ASHS 2024 Conference

Night Light Pollution Delays Flowering in Soybean and Cannabis - Madigan Eckels
Precise Moisture Control Promotes Optimal, Fast, and Uniform Spinach Seed Germination - Shem Msabila
Planting Density on the Growth and Production of Select Fruiting Crops in Aquaponic Systems - Teal Hendrickson
Global Sensitivity Analysis and Validation of the Modified Energy Cascade Crop Model for Controlled Environment Agriculture - Donald Coon
Planting Density and the Growth of Kale and Cilantro in Year-round Aquaponics - Teal Hendrickson
The Physiological Responses of Citrus Tree Roots to Soil Acidification - Duplicate Sambani
Towards Sustainable Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems: Developing An Intelligent Decision-Making Tool For Improved Resource Use Efficiency - Eshwar Ravishankar
Pre-breeding Leafy Green Watercress (Nasturtium officinale; Brassicaceae) In an Indoor Vertical Farm: A Discovery Trial - Yufei Qian

As urban centers encroach on agricultural land, it is increasingly important to study the effects of light pollution on sensitive short day flowering crops such as Glycine max (soybean) and Cannabis sativa. Common responses to light pollution include delayed flower initiation and development, and Cannabis growers additionally speculate a myriad of other detriments as a result of light pollution. We conducted a series of studies with three soybean and ten Cannabis cultivars to elucidate responses to light pollution. Plant were grown under full-night light pollution ranging from 0 to 150 nanomols m-2 s-1 of cool white light or 0 to 40 nmols m-2 s-1 of red light at 660 nm. We found that continuous light pollution as low as 10 nmol m-2 s-1 from cool white LEDs delayed inflorescence initiation and development of the most sensitive Cannabis cultivars, while red light pollution as low as 5 nmol m-2 s-1 caused similar effects. In cultivars that did not experience a delay in inflorescence initiation, other plant characteristics including height and inflorescence development rate were negatively impacted. In soybean, flower delay in response to light pollution varied by cultivar but was reduced or absent in more modern lines, indicating that breeding may have selected against light sensitivity. Future growers must consider tolerance to light pollution during cultivar selection in order to avoid the detrimental impacts to short day crops.

Traditionally, aquaponic systems are used to produce leafy greens and herbs, while fruits and fruiting vegetables have been considered more difficult to grow due to additional nutrient requirements. When nutrients are not a limiting factor, the possibility of producing more fruit per square foot by increasing planting density is tempting as global populations increase and agricultural land area decreases. This study examined the effects of two different densities on banana peppers (Capsicum annuum L. var ‘Goddess F1’) and pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Seychelles OG’) in a 20 sq ft grow bed. High densities consisted of 14 and 22 pepper and bean plants respectively, while low densities were 7 and 11 pepper and bean plants. Higher densities of peppers and beans produced more fruits than lower densities, while plant dry biomass of higher densities appeared to be lower than higher densities. Results suggest that higher planting densities of peppers and beans may increase harvestable fruit.

Use of aquaponic systems has the potential to provide sustainable food production in a variety of environments year-round. Unfortunately, little is known about the limitations of aquaponics regarding planting density in a grow bed and year-round growing outside of tropical climates. This study evaluated two different planting densities of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L. ‘Winterbor’) and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L. ‘Cruiser’) in a 20 sq ft grow bed in a hoophouse grown during winter and early spring in Stillwater, OK, using bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus L.) as the fish species. High planting densities comprised of 54 kale plants and 68 cilantro plants. Low densities contained 36 kale plants and 48 cilantro plants. High planting density reduced fresh weight and chlorophyll content in kale, and chlorophyll content in cilantro. Additionally, total nitrogen content decreased at higher densities of kale while sulfur content increased. Cold weather mitigation was utilized in the form of a secondary plastic covering, extra light sources, and in-line heaters. Results suggest that higher planting density may be feasible for some leafy green and herb species while being detrimental to others and that year-round growing may be possible with the addition of inline water heaters.

Citrus tree roots are vital in nutrient uptake, water absorption, and overall plant health. Soil pH alters the availability and mobility of essential nutrients in the soil, thus influencing root physiological processes; like most plants, citrus trees are particularly vulnerable to changes in soil pH levels. The root apoplast is the plant component that first encounters adverse soil chemical conditions; hence, the conditions in the root apoplast determine a plant's response. This study aims to investigate the physiological responses of citrus tree roots to soil acidification, focusing on the impact of varying soil pH on root morphology, nutrient uptake, and overall root health. A controlled three-month greenhouse study was conducted at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC), hypothesizing that soil acidification will alter apoplast and phloem pH, reducing CLas population and root damage. This study was conducted utilizing citrus trees subjected to different soil pH levels. Forty trees were used and divided into four groups by pH treatment. These trees were irrigated thrice a week with pH treatments: 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5. Soil acidity and alkalinity were routinely monitored with pH probe sticks. Once soil pH stabilized, feeder root samples were taken for apoplastic and phloem pH experiments. The pH-sensitive fluorescent stains were used for microscopy and vacuum infiltration to collect apoplastic fluids. Parameters such as root length, root surface area, and root diameter were measured to assess the morphological changes in citrus tree roots under different pH treatments. The concentration of essential macro- and micronutrients from the soil, plant tissue, and leachates was also analyzed weekly to evaluate nutrient uptake efficiency. Preliminary results indicate that soil acidification significantly improves fruit yield and feeder root density. By ascribing the specific mechanisms underlying root responses, this research provides valuable insights into the adaptive capabilities of citrus trees. It informs future practices to preserve the health and productivity of citrus groves.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems significantly enhance crop yields per unit area in comparison to traditional open-field farming methods. Moreover, they contribute to reduced water consumption and offer extended and more predictable growing seasons. While CEA systems show promise in meeting urban vegetable demand, the question remains what the required inputs are (water, fertilizer, energy, labor) for different systems (vertical farm, greenhouses) in different climate locations. In this work, an easy-to-use transient energy model that simulates the internal microclimate of CEA systems is developed. The microclimate will include changes in temperature, humidity, water, nutrient, and carbon dioxide while also computing the energy costs associated with conditioning the space and electricity. This model will also accurately map the leaf temperature and hence compute the transpiration water loss accounting for the spectra of different artificial light sources. The energy model will be linked to a functional crop growth model that can simulate the yield of the plant over multiple growth cycles and quantify water and nutrient uptake. The potential of the developed model is demonstrated by performing simulations of year-around greenhouse operation within the U.S. Two climates categorized into hot, and cold based on annual temperature are selected for the simulation of tomato production. Results indicate that supplemental lighting energy requirement ranged between 128-160 kWh/m2-year across the selected climate zones to achieve target yield in a given duration. Overall energy consumption ranges from 200 - 400 kWh/m2-year. Overall, the supplemental lighting requirement makes upto 75 percent of the total required DLI and provides comparable improvements in biomass compared to yield in greenhouses without supplemental lighting. Finally, the model indicates that upto 90 percent of total supplemental lighting requirements require light intensities in the combination of 250 and 500 µmoles m-2 s-1 to satisfy the additional DLI requirement. However, a higher lighting intensity of 1000 µmoles m-2 s-1 is required sporadically at night during winter between October – March in the northern latitudes. Overall, this model integrates energy, temperature, nutrition, and crop yield considerations for various crops and acts as a useful predictive tool for assessing operational costs based on target yield and duration of growth for greenhouses operating in any given climate.

