Agency to facilitate the registration or re-registration of active aerobics, yeasts and molds, and coliforms were determined. ingredients. Microorganisms were identified using API kits. Quality pa- Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S341 (266) Magnitude of the Residue Analyses Werther Kern in Specialty Crops from Experimental CEPOC , University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] Applications of Pesticides In the developed and some emergent countries there is an increasing interest in the consumption of innocuous and T.A. Hendricks healthy food. Pistachios are characterized by his high anti- USDA–ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] oxidant power (7800 umol/100g, seize Total-ORAC, Oxygen B.T. Scully* Radical Absorbance Capacity) and his interesting lipid profile USDA–ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] (poly, 14 % and mono, 24 % unsaturated fatty acids) and D.H. Carpenter 17 % fiber. Iran and The United States the most important Rutgers University, Princeton, NJ; carpenter@aesop. worldwide producers, trade on a global market 425.000 rutgers.edu ton/year for a total value of US$ 1700 millions. This study analyze indicators and models of competitiveness, mainly the S.M. Schneider matrix of international demand, the commercial relative scale, USDA–ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected]. the index of transability and specialization, as well as the gov matrix of insertion to the international market. The analysis P.H. Schwartz was conducted for the 2005-2009 period. To estimate the com- USDA–ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected] petitiveness among the main pistachios exporting countries, a The mission of the IR-4 Project is to facilitate registration of special international supply Matrix I was devised and applied sustainable pest management technologies for specialty crops for 2005 to 2008, that includes the export growth rate and and minor uses. IR-4 has focused on pest control products that the market share for the most relevant countries (“stars” ex- are identified as “Reduced Risk” or have significant risk reduc- porting countries) and those that meet “loose opportunities.” tion characteristics. The research objective of the Tifton IR-4 In addition a Matrix II was elaborated with the importing Analytical Laboratory is to perform magnitude of the residue growth rates and the market share of the most important demand- analyses on samples from food-use research sites throughout ing countries; a reference model was elaborated to indicate to the United States and Canada. This residue laboratory analyzed which “star” or relevant countries should the marketing efforts plant tissue samples from 285 field trials encompassing 35 be concentrated and which of those should be considered go- pesticide/commodity combinations from 2006 to 2010. Analy- ing down. ses were conducted for the fungicides captan, famoxadone + Specified Source(s) of Funding: CEPOC-University of Chile cymoxanil, metconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, and tetraconazole; the herbicides halosulfuron and imazosulfuron; (099) Effects of Clover Cover Crops and and the insecticides buprofezin, fenpropathrin, imidacloprid, Poultry Litter on Pecan Orchard Soil Microbial and pyriproxyfen. In addition to the parent compound, analyses Activity were also conducted for secondary metabolite residues of captan, imidacloprid, metconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, and Lenny Wells* tetraconazole. Magnitude of the residue data generated from UGA - RDC, Tifton, GA; [email protected] each pesticide/commodity combination is submitted to the U.S. Little information is available regarding the activity of soil Environmental Protection Agency for the establishment of a quality biological indicators in southeastern U.S. pecan or- tolerance or maximum residue limit (MRL) for ultimate field use. chards. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS of poultry litter application and the use of crimson clover as a cool season cover crop on soil chemistry and soil quality biological indicators in a southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain pe- Monday, September 26, 2011 can orchard system. The use of clover as a cool season cover 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom crop between tree rows provided multiple benefits for pecan orchard soil quality, including increased MIP and MBC. Soil Temperate Tree Nut Crops phosphatase activity was also enhanced by clover during two of the three years of study. Soil elemental properties, including (098) The Business of Pistachio Competitive total nitrogen (N), and soil organic matter (SOM), were also Exports As Healthy Food enhanced by clover and/or poultry litter, although there was an obvious time lag in the response of soil N to the treatments. Marco Schwartz Poultry litter application increased soil phosphorus (P), but did CEPOC , University of Chile, Santiago; mschwart@ not consistently enhance soil biological activity parameters. uchile.cl At times, poultry litter appeared to neutralize or minimize the L. Antonio Lizana* positive effects of clover on MIP. CEPOC , University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Georgia Agricultural Com- Mariela Perez-Olea modity Commission for Pecans CEPOC , University of Chile, Santiago; [email protected]

S342 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (100) Time and Motion Comparison of Harvest Mario Viveros Equipment for Small-Scale Chestnut Production University of California Cooperative Extension, Bakersfield, CA; [email protected] Michele Warmund* Evaluating rootstock potential for better anchorage, bacterial University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; warmundm@ missouri.edu canker resistance, and tolerance to shallow soils and high rainfall environments is useful in adapting orchards to the diverse Larry Godsey environments where California almonds [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; godseyl@ D.A. Webb] are grown. Regional rootstock field trials were missouri.edu planted in Colusa and Kern counties in 1997 and in Butte and Andrew Biggs San Joaquin counties in 1998 using randomized complete-block University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; akbznf@mail. designs. Although not all rootstocks are in all trials, the peach mizzour.edu rootstocks; ‘Nemaguard’, ‘Lovell’, and ‘Guardian’, the peach × almond hybrids; ‘Bright’s’, ‘Hansen 536’, and ‘Nickels’ (UC Several different chestnut species and their hybrids have been 1-82), and the interspecific (peach × almond × plum × apricot) planted by growers and nuts from these trees are currently hybrids; ‘Viking’ and ‘Atlas’ are included in this summary. marketed in North America. However, chestnut producers The almond cultivar used as a scion in the Kern trial is ‘Butte’ have identified the high cost and scarce availability of labor while scions in the other three trials are the ‘Nonpareil’ cultivar. during the harvest season (September and October) as major All orchards are managed using typical commercial irrigation, limitations to profitable production of chestnuts. While most fertilization, pruning, disease and pest control practices. This producers harvest chestnuts using a nut wizardTM, alternative summary focuses on the rootstocks influence on the mineral methods are needed to increase harvest efficiency. Alternative nutrient content of almond leaves. Leaf samples were collected harvesters do exist, but have proved to be either cost prohibitive in 2004 and 2005 after trees were mature and had reached their or ineffective for use in a sod-covered orchard floor. For this full bearing potential. Samples were analyzed for mineral nu- reason, a study was conducted to compare the time required to trient content at the University of California Agriculture and harvest and sort Chinese chestnuts using a modified Greystone Natural Resources Analytical Laboratory at UC Davis. Analy- paddock vacuum™ versus a nut wizard™. Harvest time of nuts ses of variance and mean separation was done by using either was reduced by 42% with a paddock vacuum as compared to Duncan’s multiple range test, the least significant difference use of a nut wizard. Long periods of vacuum use resulted in test, or Fishers protected LSD. Rootstocks of similar parent- forearm fatigue. The vacuum also required ear protection from age tend to have similar leaf nutrient levels. Trees on peach the equipment noise and collected dust and soil clods with the rootstocks (‘Nemaguard’, ‘Lovell’, and ‘Guardian’) tend to chestnuts, which required further sorting. An additional piece have the highest leaf nitrogen, sodium and chloride levels and of equipment was also required for towing the vacuum through lowest leaf levels of calcium and manganese. Peach × almond the orchard. In contrast, the nut wizard required more operator hybrid rootstocks (‘Hansen’, ‘Nickels’, and ‘Bright’s’) tend to bending and failed to pick up partially buried chestnuts. be highest in calcium and lowest in leaf nitrogen, potassium, Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Missouri Center boron, sodium and chloride levels with the exception of ‘Bright’s’ for Agroforestry and Missouri Specialty Crops Block Grant which had the highest level of sodium. The leaf nutrient levels of almond on interspecific hybrids (‘Atlas’ and ‘Viking’) are (101) Rootstock Affects Leaf Mineral Nutrient generally high in nitrogen and potassium but intermediate for Content of Almond Trees in California most other nutrients. ‘Atlas’ consistently has the highest boron leaf levels while ‘Viking’ stands out as significantly lower in Joseph H. Connell* magnesium leaf levels. Oroville, CA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Almond Board of California Richard P. Buchner Red Bluff, CA; [email protected] (102) Photosynthesis and Establishment Rates Roger Duncan of Southwestern Pecan Orchards Treated with University of California Coop Extn, Modesto, CA; Foliar Kaolin Particle Film (Surround® WP) [email protected] Richard Heerema John P. Edstrom New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; Colusa, CA; [email protected] [email protected] Warren C. Micke Marisa Thompson Potter* Davis, CA; [email protected] New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; risi@ Paul S. Verdegaal nmsu.edu University of California Cooperative Extension, Stockton, The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether kaolin particle CA; [email protected] film increases leaf net carbon assimilation, growth and establish-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S343 ment rates of immature ‘Western’ pecan (Carya illinoinensis) of Fw pathogen with host resistance in 14-day-old melon seed- trees grown under hot, high light intensity, low relative humid- lings was investigated. Different resistance of melon cultivars ity conditions of southern New Mexico. In 2009, canopies of to F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis was correlated with the levels trees in two orchards, one in its first-leaf and the other in its of chitinase and ß-1,3-glucanase. The enzyme levels increased second-leaf, were sprayed with a kaolin particle (Surround® on seedling of resistant melon cultivars inoculated with the

Monday, September 26, 2011 (159) Inheritance of Sex Expression in Melon 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom (Cucumis melo L.) and Molecular Mapping of Andromonoecy Using Microsatellite and AFLP Vegetable Breeding 2 Markers (158) Association of Chitinase and ß-1,3- Yunyan Sheng Glucanase Activities with Host Resistance Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, DaQIng; against Fusarium Wilt in Melon Seedlings [email protected] Xuezheng Wang Peng Gao Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; [email protected] [email protected] Hongyan Ma Hongyan Ma Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; [email protected] [email protected] Feishi Luan* Yiqun Weng Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; USDA ARS, Maddison, WI; [email protected] [email protected] Feishi Luan* Yingmei Ma Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; [email protected] [email protected] At present melon (Cucumis melo L.) used in commercial produc- Wenbin Li tion in China is predominantly andromonoecious. Development Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; of monoecious melons is an important goal of many breeding [email protected] programs to reduce hand pollination and improve fruiting in F1 hybrids. Although it is well known that sex determination in Fusarium wilt (Fw) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melo- melon is governed by two genes (the andromonoecious gene nis is an important disease of melon in Heilongjiang Province, a and gynoecious gene g) and their interplay, environmental China. In this study, we investigated the relationships between conditions also play important roles in melon sex expression. host resistance and the activities of two enzymes, chitinases In the present study, we investigated sex expression in melon and ß-1,3-glucanase, which have been shown to play important using plants of six generation (P , P , F , F , BC P and BC P ) roles in host defense response against pathogen attacks. The 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 derived from each of three mating schemes: 3-2-2 (monoecious, correlation of activities of the two enzymes upon inoculation

S344 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 AAGG) × Top Mark (andromonoecious, aaGG), WI 998 (gynoe- NFF in 2008 were significant indicating that flowering-related cious, AAgg) × 3-2-2, and WI 998 × Top Mark. Segregation of traits were moderately affected by environment condition. The sex types in all populations fitted the two-gene model except in DFF was shorter in Spring 2008 than that in Fall 2007. The PFF those populations (F2 and BC1) involved in WI 998, in which in Spring 2008 was higher than the parental lines in Fall 2007. in addition to parental sex types, significant proposrtions of However, the performance of F1, F2, and F3 progeny in Spring hermaphroditic, gynomonoecious and trimonoecious flowers 2008 was lower than that in Fall 2007 for NFF. No difference were also observed among the progeny suggesting effects was found in all three traits in F1 in both seasons. However, of environmental or additional genetic factors on melon sex the difference of F1 and F3 progeny from parental lines in two expression. To identify molecular markers for sex expression seasons estimated with regard to the time of the appearance of related traits in melon, we developed a linkage map using 152 the first female flower. Dfference was found between the relative

F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from 3-2-2 × Top contribution of additive and dominance genetic variances across Mark. Among the 152 RILs, 72 were monoecious and 80 an- growing environments in flower related traits. The contribution dromonoecious fitting the expected 1:1 segregation based on the of the additive genetic variances to the total genetic variances in two-gene model for sex expression in melon. Of a total of 428 Fall 2007 was 0.18, 0.06, and 0.36 in Fall 2007, and 1.20, 0.01, SSRs and 256 AFLPs screened, 70 SSR and 100 AFLP markers and 0.01 in Spring 2008 for DFF, NFF, and PFF, respectively were eventually mapped. The resulting genetic map consisted indicating that additive gene effects may be important. While of 17 linkage groups with a total genetic distance of 1,223 cM the respective narrow sense heritability for DFF, NFF, and PFF and an average marker interval of 7.2 cM. Ten markers were in Spring 2008 was 43, 3, and 19%, the broad sense heritability identified which were linkage with the andromonoecy locus of DFF < NFF and PFF was 11.2, 53.6, and 29.4%, respectively. (a gene). The closest flanking markers were the SSR marker Specified Source(s) of Funding: funds from the National MU13328-3 and the AFLP marker e33m43-1, which were 4.8 Natural Science Foundation of China (30871723, 31071812), cM and 6.0 cM away from the a locus, respectively. the Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-Industry Technology Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Natural Science Foun- Research System (nycytx-36-01-01-02), the 948 Project of dation of china (30871723, 31071812), The Earmark Fund for China Agriculture Ministry (2010-S22), and The Research Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System (NYCYTX Foundation of Ed 36-01-01-02), the 948 Project of the Agriculture Ministry of China (2010-S22) and The Research Foundation of Ed (161) Sources of Resistance to Bacterial Wilt and Fertility-restoring Genotype for Cytoplasmic (160) Variance Component Analysis of Sex Male Sterility Expression-Related Traits in Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Jae Moo Lee Kyungpook National University, Daegu; geniuslee1983@ Yunyan Sheng hanmail.net Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing; [email protected] Byung-Soo Kim* Kyungpook National University, Daegu; bskim@knu. Yiqun Weng ac.kr USDA ARS, Maddison, WI; [email protected] Ngoc Hung Tran Xuezheng Wang Kyungpook National University, Daegu; hungthuyvrq@ Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; yahoo.com [email protected] Thirty six accessions including sources of resistance to bacterial Feishi Luan* wilt, susceptible checks and commercial cultivars were tested Northeast Agricultural University, Heilongjiang 150030; for resistance to two strains of bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralsto- [email protected] nia solanacearum in 2010. The sources of resistance showed Understanding sex expression is important for hybrid seed high resistance to bacterial wilt with some variation among the production. Sex expression in melon is influenced by both accessions. KC995, KC999 and KC1009 in particular showed genetic and environmental factors as well as their interactions, a good resistance comparable to the well-known MC 4 and which however are not well studied. In the present study, in MC 5. A significant interaction between genetic resources and two-year (2007 and 2008) trials, we investigated the inheritance strains indicating that there was some differential reactions. of flowering-related traits in melon with variance component Horticultural characters of the sources of resistance to bacterial wilt were recorded. Most of them were chile type in fruit shape. analysis in three populations (F1, F2, and F3) derived from a cross between two inbred lines 3-2-2 (monoecious) and Top Mark The resistant selections were crossed to a cytoplasmic male (andromonoecious). Traits under investigation included days sterile line to identify the genotype for CMS-fertility restoring to the first female flower (DFF), node to the first female flower gene (Rf). The results will be reported and discussed. (NFF), and the percentage of female flowers (PFF). Only NFF in Specified Source(s) of Funding:Cooperative Research Project

F2 generation was significant; all traits of F3 progeny except the of Rural Development Administraion, Republic of Korea

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S345 (162) A Platform for Metabolomic QTL Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the most economic vegetable crop in Korea. Most of the commercial varieties are F hybrids Mapping in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) 1 produced by both male sterility systems, genic male sterility Allan Brown* (GMS) and cytoplasmic-genic male sterility (CGMS). Pepper NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; allan_brown@ production, however, has been seriously damaged by several ncsu.edu diseases including Phytophthora blight, anthracnose and Ivette Guzman some viral diseases (CMV, TMV and PepMoV). Recently, NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; [email protected] marker-assisted selection (MAS) has been intensively used in major crops to increase breeding efficiency. When we develop Gad Yousef molecular markers in chili pepper, two different strategies NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; gad_yousef@ncsu. we have. For a simple inherited trait, we use the BSA-AFLP edu method with the trait-related near-isogenic line or F2 segregat- Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is an ideal model for ing population. If the target trait is inherited quantitatively, we developing platforms to study metabolomic variation and their do QTL mapping analysis and use genomic sequences released effects on health. Broccoli contains numerous compounds that worldwide. Then, most of the AFLP markers developed were have realized and putative impacts on health including sulfur converted into the codominant STS markers (CAPS and SCAR) containing compounds, fat soluble vitamins, phenolics, fatty by using internal sequencing and/or genome walking analysis. acids, plant sterols and others. In addition, broccoli is a distant Recently, we have developed numbers of molecular markers relative to the model plant species Arabidopsis which provides associated with several important traits for commercial pepper considerable information on the genetics and regulation of the breeding. In male sterility system, four different GMS linked respective biochemical pathways. A population of 160 recombi- markers and two Rf-linked markers of CGMS were developed. nant inbreds from the VI-158 × BNC mapping population was For disease resistance, we have developed the molecular used to identify QTLs associated with variation in secondary markers associated with the major loci resistant to Phytophthora metabolites in broccoli. The population differs in aliphatic root rot and anthracnose, respectively. In addition, several glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, progoitrin, glucoiberin, and markers tightly linked to the resistance to viral diseases includ- sinigrin); carotenoids (b-carotene and lutein); tocopherols (alpha ing CMVfny, TMV, PepMoV, and TSWV were developed. It is and gamma) and other compounds of interest. Single nucleotide also available the markers linked to the Bs and Pun1 genes. markers representing known gene sequences from B. oleracea, All the markers we developed are now applicable for practical

B. napus, and B. rapa have been designed and integrated into breeding program of pepper F1 hybrids in all over the world a genetic framework of SSR and AFLP markers to produce as well as in Korea. a saturated genetic linkage map. The population will also be Specified Source(s) of Funding: This work was partially sup- used to conduct a non-targeted profiling of broccoli utilizing ported by a grant (#20050301034408) from the BioGreen 21 LC-MS with extraction procedures for both polar and non- Program and by a grand (#20100401086013001) from the compounds. Correlations between the occurrence of targeted Agricultural R&D 15 Agendas, Rural Development Adminis- and non-targeted profile peaks and bioactivity in cell assays tration, Republic of Korea. will be discussed in regards to validating known compounds, identifying new compounds and studying the interaction between multiple compounds. Monday, September 26, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: UNC General Adminstration 12:45–1:30 pm Kona Ballroom Fund (163) Marker Assisted Breeding for Korean Water Utilization and Chili Pepper Management 1 Jae Bok Yoon* (283) Estimation of Water Requirements for Pepper & Breeding Institute, Suwon; [email protected] Commercial Production of Lantana camara Jundae Lee Pepper & Breeding Institute, Suwon; [email protected] Zhanao Deng University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] Won Phil Lee Pepper & Breeding Institute, Suwon; lwonphil@empal. Craig D. Stanley* com UF/IFAS/GCREC, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] A study was conducted to determine water requirements under Jung-Heon Han Florida conditions for commercial production of sterile cultivars Pepper & Breeding Institute, Suwon; jungheon1@ Lantana Lantana hanmail.net of lantana [ × hybrid ’New Gold’ (NG) and camara ’Athens Rose’ (AR)]. Sterile lantana cultivars are be- Jae Wahng Do ing considered as substitutes for commonly-grown cultivars Pepper & Breeding Institute, Suwon; [email protected] that currently have high potential to hybridize with Florida’s

S346 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 native species. Rooted cuttings for each cultivar were grown found between dry weight and percent ET0 replaced. Across to commercial size under three different environmental condi- cultivars, no significant relationships were found between irrigations (open sun, shade house and greenhouse). Daily water use tion and components of quality. Supplying irrigation at 150% was determined for separate sets of 10 plants by weighing each ET0 replaced is sufficient in maximizing yield of ‘Bun long’ plant before and after a 24-hour period, 4 times a week. Plant and ‘Pa’akala’. However, replacing irrigation up to 250% ET0 canopy height and width were measured for each plant during to a lowland cultivar such as ‘Lehua’ did not result in yields the same period. Evaporative demand was estimated using pan comparable to flooded systems. In addition, the potential to evaporation devices located in each growing environment. Step- predict corm weight based on its relationship to percent ET0 wise multiple regression (for R2 improvement) techniques were replaced can assist in crop modeling and irrigation scheduling used to develop best-fit water requirement prediction models for maximizing water use efficiency. These models can also using the measured parameters. Models for each cultivar were help to estimate cost benefit analysis, which is important for validated using independent data sets collected at other times. determining whether the increase in yield is worth the increase The resultant predictive models for NG and AR had R2 values in water cost. of 0.85 and 0.87 (P < 0.01), respectively. Pearson’s correlation determinations for measured ET versus predicted ET values for (286) Development of a Sensor to Measure each model resulted in correlation coefficient values of 0.87 and Water Content and Electrical Conductivity of 0.90 (P < 0.01) for NG and AR, respectively. Results indicate Soilless Substrates successful development a simple, but useful tool for estimation of Lantana water requirements for a range of environmental Lauren Bissey* and plant canopy conditions. Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA; lauren@decagon. com Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southwest Florida Water Management District Colin S Campbell Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA; colin@decagon. (285) Effect of Irrigation Regime on Yield and com Quality of Three Cultivars of Taro (Colocasia Kelsey Dunne esculenta) Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA; kelsey@decagon. com Jensen Uyeda* University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; juyeda@ More and more irrigation scheduling research is showing that hawaii.edu fertilizer management in an integral part of a complete irrigation scheduling regime. By monitoring both electrical conductivity Theodore J.K. Radovich (EC) and water content of substrates, growers can make better University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; theodore@ decisions on the quantity and timing of irrigation water AND hawaii.edu fertilizer. While measuring water content and EC in greenhouse Jari Sugano substrates is not new, the ability to continuously monitor in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; suganoj@ multiple locations is rarely possible because of the cost of ac- ctahr.hawaii.edu curate sensors. Data interpretation is further complicated by the fact that the available sensors on the market measure bulk Ali Fares electrical conductivity while growers need to know the value University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; afares@ hawaii.edu of pore water electrical conductivity. The goal of our research was to develop a sensor that could be used to help growers bet- Robert Paull ter manage fertilizer and irrigation. Specifically, our objectives University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; paull@ were to: 1) Create a sensor that accurately measures the water hawaii.edu content and bulk electrical conductivity of soilless substrates To better understand the relationship of irrigation regimes on such as peats, perlites, and rockwool; 2) Improve upon bulk components of plant growth and quality, three taro cultivars EC measurements with the future goal of improving pore wa- (‘Bun long’, ‘Lehua’ and Pa’akala’) were irrigated based on ter EC models; 3) Develop consistent and standardized “best reference evapotranspiration (ET0) replaced. Irrigation treat- practice” methodologies for usage so that data comparisons ments consisted of 50%, 100%, 150%, 200% and 250% of and recommendations are universal. Several prototype sensors

ET0 replaced. Irrigation rates significantly affected all growth were constructed and optimized for accurate water content and characteristics, with the greatest differences between 50%- bulk EC response in soilless substrates. Preliminary calibra-

100% and 150% to 250% ET0 replaced. On average plants tions of the sensor in potting soil, rockwool, perlite, and other receiving 150% to 250% ET0 were heavier, with larger leaf non-soil media demonstrated accurate prediction of volumetric area and more cormels than plants receiving 50%-100% ET0. water content that is insensitive to electrical conductivity up to

Plants that received 150% ET0 showed no significant differences 8 dS/m. These results suggest that the new sensor is a viable than treatments receiving larger amounts of water. A positive tool for both researchers and growers to measure water content quadratic relationship (r2 = 0.94-0.99) for each cultivar was and bulk EC in soilless substrates.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S347 (287) Rootstock Influence on Gas Exchange Larry M. Zibilske among Cornus USDA–ARS, Weslaco, TX; [email protected] Amy Fulcher* Water use efficiency (WUE) was determined for two separate University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] blackberry cultural management studies conducted during the years 2006–2008 (Expt. 1) and 2008–2010 (Expt. 2) in a semi- Robert L. Geneve arid subtropical area in south Texas (Lat. 26° N). Adjustments University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; [email protected] were made for natural precipitation and total season water Grafting is a common propagation technique for woody orna- requirements. In Expt. 1, use of weed barriers, compared to mental plants. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on the bare soil, increased WUE with an opaque white plastic giv- effects of rootstock on the physiology and water use of woody ing the best results in both harvest years. As some of the less ornamental plants. Cornus florida and Cornus kousa, two expensive weed barriers deteriorated, WUE diminished in the common nursery crops, were self- and reciprocally grafted and second fruiting year. In Expt. 2, factorial comparisons were subjected to increasingly drier substrate moisture conditions made between white plastic (for weed control), bare ground to evaluate the effect of rootstock. Transpirational moisture (conventional practice and kept weed free monthly), shade loss over the range of container moisture levels from 90% to (40% beginning after the third harvest), and no shade. The 60% of container capacity was linear. There was a small dif- improvement to WUE increased as follows: bare ground and ference in transpiration rate observed for C. florida ‘Cherokee no shading < white plastic = bare ground + shading < white Princess’ and C. kousa ‘National’ when budded on to C. florida plastic + shading. Environmental factors which may have in- vs. C. kousa seedling rootstocks. Transpiration was 13 and 5% fluencedWUE between treatments included soil temperature greater when C. kousa was used as the rootstock for C. florida at 10 cm (Expt. 1), fruit and canopy temperatures (Expt. 2), 2 ‘Cherokee Princess’ and C. kousa ‘National’, respectively. This and seasonal differences in rainfall, light (MJ/m ) and monthly suggests that C. kousa root systems had a greater capacity for mean temperatures (in all years). water absorption and movement compared to C. florida root Specified Source(s) of Funding: CRIS Project Funds systems. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance followed a sigmoidal relationship as substrate moisture content was (289) A Survey of Lawn-Irrigation Behaviors of reduced. For both clonal scions, there was a trend for photo- Residential Homeowners synthetic rate to be higher on seedling C. florida compared to C. kousa rootstocks as container moisture content was reduced. Dale Bremer* Photosynthetic rate differences due to rootstock were 4, 11, 14, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; bremer@ksu. and 100% for C. florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ and 15, 14, 8, and edu 91% for C. kousa ‘National’ as the moisture content was reduced Jack D. Fry from 90, 80, 70, and 65% of container capacity, respectively. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] There was no consistent trend for a rootstock effect on stomatal conductance. For C. florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ stomatal Steve J. Keeley conductance was reduced on the C. kousa rootstock at moisture Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; skeeley@ksu. contents lower than 70% of container capacity, but C. kousa edu ‘National’ scion on C. kousa rootstock only showed a difference Cathie Lavis at 70% of container capacity, whereas scions on the C. florida Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] rootstock showed reduced stomatal conductance. However, at 65% of container capacity, both photosynthesis and stomatal Rodney St. John conductance were reduced to zero for scions on the C. kousa rootstocks, while scions were still active at that moisture edu content on C. florida rootstocks. These data demonstrate that Laura Moley rootstock effects on transpiration and gas exchange must be Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; lmmoley@ considered when these attributes are considered important for gmail.com physiological studies or irrigation modeling studies. The area of land covered with turfgrasses is increasing with Specified Source(s) of Funding: Kentucky New Crops Oppor- urbanization, which may have significant implications for water tunities Center quantity and quality. Excessive irrigation may waste limited water resources and increase the potential for leaching or run- (288) WUE in Blackberries Is Improved by off. Residential lawns represent the largest sector of turfgrass the Use of Weed Barriers and Seasonal cover and the greatest opportunity for reducing water waste and deleterious impacts on water quality in urban watersheds. Shading A survey was conducted in Wichita, Olathe, and Salina, KS, Donald J. Makus* USA, to investigate residential homeowners’ expectations for USDA ARS IF & NR, Weslaco, TX; Donald.Makus@ars. lawn appearance, knowledge of lawn water requirements, and usda.gov lawn-irrigation practices. Results revealed that 48 to 63% of

S348 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 homeowners felt it was moderately to very important that their pine tree canopies appeared to experience less yield loss in lawn look green all the time, regardless of weather conditions. 2010 following a significant freeze event. However, yield About 62% of homeowners indicated they did not know how appeared to be greatly reduced under dense pine tree canopy much water their lawns required and 71 to 77% did not mea- in 2009, when freeze damage was not experienced. The fruit sure the water applied to their lawns. Nevertheless, 59 to 72% from shaded orchards tended to be smaller and have reduced of homeowners thought it was important to keep their water rind thickness compared to other orchard designs. Typical of bills from getting too high, and 64 to 79% indicated they were smaller mandarin fruit, shaded fruit had higher percent soluble concerned about water conservation. Results indicate that solids. As expected, trees grown under continuous shade had while most homeowners are concerned about water use and reduced rates of photosynthesis, greater leaf areas, and greater conservation, they need additional information about lawn water specific leaf area (thinner leaves). In summary, orchard design, requirements and how to accurately apply correct amounts. specifically growing Satsuma mandarins under mature pine tree canopies, can moderate temperature resulting in higher Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA National Integrated yields when freeze events occur. However, continuous shade Water Quality Program also affects plant physiology and fruit quality, and potential maximum yields are reduced when environmental conditions are favorable. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom (059) Inflorescence Type and Fruit Set in Citrus Crops ‘Valencia’ Orange Trees after Winter Drought Stress (058) Influence of Orchard Design on Satsuma Juan Carlos Melgar* Mandarin Fruit Quality, Physiology, and Texas A&M University –Kingsville, Citrus Center, Productivity Weslaco, TX; [email protected] James Spiers* J.P. Syvertsen Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] University of Florida–CREC, Lake Alfred, FL; jmsn@ufl. Michael R. Harrison edu Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Leafy inflorescences in citrus have been reported to favor higher fruit set and fruit persistence than leafless inflorescences. Floyd M. Woods In subtropical humid climates like Florida, drought stress Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] during winter may be used as a management strategy to delay Bryan S. Wilkins flowering in late-season sweet orange cultivars destined for Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] late-season mechanical harvesting to avoid the loss of young fruit from next year’s crop. We studied the effects of winter Elina D. Coneva time drought stress treatments on the ratio of young leaves Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] to open flowers and fruit set to assess treatment affects on William Dozier yield. During 3 consecutive seasons (2007–2009), starting in Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Dec. 2006, three irrigation treatments were applied to 13- to Freeze damage is often the most limiting factor for Satsuma 15-year-old ‘Valencia’ trees: 1. Drought, no irrigation and soil mandarin production in Alabama. Currently, various orchard covered with a rain shield groundcover; 2. Rain only, no designs are being employed to minimize the risk of freeze irrigation, no cover; and 3. Well-irrigated, normal irrigation damage. These orchard design strategies include planting in with rain and no cover. Covers were removed in spring after open fields with microsprinkler irrigation, interplanting be- 100 days of treatment and all trees were well-watered and tween pine and pecan trees, and planting behind windbreaks. fertilized. Previously drought-stressed trees had fewer open The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of different flowers than well-irrigated trees in 2007 and 2009 but not in orchard designs on orchard temperature, photosynthesis, leaf 2008 which seemed to be a consequence of the previous drought characteristics, fruit quality and yield. Five orchards planted stress increasing alternate bearing. Previously drought stressed with ‘Owari’ Citrus unshui grafted onto ‘Rubidoux’ Poncirus trees had more leafless inflorescences and fewer leafy shoots trifoliata were selected based on their orchard design, and four without flowers than well-irrigated trees. The young leaf / trees were selected as experimental units within each orchard. open flowers ratios on drought-stressed trees were 1.3-3.6 fold For each experimental unit, a temperature data logger was higher than on well-irrigated trees in 2007 and 2009. However, placed approximately 1.5 m high on the exterior of the canopy, fruit number and yield in 2007 and 2009 were not significantly and in an open area outside the orchard for comparison. The different between drought-stressed and well-irrigated trees, orchards that were interplanted with mature pine trees had the confirming the higher fruit set in drought-stressed trees than greatest insulating effect on temperature when compared to in well-irrigated trees. the control. In addition, Satsuma mandarin trees grown under Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Florida–IFAS

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S349 (060) Water Use by ‘Hamlin’ Sweet Orange in catch frames. Air temperature during the harvest months often Three Different Durations of Cold Temperature fall below the optimum that promote loosening. A model that predicts the rate of loosening that incorporates predicted air Smita Barkataky temperatures would be useful for scheduling spray applica- University of Florida, Immokalee, FL; [email protected] tions and harvest. Scheduling spray applications and harvest Kelly Morgan must be conducted carefully to maximize fruit recovery, de- University of Florida, Immokalee, FL; [email protected] fined as the percent of the total yield on the catch frame after harvest, and thus must balance the extent of loosening and Robert C. Ebel* fruit drop. A mathematical model is described that incorporates Southwest Florida Res. & Edu. Ctr., Immokalee, FL; CMNP concentration, air temperature, month, and days after [email protected] CMNP application to predict the extent of loosening. Harvest The scheduling and recommendations for citrus irrigation is should be conducted when fruit detachment force decreases by primarily based on soil moisture status and estimated daily 50%. The model was developed using data from several studies water use during the growing season. However, water use of under a variety of field conditions and tested using data from citrus trees is altered differently upon exposure in both long and other field studies. Predictibility and limitations of the model short-term cold temperature and is independent of soil moisture are discussed. and evaporative demand. Therefore, recommendations for winter may not be appropriate. Our hypothesis is that irrigation Specified Source(s) of Funding:Florida State Legistlature recommendations based on mean winter temperatures may not (062) Interference in Oxidative Metabolism in be appropriate for periods of cold weather when citrus irrigation Citrus by Xanthomonas citri pv. citri requirements are lower. Three experiments were conducted in two growth chambers with the primary objective of determin- Naveen Kumar* ing water use of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange in full cold-acclimating University of Florida, Immokalee, Florida; naveenkumar@ temperatures and alternate cold and warm temperatures for 10 ufl.edu and 3 days, and 3 and 10 days; respectively. Results showed that Robert C. Ebel although the plants were well-watered, the fully cold acclimated Southwest Florida Res. & Edu. Ctr., Immokalee, FL; plants used nearly 65% less water than the control. Reduction [email protected] of water use by cold-treated plants over control plants was Aspects of oxidative metabolism were compared between 43-64% and 48-60% upon exposure to alternate 10 days cold canker-resistant kumquat and canker-susceptible grapefruit and 3 days warm and alternate 10 days warm and 3 days cold using a compatible strain of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc). temperatures, respectively. The reduced water use of cold-treated Xcc directly injected into leaves demonstrated substantially plants coincided with reduced stomatal conductance, reduced lower bacterial populations and disease symptoms in kumquat stem water potential, and increased root resistance for water compared to grapefruit. H O concentration increased in kumquat uptake. Effective irrigation scheduling based on accurate crop 2 2 whereas in grapefruit it increased from 0–4 days after inocula- demand could save considerable quantities of water in citrus tion (dai) but declined below or were similar to the controls production, while providing adequate water to maintain citrus during the rest of the disease cycle. Chloroplastic superoxide yield and fruit quality. dismutate (SOD) increased temporarily in both species by 1 Specified Source(s) of Funding: Florida State Legislature dai and the resultant H2O2 produced was considered a signal- (061) A Model to Predict Loosening of Sweet ing molecule for downstream disease resistance. Mitochondrial SOD activity was higher than the controls for the entire disease Oranges by an Abscission Agent as an Aid to process after 1 dai in kumquat, but were higher only from 1–4 Mechanical Harvesting dai in grapefruit, patterns of activity that corresponded with Robert C. Ebel* the pattern of H2O2. Catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase Southwest Florida Res. & Edu. Ctr., Immokalee, FL; (APOD) activities were lower 6 and 1 dai, respectively, in kum- [email protected] quat, whereas guaiacol peroxidase (POD) activity was higher than the controls throughout the study. CAT, APOD, and POD Sunehali Sharma activities were higher from 2, 4, and 2 dai, respectively, to the University of Florida, Immokalee, FL; [email protected] end of the disease cycle in grapefruit. We propose that kumquat

About 7% of the sweet oranges are mechanically harvested is able to maintain high levels of H2O2 throughout pathogenesis, in Florida, but with the recent submission for registration of which moves to the apoplast and coupled with higher POD the abscission agent 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole activity changes the apoplastic environment that makes it less (CMNP), the acreage is expected to expand. CMNP is an favorable for Xcc growth. In grapefruit, however, we propose effective promoter of abscission, although efficacy is af- that Xcc interferes with H2O2 production in the mitochondria fected by several factors the most important of which include and peroxisomes that serve as the sources for apoplastic H2O2. coverage, concentration, air temperature, and precipitation. The resultant lower apoplastic H2O2 levels coupled with higher Under optimal conditions, harvest should occur within 3 to 5 POD activity favors cell growth necessary for rupture of the days after application for mechanical harvesters equipped with epidermis in the last stages of the disease cycle.

