The Horticultural Research Institute has announced the portfolio of research projects to be funded in 2020. Projects fit into the cadre of research priorities established in support of the new strategic vision, according to the association. Research priority areas include quantifying plant benefits, creating innovative solutions, gathering consumer insights, and producing practical and actionable solutions

"HRI has new research priorities in place - to quantify plant benefits, encourage innovative solutions, better understand consumer preferences, and provide practical solutions. These will help shape what projects HRI funds, starting this year," commented Gary Knosher, HRI president. "I continue to be amazed by the industry's support of HRI's mission and initiatives. Thank you to all in the industry who contribute!"

The Horticultural Research Institute's mission is to direct, fund, promote, and communicate horticulture research. Supporting research that challenges current methods and bridges the divide between businesses and the consumer is exactly how HRI helps build prosperous businesses, advance the green industry, and fulfill its core vision.

• Commercial Production of Hickories
Dr. N. Bassuk, Cornell University

Growers' choice of what genera to grow has long range impacts, especially in the urban landscape. Easy-to-grow taxa are often preferred in production, sometimes inadvertently creating a monoculture in managed landscapes. Meanwhile, many attractive, superior, adaptable, and robust tree species remain underutilized due to difficulties in nursery production. Enter hickory. Dr. Bassuk and her team will provide new protocols to enable nursery growers to produce multiple species of hickory and eventually help diversify the urban landscape.

• In Defense of Nativars: Comparing the Conservation Value of Native Milkweed Cultivars and Straight Species for Monarch Butterflies, Bees, and Other Pollinators in Small Gardens
Dr. D. Potter, University of Kentucky

The debate over the value of straight species vs cultivars of native plants (called nativars) has clouded consumers' understanding of the value of certain plants to monarch butterflies. Nativars are variants of native species selected and vegetatively propagated for desirable attributes, such as plant stature, flower or leaf color, or bloom period. Do nativars of milkweed provide the same benefits to monarchs? Dr. Potter and his team will help clear the confusion and strengthen the horticulture industry's position that native plant cultivars of milkweed can have the same or even higher conservation value than straight species.

• A Sustainable Approach to Phytophthora-Infested Landscape Beds: The Search for Tolerant or Resistant Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials
Dr. I. Meadows; North Carolina State University

 
Phytophthora root rot and stem blight affects over 100 of the most popular and most commonly used landscape perennials and annuals, including annual vinca, petunia, and daylily, throughout the U.S. Current recommendations for infested landscape beds are either impractical or not economically feasible for landscapers and homeowners. Previous research has given hope of reducing inoculum through the use of crop rotation with resistant plants. Dr. Meadows previously identified 14 cultivars of flowering annuals and 8 cultivars of herbaceous perennials that performed good to excellent in landscape beds heavily infested with Phytophthora. The team will test additional cultivars.

• Enhancing the Performance of SSG as a Biocontrol Agent for Ornamental Plant Disease Mitigation
Dr. P. Kong, Virginia Tech

Boxwood blight, caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata, is a huge concern in the nursery and landscape management industries. Control options are currently limited to cultural practices and fungicides. Biocontrol is a missing component. Bacterial endophytes (organisms that spend at least part of their life in plant roots) have been identified that show potential to reduce C. pseudonaviculata in culture. A team led by Dr. Kong will further evaluate these endophytes for real world applicability.

• Biocontrol Agents for the Vector of Rose Rosette Virus
Dr. I. Tzanetakis, University of Arkansas

Rose rosette disease (RRD) threatens landscape and production roses alike, especially since it reemerged recently in California. A plant virus is responsible for this disease, and it is transmitted, in part, by a very small, eriophyid mite. Being a plant virus, control measures are challenging, as traditional fungicides are ineffective; however, one strategy focuses on control of the vectoring mite. Dr. Tzanetakis and Dr. Druciarek will work on predatory mites with the potential to control the vectoring mite and will evaluate their efficacy.