The Modified Energy Cascade (MEC) crop model was originally developed to predict the edible biomass production of bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) along with BLSS consumption and production of O2 and CO2. Three distinct MEC versions support this original goal and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) on Earth. Cavazzoni built the first MEC for predicting crop growth, transpiration, and productivity of BLSS. Boscheri et al. and Amitrano et al. each developed versions building off Cavazzoni's work. While each of these model versions builds off each other, differences in methodology and assumptions of plant physiology impact the outputs of the model, necessitating a comparison between versions. To describe the effects of input variability and model structure on the outputs of the MEC versions before further development for BLSS and CEA production facilities, four research questions were chosen to guide this evaluation. 1) How much variation in transpiration and yield predictions can be attributed to the model version? 2) How are input variations propagated through the cascading nature of the models? 3) Which model components are highly sensitive or uncertain to which environmental conditions? 4) How well does each model version predict the outcome of lettuce yield and transpiration outcomes of data sets independent from model development? To answer the first three questions, a series of global sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were performed. They revealed that 1) for daily transpiration rate and edible biomass model version alone can explain between 69% and 82% with Amitranos representing the lowest values and Boscheris the highest typically. 2) Even in sequences of identical equations, where each subsequent calculation is identical, variability is gradually reduced with final output variations between 40% - 55% that can be attributed to the prior upstream differences. 3) The Cavazzoni and Boscheri edible yield predictions are highly sensitive to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and CO2 across calculations while Amitrano’s is more responsive to photoperiod rather than PPFD. 95% of Boscheris transpiration output is driven by relative humidity while the other two utilize a combination of that and photoperiod. Lastly, these models and their performance were evaluated using environmental and yield data from an indoor vertical farming facility and growth chamber experiments. Together these analyses provide the information necessary to continue the development of the MEC for the prediction of resource flows and yield of CEA and BLSS supporting the optimization of electricity usage and circularity processes within closed-loop agriculture.

Our research is to define and develop pre-breeding resources as foundational knowledge to underpin breeding of a specialty leafy green crop watercress (Nasturtium officinale; Brassicaceae). This is being achieved by screening a unique, worldwide collection of watercress population to discover and to enhance nutritional traits for health, morphology, and sensory of the indoor controlled environment agriculture (CEA) market. Watercress is a perennial semi-aquatic leafy green vegetable in the Brassicaceae family and is an understudied specialty crop that has important human health benefits. The most abundant secondary metabolite glucosinolate (GLS) in watercress is gluconasturiin, an aromatic GLS, which hydrolyses and releases phenethyl-isothiocyanates (PEITC). PETIC, specifically from watercress, has been proven to have chemo-preventative potentials. Wild germplasm collection harbours natural variations and useful trait discovery opportunities for introgression of novel traits into the existing gene pool. There is limited interdisciplinary research on crop nutrition and breeding for the CEA settings. We found that watercress is well-suited to indoor hydroponic growing. We established the first indoor vertical farm (VF), a controlled growth chamber in a shipping container, at University of California, Davis. Light quality and quantity both serve important roles in watercress growth and development, and a fully controllable vertical farm allows testing a suite of traits of interests with altered LED light regimes. Results showed that VF grown wild watercress possessed significant genotypic differences across treatments, indicating an abundant natural diversity. Altering red to blue LED light ratio and duration may further enhance the anti-cancer GLS compounds as well as nutritional quality profile of this leafy crop.