S350 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Specialty Crop Block Specified Source(s) of Funding: Research Grant Award No. Grant Program 8056-08 from the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Israel Exchange and the United States – Israel Binational Agricultural (063) Storage Temperatures and Conditioning Research and Development Fund Effect on Bioactive Compounds during Prolonged Grapefruit Storage (064) Morphological Changes Induced by Phytoplasma in Citrus aurantifolia Priyanka Chaudhary* Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Rashid A. Al-Yahyai* TX; [email protected] Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod 123; alyahyai@squ. edu.om G.K. Jayaprakasha Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Abdullah Al-Sadi TX; [email protected] Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod 123; alyahyai@squ. edu.om Ron Porat Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Center, Bet Michael Deadman Dagan; [email protected] Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod 123; alyahyai@squ. edu.om Bhimanagouda S. Patil Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Fahad Al-Said TX; [email protected] Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod 123; alyahyai@squ. edu.om Chilling injury is physiological disorder occurring in citrus fruits when fruits are stored at low temperatures for prolonged period. Zakiya Al-Kalbani Various treatments are used to reduce incidence of chilling Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod 123; alyahyai@squ. edu.om injury in citrus such as pre-storage temperature conditioning, intermittent warming, use of different waxes and vegetable oils Witch’s Broom is a serious disease caused by phytoplasma that and modified atmosphere packaging. Pre-storage conditioning infects several crop species including citrus. Witch’s Broom of citrus fruits prior to cold storage is commercially practiced disease of lime (WBDL) induces changes in plant morphology by storing the fruits at 16 °C for 7 days and later transferring such as clustered branching and leaf rosette, perhaps caused by them to cold temperature below 5 °C. Physiological and meta- lost apical dominance. This study characterized the vegetative bolic studies determining the effects of conditioning on chilling morphological changes induced by WBDL. Stems (50 cm long) injury in citrus are reported. However, studies on the influence were collected from infected trees at various stages of infection of conditioning treatment on bioactive compounds in grapefruits during the spring of 2009 and the fall of 2010. Data on leaf are limited. In the current study, three storage treatments in Star number, leaf area, number of branches, and stem length were ruby grapefruit were compared. Fruits were stored for 16 weeks taken at 10 cm stem segments. The data showed branch and leaf at 11 °C, 2 °C and conditioned at 16 °C for 7 days and later clustering was higher in the fall than the spring for symptomless, stored at 2 °C. Samples were collected at an interval of 4 weeks transitional and symptomatic branches. Marked differences in and were analyzed for vitamins and bioactive compounds such leaf and stem morphology at three distances from the stem apex, as limonoids, flavonoids, furocoumarins and total phenolics. i.e. 10, 20–30, and 40–50 cm. This information will help in the Concentration of ß-carotene was significantly higher in fruits understanding the effects of phytoplasma on the stem and leaf stored at 11 °C and conditioned fruits as compared to fruits morphology of Citrus aurantifolia. stored at 2 °C. No significant difference was observed in vitamin Specified Source(s) of Funding: Strategic Research Grant SR/ C content, TSS, acidity and ripening ratio between treatments. AGR/CROP/08/01 Flavonoids content was significantly higher in fruits stored at 11 °C, with no difference between conditioned and fruits stored (065) Testing a Modified Airblast Sprayer for at 2 °C. Conditioned fruits showed higher furocoumarins content, taste scores and less decay development as compared to fruits Use in Citrus stored at 11 °C and 2 °C. Fruit quality degraded in fruits stored Leo Gene Albrigo* at 11 °C with 8-fold higher decay incidence as compared to other Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] two treatments after 16 weeks of storage. While conditioning Lav R. Khot helped to reduce chilling injury, fruits stored at 11 °C showed Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] no chilling injury. It can be concluded that for prolonged storage, low temperature conditioning treatment is preferable to Reza Ehsani reduce chilling injury and to maintain taste and quality of fruits. Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] However for short storage period, 11 °C temperature is more Schumann Arnold effective to maintain quality. It is possible that growers can Citrus Exp Sta, Lake Alfred, FL; [email protected] implement these treatments depending upon the period of time the fruits will be stored to increase shelf life and to maintain William M. Larzelere fruit quality and nutrition. Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S351 Andrew Landers Specified Source(s) of Funding:SARE, University of Maryland Cornell University, Geneva, NY; andrew.landers@cornell. Extension edu (385) Soil Test Summary as a Tool in Promoting An airblast sprayer was modified with individually adjustable Efficient and Environmentally Sound Fertilizer volume spray nozzles and an adjustable louver diverter for the lower 60% of air volume. These are to be controlled based on Use in Urban Lawns and Gardens laser sensor determination of tree size and canopy density. A Manjula V. Nathan* previously designed tower collector for spray pattern was modi- University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; nathanm@ fied to allow collection of spray driven by high velocity air at missouri.edu lower heights, 1–8 ft, for basic determination of spray deposi- Christopher J. Starbuck tion with height. Surround clay product was used in the spray University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; strabuckc@ mix for visual determination of leaf deposition in field tests. missouri.edu Without control of air flow or spray nozzle volume, excessive spray was delivered to the first 8 ft of tree height. The effects Lala Kumar of adjusting nozzle volume and air flow on spray deposition University of Missouri, Blue Springs, MO; kumarl@ are reported for basic spray delivery and deposition on front missouri.edu and back of leaves at different tree heights and depth into the Urban lawns and gardens are cited as major contributors to canopy. Without controls outer leaf surfaces were over-sprayed non-point source pollution. In many cases, potential pollu- up to 8 ft of height with poor penetration to inner leaves while tion results from routine application of fertilizers containing upper tree leaves received lower than desirable deposits. phosphorus and potassium to soils already containing excessive Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida and SCRI levels of these minerals. If homeowners can be convinced to apply fertilizer based on soil test results, this would significantly reduce potential pollution from home lawns and gardens. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 The University of Missouri Soil Testing Labs received 2312 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom samples from the Extension Centers from urban lawns and gardens in Greater St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield in Consumer Horticulture and Master 2008. A soil test summary indicated that 55 to 75% of the lawn Gardeners and garden soils tested high (67–135 kg·ha–1) or very high (>135 kg·ha–1) in soil test phosphorus (P) levels and 65 to 80% of the (384) University of Maryland Salad Table and samples tested high (291–336 kg·ha–1) or very high (>336 kg·ha–1) Salad Box: Adaptive Container Gardens for in soil test potassium (K) levels. Some home garden soil samples –1 –1 Master Gardener Programs tested high as 1008 kg·ha of P and 1120 kg·ha of K which is considered extremely high. The majority of homeowners who Jon Harris Traunfeld* submitted soil for testing had built their soil test P and K levels University of Maryland Extension, Ellicott City, MD; high and should not apply additional fertilizer containing P [email protected] and K. Over-building certain nutrients can result in imbalance The Salad Table and Salad Box were developed by University of nutrients in soils causing reduced mineral uptake and poor of Maryland Extension faculty in 2006 to increase vegetable plant growth. It may also lead to degradation of water quality garden accessibility and provide Master Gardeners a unique as P and K move offsite with runoff and soil erosion resulting tool for demonstrating gardening principles and techniques. The in eutrophication of lakes and rivers. The information derived shallow, wooden frames are simple and inexpensive to build, from this soil test summary is used widely in extension educa- can be moved to capture or avoid sunlight, and enable one to tion programs throughout the state to emphasize the importance garden at waist-level. The mesh bottom promotes air pruning of soil testing as a tool in promoting proper and efficient use of of roots. The Salad Table, with 11.1 sq ft of surface area and fertilizers and amendments in urban lawns and gardens. a volume of 2.8 cu ft, can produce 1–2 lb of salad greens per Specified Source(s) of Funding: Missouri Lime and Fertilizer cutting. Increasing growing depth from 3.5 to 9 inches allows Control Board for the successful production of tomato, pepper, and cucumber. Extension educators and Master gardeners in at least 20 states (386) Ten Years After: A Retrospective Study of have built and demonstrated the Salad Table and Salad Box. A the High and Dry Research 2010 on-line survey (n = 163) showed high satisfaction levels Kerrie B. Badertscher* with building and gardening with these “home-made” container Otoké Horticulture LLC, Allenspark, CO; kbadertscher@ gardens. This “open source” project has produced improve- otokehort.com ments to the original design that are shared via a website: (contains videos, building and The original purpose of the High and Dry research initiated in growing instructions, and photo galleries). Future goals include 2001 by a team of then Colorado State University Extension automated irrigation, adaptations for indoor use in schools and field personnel was to gain knowledge about the establishment other institutions, and developing lesson plans for teachers. of drought-tolerant species both at high elevations and with no

S352 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 irrigation. The research, originally funded by the Colorado Home approximately 1,500 Z. candida bulbs will be incorporated into and Garden Show provided information about the establishment a nitrogen requirement study at the Gulf Coast Research and of no-water gardens, a topic of much relevant in times of drought Education Center. Several new varieties with larger and more and for mountain communities with watering restrictions. A colorful blooms have been obtained from an overseas source. plant palette based on changing planting dates and native species A hybridization program is in its early phase to improve the ultimately was developed. After 10 years, the palette was refined bloom quality of Z. candida. The Master Gardener volunteers for re-establishment in the 8300 to 8800 ft elevation range using will collaborate with Dr. D’Abreau to develop a fact sheet and lttle additional moisture will be reviewed along with successes other relevant educational materials for central Florida residents. and issues including a review of transitioning wildlife pressure Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida IFAS near Rocky Mountain National Park. (387) Rain Lilies for Central Florida (388) Increased Knowledge about Floral Preservatives Influences Customers’ Marina R. Dabreau Perception of the Quality and Value of a Floral University of Florida IFAS, Seffner, FL; mdabreau@ufl. Arrangement Purchase edu Morgan M. Jenkins Zhanao Deng* Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; jenkinmm@ksu. University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] edu Roger Rixom Kimberly A. Williams* University of Florida IFAS, Seffner, FL; [email protected] Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; kwilliam@ksu. Diane Schwaninger edu University of Florida IFAS, Seffner, FL; tampadi@gmail. Laura A. Brannon com Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; lbrannon@ksu. Nancy West edu UF/IFAS/GCREC, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] Despite extensive evidence that appropriate use of floral pre- Rain lilies are defined by two genera: Zephyranthes and Hab- servatives extends postharvest longevity of most fresh flowers, ranthus. There are about 70 known species and more than 80 their use by traditional full-service florists has been observed to cultivars and hybrids. In 2008, Dr. Geoffrey Denny at the Uni- be highly variable. This research was developed to determine versity of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in if knowledge about floral preservatives increases consumers’ Balm collected three varieties of Habranthus and nine varieties perception of quality, purchase intention, and price of a floral of Zephyranthes with the intent to study the performance of these arrangement. A survey was administered to 222 participants at varieties in Central Florida. Through a partnership with Dr. Ma- two locations in Manhattan, KS during Apr. 2010. Seventy-three rina D’Abreau, Urban Horticulture extension agent and Master percent of respondents fell within the age range of Gen Y. The Gardener Volunteer Program coordinator in Hillsborough County, survey instrument contained four levels of presentation of a floral Florida, two Master Gardener volunteers—Diane Schwaninger arrangement that were associated with increasing knowledge and Roger Rixom—carried out the work directed by Dr. Denny about the use of a floral preservative on consumers’ perceptions (and subsequently by Dr. Deng) and Biological Scientist, Nancy about the quality and price of that arrangement. Results were West. An irrigated 8 inch × 32 inch topsoil bed was divided into analyzed via within-subjects ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc 182, 1 ft × 1 ft sections (7 wide and 26 deep), and the clumps of tests, t-tests, and regression analyses. Participants of the survey each variety were planted in a random fashion. An Osmocote rated the quality of a floral arrangement higher from Level 2 Plus extended release fertilizer (15–9–12) was applied at the rate (presence of floral preservative not explicit) to 3 (presence of of one tablespoon per clump at the beginning of each 30-week floral preservative explicit) and Level 3 to 4 (after reading 191 growing season starting on 1 May 2009 and 2010. The study word count message about floral preservative function and identified four performance criteria: frequency of flowering, effectiveness). Their intent to purchase the floral arrangement length of flowering season, growth factor and resistance to generally increased with each level of presentation. Participants climatic conditions. Based on the data collected, the following increased the price that they were willing to pay for the floral varieties of rain lilies are recommended for central Florida: Z. arrangement at each level of presentation, starting at $25.49 at candida (pale pink/white, stands up well to weather, strong grower Level 1 (no floral preservative use indicated) to $29.17 at Level with extended prolific flowering);Z. grandjax (pale mauve, late 4. Participants were more knowledgeable about the benefits of prolific flowering);Z. traubi (white, extended prolific flowering, floral preservatives and believed that floral preservatives in- strong grower, wilts in rainfall); and Z. grandiflora (purple, very creased the value of floral arrangements after reading a message large flowered, strong grower, not prolific flowering but very describing their function and effectiveness more so than before showy). The study will continue through year 3 with a reduced reading the message. Younger participants were more willing replication (3 per variety) to make the count and measurement to pay more for floral arrangements with floral preservatives less labor intensive. In addition, some initial studies will com- than older participants. As consumers become more aware of mence on some more modern hybrids. At the start of year 3, the use of floral preservatives and more knowledgeable about

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S353 how and why they are effective, they attribute higher quality to had reduced dry weight only after 7 d. Flower size was unaf- floral arrangements with preservatives, are willing to pay more fected, but total flower number decreased after 2 d in “winter for arrangements with preservatives, and their purchase intention heat savings” conditions on I. wallerana; after 4 d on A. majus frequency increases. Florists should consider providing a mes- and B. semperflorens; and was unaffected on P. ×hybrida and sage about the function and effectiveness of floral preservatives V. ×wittrockiana. Time to first flower was delayed for all spe- to their customers, and then market their use of these materials. cies after 4 d in “winter heat savings” conditions. For instance, growing plants in “winter heat savings” conditions for 4 d per Specified Source(s) of Funding: Kansas Agricultural Experi- week delayed flowering by 7 d inV. ×wittrockiana and 14 d in ment Station B. semperflorens (with delays of greater than 6 weeks observed in the 7 d per week treatment). Depending upon species, plants can be grown for up to 4 d per week in the “winter heat savings” Tuesday, September 27, 2011 environment without decreased dry weight, flower number, or 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom flower size, but flowering will be delayed. Crop Physiology 2 Specified Source(s) of Funding:American Floral Endowment (330) Alternative Periodic Energy-Efficient (331) Synchronizing Cayenne Chile Pepper Light and Temperature Strategies for Development for Mechanical Harvest Herbaceous Ornamental Production Mark E. Uchanski* New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; Jennifer K. Boldt* [email protected] University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; bold0120@umn. edu Adam C. Blalock New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; John E. Erwin [email protected] University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; erwin001@umn. edu In the desert southwest cayenne chile is an important crop for the production of hot sauce base. The crop is currently harvested by Mary Hockenberry Meyer hand to accommodate staggered, indeterminant crop develop- University of Minnesota, Chaska, MN; meyer023@umn. ment. However, there is evidence that a single, early applica- edu tion of ethylene as a controlled abscission agent can increase Esther Y. Gesick red yields of mechanically harvested chile pepper (Capsicum University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; gesic001@umn. annuum L.). The present study was performed over two years edu in two locations with treatments arranged in a randomized Reducing greenhouse temperatures when ambient irradiance complete block design (RCBD). Four spray application timings levels are low has long been a strategy to reduce energy costs and of Ethrel® (Ethephon) were evaluated for their potential to improve plant quality in greenhouse crop production. A question increase red cayenne cv. Mesilla yields and percentage of red and arose as to the impact of periodic temperature reductions paired green pods. The spray treatments of ethylene were selected at with periodic ambient low irradiance in winter and early spring four key cayenne growth stages based on heat units accumulated in the northern U.S. on crop growth. Therefore, five species after planting (HUAP). Heat units are defined as the product of (Antirrhinum majus L. ‘Montego Violet’, Begonia semperflorens temperature and time within predetermined upper and lower Hook ‘Cocktail Vodka’, Impatiens wallerana Hook. f. ‘Accent temperature thresholds (30 °C and 13 °C). The HUAP are based Red’, Petunia ×hybrida Hort. ex. E. Vilm. ‘Supertunia Vista on daily high and low temperatures and are a useful way of Bubblegum’, and Viola ×wittrockiana Gams ‘Delta Premium predicting crop growth and development in the climate of the White Blotch’) of herbaceous ornamentals were moved from desert southwest. The predetermined ethylene spray treatments “winter normal” (21.1/18.3 °C day/night leaf temperature, 300 were at 1400 HUAP (late June to early July), 1800 HUAP (mid μmol·m–2·s–1 irradiance, 10 h photoperiod) to “winter heat sav- July), 2800 HUAP (late August to early September), and 3100 ings” (12.7/10 °C day/night leaf temperature, 50 μmol·m–2·s–1 HUAP (mid to late September), which corresponded to early irradiance, 10 h photoperiod) conditions for 0, 1, 2, 4, or 7 d bloom, peak bloom, late physiological maturity, and preharvest, per week to assess the impact of heat savings strategies on plant respectively. A non-sprayed control treatment was also included. growth. The “winter normal” environment represented typical Fresh red, green and non-marketable weights were recorded winter greenhouse environmental conditions and “winter heat for each treatment and analyzed for statistical differences. The savings” represented cool, low light environments in the northern 3100 HUAP treatment is the application timing directed by the US, Canada and northern Europe. Plant data were collected after label. However, this treatment timing resulted in no significant 7 weeks. Species and exposure day number interacted to affect red cayenne yield increase or decrease, but was successful at plant height, plant width, flower number, and above-media dry increasing the percentage of red to green cayenne in some loca- weight. P. ×hybrida dry weight was lower after 2 d per week tions. The 2800 HUAP treatment did not significantly increase in “winter heat savings” conditions, while the other 4 species red cayenne yields, and actually caused a decrease in one location. The 1800 HUAP treatment increased red cayenne yield,

S354 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 and also the percentage of red to green pods, which is desirable weight (4.3), the ovary length (21.2) and the ovary width (14.9) for mechanical harvest. The earliest ethylene spray treatment were increased in 450 nm wavelength compared to the LED at 1400 HUAP did not impact red cayenne yield, but showed treatments. The male-flower weight (0.7) and the petal length variable effects on the percentage of red to green cayenne. The (20) were increased in 660 nm wavelength compared. The petal results of this study indicate potential for a new, early season width was increased in 450 nm wavelength. The fruit-set rate and spray application of ethylene to increase the yield and percent- fruit character were increased in all LED treatments compared to age of mechanically harvested red cayenne. the control. The increment of fruit-set rate (70) was observed in 450 nm wavelength compared to the LED treatments. The fruit Specified Source(s) of Funding: New Mexico Chile Commis- length (65.2) and the fruit width (48.9) were increased in 660 nm sion, Hatch, and state and federal funds appropriated to the New wavelength. Accordingly, the 450 nm wavelength has an effect Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station. on improving fruit-set rate, the 660 nm wavelength on increas- (333) Study on Improvement of Fruit-Set Rate ing fruit size in low temperature period (February–May). Also, of Watermelon by LED we expect that the LED treatment are increasing the amount of photosynthesis which is improving the quality of water melon. Jeong Hyeon Lim* Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, Specified Source(s) of Funding:RDA (Korea Rural Develpment Kochang; [email protected] Administration) Jae Jong Noh (334) Predictive Model for Bioactive Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, Compounds Based on Dry Matter Content, Kochang; [email protected] Color Indicators, and Soluble Solids of Leafy Mun Ho Seong Greens Planted in Greenhouse, High Tunnel, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, and Open Field Kochang; [email protected] Aliyar Fouladkhah* Hyong Gwon Chon Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; aliyar_ Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, [email protected] Kochang; [email protected] Marisa Bunning So Geun Lee Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; mbunning@ Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, cahs.colostate.edu Kochang; [email protected] Martha Stone Sameena Sheikh Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; stone@cahs. Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, colostate.edu Kochang; [email protected] Associations between botanical food and human health have Gi Tae Jung been the subject of many research investigations in recent years. Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Watermelon Experiment Station, Low in fat, sodium, and calories, leafy vegetables are a source Kochang; [email protected] of fiber, nutrients, and bioactive compounds in a healthful diet. Jeong Man Kim Among various phytochemicals, phenolic-based compounds Jeonbuk A.R.E.S. Specialization Crop Research Institute, have been of particular interest due to their contribution to human Jinan; [email protected] health and potential impact on sensory perception of fruits and vegetables. Radical scavenging capacity of leafy greens has also Yeong Cheol Um been a focus of academic and industry studies due to potential National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science health benefits. The purpose of this study was to use predic- (NIHHS), Suwon; [email protected] tive models for total phenolic compounds (TPC), and radical The study was carried out to improve the fruit-set rate of water scavenging capacity (RSC) based on color co-ordinates, total melon by treating LED which has the effect of sunshine im- soluble solids (TSS), and dry matter (DW) of arugula, komatsuna, provement in low temperature period (February–May) causing mizuna, pac choi, huazontel, amaranth, tai sai, and red iceberg amount of sunshine deficiency. According to the light quality lettuce. Three spectrocolorimeter coordinates (L*, a*, b*), two (660 nm, 450 nm, 660 nm : 450 nm = 7:3) and light amount of calculated color attributes (chroma [= (a*2 + b*2)1/2] and hue LED, the differences of male and female-flower characters, fruit angle [= tan–1(b*/a*)], TSS, and DW were used as predictors character and fruit-set rate were estimated. The some differences of TPC and RSC (dry- and fresh-weight basis) using a Stepwise of morphological characters were observed by the different light Selection Method to select statistically significant (α = 0.05) quality. The morphological differences were not observed in the predictor variables and their parameter estimates (PE). The light amount of LED. In estimation of male and female-flower analysis was conducted for the eight selected leafy greens as morphological characters, the male and female-flower weight, well as three subgroups of (1) cultivars with visible red/purple the ovary length, the ovary width, the petal length and the petal pigmentations (huauzontle, red iceberg lettuce, and amaranth); width were increased compared to the control. The female-flower (2) cultivars without visible red/purple pigmentations i.e. green

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S355 in color (arugula, komatsuna, tai sai, mizuna, pac choi); (3) leafy 2, Week 3, and Week 4: double applications were made at Week greens from Brassica genus (komatsuna, tai sai, mizuna, pac 1 + 2, Week 2 + 3, and Week 3 + 4; and multiple applications of choi) for plants grown in greenhouse, high tunnel, and open field ABA at Week 1 + 2 + 3, Week 2 + 3 + 4, and Week 1 + 2 + 3 + environments. For the main analysis of the eight taxa, DW and/ 4. Early, single dose applications (Week 1) were more effective or TSS were the only significant (P < 0.05) predictors of TPC at controlling height than a single dose applied later. Multiple (fresh-weight basis) across the three production methods (PE ABA applications initiated early (at the cotyledon stage) of = 5.22, 48.6, and 51.07 for greenhouse, high tunnel, and open ‘Aristotle’ bell peppers were effective in reducing transplant field, respectively). Although not significant in the main analysis, height compared with a single ABA application. Differences color co-ordinates were a significant predictor of the selected among the response of pepper types to ABA application were secondary metabolites for some of the subgroups across the observed. ‘Aristotle’ showed significant treatment effects even production methods. Color coordinate L*, as an example, was a 6 weeks after treatment. ‘Pageant’ (banana pepper) exhibited significant predictor of RSC (dry-weight basis) in cultivars with an intermediate response with effects lasting only 2 weeks. and without visible red/purple pigmentation subgroups in high No significant height reductions due to ABA treatment were tunnel-grown samples (PE = 0.76, 0.52, respectively). Results of observed for ‘Grande’ (Jalapeño pepper). Multiple ABA dose this study indicate dry matter content, color, and soluble solids applications initiated at the cotyledon plant growth stage can be show potential for prediction of TP and RSC of leafy vegetables. used to effectively reduce transplant height of ‘Aristotle’ bell Specified Source(s) of Funding:Agricultural Experiment Station pepper seedlings. of Colorado State University Specified Source(s) of Funding:Valent BioScience (335) Height Control in Three Pepper Types (336) Evaluation of Four Garlic (Allium sativum Treated with Exogenous Abscisic Acid L.) Varieties Christopher Gunter* Santiago Ayala* North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; chris_ Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo Sonora 83250; [email protected] [email protected] Christopher Biai Jose Jesus Juvera North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; cjbiai@ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. ncsu.edu uson.mx Jose Garzon Ferdando Juvera North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jggarzon@ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. ncsu.edu uson.mx Jonathan R. Schultheis Gabriela Juvera North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jonathan_ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. [email protected] uson.mx Ron Gehl Jose Juvera North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; ron_gehl@ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. ncsu.edu uson.mx Jason Osborne Fernando Duarte North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jason_ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. [email protected] uson.mx Vegetables transplants can become tall and leggy prior to field Everardo Zamora establishment, producing challenges for the growers using me- Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; ezamora@ guayacan.uson.mx chanical transplanter to establish their crops. Thus, controlling the height of vegetable transplants prior to planting could be Jose Alberto Avila an advantage for commercial vegetable growers. A greenhouse Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. experiment was conducted in 2008 and 2009 to determine the uson.mx efficacy of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) applications for Damian Martinez height control of three transplanted pepper types. Three types Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. of peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were investigated: bell pep- uson.mx per (cv. Aristotle), Jalapeño (cv. Grande) and banana pepper (cv. Pageant). Ten ABA treatments were evaluated, based on Jose Cosme Guerrero application frequency and timing over an 8-week period, and an Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; cosmeguerrero@ untreated control were arranged in a randomized complete block hotmail.com design with six (2008) or five (2009) replications. Treatments During 2009, we studied under field conditions the behavior included: single application at Week 1 (cotyledon stage), Week and adaptation of four garlic varieties, in Hermosillo Coast,

S356 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Sonora, Mexico. The evaluated varieties were: Chinese, Damian Martinez Perla, Morado Taiwan and Purple regional. All varieties were Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. planted in double rows having an average population of uson.mx 160,000 plants per hectare. This experiment was carried out Jose Cosme Guerrero in the Agricultural Experimental Station of the University of Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; cosmeguerrero@ Sonora at Hermosillo, Mexico. The varieties were planted hotmail.com in double rows with plant spacing of 12 cm and a separation between rows of 1 m. The evaluated varieties are the most In the area of North Sonora, Mexico, known as Arizpe, the per- used in the region of the Sonora River, being an optimal formance of four varieties of garlic in two plantation densities planting region for the successful growth and development were evaluated. The varieties used were: Early California, Chi- of garlic cultivation. The results obtained in this study, in- nese, and Purple regional and Pearl. The two densities evaluated dicates that there are statistical differences in (P < 0.05) the were in double and triple rows. Double-row density was 250,000 varieties that were evaluated, the Chinese and Pearl varieties plants per hectare. Triple-row density was 375.000 plants per surpassed the yield of Taiwan and regional Purple varieties hectare. The treatments consisted of a double row plant spacing (19.87 and 12.21 and 8.52 to 16,212 ton/ha) respectively. of 10 cm and a row spacing of 20 cm, the separation between The diameter of the bulb of the tested varieties showed no rows was 80 cm. In triple-row the spacing between plants was significant difference (P > 0.05) since the difference was just 10 cm and the separation of plants between rows was 10 cm, the over 1 cm in diameter (6.5, 5.5, 5.0, and 5.1), respectively, so separation between rows was 80 cm. The varieties used were Chinese variety had a diameter of 6.5 and 5.0. Lowest diameter the best adapted in the region of the Sonora River, selecting was the variety Taiwan. The yields and diameters obtained Arizpe, Sonora, for the realization of the experiment because in this experiment indicate that with a population of 160,000 of its high potential for development and cultivation of garlic. plants per hectare at 12 cm of separation between plants we The results indicated that statistical differences were found in can get good size and yield under climatic conditions of the the tested varieties, standing out the Chino and Pearl varieties Hermosillo Coast, Mexico. (P < 0.05) in yield (ton/ha) the California Early and regional Purple varieties (16.906 and 16.187 v.s. 14.125 and 9.944 ton/ Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Sonora ha) respectively. For the diameter of the bulb, Chino and Pearl varieties were equal (P > 0.05) with a diameter of 5.76 and 5.66 (337) Performance of Four Garlic (Allium cm. respectively. The variety Early California had a diameter sativum L.) Varieties, Using Two Planting of 5.41 cm, equal to the variety Pearl (P 0.05). Regional Purple Densities resulted to have the minor diameter with 3.78 cm. The yields and the obtained diameters for the two densities indicate that plant- Santiago Ayala* ing three rows out yielded double-row planting (14.55 vs.14.03 Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo Sonora 83250; ton/ha, P < 0.05). However, double row planting overcame in [email protected] diameter of the bulb to the three rows planting technique (6.17 Jose Jesus Juvera vs. 4.13 cm, P < 0.05). To maintain the ratio of good yields and Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. bulb diameter for the market, we recommend densities between uson.mx 250,000 or 400,000 plants per hectare. Fernando Juvera Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Sonora Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. uson.mx (338) Evaluation of Five Garlic (Allium sativum Gabriela Juvera L.) Varieties, Using Drip Irrigation Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. Santiago Ayala* uson.mx Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo Sonora 83250; Jose Juvera [email protected] Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. Jose Jesus Juvera uson.mx Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. uson.mx Luis Ramirez Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. Ferdando Juvera uson.mx Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. uson.mx Everardo Zamora Gabriela Juvera Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; ezamora@ Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. guayacan.uson.mx uson.mx Jose Alberto Avila Jose Juvera Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. uson.mx uson.mx

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S357 Jose Alberto Montaño solved in ethanol and diluted with water as a spray to drip (about Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. 5 mL) during the early evening. Pseudobulbs of Dendrobium uson.mx Sena Red control plants and treated plants both produced one 6 Everardo Zamora spray per plant. Treatment with N -benzyladenine increased Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; ezamora@ the number of flowers per spray to 9.4 from 3.9 for controls. guayacan.uson.mx Average spray length also increased to 26.2 cm from 17.2 cm for controls. Dendrobium ‘Burana Gold’ plants treated with 450 Jose Alberto Avila ppm N6-benzyladenine produced 1.2 sprays per pseudobulb Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. compared to 0.7 for the controls. The number of flowers per uson.mx spray also increased to15.5 from 9.5 for controls and the spray Damian Martinez length increased to 65.1 cm from 38.1 for controls. Treatment of Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; dagus@guaymas. mature pseudobulbs of dendrobium plants with N6-benzyladenine uson.mx appears to be an effective method for improving the quality of the flowering potted orchids. Jose Cosme Guerrero Universidad de Sonora, Sonora 83250; cosmeguerrero@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA, ARS, PBARC Grant hotmail.com 5320-43000-014-01S

The performance and adaptation of five garlic varieties with the ® use of drip irrigation in Hermosillo Coast was evaluated. The (017) Response of Selected Earth-Kind Rose varieties used were: Ampelo, Early California, Chino, Taiwan, Cultivars to Drought Stress and Rojo de Cuenca. All varieties were planted with a double Xiaoya Cai* row spacing between plants of 12 cm and 1 m between rows Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; tstarman@ having an average population of 160,000 plants per hectare, tamu.edu with the exception of the Ampelo variety that was planted in single row with a separation of 20 cm between plants and 1 m Terri Woods Starman between rows with a population of 50,000 plants per hectare. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; tstarman@ The results obtained indicate a significance level of 5%, that the tamu.edu ‘Chino’ and ‘Ampelo’ varieties, were the most yielding through Genhua Niu the utilization of a drip irrigation system (1188.20 and 1070 gr/ Texas Agric. Expt. Station, El Paso, TX; [email protected] p.u., respectively). Considering the variable diameter of the bulb, Ampelo variety resulted in the largest diameter (6.7 cm). Charles R. Hall Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; c-hall@ In relation of varieties under flooding irrigation, ‘Chino’ was the tamu.edu best (1117.5 gr/p.u.), but in the diameter of the Ampelo variety bulb was superior (6.2 cm). In statistical analysis conducted on Leonardo Lombardini the irrigation system used, the results indicated a significance Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; level of 5%, that the varieties under drip irrigation system had [email protected] superior performance over the varieties under flooding irriga- Kristen L. Eixmann tion (1026.1 to 915.10 g/p.u.). Using drip irrigation all varieties Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; tstarman@ had better bulb diameter (5.6 cm) that normal (flooding) with tamu.edu an average of 5.2 cm. Water shortage and poor water quality are critical challenges Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Sonora to gardening and landscaping in many regions of the world. Therefore, selection of drought and salt tolerant plants becomes increasingly more important for the development of sustainable Tuesday, September 27, 2011 landscapes. Earth-Kind® is a special designation given to select 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom rose cultivars by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service through the Earth-Kind landscaping program. It is based on the results of Floriculture 3 extensive research and field trials and is awarded only to those 6 roses demonstrating superior pest tolerance combined with (015) Use of N -Benzyladenine to Improve outstanding landscape performance. Knowing how Earth-Kind® Flower Quality of Potted Dendrobium Orchids rose respond to drought stress will provide useful information William S. Sakai* that breeders can use in developing adaptable rose cultivars and University of Hawaii at Hilo; [email protected] lead to a better understanding why certain cultivars withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. A greenhouse study Russell Shioshita was conducted to evaluate four Earth-Kind®- rose cultivars University of Hawaii at Hilo; [email protected] (‘RADrazz’, ‘Belinda’s Dream’, ‘Old Blush’, and ‘Maria Pavie’) Mature pseudobulbs of Dendrobium ‘Sena Red’ and Dendrobium in response to drought stress. Plants grown in 11.4-L containers ‘Burana Gold’ were treated with 450 ppm N6-benzyladenine dis- with a peat-based substrate were subjected to two watering treat-

S358 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 ments, well watered (35% average soil moisture content) and (grant numbers: 93S-2466-Å97-01023; 93S-2466-Å01-01430; cyclic drought stress. The cyclic drought stress was induced by and 3412-04-01001), orchids project by Gartenbau-Floricoltura watering the plants to container capacity and then withholding Valtl Raffeinder, Italy. irrigation until container weight reached a predetermined weight and plants exhibited incipient wilting. At each watering time, (019) Adjustment of Media pH Improves In plants were well irrigated using a nutrient solution containing Vitro Pollen Germination in Plumeria 300 mg·L–1 15–5–15 Cal Mag fertilizer and reverse osmosis (RO) water. Shoot growth and flower number were reduced in Kauahi Perez* the drought treatment compared to the well-watered control in University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] all cultivars. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), and mid-day water potential of all Richard A. Criley cultivars decreased as substrate moisture content decreased. University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; criley@ However, the relationship between these physiological param- hawaii.edu eters and the substrate moisture contents differed among the Plumerias are important ornamental plants to Hawaii’s hor- cultivars, and ‘RADrazz’ was considered to be more tolerant ticulture and landscape industries. However, the majority of to drought compared to the other three cultivars. Plumerias are affected by Plumeria rust disease. Although (018) Introduction of Ethylene Insensitivity methods for controlling this disease are available, these methods in Flowering Potted Plants by Genetic are laborious and costly. A more feasible solution would be to develop Plumeria hybrids that are rust-resistant. Establishing Modification a breeding program will help to achieve this goal. However, Heiko Mibus a basic understanding of Plumeria pollen is needed prior to Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, 30419 Hannover; mibus@ breeding for resistance. As part of basic pollen studies in a zier.uni-hannover.de breeding program, the ability of pollen to germinate on artificial media is commonly used to assess pollen viability. This Sridevy Sriskandarajah requires an optimum germination medium and environment. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala; As an environmental component, pH plays an important role [email protected] in in vitro pollen germination studies and can affect viability Margrethe Serek* results. Thus, adjusting media pH may improve pollen germina- Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, 30419 Hannover; serek@ tion. Previous Plumeria pollen studies led to the elucidation of zier.uni-hannover.de media optimized for tube growth. However, germination rates One of the effective ways to control ethylene synthesis and ethyl- were low, and pH was not a factor considered. In this experi- ene responses in plants is genetic modification. The introduction ment, the response of Plumeria pollen to pH was tested. Using of the mutant ethylene receptor gene, etr1-1, from Arabidopsis modified Brewbaker and Kwack medium optimized for each has been proved as the most promising for such purpose, es- genotype, P. caracasana, ‘Celadine,’ ‘Lei Rainbow,’ ‘Pops,’ pecially when its expression is controlled by a flower specific and P. pudica pollen grains were subjected to media of six pH promoter. Effective regeneration and transformation systems levels (no adjustment, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5). Analyzed as a 5 for ethylene sensitive potted plants Kalanchoë and Campanula × 6 factorial within a completely randomized design, analy- were established to enable the introduction of etr1-1 mutant ses of pollen germination and pollen tube lengths revealed a gene. Transgenic fertile plants of Campanula carpatica Jacq. genotype-dependent response to different levels of pH. This and Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poeln. were obtained by Agrobac- indicates that genotypes require different media pH to achieve terium tumefaciens-mediated transformation using the construct high rates of pollen germination (>40%) and long pollen tubes containing etr1-1 gene under the control of the flower specific (>1000 μm). In conclusion, genotype-specific protocols can fbp1-promoter from Petunia. Flowers of T0 lines were tested for now be developed to properly assess in vitro pollen viability their ethylene sensitivity by exposure to 2 μL·L–1 ethylene. Non in support of breeding for rust resistance. transgenic flowers ofKalanchoë and Campanula plants wilted Specified Source(s) of Funding: Southern California Plumeria within 2–3 days. The best Kalanchoë line had only one-third Society wilted flowers after 10 days of continuous ethylene exposure, while the best transgenic line of Campanula flowered up to 27 (020) Evaluating Selected Fungicide Effects on days in ethylene. Use of flower specific promoter successfully prevented introduction of ethylene insensitivity in leaves or roots. Growth of Water-Stressed Impatiens walleriana The cuttings taken from transgenic Campanula and Kalanchoë Diana Cochran* plants produced roots. T1 progenies of both plant species, which Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; were established from crosses between transgenic plants and [email protected] wild plants, showed stable dominant inheritance and expression Richard L. Harkess of etr1-1, which makes the plants useful for breeding program. Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; Specified Source(s) of Funding:Danish Ministry of Agriculture [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S359 Patricia R. Knight Curtis E. Moody Coastal R & E Center, Biloxi, MS; [email protected] Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA; bluemoodys@ hotmail.com Mengmeng Gu Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; In 2009 and 2010, poinsettia cultivars supplied by Dummen, [email protected] Paul Ecke Ranch and Syngenta were trialed at Virginia State University . Open houses held each year featured a high M. Tomaso-Peterson quality plant on display of each cultivar trialed. Attendees Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; were asked to fill out a written survey, and over 100 were [email protected] completed at each year’s event. Certain cultivars from all three Eugene K. Blythe suppliers scored highly in 2009, and some from Ecke and Mississippi State University, Poplarville, MS; blythe@pss. Syngenta scored highly in 2010. ‘Classic Red’, ‘Ice Punch’, msstate.edu and the pre-introduction 39-02 were favorites in both years, Charles H. Gilliam and ‘Prestige Red’, ‘Orion Red’, 1230 and 7674 were favorite Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] reds in one year. The novelty types ‘Premium Dark Crystal’ and ‘Cortez Burgundy’ were also favorites in one year. Most Two independent experiments were conducted to determine if ap- of the high scoring novelty types, such as ‘Ice Punch’, contain ® ® plications of Pageant (pyraclostrobin + boscalid) or Regalia SC a mix of red and contrasting, lighter shades of color in their (extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis) enhanced growth in water- bracts. stressed impatiens. Pageant and Regalia SC were applied weekly pecified Source(s) of Funding: as foliar sprays to evaluate their effect on Impatiens walleriana S Virginia Cooperative Extension Super Elfin XP White growth under water-stressed conditions. In Experiment 1, four rates of each fungicide were applied based (022) Lotus (Nelumbo spp.) as an Alternative on the recommended label rate: Pageant 0, 0.5× (0.114 g·L–1), Crop for Southeastern United States –1 –1 1.0× (0.228 g·L ), and 1.5× (0.342 g·L ); Regalia SC 0, 0.5× Warner Orozco-Obando* (18.927 mL/gal), 1.0× (37.854 mL/gal), and 1.5× (56.781 mL/ Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] gal). To evaluate plants under water-stress, three moisture levels were maintained based on substrate volumetric water content: Floyd M. Woods 85% (well-watered), 55%, or 25% moisture. Volumetric water Auburn University, Auburn, AL; woodsfm@acesag. content was determined by creating a soil moisture curve based auburn.edu on the relationship between the soil moisture readings and actual Kenneth M. Tilt volumetric water content. Experiment 2 was similar to Experiment Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] 1 except the three moisture treatments were based on 0, 3, or 6 days between watering. On days of watering, water applied was Jesse Chappell determined by 85% VWC. In both experiments, substrate VWC, Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] shoot and root dry weights and growth indices were measured. Daike Tian Additionally, leaf samples were taken at the end of each study and Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] immediately dipped in liquid nitrogen then placed in a negative 80 °C freezer for enzyme analysis. Results from Experiment 1, John Olive indicated a moisture × rate interaction in the 85% VMC treat- Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] ment after weekly applications of Pageant. Shoot dry weights Arnold W. Caylor were greater with application of 1.0× Pageant compared to all Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, AL; other treatments. No moisture × rate interactions were observed [email protected] for Regalia SC. Experiment 2 showed no moisture × rate effects Fenny Dane regardless of fungicide. Based on these results, Pageant has the Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] potential to enhance shoot growth when applied to well-watered but not water-stressed impatiens. Raymond Kessler Specified Source(s) of Funding:Marrone Bioinnovations; BASF Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Wheeler Foshee (021) Poinsettia Cultivar Trial Results from Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] 2009 and 2010 at Virginia State University Jeff L. Sibley Christopher J. Catanzaro* Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA; ccatanzaro@ vsu.edu Deacue Fields Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] Jennifer L. Odom Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA; jenniferlodom@ David Cline gmail.com Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected]

S360 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Jeremy Pickens David Jenkins Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] USDA–ARS, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected] Yiman Liu Angel Marrero Wuhan Aquatic Vegetable Institute, Wuhan, Hubein; USDA–ARS, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected] [email protected] Six mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) cultivars grown on an Xu Wang Oxisol and Ultisol were evaluated for four years under intensive Auburn University, Auburn, AL; xzw0008@tigermail. management at Isabela and Corozal, Puerto Rico, respectively. auburn.edu There were significant differences in number and weight of fruit per hectare between locations and years. Significantly more Rucha Shevade fruit were produced at Corozal (24,906 fruit/ha) than at Isabela Auburn University, Auburn, AL; [email protected] (17,783 fruit/ha). Fruit yield at Corozal and Isabela was 15,922 Guy-vanie Miakonkana and 11,778 kg/ha, respectively. There were significant differences Auburn University, Auburn, AL; gmm0006@tigermail. among varieties for number of fruit and yield per hectare at both auburn.edu locations. At Isabela and Corozal cultivar Tazumal produced Lotus’ wide diversity of uses as an ornamental, edible, medicinal significantly more fruit averaging 37,552 and 46,290 fruit/ha, and religious plant suggests that there may be opportunities respectively. Significantly higher fruit yield was attained by for growing this plant and supplying local demand, as well cultivars Pantin, Tazumal and Magaña at Isabela which aver- as providing industrial opportunities in the southeastern part aged 16,424 kg/ha, whereas at Corozal cultivar Tazumal showed of USA. However, more research on harvesting techniques, significantly higher fruit yield (23,844 kg/ha). Cultivar Copan cultural practices, variety selection and development, market- had the lowest fruit yield at both locations averaging 8,024 kg/ ing potential, and development of alternative uses need to be ha. At Isabela, cultivar Pace had significantly higher (31.3%) explored. An active germplasm collection is being developed fruit soluble solids (Brix) than other cultivars whereas there with the idea of gathering a broad spectrum collection of diverse were no significant differences in soluble solids among varieties cultivars and seed from wild stand from India, China, Japan, in Corozal averaging 30.0%. At both locations individual fruit Australia, Thailand, USA, Canada, and Russia. It has been weight was significantly higher in cultivar Magaña. This cultivar determined that sources of high quality propagation material produced significantly longer fruit with significantly greater are limited and very often the cultivar names are mislabeled. diameter than other cultivars. Entomological research during We embraced the development of a registrar of cultivars as a this study demonstrated that mamey sapote at the color break tool to help nursery producers, researchers and hobbies with a stage is a very unlikely host to fruit flies Anastrepha suspensa description of some of the most popular varieties. In addition, in and A. obliqua, making fruit exportation possible to locations this study we evaluated cultivation techniques such fertilization, where these flies are not present. alternative substrates, and survey costumer preferences. Based Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS on our survey, costumers prefer medium or large size plants, pink, red, yellow or white flowers, with a double or multipetal (104) Characterization of the Floral Induction form. A large group of cultivars had been evaluated in Auburn Mechanism of Longan and its experimental stations. The evaluation at Auburn allowed Wade P. Heller* selecting 34 ornamental cultivars. In addition, native and Asian USDA–ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; wade.heller@ars. lotus had demonstrated to be suitable to be use in constructed usda.gov wetlands used to phyto-remediate nutrient run-off. This opens a new market for the production of large varieties with high biomass Tracie K. Matsumoto production which can be used in the in phyto-accumulation of USDA–ARS-PWA-PBARC, Hilo, HI; tracie.matsumoto@ organic compounds and heavy metals. ars.usda.gov Specified Source(s) of Funding: Alabama Agriculture Experi- Proper interpretation of environmental stimuli leading to the ment Station transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development is essential for plant survival. Furthermore, effecting this change can become a challenge for the reliable production of Tuesday, September 27, 2011 horticultural crops due to variable environmental conditions or 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom when crops are grown in different climactic zones. Hawai’i has several unique advantages for U.S. domestic agriculture, includ- Tropical Horticultural Crops ing bountiful sunshine and rainfall, yet Hawai’i agriculture must compete with abundant foreign competition. For this reason, (103) Yield and Fruit Quality Traits of Mamey there is a major impetus to cultivate high-value crops for the Sapote Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico fresh market, and two of the crops being tested are lychee and Ricardo Goenaga* longan, both subtropical fruit crops originating from Asia. A ma- USDA–ARS, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected]. jor challenge to developing these crops and others in Hawai’i is gov unreliable flowering caused by mild and variable winters, which

