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Floriculture and Ornamentals Education and Extension at Purdue

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Floriculture and Ornamentals Education and Extension at Purdue Editors’ Note: This is the first in a seven-part series on Extension, teaching and research programs being performed at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. RESEARCH Floriculture and Ornamentals Education and Extension at Purdue University OVER THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS, PURDUE RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS WILL SHARE THEIR FINDINGS AND PROGRAMS IN FLORICULTURE AND ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE. By Roberto G. Lopez he Department of Horticulture and our industry graduated from both departments, (Virginia Tech University); Dr. Brian Whipker Landscape Architecture (HLA) at including: Dr. Marvin Miller (Ball Horticulture (North Carolina State University); Dr. Jonathan Purdue University can trace its roots Co.); Mike McCabe (current OFA President); Paul Franz (USDA-ARS); Dr. Tracy Dougher (Montana back to 1884, when Professor James Hammer (Dümmen USA); John Swarens (Ball); State University); Dr. Doug Bailey (University of Troop founded the Department Claire Sawyers (Director of Scott Arboretum); Georgia); Dr. William Graves (Iowa State Univer- of THorticulture and Entomology. Since then, the Anthony Aiello (Director of Horticulture and sity), Dr. Michelle Jones (The Ohio State Univer- departments have separated, but have had a long Morris Arboretum Curator); Dr. Doug Needham sity); Dr. Raymond Cloyd (Kansas State University); history of floriculture and ornamental horticulture (Longwood Gardens); Ricky Kemery (Purdue Dr. Gary Knox (University of Florida), Dr. Bob Tri- Extension and education. Cooperative Extension service); Dr. Mary Welch- pepi (University of Idaho), and Dr. Luis Cañas (The Numerous individuals that have impacted Keesey (Purdue University); Dr. Joyce Latimer Ohio State University). This article, the first of a seven-part series focusing on floriculture and ornamental horti- culture at Purdue, summarizes our teaching and Extension outreach programs. Subsequent articles will focus on environmental, cultural, sustainability, consumer preference, ornamental pest and pathogen research; services provided by the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab; and the Horticulture Gardens, Greenhouses, and Master Gardener programs. The floriculture and ornamentals Extension, research, teaching faculty and professional staff at Purdue University include individuals from agri- cultural and biological engineering, botany and plant pathology, entomology and HLA. Current faculty, specialists, and professionals with floricul- ture and ornamentals responsibilities and interests in HLA include Roberto Lopez (Commercial Flo- riculture Extension Specialist), Tyler Mason (Flori- culture Technician), Natalia Dudareva (Molecular Biology of Floral Scent), Jennifer Dennis (Specialty Crop Marketing Specialist), Michael Mickelbart (Plant Physiology), Michael Dana (Landscape Horticulture), Elizabeth Maynard (Commercial Figure 1. Students measure height of their poinsettia crop for graphical tracking. 16 | gpn | APRIL 2012 | WWW.GPNMAG.COM RESEARCH Figure 2. California Spring Trials edu- cational tour for small- and medium- sized greenhouse operations and other horticultural professionals. Fine PGRs: the keys to conformity. Same active ingredient as ARest® Floral and Vegetable Crops), Mary Lou Hayden (Garden Coordinator and Floral Design), Rosie Lerner (Consumer Horticulture Extension and Indiana State Master Gar- RECENT STUDENT Same active ingredient as Cycocel® dener Coordinator), and Rob Eddy (Plant Growth Facili- AWARDS ties Manager). In addition, extensive support is provided by the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab (P&PDL) Kasey Clemens, a senior majoring in horticul- Same active ingredient as Sumagic® members Tom Creswell and Gail Ruhl, Janna Beckerman ture science was a young plant cultural research (Ornamental and Fruit Disease Extension Specialist), Cliff summer intern at Ball Horticultural Company in Sadof (Landscape Entomology Extension Specialist), and West Chicago, Ill. She was recently awarded the Betty Polanka Floriculture scholarship for her aca- Chad Martin (Renewable Energy Extension Specialist). The only 2% 6-BA PGR for ornamentals demic achievements and commitment to the floral and landscape industries. ® Coursework and Educational Michael Ortiz is a first-year floriculture M.S. student working on light-emitting diode (LED) Same active ingredient as B-NINE® Opportunities lighting of plugs. He was awarded the Purdue doc- Enrollment in the floral design, ornamentals, and land- toral fellowship, an award bestowed to outstand- scape horticulture area continues to be strong at Purdue ing Ph.D.