Soil Amendments Alter Soil Chemical Properties and Toxic Elements Accumulation in Sweetpotato cvs. Bayou Belle and Beauregard - Mae Ann Bravo
Methods of Fertilization in Commercial Production of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens Small (Bartr.) form green and glauca) -Vania Pereira
Iron Biofortification in Radish and Pea Microgreens Using Alternative Iron Sources and Ascorbic Acid -Rishi Ravichandran
Combined Agronomic Biofortification of Iron and Zinc in Radish and Sunflower Microgreens - Rishi Ravichandran
Growth Responses of Hydroponic Vegetable Transplants to Nutrient Solution Concentrations Made with Food Waste Liquid Ana - Emily Webb
Foliar Boron Nutrition in Grafted Watermelon: Impact on Fruit Development, Yield, and Quality - Bhupinder S. Jatana

Saw palmetto is an endemic palm of the Southeastern United States that has been widely used as an ornamental food source for birds and mammals, and the fruit is used as a medicinal supplement for prostate cancer. The production of this palm still relies on wild harvesting. We analyzed the effects of different fertilization methods on the plant growth and fruit production of two saw palmetto forms (green and silver) from 2022 to 2023. Fertilization methods consisted of 1. Control- no fertilizer application; 2. Injection by Arbor-Jet: Palm-Jet Mg 1-2-2 (N-P2O5-K2O) 2.5 ml per plant once a year (ArborJet, Woburn, MA); 3. Granular (Harrell’s, Lakeland, FL): 8-2-12 4 Mg (N-P2O5-K2O 4 Mg) with micronutrients 146 g/m2 of plant canopy; 4: Granular and drench fertilizer: 8-2-12 4 Mg with micronutrients 146 g/m2 with drench application – 20-10-20 Epsom salts Non-staining Micros (Harrell’s MAX, liquid foliar nutritional, Lakeland, FL). Treatments 3 and 4 were applied every three months for a year. Green saw palmetto only differed and performed better than silver form in the number of leaves and offshoot per plant. The granular and granular with drench fertilization provided the best plant growth rates, regarding plant height, width, visual quality, and green canopy cover, then control and injection treatments. Even though the drench had a higher supply of nutrients for the plants, the differences were not statistically significant from granular fertilization.

Field trials were conducted to investigate the feasibility of applying commonly used soil amendments to reduce the accumulation of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in sweetpotato storage roots. The cultivars Bayou Belle and Beauregard were grown on an experimental site with natural levels of As, Cd, and Pb. The following soil amendments were used: agricultural lime (AGL) (1 t·ac−1), gypsum (GYP) (1 t·ac−1), biochar (BIO) (1 t·ac−1), and silicon provided as wollastonite (WOL) (2.5 t·ac−1). Compared to the unamended plots, WOL and GYP were associated with elevated soil pH and sulfur levels while reducing Mn and Fe availability. There were no differences in storage root yield grades for both cultivars. The soil amendments were associated with reducing As and Cd extractability by 12 to 31% and 2 to 5%, respectively. A notable finding was the increase in Cd and Pb accumulation in the cultivar Beauregard amended with WOL. We hypothesize that the elevated pH was associated with reducing available binding sites and surface complexes such as with Mn and Fe, leading to the increased bioavailability of Cd and Pb. These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that AGL is a viable soil amendment under mixed toxic element conditions, reducing Pb accumulation without increasing the uptake of other toxic elements. The data also support the need for a systems-based approach for the long-term management of toxic elements in sweetpotato, where soil amendment application is integrated with the use of cultivars associated with low accumulation of specific toxic elements.

Iron (Fe) is an essential and versatile micronutrient in plants and humans, and inadequate levels of dietary Fe can cause impaired development in children and poor physical and cognitive functioning in adults. Iron deficiency is the leading micronutrient deficiency worldwide, affecting around 1.6 billion people, with the most vulnerable demographic being pregnant women and infants. Contributing factors include diets that, particularly in developing regions, are predominantly comprised of cereal grains which are characterized by relatively low bioavailable Fe levels. Additionally, 30% of cultivated soils globally have low Fe availability. Defining effective ways to increase Fe content and availability in edible plants is therefore of utmost importance, and an agronomic approach to Fe biofortification could be a viable solution. Microgreens are an ideal candidate crop for tackling nutrient deficiencies. They are nutrient dense, have low antinutrient levels, can be grown in a relatively short amount of time, and can be consumed raw, making them a convenient target for agronomic Fe biofortification. Unfortunately, Fe uptake by plants is problematic, especially in alkaline and oxidizing conditions. Previous studies have suggested the potential of using ascorbic acid (AA) as an enhancer of Fe uptake. However, this approach has not been tested before in microgreens. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate in a soilless system the effect of different Fe sources with and without organic acids (Ferric sulfate, Ferric sulfate 0.1% Ascorbic acid, Ferric citrate), applied via fertigation at different concentrations (0, 15, 30, 45 mg/L of Fe), on radish and pea microgreens’ Fe content. Treatments were arranged in a randomized factorial experimental design using three replications. We discovered that Ferric sulfate 0.1% AA was the most effective source in increasing Fe uptake, while Ferric citrate was the least efficient. Fertigating with 45 mg/L Ferric sulfate with 0.1% AA resulted in an approximately 110% increase in Fe accumulation in radish and pea microgreens, compared to the untreated control. However, using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to adjust the nutrient solution pH, the same treatment was associated with an increased level of Na and resulted in a 3-30% reduction in fresh and dry biomass in both microgreen species. In conclusion, this study provides promising evidence that through fertigation, supplementation of AA with Fe fertilizers is effective in increasing Fe uptake in two microgreens species. However, careful consideration of Fe sources and concentrations needs to be made to not compromise yield and nutritional quality.

Micronutrients like boron, similar to essential macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), play a crucial role in plant growth and productivity, even though they are required in smaller quantities. In California’s pistachio production, boron deficiency was initially identified as a concern. However, more recently, the issue has shifted to excess boron in soils and water, potentially affecting the plants as boron toxicity. The current study is investigating the relationship between soil and leaf boron levels, leaf surface area damage and yield in pistachio drip irrigated orchard. Soil, leaf and yield data were collected from a second year running salinity management trial on an eight-year-old pistachio orchard (established in 2015) on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Our preliminary findings indicate that while soil boron levels significantly reduced pistachio yield, no significant correlation was found between leaf boron level or percentage of leaf damage (indicative of boron toxicity) and yield. This indicates that the decrease in yield with increasing soil boron is not caused by a reduction in active photosynthetic area. Based on these findings, focusing on monitoring and maintaining optimal soil boron levels might be the most effective strategy for minimizing potential yield losses associated with boron issues in pistachio orchards.