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S361 in turn causes unreliable yield. Flowering pathways have been A variety of flavonoids have been isolated and quantified from extensively characterized in the annual dicot Arabidopsis, but several purple-fruited seedling selections of Pitanga (Eugenia understanding floral transition in perennial trees in temperate or uniflora L.). Flavonoids are widely known as antioxidants tropical zones is exceedingly challenging. Three major pathways that serve as photoprotectants for the host plant. These com- leading to floral transition have been described inArabidopsis , pounds in humans have been previously shown to exhibit one responds to shifts in daylength, another senses temperature anticancer, antioxidant, and cardioprotectant effects. High changes, and the third “autonomous” pathway causes floral Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to transition regardless of light or temperature stimuli. Limited investigate the relative composition of flavonols and anthocya- genetic analyses from poplar and apple have indicated a role nins present in the fruits. Methods of flavonoid quantification for orthologs of the Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) were improved to ensure cost effectiveness and efficiency by protein in floral transition in these species. Defoliation and imparting a shorter HPLC run time. A Waters XbridgeTM column girdling experiments in lychee have implicated a leaf-derived facilitated selective retention, resolution, and high sensitivity. signal initiated by a chilling response that is essential for flower Currently, the fruits of E. uniflora are relatively unknown and induction in this species. In longan, a close relative to lychee, are underutilized as possible sources of dietary antioxidants. natural flower induction is believed to also be a response to a These results will be of further use to exemplify the purple- temperature stimulus. However, longan has an interesting and fruited Pitanga as a nutritionally desirable crop for propagation unique additional phenomenon regarding floral induction: in and consumption. longan, application of potassium chlorate to the root systems Specified Source(s) of Funding: A grant from Hawaii Tropi- of trees causes widespread flowering of treated trees within cal Specialty Fruit Research and Development (HTSFRG) approximately seven weeks of treatment. The discovery of (USDA–CSREES) in part sponsored this work. chlorate induced flowering has enabled off-season production of longan. The molecular-genetic mechanism underlying chlo- (106) Potential Vectors of Xylella fastidiosa on rate induced flowering of longan remains unknown. In order to determine whether this is a novel floral induction pathway or Citrus and Coffee in Puerto Rico utilizes components of known pathways, I have cloned puta- Brent V. Brodbeck* tive orthologs of known floral signal integrator genes from the University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] longan transcriptome for expression analysis. The transcript abundance of these floral identity genes are analyzed over Peter C. Andersen University of Florida, Quincy, FL; [email protected] time following chlorate application, as well as during natural (temperature-induced) flowering. Mildred Zapata Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR; [email protected] (105) Flavonol and Anthocyanin Analyses of Two of Puerto Rico’s principal agricultural commodities, Purple-Fruited Selections of Eugenia uniflora coffee and citrus, are highly susceptible to diseases caused L. (Pitanga) by High Performance Liquid by the xylem-limited bacteria Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). In ad- Chromatography dition, the Caribbean Basin is a potential gateway for the Xf disease citrus variegated chlorosis for Florida citrus via north- Kristen Wheeler* ern spread from South America. We surveyed Homoptera in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; kw4@ citrus and coffee plantings for 18 months at 3 month intervals hawaii.edu throughout western Puerto Rico to detect potential vectors of Ty G. McDonald Xf. Sampling was done by sweep and trap sampling of coffee, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; tym@ citrus and adjacent habitats. Only insects that feed on xylem hawaii.edu fluid, sharpshooter leafhoppers (Cicadellidae:Cicadellinae) and froghoppers (Cecropidae), can vector Xf. Over 5,000 John L. Griffis, Jr. Homoptera were collected; roughly 5% of these were xylem Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL; jgriffis@ feeding insects. However, 4 of the 6 sharpshooter species that fgcu.edu have been previously documented in Puerto Rico were shown Theodore J.K. Radovich to be insects frequently collected in citrus and coffee plant- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; theodore@ ings. Two of these species, Hortensia similis and Caribovia hawaii.edu coffeaphila, are primarily grass feeders and rarely feed directly on coffee and citrus. Apoganallia sp. were infrequently col- J.P. Bingham lected, and often on herbaceous host plant species. Caribovia University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; coffeacola poses the greatest potential threat, commonly be- [email protected] ing found feeding directly on coffee densities in plantings at Malcolm M. Manners high elevations. Citrus had many fewer potential vectors, as Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL; mmanners@ C. coffeacola and H. similis were only rarely found on citrus. flsouthern.edu Locally high populations of C. coffeacola occurred on coffee

S362 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 grown in proximity to the common shade legume Inga vera, of various staining techniques. Electron microscopy revealed including high populations of immatures rarely noted on coffee. the intracellular synthesis of these compounds. Within farms, we documented that populations of C. coffeacola Specified Source(s) of Funding: NRF (National Research increased with proximity to I. vera. Field collected C. coffeacola Foundation South Africa) were subjected to choice and no-choice tests to establish insect preference and performance. Caribovia coffeacola preferred both coffee and I. vera over other hosts on which they had Tuesday, September 27, 2011 been collected including citrus, milkweed (Asclepias spp.) 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom and grasses. In no-choice tests, C. coffeacola confined on I. vera outperformed similar insects with survivorship, male and Vegetable Crops Management 3 female weights significantly exceedingC. coffeacola confined to other hosts including coffee. We are currently investigating (211) Multi-State Survey of Picture-Winged leafhopper utilization of I. vera and other shade species in order Flies (Diptera: Ulidiidae) Attacking Sweet Corn to develop management strategies for shade coffee that do not in the Southern U.S. increase the possibility of Xf infection. G.S. Nuessly* Specified Source(s) of Funding: T-STAR University of Florida, IFAS, Belle Glade, FL; gnuessly@ ufl.edu (107) Anatomical, Histological, and Histochemical Changes in Developing Seed G. Goyal University of Florida, IFAS, Belle Glade, FL; goyalgau@ of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Horseradish Tree) ufl.edu under Three Irrigation Levels B.T. Scully Quintin Ernst Muhl* USDA ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; quintinmuhl@tuks. co.za X. Ni USDA–ARS, Tifton, GA; [email protected] Elsa S. Du Toit University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; [email protected]. A.N. Sparks za University of Georgia, Tifton, GA; [email protected] J.M. Steyn G.D. Buntin University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; [email protected]. University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected]. za edu Z. Apostolides F. Huang University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002; zeno.apostolides@ Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; fhuang@ up.ac.za agcenter.lsu.edu Moringa oleifera Lam. is a fast growing, drought tolerant tree B.A. Leonard with numerous beneficial uses, such as for nutritious food, animal Louisiana State University, Winnsboro, LA; rleonard@ forage, green manure, water purification, traditional medicine agcenter.lsu.edu and bio-fuel (Anwar et al., 2007). The developmental seed P.J. McLeod morphology and anatomy of Moringa has not been researched, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; pjmcleod@uark. especially with regards to the accumulation of protein, carbohy- edu drates and oil bodies. Five-year old Moringa oleifera trees were divided into three different irrigation treatments, namely, 300, A.M. Simmons 600, and 900 mm of irrigation over a 1-year period. Individual USDA–ARS, Charleston, SC; [email protected] flowers were tagged on each tree and monitored to determine C.A. Daves the number of days from swelling of flower buds to flowering Monsanto, Clinton, MS; christopher.a.daves@monsanto. and fruit set. Pollen viability tests between the various irriga- com tion treatments were also performed. Moringa fruit were then harvested at various developmental stages. Both light- and R.S. Pfannenstiel USDA–ARS, Weslaco, TX; [email protected]. electron microscopy were used to determine the time of syn- gov thesis as well as the locality of the various compounds. After monitoring of the flowers development at the various irrigation W.B. Henry treatments, it was evident that irrigation did have an effect on USDA–ARS, Mississippi State, MS; brien.henry@ars. fruit/seed production. Both the light and electron microscopy usda.gov work revealed the locality of the protein, carbohydrates and oil Four picture-winged fly (Diptera: Ulidiidae) species in two bodies within various stages of developing seed with the use genera were identified as direct pests of sweet and field corn

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S363 ears in Florida from surveys conducted during 2007 and 2008. location and cultivar. Levels of total phenols and flavonoids Larvae emerge from eggs deposited mostly in the silk canal both years varied depending on cultivar and growing situation. to damage silk, kernels and cob rendering infested sweet corn In 2009, ‘Purple Beauty’ peppers showed generally higher ears unmarketable. Euxesta annonae (F.) and E. stigmatias phenols, flavonoids, and ORDC than ‘King of the North’ in Loew were found in corn only in southern Florida. Chaetop- all three growing conditions, with the exception of field-grown sis massyla (Walker) and E. eluta Loew were found in corn ‘King of the North’ which showed higher ORDC levels. Both throughout the state, including most counties along the northern tomatoes and eggplants grown in 2009 showed highest phenols border with Georgia and Alabama. Studies were conducted and flavonoids when grown in the field but ORDC levels were in 2008 through 2010 to examine whether corn-infesting highest under row covers. In 2010, all pepper nutritional data ulidiid species were attacking corn north and west of Florida in were inconsistent as were tomato and eggplants phenols and the southern USA. Ears were inspected for ulidiid larvae and flavonoids contents. Tomato ORDC levels were highest in the pupae at 14 to 20 d after first silk in sweet corn plots (‘GSS field. Eggplant ORDC levels were highest in field-grown fruit 0966’ and ‘Garrison’, Rogers Brand, Syngenta Seed) planted in 2010. late spring through summer within corn producing regions of Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crops block grant Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and southern Texas. Additional commercial sweet and field corn fields were sampled in each of these states and in Alabama (213) First Year Cover Crops in Mississippi for evidence of ulidiid larval damage. Infested ears were shipped Increased Soil Organic Matter in to Florida where they were held at 26.0 ± 1 °C and L14:D10 h photoperiod for emergence of adults used for species iden- Conventionally Managed Sweetpotato, but Had tification. Chaetopsis massyla and E. eluta were reared from No Effect on Yield infested corn collected in Georgia and Alabama. Chaetopsis Ramon A. Arancibia* massyla adults emerged from ears collected in Louisiana, and Mississippi State Univ-MAFES, Pontotoc, MS; raa66@ South Carolina. msstate.edu Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA, Land Grant Institutions Jeffrey L. Main Pontotoc, MS; [email protected] (212) Vegetable Yields and Nutritional Contents Three field trials were established in the fall of 2009 to investi- in Season Extension Systems gate the long term effects of various winter cover crops on soil Karen L. Panter* attributes and sweet potato production in North Mississippi. University of Wyoming College of Agr, Laramie, WY; In field 1, ryegrass, wheat, crimson clover, hairy vetch, two [email protected] radishes, mustard, and rape as winter cover crops are being compared with conventional weedy fallow. In the first year, Adrienne A.O. Tatman legume biomass was higher than Brassicas and fallow, and University of Wyoming, Sheridan, WY; aolsonta@uwyo. Brassicas, except Daikon radish, were not different from fal- edu low. Incorporation of legumes did not increase soil nitrate or Funded by a Wyoming Department of Agriculture Specialty organic matter compared to fallow. This may have been due Crops Program Block Grant, this project’s objective was to to soybean residue and no-till management of this field for evaluate three production methods, including two season- several years. US1 and marketable yield ranged between 152 extension systems, for yield and nutritional content using and 231 bu/ac, and 258 and 379 bu/ac, respectively, but there peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants. Crops were grown during were no differences among treatments. The field in location 2 the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons at the University of was conventionally managed and planted to sweetpotato for 2 Wyoming’s Sheridan Research and Extension Center. In 2009, years. Radish and rape were compared to conventional fallow. ‘King of the North’ and ‘Purple Beauty’ peppers, ‘Rutgers’ Soil organic matter increased to 1.3% with radish in comparison and ‘Cosmonaut’ tomatoes, and ‘Black’ and ‘Turkish Orange’ to 1.08% for the fallow treatment. Similar to location 1, yields eggplants were grown in the field, under row covers, and in were the same among treatments with US1 yield ranging from a high tunnel. In 2010, the same cultivars of tomatoes and 368 bu/ac to 413 bu/ac. The field in location 3 has been organi- eggplants were grown, but peppers were ‘King Crimson’ and cally managed for 4 years and treatments were mustard, radish, ‘California Wonder Orange’. Yield data included total weight rape, crimson clover and fallow. Biomass of crimson clover of fruit produced in each growing situation per five plants. and rape were higher than mustard and fallow, but soil organic Fruits were sent to the Small Molecules Analysis Laboratory matter was the same among treatments. US1 and marketable at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. They were analyzed for yield ranged between 157 and 317 bu/ac, and 321 and 553 bu/ total phenols, total flavonoids, and oxygen radical absorbance ac, respectively but were not different among treatments. In capacity (ORDC, a measure of antioxidant activity). In 2009, conclusion, first year incorporation of winter cover crops in- pepper yields were highest under row cover, tomato yields were creased organic matter in a conventionally managed field, but highest in the field, and eggplant yields were highest in the high there was little or no effect on sweet potato yield. tunnel. In 2010, highest yields of both peppers and tomatoes Specified Source(s) of Funding: SSARE occurred in the high tunnel. Yields of eggplants varied with

S364 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (214) Ecophysiolgy of Yield and Quality as (216) Use of LED as Supplementary Lighting Influenced by Management, Inputs and Agro- for Growing Gailan in a Poly-House Climatological Factors in Processing Carrots Fadhlina Suhaimi* R. Scott Veitch Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; rveitch@ Singapore; [email protected] nsac.ca Huai Lin Tan Rajasekaran Lada* Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; rlada@nsac. Singapore; [email protected] ca Azure Adams Weng Hoy Leong Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; aadams@ Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, nsac.ca Singapore; [email protected] Carrots are an important horticultural crop for individually Pang Hwa Ong quick frozen (IQF) processing in Nova Scotia. Adopting Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, improved and sustainable management practices involves Singapore; [email protected] understanding the link between agro-climatological factors Yew Luen Chen and crop yield and quality. The objective of studies reported Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, here was to understand carrot bulking physiology, yield and Singapore; [email protected] quality as influenced by agronomic, and agro-climatological factors. Three year field trials were conducted in Nova Scotia Lee Tiang Lam-Chan Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, to look at interactive effects of seeding date, seeding rate and Singapore; [email protected] harvest date, as well as, nitrogen applications on marketable yield and quality. Two varieties of each processing carrot A study was conducted to understand the effects of LED product, sliced (Maverick, Top Cut), diced (RCC, Cupar) and supplementary lighting on the growth of gailan (Brassica al- cut and peel (Top Cut, Sugarsnax) were used. Fertility ex- boglabra) in a poly-house in Singapore. The study comprised periments used nitrogen (34N–0P–0K) at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, four light treatments plus control (no supplementary lighting). 300, and 400 kg N/ha, which were broadcast in a split (60% The treatments involved the use of white, red and red-blue (in pre-emergence and 40% 8 weeks after emergence) application. ratios of 8:2 and 7:3) LEDs as supplementary lighting to ex- Cut and Peel carrots were sown at 40, 50, and 60 seeds/30 cm, tend the daily photoperiod. At seven days after transplanting, Slicer carrots were sown at 25, 35, 45 seeds/30 cm, and dicer treated plants were subjected to supplementary lighting of 4 carrots were sown at 9, 12, 16 seeds/30 cm. Three seeding hours (7 to 11 pm) beyond normal daylight hours. Vegetative and harvest dates (early, mid and late) that were done 2 weeks parameters including total and marketable fresh-weight yield, apart. Yield, quality and weather data was collected. No sig- number of leaves per plant, plant weight and length, stem nificant interactive effect of nitrogen and variety in terms of length, leaf length and width and chlorophyll SPAD reading marketable yield was observed. Overall, cut and peel variety were recorded. Highest yields were obtained for gailan grown Sugarsnax yielded 17.6% more than TopCut, slicer variety with red-blue LED as supplementary lighting. Red-blue LED Maverick (61.7 t/ha) yielded 13.3% more than TopCut, and also led to longer stem length as well as higher chlorophyll here were no differences between dicer varieties. Nitrogen rate content. Red LED resulted in longer leaf length and higher of 150 kg N ha–1 resulted in the best yields as higher rates did number of leaves while white light brought about longer not yield much more. All carrots products showed a significant plant length. Leaves were also narrower under supplementary seeding date by harvest date interaction. Yields were signifi- lighting compared to control. Findings showed that the use cantly increased with an early seeding date and late harvest date. of supplementary lighting improved fresh weight yields and Harvest decision models showed that high and low temperature altered morphological characteristics of gailan. The economics had the greatest influence on marketable and total yield of cut of using such supplementary lighting for growing vegetables and peel carrots. Slicer and dicer marketable and total yield in Singapore would be discussed. carrots were influenced by degree days and high temperature. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Agri-Food & Veterinary Au- From these results harvest decision models determined that thority of Singapore these agroclimatological factors have an influence on harvest dates. Lower degree days are more desirable for marketable (217) Pungency Levels of Red Radish Roots Are yields for cut and peel carrots compared to higher degree days for marketable yields for slicers and dicers. Overall, it would Unaffected by Compost Treatments Used for seem to indicate that an early seeding is best to obtain the high- Field Production est marketable yields. Brian A. Kahn* Specified Source(s) of Funding: NSERC-CRD Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; brian.kahn@ okstate.edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S365 Niels O. Maness Guizhou is one of the leading pepper production provinces in Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; niels.maness@ China and annual yield of dried peppers could reach one million okstate.edu tons. To increase the diversity of cultivated pepper varieties, forty- three cultivars from commercial growers in U.S. were introduced Donna R. Chrz and evaluated for their performance in Guizhou (China). Although Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; donna.chrz@ okstate.edu the germination rate of all introduced Capsicum seeds were stated 98% or higher, the germination percentages in Guizhou ranged Lynda K. Carrier from 20% to 100%. Ornamental peppers had germination rates Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; lynda.carrier@ 80% or higher and the perfect germination was obtained from okstate.edu ‘Explosive Ember’. Sweet bell peppers germinated from 56% Field experiments were conducted at Bixby, OK, in 2007. Four (‘Sweet Pimento Lipstick’) to 85% (‘Green to Red Bell’). Hot compost treatments and an unamended control were compared (spicy) peppers had highly variable germination rates from 20% for field production of eight (spring) or four (fall) red radish (‘Jalapeno’) to 93% (‘Andy F1’). Germination indexes were 0.20 (Raphanus sativus L.) cultivars. Treatments were either spent (‘Hungarian Hot Wax’) to 8.03 (‘Numex Joe Parker’). Average mushroom substrate or yard waste compost spread over plots germination days were from 9 to 23 days. Although ‘Numex Joe to an average depth of 2.5 or 5 cm and preplant-incorporated. Parker’ took more than three weeks to germinate, it germinated Radishes were direct seeded into prepared plots and subsequently uniformly. The growth of plants was measured by height, num- grown using standard cultural practices. Harvested roots were ber of branches, and canopy. ‘Jalapeno’ was the shortest plants evaluated for yield and marketability. Samples of median-sized at 24cm, while ‘Numex Joe Park’ reached 78.8cm. Number of marketable roots were shredded and juice was analyzed in branches, defined as bearing fruits, was from 3 (‘Jalapeno’) to the laboratory for content of the major pungency compound, 20 (‘Red Caribbean Habanero’). The canopy ranged from 730 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (MTBITC). In the spring, (cm2, ‘Long Pepper Mix’) to 3,600 (cm2, ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’). mean concentrations of MTBITC ranged from 15 to 19 μmol ‘Andy F1’, ‘Numex Joe Parker’, and other 33 cultivars should per 100 g juice in roots from the four compost treatments, and grow Guizhou growing conditions well. ‘Jalapeno’ and other differences were not significant (α = 0.05). There were not seven cultivars should be further evaluated for their adaptation. enough roots to analyze from the unamended control plots due Specified Source(s) of Funding:Guizhou Normal University to herbicide toxicity. Cultivars differed in mean concentration of MTBITC, ranging from a high of 28 μmol per 100 g juice for (219) Early Onion Harvest Options in the ‘Cherry Belle’ to a low of 10 μmol per 100 g juice for ‘Crunchy Pacific Northwest Royale’. In the fall, mean concentrations of MTBITC ranged from 4 to 10 μmol per 100 g juice in roots from the four compost Erik Feibert* treatments. Differences were not significant (α = 0.05), and Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; erik.feibert@ there were no differences from the control value of 7 μmol per oregonstate.edu 100 g juice. The mean concentration of MTBITC was 8 μmol Clinton C. Shock per 100 g juice for the four cultivars tested in the fall, and the Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; clinton.shock@ cultivars did not differ. Results indicate that the tested compost oregonstate.edu treatments did not affect pungency of red radish roots. Lamont Saunders Specified Source(s) of Funding:Hatch and Private Industry Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; monty.saunders@ oregonstate.edu (218) Adaptation of Introduced Peppers in Bob Simerly Guizhou, China McCain Foods, Fruitland, ID; [email protected] Jiyi Gong In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, onions are typically direct seeded Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; in February through March, harvested from late August through [email protected] October, and marketed out of storage from October through March. An earlier harvest could be advantageous for proces- Xiaorong Xu* sors, increasing the period when locally produced onions are Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; available. Research at the Oregon State University Malheur [email protected] Experiment Station evaluated whether earlier harvests might be Donglin Zhang possible by producing bulbs from transplants and sets. Trans- University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] plants could be produced in the winter and planted in March. Yin Yi Transplants produced in unheated “low tunnel” cold frames Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected] had inferior performance compared to transplants produced in a heated greenhouse. Transplants produced from field-grown Feng Shao over wintering varieties performed inconsistently. Onion bulb Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; production from greenhouse-grown transplants or transplants [email protected] from Arizona can be harvested 4–6 weeks earlier than bulbs

S366 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 from direct seeding. In 2010, 13 onion varieties were evalu- Subsequently, yield was increased by 37% and 5% in 2009 ated for bulb production from transplants. Averaged over the and 2010 respectively, over the control treatment (absence of 13 varieties, the first harvest in mid-July yielded 56 Mg/ha of row covers). For squash row covers successfully controlled SB marketable onions. Yield increased over time, averaging 80 Mg/ while yield was increased by 10% (2009) and 17% (2010) when ha on 3 Aug. All varieties had more than 80% single centered row covers were removed at flowering compared to the control bulbs on all three harvest dates. An alternative to early onions treatment. Interesting, for muskmelon, BW was suppressed by from transplants is to produce onions from sets. One advantage the use of low compost and PGPR. Higher yield was observed of onion production from sets is the ease of mechanical planting in both years when a higher rate of compost was applied in the compared to transplants. Onion sets are susceptible to bolting muskmelon trial compared to lower rates or organic fertilizer. from exposure to cold temperatures after planting. Onion sets However, there was no significant difference between the low were produced by sowing seed very thickly one year, result- rate of compost and organic fertilizer (control). There were no ing in very small bulbs (or “sets”). These sets were harvested, differences in yield due to the soil fertility treatments for squash stored over the winter, and planted the following spring. Our on both years. This approach gives an option to organic growers research demonstrated the potential of some varieties for bulb to manage these insect–pathogen complexes and soil fertility production from sets. In 2010, 11 varieties were evaluated for while maintaining high crop productivity. bulb production from sets produced in 2009. Averaged over the 8 long-day varieties, the first harvest in mid-July yielded 51 Mg/ ha of marketable onions. Yield increased over time, averaging 62 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Mg/ha on 3 Aug. Some varieties had little bolting. All long-day 12:30–1:15 pm Kona Ballroom varieties had more than 80% single-centered bulbs. Specified Source(s) of Funding:IEOOC Water Utilization and Management 2 (220) A Holistic Approach to Manage Pests and Nutrients in Organic Cucurbit Production (290) Evaluation of Substrates to Filter Zoospores of Phytophthora nicotianae from Ermita Hernandez* Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Artificially Infested Water [email protected] Elizabeth T. Nyberg Elsa Sanchez Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Inga M. Meadows [email protected] Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Bacterial wilt (BW), transmitted by striped cucumber beetles Steven N. Jeffers (SCB) (Acalymma vittatum) and Cucurbit yellow vine disease Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] (CYVD), transmitted by squash bugs (SB) (Anasa tristis) are two major diseases of cucurbits (muskmelons, squash, etc.) Sarah A. White* throughout the eastern half of the U.S. Many growers cur- Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] rently rely on frequent pesticide applications to manage these Competition for fresh water resources will become more insect-pathogen complexes. On the other hand, organic growers intense in coming years, forcing producers of agricultural com- are challenged to reach a nutrient balance necessary to maxi- modities to find alternative sources of water—such as recycling mize yield and quality without affecting the environment and irrigation runoff. Constructed wetlands have been shown to farm economics. The objective of this study was to develop a reduce or remove agrichemicals from runoff water; however, management system for organic cucurbit crops that integrate the ability to remove water-borne plant pathogens, particularly extended duration row covers, dairy based compost and Plant species of Phytophthora and Pythium, by constructed wetlands Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR, Bacillus subtilis) to has not been studied. The goal of this project was to evaluate manage the complexity of insect-pathogen and nutrient levels and characterize the effectiveness of five substrates (sand, while maintaining high yields. During the growing seasons crushed brick, calcined clay, Kaldnes medium, and polyeth- of 2009 and 2010 we investigated the use of row covers on ylene beads) to filter zoospores of Phytophthora nicotianae muskmelon and squash crops by removing them at flowering, from water. To examine the physical filtration capability of 10 days after flowering started or at the end of the growing each substrate, a suspension of zoospores (10 zoospores/mL) season (squash only) to prevent insect pests from contacting was pumped through PVC columns (5 cm in diameter); six plants during critical times. In addition, we evaluated low and replicate columns were filled with each substrate, and each high rates of compost and organic fertilizer (control) for soil substrate was tested at six depths: 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm. fertility management. Seeds were treated with or without PGPR Samples of the suspension were collected from the inlet and 4 weeks prior to transplanting to induce systemic resistance outlet of each column; zoospore densities were quantified by in plants. For muskmelon removing row covers 10 days after filtering 200-mL aliquots through polycarbonate membranes flowering significantly controlled both, SCB and BW disease. (47 mm in diameter, 3-μm pores), inverting the membranes

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S367 onto PARPH-V8 selective medium, and examining plates for for all plant tissue in each experimental unit. Three plants per colony-forming units 1–3 d after filtration. Sand was the most experimental unit were weighed (fresh and dry) and tissues effective substrate for removing zoospores; zoospores were not analyzed for mineral composition. Aeration enhanced root detected in the effluent of this substrate at depths of 40 and 60 growth of both plant species but did not consistently enhance cm. The other four substrates were less effective; densities of shoot growth. The highest nutrient uptake into tissue for canna zoospores were reduced significantly by some substrates, but (160.8 ± 11.3 g·m–2 N, 26.4 ± 1.93 g·m–2 P) and rush (138.1 ± zoospores were not eliminated at any depth tested. In the next 8.45 g·m–2 N, 26.3 ± 1.72 g·m–2 P) were reported in the 50% phase of this project, irrigation runoff from an ornamental plant cover treatments. Canna aided nitrogen removal was greater nursery will be pumped continuously through the columns than that of rush. Canna and rush non-aerated treatment efflu- until a natural film of microbial growth has been established ent N concentrations averaged 5.25 ± 1.56 mg·L–1 and 13.4 ± within each substrate. Zoospore removal will be tested before 1.27 mg·L–1, respectively, while aerated treatment effluent N and after microbial growth to determine the effect of this concentrations for canna were 8.59 ± 1.60 mg·L–1 and for rush biological addition on filtration effectiveness. One depth will 16.3 ± 1.93 mg·L–1. Canna and rush phosphorus removal were be used for each substrate based on results from the physical similar. Non-aerated treatment P effluent concentrations aver- filtration experiment: sand, crushed brick, and calcined clay aged 2.08 ± 0.32 mg·L–1 while aerated effluent concentrations will be examined at a 10-cm depth and Kaldnes medium and averaged 2.36 ± 0.35 mg·L–1. Non-aerated floating wetlands polyethylene beads will be examined at a 60-cm depth. In the better facilitated both N and P removal in these experiments. future, these substrates will be evaluated for removal of patho- Canna reduced effluent nitrogen concentrations more efficiently gen propagules using subsurface-flow constructed wetlands at than rush. Our future studies will evaluate the influence of mixed a production nursery. If effective, constructed wetlands could species on nutrient uptake as mixed culture systems may more provide an ecologically-based pathogen remediation system effectively remediate contaminants. to facilitate the use of alternative water sources by ornamental Specified Source(s) of Funding: HRI plant producers. Specified Source(s) of Funding: FNRI (292) Nitrate Removal from Nursery Runoff Water Using a Novel Microbial-Based (291) Nutrient Remediation by Canna flaccida Bioremediation System and Juncus effusus in Floating Treatment P. Chris Wilson Wetlands University of Florida/IFAS, Fort Pierce, FL; pcwilson@ Sarah A. White* ufl.edu Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Joseph P. Albano* Elizabeth T. Nyberg U S Horticultural Res Lab, Fort Pierce, FL; joseph. Clemson University, Pendleton, SC; enyberg@clemson. [email protected] edu Nitrate losses in surface runoff water from nursery production Brandon C. Seda areas can be significant. This study evaluated the potential Clemson University, Pendleton, SC; [email protected] use of microbial-based (denitrification), flow-through bioreac- tors cfor their nitrate-remediation ability. Duplicate bioreactor J. Brad Glenn systems were constructed at a local foliage plant nursery. Clemson University, Pendleton, SC; jbglenn@clemson. Each bioreactor system consisted of four 242-L tanks with con- edu nections alternating between bottom and top. Each tank was Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are an emerging technol- filled with approximately 113 L of Kaldness media to provide ogy for cleansing nutrient rich stormwater and agricultural surface area for attachment of native microflora. Molasses was runoff. The goal of this research was to characterize the supplied as a carbon source for denitrification and water flow influence of individual plant species on nutrient removal rates through the systems ranged from 5 to 16 L/min during dynamics in FTWs. To accomplish this goal, we evaluated tests. Automatic water samplers were used to collect composite how percent cover, planting density, and aeration influenced samples every 15 minutes from both the inflow and the exit nutrient remediation by soft rush (Juncus effusus) and golden flow water. Results from events where known amounts of canna (Canna flaccida) established in FTWs using a replicated potassium nitrate were injected into the systems indicate con- mesocosm study. Influent nitrogen (N = NO2–N + NO3–N + sistent removal of greater than 95% of the nitrate flowing into + –1 NH3 –N) concentrations averaged 19.2 ± 1.98 mg·L for rush the systems. Accumulation of ammoniacal and nitrite nitrogen and 20.9 ± 1.84 mg·L–1 for canna, and influent phosphorus (P = did not occur; indicating that the nitrate-nitrogen was removed inorganic + organic P fractions) concentrations averaged 3.52 from the water, and not simply transformed into another ± 0.28 mg·L–1 for rush and 4.44 ± 0.34 mg·l–1 for canna. Plant water-soluble species. Occasions where removal rates were growth parameters were measured on a biweekly basis, and less than 95% were usually traced to faulty delivery of the carbon water quality parameters were monitored on a weekly basis. source. Results indicate that microbial-based bioremediation At each experiments conclusion, fresh weight was recorded systems may be a useful tool for helping nursery managers

S368 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 meet stringent nitrogen water quality regulations, especially dioxide degradation in irrigation solution and Pythium survival at nurseries with limited space for expansion of water reten- rate in chlorine dioxide solution. These results are part of a tion facilities. larger set of experiments designed to develop a chlorine dioxide recommendation for sanitizing irrigation to prevent pathogen Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS/Floriculture and infection in closed loop systems in greenhouse bell pepper. Nursery Research Initiative Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Florida (293) Chlorine Dioxide as a Disinfectant for (294) Some Postharvest Beneficial Effects of Pythium aphanidermatum in a Closed Loop Irrigation with Wastewater in Tomato Fruits Irrigation System for Greenhouse Bell Pepper (Solanum lycopersicon L.) Libby R. Rens* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; libbyrens@gmail. Joel Corrales-García com Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo Edo. Mexico; [email protected] Danielle D. Treadwell University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] MA. Rosario García-Mateos* Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. Carrie L. Harmon Mexico; [email protected] University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Nieto-Angel Raul Jerry A. Bartz Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Mexico; [email protected] Daniel J. Cantliffe Clemente-Lezama Natalith University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Universidad Autonoma Chapingo, Chapingo, Edo. Recirculating greenhouse irrigation is becoming a more com- Mexico; [email protected] mon practice for vegetable growers in the U.S. due to growing Wastewater has been used for irrigating crops as an alternative concern over freshwater shortages. Utilizing closed loop ir- to water scarcity. However, the effects of using this type of rigation systems for greenhouse vegetable production not only water have been lightly studied, so the objective of this work saves the grower money due to reduced water and fertilizer was to evaluate some postharvest changes and quality parameters use, it also reduces the amount of fertilizers being dispensed in tomato fruits grown using two substrates: inert substrate or into the environment as spent irrigation. One drawback is that soil, and irrigated with two types of water: wastewater or water-borne pathogens such as Pythium, Phytopthora, and Fu- potable water. Turning tomatoes (third grade according 1991 sariam may proliferate in these irrigation systems. To prevent USDA color classification) were stored for 30 d under the further spread of these pathogens irrigation is disinfected using following conditions: 20 °C, 56% RH; or 10 °C, 84% RH. chemical sanitizers such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, Titratable acidity, pH, weight loss, firmness, TSS content and hydrogen peroxide. Chlorine dioxide is advantageous over (°BX), and color (hue) were evaluated every 5 days. Data other widely-used chemical sanitizers because it is active over were statistically analyzed following a completely random a wide pH range, it has a high oxidation capacity, and compared design in factorial arrangement. Taking into account the type to chlorine it doesn’t form carcinogenic halogenated compounds of irrigation water factor only, using wastewater fruits showed and is effective on organisms resistant to chlorine. Currently significantly lower and higher acidity and pH, respectively, there is no recommendation for use of chlorine dioxide as a compared to fruits from plants irrigated with potable water. disinfectant in greenhouse vegetable production. To determine However, irrigating with wastewater caused a significant in- a rate recommendation for its use, two laboratory experiments crease in weight loss. Firmness loss, red color and TSS content were conducted at the University of Florida in Spring 2011. In development were not affected by the irrigating water factor. the first experiment, nutrient solution prepared according to Uni- Taking into account the type of substrate factor only, growing versity of Florida fertilizer recommendations for greenhouse bell under inert substrate condition, in general, firmness loss and pepper was treated with two concentrations of chlorine dioxide TSS content were significantly reduced and increased, respec- (10 and 20 ppm), and the concentration of residual sanitizer was tively, than growing under soil conditions. However, inert measured over an eight hour period. Well water containing no substrate growing conditions limited the tomato color red de- fertilizer was also treated with chlorine dioxide as a control velopment (the hue data were significantly higher) compared to determine fertilizer influence on chlorine dioxide residual. to tomatoes grown under soil conditions. Weight loss, pH and In a second experiment, fertilizer solution inoculated with titratable acidity were variables not affected by the substrate Pythium aphanidermatum was treated with 10 ppm chlorine condition factor. In relation to the storage temperature factor dioxide and survival rate was confirmed over an hour long period only, storing at 20 °C, 56% RH, improved the tomato red color by plating. In both experiments treatments were arranged in a and TSS content development, besides, this storage conditions randomized complete-block design, replicated three times, and increased and reduced, respectively the pH and titratable acidity repeated. Regression analysis was used to describe both chlorine of fruits, compared to fruits stored at 10 °C, 84% RH. How-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S369 ever, storing under these conditions significantly reduced fruit 2008. There were no significant interactions between variety, weight and firmness losses. irrigation criteria, and N rate. Sprinkler irrigation failed to sup- Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad Autonoma Chap- press thrips or IYSV. ingo Specified Source(s) of Funding:SARE, IEOOC, and others

(295) Influence of Selected Cultural Practices on the Expression of Iris yellow spot virus in Onion Tuesday, September 27, 2011 Clinton C. Shock* 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; clinton.shock@ oregonstate.edu Environmental Stress Physiology Erik Feibert (185) Determination of Time of Residency Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; erik.feibert@ of Salicylic Acid Applied As Foliar Spray in oregonstate.edu Tomato Leaves (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Lamont Saunders Enrique Guzman-Tellez* Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; monty.saunders@ Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, oregonstate.edu Coahuila; [email protected] Lynn Jensen Adalberto Benavides Oregon State University, Ontario, OR; lynn.jensen@ Saltillo 25169; [email protected] oregonstate.edu Homero Ramirez Hanu R. Pappu Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, Washington State University, Pullman, WA; [email protected] Coahuila; [email protected] S. Krishna Mohan Valentin Robledo-Torres University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo, Ram Sampangi Coahuila; [email protected] University of Idaho, Parma, ID; [email protected] Daniel H. Diaz-Montenegro Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) is a major constraint to the produc- Laboratorios Agroenzymas S.A de C.V., Tlalnepantla, tion of onion (Allium cepa) bulb and seed crops in the Pacific Edo. Mex.; [email protected] Northwest of the US. First found locally in the Treasure Valley Some hormones, such as salicylic acid (SA) have been denomi- of Idaho and Oregon infecting onion seed crops in 1989, the nated elicitors or signaling compounds owing to its mediating virus is now reported from many onion-producing areas around action on the response of the plants to stress conditions. Sali- the world. Onion plants infected with IYSV can progressively cylic acid has acquired great importance in the last decades loose leaf area, resulting in reduced yield and reduced bulb due to its effects as diminishing stress compound, being with size. The virus is transmitted by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). this, of importance, to determine the times of residency of SA Thrips control has become more difficult because of the in- into plants and the relationship with its profits on the plant creased thrips resistance to insecticides. It is not known whether growth. The present study was conducted to determinate the irrigation and fertilization practices that reduce plant stress time of residency of salicylic acid in leaves of tomato (Solanum might also reduce the impact of IYSV. The combined effects lycopersicum L.) when it was applied as a leaf spray under non- of variety, irrigation system, irrigation criterion, and nitrogen stress conditions. We analyzed the change in concentration of (N) rate on IYSV expression and onion yield and grade were endogenous SA every 2 days after the foliar spray of 10–4 molar evaluated in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fertilization at 112 of SA (138 ppm) and it was compared with a concentration of kg N/ha resulted in a higher onion yield and grade in 2007 than plants without application. In a first application, the endog- 224 kg N/ha. There were no differences in onion yield or grade enous SA in the spray plants presented higher concentration between N rates in the other three years, and N failed to influ- in comparison with the non-spray plants during 8 days after ence disease incidence with the exception of slightly higher application and it was found the highest level at the second day IYSV in 2010 at 224 kg N/ha. Symptoms of IYSV were fewer (≈8 μg·g–1) to subsequently decreasing until obtain the same in 2007 and no significant differences between treatments were values of non-spray plants (≈4 μg·g–1). Interestingly, in a second observed. In 2008, averaged over varieties and N rates, drier application, the amount of endogenous SA in the spray plants irrigation criteria (higher SWT) resulted in significantly more only was higher than the non-spray plants during 4 days after severe IYSV symptoms. Averaged over varieties and N rates, application, having the highest level of SA at the first day after drip irrigation at 30 kPa resulted in significantly lower application (≈8 μg·g–1) to subsequently decreasing until obtain marketable, colossal, and colossal plus super-colossal bulb the values under non-spray plants (≈2 μg·g–1). The increase in yield than the wetter irrigation criteria all four years, but the the concentration of SA when it was sprayed does not have an differences were more pronounced in the presence of IYSV in effect on weight fresh root and foliar area.

