Nursery Research Initiative Looks for Alternative Solutions to Invasive Plants

Washington, D.C.-Some in the green industry are calling for plant bans of invasive species, but some researchers have different ideas.

Lead investigators Drs. Thomas Ranney, North Carolina State University, Steven Strauss, Oregon State University, and Margaret Pooler of the U.S. National Arboretum are collaborating on breeding techniques (reducing fertility, for instance) to address invasiveness, improve pest resistance, environmental stress tolerance, and commercial potential of several important tree and shrub crops. Other benefits from reducing fertility, according to the researchers, is the elimination of nuisance fruit, reduction in pollen-induced allergies, and improved flowering and reblooming characteristics.

Their research is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI). The research project received funding of $150,000 in 2003 and will receive $468,750 this year. The FNRI focuses on environmental and resource management, pest control, and production systems and strategies. FNRI research funding totals $6 million. FNRI dollars are also supporting research on the emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, and Southern wilt.