Food waste liquid anaerobic digestates (FWLAD) have received much public attention for its potential as an organic fertilizer source as they are rich in mineral elements. However, FWLAD can contain high salinity and high NH4 concentration, and thus, the optimum application rates need to be determined to deliver required plant nutrients without excessive salt and NH4 level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of nutrient solution concentration made from FWLAD on the growth of leafy vegetable seedlings. The seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ‘Rex’, ‘Muir’, and ‘Roxy’, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) ‘Rhubarb’, bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) ‘Mei Qing Choi’, and kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) ‘White Russian’ were sown in rockwool plug and grown at 22 °C under sole-source LED lighting with an 18-h photoperiod at a photosynthetic photon flux density of 200 µmol∙m-2∙s-1. After germination, the seedlings were sub-irrigated with nutrient solution made with either crude or processed FWLAD at electrical conductivities (ECs) of 1, 2, 3, or 4 dS·m–1. Four weeks after treatment, when using crude FWLAD, shoot fresh mass of three lettuce cultivars decreased by 76-92% as EC increased from 1 to 4 dS·m–1. In contrast, with processed FWLAD, lettuce ‘Adriana’ and ‘Roxy’ showed 68-1080% greater shoot fresh mass at an EC of 2 dS·m–1 compared to an ECs of 1, 3, or 4 dS·m–1. Shoot fresh mass of lettuce ‘Muir’ at an EC of 2 dS·m–1 was similar with that at an EC of 1 dS·m–1 but 380-516% greater than those at ECs of 3 or 4 dS·m–1. In lettuce, the EC of FWLAD had similar effects on leaf area as it did on shoot fresh mass, but it had minimal effects on leaf number, relative chlorophyll concentration, and shoot dry mass. In kale, Swiss chard, and bok choy, the EC of FWLAD had little effects on plant growth attributes. Our results suggest that leafy vegetable seedlings vary in their responses to nutrient solution concentrations derived from FWLAD, with lettuce exhibiting greater sensitivity than Swiss chard, bok choy, and kale. In lettuce, lower concentrations of FWLAD (at an EC ≤2 dS·m–1) increased shoot fresh mass.

Grafting is an effective management strategy in watermelon crop against soil borne pathogens. Carolina strongback (SB) rootstock used for grafting, is resistant to both fusarium wilt and root knot nematodes which are devastating soil borne pests of watermelon. However, recent trials have shown that SB grafted plant bear fruits 7-10 days later than regulate plants leading to farmers losing early market which is more profitable. Further, tissue boron content in SB grafted plants were reported to be lower than regular watermelon nursery plants. Boron is the key micro-nutrient involves in cell wall and cell membrane, pollination, pollen germination, cell division, translocation of carbohydrates and fruit development. We hypothesize that foliar application of boron will cure the boron deficiency in grafted plants and leads to early fruit set similar to regular watermelon nursery. To test this hypothesis, a field experiment was conducted at Edisto Research and Education Centre, SC with the objective to evaluate the impact of foliar boron applications on pollen viability, pollination, fruit set, and periodic fruit yield as compared to regular watermelon nursery. The experiment was comprised of four treatments including a regular watermelon nursery control, in randomized complete block design. The soils had medium to low boron content of 0.1 pounds/acre. The soils were medium in potassium (133 pounds/acre), zinc (5.2 pounds/acre) and manganese (13 pounds/acre). Within first 25 days of transplanting, we did not observe any difference in the watermelon aboveground growth and biomass accumulation, in different treatments. Further, we will evaluate the impact of foliar boron application on pollen viability, pollination, watermelon fruit set, fruit yield and quality in SB grafted nursery.

Perceptions of Gardens and Gardeners - Belinda Brain
Horticultural Activities Impact the Perceived Stress Levels of Undergraduate Students - Baylie Weld Latter
Perceptions of Media Literacy in Undergraduate Students and Master Gardeners - Caleb Spry
Identifying the Role of the Chloroplast-Mediated CEBP Transcription Factor in Petunia Flower Senescence - Colin Krisulevicz
Optimal production densities and storage conditions for five microgreens - Sam Petrovich
Irrigation Level Affects Bloom Number and Pollinator Visits in Herbaceous Perennials - Madison Coyle
Strawberry Response to Compost Versus Inorganic Nitrogen - Kauai Paule and Elizabeth De La Torre
SOFT Science: Cultivating Sustainable Horticulture Leaders Through the Student Organic Farm Training Program - Alana Marie Barros
Phenological Modeling of Pollenizing Crabapple Cultivars (Malus spp.) and Commercial Apple Cultivars (Malus X domestica - Miranda Woodcock
Determining Sap Yield, Sugar Content, and Mineral Composition of European White Birch Trees - Abby Porter