S370 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad Autonoma Agraria this nutrient stress is substantial. There is a pressing need to Antonio Narro and Laboratorios Agroenzymas S.A. de C.V. develop additional methods to detect incipient nutrient stress (prior to visible symptoms), to mitigate crop damage, or to (186) Anthocyanin Contents in Various identify the specific nutrient stressor. To this end, we have Parts of Strawberry Fruits Affected by High initiated a long-term project to develop a suite of ELISA- Temperature Conditions based diagnostic assays for several commonly-problematic nutrients. A bioinformatics approach is used to identify appropri- Takashi Ikeda* ate conserved domains in specific important nutrient transport Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. proteins, and then short peptides of these domains are used to ac.jp generate polyclonal antibodies specific to each protein. Antibod- Nagisa Suzuki ies are antigen-purified if needed, and antibody specificity is Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571; [email protected]. checked by western blotting. ELISA assays are optimized and ac.jp their sensitivity determined using plants grown over a range of Masayoshi Nakayama nutrient levels; purified antigen is used to calibrate each ELISA. National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, We have generated an ELISA assay for the boron transport Tsukuba; [email protected] protein, BOR1, and are currently developing assays to P, Fe, Kentaro Yumoto N, and Cu transport proteins. BOR1 results confirm the utility Meiji University, Kawasaki 214-8571 of the ELISA approach and of using BOR1 as a biomarker for boron stress. These ELISA-based assays will supplement We investigated the effect of high temperature on the antocyanin other available tools for detecting and evaluating plant nutrient content of pot-grown strawberry plants. Nursery seedlings in stress, and in some ways will offer distinct advantages over pot were grown at plastic film covered greenhouse. For sim- current methods. plicity, fruit set was fixed at one per pot. After pollination by honeybees, high temperature treatment was started in growth Specified Source(s) of Funding:U.S. Department of Agriculture, chambers. The air temperature was set to either 30/15 °C (day/ Specific cooperative agreement night, 14/10h) (high-temperature regime) or 20/15 °C (control). After fruit weights were measured, they were divided into three (188) Understanding Optimal Anthocyanin portions, inner (pith), middle (cortex), and outer part. Then Accumulation of ‘Merlot’ Grapes—Influence of the anthocyanin and its precursors (flavonoid and cinnamic Light Exclusion acid derivative) contents were analyzed by HPLC. The harvest time from anthesis at high-temperature regime became shorter Jungmin Lee than control. The anthocyanin content had no significant dif- USDA–ARS-HCRU worksite, Parma, ID; Jungmin.Lee@ ference at the outer part of the fruit but decreased under high ars.usda.gov temperature condition at inner and middle part. The cinnamic Julie M. Tarara* acid derivative content decreased at all the part of the fruit but USDA ARS, Prosser, WA; [email protected] the flavonoid content tended to increase by high temperature. On the biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanin, high temperature Anthocyanins are important components to all red colored affected the process of flavonoid especially at the inside of the fruit, but are absolutely crucial for red wine grapes. Despite a strawberry fruits. century of research we still have no concrete understanding of how light and temperature impart their effects on anthocyanin (187) Monitoring Nutrient Stress in Plants Using accumulation and composition. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanistic response of anthocyanin metabolism in ‘Merlot’ Protein Biomarkers and ELISA grapes to microclimate, in this case sunlight. Unlike previous Sasmita Mishra* reports, this study was unique in that temperature, light inten- University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; sasmita.mishra@ sity, and humidity were continually measured for the entire utoledo.edu duration of the treatments. There were two controls and two treatments: control-shaded (CS; ambient), control-exposed Scott Heckathorn (CE), light-excluded (LE), and aspirated light-excluded (ALE). University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; scott.heckathorn@ Aspiration was initiated or terminated in reference to CS utoledo.edu cluster temperature. Polypropylene boxes with white exterior Jonathan Frantz and black interior were used to shade randomly selected healthy University of Maine, Orono, ME; Jonathan.Frantz@ARS. clusters at the onset of veraison (one to two berries turning USDA.GOV color) for treatments (LE and ALE). All experimental clusters John Gray were on the west canopy aspect of a research vineyard in University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; [email protected] Prosser, WA. Treatments were imposed until a composite berry sample equaled commercial ripeness (~23 °Brix). Harvested Mineral nutrient stress (deficiency or toxicity) is widespread grapes were chemically extracted and extracts were ana- in horticultural crops, and the negative economic impact of lyzed for individual anthocyanins by HPLC/DAD. Detailed

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S371 microclimate data will be summarized. All of the 15 antho- (191) Heat Shock Induces the Accumulation of cyanins previously reported in ‘Merlot’ grapes accrued in all Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants in Kale clusters, indicating no accumulations were terminated from light Sprouts exclusion during ripening. Overall, both LE and ALE clusters accumulated less anthocyanins (86.8 mg of malvidin-3- Min-Jung Lee* glucoside/100 g berry) than controls (160.2 mg of malvidin- Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; mjdd@ 3-glucoside/100 g berry). The proportions of the individual chungbuk.ac.kr anthocyanins were altered by light exclusion. The ALE clusters Myung-Min Oh had the least total anthocyanins (75.4 mg of malvidin-3-glu- Chungbuk National University, Cheongju; moh@ coside/100 g berry), but more % acylated anthocyanins (52% chungbuk.ac.kr of the total) compared to the other treatments (CS-36%, CE- 37%, and LE-42%). This work contributes toward our growing Environmental factors are known to induce the accumula- body of knowledge on environmental stresses and anthocyanin tion of various health-promoting phytochemicals including development in fruit. phenolic compounds in vegetables. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of heat shock treatment on the Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS and Northwest concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capac- Center for Small Fruits Research ity in kale sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. onika). Kale sprouts grown under an auto-sprouter for 4 d were soaked at 50 °C (189) Effect of Temperature on Growth and water for 10, 20, 30, 45, or 60 s. After the heat shock treatment, Metabolism of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. the sprouts were transferred to normal growing conditions –2 –1 Zhang Ximin* (20 °C, 100 μmol·m ·s , 12-h photoperiod) and recovered Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. there for 3 d. Total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capac- cn ity, and fresh and dry weights of the sprouts were measured before and after the heat shock. As a result, the heat shock Hao Lili treatment significantly maintained or increased total phenolic Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; zhxm409@yahoo. concentration in kale sprouts during the whole recovery period cn while the concentration of total phenolics in control gradually Yi Yin decreased in the process of sprouting. Especially, 20-s heat Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang; [email protected]. shock treatment or over showed at least 1.5× higher total phenolic cn concentration than control at 2 d after the shock treatment. The Donglin Zhang variation of antioxidant capacity in kale sprouts also showed University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] similar trend with that of total phenolic concentration. There Effects of temperature on growth and physiological metabolism was a significant decrease in fresh weight of kale sprouts treated of 1- and 2-year-old seedlings of Dendrobium nobile were with heat shock compared with control. However, the extent of measured. Dendrobium nobile seedlings were planted in the decrease was little and dry weight of kale sprouts soaked at the environmental controlled growth chambers at 4, 15, 25, 35, hot water was not significantly different from that in control. In and 45 °C. The content of malondialdehyde, soluble sugar, conclusion, this study suggests that heatshock treatment using free proline in leaves and shoots, and the activities of POD, hot water would be a potential strategy to improve nutritional SOD, and CAT in leaves were measured after growth for quality of kale sprouts by inducing the accumulation of phenolic 20 and 40 d, respectively. The results showed that the con- compounds with antioxidant properties. tent of MDA, soluble sugar, and free proline for 1-year-old Specified Source(s) of Funding:Chungbuk National University leaves were 0.13 μmol·g–1, 2.25 μmol·g–1, and 58.4 μg·g–1, respectively. The plant height was 3.100 cm taller at (193) Long-Term Effects of Short-Term UV 25 °C than that of other treatments at 20 d. Activities of POD, SOD, CAT in leaves had a little change with the extension Exposure on Greenhouse Seedlings of time. Plants were stressed more or less at 4, 15, 35 °C. Nicole A. Rud* There was a negative correlation between the MDA and plant University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; nicole.rud@rockets. growth (height, P = 0.961). The results of 2-year-old seed- utoledo.edu ings had the similar trend as that of 1-year-old seedlings. The Jonathan Frantz resistant physiological index decreased with prolonging University of Maine, Orono, ME; jonathan.frantz@ planting time (except soluble sugar). The optimum tempera- utoledo.edu ture for growing 1- or 2-year-old seedlings of D. nobile was 25 °C. Scott Heckathorn University of Toledo, Toledo, OH; scott.heckathorn@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: The National Science and utoledo.edu Technology Supporting Plan(2009BAI74B02-3) Ultraviolet light in the 280–315 nm waveband (UV-B) is a documented stressor of plants. Several studies have documented

S372 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 UV stress responses, including darker, thicker leaves, increased was comparable between 101 and 25 kPa plants. The rate of pho- secondary metabolite production, and plant stunting. In green- tosynthesis showed a typical polynomial pattern with or without house production, UV-B is eliminated and UV-A (315–400 nm ethylene scrubbed from chambers. While photosynthesis (CA) waveband) is reduced. We sought to determine if short-term and dark-period respiration (DPR) were significantly reduced doses of UV-A + UV-B on seedlings have a predictable long- by ethylene, ethylene had no effect on the CA / DPR ratio. Net term response in altering plant growth and form. Pansy plants carbon gain increased during the light period and was highest with extremely high doses (191 kJ UV-B compared to 18.7 kJ with ethylene-scrubbed hypobaric and ambient pressure plants. for a summer day of the same duration in Toledo, OH) showed There was also a polynomial response in carbon daily gain severe and immediate reduction in plant growth and photosystem (CDG) of lettuce under hypobaric and ambient total pressure. II efficiency, and in some cases could not recover long-term. The CDG increased at day-8, and greatly increased after day-15 However, plants with midrange doses from 40 kJ UV-B to 163 day from seeding. Carbon use efficiency (CUE) showed a linear kJ UV-B showed an overall reduction in mass and canopy cover, decrease with increasing plant age for both ambient pressure and while maintaining desirable overall plant form; no long-term hypobaric plants. Energy use efficiency (EUE) was detectable leaf malformation or discoloration was found. Further, growth 8-days after seeding and had showed a polynominal response and photosynthetic efficiency began to recover approximately 2 through the final day of harvest. weeks after treatment, often catching up to the control groups Specified Source(s) of Funding: Supported in part by the Na- by the termination of the experiment. Lettuce undergoing the tional Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grants same treatments had similar responses. Based on these results, NAG-9-1067 and NAJ04HF31G (F.T.D.) we believe brief intense doses of UV-A + UV-B lead to immediate changes in plant growth and function, but the effects are largely reversible after several weeks which may have potential (195) Exogenous Applications of Abscisic Acid in modifying plant growth in greenhouse production. Increases ‘Micro’ Tomato Leaf Chlorophylls and Carotenoids Specified Source(s) of Funding:U.S. Department of Agriculture, Specific Cooperative Agreement T. Casey Barickman* University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; tbarickm@utk. (194) Gas Exchange, Carbon Dynamics and edu Energy Use Efficiency of Lettuce Lactuca( Dean A. Kopsell sativa) under Ethylene and Hypobaric University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; dkopsell@utk. Environments for NASA Advanced Life Support edu (ALS) Systems Carl E. Sams University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; carlsams@utk. Chuanjiu He edu Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; c-he@neo. tamu.edu Carotenoids are secondary plant compounds divided into two groups; the oxygenated xanthophylls such as lutein, zeaxanthin, Ronald E. Lacey and violaxanthin, and the hydrocarbon carotenes such as b-caro- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; ron-lacey@ tene, a-carotene, and lycopene. Within the thylakoid membranes tamu.edu of chlorophyll organelles, carotenoids are bound to specific pro- Frederick T. Davies* tein complexes of photosystems I and II. Carotenoids function Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; f-davies@ in harvesting light energy during photosynthesis and dissipation tamu.edu of excess solar energy. When the absorption of light reaches There are important engineering, safety, and materials han- saturation, excess excitation energy can result in the formation triplet excited chlorophyll (3Chl) and reactive singlet oxygen dling advantages in growing plants under hypobaric (reduced 1 ( O2). Carotenoid pigments protect photosynthetic structures by atmospheric pressure) conditions for extraterrestrial base and 3 1 long-term spaceflight environments. Ethylene accumulation is a quenching Chl and by binding O2 to inhibit oxidative damage. problem under confined, space environments, leading to irregular Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a regulatory role in plant growth and growth. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Red Sails) was grown development, seed dormancy, and stress responses. Abscisic acid from seed to harvest for 32 d under variable total gas pressures is an apo-carotenoid derived from the same isoprenoid pathway of 25 kPa (hypobaria) and 101 kPa (ambient) at partial pres- as chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments. Our objective in this –2 –1 study was to determine the effects of exogenous ABA on chlo- sures of pO2 of 12 kPa or 21 kPa under 400 μmol·m ·s light intensities at canopy level of low pressure plant growth system rophyll and carotenoid concentrations in ‘Micro-Gold’ tomato (LPPG). There were no differences in plant gas exchange be- leaves. ‘Micro-Gold’ tomatoes were grown in 10-L reservoirs tween hypobaric and ambient pressure plants, however ethylene filled with nutrient solutions. Abscisic Acid was applied to the solutions at flower initiation at concentrations of 0.0 (Control), accumulation reduced gas exchange and plant growth. Ethylene –1 exceeded 1000 nmol·mol–1 (ppb), but was lowest with hypobaric 0.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg·L of ABA. Leaves were harvested at plants. The results show that lettuce gas exchange and growth fruit ripening and freeze dried prior to HPLC pigment analysis.

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S373 Total chlorophylls and carotenoids were significantly increased Ann Marie VanDerZanden* (66% and 73%, respectively) with ABA. Chlorophyll a ranged Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] from 7.7 to 12.4 μg·g–1 DW and chlorophyll b ranged from 4.3 –1 The exchange of information continues to move toward computer to 5.7 μg·g DW. Chlorophylls a and b, Lutein (1.14 to 1.49 based technologies as internet access and connection speeds μg·g–1 DW), antheraxanthin (0.2 to 0.3 μg·g–1 DW), neoxanthin –1 increase. One goal in using these technologies in Extension (0.4 to 0.6 μg·g DW), and oxygenated carotenoids concentra- and educational outreach programs is to reach audiences who tions were all positively correlated with ABA treatments. This tend to glean much of their information from online sources. data suggests that the application of the plant growth regulator Additionally, computer based technologies allow industry pro- ABA may act to induce a stress response in tomato, as evident fessionals the flexibility to access information when and where by increasing concentrations of photosynthetic and protective they have time. Two computer oriented Extension programs leaf pigments. were developed to provide information to professionals in the Specified Source(s) of Funding:Valent BioScience Corp.; Uni- turfgrass and landscape industries. An informational turfgrass versity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture blog (www.iaTURF.blogspot.com) was developed in 2009. The goal of iaTURF is to provide golf course superintendents in (196) Development of Medicago truncatula Iowa and the Midwest with a convenient way to communicate Population That Differed in Response to and collaborate with peers, industry professionals, and educa- Aluminum Toxicity tors. The blog has multiple contributors including university professors, industry representatives and vendors, golf course Yawadee Srimake* superintendents, and students. Topics covered include a wide University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; yawadee@ hawaii.edu range of subjects related to managing turfgrass and other industry related issues and happenings. The iaTURF blog is integrated Susan C. Miyasaka with various social media outlets to make the content available University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI; [email protected] in a broad range of formats. Over 100 articles were posted in Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils is one of the major abiotic 2010 and data indicated that iaTURF received over 18,000 stresses in agriculture, affecting approximately 40% of the world’s visits. Also in 2009 a series of 20 online training modules arable land. To study Al tolerance in pasture legumes, we have were developed for Iowa Nursery and Landscape Associa- screened 165 Medicago truncatula ecotypes and mutant lines for tion professionals to aid in preparation for the Iowa Certified their response to Al toxicity. Seedlings were grown in an agarose Nursery Professional exam and to be used for new employee medium that contained three levels of Al, and root growth was training. The module topics include: plant identification; How measured at 72 h as a parameter of Al sensitivity. Populations Plants Work: Growth and Development; Rooting Environment and Fertilization; Selection, Installation and Establishment of (F1) were generated by hand pollination between three tolerant lines and four sensitive lines. Hybrid seeds were obtained from Landscape Plants; Turfgrass Establishment and Management; Management of Turfgrass Diseases and Insects; Introduction five crosses; however, only three crosses produced healthy F1 to Plant Diseases and Insects; Diagnosing Plant Problems; seedlings. Populations (F2) generated from these crosses were then phenotyped, using Al-containing agarose medium. Seed- Managing Plant Diseases and Insects; Garden Center Manage- lings from a cross between an Al-sensitive mutant line and an ment; Landscape Design; and New Employee Training and Al-tolerant ecotype showed little differences in root growth Professionalism. All modules except the plant identification under 0 Al, but a segregating pattern of root growth under Al modules contain a list of objectives, an image rich PowerPoint toxic conditions. Leaf tissues from the extreme phenotypes were presentation with accompanying audio which is searchable by collected for DNA extraction and will be used later in a bulk topic and has printable notes, self-test exercises, and online segregation analysis. quizzes with immediate feedback to help learners test their understanding of the content. Response to the modules has been Specified Source(s) of Funding:Funded in part by USDA–CS- positive. Participants who used the modules to prepare for the REES T-STAR exams 2009–2011 felt they were an effective way to deliver content (4.45 out of 5) and reported they were comfortable using a web-based format to learn (4.89 out of 5). Tuesday, September 27, 2011 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom (390) Marketing a New Method for Distributing Extension and Receiving Soil Test Kits From a Historically Service Based Soils Lab (389) Application of Computer Based Edward Bush Technologies for Turfgrass and Landscape Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; Industry Extension [email protected] Marcus Jones Jim Wang Iowa State University, Ames, IA; marcusajones@iastate. LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] edu

S374 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Rodney Henderson* Natalie Hummel LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; nhummel@agcenter. J. Stevens lsu.edu LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] Krisanna Machtmes Mike Breithaupt LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; KMachtmes@agcenter. LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] lsu.edu Sue Chin The All About Blueberries Community of Practice (CoP) was LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] built to help guide blueberry producers in the southeastern region of the United States in methods to maximize productivity, Don LaBonte decrease production costs and increase the marketability of their LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected] crops. The All About Blueberries CoP is incorporating the best Service-based university soil labs are converting to a revenue existing Cooperative Extension publications and developing new based testing labs due to budgetary restrictions. The objective research-based extension recommendations related to blueberry of this study was to determine the best method of creating a new production and consumption on its website: www.extension.org/ product that would be accepted by both the consumer, county blueberries. The website officially launched 31 Aug. 2010. Social agents, growers, landscape professionals and green industry pro- Networking sites such as Facebook, WordPress and Twitter are fessionals while providing an economical service for the customer. being utilized to help draw traffic to the website. Information Steering groups were formed to improve service and identify found on the website is posted on the Social Network pages with ways of enhancing revenue. Three steering groups consisted of links to the information on the website. A broader audience is either lab professionals, extension specialist, or Green profes- reached by using these Social Network sites and, thus, traffic to sionals. Recommendations from each group were discussed by a the website is increasing. The CoP is using Google Analytics to department leaders and were compared. A major theme that was measure website activity. In the seven months since the website on all three lists were difficulties with the timely collection of launched, 15,646 pageviews have been made. Facebook ranks soil samples, difficulty with the recommendation format, lack of 7 of 29, and Twitter ranks 18 of 29 in Entrance Sources used marketing, and the inability to interpret the results. This project to view information on the website. WordPress Site Statistics resulted in multi- phase changes in marketing soil testing boxes, reveal a total of 1,311 views of blogs posted on the site. These display stands, and an enhanced retailer distribution network. figures are constantly increasing. In addition to these sites, the Data submission sheets and result sheets were modified for better CoP also is using Flickr, an online photo management and shar- consumer acceptance. The most accepted product used in our ing application, to obtain photos to use in building the website. pilot test was a direct mail box containing three plastic sealable Using Flickr allows the CoP to reach a broader audience with bags equal in quantity to our old soil boxes. Also, an instructional its message about blueberries. All of the online tools used by sheet detailing the proper soil testing method, submission instruc- the All About Blueberries CoP are free to use and free to access. tions and payment methods. These contents were placed into a Using Social Networks to share knowledge is a great way to labeled mailer and was shrink wrapped to reduce moisture in our reach more people. According to Uday Saxena, “If utilized well, humid climate. These boxes were distributed to retail nurseries, social media can lead to great success...it is possible to conduct hardware and Feed and Seed stores. County agents were also regular business online.” given boxes to distribute. Both the new soil boxes and old boxes Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA Award Number are currently being accepted. A major benefit of the new method 2009.51181.06093 is that the user can mail there samples directly to the lab without any delays. This results in a decrease cost for shipping for county (392) Harness Social Learning through Social agents and travel milage since it is not necessary to pick up Network Models samples. The majority of samples received this spring contained either two or three samples. This was an unexpected benefit. The Craig H. Wood* speed of return has increased with the direct mailer. There were University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; craig.wood@ additional costs of constructing the soil kits and shrink wrapping, extension.org but this cost can be offset by the decreased expenditures. Retail Richard E. Durham nurseries have embraced the ease of distribution and increased University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; rdurham@uky. marketing. Most consumers are unaware of the need to soil test edu or how to get a test run. In 2010, Generation Y has out numbered baby boomers and Specified Source(s) of Funding:LSU AgCenter 96% of them are involved in social networks. Social network use continues to rise. Many users interested in home garden- (391) Growing Blueberry Knowledge Via Social ing and home horticulture understand that millions, which are Networks geographically dispersed, are using social networks. Many users Denise Attaway* stay connected, by sharing videos, photos, and thoughts online. LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA; [email protected]. We often hear “go where the people are,” work in the flow of edu online choices. There are many ways to use social media often

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S375 leading to confusion and not understanding how to use social News, Agriculture Observatory, Agriculture Online, ASHS, City media to reach, engage, and participate in these social networks Farmer News, Farm Industry News, Greenhouse Grower News, when education is the goal. The objectives of this abstract will Growing Edge, ISHS, ScienceDaily, USDA News, and USDA ultimately work toward the goal of understanding how to utilize Agricultural Research Service. Science subscriptions consist social media tools and participate in online networks to harness of AAAS News, ABC News, BBC News, Biology News Net, the power of networked social learning. Model examples used Discover Magazine, Discovery Files, Discovery News, e! Sci- will also take into consideration time management techniques ence News, Eureka! Science News, Fox News, msnbc, NASA (balancing work and personal), types of interactivity needed Breaking News, New Scientist, News from The Scientist, Popular for crafting conversations and weaving network participation, Science, SciDev.Net, Science, Scientific American, U.S. News, and specific tools for media sharing, micro-sharing, and content USA.gov, and Yahoo! News. Technology subscriptions include collaboration When Extension professionals use social media eWeek and Popular Mechanics. Apple iPhone applications (apps) within their programs, they discuss and link to research-based are evaluated using subscriptions to AppCraver and iPhone App information. These online references increase the number of Reviews. Subscriptions supplying the latest University of Hawaii visits to Extension web sites. More importantly though, on- news include UH Manoa Events and UH News. Local newspapers line communities, conversations, and niche discussions help include Star-Advertiser, Big Island Weekly, Garden Island.com, distribute, support, and sustain relationships, often leading to Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Maui News, MidWeek, and West Hawaii new opportunities to provide support for flexible and emergent Today. iPhone apps are also used to find news items. These include learning opportunities. Engagement models will be demonstrated ABC News, AP Mobile, BBC News, CBS Sunday, CNN, Fox for achieving both an educator and learner of emerging knowl- News, msnbc, PBS News Hour, and USA Today. Science and edge and solutions related to enhancing access to informational technology related apps consist of CNET News, Discovery News, resources and solutions; add existing value through scalable Engadget, Popular Science, Science (AAAS), and Technology options for resource sharing; utilize networks to draw upon Review (MIT). In addition, local television news station apps, expertise, knowledge, and resources to achieve common goals KHON, KITV, and HawaiiNow, serve as sources of information. or desired performance outcomes. The FB continues to evolve to meet the needs of stakeholders for vitally needed information. Specified Source(s) of Funding:National eXtension Initiative Specified Source(s) of Funding:State funds (393) The Farmer’s Bookshelf Today (394) Oklahoma State University Viticulture and Kent D. Kobayashi* University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Enology Website and Blog Impact Assessment H.C. Bittenbender Richelle A. Stafne* University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; hcbitt@ Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; rich.stafne@ hawaii.edu okstate.edu I. Scott Campbell Eric T. Stafne University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; scottc@ Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; eric.t.stafne@ hawaii.edu okstate.edu The Farmer’s Bookshelf (FB) is an agricultural information deliv- William G. McGlynn ery system of crops grown in Hawaii. Started in 1987, this floppy Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; william. diskette-based system used the hypermedia program HyperCard [email protected] on a Macintosh computer. Later, a Spinnaker PLUS version was In June 2007, a newly designed Viticulture and Enology web- developed followed by a web-based system. Beginning with only site was launched at Oklahoma State University . The website a few fruit crops, the FB today provides information on a range contains eleven main pages. Pages were created using Adobe of diversified crops. Information on kava problems, cacao, and Dreamweaver CS3 and based on the okstate.edu Division of coffee were later added. Over the years, our college’s Publica- Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources page template. tion and Information Central office has made the latest extension The Le Vigneron quarterly published newsletter, edited by publications and older scanned versions available on the web as Dr. Eric Stafne, is available for download as a .pdf file from PDF files. As such, the FB now features the most up-to-date news the website. The newsletter is promoted through the website, about agriculture, science, and technology. It includes sections on the okstate grape blog, and e-mail listserv of current and past current news and local agriculture and health related events. The attendees of the Grape Management Short Course. The grape FB has categories on “Health; Food”, “Innovative Agriculture”, blog, The Glog, authored by Dr. Stafne, can be accessed from “Sustainability; Biotechnology”, “Robotics”, “Hydroponics”, the index page. The Glog is promoted via the website, newsletter and “Apple iPhone Applications”. Google Reader is used to and e-mail listserv of current and past attendees of the Grape read the latest articles from selected web sites (subscriptions). Management Short Course. In Aug. 2010, free Google Analyt- Approximately fifty subscriptions result in about 200-300 articles ics code was imbedded into the index page to track usage and found each day. Links to relevant articles are posted on the FB’s collect data from those accessing it. Data collected includes: site main webpage. Agriculture subscriptions include Agriculture visits, pages viewed per visit, bounce rate, average time on site,

S376 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 new visits, traffic sources, visits from countries/territories, and WholeTree, culled shadetrees, Douglas Fir slash, chipped Christ- browser and connection speed profile. In addition, information mas trees, eastern redcedar, switchgrass, bamboo, and poplar. about those accessing The Glog is collected via the hosting The site is updated whenever new publications and resources entity, Wordpress, using an integrated statistics system. Data are released. This extension outreach tool was developed on the collected includes: the number of visitors, visitor origin, most browser-based platform with evalu- popular blog posts, and search engine terms sending visitors to ation tools installed (Google Analytics™, ) to measure growth and use of the website. This to track your “brand,” is used to report weekly what people project is collaboration between the USDA–ARS, Kansas State are writing about the website. Visits to the index page number University and Oregon State University and is funded by the more than 1250 unique views, over 2000 page views from 35 Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative. countries/territories, and a 62% bounce rate. The average time Specified Source(s) of Funding: Floriculture and Nursery Re- spent on the index page is just over two minutes per visit. Traf- search Initiative fic source breakdown averages 26% from google, 18% direct, 25% from the okstate.edu page, and 6% from Oklahomawines. org (an Oklahoma grape grower website). Data from the grape (396) Multiplier Effect of Collaborative Nursery blog consists of greater than 6,000 total views, about 15 per day, Crops Programming on Outputs and Outcomes with the most referred visits driven by traffic from the grapes. Amy Fulcher* okstate.edu webpages. Changes to websites, blogs and brand- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] ing tools can be made from tracking program feedback. Data from free tracking programs can be a useful tool for projecting Craig Adkins contact numbers for annual university cooperative extension The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; craig_adkins@ reporting. A user’s poll will be a future means of determining ncsu.edu successes and areas needing improvement to meet the demands Kris Braman of e-consumers. The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:Oklahoma Cooperative Exten- Matthew Chappell sion Service The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; [email protected] Juang-Horng (JC) Chong (395) SustainableSubstrates.Com: An Extension Clemson University, Florence, SC; [email protected] Outreach Tool Winston C. Dunwell Cheryl R. Boyer* University of Kentucky Res. & Ed. Center, Princeton, KY; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; crboyer@ksu. [email protected] edu Steven Frank James Altland The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; steven_frank@ USDA–ARS MWA ATRU, Wooster, OH; james.altland@ ncsu.edu ars.usda.gov Frank Hale Jim Owen University of Tennessee, Nashville, TN; [email protected] North Willamette Res & Ext Ctr, Aurora, OR; jim.owen@ oregonstate.edu Kelly Ivors North Carolina State University, Mills River, NC; kelly_ A new resource has been created to collect a significant number [email protected] of publications and resources related to alternative substrate research for ornamental nursery crop production. This has William Klingeman been an important avenue of inquiry for the last 60 years. Re- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; wklingem@utk. cent investigations have centered on the use of wood-fiber and edu biomass-based materials as alternative substrates and pine bark Anthony Lebude extenders. This information can be difficult for the layperson to Mills River, NC; [email protected] locate online. Thus, was created to meet the needs of horticultural professionals Joseph C. Neal across the United States. The website contains a compilation of North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; joe_neal@ research reports, popular press articles, resources, and learning ncsu.edu opportunities for growers and extension professionals. Resources Sarah A. White include SlideShare () presentations, Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] recorded video presentations, substrate research procedures, links to related nursery production websites, frequently asked Jean Williams-Woodward The University of Georgia, Athens, GA; jwoodwar@uga. questions, and substrate news. Images of a variety of tested edu materials are available on the site including: clean chip residual,

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S377 Alan Windham Lea Corkidi* University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; awindham@utk. University of California, Riverside, CA; lea.corkidi@ucr. edu edu Extension nursery crops professionals in five southeastern states Toan Khuong formed an unofficial working group, the Southern Nursery IPM University of California, Riverside, CA; toan.khuong@ (SNIPM) Working Group, to foster regular collaboration, thereby ucr.edu enhancing programming, increasing synergistic opportunities, expanding delivery of specialized expertise to growers across Julie Newman University of California Davis, Oak View, CA; a region, and leveraging resources. The group is composed of [email protected] entomology, horticulture, plant pathology, and weed science faculty and field staff. The SNIPM Working Group was awarded Maren J. Mochizuki a Southern Region IPM Enhancement Grant in 2009 to develop University of California Extension, Ventura, CA; a multi-state pest management strategic plan (PMSP) and crop [email protected] profile (CP), outputs that originated from a focus group of Oleg Daugovish nursery growers representing the five states. Financial support UC Cooperative Extension Ventura, Ventura, CA; from the grant served as a catalyst for this group. Since receiv- [email protected] ing funding, the SNIPM Working Group produced a 200-page PMSP, which captures stakeholder-identified research, Exten- Ben Faber University of California Cooperative Extension, Ventura, sion and regulatory pest-related priorities and a 150 page CP, CA; [email protected] which profiles the highest priority nursery pests. The SNIPM Working Group also published six state association newsletter Section 303(d) of the U. S. Clean Water Act requires each articles and two popular press articles, developed one intellec- state to identify water bodies that do not meet water quality tual property, created a website, delivered one regional and one standards and are not addressed by existing pollution control national presentation, and was recently awarded a second grant. programs. Several stream reaches of the Calleguas Creek and In addition, the SNIPM Working Group conducted a survey of the Santa Clara River Watersheds, located in Ventura County, nursery growers’ pest management practices in the five state California, have been included on the State 303(d) list due to region, from which two refereed journal articles were developed. impairments that include benchmark exceedances of nutrients The initial funding has had a multiplier effect by stimulating and agricultural pesticides. To control and regulate irrigation multi-state Extension publications and spin-off research projects and storm water runoff from agricultural lands and to protect that resulted from closer association of the SNIPM Working water quality in this area, the Los Angeles Regional Water Group members and greater awareness of individual expertise. Quality Control Board adopted a Conditional Waiver of Waste Grant dollars awarded to the SNIPM Working Group for direct Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands. expenses were $14,995. To date, the SNIPM Working Group has The current Conditional Waiver for this region was adopted in a resource to output productivity ratio of 833:1; for every $833 October 2010 and lasts for five years. The program requires grant dollars awarded an output was generated. Comparisons either individual land managers or “Discharger Groups” of with other resource to output productivity ratios indicate that managers to monitor water drained from irrigated lands, to the SNIPM Working Group is a prolific and resource-efficient implement Best Management Practices (BMPs), and to com- working group. Outcomes for nursery growers include increased plete 8 hours of farm water quality education. To assist growers knowledge due to information exchange among growers at the in complying with Conditional Waiver requirements, we are focus group meeting and increased resources (articles, publica- collaborating with the Ventura County Farm Bureau and Re- tions, etc.). Mid- and long-term economic and environmental source Conservation District, as well as with the Agricultural outcomes are anticipated due to greater alignment of the SNIPM Irrigated Lands Group, in a program established to control Working Group research and Extension goals with stakeholder nonpoint source pollution, funded by the State Water Resources input due to the extensive needs identification process undertaken Control Board. Our program includes the dissemination of a by the focus group. self-assessment questionnaire to help growers identify runoff mitigation practices and to develop site and crop-specific farm Specified Source(s) of Funding:Southern Region IPM Center water quality plans. This questionnaire is also used to document irrigation, pest, nutrient, and sediment and erosion BMPs (397) Implementation of Best Management implemented in targeted stream reaches of each watershed to Practices to Reduce Agricultural Total mitigate runoff. We have also designed educational workshops Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in the with farm tours and demonstrations of effective BMPs for Calleguas Creek and Santa Clara River nurseries, orchards, strawberries, and vegetable crops. In ad- Watersheds dition, we have compiled and developed instructional materials and resources on water quality, which are disseminated at Donald J. Merhaut educational meetings and during on-site farm visits. To date, University of California, Riverside, CA; donald.merhaut@ over 400 questionnaires, 50 on-farm visits and nine educational ucr.edu meetings have been completed, to facilitate implementation

S378 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 of BMPs to reduce total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of practices that were most widely adopted were fertilization, agricultural pollutants in the Calleguas Creek and Santa Clara composing, pricking out of seedlings, mulching, pest and River Watersheds. disease control (including neem) and bucket drip irrigation. Specified Source(s) of Funding: HAPCH Over 86% indicated that they have been using these practices for over a year and will continue to use them. Responses were (398) Adoption of Beneficial Management similar for both women and men. The practices that were least likely to be continued (<55%) were simple record keeping, Practices for Dry Season Vegetable Production seed treatment, green manure cropping and a value chain ap- in Rural Ghana proach. In a test to determine their understanding of the practices, Abdul-Halim Abubakari 74% gave the correct answers to the 20 questions. However, University of Development Studies, Tamale; halim7us@ less than 50% indicated that they could read and understand yahoo.com a pesticide label. When questioned about the challenges of Gustav Mahunu implementing the BMPs, 28% indicated no problems or did not University of Development Studies, Tamale; gkmgh@ respond. The highest portion, 45, mentioned the increased skills yahoo.com and effort required, especially that the tasks were tedious and time consuming. This was equal between males and females. Mary Ruth McDonald* All the respondents indicated that they have observed improve- University of Guelph, Guelph, ON; mrmcdona@ ments in the fields in 2010, as compared to before the project. uoguelph.ca About 29% reported better crop growth, 20% observed fewer Dinah Ceplis pests, diseases and weeds, 17% saw higher yields, and 16% Agricultural Institute of Canada, Ottawa, ON; dinah. mentioned improved soil fertility. Thus, the farmers recognized [email protected] that these methods require more time, effort and skill but will continue to use many of the BMPs because of the improvements Patrick Kumah in yield and quality of the crops. Kwame Nkrumah University of Sicence and Technology, Kumasi; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:Canadian International Devel- Irene Idun opment Agency through the Agricultural Institute of Canada Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology, Kumasi; [email protected] (400) Establishment of an Extension Initiative at Kentucky State University for Processing of the Francis Appiah Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology, North American Pawpaw Fruit Kumasi; [email protected] Kirk William Pomper* Josee Owen Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@ Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bouctouche, NB; kysu.edu [email protected] Sheri B. Crabtree Merv Pritchard Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB; merv_ kysu.edu [email protected] Jeremiah D. Lowe A 10-year project (2001–2011) was conducted in four villages Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@ in the Upper West Region of Ghana to increase vegetable kysu.edu production and consumption during the long dry season. Train- Michael K. Bomford ing programs on irrigated dry season vegetable production Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; michael. were developed by the Ghana Institute of Horticulturists research [email protected] team and were delivered through Train the Trainer courses and Farmer Field Schools, with the cooperation of the Ghana Marion F. Simon Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The second phase (2006–2011) Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; marion.simon@ was evaluated. In 2006, 65% of the farmers had not heard kysu.edu about dry season vegetable production, indicating that Timothy A. Woods the project was primarily responsible for delivering this infor- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; tim.woods@uky. mation. The number of farmers growing vegetables increased edu from 761 to 811 from 2006 to 2010; 369 farmers received direct training, including 165 women. Approximately 55 % of John G. Strang University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; [email protected] the farmers had no formal education. An interview survey of 77 males and 73 females was conducted in Fall 2010, to determine Thomas Cottrel the uptake, benefits, and challenges of the beneficial manage- University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; tom.cottrell@uky. ment practices (BMPs) that were introduced. The production edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S379 Robert Perry usually more vigorous, more heat tolerant or cold hardier, more University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; Bob.perry@uky. tolerant to root nematodes, and more resistant to some devastat- edu ing soil-borne diseases. The objective of this program was to train educators as well as growers in this emerging vegetable Michael Lee Parker grafting technique. This SARE funded training program was North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; mike_ [email protected] conducted as an In-Service Education through University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University of Missouri Coop- Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a tree fruit native to erative Extension in 2010. Forty-five Extension Horticulturists eastern North America which is in the early stages of com- from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois attended this mercial production. Pawpaw fruit have both fresh market and 2-day intensive training covering grafting history; the biology, processing potential. The fruit pulp has a pleasant orange to anatomy, physiology and tolerance or resistance to biotic and yellow color with a tropical-like flavor that is a combination abiotic stresses of grafted vegetable plants; as well as a half-day of pineapple, mango, and banana. Commercial processing of hands-on training on various grafting methods and another half fruits and vegetables by growers can increase profit margins day farm tour of vegetable production with grafted vegetable by yielding value-added products. Through funding by a 2010 plants. Over 60% of educators participated in the training offered USDA Extension Capacity Building Grant, an extension initia- similar but more hands-on workshops to growers in their service tive at Kentucky State University (KSU) began with the specific areas. The efforts from the project director and participating objectives of: 1) Purchase a Mobile Kitchen for processing fruits educators have reached to over 1155 vegetable producers and and vegetables, including pawpaw fruit puree, for commercial master gardeners including more than 120 underserved farm- processing safety workshops and use by farmers. 2) Creation of ers of African Americans, Amish and Mennonites, Asians and videos and PowerPoint presentations concerning pawpaw puree Hispanics. Many vegetable farmers have adapted this technique commercial processing for small farmers that will be available in their commercial tomato production, especially under a high via podcasting, DVDs, and on the KSU Pawpaw and Organic tunnel setting. Many Farmers’ Market Vendors reported increased Working Group websites. 3) Develop a Pawpaw Processing and yield, quality, vigor, and disease resistance of grafted heirloom Marketing Guide for electronic and print distribution to small tomatoes. This “new” technique has been well recognized by farmers. 4) Hold pawpaw product preference and organic at- vegetable growers and master gardeners in Missouri and its titudes surveys at farmers markets in Kentucky, Ohio, and North neighboring states. Carolina, as well as a pawpaw wine-workshop and baked goods test by chefs with the UK-Food Systems Initiative. 5) Conduct a Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA NCR-SARE product awareness, interest and willingness-to-pay survey within the UK-Kentucky Food Consumer Panel, surveying a sample (402) Gardens of Learning: Demonstration of 1000 households across Kentucky, for pawpaw value-added Gardens as Teaching Tools in Extension products. The KSU pawpaw website (http://www.pawpaw. Horticulture Programs kysu.edu) averages over 70,000 visitors each year. A pawpaw processing webpage was developed that contains videos on Lucy K. Bradley* pawpaw production and processing. A new extension bulletin, Raleigh, NC; [email protected] “Organic Production of Pawpaw,” was developed and placed Charlotte D. Glen on the KSU pawpaw website; a PDF version of the bulletin has North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burgaw, NC; averaged 75 downloads per month. The 3rd International Pawpaw [email protected] Conference will be held at KSU in Sept. 2011 which will allow the archiving of presentations on production and processing Gary E. Moore methods of pawpaw from around the world. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; gary_ [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA 1890s Capacity Build- ing Grant Program K.S.U. Jayaratne North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; jay_ [email protected] (401) Vegetable Grafting Training for Horticultural Professionals Through non-formal educational programs, Cooperative Exten- sion seeks to provide effective lifelong learning experiences Sanjun Gu* that improve the land, economies, and lives of North Carolina’s Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO; sanjun.gu@ residents and communities. Extension horticulture agents often lincolnu.edu incorporate demonstration gardens into their programming, Vegetable grafting has been successfully practiced in many yet little research has been conducted into how demonstration Asian and European countries for production of high value gardens can best be utilized or the challenges and benefits vegetable crops such as tomato, eggplant, pepper, cucumber, they present to Extension programming. Employing a two part melon and watermelon. This technique, however, is new to most survey, this descriptive study investigated how North Carolina horticultural professionals in the United States. With the root horticulture Extension agents utilize demonstration gardens in system from a properly chosen rootstock, grafted vegetables are their programming, the characteristics of these gardens, and

S380 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 the perceived benefits and challenges of utilizing gardens for service training hours are offered for agents attending field days. Extension programming. It was determined that agents develop Master Gardeners serve as resources during field day events. A gardens primarily to enhance their non-formal education efforts, Producer Advisory Council is held each winter. Clientele from enable self-directed learning, engage volunteers, and build part- each county in the region are invited to participate and provide nerships. The majority of gardens developed by North Carolina information regarding needed Extension and Research efforts. agents are less than one half acre in size, include both edible and Awards are given for the effort that best utilizes a diverse group ornamental plantings, and are heavily supported by volunteers. of employees working together to serve the clients. The effort Though many agents were found to be fully utilizing gardens must include Research and Extension personnel as well as to enhance non-formal education, few were fully employing county- and Experiment Station/Center-based employees. This practices that enable self-directed learning, or evaluating the team-based approach has already resulted in shifts in production garden’s outcomes and impacts. Agents perceived the greatest and research. Finally, the multi-disciplinary faculty at Coastal benefits of gardens to be their efficacy as an educational deliv- Research and Extension Center provide a comprehensive ap- ery method, their ability to enhance the overall program, and proach to Research and/or Extension projects. their capacity to provide opportunities for meaningful volunteer Specified Source(s) of Funding:CSREES/NIFA service and to facilitate the development of partnerships. The greatest challenges of incorporating gardens into Extension programming were perceived to be availability of time, money, and volunteer support. It was concluded that demonstration gardens Tuesday, September 27, 2011 are an appropriate and effective educational delivery method 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom for Extension programming. When developing gardens, special emphasis should be given to involving and investing volunteers. Fruit Breeding Additional recommendations are to integrate the garden into (140) Comparison of Volatile Profiles from the entire Extension program, to employ multiple practices to Frozen and Refrigerated Southern Highbush enhance self-directed learning, and to develop a framework for evaluation that captures the garden’s full impact. Blueberry Fruit Jessica Gilbert* (403) Blending Horticultural Research and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jessicalilia3@ Extension Priorities into a Multi-Disciplinary gmail.com Regional Center Thomas Colquhoun Patricia R. Knight* University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Coastal R & E Center, Biloxi, MS; [email protected] David Clark Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Center covers the 21 southeastern most counties in Mississippi. James W. Olmstead The Center oversees Extension Agents in each county, Area University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. Agents with multi-county responsibilities, multiple Experiment edu Stations with Research faculty, the main Research and Extension The University of Florida blueberry breeding program has been Center with Research and Extension faculty, and The Crosby developing southern highbush blueberry cultivars adapted to Arboretum. County programming covers a spectrum from the sub-tropical Florida climate for over 50 years. During this agriculture, family and consumer science, 4H, to economic process, many Florida native, uncultivated Vaccinium species and community development. Faculty focus areas range from were used as sources of adaptive traits. Unfortunately, reliance livestock, forestry, food science, ecology, entomology, natural on wild germplasm resulted in many generations of selection resource economics, Sea-Grant Extension, and horticulture. before an adequate commercial phenotype was recovered, and Horticulture efforts range from commercial ornamental, con- selection for Florida low-chill cultivars has focused on yield sumer/urban, fruits, to vegetable crops and comprise the largest and climate adaptability, not flavor. Currently, selection for faculty concentration for Coastal Research and Extension Center. flavor in the breeding program is based on subjective breeder Faculty positions based at Research and Extension Centers in ratings and calculation of a sugar/acid ratio (total soluble solids Mississippi are not tenure-track, but faculty members do have / titratable acidity). However, the flavor we experience from affiliations with the appropriate academic department on cam- eating a blueberry also consists of sensory perception of vola- pus. Promotion through the Assistant/Associate/Full Research/ tile compounds, or secondary metabolites, produced in plants. Extension Professor ranks is handled through the academic A greater focus on flavor would add value to Florida blueberry department. Field days showcasing research results have been cultivars by increasing consumer demand. After comparing a longstanding method of providing critical information to cli- volatile profiles of various released cultivars and unreleased entele. Since county offices were placed under direction of the selections using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC- regional centers in 2005, several steps have been taken to insure MS), it will be possible to correlate the preferences of consumer that horticulture efforts are comprehensive. County-based agents flavor panels with the presence or absence of specific volatile are involved in the field day planning and promotion process. In-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S381 compounds. Due to the short marketing season in Florida, fruit reproductive and vegetative development. The range of chilling samples must be stored prior to GC-MS evaluation. Therefore, accumulation required for highbush blueberry (Vaccinium cor- we compared data collected from berries of multiple cultivars ymbosum L.) cultivars varies from near 150 hours at 0 to 7 °C to frozen at –80 °C with those refrigerated at 4 °C. Results indicated greater than 1,000 hours. Knowledge of the chilling requirement that frozen fruit contain similar, if not higher, concentrations for a blueberry cultivar is critical to properly identify the climatic of volatile compounds, potentially due to dehydration during range suitable for production. To determine the quantitative trait freezing. Certain volatiles, such as peaks at GC retention times loci (QTL) associated with chilling requirement, an intra-specific 13.021 and 13.002, which likely correspond to 1-hexanol and cross between the northern highbush ‘Draper’ (> 800 hr chill trans-2-hexenol, are substantially higher in refrigerated berries, requirement) and southern highbush ‘Jewel’ (< 200 hr chill but these compounds are generally associated with green, leafy requirement) was made to create a segregating F1 population flavors and result from wound response pathways that are halted consisting of 105 individuals. Plants were then clonally propa- upon freezing. Potentially more critical to flavor is the absence gated by semi-hardwood cuttings in 2007 and planted in four of peak 18.397, likely hexyl acetate, and a significantly lower U.S. locations in 2009. The locations were selected based upon concentration of peak 9.706, likely methyl isovalerate, in frozen varying degrees of total chill hours and winter temperatures and fruit. Both of these compounds are associated with sweet, fruity include: Gainesville, FL; Manor, GA; Corvallis, OR; and Grand flavors. The development of a robust volatile collection proto- Junction, MI. The chilling requirement of each individual in the col will be critical for evaluation of flavor profiles of southern population was calculated by budbreak of potted plants removed highbush blueberries. from an unheated greenhouse after 50 chill-hour intervals using a Specified Source(s) of Funding: University of Florida Plant modification of the Utah Chill Unit Model for peach. The impact Molecular Breeding Initiative of insufficient chill accumulation was expected to be greatest at the Georgia and Florida sites; however, abnormally cool winter (141) Fruit Development Period in a Blueberry temperatures resulted in higher than normal chill accumulation by 1 Mar. 2011, particularly in Florida (≈300 hours average, 580 (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Population hours in 2011). Thus, we had the unique opportunity to study the Segregating for Chilling Requirement interplay between chill hour requirement and fruit development Rachel A. Itle* period at the Georgia and Florida locations. Plants in Georgia and University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Florida were evaluated for all segregating characteristics related to fruit development period in 2011, including flower and leaf James F. Hancock developmental stages, overall plant characteristics, fruit quality Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; hancock@ traits, and postharvest quality. Variation was observed within msu.edu and between locations suggesting environmental and genetic Chad E. Finn control over traits related to fruit developmental period. The USDA ARS HCRL, Corvallis, OR; finnc@hort. observed phenotypic variation present in this population will oregonstate.edu be used for future QTL studies to enable the identification of genomic regions associated with these traits, with the ultimate Edmund J. Wheeler goal of developing marker-assisted breeding strategies to select Grand Junction, MI; [email protected] for variation in fruit developmental period. Julie Graham Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA-NIFA–SCRI X08- Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Julie. 5358-634 [email protected] Susan McCallum (142) Evaluations of Strawberry Selections Bred Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie; Susan. for Plastic Mulch Production in Eastern North [email protected] America Blake Branch Peter Nitzsche* Grand Junction, MI; [email protected] Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Nahla V. Bassil Morristown, NJ; [email protected] USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] W.T Hlubik Lisa J. Rowland Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA ARS, Beltsville, MD; [email protected]. North Brunswick, NJ; [email protected] gov W.P. Cowgill Jr. James W. Olmstead Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; jwolmstead@ufl. Flemington, NJ; [email protected] edu G. Jelenkovic Once a plant enters dormancy, accumulation of adequate Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New chilling is a key component necessary for the onset of normal Brunswick, NJ; [email protected]