-track students who will enhance the University. There are currently over 200 HLA under- diversity of the graduate student body. He was Same active ingredient as ProGibb® graduate students enrolled in the following concentrations: also awarded the American Society for Horticul- landscape horticulture and design, horticultural produc- tural Science Collegiate Scholars Award. tion and marketing, public horticulture and horticultural Christopher Currey is a third-year floriculture Same active ingredient as Fascination® science. Students interested in ornamental plant produc- Ph.D. student working on greenhouse supplemen- tion and marketing have a wide array of courses available to tal lighting during vegetative propagation. In 2010, them at Purdue. In HLA students can take courses in plant he was selected to be an OFA Scholar at the OFA propagation, bedding plant, poinsettia (total crop manage- Short Course in Columbus, Ohio. Christopher ® also received the Purdue D. Thomas Woods and Same active ingredient as Bonzi ment), and ornamental plant production, herbaceous and James K. Rathmell Scholarship from the American woody landscape plant identification, flower arrangement Floral Endowment to conduct research in Central and indoor plant management, professional floral design, American stock plant facilities, and recently was landscape design and construction, and principles of mar- awarded a Purdue Early Career Researcher Grant The only 4% paclobutrazol formulation keting and management of horticulture businesses. to conduct native plant propagation research at Students often learn the principles of greenhouse crop the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Austra- production by attending lectures, completing homework lia. While at Purdue, Christopher has also been assignments and projects, and going on field trips. How- awarded first place for presentations at the Plant ever, an exciting new course teaches students specific skills Growth Regulation Society of America and the many horticultural employers want: how to put principles NCERA-101 Committee on Controlled Environ- Excellence in PGR Technology into practice to produce a greenhouse crop that meets ment Technology and Use, as well as the Indiana www.fine-americas.com strict quality specifications, while working effectively Flower Growers Association Allen Hammer Schol- Always read and follow label directions. Abide,® arship and the African Violet Society Scholarship Citadel,® Configure,® Concise,® Florgib,® Fresco® as a member of a production team. Christopher Currey and Piccolo® are registered trademarks of Fine for his achievements. Agrochemicals, Ltd. Dazide® is a registered (Ph.D. student) developed the Total Crop Management trademark of Fine Holdings, Ltd. A-Rest,® Cycocel,® Sumagic,® B-Nine,® ProGibb,® Fascination® and (TCM) course in collaboration with Roberto Lopez and Bonzi® are registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. © 2012 Fine Americas, Inc. Write in 761 18 | gpn | APRIL 2012 | WWW.GPNMAG.COM RESEARCH Michael Mickelbart. TCM leads students through scientific articles, bilingual floriculture bulletins, usually hosted by NWIFA members in northwest hands-on growing and decision-making based on production guides, podcasts and links. Liz works Indiana and nearby Illinois. In addition, Roberto the integration of information about the green- with the Northwest Indiana Floriculture Association publishes a quarterly e-bulletin, “The Indiana Flower house environment (light and temperature), plant (NWIFA) to deliver regular educational programs, Grower,” that is distributed to greenhouse growers, growth (height and growth regulator applications), media and irrigation water quality (pH and EC), and pest populations (Figure 1). The end result Today, it takes consistent size, shape and is students who understand how to quality to increase ornamental profits. That’s collect and interpret data and use the why more and more top growers are turning information to produce a uniform, to PGRs from Fine Americas. With proven high-quality, finished crop of poinset- active ingredients, advanced formulations and tias. In order to provide students with uncompromising quality control, Fine PGRs a basis for recognizing, diagnosing, bring out the best in your plants. Plus, these and managing insect and disease cost-effective products are backed by ongoing university research and top-notch technical problems of the greenhouse, nursery, Who said support. For the distributor nearest you, visit and urban forest landscapes, Janna www.fine-americas.com or call (888) 474-FINE Beckerman and Cliff Sadof have conformity isn’t a (3463) toll free. recently developed a new course that integrates the general principles of botany, horticulture, plant pathology beautiful thing? and entomology. Students in Plant Health Management for Ornamental Excellence in PGR Technology Plants develop the problem-solving skills used by plant health practitio- ners to diagnose and manage plant diseases and disorders. The HLA program
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