Studies have been conducted on the preferences and opinions of individuals for garden and landscape spaces with varying amounts of plants (Zheng et al., 2011). However, little data exists on the perceptions individuals hold about the gardeners that grow these garden spaces. An online survey was created containing images that represent three outdoor spaces with three different amounts of plant material and complexity. The images with different amounts of plant material were created with artificial intelligence assisted software to modify the identical base backgrounds. Participants were asked a variety of questions about each space, then about the “gardener” who created the space. The survey contained twenty short answer questions and eighteen sliding scale questions to provide a diverse data set. Participants in the survey were undergraduate students in an introductory horticulture class, high school students in agriculture education classes, and adults training to be Master Gardeners. Data from undergraduate students reveals there was a positive correlation between the amounts of plant material and the respondent’s opinions on the gardener’s level of education, age, socioeconomic status, and gardening experience. Less plant material corresponded to a perception of lower levels of education, age, status, and experience. Thus, respondents consider areas with the highest amount of plant material to be created by more highly educated, older individuals with higher socioeconomic status and more gardening experience. These results allow us to better understand the public’s perception of gardens and gardeners, assisting us in creating more applicable materials for classes and facilitating more productive interactions with the public.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of gardening activities and their impact on stress gained much attention. Undergraduate students often complain of being overwhelmed or stressed, and gardening activities have been shown to reduce stress for some people (Makayla et al., 2023). Therefore, as instructors, we thought it would be interesting to see if undergraduate students realize a benefit from hands-on, horticulture labs. The purpose of this study was to determine if hands-on horticulture activities reduced stress in undergraduate students in a horticulture class at Iowa State University. We investigated the perceived stress of undergraduate students before and after lab activities for Home Horticulture (Hort 121) course. We used a modified ten-question Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure and assess students’ stress levels (Cohen, 1983). Four labs (out of 14) were selected for this study. Each lab lasted 50 minutes and included a hands-on, experiential activity. Three lab sections with approximately 25 students in each section, participated in this study. Two of the labs were administered outdoors and two were administered indoors. Students completed the modified PSS immediately before and after these lab activities. Data were compiled and analyzed in Excel. Preliminary results indicated moderate improvement in stress levels by students in all lab sections. In addition, almost all students enjoyed these lab activities. Future data analysis will determine if there are differences in stress reduction between indoor or outdoor lab activities. The results from this study can give undergraduate students alternative stress management practices to help them thrive in stressful times. Practical and effective stress management skills are important for their academic performance and general well-being.

Media literacy is the ability to decipher a source’s reliability and credibility. In a 2023 Axiom Market survey about home gardeners and vegetables, participants were asked, “what is the most important place to learn about new vegetables?” Only 1% of respondents said university extension service (Axiom, 2023). As online gardening resources continue to grow so does the need for accurate and reliable information. In this study, we surveyed Iowa State University undergraduate students and Master Gardeners on their perceptions of media literacy. The survey was created in Qualtrics and contained ten Likert scale questions, eight multiple choice questions, and five gardening-based case studies. In these case studies participants were asked to rank sources based on their perceived “trustworthiness.” The survey was distributed in April 2024. Across the five case studies, Iowa State University students ranked “.org” and “.edu” sources higher than sources whose domains contained “.com.” Eighty-two percent of undergraduate students responded that they have not shared incorrect information on social media. Eighty-seven percent of students consider themselves confident internet users. Eighty-four percent of students consider themselves to be media literate. Seventy-eight percent of students consider themselves media literate and confident internet users. These results indicate that undergraduate students may not fully recognize the difference between being a confident internet user and being media literate. These data will serve as a pilot to assist with the creation of a media literacy training module for undergraduate students and Master Gardeners to strengthen their critical thinking skills around online gardening resources.

The Carnation Ethylene-responsive element-Binding Protein (CEBP), a nuclear-encoded transcription factor found in plants, is believed to be involved in the senescence of flowers. Previous studies have elucidated the putative role of this protein in the nucleus, however the role of CEBP in the chloroplast remains unknown. An RNAi construct to silence CEBP mRNA expression was developed under control of the Clarkia breweri linalool synthase (LIS) promoter, a flower specific promoter, in addition to Kanamycin resistance. The construct was transformed into E. coli, and then the plasmid containing the construct was then transferred into Agrobacterium. Next, Agrobacterium mediated transformation was utilized to insert the RNAi into the petunias using leaf disk infiltration. Four independent transgenic lineages were transferred from tissue culture to the greenhouse. QRTPCR confirmed expression of the RNAi construct as well as knock down effect on CEBP expression. Senescence timeframes, physiological changes, and downstream effects will be reported.

Microgreens, or very young vegetable seedlings, are an increasingly common appearance in dishes for garnish, flavor, and even nutrient content. As microgreens become more relevant, this study analyzed the optimal density by which to sow a variety of microgreen species as well as the optimal temperatures to store them once harvested. Seeds of arugula, cilantro, red leaf beet, and Russian kale were sown at 5.27g/m2, 10.54g/g/m2, 21.10g/m2, 42.18g/m2, 84.35g/m2, 168.71g/m2, and 337.42g/m2. Sowing density was randomly assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The average height was measured before harvest and fresh weight was determined upon harvest. Fresh weights of microgreens sown at 337.42g/m2 was always more than those sown at any other density. Interestingly, this treatment did not always produce the tallest plants. Lower densities, notably arugula and beet, produced the tallest plants at 21.10g/m2 and 42.18g/m2. Considering cost seed and harvestable yield, optimal sowing densities were for 168.71g/m2, and 337.42g/m2. In a separate experiment the same microgreens were stored in clamshells at 0.0°C, 2.5°C, 5.0°C, 7.5°C, 10.0°C, 12.5°C, and 20°C. Microgreens were observed at 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after harvest and rated on a 1 to 5 scale. Storage at room temperature (20°C) caused severe yellowing and quick decline where none of the microgreens were of acceptable quality at 3 days after harvest. Temperatures below 7.5°C allowed acceptable storage of each of the microgreens for up to one week. Decay was most significant in arugula at two weeks of storage while others only showed moderately better performance.