S382 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 D.L. Ward for 24 hours at ~20 °C and then exposed to 2 min of ~1 °C Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, hydro-cooling with 100 ppm chlorine, a 2 min hot water dip Bridgeton, NJ; [email protected] at ~50 °C, or rinsed with ~20 °C water. Fruit were then stored at ~1 °C for 4 weeks and sampled weekly. Prior to evaluation, J. Pattison fruit were warmed at ~20 °C for 24 hours. SSC, pH, skin quality NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; Jeremy_Pattison@ ncsu.edu and color, flesh color, flavor, and flesh browning were evaluated. A three-way interaction for maturity, genotype, and storage Growers in eastern North America have adopted a plastic mulch length was found for the variables. After 4 weeks of cold stor- system of strawberry production over the past two decades. age, both melting and non-melting fruit harvested at the well- Most of the growers who have adopted this system have been mature level showed greater reductions in flesh and skin color using selected cultivars developed in other regions of the U.S. quality, skin condition, and taste, and had more flesh browning and/or are using cultivars developed for traditional matted than fruit harvested at minimum maturity. The standard row production systems. The goal of the Rutgers New Jersey melting, white genotypes picked at the well-mature level had Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) strawberry breeding poorer flesh and skin color, skin condition, and taste compared program is to develop selections better adapted to the plastic to standard yellow melting genotypes picked at the same well- mulch systems in the eastern states. Field trials were established mature stage. This trend was not found in the firm-melting in New Jersey and North Carolina to evaluate the performance or non-melting types. After 2 weeks of storage, the melting of several NJAES selections compared to commercial cultivars. genotypes showed higher levels of flesh browning and dimin- In one New Jersey trial, two of the selections had marketable ished flesh and skin color, quality, and taste over non-melting fruit yields no different than the cultivar Chandler but had sig- types. The firm-melting genotypes had improved skin quality, nificantly larger average fruit size (21.9 g and 22.6 g) compared skin color, and taste after 2 weeks of storage and maintained to ‘Chandler’ (19.2 g). In North Carolina these same selections higher skin quality with reduced incidences of flesh browning had lower yields (22,214 lb/A and 22,756 lb/A) in comparison after 4 weeks compared to melting types. After 4 weeks of to ‘Chandler’ (28,352 lb/A), but higher yields than the other cold storage, the firm-melting genotypes had the least browning cultivars in the trial. Average fruit size of the two NJAES selec- of all types and the non-melting genotypes had superior skin tions was not significantly different in comparison to ‘Chandler’ quality and skin and flesh color over all other types. SSC dif- but average °Brix from three harvests was significantly higher ferences were not observed. The pH of 67% of the genotypes (8.3 °Bx and 8.0 °Bx versus 7.2 °Bx). These two selections are increased during 4 weeks of storage. No significant difference was being considered for commercial release after data is collected observed in storage performance among pre-storage treatments. from similar trials in Spring 2011. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Partial funding through Ros- Specified Source(s) of Funding:Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural BREED Experiment Station (144) RosBREED Facilitates Peach Genetic (143) Storage Performance of University of Improvement via Marker-Assisted Breeding Arkansas Peach and Nectarine Genotypes Harvested at Different Maturities and Subjected Ksenija Gasic* Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] to Pre-Storage Treatments John R. Clark Paul J. Sandefur* University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; jrclark@uark. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; psandefu@uark. edu edu Thomas Gradziel John R. Clark University of California, Davis, CA; tmgradziel@ucdavis. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; jrclark@uark. edu edu The University of Arkansas peach breeding program focuses David H. Byrne Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; d-byrne@ on diverse flesh types in peaches and nectarines. Breeding has tamu.edu led to firm-melting and non-melting genotypes that are firm when well-mature, intended to allow for fruit to be picked at Carlos H. Crisosto a higher quality state than melting-flesh genotypes. However, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA; carlos@ no postharvest evaluations have been conducted. Fruit from uckac.edu 30 genotypes with flesh types including non-melting, standard- Terrence J. Frett melting, and firm-melting were sampled. Genotypes also Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] varied for low- to standard-acid flavor, pit adherence, soluble solids content (SSC), and flesh color. Fruits were harvested Paul J. Sandefur at two maturity stages, minimum maturity (commercial ripe) University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; psandefu@uark. and well-mature (tree ripe). After harvest, fruit were conditioned edu

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S383 Tim Hartmann Pipeline.” Useful outcomes include designation of fruit type Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; guero_ (melting and non-softening for fresh market and non-melting [email protected] for canning; freestone vs. clingstone) for breeding selection decisions. Jonathan Fresnedo Ramirez University of California, Davis, CA; jfresnedoramirez@ Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crop Research Ini- ucdavis.edu tiative Competitive Grant 2009-51181-05808 of the USDA’s Nahla Bassil National Institute of Food and Agriculture USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] (145) RosBREED Enables Marker-Assisted Gregory L. Reighard Breeding for Apple Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Cameron P. Peace* Cameron P. Peace Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. edu edu James Luby Amy Iezzoni University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; lubyx001@umn. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; iezzoni@ edu msu.edu New cultivar development for peach in the U.S. can be Kate Evans divided into two types according to usage of fruit: fresh market Washington State University -TFREC, Wenatchee, WA; and processing market. Objectives common to all peach breed- [email protected] ing programs include improving and maintaining fruit quality Susan K. Brown (flavor, firmness, and appearance), productivity, size, and Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] season extension. These trait targets are complemented with emphases on ease of processing, disease and pest resistance, Matthew Clark University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; [email protected] a greater diversity of fruit types, and adaptation to low-chill zones in individual programs. Genetic markers associated with Yingzhu Guan some of these traits are available and useful for informing cross- Washington State University -TFREC, Wenatchee, WA; ing decisions and seedling selection decisions. Despite being [email protected] one of the best characterized Rosaceae crops with genomic re- Benjamin Orcheski sources including a whole genome sequence, a reference genetic Cornell University, Geneva, NY; [email protected] map, EST libraries, and a growing list of marker-locus-trait associations, application of these resources in peach breeding Cari Schmitz efforts is still limited. The RosBREED project (http://www. University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN; schm1984@umn. rosbreed.org/) aims to bridge this chasm by providing markers edu and simplified technologies to enable marker-assisted breeding Sujeet Verma for fruit quality and other critical traits. The four public peach Washington State University, Pullman, WA; sujeet. breeding programs in California, Texas, South Carolina, and [email protected] Arkansas representing a range of breeding objectives, are integral to this project. The peach breeders have established Nahla V. Bassil a comprehensive crop reference germplasm set of important USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] breeding parents represented by about 500 popular cultivars, Eric van de Weg ancestors, breeding selections, and breeding populations. This Plant Research International, Wageningen; eric. material is connected through many pedigree linkages, which [email protected] is characteristic of peach breeding germplasm and can be exploited via the statistical approach of Pedigree-Based Analysis. Amy Iezzoni Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; iezzoni@ Pedimap software was used to visualize these pedigree con- msu.edu nections, revealing unrealized fractions of shared genomes. Large-scale phenotyping and genotyping of this reference U.S. apple breeders primarily target consumer-preferred traits germplasm is underway. Standardized phenotyping protocols of excellent texture, flavor, and appearance. The ability to for peach fruit quality evaluation were initiated during the 2010 retain superior fruit quality after storage, so that a year-round season. High-resolution SNP-based genome scans with a 6K domestic supply of nutritious apples is available to the public, is array are providing an unprecedented view of cultivated peach a particular focus. Also considered are traits valued by industry genetic diversity, and, through association with phenotypic sectors, especially suitability to local production environments. performance, functional variation for breeding program-specific DNA information, if gathered, validated, deployed, and rou- predictive marker development. Genetic tests for promising trait tinely used in breeding decision-making, offers the opportunity targets were recently fast-tracked through RosBREED’s “MAB for apple genetic improvement to become more efficient and

S384 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 precise in delivering long-term solutions to industry challenges Eric van de Weg and consumer demands. The multi-institutional RosBREED Plant Research International, Wageningen; eric. project (www.rosbreed.org) is enabling such marker-assisted [email protected] breeding (MAB) for apple. Major public apple breeding pro- Amy Iezzoni grams in Washington, Minnesota, and New York have united Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; iezzoni@ in this project to establish a comprehensive crop reference msu.edu germplasm set of important breeding parents represented by about 500 popular cultivars, ancestors, breeding selections, and Fruit size, firmness, flavor, self-fertility, and yield are valuable breeding populations. This material is connected through many targets for cherry genetic improvement. DNA markers for pedigree linkages, which is characteristic of apple breeding some of these traits have been previously reported but require germplasm and can be exploited via the statistical approach validation in breeding germplasm under commercial conditions, of Pedigree-Based Analysis. Pedimap software was used to beyond the experimental populations in which the marker- visualize these pedigree connections, revealing unrealized locus-trait associations were first discovered. Each genetic test fractions of shared genomes. Large-scale phenotyping and must also be adjusted to the specific needs, capabilities, and genotyping of this reference germplasm is underway. Stan- logistics of individual breeding programs. The RosBREED dardized phenotyping protocols for apple fruit quality evalu- project (www.rosbreed.org) is enabling cherry breeding pro- ation were conducted since the 2010 season. High-resolution grams to integrate DNA information into breeding decisions SNP-based genome scans with an 8K array are providing an for more precise and efficient delivery of long-term solutions unprecedented view of cultivated apple genetic diversity, and, to industry challenges and consumer demands. State Uni- through association with phenotypic performance, functional versity breeding programs in Washington (sweet cherry) and variation for breeding program-specific predictive marker Michigan (tart cherry) serving the major U.S. cherry growing development. Genetic tests for promising trait targets were regions follow standardized phenotyping protocols for per- fast-tracked through RosBREED’s “MAB Pipeline”. Useful formance evaluation and have established a reference cherry outcomes include verification of pedigrees and identification germplasm set for advancing cherry genetics knowledge. of some incorrect records, with deduction of likely pedigrees in Pedigree-linked cultivar, ancestors, selections, and seedling some cases. Markers for fruit storability are assisting seedling populations represent important breeding parents. SNP-based selection in the Washington apple breeding program since 2010 genome-scanning capability was recently developed with a 6K to cull inferior seedlings prior to expensive field maintenance cherry array. Determination of genotypically based breeding and evaluation. Most powerfully, DNA information is inform- values to guide breeding decisions will be achieved with ad- ing crossing decisions of U.S. apple breeders, bringing to bear aptation of the Pedigree-Based Analysis approach to breeding available information to efficiently enrich the next generations germplasm. Marker-assisted parent selection using a genetic test of apples with the genetics for superior fruit quality. for cross-compatibility and self-fertility has been conducted for several years. Since 2010, marker-assisted seedling selection Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crop Research Ini- at a high-throughput scale for fruit size and firmness has also tiative Competitive Grant 2009-51181-05808 of the USDA’s improved breeding efficiency. National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specified Source(s) of Funding: Specialty Crop Research Ini- (146) RosBREED Provides DNA-Informed tiative Competitive Grant 2009-51181-05808 of the USDA’s Opportunities for Cherry Breeding National Institute of Food and Agriculture Cameron P. Peace* (147) Bulked Segregant Analysis of Seedlessness Washington State University, Pullman, WA; cpeace@wsu. edu in Citrus kinokuni Hort. ex Tanaka and Its Progeny Nnadozie Oraguzie Washington State University, Prosser, WA; noraguzie@ Dario J. Chavez* wsu.edu University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Murali Bellamkonda José X. Chaparro Washington State University, Pullman, WA; murali. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] [email protected] Citrus kinokuni ’Mukaku kishu’ PI539530 and its progeny were Audrey Sebolt studied to identify RAPD markers associated with seedless trait. Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI; grantzau@ A hybrid population consisting of 91 F1 [(Robinson op) × C. msu.edu kinokuni] individuals showed a 1:1 phenotypic segregation ratio between seedless and seeded phenotypes, with seedless behaving Travis Stegmeir as a single dominant gene. Bulked segregant analysis was used Lansing, Michigan; [email protected] to identify markers linked with the seedless locus. The screen Nahla V. Bassil of 1200 RAPD primers identified 18 markers associated with USDA ARS, Corvallis, OR; [email protected] the seedless trait. The 18 RAPD markers were mapped into a

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S385 partial linkage map (~56.1cM length), with four of the RAPD hidden population structure can induce false positives. Examples markers closely flanking the seedless locus (8.5–5.1 cM). The of different population designs for connected population struc- identification of molecular markers linked to the C. kinokuni tures will be examined. Fs seedless locus constitutes an important and major tool for Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–AFRI and the ICMB citrus breeding and selection. Specified Source(s) of Funding: Fruit Breeding and Genetics (126) Genome Size Estimates for Cotoneaster spp. Program, University of Florida Joseph J. Rothleutner* Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; rothleuj@hort. oregonstate.edu Tuesday, September 27, 2011 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Ryan Contreras Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR; ryan.contreras@ Genetics and Germplasm 2 hort.oregonstate.edu Cotoneaster is a diverse genus that comprises ~400 species (125) Utilizing “Connected Populations” for of highly variable plants; from ground covers to trees. Coto- QTL Discovery neasters are valued in the landscape because of their ability to Sarah M. Potts* grow in poor soils, response to pruning and tolerance of urban University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] environments. Breeding efforts to select superior plants have lead to relatively few introductions. Hybridization has been Rita H. Mumm hindered by the fact that apomixis is widespread in the genus. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL; [email protected] Approximately 85% of species are triploid (2n = 3x = 51) or Bi-parental populations have been used to identify quantitative tetraploid (2n = 4x = 68) that exhibit apomixis. New introduc- trait loci (QTL) using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic tions with improved disease resistance and novel ornamental information taken from carefully constructed populations. This characteristics would increase interest in cotoneasters as population structure requires comparatively low allelic richness, landscape plants. While information on chromosome numbers but produces a low resolution map. Association mapping may also of many species is available, there have been few reports of be utilized to identify QTL. These populations generally contain genome sizes for cotoneasters. Data on the relative genome diverse germplasm, which can increase applicability to relevant sizes of species in different taxonomic groups could provide genetic materials. This method results in high resolution linkage insight into the potential for crossing distantly related species. maps and the ability to detect rare alleles. Relationships between Genome sizes were estimated for 20 species of Cotoneaster these genetic materials must be known to avoid false QTL detec- using flow cytometric analysis of DAPI stained nuclei using tion. The utilization of “connected populations” integrates the maize (Zea mays ‘CE-777’) as an internal standard. Three rep- benefits of both bi-parental and association mapping populations. licates of each species were used to calculate mean holoploid Connected populations are constructed using common parents nuclear genome size. Nuclear genome sizes were translated to to create related individuals for use in QTL mapping and gene monoploid (1Cx) values from previously reported ploidy levels. discovery. This creates inherent replication with the expression Monoploid genome sizes ranged from 1.01 to 1.50 pg with a of alleles in multiple backgrounds, which increases the statistical mean of 1.14 pg. Monoploid values were subjected to ANOVA power of QTL detection and additionally enables the testing of and mean separation using Tukey’s HSD. Significant differ- epistatic interactions. Additionally, the use of multiple parents ences were observed among species’ monoploid genome size increases the probability of QTL polymorphism. QTL congruency estimates. Based on monoploid genome size, it does not appear in various populations has been low to moderate using traditional that chromosome size is correlated to taxonomy. Ploidy levels mapping population structures. Connected populations have the were inferred for four species for which reports were lacking. ability to detect QTL in multiple populations and allow global Cotoneaster arbusculus, C. hebephyllus, and C. rhytidophyllus comparison of alleles, enabling QTL associated markers to be were determined to be tetraploid and C. buxifolius was found utilized in a broader range of genetic materials. Typically, use to be triploid. Multiple ploidy levels have been reported for C. of connected populations facilitates detection of nearly all QTL congestus and C. bacillaris; however, both of our accessions detected in single population analysis as well as many QTL not were found to be triploids. To verify flow cytometry results, detected in bi-parental populations. Furthermore, higher levels chromosome counts were performed for two species via light of explained variance have been detected and QTL are defined microscopy of metaphase cells by squashing meristematically with greater precision, resulting in reduced confidence intervals active root tips. At least five cells were counted for each spe- for QTL position. Increased genetic gain utilizing marker assisted cies. The chromosome number for C. buxifolious was found to selection (MAS) is realized in multiple-parent design over be 2n = 3x = 51, and is the first report of chromosome number bi-parental populations, which multiplies across additional and ploidy level for this species. Chromosome counts also generations of selection. The construction of connected popu- confirmed previous reports thatC. henryanus is a diploid spe- lations also ensures confidence in genetic relationships, which cies 2n = 2x = 34. is an advantage over association mapping populations where Specified Source(s) of Funding:Oregon State University

S386 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (127) Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Leafy phytochemical profiles. A survey to estimate phytochemical Radish with Different Heat Tolerant Ability by variability within blueberry germplasm in North Carolina is ISSR Maker and Vegetative Traits currently underway. This study is a companion to that survey to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Wei-Ling Chen* same material. To date, genetic diversity studies in blueberry District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, have been limited to selected populations and to our knowledge Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Chunghua; few comparisons have been made utilizing different classes of [email protected] DNA markers. The deduced phylogenetic relationships from Der-Ming Yeh these previous studies have not always been in agreement with Department of Horticulture, Taiwan University, Taipei; available pedigree information; possibly due to the limited [email protected] number of available markers or due to bias introduced by the types of markers utilized. We are currently developing novel Wen-Ju Yang genomic microsatellite markers from a draft blueberry genomic Department of Horticulture, Taiwan University, Taipei; sequence. The frequency, type and distribution of SSRs in the [email protected] blueberry genome are presented. Genetic diversity in North Leafy radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.) is Carolina germplasm and the USDA blueberry core collection newly fresh vegetable in Taiwan and breeding for heat-tolerant are evaluated using SSR markers identified from genomic and variety is a commercial interest. However, the diversification genic regions and the estimates are evaluated against known of cultivated leafy radish and its relationship with heat tolerant pedigree information. has not been well understood. Thus, in our study, the genetic Specified Source(s) of Funding:UNC GA Funds Generation and diversity of 21 leafy radish cultivars/lines with different heat Validation of a Draft Genomic Sequence of Blueberry tolerant abilities was assessed by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) maker and vegetative traits. Detected by 21 primers, 293 (129) Genome Size in Anthurium species bands were amplified and the proportion of polymorphic bands was 76.45%. The results of UPGMA and PCA analysis based 28 Evaluated in the Context of Karyotypes and vegetative traits were similar to ISSR maker. It showed that the Phenotypes genetic diversity of tested leafy radish cultivars/lines was highly Barbara J. Bliss* associated with their own reigns and main characteristics such USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin Agri as leaf shape, trichome number, the presence of anthocyanin in cultural Research Center, Hilo, HI; Barbara.Bliss@ars. petiole, but not accordance with heat tolerant ability. usda.gov Specified Source(s) of Funding:Council of Agriculture, Execu- Jon Y. Suzuki tive Yuan, Taiwan, R.O.C. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Pacific Basin Agricul (128) Genetic Diversity and Population tural Research Center, Hilo, HI; [email protected] Structure in Blueberry Evaluated with Genic Genome size has implications for molecular biology work, and Genomic SSR Markers genomics, and overall successful implementation as a study organism. Relatively few monocot genome sizes have been Yang Bian reported outside the cereals lineage. Anthurium andreanum NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; [email protected] is an important horticultural cut flower crop from family Archana Natarajan Raja Araceae in order Alismatales, a monocot lineage considered NC State University, Kannapolis, NC; [email protected] to have diverged from other monocots prior to the divergence of the cereals lineage. Currently, genome size data are only James R. Ballington publicly available for two Anthurium species, revealing a Cary, NC; [email protected] nearly twofold size difference between them, and among them, Allan Brown* genome sizes 3.5 to 7 times that of corn. Genome size evolution North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC; allan_ studies have revealed important lineage specific features asso- [email protected] ciated with evolution of phenotypes under genetic control. We Blueberry (Vaccinium spp. section Cyanococcus) is an economi- evaluated genome sizes for over two dozen Anthurium species cally important small fruit crop in the United States and other and discuss these data in context of phylogenetic relationships parts of world. Numerous nutritional and health benefits have in this genus. been recognized with blueberry consumption and are currently Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA–ARS being investigated. Most commercialized blueberry varieties are the product of complex hybridizations and selection schemes (130) Carrier RNA Can Increase DNA Yields in between and within several distinct species of Vaccinium. Con- Spigelia marilandica siderable variation in regards to compounds associated with health is present within these species of Vaccinium and provides Amanda J. Hershberger* unique opportunities to breed varieties that satisfy specific University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S387 Tyler D. Eaton Kirk William Pomper University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected] Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@ Tracie M. Jenkins kysu.edu University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected] Li Lu Carol D. Robacker Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; [email protected] University of Georgia, Griffin, GA; [email protected] Sheri B. Crabtree Spigelia marilandica (L.), an herbaceous perennial native to Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ the southeastern United States, is used as an ornamental and for kysu.edu pharmacological purposes. Plant conservationists and breeders, Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a native understory therefore, are interested in determining its population genetic tree-fruit in the eastern region of the United States that is in the diversity. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (ALFP) early stages of commercial production. Kentucky State University fingerprints, which require upwards of 100 ng of DNA, can (KSU) in Frankfort, Kentucky is the site for the USDA National effectively measure this diversity across the species’ range. Clonal Germplasm Repository for pawpaw (Asimina) species, Since DNA concentration is linked to AFLP results, an optimum containing over 2000 accessions from 17 different states. As- protocol was developed to extract DNA from leaf material of sessment of genetic diversity and collection of unique pawpaw wild-growing plants. Young leaf material was collected from genotypes are important research priorities for the repository. The 10 populations throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Caro- objective of this study is to use microsatellite (SSR) markers to lina and stored at –80 °C prior to DNA extraction. A modified examine the genetic diversity in six pawpaw populations in the Omega Bio-Tek protocol was used to extract DNA. A second KSU-USDA repository orchard (IN-1, IN-2, KY, MD, NY, and protocol, which added 0.9 μL carrier RNA in the column step, WV). These populations consist of 10 trees from Washington was used in an attempt to increase DNA yields. Yields of DNA Co., IN (IN-1), 8 trees from Decatur Co., IN (IN-2), 23 trees with and without the addition of carrier RNA were checked for from Tompkins Co., NY, 13 trees from Tyler Co., WV, 14 trees quantity and quality using a 1.5% agarose gel. The majority of from Talbot Co., MD, and 20 trees from Fayette Co., KY. Leaf DNA extracted from collections which used the addition of car- samples were collected from trees in each population and DNA rier RNA showed some variation as follows. The concentration was extracted using the DNAmite Plant Kit. Primers B3, B103, of DNA was increased from 66.6% to 830% when carrier RNA B108, B117, B129, C104, C108, C109, G103, G119, G121, and was added to samples collected in Dalton, GA. DNA extraction G124 labeled with FAM or HEX were used to amplify SSR from 30 collections in Kathleen, GA showed variability. Of the products, and products were separated with a 3130 Applied Bio- 30 individuals collected, 13 had visible DNA only using carrier systems capillary electrophoresis system. The software program RNA, three did not generate DNA using either protocol, and Power Marker was used to examine genetic relationships among of those plants that generated DNA without carrier RNA, the the pawpaw populations. The SSR markers generated showed addition of carrier RNA increased the quantity of DNA from significant genetic variation among the pawpaw populations. 40% to 500%. Additionally, a second Kathleen, GA population Several unique genotypes in the populations should be further only produced DNA when the carrier RNA treatment was used. evaluated by KSU as potential cultivars. No DNA concentration difference resulted in extractions with Specified Source(s) of Funding:Evans-Allen Funds or without carrier RNA from populations in Lithonia, GA and Marianna, FL. A Wakulla Springs, FL population had similar DNA quantities in 23 of 30 samples, although 7 of 30 samples (132) Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in collected only generated DNA when carrier RNA was used. Of 25 Kentucky Spicebush (Lindera benzoin L.) collections from Bonaire, GA, 19 samples resulted in DNA only Populations Using Molecular Markers when carrier RNA was used. While the remaining four samples Jeremiah Lowe* did not produce DNA using either treatment, two produced DNA Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@ without the carrier RNA. The carrier RNA-modified Omega Bio- kysu.edu Tek protocol has since been effective in extracting DNA from Spigelia gentianoides, an endangered congener of S. marilandica, Kirk William Pomper collected in Sneads, FL. The use of carrier RNA with the Omega Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; kirk.pomper@ Bio-Tek protocol was generally effective in getting or increasing kysu.edu DNA concentration in Spigelia species. Re’Gie Smith Specified Source(s) of Funding:Georgia Botanical Society Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; regie.smith@ kysu.edu (131) Using SSR Markers to Determine Genetic Jacob Botkins Diversity in Six Pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; jacob.botkins@ Dunal] Populations From Five States kysu.edu Jeremiah D. Lowe* Sheri B. Crabtree Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; jeremy.lowe@ Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY; sheri.crabtree@ kysu.edu kysu.edu

S388 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Lindera benzoin L. or spicebush is an aromatic small native ing/wasting fertilizer by removing mowing clippings of lawn shrub that grows in the moist, understory areas of Appalachia turfgrasses. Grasscycling, the mulching and immediate return and has potential as a new niche crop for small farmers. Native of just-cut turfgrass leaves to the rhizosphere, shows promise cultures and early settlers used this plant traditionally as a tea. in solving these problems by reducing green waste heading to The berries can be used for jam and spicing of foods, and may landfills and reducing the amount of fertilizer needed on lawns. have many health benefits including antioxidant compounds. This study was undertaken to determine: 1) How much of the N Native spicebush patches also serve an important role in forest contained in grass clippings is actually available to tall fescue as ecosystems around streams and rivers in terms of fruit produc- fertilizer; 2) What effect(s) does grasscycling have on microbial tion for animals, soil erosion control, and enhancing insect activity in the lawn rhizosphere, and 3) Is the quality/color of biodiversity. Populations of spicebush occur in a variety of light the turf affected? A tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix [Scop.] environments from forest interiors to canopy gaps and edge Holub. Syn., Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) research plot was habitats. In many parts of the eastern United States, these edge established on the University of California, Davis, campus. Two environments are persistent and may have existed for hundreds factors were studied: 1) type of mowing technique (mulched of years. Spicebush may serve to hold ecological niches by out- clippings versus caught and removed clippings) and 2) rate of competing invasive plants compared to those in unchallenged nitrogen fertilization (1, 2, and 4 lb N/1000 ft2/year). Based areas. Genetic diversity of spicebush populations in Kentucky on clipping yield data collected we estimated 0.7, 1 and 1.8 lb has not been examined in various forest regions and locations. N/1000 ft2/year were removed from plots receiving 1, 2, and 4 The objective of this study is to determine the genetic diversity lb N/1000 ft2/year, respectively. There was no significant dif- in spicebush populations in Kentucky using simple sequence ference in clipping yields throughout the year between the two repeat (SSR) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) DNA mowing treatments. NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation marker systems. Leaf samples were collected from twenty Index) dropped below the acceptable level (0.6) during the spicebush plants in the forests at the Kentucky State University winter and late-summer months for the 1 and 2 lb N/1000 ft2/ Environmental Education Center (EEC) and at location near the year rates. The 4 lb N/1000 ft2/year rate never dropped below Kentucky River. DNA was extracted using the DNAmite Plant the 0.6 threshold. Soil Electrical Conductivity increased with Kit. Primers A7, A115, B105, and B122 labeled with FAM or increasing fertilizer rates. No other soil characteristic measured

HEX were used to amplify SSR products, and products were (e.g. organic matter, total N, total C, NO3 or NH4) was affected separated with a 3130 Applied Biosystems capillary electropho- by either the fertilizer or mowing treatments. When tall fescue resis system. The software program Power Marker was used to was growing rapidly very little if any nitrogen moved passed examine genetic relationships among the spicebush genotypes. the root-zone. Total nitrogen in leaf tissue increased as fertilizer The SSR markers generated showed genetic variation among rate increased during the summer months. Mowing technique the spicebush genotypes. A number of selections with unique did not affect total nitrogen in leaf tissue. genotypes will be sampled and propagated for study in the KSU germplasm collection for potential cultivar development. (032) Core Aerification Amount, Frequency and Topdressing Rate on Soil Physical Properties Specified Source(s) of Funding:McIntire Stennis Funds Lambert B. McCarty* Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Tuesday, September 27, 2011 J.L. Atkinson 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Ornamentals/Landscape and Turf 2 V.L. Quisenberry Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] (031) Grasscycling as a Tool for Reducing Green Waste and Fertilizer Use on Tall Fescue Lawns W.C. Bridges in California Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] Soil compaction is an issue faced by turfgrass managers in areas David W. Burger with heavy traffic such as golf course putting greens and sports University of California, Davis, CA; dwburger@ucdavis. fields. While much research exists on the benefits of proper edu aerification, little exists quantifying the optimum amount of Y. Zhang surface area removed on a yearly basis, the number of aerifica- University of California, Davis, CA; yyzhang@ucdavis. tions needed to reach the optimum surface area impacted, nor edu optimum amounts of topdressing applied post-aerification. A study was conducted at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, in M. Ali Harivandi* 2008 and 2009 on a 10-year-old USGA-specified “TifEagle” University of California Cooperative Extension, Alameda, CA; [email protected] bermudagrass putting green and included two percentages of surface area removed or impacted per year, 15% and 25%. Each California homeowners and landscape/turfgrass managers are impacted area treatment was core aerified either once, twice, adding unwanted green waste to municipal landfills and overus- or three times yearly, with cores removed. Following aerifica-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S389 tion, each treatment received one of two topdressing rates; the rhizomes, stolons, and roots in the top 5 cm. Results indicated mathematical equivalent of soil removed with aerification or that stolon and rhizome dry weight was greater in plots seeded one-half this rate. Parameters measured included turf qual- in March than those seeded in June. Irrigation water quality ity, bulk density, surface hardness, infiltration, thatch depth and irrigation system did not affect stolon, rhizome, or root and thatch weight. Topdressing did not impact any measured weight. Preliminary results suggest that underground biomass parameter while the untreated had highest average turf quality production and stolon production after one year of establish- throughout the study. Turf quality temporarily decreased with ment is not negatively affected by saline water or subsurface increasing surface area impacted and frequency of aerification. irrigation. Early seeding will result in a greater underground Surface hardness was greatest in non-aerified treatments as biomass and stolon production compared to June seeding and increasing aerification frequency decreased this, regardless of should be considered beneficial for transitional climate zones. percent surface area impacted. Differences were not evident in bulk density or infiltration in either study year. Thatch weight (034) Establishing a Virtual Urban Landscape and thatch depth were similar in year 1; however, in year 2, Water Conservation Center for New Mexico, the untreated had higher thatch weight compared to all other West Texas, and Surrounding Areas treatments while thatch depth remained similar. In conclusion, as core aerification impacted area increased, turf quality tempo- Stefan Sutherin* rarily declined. However, most other soil parameters measured New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; improved. Future research will continue to evaluate the timing [email protected] of aerification and amount of surface area impacted to optimize Kevin Lombard the effectiveness of aerification practices. New Mexico State University, Farmington, NM; Specified Source(s) of Funding: SC Agricultural and Forestry [email protected] Research Hatch Funds Rolston St. Hilaire (033) A Comparison of Underground Biomass New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; rsthilai@ nms.edu and Stolon Production of Paspalum vaginatum (Swartz) Established from Seed under Potable Landscape water use accounts for 50%+ of summer domestic water use in the southwest US. The EPA estimates that a and Saline Subsurface Drip Irrigation landscape water savings of 50%+ is achievable via behavior Matteo Serena* change, specifically, wide adoption of xeriscape landscapes and New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; education. Web-based information for NM and western Texas, [email protected] however, is scattered and industry professionals are not linked through a primary network. In 2008, NMSU and its cooperators Marco Schiavon developed a web portal to provide a clearinghouse of urban water New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] conservation resources for homeowners and industry professionals. The Center for Landscape Water Conservation’s (http:// Bernhard Leinauer www.xericenter.com/) mission is to affect significant reductions New Mexico State University, Las Cruces,, NM; in landscape water use. To do this, the site must generate an [email protected] active and growing user base. Four elements determine success: Elena B. Sevostianova appropriate site structure and content, usability and efficiency of NMSU, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] design, use of appropriate interactive features, and a methodical marketing effort. Phase 1 developed the public, or consumer, Bernd Maier side of the site. Phase 2 referred to developing the private, or NMSU, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] professional, side of the site. A group of 20 potential users was Low quality ground water and recycled water have been selected from academia, industry, and extension, including identified as alternatives to potable water for irrigation but are master gardeners to participate in user-directed development of generally higher in salinity than potable water. Warm-season Phase 1 by responding to regular polling on site hierarchy and grasses are more tolerant to salt stress than cool season grasses format, content, usability, and interactive features of the site. and may therefore be well suited to grow under non-potable At the conclusion of Phase 1, a separate user group was tested irrigation. A study was conducted at New Mexico State Uni- using the modified “User-Perceived Web Quality Instrument”. versity in Las Cruces, NM during 2009 and 2010 to determine The instrument includes questions to assess design issues es- stolon and underground biomass (roots and rhizomes) produc- sential to the development of a strong user base. The content tion of seeded seashore paspalum (cv. Sea Spray) one year section assesses if content is useful, complete, clear, concise, after establishment using saline (1500 ppm) and potable (500 current, accurate, uses appropriate links, has easily-found ppm) water applied from either sprinkler or subsurface drip contact and organizational information. Usability questions systems. The grass was seeded in March and June of both years assess use of fonts, colors, multimedia functions, page loading, and was irrigated at 100% ET0 during establishment. Samples search functions, attractiveness, organization, and navigation. were collected in winter 2010 and 2011 and separated into Interactivity questions assess ease of access and appropriateness

S390 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 of interactive and social media features. Phase 1 results follow: (036) Responses of Turfgrass and Ornamental 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the site’s Landscape Species to Prolonged Drought Stress content was useful; 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed the site’s usability benchmarks were met (except one Jacob Domenghini* respondent was neutral in two responses); interactive features Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] were rated highly with no negative responses and only two Dale Bremer neutrals; unsolicited feedback from various sources, includ- Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; bremer@ksu. ing our youtube.com feedback link, NMSU-linked feedback, edu and our webmaster link, indicated we were on-target overall; positive user and professional web developer feedback cites Gregory Davis the practical, immediately usable nature of the content, and Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] overall site design. Results will aid other groups seeking to Jack D. Fry disseminate water conservation information via the internet. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Rio Grande Basin Initiative Water resources are depleting as the world’s population continues to grow. It is not uncommon for water municipalities (035) Soil Salinity and Turf Performance Under to impart water restrictions on residential landscapes causing Saline Irrigation plants to experience drought stress. This study evaluated the performance of one cool-season turfgrass (Poa pratensis) Elena B. Sevostianova* and eight common landscape species (Achillea millifolium, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] Ajuga reptans, Liriope muscari, Pachysandra terminalis, Bernhard Leinauer Sedum album, Thymus serpyllum, Vinca major, and Vinca NMSU, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] minor) during a severe dry down and recovery thereafter in a greenhouse study in Manhattan, KS. The study was con- Bernd Maier ducted twice, once in the spring and again in the fall of 2010. NMSU, Las Cruces, NM; [email protected] During the dry down, several species deteriorated faster than In the arid and semi-arid southwestern USA potable water for others to the lowest quality rating of one (1-9 scale, 1 = dead/ turfgrass irrigation has been restricted and alternatives, such as dormant and 9 = best quality). Sedum album consistently recycled or saline ground water have been promoted. However, performed the best during each study, taking ~266 days to little information is available on the long term sustainability decline to a quality rating of one. Liriope muscari and P. of turfgrasses exposed to salinity, particularly in transition terminalis also performed well with a mean range of 62.3 to zones where plants face additional stresses of both heat and 122 days. Vinca minor and V. major declined faster than the cold. A 5-year field study (2005–2009) was conducted at New previous three species, averaging 48.3 to 78.6 days to drop Mexico State University to determine whether adequate turf to a quality rating of one. Finally, A. millifolium, A. reptans, quality could be maintained when plants were watered with P. pratensis, and T. serpyllum performed the worst by declining saline water. Nine warm season grasses received irrigation to a quality rating of one within 39 to 73 days. Poa pratensis, –1 with either saline (ECw ≈ 3.1 dS·m ) or potable water (control, A. reptans, V. major, and S. album were the only species to –1 ECw ≈ 0.6 dS m ). Turf plots were irrigated daily at 100% recover in the first study, with 30% to 60% recovery after reference evapotranspiration throughout the growing period. 60 days. None of the species recovered during the second Turf quality was assessed monthly by visual ratings and digital study probably because of more severe vapor pressure deficit image analysis. Rootzone salinity was measured bi-annually caused by artificial lights that were needed in the fall, which at three soil depths. Higher soil EC, sodium content (Na), and caused the pots to dry down faster. Results from this study sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in the top 0–10 and 10–20 cm indicate S. album, L. muscari, and P. terminalis would be most during spring and early summer correlated with an increase successful in landscapes where severe drought may occur. In in irrigation. Lower EC during late summer and fall could be landscapes with intermittent or less severe droughts, V. minor explained by increased precipitation in July and August. At and V. major may also be good selections, as well as P. pra- the 50–60 cm soil depths SAR was the only parameter that tensis and A. reptans if periods of dormancy are acceptable to changed over time. With the exception of ‘Princess 77’ and homeowners. ‘SeaDwarf’, all grasses exhibited significantly higher quality Specified Source(s) of Funding:Kansas Turfgrass Foundation under irrigation with potable water than with saline water during summer months. Seashore paspalum cultivars ‘Sea Spray’ (037) Physiological Responses of Ornamental and ‘SeaDwarf’ had highest quality over the entire research period followed by bermudagrasses ‘Princess 77’ and ‘Rivera’, Landscape Plants to Drought regardless of the water quality applied. Our results suggest that Kelly Kopp* warm season grasses can be sustained with saline water in a Logan, UT; [email protected] transition zone climate. Heidi A. Kratsch Specified Source(s) of Funding:WRRI, RGBI University of Nevada, Reno, NV; [email protected]