• Using Grow Wise, Bee Smart and Oregon Bee Project Plant Picks to Promote Pollinator-Attractive Nursery Plants in Oregon
Dr. A. Melathopoulos, Oregon State University

Pollinator health continues to be a focus for our industry. Many growers have responded to public concerns and now adhere to HRI's recommended best management practices geared to better protect pollinators during production. They have also shifted their crop selection to include more plants known to attract pollinators to meet consumer needs. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate the actual impact of these changes. Dr. Melathopoulos and his team will assess the impact of HRI's Grow Wise, Bee Smart and the Oregon Bee Project's Bee Plant Picks on the public's recognition of our industry's efforts and increased sales and profits for growers.

• Developing Environmental and Cultural Protocols for the Production of Containerized Succulents in Greenhouses and Nurseries
Dr. R. Lopez, Michigan State University

Consumers adore succulents. Statistics show a 79% increase in production from 1998 to 2014, in response to consumer demand. Over 1,000 genera of succulents (11,000+ species) exist, and propagation and finishing needs vary greatly among them. Dr. Lopez and his team have identified cultivars of Aloe sp., Aeonium sp., Crassula sp., Echeveria sp., Gasteria sp., Graptoveria sp., Haworthia sp., Kalanchoe sp., Sempervivum sp., Sedum sp., and Senecio sp. to optimize propagation and the production growing environment to reduce growing time and increase profitability.


• Fundamental Aspects of Auxin Foliar Spray Applications to Woody Plant Cuttings
Dr. R. Geneve, University of Kentucky

Applying auxin as a foliar spray has several advantages over traditional quick dip methods for rooting cuttings, such as potential improved worker safety and application efficiency. Foliar auxin sprays are also becoming an integral part of propagation systems using automated, machine-assisted sticking robotics. However, not all woody species respond to foliar spray as well as a quick dip application for rooting, and there are questions concerning application timing as well as the optimal number of applications. Basic questions about auxin movement in cuttings related to spray volume, single vs. multiple applications, and use of a surfactant will be addressed.

• Automation in Container Nursery Weed Control
Dr. J. Neal, North Carolina State University

Weeds are trouble. They compete with crops for water, nutrients, and space. One estimate cites that a single large crabgrass plant can reduce the dry weight of a containerized Japanese holly as much as 60%. Herbicides can help; however, sufficient options do not exist to control broadleaves in containers after emergence. Therefore, growers resort to hand labor, that can cost as much as $4000/ac/year. Mechanization is a potential fix. Dr. Neal and his team plan to develop and test a prototype application system capable of delivering targeted postemergent or preemergent herbicides to the containers.

• Finding the 'Third Space' Through Gardening: Strengthening Relationship Mutuality and Lowering Stress in the Caregiver and Care Recipient Who Has a Disabling Injury or Illness
Dr. A. Catlin, Kaiser Permanente Rehabilitation Center

Caregivers, whether it's a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor, may lovingly provide needed care to persons with a disabling illness or disability but often suffer significant cost to their own mental and physical health in the process. The wellbeing of the caregiver is a new focus of the Kaiser Permanente Rehabilitation Center, and gardening is a natural choice. It can be enjoyed regardless of disability. Dr. Catlin and her team will evaluate the therapeutic value of a shared gardening experience between the caregiver and the care recipient.


• Benefits or Features: Which Cue is More Effective on Retail Signs?
Dr. B. Behe, Michigan State University

Better understanding consumer behavior, preferences, and trends is a key HRI research priority. This project addresses that directly. Dr. Behe previously discovered that younger customers are more likely to purchase a branded plant - even when identical to a nonbranded plant - and that consumers in general want more information on signs because they cannot ascertain plant attributes by looking at it. Now Dr. Behe will take the next step and quantify and profile what cues trigger plant choice, including which benefits resonate best with which type of consumers.