Heat and drought in cities can be exacerbated by limitations on water availability for irrigation. While many perennials are drought-tolerant, decreases in bloom number and quality are common. This study has two objectives. First, does bloom number in perennials decrease under limited irrigation. Second, how does this affect the number of pollinator visits. Twenty perennials were randomly planted in twelve beds, arranged in a randomized complete block design, with three beds per block. One plant of each perennial species was planted per bed. Beds within each block were randomly assigned to one of three irrigation levels: ET (evapotranspiration) 0.6, 0.3, and 0.0. Pollinators were counted by standing in front of the plant for 60 seconds and counting each pollinator within the canopy. Bloom number was determined by counting the number of blooms on one quarter of the plant and multiplying by four. Across all species, both bloom number and pollinator visits remained the same across all irrigation levels. However, individual species had very different results. Blue mist flower (Conoclinum coelestinum) had more blooms and pollinator visits in the ET 0.6 treatments (119.4 blooms and 1.3 pollinators per plant) than the ET 0.3 treatments (75.6 blooms and 0.6 pollinators per plant), while fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) had more average blooms per plant in the ET 0.3 (64.1) and ET 0 (54.9) than the ET 0.6 (15.9), though a similar average number of pollinators per plant across all treatments. Interestingly, while blooms and soil water content across all species were not correlated, pollinators and soil water content had a moderate, positive correlation (P=0.01, r=0.49).

Plant nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important in reducing fertilizer costs and mitigating negative impacts on agriculture and the environment. The goal of this research was to differentiate various strawberry cultivars based on their growth on compost versus inorganic nitrogen sources. The hypothesis posits that different strawberry cultivars display varying effects on the soil and plant microbiome. Given the variability in cultivars and their effects on the soil and plant microbiome, it is possible that different cultivars may influence the soil differently. Moreover, plants play a pivotal role in the development of microbiomes, subsequently supporting plant growth. For instance, plants exude amino acids from their roots to foster their beneficial microbiome. This hypothesis was tested by growing 7 cultivars of strawberries for six weeks in a mixture of peat moss and turface with and without added compost and seven replicates. Four of the replicates were used for destructive sampling at the end and three for the microbiome work. The plants were watered daily with a complete soluble fertilizer with and without added nitrogen. Leachate was collected daily and the nitrogen content (loss of nitrogen) determined. Relative growth rate and tissue N uptake was determined for each cultivar at the end of the experiment. To study the microbiome, leaf stamps on agar plates were conducted, enabling the cultivation and analysis of both bacterial and fungal communities associated with the strawberry leaves. This method provided direct insights into the microbial diversity and density present on the plant surfaces. The results of this research revealed that all cultivars grew better on soluble fertilizer than compost but some strawberry cultivars grew better on compost than others. Moreover, the strawberries developed a distinctive leaf microbiome when grown on compost, and variations specific to each cultivar were pronounced. Differential cultivar response to compost and soluble fertilizer supports the hypothesis that different cultivars influence the soil and hence nutrient uptake differently, demonstrating the importance of plant selection for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms.

The Student Organic Farm Training (SOFT) program, established in 2007, is a student-run organic mini farm that serves as a co-curricular, hands-on learning environment for several classes at the University of Hawaii. The program's three-fold mission is to 1) highlight the role of ecological processes in organic food production through an interactive learning garden, 2) promote community health and sustainability via local food production, and 3) cultivate skills in entrepreneurship, management, and leadership among student participants in relation to agriculture. Key objectives include facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, increasing student access to affordable local organic produce, and improving student proficiency in regenerative management of horticultural systems. Specific initiatives include developing a themed educational garden, hosting workshops led by faculty/students, providing internships and volunteer opportunities, conducting on-site research, distributing produce to underserved populations, coordinating volunteer workdays, and community outreach through off-site volunteering and attending events/markets. In partnership with Noelani Public Elementary School, SOFT has engaged over 400 students in hands-on STEM learning. Through "soup" and "pizza" themed gardens, these first graders explored topics such as photosynthesis, soil, nutrition, and food safety, fostering a lifelong love for gardening and healthy eating. SOFT’s long-term goals include further integration with university curricula, transitioning to a self-sustaining operation, and expanding the program's scope to incorporate diverse horticultural systems.

Commercial apple cultivars require a pollinizer for cross-pollination to ensure fruit-set yields when planted in contiguous blocks found in modern apple orchards. Pollinizers must have compatible viable diploid pollen and have bloom overlap with the variety grown in the orchard block. Climate change can influence the viability of a pollenizer cultivar by shifting the bloom times of the pollinizers and the commercial apple cultivar, depleting the source of pollen for that block, and decreasing yield potential. 4 commercially available pollenizing crabapple cultivars (Indian Summer, Mt. Blanc™, Mt. Evereste™, Snow Drift) were replicated 5 times in completely randomized design. Pollinizers were analyzed weekly for developmental stages from silver tip to petal fall. 7 apple cultivars were also analyzed for comparison. The stage progression data for each pollenizer cultivar was modeled using growing degrees days base 6.6°C. These models were used to compare the stage progression and bloom dates of the pollenizer cultivars, and compared to the production apple cultivars to assess bloom overlap and determine pollinizer feasibility. All 4 crabapples began to bloom earlier than the scion cultivars leading to little bloom overlap. Indian Summer was the first crabapple to bloom on 3/28 with cumulative growing degree days (GDD) 166.4. The latest to bloom was Mt. Blanc on 4/13 with cumulative GDD 250.1. The commercial cultivars did not begin to bloom until 4/6 with cumulative GDD 199.6 through 4/13 with cumulative GDD 250.1. While the first commercial cultivar to bloom was Gold Rush and most at full bloom around 4/13, at which time all but Mt. Blanc crabapples were past bloom. Results suggest most pollinizer cultivars have poor bloom overlap with commercial cultivars in Kentucky, with Mt. Blanc offering the best, though limited overlap. Furthermore, the crabapple cultivars are seemingly responding to environmental cues such as chilling and GDD accumulation differently to leave dormancy and progress through bloom at a more rapid rate. These early results suggest that the use of crabapple cultivars as pollinizers and their overlap with commercial apple cultivars could be an area of concern as climate change brings earlier springs in major apple producing regions.