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S391 Tony McCammon of watering is to supply enough when the topsoil is dry than University of Idaho, Payette, ID; [email protected] continuous water supply. However, when we grow potted plants, Drought responses of three integrated ornamental and turfgrass the difficult things are as follows : watering point, amount of landscapes were evaluated at the Utah Botanical Center in watering, watering times and flowing water from drainage holes. Kaysville, Utah, USA. The landscapes were identically designed This study was conducted as an approach for solving above and differed only in the plant material utilized. Landscapes in- problem. Change of ornamental value as each plant treated cluded mesic plant species, xeric plant species, or a mixture of by indoor wick watering was measured in this study, in order the two. Dry-down periods were imposed during the summers to investigate the possibility for indoor culture of ornamental of 2005 and 2006. Plant quality ratings, stomatal conductance, plants which wick watering was applied, for introduction as and turfgrass canopy temperatures were measured. Stomatal decoration factor in living space. The 17 plant materials for this conductance was significantly different across landscapes, study were Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Dieffenbachia ‘Marianne’, plants, and time. Stomatal conductance of plants in the Xeric Ardisia pusilla ‘Variegata’, Chlorophytum bichetii, Syngonium landscapes was significantly higher than the Mesic or Mixed podophyllum, Aglaonema commutatum, Anthurium andraeanum, landscapes over the course of the dry-downs, however, plant Codiaeum variegatum, Chamaedorea elegans, Tillandsia cyanea, quality in these landscapes did not suffer as a result. Overall, Fatsia japonica, Heteropanax fragrans, Humata tyermannia, the Mixed landscape, containing both mesic and xeric species, Peperomia obtusifolia, Ficus pumila, Philodendron ‘Lemon exhibited the fewest visual signs of drought stress, as well as Lime’, and Hoya carnosa. These are representative indoor or- moderate levels of stomatal conductance. Additionally, the namental plants that are frequently used for small potted plants Mixed landscape had the lowest turfgrass canopy temperatures, in South Korea. Average conditions of the indoor experimental indicating that its turfgrass was the least stressed of the turf environment were 171.8 Lux for light, 24.7 °C for temperature, species utilized in the study. The improved drought response 50.9% for humidity. Five estimators evaluated ornamental value of the Mixed landscape may provide the basis for management with 0–10 points for about three plants of the same species once recommendations regarding landscape water conservation. a week from 3 Sept. 2010 to 7 Jan. 2011. Generally, ornamental value of almost all plants had increased from the point of the Specified Source(s) of Funding: Center for Water Efficient 2nd, 3rd weeks after the plant was placed than the beginning of Landscaping (Utah State University) placement. Ornamental value was the highest for about 5 weeks (038) Ornamental Value Change of Some from 5th week to 10th week. Ornamental value had decreased S. podophyllum Dieffenba- Foliage Plants by Wick Watering from 11th weeks, especially and chia ‘Marianne’ decreased significantly, and Dieffenbachia Sun Jin Jeong* ‘Marianne’ declined rapidly at 17th week. Ornamental value National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural of Dieffenbachia ‘Marianne’, C. variegatum, and S. podophyl- Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; sunjin75@ lum was under 5 and Z. zamiifolia, C. elegans, H. fragrans was korea.kr maintained above 9 at 18th week, the last week of evaluation. Sang Mi Lee Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Institute of Horticultural National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural & Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; sangmilee@ rda.go.kr Yun Jin Song Tuesday, September 27, 2011 National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; nature0113@ rda.go.kr Postharvest 3 Jae Wook Lee (245) Effects of Ethylene during Storage National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural and 1-Methylcyclopropene Pretreatment Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; ljw1634@ rda.go.kr on Ultrastructure of Mesophyll Cells and Chloroplasts in Aglaonema Ji Hye Moon National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Shu-Ting Fan Development Administration, Gyeonggi-do; jhmoon@rda. National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected]. go.kr tw Wan Soon Kim Der-Ming Yeh* University of Seoul, Seoul; [email protected] National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] The method of wick watering is being applied for container Exposure to ethylene resulted in increased chlorotic leaves culture of home vegetable, because effort, time for nutrition and in ‘White Tip’ but not in ‘Chalit’s Fantasy’, as shown in our water maintenance could be decreased. But wick watering did previous report. This study determined the effects of ethylene not have much of a case in indoor plants. Because the principle and 1-MCP on ultrastructure of mesophyll cells and chloroplasts

S392 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 of these two cultivars with different sensitivity to ethylene. Martine Dorais Stored control plants were neither pretreated with 1 MCP nor Université Laval, Quebec City, QC; martine.dorais@agr. exposed to ethylene for 5 days during dark storage at 16 C. Two gc.ca other groups of plants were pretreated with 0 or 600 nL·L–1 Steeve Pepin 1-MCP for 6 hours and then exposed to 3 μL·L–1 ethylene during Université Laval, Quebec City, QC; Steeve.Pepin@fsaa. storage. All plants were placed in the indoor environments for ulaval.ca 14 days. The lowest leaf from each plant was sampled to observe the mesophyll cells and chloroplasts after storage. Plants There has been increased attention placed on understanding exposed 0 μL·L-1 ethylene or pretreated with 1-MCP had postharvest needle abscission physiology in conifers. Recently, chloroplasts that showed a typical oval shape with an intact it has been shown that ethylene accumulation increases posthar- double envelope, well-organized grana thylakoids and stroma vest and culminates in needle abscission. However, the trigger membranes, and small plastoglobuli. Ethylene did not alter the for ethylene synthesis is still unknown. The purpose of this ultrasture of mesophyll cells and chloroplasts in ‘Chalit’s Fan- research was to investigate the link between water status and tasy’. In contrast, ‘White Tip’ treated ethylene had few, smaller, needle abscission in balsam fir. Two experiments were conducted and rounder chloroplasts, with swollen and dispersed thylakoids to reach this objective. In the first experiment, branches were and large plastoglobuli. exposed to 30, 60, or 90% humidity (vapor pressure deficit of 1.59, 0.91, or 0.23 kPa, respectively); in the second experiment Specified Source(s) of Funding: National Science Council, branches were exposed to 5, 15, or 25 °C (vapor pressure deficit Executive Yuan of 0.35, 0.68, and 1.26 kPa, respectively) with growth chamber maintained at 60% relative humidity. Needle retention duration, (246) Variation in Ethylene Sensitivity among average water use, xylem pressure potential, and ethylene evolu- Seven Aglaonema Cultivars tion were the key response variables measured. Overall, it was Shu-Ting Fan found that reducing water loss by either lowering temperature National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected]. or increasing humidity effectively delayed needle abscission, tw though the 90% humidity treatment had the most profound effects. In the absence of exogenous ethylene, branches placed Der-Ming Yeh* in 90% humidity had a 5-fold increase in needle retention, 67% National Taiwan University, Taipei; [email protected] decrease in average water use, and had a final xylem pressure Ethylene during storage can cause leaf chlorosis in various potential of –0.09 MPa. These findings demonstrate an effective foliage plants species/cultivars. This study evaluated ethylene means of controlling postharvest needle abscission by modifying sensitivity of seven popular Aglaonema cultivars. Uniform temperature and/or relative humidity. In addition, these find- plants were exposed to 3 μL·L–1 ethylene for 0 (control), 3, 5 or ings suggest that declining water potential may trigger ethylene 7 days during dark storage at 16 °C. Poststorage performance, synthesis and promote needle abscission, though discrepancies measured as number of chlorotic leaves and photosystem II, was between observed and expected damage thresholds may suggest recorded after the plants were placed in the indoor environments. an unidentified underlying factor. All control plants and those exposed to ethylene for 3 d, except Specified Source(s) of Funding: NSERC-CRD, AIF ‘Silver Queen’, did not have any visual chlorotic leaves. Based on the chlorotic leaves at day 14 in the indoor environments, (248) Is There a Link between Certain the sensitivity of the seven cultivars ranked as follows: Silver Queen > Papaya Beauty > Emerald Beauty > King of Siam > Physical Characteristics and Postharvest Silver Bay > White Tip > Chalit’s Fantasy. Regardless of ethylene Needle Abscission Resistance (NAR) in treatments or not, Fv/Fm value of the lowest leaves remained Balsam Fir? about 0.8 in ‘Chalit’s Fantasy’. Fv/Fm values declined gradually Mason T. MacDonald for the other six cultivars that had exposed to 3 μL·L–1 ethylene Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Bible Hill, NS; for 7 days. The cultivars with a lower Fv/Fm value are those [email protected] had more chlorotic leaves. Specified Source(s) of Funding:National Science Council Rajasekaran Lada* Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Bible Hill, NS; rlada@ (247) Humidity and Temperature Influence nsac.ca Ethylene Evolution and Needle Abscission in R. Scott Veitch Balsam Fir Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Bible Hill, NS; [email protected] Mason T. MacDonald Balsam fir trees are the most popular choice for Christmas Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Bible Hill, NS; trees in Atlantic Canada and a major export, though posthar- [email protected] vest needle abscission challenges the industry’s viability. The Rajasekaran Lada* objective of this study was to determine if any morphological Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; [email protected] characteristics may be linked with needle abscission resistance

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S393 (NAR) in balsam fir. A total of 17 different parameters were sterile double distilled H2O. The time until 50% of needle measured in branches of clones that belonged to three needle fall or 50% discoloration of needles, % biomass loss (fresh abscission resistant classifications. Of these parameters, sig- weight basis) and % needle loss (on a fresh weight basis) were nificant (P < 0.05) differences were found between branch monitored. Seedlings from both treatments lost 46% of their diameter, initial mass, needle density, break strength, and fresh weight and had 1.2% needle loss at the end of the experi- needle retention duration. It was found that high NAR mental period. Yet, low temperature-exposed seedlings held genotypes had a 9.1% smaller diameter, 25.0% lower ini- needles significantly longer (133 days) without discoloration tial mass, 33.2% lower needle break strength, 32.4% lower than the controls (122 days) indicating that low temperature needle density, and 91% longer needle retention than low NAR exposure can prolong postharvest needle retention by 10 days. clones. Of these factors, needle density was the best predic- We hypothesize that low temperature induces cold acclimation tor for needle retention duration (R2 = 38%). Identification of responses in balsam fir seedlings, irrespective of genotypes, these parameters is an important first step to understanding which subsequently improves retention period under posthar- physiological and genetic relationships and provides useful vest conditions. information for breeders in selecting Christmas trees with Specified Source(s) of Funding: NSERC-CRD, ACAAF, AIF high NAR. Specified Source(s) of Funding: AIF, NSERC-CRD (250) Postharvest Conservation of Ornamental Pineapple (Ananas spp.) (249) Low Temperature Exposure Increases the Rosa L. Hernández-Alvarez Postharvest Needle Retention of Balsam Fir Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo; lozcol@ (Abies balsamea) Genotypes gmail.com Arumugam Thiagarajan* Maria T. Colinas-Leon* Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro Nova Scotia, NS; Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Estado De MX 56230; [email protected] [email protected] Rajasekaran Lada Ma. Teresa Martínez-Damian Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS; rlada@nsac. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo; lozcol@ ca gmail.com Steeve Pepin Université Laval, Quebec City, QC; Steeve.Pepin@fsaa. Amando Espinosa-Flores ulaval.ca Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Chapingo; lozcol@ gmail.com Charles F. Forney Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS; Within horticulture, floriculture takes a very important role [email protected] due to the high commercial value of cut flowers, yet they are highly perishable. Among the cut plants recently introduced to Yves Desjardins the Mexican market are ornamental pineapples (Ananas spp.). Université Laval, Quebec City, QC; [email protected] It is necessary to generate information in terms of improving Martine Dorais their aesthetic value and reducing quality loss during posthar- Université Laval, Quebec City, QC; [email protected] vest handling delaying their senescence. The objective of this Balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill], a Christmas tree study was to determine the effect of preservative solutions, species known for its unique fragrance and pleasing architecture interacting with the use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) frequently encounters massive needle abscission and discol- in sachets, in the vase life of cut ornamental pineapples. The oration during postharvest. While, the trees are raised from solutions used were: T1: 8-Hidoxyquinoleine citrate (8-HQC) seedlings that could be genetically different due to non- (200 ppm) + sucrose (1%) + cytokinin (Cystar 0.5 mL·L–1);T2 controlled cross pollination, anecdotal evidence attribute this 8-HQC (200 ppm) + Cystar (0.5 5 mL·L–1); T3: 8-HQC (200 deterioration in quality to the early harvesting of the trees ppm) + sucrose (1%); T4: Water (control). Physical, chemical which prevents proper hardening). Accordingly, this study was and physiological evaluations were performed. The inclusion of conducted to evaluate the effects of low temperature (4 °C) 1-MCP sachets, reduced ethylene production. The best solution prior to harvest on the postharvest quality of balsam fir seed- was the one including 8-Hidoxyquinoleine citrate (200 ppm) lings. A total of 200 balsam fir seedlings arising from differ- + sucrose (1%) + cytokinin (Cystar 0.5 mL·L–1), either with or ent seed sources across Atlantic Canada were chosen for the without 1-MCP, as there was an increase in anthocyanin and study. Half of the population (n = 100) were exposed to carotenoid content, and a decrease in chlorophyll content, lower 4 °C (light intensity: 40 μmol·m–2·s–1 PAR; 60% RH) and weight loss and respiration rate, maintaining good quality for the rest (n = 100) were maintained at 22 °C temperature up to 28 days. (PAR: 120 μmol·m–2·s–1; 60% RH). Following the treatments, Specified Source(s) of Funding:Universidad Autónoma Chap- the roots were detached from all experimental units and ingo the shoots were transferred into 100 mL bottles containing

S394 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Tuesday, September 27, 2011 increasing material costs and health concerns (due to inhalation 1:15–2:00 pm Kona Ballroom of fine dust into the lungs) many growers are looking for alternatives. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a common, Propagation 2 aggressive tree species in the Great Plains region of the United States. Previous research with the production of ornamental (170) Genotype Variation of In Vitro nursery crops in eastern redcedar substrate has shown the Regeneration of Inkberry species to have good potential as an alternative substrate. The objective of this study was to evaluate eastern redcedar as a Fang Geng* substrate replacement for perlite in vegetative plant propagation. University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] Plants in this study included chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Youping Sun ×morifolium ‘Abelle’) and ivy germanium (Pelargonium pelta- Clemson University, Clemson, SC; [email protected] tum ‘GerIV Colorcade Cherry Red’). Chyrsanthemum cuttings Donglin Zhang were treated with 1500 ppm indole-3-butyric acid, potassium University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] salt (IBA-K) and all cuttings were grown in a greenhouse under overhead mist, which provided water every 10 min for 15 s, John Smagula and supplemental lighting, which provided 16 h day length. University of Maine, Orono, ME; [email protected] Five substrates consisting of perlite or redcedar that had been Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray (inkberry) has been successfully micro- processed through a hammer mill to pass a 0.48-cm screen propagated using nodal segments containing one axillary bud. were evaluated. These materials were blended to create a sub- However, genotype variation in tissue culture shoot proliferation strate containing either 1 100% perlite, 2) 25% redcedar: 75% and rooting has not been studied. ‘Leucocarpa’, ‘Pretty Boy’, perlite, 3) 50% redcedar: 50% perlite, 4) 75% redcedar: 25% ‘Pretty Girl’, and ‘Shamrock’ inkberry were cultured on MS + perlite or 5) 100% redcedar. No mix contained fertilizer and the 90 mM sucrose using nodal segments with one axillary bud (1- experiment lasted 26 days for chrysanthemum and 33 days for 1.5 cm). They were proliferated on MS + 4.5 μM ZT and rooted ivy geraniums. Results showed that root and shoot dry weight, on 1/4 MS plus 10.3 μM IBA. ‘Pretty Boy’ had greatest shoot root surface area and root volume were statistically similar for multiplication averaging 4 shoots per explant while ‘Leuco- all substrates in both species. However, root length generally carpa’, ‘Pretty Girl’, and ‘Shamrock’ produced an average of 2 decreased while root diameter increased in redcedar content shoots per explant. The length of ‘Pretty Boy’ and ‘Leucocarpa’ increased. Plants grown in redcedar had shorter, wider roots shoots was 4.5 cm, significantly higher than that of ‘Pretty Girl’ and plants grown in perlite had longer, finer roots. Despite this (2.5 cm) and ‘Shamrock’ (2.3 cm). ‘Pretty Boy’ microcuttings difference, both plants species were successfully propagated exhibited a higher rooting percentage (94.5%) compared to the demonstrating that eastern redcedar can be used as a propagation other three cultivars (72.3%). ‘Pretty Boy’ root quality, in terms substrate for both ivy geranium and chrysanthemum. of the root ball volume and root rating, was also better than the Specified Source(s) of Funding: USDA–ARS Floriculture and other three cultivars. ‘Shamrock’ had a little better rooting abil- Nursery Research Initiative ity than ‘Pretty Girl’ and ‘Leucocarpa’. The white fruit cultivar ‘Leucocarpa’ showed no difference from the cultivars that had (173) Use of Light-Emitting Diodes in black fruits. The results also suggest that gender might have an Anthurium Micropropagation important effect on the micropropagation, as there was a differ- Kent D. Kobayashi* ence in both shoot multiplication and root formation by ‘Pretty University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Boy’ (male) and ‘Pretty Girl’ (female). Further studies on the effects of gender on micropropagation of woody ornamental Teresita D. Amore plants should be investigated. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding:University of Maine Light quality influences the growth and morphology of plant tissues and plant development. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (172) Propagation of Chrysanthemum and Ivy offer precise control of light quality and spectral composition. A Geranium in Redcedar Substrate comparison of growth under LEDs and white fluorescent lamps Zachariah W. Starr was conducted by placing in vitro cultures of anthurium explants Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; [email protected] under red LEDs, blue LEDs, and white fluorescent lamps. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of red LEDs Cheryl R. Boyer* and blue LEDs on micropropagation of anthurium ‘Nitta’ and Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; crboyer@k-state. ‘Lavender Lady’ (UH 1145) explants. Leaf pieces, about 1 cm edu × 1 cm, were plated onto petri dishes containing half-strength Jason J. Griffin Murashige and Skoog medium (Caisson Laboratories MSP-009), Haysville, KS; [email protected] 0.2 mg/L IBA, 1 mg/L TDZ, 20 g/L sucrose and solidified with 2.0 g/L gellan gum (Caisson Laboratories G017), pH 5.7-5.8. Perlite is a common material used for propagation of ornamen- Once callus formed on the leaf tissues, calli pieces were then tal nursery crops throughout the United States. However with transferred to magenta boxes containing half-strength Murashige

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S395 and Skoog medium (Caisson Laboratories MSP-009), supple- Phytophthora infection and sprayed weekly with thiophanate mented with 15% coconut water, 20 g/L sucrose, solidified with methyl (Cleary 3336 WP) at 1 mL/L to prevent Botrytis infec- 2.0 g/L gellan gum, pH 5.7–5.8. The boxes with the explants were tion. Rooting was evaluated after 4 weeks. Results indicated placed under red LEDs, blue LEDs, and cool white fluorescent that overall, etiolated cuttings had 85% rooting and 7.2 roots lamps at a light level of 35 μmoles/m2/s, 12-hr photoperiod, and per cutting (mean of all cuttings), as compared to 17% rooting 21 °C. For ‘Nitta’ the red LEDs had greater shoot height than and 0.5 roots per cutting with non-etiolated cuttings. We con- the other treatments. Red LEDs resulted in greater total plantlet clude adventitious root formation in bigtooth was significantly fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, and callus fresh weight. The increased by etiolation of softwood cuttings. fluorescent lamps had a higher root fresh weight. The red LEDs had greater percent partitioning of shoot fresh weight than the other treatments. For ‘Lavender Lady’ the red LEDs had greater Tuesday, September 27, 2011 shoot height than the other treatments. The red LEDs and the 1:15–200 pm Kona Ballroom fluorescent lamps had greater total plantlet fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight than the blue LEDs. The Teaching Methods red LEDs had greater percent partitioning of shoot fresh weight (355) Development of Best Practices for Online and root fresh weight than the other treatments. In conclusion, LEDs offer a possible means of manipulating the growth of Instructional Design anthurium explants. Karen Midden* Specified Source(s) of Funding: Federal Floriculture Research Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; kmidden@ Grant; Hatch funding. siu.edu (174) Propagation of Acer grandidentatum by Heidi Jung Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL; hjung@lib. Etiolated Cuttings siu.edu Melody R. Richards Developing a new class, or updating an existing class, requires Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] careful design and evaluation by the instructor to ensure that the Larry A. Rupp* course is successful. This is especially challenging for courses to Utah State University, Logan, UT; [email protected] be delivered online. Quality online courses are built upon good instructional design; identifying learning outcomes, engaging Bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum Nutt.) is a small tree teaching strategies and assessing learning that reflects the desired native to the Intermountain West with unrealized potential as learning outcome. A new course, Designing Outdoor Spaces, a drought tolerant landscaping tree. Historically, this tree has was created as an online course for undergraduates and gradu- been difficult to propagate asexually, especially by cuttings. We ates at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. This course was examined the effect of etiolation on cutting propagation of six developed for a diverse student population including landscape selections of wild bigtooth maple from Cache County, UT grown horticulture, architecture, urban forestry, recreation and others as hedged stock plants grafted onto seedling rootstocks. In the involved in planning outdoor activities and spaces. This poster spring of 2010, shoots of stock plants were pruned just below session will describe the development process that an instructor the third node from the base of previous season’s shoot growth. and instructional designer went through building this online class Healthy shoots were randomly assigned to either etiolated or from beginning to implementation and continued evaluation. non-etiolated treatments (n = 18, 36, 18, 42, 22, and 39 per respective selection). Open-ended, black, velour, drawstring Specified Source(s) of Funding:SIUC Distance Learning Grant bags were placed over selected shoots at bud swell and tied just below the second node allowing shoots from the second node (356) Building Solutions in Africa: Students to develop and grow out the end of the bag while maintaining Engage in Cross-Cultural Learning through etiolation of the shoot base. The cuttings were harvested after Service 3 to 4 weeks, trimmed to two nodes, wounded, and the bases dipped for 5 seconds in 4000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid/ 2000 Paul C. Siciliano* Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; siciliano@purdue. ppm naphthaleneacetic acid (Dip ’N Grow). Cuttings were edu stuck in a pre-moistened 3 perlite : 1 peat (by volume) rooting substrate in every other cell of a 606 tray (63.5 mm × 63.5 Peter J. Caldwell mm × 76.2 mm cells) and placed on heating mats (20 to 30 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; pcaldwel@purdue. °C) under an intermittent mist system (7 s mist/12 min during edu the day using reverse osmosis water) surrounded by Reemay Landon G. Young and in a greenhouse with 60% shade and set at 21/15.5 °C D/N Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; lgyoung@purdue. temperatures. Flats were randomly repositioned on the bench edu every other day and any dead or diseased leaves removed. All cuttings were treated with a drench of Mefenoxam 2AQ at This article reflects on a service learning model that strives 0.6 mL/3.8 L (17 mL solution/cell) after sticking to prevent to teach the core principles of landscape architecture in a

S396 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 cross-cultural learning environment. Our case study examines A graduate student intern from Germany talked about organic a project that represents the work of World Help Solutions, farming in Germany, and a TPSS undergraduate spoke about an organization founded by Purdue University Landscape his aquaponics enterprise. Speakers used PowerPoint presenta- Architecture students to aid non-profit organizations. The tions, tours of laboratories and greenhouses, on campus tours, mission of this new service-learning organization is to provide and laboratory exercises. Various teaching techniques were sustainable design solutions that take into consideration the used in the course including lectures, small group discussions, unique contributions of residents and local experts who have class discussions, in-class activities, take-home assignments, knowledge of area conditions, needs and challenges. The work guest speakers, field trips, virtual field trips, podcasts, and of the organization includes meetings with intended recipients, laboratories. We increased the rigor of this course by incor- consultation with experts in the fields of question and testing porating more mathematics and quantitative reasoning, crop of possible solutions. In addition, the chapter members and growth and development, growth analysis, and crop modeling volunteers help the communities implement the plan. As part and simulation. Additional mathematics required for the course of this experience students gain new insights into diverse cul- included basic calculus. We incorporated tours of the leading tural systems and values, alternative professional approaches innovative research laboratories in our College of Tropical and design solutions, as well as their own individual identity Agriculture and Human Resources. Principal investigators, their that contributes to their world view. This paper describes the graduate students, and other members of their research group organization’s methods for engagement on a global level and spoke to the students about molecular, cellular biochemical, examines the opportunities that it provides students for putting and genetic approaches; plant biotechnology; gene regulation; their experience and research to work to transform both people plant-microbe interaction; remote sensing and GIS; marine and place. The service learning project described in this paper peptide biochemistry; and postharvest physiology. The class was completed in 2010. It involved the design and construction visited the first of its kind green roof system on the C-MORE of a series of erosion control dams in Kigoma, Tanzania, a city Hale building on campus. The course provided more diverse on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in central Africa. This learning experiences and hands-on activities. The integration work in Kigoma identifies the successes of participatory engage- of graduate and undergraduate guest speakers into the course ment and serves as a model for the possibilities and challenges worked well, with beneficial results for the speakers and the of cross-cultural service learning. The project was successful students. Students commented that TPSS 300 was a valuable in demonstrating to the people of this poor city of 135,000 the learning experience. value of trees in an urban setting, and how to manage water Specified Source(s) of Funding:TPSS Department Funds as a precious commodity in an area where survival hinges on the arrival of the rainy season. In a city that reflects the social (358) Keeping up with the Times: Enhancement and environmental inequities present in the world today, Pur- of Topics in a Tropical Production Systems due students did something that changed lives. Cross-cultural Course service learning projects such as this acknowledge the global character of our profession and prepare students for participa- Kauahi Perez* tion as responsible and ethical practitioners. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; bronsonp@ hawaii.edu (357) Evolution of a Tropical Production Kent D. Kobayashi Systems Course University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] Kent D. Kobayashi* Ping-Fang Wu University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; [email protected] University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; pingfang@ hawaii.edu Ping-Fang Wu University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; pingfang@ TPSS 300 Tropical Production Systems is a horticulture course hawaii.edu with two 75-minute lectures and one 3-hour lab per week. Prior to 2008, past undergraduates who had taken this course often Kauahi Perez spoke of discordance in topics and overuse of guest lecturers. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI; bronsonp@ In the Spring 2008, a new instructor was appointed to teach this hawaii.edu course. As a result of consulting with previous instructors who For the spring semester 2011, we revised TPSS 300 Tropical taught this course and the graduate teaching assistant, TPSS 300 Production Systems, updating its topics, content, and teaching underwent major revisions in topics, content, and pedagogy. It methods to meet the changing needs of the students. Discussions included a wider range of topics such as systems analysis, envi- with the current and previous graduate teaching assistants for this ronmental monitoring, cropping systems, sustainable agriculture, course aided in the revision of the course topics. We included hydroponics, green roofing, urban agriculture, mechanization, plasticulture, soilless growing media, container gardening, and virtual field trips. These topics provided undergraduates with computer applications in horticulture, and roof gardens. As guest much needed, broader-scoped exposure to aspects of various speakers in the course, graduate students spoke on field agri- agricultural systems. The course also involved more interaction culture, crop breeding, and native plant roadside re-vegetation. with the instructor and between students through small group

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S397 and class discussions, allowing for active learning in a relaxed soft skills were identified and organized with a cluster analysis atmosphere. The teaching assistant’s role in the class was also process. Cluster analysis was used to create seven primary cat- more involved by giving lectures and running class discussions. egories of skill sets which each contain up to seven elements Over the years the instructor and the teaching assistants have to be rank ordered from most to least important: Experience, modified the course by maintaining and including topics that Team Skills, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Deci- students from previous years found beneficial, based on course sion Making/Problem Solving Skills, Self-Management Skills, evaluations. Topics that have been maintained include systems and Professionalism Skills. Findings will compare and contrast analysis, environmental monitoring, sustainable agriculture, and perceptions, identify misconceptions and propose key areas for virtual field trips. Graduate students were a novel addition to the consideration in curriculum development. Analysis includes lecture schedule of this course. Graduates gave invited talks on cross-tabulations, correlations, and ANOVA for disciplinary either their own research or their experiences working in produc- groupings and stakeholder groups. Inclusion of employers will tion systems at local, national and international locations. This aid the dialogue between universities/colleges with their respec- allowed undergraduates to compare between different productive industry stakeholders. tion systems, while simultaneously allowing graduate students Specified Source(s) of Funding:Michigan State University to share their firsthand experiences. Certain graduate students also gave tours of labs they worked in and provided hands-on (360) Designing an Undergraduate Ornamental activities for the undergraduates of this course. This year, TPSS Crop Production Course That Integrates Crop 300 included lecture topics on mathematics for the horticultural Monitoring, Data Collection, and Team-based industry, crop growth analysis, modeling and simulation, soilless Decision Making growing media, computer applications in horticulture, and future technology. Laboratories were also revamped to include visits Christopher J. Currey* to cutting-edge labs to expose students to molecular advances in Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; [email protected] agriculture and environmental resource management. Overall, Michael V. Mickelbart Tropical Production Systems TPSS 300 has evolved to explore Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; mmickelb@ new topics to raise awareness of production systems both inside purdue.edu and outside of the field of horticulture. Roberto G. Lopez Specified Source(s) of Funding:State Funds Purdue University, West Lafayete, IN; [email protected] (359) Comparative Analysis of Skills Employers Laboratory-based classes in ornamental crop production where Are Looking for in New Graduates: Perceptions students have the opportunity to grow plants in a greenhouse of Alumni, Employers, Academics, and Students are essential for undergraduates interested in commercial horticulture production. Prospective employers of ornamental plant Suzanne Lang* producers also expect students to have the skill set necessary Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; langsu@ to implement current crop management practices to meet crop msu.edu quality specifications, in addition to having the interpersonal Pat Crawford skills to work as part of a production team. Frequently, students Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; crawf203@ in crop production courses are assigned a variety of greenhouse msu.edu crops to grow throughout the semester using minimal data to guide their decision-making during production. However, Rob Dalton primary potted flowering crops such as the poinsettia require Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; daltonr1@ msu.edu very intense management to produce a crop that meets current commercial standards. Total crop management (TCM) is a Laura Fielitz hands-on and decision-making horticulture course designed Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; fielitzl@ to allow students to integrate collected data from the green- msu.edu house environment (light, temperature, relative humidity), Curricular redesign is a major priority for universities across plant growth (graphical tracking), media properties (pH and the United States. This research is a cross-institutional survey, EC), irrigation water quality (pH and EC), and pest population with 29 participating institutions, focusing on the question, monitoring, and use this data to make management decisions. “What soft skills are employers looking for in new graduates?” The goal of HORT 49100 is to allow students to utilize TCM Multiple perspectives (alumni, employers, academics and stu- in the production of a high-quality finished crop of poinsettias. dents) in agriculture and related fields are used. The survey is By the end of the class, students will understand how to collect based on the review of nearly 80 employability skill articles and and interpret relevant data, and make appropriate management pervious surveys by government (i.e., U.S. Department of Labor), decisions based on data to produce a uniform, high-quality, and non-profit, and industry-affiliated organizations for the U.S., marketable crop. Students will be given pre- and post-course Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, which were examined assessments to measure their understanding of TCM principles to understand existing information of what employers are look- and practices.Laboratory-based classes in ornamental crop ing for and key skills for competitive employment. Forty-nine production where students have the opportunity to grow plants

S398 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 in a greenhouse are essential for undergraduates interested in ing those pedagogies in a horticultural context. Topics include: commercial horticulture production. Prospective employers DNA extraction, simulations and genetic modules, fast plant of ornamental plant producers also expect students to have genetics and seed growth chambers. Students also present the skill set necessary to implement current crop management activities they will teach in their future classrooms relating to practices to meet crop quality specifications, in addition to hav- horticultural sciences, some activities presented included: plant ing the interpersonal skills to work as part of a production team. parts, domestication of crops, herbicide applications, and soil Frequently, students in crop production courses are assigned a testing. Along with the topics, content, and format of the course, variety of greenhouse crops to grow throughout the semester the professor also has a mixture of horticulture and extension using minimal data to guide their decision-making during pro- experience. This affords access to beneficial horticultural educa- duction. However, primary potted flowering crops such as the tion resources that can be passed on to the pre-service teachers. poinsettia require very intense management to produce a crop During an informal post-course discussion, students indicated the that meets current commercial standards. Total crop management resources provided allowed them to feel more self-efficacious (TCM) is a hands-on and decision-making horticulture course to student-teach and more comfortable teaching horticultural designed to allow students to integrate collected data from the content. Students also indicated horticultural topics they still greenhouse environment (light, temperature, relative humidity), did not feel confident teaching (e.g., landscape design) and plant growth (graphical tracking), media properties (pH and vocalized a desire for more resources and activities. For this EC), irrigation water quality (pH and EC), and pest population reason, the “ALS: Teaching with Plants” course is considering monitoring, and use this data to make management decisions. an increase from 4 weeks to a semester long (16 weeks), allow- The goal of HORT 49100 is to allow students to utilize TCM ing more laboratory time and curriculum preparation for both in the production of a high-quality finished crop of poinsettias. faculty and students. In turn, this should increase pre-service By the end of the class, students will understand how to collect teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching horticultural content in their and interpret relevant data, and make appropriate management future classrooms. decisions based on data to produce a uniform, high-quality, and marketable crop. Students will be given pre- and post-course (362) “My Strawberry Mutant”—Introducing assessments to measure their understanding of TCM principles Students to Plants Using Induced Genetic and practices. Variation (361) Connecting Pre-service Agricultural Kevin M. Folta* Education Students to Horticultural Teaching University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Practices and Resources David Salama University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Kathryn S. Orvis* Purdue University & YDAE, West Lafayette, IN; orvis@ Chaparro, José X. purdue.edu University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] Amy J. Jones Vance Whitaker Purdue University & YDAE, West Lafayette, IN; orvis@ University of Florida, Wimauma, FL; [email protected] purdue.edu The diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is an attractive As the population of the United States and world grows, the system for research, but also for teaching students about plant need for efficient food production becomes more salient, science. It has a tiny sequenced genome, it grows in minimal thus making individuals with knowledge and understanding space, and findings are relatable to other members of the Ro- of the agriculture industry and STEM careers increasingly saceae. Most of all, it produces strawberries, small pods of necessary. At [UNIVERSITY], students majoring in agricultural flavor and aroma reminiscent of the familiar dessert fruit. The education are offered courses to build their knowledge and “My Strawberry Mutant” program leverages these advantages understanding of agriculture. In turn, as teachers they will be to attract college students to plant research. An EMS-muta- able to communicate and teach their students, positively increas- genized population of strawberry plants was produced. The ing their students’ interest in agriculture and STEM careers. M1 plants were selfed and M2 plants analyzed for phenotypes. One course offered to address this need is part of an Advanced In the program, students screen seedlings from individual Life Science (ALS) course block and is titled “ALS: Teach- lines on Petri dishes, looking for variation in seedling stature, ing with Plants.” This course, created in 2008, is offered to pigmentation or development that deviates from wild type. agricultural education students in their final spring semester, Other students opt to screen thousands of seedlings simul- four weeks prior to their student teaching experiences. The taneously in response to various treatments, such as light, purpose of this content-specific course is to provide pre-service temperature or growth regulators. Mutants are then monitored students with lessons, activities, resources and experiments that throughout their entire life cycle, from Petri dish, to flat, to prepare them to introduce horticultural content into their future field. Students are free to visit the laboratory, greenhouse or classrooms. The course begins with a review of educational field during “open lab” times established every week. Their pedagogies taught during their previous coursework. Students careful analysis and characterization of a single genotype are then shown how to include methods and activities reflect- provides a strong sense of ownership in the project, and tend

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S399 to take characterization and analysis very seriously. Sound those terms. All three tools aid with studying by providing data on growth, development and physiology are readily ob- students with immediate feedback. The mean quiz scores of tained. Mutants are crossed back to wild-type plants to test students have improved once they began using the online review the nature of the mutation, reinforcing classroom concepts identification tool. The new website has a cleaner, fresh look, in genetics. Students retreat to the literature in an attempt to is editable by non-coders, and easy to navigate. The Accor- find candidate genes contributing to the phenotype. Likely dent guest lectures allow students to identify with native plant candidates are cloned by PCR and sequenced to test student experts and learn new concepts from different perspectives. hypotheses. The long-term goal of “My Strawberry Mutant” These interactive learning tools will not only benefit students is to generate a set of plants with clear mutations that segre- enrolled in this specific course, but can be adapted to a variety gate predictably—coinciding with the eventual low cost of of courses within and outside of the University of Florida. sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing of plants bulked by Specified Source(s) of Funding:UF CALS Mini –Grant Program phenotype will reveal at least a firm candidate set of genes that are likely causal to the traits observed. This project uses (364) Integrating Extension Instruction and mutagenized strawberry as a teaching tool to reinforce concepts Traditional Student Learning Using a Hybrid of physiology, development and genetics. In two semesters Course Format with minimal recruitment, over fifty students participated in the project. You might see their results at ASHS 2012 or in Rhoda L. Burrows* peer-reviewed publication. The project uses a familiar fruit South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD; rhoda. to teach students about plant biology, while at the same time [email protected] connecting important traits to the genes that control them. The Kimberly James project has dividends in the lab and classroom, while contribut- South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; kimberly. ing to development of new genetic resources that will assist in [email protected] research and breeding. One-credit topic-focused module courses in fruit and vegetable Specified Source(s) of Funding: Florida Agricultural Experi- production are replacing a previous multiple-credit produc- ment Station tion course series at South Dakota State University. These (363) Interactive Review Exercises for Online modules are offered sequentially throughout a semester to provide flexibility in our fruit and vegetable production course Native Plant Identification and Use offerings. It was hoped that the new modified short-course Kristin R. Campbell format would also attract local producers and county-based University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL; [email protected] extension educators. To further realize that outreach goal, we began using Desire2Learn (D2L), an online course delivery Sandra B. Wilson* system, to deliver the majority of the course content, including University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL; [email protected] readings, links to videos and other content, quizzes, and discus- Aaron Sotala sion boards. However, access for potential students living at a University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; [email protected] further distance across the state was still hindered by a require- A traditional Florida Native Landscaping Course (ORH ment that students meet weekly on campus for discussions, 3815/5815C) taught onsite in Fort Pierce, FL, was partially guest speakers, and various hands-on activities. In 2011, we converted for web-based delivery. To support this transition, altered the setup to include a “Continuing Education” (CEU) three interactive instruments were developed for students option, which allows non-University learners to take the to 1) test their plant identification knowledge, 2) associate course for continuing education credits, at a considerable cost landscape performance with native ecosystem characteris- savings compared to receiving university credit. In addition, tics, and 3) practice leaf terminology with specific plant ex- we offered these students the option of joining the weekly amples. In addition, guest web-lectures were developed and classroom discussions via Skype, a software application for produced by several invited speakers using an Accordent conference voice calls over the Internet. Our initial course Capture Station. The course website was completely offered in this manner was “Organic Vegetable Production,” redesigned to showcase these new learning tools, facilitate with outside participation deliberately limited (18 traditional navigation, and improve overall appearance and use. The plant + 2 CEU students) in order to test the system. With positive identification tool was developed using Microsoft Excel 2007 feedback, we publicized our next course “Tomatoes & Pep- to test students’ ability to write out the scientific and common pers,” and enrolled a total of 35 students, 19 CEU and 16 tradi- names of plants taught in class using formulas consisting of tional. The CEU students bring a level of enthusiasm, practical logic statements. The ecosystem tool utilized photos from production experience, and insight to class discussion that each of Florida’s major ecosystems in conjunction with sets contributes greatly to student learning. This format allows us to of multi-choice questions. The leaf terminology tool utilized a maximize both teaching and extension effectiveness, by creating drag-and-drop interface where students were asked to associate a synergistic learning environment despite limited resources. a list of terms with a series of leaf photos that best illustrate Specified Source(s) of Funding:South Dakota State University

S400 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 (365) The Process of Creating a Mobile (366) Experiences Developing Online Lab Application for Teaching and Learning Courses Delivered Using Moodle Herbaceous Ornamentals James McConnell* Michael Reinert* University of Guam, Mangilao; [email protected] Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] The experiences of developing an on-line course in Plant Biology Cynthia Haynes are presented. This course was originally delivered face-to-face. Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] Over the last two years, the course has evolved from face-to- face to being a hybrid to being fully on-line, including the lab Kevin Duerfeldt activities. Currently, the lab activities are done by students at Iowa State University, Ames, IA; [email protected] home using a commercial lab kit which is supplemented with A socio-technical interaction network (STIN) was used on-line images and discussion using Moodle. Experiences in- as a model to create a mobile application for teaching and cluded developing the course materials including customizing learning herbaceous ornamentals for Horticulture 330 at a lab kit involved considerations of materials available in the Iowa State University . STIN is a model from an area of re- tropics in the islands of the Western Pacific. search called information systems design that can be used to Specified Source(s) of Funding:USDA-NIFA; Resident Instruc- provide a better understanding of human interaction and tion for Insular Areas technology. The objective of this project was to use STIN to outline decisions necessary in developing an application for mobile technologies such as a smart phone. This model con- Tuesday, September 27, 2011 sists of three parts: 1) identifying socio-technical elements, 2) identifying architectural choice points, and 3) mapping 3:00–4:00 pm Kona Ballroom these to each other. Some socio-techncal elements include: matching interest groups with technical needs/roles, incen- Power of Partnerships in Public tives for participation, comparison of existing technologies Horticulture Poster Workshop and tools, and the flow of resources including money. Architectural choice points are defined as choosing between Sponsor: Public Horticuture (PUBHORT) Working Group differing alternatives in technological features or social ar- Ed Moydell, Director of Bloedell Reserve, defined public rangements. For the development of this mobile application horticulture as “the art and science of cultivating plants in the interest groups identified included faculty, support staff, spaces for public use and enrichment, including public gardens, administrators, students, and an app development company. conservatories, arboretums, municipal parks and gardens, Incentives and needs for each group varied considerably. cemeteries, museums with public landscapes, nature centers For example, faculty needs included creating teaching and and zoological parks.” Within and among these practitioners learning materials for students, providing evidence of scholar- of public horticulture, alliances play a key role in determining ship of teaching, and generating revenue. Student incentives success. This poster workshop focuses on the opportunities included the desire for mobile study materials and engag- for and outcomes from collaborations in public horticulture. ing ways to learn new information. The incentives for other Building relationships and subsequent partnerships can enhance groups will also be presented. Some existing learning materials fiscal and non-fiscal resources, visitation, collections, and many in this situation include course lectures, course packets, other areas. Universities and colleges, professional organiza- handouts, and textbooks. Resource flows include university tions, non-profits, and green industry can serve as partners to money, faculty time, and employee time needed in developing the benefit of all parties involved. supporting materials and services. To complete the socio-technical analysis we conducted a survey with past (367) HGTV and Public Horticulture: A Unique Horticulture 330 students to indentify potential choice points. Finally we mapped all the socio-technical analysis with the Partnership with the University of Tennessee technological features and social arrangements to determine Susan Hamilton* the features and functionality of the app. Plant location map- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; [email protected] ping, custom note taking, quizzes with score comparison A powerhouse in media communications, HGTV is widely between classmates, study aids, forums, lecture notes, custom known for their television and web programming focused on syllabi, a plant glossary, and an identification key are a few home and garden. Although media communication experts, of the features developed from the use of the STIN model. HGTV felt their campus grounds around their Knoxville, TN This app will be tested beginning in fall 2011 with students in headquarters did not reflect the horticultural information and Horticulture 330 at Iowa State University . practices they teach in their programming. Wanting to put into practice what they teach, HGTV has partnered with the Univer-