The demand for locally sourced agricultural products in the United States is growing, with consumers increasingly seeking unique items and willing to pay premium prices for them. Currently, birch products such as birch sap and birch syrup are primarily produced in Alaska and the Eastern United States. However, there may be an opportunity for birch tree owners in the western United States to enter this market with their own local birch products. European white birch (Betula pendula), a common landscaping tree in the cooler northern regions of Utah, presents a potential resource for this industry. Despite the prevalence of these trees, there is a lack of research on the feasibility of tapping them for sap in the Intermountain West. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the sap yield, sugar content, and mineral composition of European white birch trees in Northern Utah. In the spring of 2024, birch trees in Logan, North Logan, Hyde Park, and Smithfield, UT, were tapped using plastic sap buckets. Daily sap yields were recorded for each tree from 16 March to 11 April 2024, and sap samples were analyzed for sugar and mineral content. This preliminary research provides crucial data for assessing the viability of a birch tapping industry in Northern Utah. While further research is necessary for a comprehensive evaluation, this project lays the groundwork for understanding the potential of tapping European white birch trees in this region.

Timing Kale Growth for Peak Nutrition and Energy Efficiency in a Vertical, Hydroponic Indoor Container Farm - Skyler Brazel
Effects of Beneficial Bacterial Endophytes on Growth of Lettuce Plants, Transcriptome, and Root Microbiome in Hydroponic Systems - Chuansheng Mei
Soybean Speed Breeding: Optimizing Photoperiod for Maximizing Yield and Minimizing Time - Cristiane da Silva
Energy Modeling and Management to Improve the Sustainability of Indoor Farming - Ying Zhang
Increasing Circularity in Controlled Environment Agriculture using Anaerobic Digester Effluent as an Organic Fertilizer - Ana Martin Ryals
Utilizing Deep Learning for Hydroponic NFT Channel Spacing Optimization - Azlan Zahid
Modeling Evapotranspiration in Greenhouse and Indoor Cutting Propagation - Daniel Crawford
The Impact of Extreme Low Irradiance on the Wholesale Market Volume of Major Horticultural Crops in Korea - Jinhyun Kim

As entrepreneurs look to find new ways to shorten the gap between farm and table in urban communities, many are considering vertical farming as an answer to the problem of limited growing space. The aim of this experiment is to determine the optimal harvest time in weeks for vertically grown, hydroponic kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala cv. ‘Toscano’) based on morphological data, phytonutrient concentrations, energy, and yield. After a four-week germination period, kale was grown for up to eight weeks and harvested at eight different stages of growth, based on the number of weeks spent in the vertical system. When harvested, morphological parameters were measured, and samples were collected to analyze mineral nutrient content. Electrical Energy usage data was collected and presented as: Lighting, HVAC, and Other. Data was analyzed as a Randomized Complete Block Design with three blocks. Mean plant height, fresh leaf mass, and leaf dry mass all increased with growth stage, with the largest plants being observed at stage eight. Additionally, the greatest mean quantity of dead, diseased, or unconsumable leaves of 3.27 leaves per plant was observed at stage eight. Mineral nutrient concentrations of calcium, sulfur, and manganese increased through seven weeks (stage seven), after which a decrease was observed in stage eight. Decreases in concentration during stage eight was also observed for phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, with negligible differences in the younger stages. No differences in energy data existed for the daily mean lighting, HVAC, and Other electrical consumption across all eight stages. Harvest data collected indicates that plants should be harvested prior to stage eight to maintain mineral nutrient content and minimize dead leaves and should be considered with total energy consumption to optimize farm productivity, energy efficiency, and nutritional content of plants. Further analysis of other primary and secondary metabolites alongside total energy consumption cost is necessary to identify the best stage of harvest maturity and nutritional quality for consumers relative to energy usage and production cost.

Controlled environment agriculture will play an important role in feeding the increasing world population as urbanization is expanding, and arable land is decreasing. Higher yields will help offset the initial high cost for building hydroponic production facilities. Beneficial bacterial endophytes have been receiving more attention in sustainable agriculture practices because they can promote plant growth, enhance nutrient uptake, and inhibit pathogen growth. The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research has established a bacterial endophyte library of more than 2000 strains and found that some bacterial endophytes significantly increased the growth of tall fescue KY31 in vitro, up to 8-fold compared with untreated control plants. In previous paper, we reported that Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 significantly promote lettuce growth in hydroponic systems. In this study, we investigated the molecular and microbiological mechanisms these bacteria exhibit for plant growth promotion in hydroponic systems through plant gene expression with RNAseq and root bacterial community changes through microbiome analysis after bacterial inoculation. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivar ‘Green Oakleaf’ was inoculated with Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632 one week after seeds were sown and transplanted to nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic units one week after bacterial inoculation. Samples were taken at 4, 10, and 15 days after lettuce seedlings were transplanted for gene expression analysis. Root samples were taken 15 days after transplantation for microbiome analysis. Anosim, NMDS, and PCoA analyses indicated bacterial community changes in inoculated plants. The top genus relative abundance was unclassified bacteria with 87% in IALR632 treatment and 85% in control (p=0.0136). In the next top 24 genus’s relative abundance, IALR632 inoculation dramatically increased Sediminibacterium, Hyphomicrobium, Sphingobium, Devosia, Mycobacterium, Rhodoplanes, and Runella by 68%, 114%, 72%, 158%, 513%, 103% and 1920%, respectively, and reduced Methylotenera, Rhizobium, and Sphingomonas by 68%, 62% and 45%, respectively. RNAseq data showed that there were 135, 2059, and 9319 DEG between the control and bacterial treatment at 4, 10, and 15 days, respectively. These DEG are being analyzed for pathways involved in plant growth promotion.