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S401 sity of Tennessee Public Horticulture program to develop their Felicia Yu campus grounds into a dynamic teaching and demonstration University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, landscape that benefits not only their employees but students DE; [email protected] in the UT public horticulture program as well. The University Robert E. Lyons of Tennessee is uniquely positioned with undergraduate con- University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] centrations in both public horticulture and landscape design. Additionally, the UT campus is less then a 15-minute drive to The Professional Outreach Project is a six-month service project HGTV’s headquarters. Student interns gain hands-on experience carried out by the Longwood Graduate Program Fellows that in creating and maintaining a ‘cutting-edge’ landscape includ- benefits a regional public horticulture institution, while offering ing making interpretative signage and plant labels; teaching the students a valuable experiential learning opportunity. The monthly ‘lunch n’ learn’ employee seminars; and leading a 2010 project was a collaboration with the Delaware Department monthly employee ‘garden walk’ around the HGTV campus of Health and Social Services (DHSS) in New Castle, Delaware landscape. HGTV employees benefit from an enhanced work and a number of other public and non-profit organizations. An environment and an outdoor classroom and laboratory providing Advisory Committee comprised of the Garden Project Manager reality education about plants, gardening, and landscaping. The (Plant Industries Administrator for the Delaware Department of vision, mission, and details of this mutually beneficial partner- Agriculture), the Director of the Longwood Graduate Program, ship will be presented. This partnership serves as an excellent and two professionals in landscape design and community garden model of the unique opportunities and outcomes that can be development provided guidance and oversight. The students created in public horticulture. developed a conceptual plan for the proposed therapeutic and community garden on a one-acre vacant lot in the center of the Specified Source(s) of Funding:HGTV DHSS Holloway Campus. Garden elements included a learning and healing space for residents of the Delaware Psychiatric (368) The Professional Outreach Project: A Center and other DHSS recovery programs, as well as flexible Collaboration between the Longwood Graduate garden space for employees of the Holloway campus, local garden Program and the Delaware Department of clubs, and community service groups. Throughout the project, Health and Social Services the students worked closely with institutional stakeholders to determine who the garden will serve and how to best meet their Raakel Toppila* needs. A focus group with key stakeholders, interviews with University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, Psychiatric Center residents, and an employee survey informed DE; [email protected] the development of a design program, which identified a priori- Rebecca S. Pineo tized set of garden requirements. The students then led a design University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, charrette with designers and stakeholders to craft ideas for the DE; [email protected] garden layout. Finally, the knowledge gained from six months of investigation culminated in a functional diagram, conceptual Kate Baltzell plan, recommendations document, and idea image panels for University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, the future garden, all of which were presented at a final meet- DE; [email protected] ing of project participants, including the Delaware Secretaries James Hearsum of Agriculture and Health and Social Services. The poster will University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, present specific project details and examples of tangible deliv- DE; [email protected] erables produced by this successful collaboration. Ashby Leavell Specified Source(s) of Funding:Longwood Graduate Program University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, in Public Horticulture DE; [email protected] (369) New Partnership Promotes Internships in Aubree Pack Public Horticulture University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, DE; [email protected] Vikram Krishnamurthy* University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] Zoe Panchen University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, Robert E. Lyons DE; [email protected] University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] Dongah Shin A new partnership among the Center for Public Horticulture at University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, UD (CPH), American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and DE; [email protected] Internships.com^(tm)provides public horticulture students, educators and employers with state-of-the-art tools for Laura Vogel matching candidates with internships worldwide. The intern- University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, ship experience, which links academic work with real-world DE; [email protected] learning, is an increasingly important element of a student’s

S402 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 resume when applying for jobs upon graduation. In the current Peter J. Caldwell climate of high unemployment and job scarcity, especially for Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; pcaldwel@purdue. 20–24 year-olds, internships provide a competitive advantage edu for job-seekers that academic experience alone cannot provide. The Purdue Arboretum currently serves as an important living At the same time, leaders in the field of public horticulture cite laboratory and classroom for numerous Purdue courses taught in hands-on training and real world experience for new employ- life science fields like horticulture, urban forestry, plant pathol- ees among the profession’s greatest needs. Although there are ogy and entomology and the fine arts like landscape architecture, numerous opportunities for internships in public horticulture drawing, and painting. It’s common to see researchers on the worldwide, promotion of internships in public horticulture has campus exploring topics as diverse as plant-insect and pathogen historically been a fragmented endeavor. Public gardens often interactions, taxonomy, microclimatology, urban ecology, and post internships on their own websites; however, this limits the environmental sustainability. An important goal of the Purdue audience to website visitors and local students. Last published Arboretum is to create a world-class outdoor facility that expands in 2006, the APGA Public Garden Internship Directory listed teaching effectiveness and increases the opportunity for more a variety of internships at more than 70 public horticulture useful, high impact scholarship. The Campus Arboretum idea institutions across North America. Annual development, began in 2008 with the goal to recreate the Purdue campus as publishing and distribution of the guide to APGA member a living laboratory to enhance learning and discovery and to gardens required considerable resources, and the directory did improve its value as a resource for university engagement. As not ensure effective engagement of academic programs. The a public institution, the Purdue Arboretum seeks to serve the Center for Public Horticulture, supported by the University people of Indiana by providing a unique collection of plants, of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, seeks to coordinate gardens, artworks, walking trails, and green spaces that can partnerships among academic institutions, public gardens and be used and appreciated by the broadest segment of Indiana’s professional organizations. With this goal in mind, this new population. The success of the arboretum depends on signifi- collaboration provides enhanced and free access to internship cant involvement of faculty, staff, and students from across the listings for students, university programs, and public gardens. campus, as well as individuals, community groups, and private Internships.com™ provides the platform to promote internships organizations both locally and beyond. Over 36,000 plants are to students at specific universities with horticulture majors via recorded in the current collections organized on an ArcGIS a network of university career service centers. The website database. The database will contribute to a comprehensive delivers updated listings, automated application and candidate website that when completed, will have a searchable version of selection tools for the users, as well as statistical internship data the campus-wide map so that plants can be easily located. The that will benefit the profession. By creating one’s own account mission of the arboretum is to collect and display landscape profile, a student is able to search internships, post a resume, plants from around the world in a way that enhances the edu- and access a number of free professional resources. Individual cational, research, and outreach mission of Purdue University, gardens, arboreta, and similar institutions create free, unique promoting environmental sustainability through example, and accounts for posting and updating opportunities, searching for increasing the beauty of the campus. The arboretum plans to candidates and managing applicants. Gardens and arboreta also collect and display the best woody plant selections for use in have access to valuable resources for developing and managing managed landscapes of Indiana and the greater Midwestern US. internship programs, best practices and recommendations from Another goal is the creation of interpretive gardens that will experts in the internship field. The website also contains easy accommodate different levels of association and awareness for and direct access to social and professional networking sites a diverse group of garden users. The cornerstone garden in this to form stronger connections with potential interns, interested collection is the Horticulture Garden adjacent the Horticulture employers and internship placements. building. A goal of this garden is to provide state of the art Specified Source(s) of Funding:The Center for Public Horticul- demonstrations and information on the use of traditional and ture is supported by the University of Delaware and Longwood novel plants in a variety of outdoor settings. Gardens. (371) The Longwood Graduate Program— (370) A Living Laboratory: The Purdue A Partnership between Longwood Gardens and Arboretum—Enhancing the Educational, the University of Delaware Research, and Outreach Mission of the Douglas C. Needham* University Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; dneedham@ Paul C. Siciliano* longwoodgardens.org Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; siciliano@purdue. Robert E. Lyons edu University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] Matthew A. Jenks The Longwood Graduate Program is a partnership between Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; jenksm@purdue. Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, and the University edu of Delaware, Newark, DE. The two-year academic program

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S403 was founded in 1967 and to date has graduated over 150 Fel- loss through container walls; amount of water required to lows. Each year, five Fellows matriculate at the University to produce a marketable crop and the interval of time between achieve the degree of MS in Public Horticulture through aca- irrigations; greenhouse and field plant growth; and container demic coursework and thesis research. The Program is both a biodegradability in the field and during compost produc- financial and experiential partnership between the two insti- tion. Specific experiments took place at one or two of the tutions. The academic unit resides within the Department of institutions while other experiments took place at all three Plant and Soil Sciences, the Director has faculty status, and is locations. Through a collaborative research effort many more salaried by the University of Delaware. Longwood Gardens properties of the biocontainers could be evaluated. The power fully funds each year’s five Fellows and the Program falls of the research results was also greatly increased by conduct- within the purview of its Education Department. The partnering certain experiments at multiple locations. Furthermore, ship affords all Fellows and the Director opportunities for this collaboration has enhanced the reach of communica- integration into all levels of staff structure and functions at tion of the research results. To date, this collaboration has Longwood Gardens, including but not limited to meetings, lead to two refereed publications, six popular press articles, projects, and program planning and implementation. Con- three abstracts, five presentations at grower meetings and versely, several of Longwood Gardens’ PhD staff members one blog article. Additionally, each one of these forms of hold adjunct faculty positions at the University. Fellows communication recognizes the research programs at Longwood are deeply involved in the public horticulture profession Gardens, Louisiana State University and the University of through several on-site and outreach projects. Each year the Arkansas. Fellows plan, develop, and implement a professional sympo- Specified Source(s) of Funding: Arkansas Division of Agri- sium for peer professionals; partner with a public horticulture culture, Longwood Gardens and Louisiana State University institution to produce tangible solutions for challenging, real world needs of a client institution; and participate on regional Boards, to name but a few of the Program’s components. (373) Recommendations for Communicating The Program emphasizes experiential learning and provides Sustainable Landscaping Initiatives extraordinary opportunities for leadership and career develop- Rebecca S. Pineo* ment, national and international travel, conference attendance, University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, and networking. DE; [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Longwood Gardens and the Robert E. Lyons University of Delaware University of Delaware and Longwood Gardens, Newark, DE; [email protected] (372) Research At Public Gardens—Increasing Susan S. Barton Scope, Impact, and Recognition through University of Delaware, Newark, DE; [email protected] University Collaboration Marnie Conley Matthew D. Taylor* Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; mconley@ Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; mtaylor@ longwoodgardens.org longwoodgardens.org Sustainable landscaping practices are increasingly being Michael R. Evans implemented on publicly viewed landscapes. However, visible University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; mrevans@uark. attributes of sustainable landscaping practices may conflict edu with preferences and expectations of stakeholders, and en- Jeff Kuehny vironmental benefits may not be inherently recognizable. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; jkuehny@ Making benefits explicit through communication can help agcenter.lsu.edu garner acceptance of and support for sustainable landscaping initiatives, and this research proposed strategies to do so in In 2008, Longwood Gardens had a research objective to the Mid-Atlantic region. Methodologies included a targeted evaluate many of the newly developed biodegradable survey of green industry professionals, selective interviews, containers available for use in the horticulture industry. Upon and a corporate campus case study. Two expert interviews were further investigation, Longwood’s research staff determined also conducted, one in sustainable landscaping and interpreta- there were similar efforts taking place on biocontainers by tion, and one in green industry marketing. The findings illumi- Michael Evans at the University of Arkansas and Jeff Kuehny nated a range of considerations when planning communication at Louisiana State University. Following several conversions, initiatives, including management, market, and mechanics fac- the determination was made that the three institutions would tors; desired messages; and potential communication strategies. collaborate to evaluate the following criteria associated with For each organization, the considerations combine to create each biocontainer: wet and dry vertical, horizontal and punch communication opportunities reflective of desired outcomes, strength; algal and fungal growth on container walls; water operational capacity, and target audiences. When resources are

S404 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 limited, both internal and external collaborations can enhance (375) Evolution to Revolutionary: From Trial capacity for communications. Translating the implicit desire Blocks to a Burgeoning Botanical Garden for communications into an explicit plan of action is needed to prioritize communication efforts, and to recognize their role David F. Graper* as an essential component of sustainable landscaping itself. A South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; david. set of recommendations for green industry professionals will [email protected] be presented. Potential opportunities for public horticulture Peter R. Schaefer institutions are also highlighted. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; peter. [email protected] Specified Source(s) of Funding: Longwood Gardens and Uni- versity of Delaware Martin N. Maca South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; martin. (374) Developing Opportunities in Public [email protected] Horticulture for Generation Y McCrory Gardens officially began in 1966 when the first two display gardens replaced a two-acre section of shelterbelt evalu- Brian Trader* ation and trial blocks on the current site on the east side of the Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA; btrader@ campus of South Dakota State University . Displaying adapted longwoodgardens.org ornamental plants in a landscape setting was a novel idea at The next generation of leaders is among us, in our schools, that time since most evaluative research in this area was done in front of gaming stations or on Facebook, but not so much by planting out rows and blocks of plants. McCrory Gardens in our gardens. As horticulture professionals, how can we was meant to appeal to the average home gardener, showing entice Generation Y away from their cellular phones and their visitors how plants, hardy to the Northern Great Plains, could social media-driven lives? Longwood Gardens is partnering be utilized in the home garden and landscape. As the gardens with regional high schools to develop programming and became more popular, people asked to sponsor new gardens or opportunities for students interested in public horticulture. plant collections which helped the gardens to grow and expand. Through programs such as the High School Summer Intern- The gardens have slowly evolved 1964 to 2010. A revolution ship Program (HSSIP) and a new Co-op program, Longwood is underway with the new Education and Visitor Center and Gardens is increasing the exposure of public horticulture to the master planning process which will have attendant major young adults. The HSSIP Program at Longwood Gardens changes to gardens and adjacent arboretum. The new Center expanded to nine students representing six different high will become the focal point of new gardens and will enable us schools in 2010. This program, once a partnership between to serve a whole new audience of students, and gardeners by just two schools, has grown and encompasses much more than providing greatly expanded educational and meeting facilities and just horticulture. Last year, interns were exposed to various programming to bring us into the realm of a true botanic garden. field trips, learning activities, lectures, and even a community Cooperation also evolved over this period, but now a revolution outreach project, but they worked in education, facilities and in cooperation at all levels will be required to succeed. McCrory even the gift shop. This experience allows today’s youth to Gardens has been successful because of dedicated hard work by understand that there is much more to public horticulture than the faculty, staff and student gardeners that have worked there just plants and gardens. What are these students doing now? over the years. We have also relied on partnerships with a wide They are applying and being accepted into college and variety of supporters, collaborators and friends. Internal partners universities to study landscaping, turf, and horticulture. Long- have included department faculty and staff in conjunction with wood is forging ahead with a new initiative to engage high college and university administration that have provided salary school students beyond the summer months with a new Co-op support and some O&M. Last year the university administration program. This program is set to launch in fall of 2011 and will provided the funds necessary to conduct a master plan with a engage students in various areas across the garden throughout professional planning firm in PA. Of course, an integral component the school year. Culinary, mechanics, HVAC, security, carpen- in fund raising has been working with our foundation that has try, and of course horticulture are just a few of the areas where provided us with our own representative for the past six years. these Co-ops are being extended. In preparation for the new Research and evaluation has also been supported by the SDSU program, students have been shadowing Longwood Gardens’ Agricultural Experiment Station, All America Selections, NC-7, staff and visiting the gardens on guided tours. We anticipate the South Dakota nursery and landscape industry and various plant that this experiential learning and on-the-job training will raise breeders and seed companies. Most importantly, however, has awareness about plants, the environment, sustainable practices, been the support of our Friends of McCrory Gardens, individual but more importantly the scope and breadth of opportunities in donors, our local city and others that have supported our efforts public horticulture. financially through the years. Specified Source(s) of Funding:Endowment Specified Source(s) of Funding:South Dakota State University and private donors * * *

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S405 ASHS Annual Conference, September 25–28, 2011 Waikoloa, Hawaii Index of Authors, Coordinators, and Moderators

A Anderson, Dan S119, S144, S172 Anderson, Kathy Kelley S135 Abbott, Albert S52 Andresen, Jeffrey A. S323 Abbott, Michael S172 Annon, Ali H. S102 Abney, Kristin S201 Annous, Bassam S224 Abubakari, Abdul-Halim S379 Anthon, Gordon E. S225 Adams, Azure S365 Anwar, Raheel S157, S185 Adams, Stacy A. S112 Appiah, Francis S379 Adelberg, Jeffrey W. S150 Apostolides, Z. S363 Adjekum, A. Adjei S282 Arakawa, Claire S74, S88 Adkins, Craig S167, S377 Arakawa, Takahiro S333 Adkins, Joshua I. S172 Arakawa, Yoko S235 Agehara, Shinsuke S197, S313 Arancibia, Ramon A. S253, S297, S364 Aguilar-Castellanos, Rafael S312 Arancon, N. S79 Aguilar-Espinosa, Sergio S328 Arndt, Allan S278 Ahmad, Rashid S138 Arnold, Michael A. S264 Ahmad, Yahia A. S168 Arnold, Schumann S298, S351 Ahmed, Waqar S157, S185 Arreola, Hector S134 Ahmed, Zienab F.R. S196, S273 Arthurs, Steven S126 Akahoshi, Kiersten S234 Arus, Pere S101 Akond, Masum S170 Asafu-Agyei, J.N. S282 Alam-Eldein, Shamel Mohamed S139 Ashkan, Shawn S254 Albano, Joseph P. S306, S368 Athanson, Oritsesaninormi B. S132 Albrigo, Leo Gene S139, S210, S298, S351 Atkinson, J.L. S389 Alcaráz-Serrano, Luis-Enrique S310 Attaway, Denise S85, S114, S295, S375 Al-Kalbani, Zakiya S351 Auras, Rafael S162, S224 Alkharouf, Nadim S133 Autio, Wesley R. S84, S227 Allen, Edith B. S183 Avila, Jose Alberto S356, S357, S358 Alligood, Michael R. S259 Avitia, Edilberto S306 Almana, Fahed S168 Ayala, Santiago S356, S357 Almenar, Eva S335 Ayala-Silva, Tomas S149 Al-Sadi, Abdullah S351 Al-Said, Fahad S351 Alsmairat, Nihad S201 Altland, James S165, S377 B Al-Yahyai, Rashid A. S351 Baameur, Aziz S144 Aly, Magda M. S120 Babazuk, W. Bradley S269 Amore, Teresita D. S66, S395 Bachmann, Janet S245 Ampatzidis, Yiannis S159, S161, S211 Badertscher, Kerrie B. S89, S120, S241, S352 Anciso, Juan S164 Badertscher, Kurt D. S120, S241 Andersen, Peter C. S289, S362 Bafeel, Sameera S120

S406 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Ba-hamdan, Abeer H. S120 Berkett, Lorraine S256, S292 Bakker, Cathy S142 Bernabe, Christopher S77 Balaguer, Mari Pau S335 Bernstein, Emily R. S258 Baldos, Orville C. S312 Berry, Adrian D. S283 Baldwin, Elizabeth S283 Bethke, Jim S217 Baliga, Vikram S140, S219 Bewick, Thomas A. S86 Balles, John S112, S113 Beyer, Allison L. S259 Ballington, James R. S387 Bi, Guihong S155, S235, S259 Baltzell, Kate S402 Bi, Jianlong S193 Bamberg, John S205 Biai, Christopher S356 Bang, Haejeen S267 Bian, Yang S387 Bansal, Manish K. S335 Biasi, Bill V. S247 Barickman, T. Casey S54, S373 Biasi, William V. S302 Barkataky, Smita S350 Bielenberg, D. S52 Barker, Allen V. S222 Biermache, Jon T. S69 Barnard, Dave M. S195, S207 Biernbaum, John S60 Barney, Danny L. S282 Bies, Dawn S333 Baron, Andrew S94 Bigger, Michele S265 Barrett, Charles S181 Biggs, Alan R. S84 Barrett, Diane M. S225 Biggs, Andrew S343 Barthe, Gary S138 Bilderback, Ted E. S109, S324 Barton, Susan S. S266, S404 Bingham, J.P. S362 Bartoshuk, Linda S333 Bink, Marco S129 Bartz, Jerry A. S369 Biscaro, Andre S. S184 Bassett, Carole L. S72, S73, S206 Bisha, Bledar S223 Bassil, Nahla V. S74, S88, S100, S129, S132, Bishaw, Kai’ena S103 S207, S295, S382, S384, S385 Bissey, Lauren S347 Bastas, Kubilay Kurtulus S129 Bittenbender, H.C. S376 Bates, Amber S140, S219 Bjӧrkman, Thomas S260, S292 Bates, Loretta S216, S217 Black, Brent S154, S275, S314, S327 Batuman, Ozgur S216 Blaker, Kendra S283 Bauerle, William S146, S195, S207 Blalock, Adam C. S354 Bauske, Ellen S161 Bland, Meg S152 Baxter, Aaron J. S131 Blandon-Ubeda, Adilia S333 Bayer, Amanda S218 Blankenship, Erin E. S112 Bayogan, Emma S332 Bliss, Barbara J. S171, S387 Bealmear, Stacey S215 Bliss, Peter S333 Beaudry, Randolph S98, S99, S201, S332 Blythe, Eugene K. S241, S297, S308, S360 Beaulieu, John C. S222 Bode, Ann M. S240 Beckman, Thomas G. S131 Bohn, Jeff S183 Behe, Bridget K. S91, S92 Bolda, Mark S116, S156, S174 Bellamkonda, Murali S385 Boldt, Jennifer K. S104, S146, S354 Benavides, Adalberto S370 Boluarte-Medina, Tatiana S102 Bender, Gary S215, S216, S217 Bomford, Michael K. S379 Benes, Sharon E. S118 Boozer, Robert T. S114 Bennett, Pamela J. S75, S142, S230 Bopp, Melissa S244

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S407 Bordelon, Bruce P. S315 Buck, Emily J. S132 Borris, Robert P. S171 Bucove, Jeffery O. S181 Both, A.J. S179 Bunce, James A. S58 Botkins, Jacob S388 Bunning, Marisa S355 Bottoms, Thomas G. S116, S156 Buntin, G.D. S363 Boue, Stephen S94 Buntong, Borarin S63 Bough, Raven Anai S257 Burger, David W. S389 Bourget, C. Michael S179 Burke, Mark S100 Bowen, Mary S. S274 Burr, John F. S179 Bowerman, Jessica R. S297, S308 Burrows, Rhoda L. S400 Boyer, Cheryl R. S322, S326, S377, S395 Bush, Edward S374 Boyhan, George S67, S145 Butcher, Justin S279 Bracy, Regina P. S141, S265 Buttler, David S175 Bradish, Christine S314 Buxbaum, Tina S284 Bradley, Lucy K. S153, S158, S161, S177, S380 Byrne, David H. S106, S129, S383 Bradley, Vicki L. S321 Byrne, Frank J. S173 Bradshaw, Terry S256, S292 Brainard, Daniel C. S128, S216, S258, S260, S292 Braman, Kris S167, S377 C Branch, Blake S295, S382 Cabrera, Raul I. S170 Brannon, Laura A. S353 Cahn, Michael S116, S156 Brecht, Jeffrey K. S181 Cai, Xiaoya S358 Breithaupt, Mike S375 Caldwell, Peter J. S396, S403 Bremer, Dale S348, S391 Cálix de Díos, Héctor S182 Brennan, Eric S202, S204 Callow, Peter S202 Brewbaker, James L. S77 Call, Robert E. S229 Bridges, Elizabeth D. S324 Cambardella, Cynthia S336 Bridges, W.C. S389 Campbell, Ben S91, S92, S118, S167 Bright, Kelly S290 Campbell, Colin S S347 Brito Estrella, Edward Emanuel S182 Campbell, Craig S49, S72, S278 Brock, Kathy H. S125 Campbell, I. Scott S376 Brodbeck, Brent V. S362 Campbell, Kristin R. S400 Brodhagen, M. S68 Camp, Mary J. S337 Brouwer, Cory R. S100 Cantliffe, Daniel J. S259, S369 Brower, Lance S178 Cantrell, Charles S241 Brown, Allan S100, S132, S193, S346, S387 Cantwell, Marita I. S332 Brown, Allison S87 Cao, Jiwu S309 Brown, Ashley S77 Cardon, Grant S327 Brown, J. Wyatt S162, S22 , S223 Carey, Edward E. S282, 340 Brown, Susan K. S129, S384 Carleo, Jenny S. S187 Brown, Sydney Park S126 Carle, Scott S269 Brumfield, Robin G. S187, S212 Carlson, Alicain S. S198, S200 Brunings, Asha S269 Carpenter, D.H. S342 Bryla, David R. S115, S285, S286, S291 Carrato, J. Thomas S82 Buabeng, Felix S277 Carrier, Lynda K. S366 Buchner, Richard P. S343 Carrillo-Mendoza, Omar S131

S408 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Carr, Patrick S336 Chon, Hyong Gwon S355 Carter, Jared S102 Chong, Juang-Horng JC) S167, S377 Case, Luke S96, S173 Christensen, J. Mark S122 Castillo, Ana Maria S306, S330 Chrz, Donna R. S366 Castle, William S. S138 Chulaka, Pariyanuj S63 Catanzaro, Christopher J. S360 Chung, Uran S159 Caylor, Arnold W. S360 Cisneros, Ritchard S223 Ceplis, Dinah S379 Civello, Marcos S269 Cerven, Vasile S155, S235, S260 Clancy, Maureen A. S269 Cestaro, Alessandro S101 Clark, Benjamin R. S171 Chagne, David S100 Clark, Christopher S160 Chai, Zhangwei S178 Clark, David S333, S381 Chalker-Scott, Linda S75 Clark, Drey S203 Chamala, Srikar S269 Clark, John R. S71, S129, S298, S383 Chandler, Craig K. S112 Clark, Matthew S384 Chandra, Amit S113 Claypool, Rebecca S119 Chang, Yao-Chien Alex S197, S234 Clements, Jon M. S84 Chang, Y.K. S289 Cline, David S360 Chang, Yongjiang S75, S88 Cline, William O. S85, S114 Chan, Helen M. S214 Cloete, M.O. S299 Chaparro, José X. S52, S131, S319, S385, S399 Clough, George H. S202 Chapin, Laura S200 Cloyd, Raymond A. S173 Chappell, Jesse S360 Cochran, Diana S359 Chappell, Matthew S167, S218, S219, S221, S377 Cogger, Craig S336 Chase, Carlene S174 Coker, Christine E. S93, S221 Chase, Craig S181 Cole, Janet C. S232 Chater, John S318 Coleman, Lauren S101 Chatterjee, Mithu S101 Colinas-Leon, Maria T. S306, S337, S394 Chaudhary, Priyanka S351 Colle, Marivi S281 Chavez, Dario J. S131, S385 Colquhoun, Thomas S381 Chebrolu, Kranthi K. S255 Comer, Sammy S63 Chen, Hangjun S337 Comstock, Jonathan P. S158 Chen, Wei-Ling S387 Coneva, Elina D. S85, S114, S264, S270, S285, Chen, Xun S263 S297, S308, S331, S349 Chen, Yan S62, S265 Conley, Marnie S404 Chen, Yew Luen S365 Conley, M. Elizabeth S112 Cheng, Lailiang S54, S98, S148, S190 Connell, Joseph H. S343 Chin, Sue S375 Conner, Joann S320 Chingwara, V. S63 Conner, Patrick J. S274 Chiu, Yin-Lin S117 Contreras, Carolina S99, S202 Cho, Gyu-Taek S320 Contreras, Ryan S320, S386 Cho, John S78 Conway, William S. S201 Cho, Kwang Soo S319 Cooke, J. Phillip S140 Cho, Myeong-whan S236 Coolong, Timothy W. S86 Choi, Byung Jun S261 Cope, Kevin Richard S252 Choi, Hyo-Gil S236 Cordero, Andrea Morales S257

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S409 Cordero, Roberto S288 Davies, Frederick T. S373 Corkidi, Lea S183, S378 Davinic, M. S68 Cormwell, Morgan S256, S292 Davis, Aaron P. S206 Corrales-García, Joel S369 Davis, Cherish M. S131 Corsato, Clarice D.A. S128 Davis, Gregory S391 Costa, Irton S128 Davis, Heather E. S90 Cotton, Corrie P. S251, S259, S277, S330 Davis, Jeanine M. S56, S258 Cottrel, Thomas S379 Davis, Thomas M. S101, S129, S269 Cowan, J. S68 Davis, Tim D. S64 Cowgill Jr., W.P. S382 Day, Kevin R. S248 Cox, Douglas A. S183 De Corcuera, Jose I. Reyes S54 Coyne, Clarice J. S279 de Freitas, Sergio Tonetto S148 Crabtree, Sheri B. S190, S206, S249, S379, S388 De la Fuente, Maria S144 Craker, Lyle E. S89, S242 De Vos, Neal E. S73 Cramer, Christopher S. S204, S280, S281, S294 Deadman, Michael S351 Crane, Jonathan H. S214 Dean, Deborah S150, S171 Crassweller, Robert M. S84, S247 Dea, Sharon S334 Crawford, Pat S398 DeBuse, Carolyn S248 Cregg, Bert S57, S75, S59, S164, S165, S166, S323 Decker, Kayle S140 Criley, Richard A. S81, S231, S359 Decker, Keylee S219 Crisosto, Carlos H. S129, S383 DeDecker, James S118, S144 Crosby, Kevin M. S61, S102, S267, S279 DeFrank, Joseph S125, S312 Crowhurst, Ross S100 DeGaetano, Arthur T. S158 Cruz, Von Mark S207 Delate, Kathleen S181, S336 Cuevas, Maria G. S62 Demirsoy, Husnu S122 Culpepper, A.S. S127, S143, S202 Demirsoy, Leyla S122 Currey, Christopher J. S110, S398 Deng, Zhanao S65, S169, S346, S353 Dennis, Jennifer S90, S91, S92 Desjardins, Yves S394 D Dhekney, Sadanand S268 Dabreau, Marina R. S353 Diaz, Michael S193 Dadson, Robert B. S277 Diaz-Montenegro, Daniel H. S370 Dahl, Addie S132 Díaz-Pérez, Juan Carlos S60, S61, S63, S67, S145 Dai, Wenhao S262 Diaz, Samuel S276 Dalton, Rob S398 Dickerman, Allan S131 Dane, Fenny S264, S285, S360 Dinh, Truc S94 Daniel, Kyle S96 Djidonou, Desire S225, S236 Daniels, Alex B. S207 Dobrow, Michael H. S253 Dan, Yinghui S131 Do, Jae Wahng S346 Darnell, Rebecca L. S49, S331 Dole, John S198, S200 Dattilo, Adam J. S150 Domenghini, Cynthia S244 Daugovish, Oleg S117, S174, S175, S378 Domenghini, Jacob S391 Davenport, Joan R. S306 Donnell, Jeri S69 Daves, C.A. S363 Dorais, Martine S393, S394 David, Monica A. S230 Dorman, Miriam H. S251 Davidson, Anna S214 Dossett, Michael S336

S410 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Doucette, Craig S163, S341 England, Kathryn M. S220 Dove, Sue S218 Ernest, Emmalea Garver S143 Downer, A. James S183 Ernst, Kevin S113 Dozier, William S270, S349 Ernst, Taunya S154 Driscoll, Elizabeth A. S176, S177 Erwin, John E. S59, S104, S141, S146, S152, Drost, Dan S154, S257, S276 S261, S354 Du Toit, Elsa S. S136, S299, S363 Escalona, Victor H. S275 Du, Xiaoquang S211 Espinosa-Flores, Amando S394 Duan, Jun S66 Esters, Levon S231 Duarte, Fernando S356 Etheredge, Cole S175 Ducharme, Diane S193 Etxeberria, Ed S139 Duclos, Denise V. S213 Evans, Kate S129, S384 Dudareva, Natalia S55 Evans, Michael R. S232, S404 Duerfeldt, Kevin S401 Evans, Mike S183 Dukes, Michael D. S145 Evans, William B. S71, S93, S153, S155, S235, Duncan, Roger S210, S212, S343 S257, S260, S336 Dunne, Kelsey S347 Dunwell, Winston C. S167, S377 Durham, Richard E. S84, S86, S230, S375 F Durst, Bob S75, S88 Dushack, Miranda S245 Fabellar, Anabella S288 Dzewaltowski, David A. S244 Faber, Ben S117, S378 Faivor, Rebekah M.S. S237 Fallahi, Bahar S79, S189 E Fallahi, Esmaeil “Essie” S79, S122, S189 Eakes, Donald J. S243 Fan, Lihua S162, S271, S341 Eaton, Tyler D. S388 Fan, S. S52 Ebel, Robert C. S350 Fan, Shu-Ting S392, S393 Ebel, Roland S182 Fan, Yanpin S65 Eda, Masahiro S340 Fares, Ali S347 Edstrom, John P. S343 Farias-Larios, Javier S312, S328, S329 Egilla, Jonathan N. S328 Farooque, A.A. S289 Ehlenfeldt, Mark S263, S337 Farrara, Barry S116 Ehret, David S301 Fazio, Gennaro S101, S129 Ehsani, Reza S210, S212, S298, S351 Feibert, Erik S149, S209, S366, S370 Eivazi, Frieda S288 Fennimore, Steven A. S175, S287 Eixmann, Kristen L. S358 Ferguson, Tammy J. S131 El-Jaoual, Touria S183, S222, S227 Fernandez, Gina Elizabeth S314 Elkins, Rachel B. S302 Fernandez, R. Thomas S165, S323 Ellison, Dana S165, S166 Ferrarezi, Rhuanito Soranz S297 Ellsworth, Denise S86 Ferrari, Thomas S156 Ely, Mike S221 Ferrin, Don S85, S114 Emond, Jean Pierre S334 Fery, Richard L. S279 Empkie, Jennifer S113 Fichtner, Elizabeth S248 Enciso, Juan S61, S139 Ficklin, Stephen S101 Endo, Ryosuke S126, S238, S309 Fields, Deacue S360

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S411 Fielitz, Laura S398 Gang, Shen S233 Fillmore, Sherry S163, S341 Ganjegunte, Girisha S299 Finn, Chad E. S50, S129, S133, S294, S336, S382 Gao, Peng S344 Fisher, Paul R. S208 García-Mateos, MA. Rosario S337, S369 Fitch, Maureen S78 Garcia, M. Elena S256, S291, S292 Fitzpatrick, George S140 Gardiner, Susan E. S100 Flaherty, James H. S178 Garner, Lauren C. S318 Fleener, Ann S243 Garzon, Jose S356 Flores-Bello, Maria Del Rocio S329 Gasic, Ksenija S130, S206, S211, S383 Flynn, Robert S134 Gavara, Rafael S335 Follett, Peter S83 Geary, Brad S94 Folta, Kevin M. S50, S101, S180, S269, S399 Gehl, Ron S189, S356 Fonseca, Jorge M. S290 Gellenbeck, Kevin S113 Fonteno, William C. S109 Geneve, Robert L. S348 Foolad, Majid R. S194 Geng, Fang S395 Foote, Tristan S74, S88 Gent, Martin P.N. S53, S195 Forge, Tom S116 Gerba, Charles S290 Forney, Charles F. S271, S394 Gesick, Esther Y. S146, S354 Forsline, Philip L. S98 Giacomelli, Gene A. S67 Foshee, Wheeler S360 Gilbert, Jessica S381 Foster, Daniel S84 Gilbertson, Robert L. S216 Foster, Melanie S84 Gill, Dan S142 Fouladkhah, Aliyar S355 Gilliam, Charles H. S360 Fox, K. S80 Gillies, Sharon S276, S278, S331 Fraelich, B.A. S341 Gillman, Jeff S75 Fraisse, Clyde S317 Gilmore, Barbara S100 Frank, Steve S167 Giovannoni, James S272, S293 Frank, Steven S377 Glen, Charlotte D. S153, S380 Frantz, Jonathan S50, S109, S371, S372 Glenn, D. Michael S58, S59 Freeborn, John R. S107, S111, S155, S234 Glenn, J. Brad S368 Freidig, Amy K. S280 Glover, Benjamin J. S176 Frett, Terrence J. S211, S383 Glozer, Kitren S247, S302, S304 Friedaman, Mendel S290 Gmitter, Fred G. S138 Friedrich, Heather S245, S256, S291 Gneck, Jeremey S94 Fritz, Vincent A. S240, S252, S338 Godfrey, Kris S217 Fry, Jack D. S348, S391 Godsey, Larry S343 Fulcher, Amy S167, S348, S377 Goenaga, Ricardo S321, S361 Fultz, L. S68 Gohil, Hemant S194, S300, S301 Funnell, Keith A. S197 Goldman, Irwin L. S280 Fu, Qiushi S148 Goldsmith, R.S. S311 Fu, Xinyu S195 Gong, Jiyi S366 Gonsalves, Dennis S49, S82, S88, S171 González-González, Juan-Manuel S270, S310 G Goodridge, Lawrence S223 Gabbard, Mike S82 Goorahoo, Dave S254 Gallardo, Karina S129 Gordon, Garry S149

S412 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Gordon, Phoebe S323 Guy, Charles L. S208 Gould, Jean S267 Guzmán-González, Salvador S270, S310, S328 Goulet, Charles S333 Guzman, Ivette S346 Govindasamy, Ramu S185, S186 Guzman-Tejeda, Nick Pierre S328 Goyal, G. S363 Guzman-Tellez, Enrique S370 Goyal, Sham S214 Gozlekci, Sadiye S149 Gradziel, Thomas S130, S383 H Grageda, José S134 Hadziabdic, Denita S170 Graham, Julie S132, S294, S382 Hainstock, Lindsay S286 Gramig, Greta G. S178 Hale, Frank S167, S377 Grant, Joseph A. S304 Hall, Charles R. S91, S92, S167, S358 Graper, David F. S405 Halloran, Sean M. S150 Graves, William Richard S169, S324 Hamasaki, Randall S74, S88 Gray, John S371 Hamilton, Amy C. S258 Greene, Duane W. S136 Hamilton, Susan S243, S401 Gregoire, Peter A. S178 Hamilton, William M. S252 Gregory, Ashley S164 Hancock, James F. S130, S133, S202, S294, S382 Grice, Jessica S214 Han, Jung-Heon S346 Griegoschewski, Katy S106 Hanna, Hanna Y. S224 Griffin, Jason J. S322, S326, S395 Hanna, Wayne S264 Griffis, Jr., John L. S87, S362 Hanrahan, Ines S272, S293 Griffith, Shane S293, S319 Hansen, Lisbeth Truelstrup S163 Grimm, Casey C. S222 Hansen, Mark S101 Groch, A.F. S311 Hanson, Maureen S103 Grosser, Jude W. S138 Hara, Arnold S83 Grossman, Mara S111, S234 Haramoto, Erin R. S128 Grumet, Rebecca S281 Harivandi, M. Ali S389 Gu, Mengmeng S235, S260, S360 Hariyadi, Purwiyatno S64 Gu, Sanjun S245, S313, S380 Harker, Candace S86 Gu, Sanliang S194, S300, S301 Harkess, Richard L. S232, S359 Gutierrez, Michael S230 Harmon, Carrie L. S369 Guak, Sunghee S116 Harmon, Phillip F. S208, S289 Guangping, Hu S242 Harp, Janicce L. S179 Guan, Wenjin S313 Harris, J. Roger S308 Guan, Yingzhu S384 Harrison, Michael R. S349 Gubbuk, Hamide S149 Harris, William K. S107 Guerrero, Jose Cosme S356, S357, S358 Hartman, Glen S108 Gundersen, B. S68 Hartmann, Tim S384 Gunderson, Michael A. S259 Harty, Jeanmarie S288 Guney, Deniz S158 Hartz, Timothy K. S116, S156, S184 Gunter, Christopher S193, S356 Hasey, Janine S248 Guo, Ling S95 Hashem, Fawzy M. S251, S259, S277, S330 Guo, Yangdong S148 Hasing, Tomas N. S112 Gupta, Abha S151 Hastmann, Tanis S244 Gurr, I. S79 Hayashi, Nobuaki S238

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S413 Hayden, Zachary D. S258 Hotchkiss, Michael S268 Haynes, Cynthia S86, S401 Hoying, Stephen A. S188 Hazzard, Ruth V. S227 Hu, Jinguo S205 Head, Susan S187 Huang, F. S363 Hearsum, James S402 Huang, Hongwen S133 He, Chuanjiu S373 Huang, Jiayong S263 Heckathorn, Scott A. S371, S372 Huang, Xuming S195 Heerema, Richard S125, S134, S343 Huber, Donald J. S271 Heflebower, Rick S314 Hue, N.V. S79 Hegeman, Adrian D. S269 Hue, Nguyen V. S331 Heller, Wade P. S361 Hughes-Murphree, S. S52 Hellier, Barbara S204, S205, S321 Huitrón-Ramirez, María Victoria S312 Hellman, Edward W. S85, S316 Hummel, Natalie S85, S114, S295, S375 Helsel, Zane R. S212 Hummer, Kim E. S74, S88, S282 Henderson, Rodney S375 Hunsberger, Adrian S229, S230 Hendrickson, John S119 Huong, Pham Thi Thu S63 Hendricks, T.A. S342 Hussain, Zahoor S157, S185 Henry, Gerald S140, S219 Hutchinson, Veronica A. S110 Henry, Mary E. S126 Hutton, Samuel F. S194 Henry, W.B. S363 Hummer, Kim E. S51 Hensley, Jonathon O. S141 Hurr, Brandon S50 Herbert, Linda S116 Hernández-Alvarez, Rosa L. S394 Hernández, Citlaly S306 I Hernandez, Ermita S367 Ibarra-Estrada, Emmanuel S338 Hernández-Muñoz, Pilar S335 Idun, Irene S379 Herner, Robert C. S332 Iezzoni, Amy S101, S130, S384, S384, S385 Hershberger, Amanda J. S263, S387 Ikawa, Allan K. S75, S88 Hertog, Maarten S272, S293 Ikeda, Takashi S327, S371 He, Xiaoling S78 Inagaki, Noboru S147 High, Laci L. S261 Inestroza, Jessie E. S62 Himelrick, David G. S114 Ingels, Chuck A. S152, S247, S302 Himes, Laura S52 Inglis, D.A. S68, S154 Hirai, Masami Y. S237 Ingram, Dewayne L. S166 Hirst, Peter M. S87 Inoue, Maiko S242 Hlubik, W.T S382 Iqbal, Muhammad Asif S157 Hokanson, Stan C. S261 Irish, Brian S321 Holland, D. S52 Ishimaru, Megumi S333, S340 Holloway, Patricia S. S284 Itagaki, Kaori S126 Holmes, Robert S63 Itazaki, Tsutomu S333 Holt, Sarah H. S131 Itle, Rachel A. S132, S294, S382 Hong, Gyunghoon S332 Itoh, Hiromichi S147 Hoover, Emily S84 Ivors, Kelly S167, S377 Hopkins, Bryan S94 Izumi, Hidemi S333, S334, S340 Horgan, Thomas E. S241 Horie, Takeo S334

S414 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 J Jones, Michelle L. S200 Jones, Samantha E. S251 Jackson, Brian E. S109, S324 Jongrattananon, Saowalee S272 James, Kimberly S400 Jordan, Michael A. S271 Janick, Jules S65, S122 Jung, Geunhwa S222 Janke, Rhonda S340 Jung, Gi Tae S355 Jaroni, Divya S290 Jung, Heidi S396 Jayaprakasha, G.K. S137, S255, S318, S351 Jung, Ho-Jung S236 Jayaratne, K.S.U. S153, S380 Jussaume, Raymond S130 Jeannette, Karen S75, S86, S230 Juvera, Ferdando S356, S357 Jeffers, Steven N. S208, S367 Juvera, Gabriela S356, S357 Jeffery, Elizabeth H. S339 Juvera, Jose S356, S357 Jelenkovic, G. S382 Juvera, Jose Jesus S356, S357 Jenkins, Bryan S214 Juvik, John A. S339 Jenkins, David S361 Jenkins, Morgan M. S353 Jenkins, Tracie M. S388 K Jenkins, Wesley Keith S61 Kabool, Alexandra M. S331 Jenks, Matthew A. S403 Kahn, Brian A. S365 Jensen, Lynn S370 Kaiser, Clive S122 Jeong, Ka Yeon S109, S247 Kakita, Tomomi S327 Jeong, Sun Jin S233, S392 Kallsen, Craig E. S300 Jeon, Young-A S320 Kamelamela, Katie S73 Jiang, Feng S140 Kanechi, Michio S147 Jiang, Lijuan S215 Kang, Seok-Beom S246 Jiang, Yueming S163, S341 Kang, Si Yong S261 Jifon, John L. S61, S213, S255 Kang, Yum-Im S236 Jin, Xiaoling S265, S309 Kannangara, Tissa S301, S327 Johansen, Petter S289 Kararo, Matthew S243 John, Rodney St. S348 Karleskint, Julie L. S140 Johnson, Denise M. S142 Karlik, John F. S300 Johnson, Dennis S94 Karlsson, Meriam G. S238 Johnson, Donn S256, S291 Kaufman, Andrew S97, S242 Johnson, Gordon C. S143 Kaufman, Lon S108 Johnson, Lisa Klima S268 Kaur, Jyoti S286 Johnson, M. Tracy S290 Kawabata, Andrew S75, S88 Johnson, Sacha S224 Keeley, Steve J. S348 Johnson, Scott S212, S248 Keith, Lisa S74 Johnston, Jason S272, S293 Kelley, Kathleen S186 Joh, Youri S315 Kelly, Lelia S. S241 Jolley, Von S94 Kemp, Kenneth E. S173 Jo, Man Hyun S261 Kempler, Chaim S301 Jones, Amy J. S231, S399 Kennedy, Steven S61 Jones, Douglas S108 Kern, Werther S342 Jones, Lauren M. S311 Kerscher, Christopher S70 Jones, Marcus S374 Kessler, Raymond S360

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S415 Keys, Emily S177 Koyama, Ryohei S147 Khachatryan, Hayk S167 Kozai, Toyoki S56 Khan, Ahmad Sattar S138 Kramer, Matthew H S49 Khot, Lav R. S298, S351 Kratky, B.A. S68 Khuong, Toan S378 Kratky, Bernard A. S240 Killadi, Bharati S274 Kratsch, Heidi A. S391 Kim, Byung-Soo S345 Kraus, Helen T. S109, S324 Kim, Dong Chan S260 Krebs, Stephen L. S261 Kim, Eun-Young S239 Krishnamurthy, Vikram S402 Kim, Hyoung Seok S339 Krishnan, Sarada S206 Kim, Ik Je S115 Kroggel, Mark A. S237 Kim, Jeong Man S355 Krueger, William H. S248, S250 Kim, Jongyun S104, S105 Kubota, Chieri S64, S153, S179, S237 Kim, Jung-Bong S320 Kuehny, Jeff S231, S232, S404 Kim, Ki Sun S319 Kujeke, G.T. S63 Kim, Soo-Hyung S57, S58, S59, S159, S164, S323 Ku, Kang Mo S339 Kim, Su Jeong S319 Ku, Maurice S.B. S197 Kim, TaeJoung S115 Kulac, Semsettin S158 Kim, Wan Soon S199, S233, S392 Kumah, Patrick S379 King, Andrew R. S264 Kumar, Lala S352 Kingsley-Richards, Sarah S256, S292 Kumar, Naveen S350 Kinzel, Taylor S245 Kumar, Prabhat S63 Kirkham, M.B. S235, S267 Kurtural, S. Kaan S227, S228, S317 Kisha, Theodore J. S204, S205 Kweon, Hun-Joong S247 Kitaya, Yoshiaki S126, S238, S309 Kwon, Joon-Kook S236 Klassen, Waldemar S107 Kwon, Yeu Seok S115, S261 Klee, Harry S333 Klett, James E. S325 Klingeman, William S167, S377 L Klonsky, Karen S174 LaBonte, Don S160, S375 Knight, Patricia R. S360, S381 Lacey, Ronald E. S373 Knobloch, Neil S231, S243 Lada, Rajasekaran S365, S393, S394 Knox, Gary W. S169 Lai, Yunsong S266 Kobayashi, Hideka S121, S249 Lakso, Alan N. S158, S188 Kobayashi, Kent D. S79, S80, S376, S395, S397 Lamberts, Mary L. S229, S230 Koike, Steven S174 Lam-Chan, Lee Tiang S365 Kokalis-Burelle, Nancy S174 Lamont, William J. S67 Kok, Andrew S162 Lamptey, Joseph N S282 Komar, Stephen S187 Landers, Andrew S298, S352 Kong, Michelle S304 Langellotto, Gail S151 Koo, Jaheon S273 Lang, Gregory S122, S123, S304 Kopp, Kelly S391 Lang, Suzanne S398 Kopsell, David E. S304, S305, S340 Larzelere, William M. S298, S351 Kopsell, Dean A. S53, S182, S305, S339, S373 Latimer, Joyce G. S108, S111, S155, S234 Korndorfer, Gaspar H. S128 Lavis, Cathie S348 Koski, Anthony J. S325 Lawley, Cindy S101

S416 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Lea-Cox, John D. S72, S76, S160, S210, S220 Liao, Feixiong S66 Leap, Jim S204 Liburd, Oscar S174 Leavell, Ashby S402 Lichang, Yang S316 Lebude, Anthony S167, S377 Lichty, Joanne S307 Lee, Cheol Hwi S260 Liedl, Barbara Ellen S197, S199 Lee, Chiwon W. S178 Lili, Hao S372 Lee, Eohjin S178 Lillrose, Tiffany S123 Lee, Eun Mo S261 Limbird, Eric J. S251 Lee, Ho-Sun S320 Lim, Jeong Hyeon S355 Lee, J. S68 Lindsay, Patricia S177 Lee, Jae Moo S345 Lindsay, Robert C. S131 Lee, Jae Wook S233, S392 Lindstrom, Thor S314 Lee, Jinsu S271 Lin, Yingqian S157 Lee, Jinwook S97, S98 Lisa S133 Lee, Jundae S346 Little, Holly S105 Lee, Jungmin S228, S240, S336, S371 Liu, Guodong S107 Lee, Kimberly R. S255 Liu, Haitao S121 Lee, Luke O. S277 Liu, Haiyang S265 Lee, Min-Jung S238, S372 Liu, Shuang S121 Lee, Orie N. S138 Liu, Yiman S361 Lee, Sang Mi S233, S392 Lizana, L. Antonio S275, S342 Lee, SeokHo S115 Lloyd, Steven W. S222 Lee, So Geun S355 Locke, Emma S200 Lee, Sok-Young S320 Loc, Nguyen Thi Tan S63 Lee, Won Phil S346 Loehrlein, Marietta S329 Lee, Yong-Beom S320 Lohr, Virginia I. S97 Lee, Young Ran S233 Lohse, Matt S250 Lee, Young-Yi S320 Lombardini, Leonardo S102, S358 Leinauer, Bernhard S141, S390, S391 Lombard, Kevin S390 Leitzke, Luciane S115 Long, Lynn E. S122 Leonard, B.A. S363 Long, Xiuqin S263 Leong, Weng Hoy S365 López-Aguirre, José Gerardo S312, S328, S329 Leonhardt, Kenneth S65, S66 Lopez, Johnny S65 Leskovar, Daniel S61, S197, S279, S313 Lopez, Roberto G. S91, S92, S110, S179, S398 Leslie, Charles A. S135 Love, Ken S75, S88 Lesschaeve, Isabelle S92, S119 Lowe, Jeremiah D. S190, S206, S249, S379, S388 LeStrange, Michelle S215, S225 Loy, J. Brent S191, S192 Lewis, Stephen S61 Luan, Feishi S192, S344, S345 Li, Bo S123 Luby, James S130, S384 Li, Changzhu S215 Lukas, Scott B. S125 Li, Jianguo S299 Lu, Li S206, S388 Li, Wenbin S344 Lu, Nan S102, S131 Li, Xiaojing S299 Luo, Yaguang S163 Li, Yanghui S65 Lu, Yu-Chen S197 Li, Yi S168 Lu, Zhongge (Cindy) S267 Li, Yuncong S107 Lyons, Robert E. S243, S402, S403, S404

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S417 Lyrene, Paul S51 Martin, Amanda C. S269 Martinez, Damian S356, S357, S358 Martínez-Damian, Ma. Teresa S394 M Martinez, Gabriel S275 Mabaya, E. S63 Martinez, Gerardo S134 Maca, Martin N. S405 Martinez, Mauricio S62 MacDonald, Gregory E. S173 Martin, J. S68, S154 MacDonald, Mason T. S393 Martin, Michael S219, S221 Machtmes, Krisanna S85, S114, S295, S375 Masiunas, John B. S118, S119, S144, S172, S260, S292 Machuca, Alejandra S275 Masood, Nasir S193 Mackenzie, Steven J. S112 Massa, Gioia D. S179, S180 MacLean, Dan S127, S201, S274, S273, S335 Mathers, Hannah M. S96, S127, S142, S173, S265, S323 MacRae, Andrew W. S173 Mathew, Sudeep S227 Mageroy, Melissa Hamner S333 Matsumoto, Tracie K. S88, S361 Magnusson, Victoria A. S262 Mattheis, James P. S97, S272, S293 Ma, Guoing S338 Matthews, Mark S146 Ma, Hongyan S344 Mattson, Neil S. S103, S105, S108, S209 Mahunu, Gustav S379 Maughan, Tiffany S275 Maier, Bernd S141, S390, S391 Ma, Yingmei S344 Main, Doreen S100, S130, S133, S279 Maynard, Elizabeth T. S307 Main, Jeffrey L. S253, S297, S364 McAfee, Jason D. S256, S257, S291 Maja, Joe S212 McArtney, Steve S189 Majsztrik, John C. S160, S218, S210, S220 McCaleb, Melanie S176 Makus, Donald J. S348 McCallum, Susan S132, S295, S382 Malik, Aman Ullah S138 McCammon, Tony S392 Malik, Nasir S.A. S250 McCarthy, Brodie S194, S300 Malladi, Anish S105, S268 McCarty, Lambert B. S389 Maness, Niels O. S366 McClure, Judy M. S152 Mangan, Robert S250 McConnell, James S75, S76, S401 Manion, Laura S305 McCracken, Vicki S130 Manners, Hannah S125 McCready, Mary Shedd S230 Manners, Malcolm M. S362 McDonald, Mary Ruth S142, S379 Mann, Harpartap S273 McDonald, Ty G. S362 Mann, Kirandeep S156 McFarland, Amy L. S176, S177 Manoharan, Muthusamy S273 McGee, Rebecca S279 Manrique-Carpintero, Norma S102 McGinnis, Esther E. S81, S82, S322 Manshard, Richard S65, S103, S290 McGlynn, William G. S315, S376 Ma, Qian S215 McGranahan, Gale H. S135 Marini, Richard P. S84 McKenney, Cynthia B. S96, S140, S219, S264 Marino, Silvia S113 McKeown, Alan S142 Mario Viveros S343 McLean, William P. S246 Marois, James J. S289 McLeod, P.J. S363 Marquez, Arnulfo S134 Meador, Dustin P. S208 Marrero, Angel S361 Meador, Jonathan C. S331 Marshall, Donna S85, S114, S297, S308 Meadows, Inga M. S208, S367 Marsh, Lurline E. S259 Meagy, Md J. S222

S418 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Medvecky, B.A. S63 Moley, Laura S348 Meier, Erica Jane S172 Montague, Thayne S96 Meland, Mekjell S122 Montaño, Jose Alberto S358 Melgar, Juan Carlos S349 Montas, Wanda S214 Mellott, Kenneth D. S180 Moody, Curtis E. S360 Méndez Aguilar, María de Jesús S182 Moon, Ji Hye S233, S392 Mendez, Natalio S254 Moore, Gary E. S153, S380 Mendez-Urbaez, Carlos J. S62 Moore, Kimberly K. S231 Mendoza-Macías, Blanca-Isabel S270 Moore-Kucera, J. S68 Mentreddy, Rao S. S57 Moraes, Rita M. S241 Merchant, Andrew S58 Moran, Renae S255, S292 Merhaut, Donald J. S183, S378 Morgan, Ed S197 Merrell, Matthew S94 Morgan, Kelly S350 Merwin, Ian S189 Morgan, Kimberly S85, S114, S186 Meyer, George M. S112 Morgante, Michele S101 Meyer, Mary Hockenberry S86, S104, S146, S151, Morjan, Wilmar S288 S322, S354 Morrow, Robert C. S179 Mezzich, Raquel S108 Morse, Joseph S217 Mhlanga, Saneliso S92, S119 Motomura, Sharon S290 Miakonkana, Guy-vanie S361 Motsenbocker, Carl E. S64, S257 Mibus, Heiko S359 Mou, Beiquan S193 Mickelbart, Michael V. S398 Mtaita, T.A. S63 Mickel, Robert S187 Mudziwa, Nyengedzeni S120 Micke, Warren C. S343 Muhammad, Durre S108 Midden, Karen S396 Muhl, Quintin Ernst S136, S363 Migliaccio, Kati S107 Mukai, Kotaro S327 Mikkelsen, Robert S50 Mumm, Rita H. S386 Miles, Carol A. S68, S154, S224, S279 Muramoto, Joji S174, S287 Miller, Diane Doud S84, S107, S246, S301 Mustahsan, Wardah S94 Mills, Kerri P. S130 Miranda, Jose L. S134 Mishra, Sasmita S371 N Mitcham, Elizabeth J. S62, S148, S247, S302 Nadler, Arie S137 Mitchell, Cary A. S179 Nagao, Mike S88 Mitchell, Paul S119 Nair, Ajay S55, S60, S203 Miyamoto, Seiichi S299 Nair, Muralee S55 Miyao, Eugene M. S216 Nakamoto, Stuart S74, S88 Miyasaka, Susan C. S77, S78, S234, S240, S290, Nakamura, Mio S327 S331, S374 Nakamura, Noel S307 Mizell III, Russell F. S289 Nakayama, Masayoshi S371 Mizobutsi, Gisele P. S128 Nam, Jong-Chul S247 Mochizuki, Maren J. S117, S174, S378 Natalith, Clemente-Lezama S369 Mockiatis, Keithanne S279 Nathan, Manjula V. S352 Mockler, Todd S100 Navarro, Felix S205 Mohamed, Wan Zahari S308 Nawaz, Muhammad Azher S157, S185 Mohan, S. Krishna S370 Neal, Joseph C. S167, S377

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S419 Needham, Douglas C. S73, S403 Obregon-Olivas, Henner A. S62 Neilsen, Denise S115 O’Connor, Alison Stoven S325 Neilsen, Gerry S115 Odabasi, Asli S333 Neily, Will S106 Odom, Jennifer L. S360 Nelson, Paul V. S109 Ogutu, Rose S328 Nelson, Shad D. S139 Oh, Myung-Min S239, S372 Nero, Debra S103 Okubo, Hiroshi S147 Nesmith, D. Scott S263 Okut, Nese S196 Netramai, Siriyupa S162, S224 Olczyk, Teresa S107 Newby, Adam F. S207, S208, S239 Oliveira, João A.A. S128 Newman, Julie S378 Olive, John S360 Newsham, Gerard S178, S179 Olmstead, James W. S113, S132, S283, S284, Ngouajio, Mathieu S60, S203, S237, S258 S295, S296, S381, S382 Niblack, Terry S108 Olson, Stephen M. S172 Nicolaï, Bart S272, S293 Olszewski, M.W. S311 Niederholzer, Franz S248 Olukolu, B S52 Niemiera, Alex X. S220, S325, S326 O’Meara, Lucas S219 Nienhuis, James S186 O’Neill, Barbara S187 Nietsche, Silvia S128, S214 Ong, Pang Hwa S365 Nishijima, Kate S272 Oraguzie, Nnadozie S130, S132, S385 Nitzsche, Peter S382 Orcheski, Benjamin S384 Niu, Genhua S55, S106, S299, S311, S358 Orellana, Marcelo S275 Ni, X. S363 Orloff, Steve S184 Nixon, Katie S245 Oropeza-Salín, Carlos S270 Noh, Jae Jong S355 Orozco, Gerardo S254 No, Il-Rae S236 Orozco-Obando, Warner S360 Nolte, Kurt D. S95, S163, S290 Orvis, Kathryn S. S232, S244, S399 Nordin, Aaron S94 Okie, W.R. S52 Norelli, John S101 Osborne, Jason S356 Norrie, Jeff S106 Osborne, Lance S. S126 Northcott, William S323 Othman, Mona S316 Norton, Maxwell S212 Ottman, Michael J. S213 Noseworthy, Jennifer S192 Otto, Clifton S89 Ntasis, T. S63 Ouellette, David R. S125 Nuessly, G.S. S363 Owen, Jim S377 Nunes, Cecilia S334 Owen, Josee S379 Nunez, Humberto S134 Owen, J.S. S165 Nyberg, Elizabeth T. S367, S368 Owings, Allen D. S141, S265 Nyirakabibi, Isabelle S328 Ownley, Bonnie H. S170 Nzokou, Pascal S158, S165, S166 Ozias-Akins, Peggy S320 Ozores-Hampton, Monica P. S80, S226 O P Obando-Ulloa, Javier M. S275 Obeng-Antwi, Kwadwo S282 Pack, Aubree S402 Obeng-Bio, Ebenezer S282 Paisooksantivatana, Yingyong S63

S420 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Pak, Ha Seung S260 Pereira, Marlon C. T. S128 Palma, Marco S167 Peres, Natalia A.R. S208, S317 Palmer, C.L. S341 Perez, Albert S140 Palmer, Leslie Campbell S98, S99 Perez, Jose S250 Palta, Jiwan Paul S194, S196, S205, S273 Perez, Kauahi S359, S397 Panchen, Zoe S402 Perez-Olea, Mariela S342 Panduro-Calvario, Eva Yolanda S329 Pérez-Zamora, Octavio S329 Pant, A. S79 Perkins-Veazie, Penelope S193, S314, S338 Pantanizopoulos, Niko I. S339 Perry, Robert S380 Pant, Archana P. S331 Pershey, Nicholas A. S323 Pantazis, Christopher J. S131 Persons, Kathryn S113 Panter, Karen L. S364 Peter, Alem S198, S295, S303 Panthee, Dilip S76, S191, S193 Petracek, Peter D. S117 Paparozzi, Ellen T. S112 Pfannenstiel, R.S. S363 Pappu, Hanu R. S370 Phene, Becky S248 Parfitt, Dan S214 Philip B. Hamm S202 Parker, Michael Lee S84, S380 Phillips, Nathan C. S94, S251, S311 Park, Kyoung-Sub S236 Picha, David H. S274 Park, Moo-Yong S247 Pickens, Jeremy S361 Park, Sunghun S267 Pierce, Francis S161 Park, Travis D. S90 Pinares, Ania S104 Parris, Cheryl S149 Pineda, Joel S306, S330 Particka, Chrislyn S51 Pineo, Rebecca S. S402, S404 Pasakdee, Sajeemas S118 Piovano, Suzanne M. S102 Pascal Nzokou S157 Pitchay, Dharmalingam S60, S61, S63, S145, S307 Pasian, Claudio C. S209, S239 Pittcock, J. Kim S246, S255 Patel, Jitu S290 Pittenger, Dennis R. S95 Patil, Bhimanagouda S. S137, S255, S267, S318, S351 Pitz, Karen S103 Patil, Shrikant S135 Plante, Amanda S250 Pattison, J. S383 Plotto, Anne S83, S283 Patt, Joesph S250 Poling, E. Barclay S66, S69 Paul, Kamalendu B. S245, S288 Pomper, Kirk William S190, S206, S249, S379, S388 Paull, Robert S80, S347 Pool, Joshua R. S322 Peace, Cameron P. S100, S129, S129,S384, S385 Popp, Jennie S256, S291 Peck, Gregory S188 Porat, Ron S351 Peck, Gregory Michael S189 Postman, J. S207 Peet, Mary M. S71, S86 Potter, Marisa Thompson S343 Peiqi, Hu S242 Potter, Richard Joel S264, S284 Peltier, Jean-Mari S85 Potts, Sarah M. S71, S72, S386 Pemberton, H. Brent S264 Pounders, Cecil S262 Peña-Beltrán, Elpidio S270 Pradhan, Rojee S340 Peng, Hui S201 Pritchard, Merv S379 Peng, Yong S121 Prithiviraj, Balakrishnan S59 Pepin, Steeve S393, S394 Pritts, Marvin P. S49 Percival, David S286, S289 Puduri, Venkata S. S186 Pereira, Andy S102 Pulte, Andrew S243, S250

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S421 Putzke, Timothy S108 Reinert, Michael S401 Reiter, Mark S184 Renick, Kaylee S95 Q Rens, Libby R. S369 Qi, Yaodong S121 Ren, Yan S267 Qrunfleh, Issam M. S228 Reuter-Carlson, Ursula S108 Quain, Marian D. S282 Rhykerd, Robert L. S305 Querns, Robert S173 Richards, Christopher S207 Quijada, Alejandro S134 Richards, Melody R. S396 Quisenberry, V.L. S389 Richardson-Calfee, Lisa S308 Rickard, Bradley S272, S293 Ridge, Garrett A. S208 R Rietow, David S65 Rachuy, John S. S287 Riley, John Michael S186 Racsko, Jozsef S84, S107,S246, S301 Rinehart, Timothy A. S170 Radillo-Juárez, Francisco S310 Ristvey, Andrew S160, S220, S227 Radovich, Theodore J.K. S79, S331, S347, S362 Rivera, Dania S96 Ragone, Diane S74 Rixom, Roger S353 Raja, Archana Natarajan S100, S387 Rjashekar, C.B. S340 Rajwana, Ishtiaq Ahmad S138 Robacker, Carol D. S263, S388 Rakotomalala, Jean Jacques S206 Robbertse, P.J. S136, S299 Ramirez, Homero S370 Robbins, M. LeRon S73 Ramirez, J. Armando S330 Roberson, William R. S264 Ramirez, Jonathan Fresnedo S384 Robert E. Lyons S402 Ramirez, Luis S357 Roberts, Bronte S223 Rana, Jat S113 Robinson, Carolyn W. S187, S243 Randall, Dan S193 Robinson, Terence Lee S84, S188 Ranker, Tom A. S206 Robledo-Torres, Valentin S370 Ranney, Thomas G. S261 Rodriguez_Armenta, Hilda Patricia S284, S296 Rathore, Keerti S102 Rodriguez, Denise S106, S311 Ratnayaka, Harish S94 Rodriguez, Russell J. S58 Rauh, Bradley S211 Rogers, Mary S182 Raul, Nieto-Angel S337, S369 Rogers, Sara L. S187 Raveh, Eran S137 Rohwer, Charles L. S239, S252, S338 Ravid, Nadav S136, S148 Rojas, Jose S117 Ravishankar, Sadhana S290 Rom, Curt R. S70, S245, S251, S256, S257, S291 Ray, Dennis T. S212, S213 Roose, Mikeal L. S205 Read, Paul E. S112, S228 Roozen, J. S68, S154 Reed, A. Nathan S272, S293 Rosa, Uriel A. S214 Reed, Barbara S74, S88, S296, S321 Rosecrance, Richard C. S250 Reed, David W. S50 Rose, Gabrielle A. S180 Rees, Jasper S53, S101 Rosen, Carl J. S252 Reeve, Jennifer S336 Rosli, Hernan G. S269 Reid, Robert W. S100 Ross, David S160, S220 Reighard, Gregory L. S52, S125, S130, S211, S384 Rosskopf, Erin S174 Reinert, James S170 Rothleutner, Joseph J. S386

S422 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Rounsaville, Todd J. S261 Savin, Mary S256, S291 Rouseff, Russell R. S139 Scagel, Carolyn F. S240 Rowland, Lisa J. S295, S382 Scalabrin, Simone S101 Rowley, Sean S327 Scanlon, Michael S103 Roy, Heli S85, S114 Schaefer, Peter R. S405 Rubino, Maria S162, S224 Schiavon, Marco S141, S390 Rudell, David S54, S97, S272, S293 Schilling, Wes S221 Rud, Nicole A. S234, S372 Schlegel, Vicki L. S112 Ruiz-Rojas, Juan Jairo S131 Schmalzel, Carl L. S213 Runkle, Erik S. S111, S179, S303 Schmidt, Barbara S57 Rupp, Larry A. S252, S396 Schmitz, Cari S384 Ruter, John M. S218, S320 Schneider, S.M. S341, S342 Ryser, Elliot S223 Schnell, Raymond J. S149 Schrader, James A. S169, S324 Schreiner, R. Paul S228 S Schultheis, Jonathan R. S224, S226, S338, S356 Sabbatini, Paolo S229 Schumann, Arnold W. S156, S289 Sabori, Rodolfo S134 Schuster, David J. S194 Saenz, Marco V. S62 Schuster, Todd S240 Sage, Lynnell S265 Schutzki, Robert S166 Sakai, William S. S358 Schwaninger, Diane S353 Sakamoto, Glenn S. S125, S312 Schwartz, Marco S342 Sakhanokho, Hamidou F. S262 Schwartz, P.H. S342 Saksa, Kristen S266 Scoggins, Holly L. S75, S108, S111, S155, S234 Salama, David S399 Scott, Jay W. S194 Salame-Donoso, Teresa P. S62 Scully, B.T. S127, S143, S202, S341, S342, S363 Salazar, Brent S153 Sebolt, Audrey S385 Saleem, Basharat Ali S138 Seda, Brandon C. S368 Samarakoon, Uttara S197 Seo, Ji Hyun S199 Sampangi, Ram S210, S370 Seong, Mun Ho S355 Sams, Carl E. S53, S305, S339, S373 Sepulveda, Hugo S275 Samtani, Jayesh B. S55, S286, S287 Serek, Margrethe S359 Samuels, S. S60 Serena, Matteo S141, S390 Sanada, Mitsuhiro S147 Serohijos, Raquel S287 Sanchez, Charles A. S163 Sevostianova, Elena B. S390, S391 Sanchez, Elsa S367 S., Florence Cassel S254 Sanchez-Labbe, Antonia S124 Shaaban, Mona S281 Sandefur, Paul J. S298, S383 Shafii, Bahman S79, S189 Sankaran, Sindhuja S210 Shahak, Yosepha S70 Santamaria, L. S165 Shao, Feng S366 Santos, Bielinski M. S62, S173 Sharma, Sunehali S350 Sargent, Steven A. S283 Sharpe, Deana S163 Sato, Yosuke S327 Shaw, Nancy S149, S209 Saude, Catarina S142 Sheffield, Ron S117, S160 Saunders, Lamont S149, S209, S366, S370 Sheikh, Sameena S355 Savage, Heidi M. S111 Sheng, Yunyan S344, S345

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S423 Shennan, Carol S174, S287 Solis, Javier S118 Shen, Xiang S95 Solis, Julio S160 Sherman, Wayne S52 Sommerfeld, A.J. S177 Shetty, Kalidas S222 Song, Jun S97, S99,S163, S271, S341 Shevade, Rucha S361 Song, Min-Jung S239 Shibuya, Toshio S126, S238, S309 Song, Yang-Yik S247 Shin, Dongah S402 Song, Yun Jin S233, S392 Shintaku, Michael S77, S234, S290 Son, Hye Young S199 Shioshita, Russell S358 Son, Ki-Ho S238 Shiozaki, Shuji S309 Soranz Ferrarezi, Rhuanito S198, S302 Shishkov, Laurel S106 Sosinski, Bryon S101 Shock, Clinton C. S149, S209, S366, S370 Sosnoskie, L.M. S127, S143, S202 Shoemaker, Candice S90, S244 Sotala, Aaron S400 Shrestha, Anil S118 Soundy, Puffy S120 Shulaev, Vladimir S131 Spann, Timothy M. S156 Sibley, Jeff L. S243, S264, S285, S331, S360 Sparks, A.N. S363 Siciliano, Paul C. S396, S403 Spiers, James S270, S331, S349 Sidhu, Harwinder S. S273 Spiers, James D. S297, S308 Sierra-Rivera, Luis G. S191 Spiers, James M. S262 Sills, Gavin S52 Spiers, Jay D. S264, S285 Silva, Erin S119 Srimake, Yawadee S374 Silva, Jodi S75, S88 Srinivasan, Rajagopalbabu S67, S145 Silva, Joseilton F. S128 Sriskandarajah, Sridevy S359 Silva, Silvanda D. S332 Srivastava, Pratibha S289 Simerly, Bob S366 Srmack, William S98 Simmons, A.M. S363 Stafne, Eric S315 Simon, Marion F. S379 Stafne, Eric T. S85, S376 Sims, Charles S333 Stafne, Richelle A. S376 Singh, Surendra S63 Stall, William M. S173 Singleton, Paul W. S307 Stamps, Robert H. S111 Sipes, B. S79 Stanley, Craig D. S346 Sithambaram, Shanmugavelu S307 Starbuck, Christopher J. S352 Smagula, John S395 Starman, Terri Woods S106, S358 Smith, Alan S81, S82, S322 Starr, Zachariah W. S326, S395 Smith, Brett S259 Stefanski, Justin S311 Smith, Donald E. S247 Stegmeir, Travis S385 Smith, Erick S132 Stein, Rebecca E. S222 Smith, Kerry S161 Stevens, J. S375 Smith, Re’Gie S388 Stewart, Neal S103 Smith, Sarah M. S169 Stewart, Patrick S246 Smith, S. Reid S150 Steyn, J.M. S363 Snelson, Jonathan B. S155 St. Hilaire, Rolston S87, S390 Snodgrass, Crystal A. S226 Stier, John C. S293, S319 Snyder, Richard G. S153 Stoddard, C. Scott S216 Socheath, Ong S64 Stone, Alexandra S82, S86, S130 Soldat, Douglas J. S293, S319 Stone, Martha S355

S424 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Stoven, H.M. S165 Teplitski, Max S208 Strang, John G. S379 Teresi, Ian S144 Strauss, Amy S74, S88 Terry, Dave S228 Striegler, R. Keith S85 Tezteslaf, Roberto S297, S302 Strik, Bernadine C. S50, S285, S292 Thammina, Chandra S169 Stroman, Jason S270 Thiagarajan, Arumugam S394 Stroup, Walt S49 Thomas, Amanda S276 Struve, Daniel K. S208, S239 Thomas, Paul A. S198, S218, S295, S303 Stutte, Gary W. S89, S178, S179, S180 Thompson, W. Bradfred “Brad” S226 Styles, Stuart S117 Thornton, Allan C. S226 Subere, Cristita V. S288 Tian, Daike S360 Sugano, J. S79 Tian, Yingcui S309 Sugano, Jari S347 Tieman, Denise M. S333 Sugar, David S302 Tilt, Ken S297, S308 Sugii, Nellie S80 Tilt, Kenneth M. S264, S285, S360 Sugimoto, Nobuko S98 Tintos-Rueda, Daniel-Hiram S310 Suhaimi, Fadhlina S365 Titus, Dayna S106 Sullivan, Dan M. S285, S292 Toit, Elsa S. du S120 Sullivan, Joe S108 Tojo, Motoaki S126 Sum, Alan S278 Tomaso-Peterson, M. S360 Sun, Li S172 Tong, Cindy B.S. S273 Sun, Youping S395 Tong, Jinquan S215 Sutherin, Stefan S390 Toppila, Raakel S402 Suzuki, Jon Y. S171, S387 Torres-Quezada, Emmanuel A. S62 Suzuki, Nagisa S371 Touchell, Darren H. S261 Syvertsen, J.P. S349 Trader, Brian S405 Tran, Ngoc Hung S345 Traunfeld, John S75 T Traunfeld, Jon Harris S352 Tabanca, Nurhayat S241 Treadwell, Danielle D. S86, S259, S369 Tadesse, Tigist S274 Trigiano, Robert S150, S170, S171 Tamaru, C. S79 Trivedi, Mahendra S135 Tan, Huai Lin S365 Troggio, Michela S101 Tanizaki, Gary S217 Trujillo, Diana S273 Tank, David C. S205 Tsukuda, Shuhei S309 Tanouye, Harold S307 Turgeon, Robert S148 Tarara, Julie M. S371 Turini, Thomas A. S216 Tatman, Adrienne A.O. S364 Taylor, Jeremey H. S253 U Taylor, Linda L. S325, S326 Taylor, Mark S53, S333 Uchanski, Mark E. S276, S354 Taylor, Matthew D. S185, S235, S404 Uchendu, Esther E. S296, S321 Taylor, Mykel S130 Uckoo, Ram M. S318 Teetor, Valerie H. S213 Ullah, Waseem S138 Teo, Shuan Hao S278 Ullman, Diane E. S216 Tepe, Emily S84 Um, Yeong Cheol S355

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S425 Uno, Yuichi S147 W Upadhyaya, Shrinivasa S214 Upham, Kendall T. S131 Wada, Sugae S296, S321 Upson, Steven D. S69 Wadl, Phillip S150, S170, S171 Uretsky, Jacob S191 Wakely, Heather S276 Uyeda, Jensen S347 Waliczek, Tina S177 Waliczek, Tina Marie S172, S175, S176, S177 Walker, Brad S341 V Wallace, R.W. S68, S154 Wall, Marisa S83, S272 van de Weg, Eric S130, S384, S385 Wang, Changzheng S249 van den Heever, Erika S121 Wang, Ching-Hsueh S303 van Iersel, Marc S72, S105, S198, S218, S219, S295, S297, S302, S303 Wang, Dechun S130 Van Dyke, Peter S74 Wang, Huicong S190, S195, S299 Vaid, Tasneem S111, S303 Wang, Jim S374 Valdez, Luis Alonso S306, S330 Wang, Qing S133 Valenzuela-Estrada, Luis R. S285, S291 Wang, Shiow Ying S337 Valenzuela, Hector R. S82 Wang, Shiping S123 Vallejos, C. Eduardo S320 Wang, Xiang S253, S297 VanDerZanden, Ann Marie S73, S231, S374 Wang, Xinwang S170, S171 Vargas, Oscar L. S286 Wang, Xinwang S170 Varn, Frederick S269 Wang, Xu S361 Vashisth, Tripti S268 Wang, Xuezheng S344, S345 Vega, Sandra E. S205 Wang, Ying S121, S133 Veillet, Anne S77 Wang, Yin-Tung S234 Veilleux, Richard E. S102, S130 Wang, Zehuai S299 Veitch, R. Scott S365, S393 Wang, Ying S56 Velasco, Riccardo S101 Ward, D.L. S383 Vendrame, Wagner S100, S104, S128, S214 Warmund, Michele S84, S343 Verdegaal, Paul S. S343 Warpeha, Katherine S108 Verde, Ignazio S100 Warren, Stuart L. S322 Verduzco-Rosas, Luis Alfonso S328 Waterland, Nicole S200 Verlinden, Sven S332 Watkins, Christopher S97, S98 , S271, S272, S293 Verma, Sujeet S384 Wattoo, Khalid Saeed S185 Vicente, Brian S89 Webb, C. Joel S154 Viji, Sitther S268 Weber, John B. S287 Vikram, Amit S137 Webster, T.M. S127, S143, S202 Villarino, Gonzalo S103, S209 Wedge, David E. S241 Villordon, Arthur Q. S75, S76, S117, S160 Weebadde, Cholani Kumari S130 Vito, Lisa M. S150 Welbourn, Cal S126 Vogel, Laura S402 Welk, Gregory S244 Volker, Sonia E. S339 Wells, Jennifer S229 Volk, Gayle S73, S207 Wells, Lenny S342 Vorst, Keith S162, S223 Wendakoon, Sumithra K. S334 Voss, Ronald E. S62 Weng, Yiqun S344, S345 Vougioukas, Stavros S159 Werner, Dennis S177

S426 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 Wessel-Beaver, Linda S191 Woolley, David S197 Westerbeek, Pieter J. S253 Workmaster, Beth Ann S280 West, Nancy S353 Wright, Garron M. S100 Wes, Todd S80 Wright, Robert S96, S220, S325, S326 Westover, Fritz A. S316 Wszelaki, A. S68, S154 Wetzstein, Hazel Y. S136, S148 Wszelaki, Annette L. S182 Wetzstein, Michael S136 Wu, Huamei S262 Wheeler, Corey S221 Wu, Ping-Fang S397 Wheeler, Edmund J. S294, S382 Wu, Qingyu S267 Wheeler, Kristen S362 Wu, Xiao S328 Wheeler, Raymond S178, S179, S180 Wyse, Donald L. S269 Whidden, Alicia J. S317 Whitaker, Bruce H. S201 X Whitaker, Vance S112, S399 White, Ferol S240 Xiao, Peigen S121 White, Sarah A. S167, S208, S367, S368, S377 Xiaoping, Fang S241 Whiting, Matthew S123, S124, S132, S159, S161, S211 Ximin, Zhang S233, S316, S372 Whitted, Brittnay E. S304 Xu, Kenong S130 Wiedow, Claudia S132 Xu, Wenping S123 Wien, H.C. S63, S90, S304 Xu, Xiaorong S366 Wilen, Ron S276 Xue, Huiwen S265 Wilhelm, Larry S100 Xun, Chen S233 Wilkins, Bryan S. S270, S349 Wilkins, Erik S148 Y Williams, Kimberly A. S173, S235, S267, S353 Williamson, Jeffrey S113, S283 Yadavali, Prasad S254 Williamson, Keith S69 Yadav, Anand K. S268 Williams, Robert S257 Yamagishi, Masumi S266 Williams, Timothy E. S205 Yamasaki, Milton S88 Williams-Woodward, Jean S167, S377 Yang, Bo S133 Wilson, Alexa R. S158 Yang, En S163, S341 Wilson, L. George S62 Yang, Guochen S267 Wilson, P. Chris S368 Yang, Nannan S211 Wilson, Sandra B. S80, S169, S400 Yang, Tianbao S201 Windham, Alan S167, S378 Yang, Wei Qiang S114 Windham, Mark T. S170 Yang, Wen-Ju S387 Wisniewski, Michael S206 Yang, XiaoTang S98, S99 Wolfe, David W. S158 Yang, Yang S163 Wolkowski, Richard S294, S319 Yao, Shengrui S124 Won, Mi Kyoung S260 Yeh, Der-Ming S303, S387, S392, S393 Wood, Bruce W. S133 Yen, Wan-Yi S234 Wood, Craig S86, S375 Yi, Weiguang S148 Woods, Floyd M. S270, S349, S360 Yi, Yin S263, S366 Woods, Timothy A. S379 Yin, Yi S233, S241, S316, S372 Woo, Jong-Gyu S236 Yoo, Ki Oug S319 Woolard, Derek D. S117 Yoo, Kil Sun S279

HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011 S427 Yoon, Jae Bok S346 Zhang, Lu S123 Yoon, Na Hee S199 Zhang, Qian S101 Young, C.A. S311 Zhang, Qin S211 Young, Landon G. S396 Zhang, Y. S389 Young, Mac S139 Zhang, Zhao S121 Yousef, Gad S346 Zhang, ZhaoQi S98, S99 Yue, Chengyan S91, S92, S130 Zhang, Zibin S136 Yu, Felicia S402 Zhao, Shiwei S95 Yumoto, Kentaro S371 Zhao, Xin S181, S225, S236, S278, S313, S336 Yun, Jin I. S159 Zhao, Yunyang S132 Zhebentyayeva, T. S52 Zhong, Zhisheng S66 Z Zhou, Hougao S66 Zabadal, Thomas J. S229 Zhou, Juan S215 Zajicek, Jayne M. S177 Zhu, Xinyu S172 Zaman, Qamar S289 Zhu, Yanmin S272, S293 Zamora, Everardo S356, S357, S358 Zhu, Yun J. S78 Zapata, Mildred S362 Zibilske, Larry M. S348 Zee, Francis T.P. S74, S88, S296, S321 Zorrilla, Cinthya S205 Zeng, Yajuan S320 Zotarelli, Lincoln S145 Zhang, Bengang S121 Zwart, Drew S164, S323 Zhang, Caixi S123 Zhang, Donglin S215, S233, S242, S263, S265, S309, S316, S366, S372, S395

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S428 HortScience 46(9) (Supplement)—2011 ASHS Annual Conference—September 25–28, 2011