Speed breeding is a cutting-edge technology, that utilizes controlled environments to significantly reduce plant generation time, thereby accelerating breeding and research programs. The manipulation of temperature, irrigation, phytohormones, and light are the main ways to reduce plant cycles in speed breeding programs. However, changing these factors can result in decreased yield efficiency, which can also affect the quality of a speed-breeding program. This study aimed to increase seed production without increasing harvest time in soybean plants, a short-day plant, by using different photoperiod regimes. Two soybean (Glycine max) varieties, S16-14801C and CZ7570LL, were grown from seeds in 11-L pots containing peat moss-based substrate in growth chambers with controlled temperature (27 ± 0.5 ˚C), CO2 (475 ± 15 µmol mol-1), humidity (70 ± 5.0%), and light (300 ± 5 µmol m-2 s-1 at table; 20% blue, 10% green, 70% red). One week after germination, seedlings were exposed to four different photoperiod regimes: i) 10 h (0 w at 18 h); ii) two weeks at 18 h and then 10 h (2 w at 18 h); iii) four weeks at 18 h and then 10 h (4 w at 18 h) and iv) six weeks at 18 h and then 10 h (6 w at 18 h). The light fixtures were not adjusted over plant height following industry practices. The plants were harvested ten days after 95% of the pods had attained maturity (R8 stage). For both varieties, the number of pods and seeds and seed weight per plant increased linearly, with the increase in the number of weeks at 18 h. Thus, the number of pods, seeds, and seed weight of plants at 6 w at 18 h were at least 5-fold higher than in plants at 0 w at 18 h. Similarly, plants grown at 6 w at 18 h presented 4-fold higher biomass than plants grown at 0 w at 18 h. However, the increased seed yield and biomass accumulation did not result in a longer plant cycle; plants of both varieties at 6 w at 18 h were harvested 32 days before plants at 0 w at 18 h. Here, we demonstrated that seed yield can be increased and harvest time decreased by manipulating the photoperiod. These findings can help plant breeders in identifying the most suitable method for growing soybean plants in a shorter period, while also ensuring high seed production.

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is considered one of the most efficient ways of crop production. CEAs have the ability to control environmental conditions to maximize crop production. Indoor farms are considered one of the CEA systems that precisely control the environment, leading to high energy consumption in lighting, heating, cooling, and humidity control requirements. Enhancing the energy use efficiency (EUE) of indoor farms requires a better understanding of the energy characteristics of the system and crop production is needed. In this study, a steady state energy model and a machine learning based crop growth model were developed to evaluate energy-saving strategies for indoor lettuce production. The strategies included shifting photoperiod, utilizing heat tolerant crops, and adjusting air temperature settings at four different locations (Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Jacksonville, FL, and Boston, MA). The results showed that cultivar selection plays an important role in EUE improvement. Using high temperature settings with heat tolerant cultivars can increase the EUE of the system. However, increasing temperature setting alone does not significantly reduce energy consumption because of the increasing amount of energy needed for dehumidification. The geographical location of the indoor farm also affects energy consumption because of the different outdoor climate conditions. Boston, MA, which has the coldest outdoor air temperature, had the lowest energy consumption overall compared to the other three locations. Lastly, changing the photoperiod schedule from daytime to nighttime can reduce the electricity costs dramatically by avoiding the peak rate of electricity despite not having a significant reduction in energy consumption.

As global population and stress on our natural resources increases, we need to rethink how/where we produce food with emphasis on recycling resources such as carbon, water, and nutrients. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is gaining increasing attention due to its potential for improving resource use efficiency compared to traditional field-based agriculture. This project investigated a novel approach for treating hydroponics irrigation water and recovering nutrients from vegetable waste for reuse in CEA systems. An integrated anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment process was investigated. Anaerobic digester effluent was nitrified via an aerobic membrane bioreactor process to produce a liquid organic fertilizer supplement (nADE). The nADE was evaluated as a nutrient source for indoor hydroponic and greenhouse soilless drip-irrigation lettuce cultivation. Lettuce yield, tissue nutrient content, water quality, and nutrient uptake efficiency were compared between the nADE treatment and a commercial fertilizer control for each CEA system. The lettuce grown on nADE demonstrated similar or higher yields, more leaves, and elevated tissue nutrient content than the control. The nADE media improved N and P uptake efficiency in the drip-irrigation system but decreased K, Ca, and Mg uptake efficiency, possibly from the over-application of these nutrients. Further research is needed to optimize the integrated treatment system as well as nADE dosing. The study demonstrates a circular bioeconomy approach to decrease dependency on inorganic fertilizers while benefiting crop yield and quality.

In controlled environment agriculture (CEA), maintaining effective plant spacing throughout the crop growth cycle is crucial for efficient resource (light, water, space, and nutrients) utilization to achieve optimal crop yield and quality. Overcrowded or overlapping plant leaves could cause inefficient light exposure to plants/parts of plants, negatively affecting their growth. Additionally, reduced airflow makes overcrowded plants prone to diseases and foliage damage. Meanwhile, sparse plant spacing could result in inefficient space and light utilization. Traditional plant spacing adjustment relies on expert knowledge and manual labor, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Computer vision-based automatic plant space adjustment could help with data-driven decision-making and reduce labor dependency. This study aims to develop a deep learning-based computer vision approach to estimate the effective plant spacing by extracting the morphological characteristics of plants and NFT (nutrient film technique) channels during different plant growth stages. A total of 576 lettuce plants were grown in an NFT channel-based hydroponics system in a controlled environment. Then, RGB-D information of these plants and NFT channels was collected each day for three weeks from planting to harvesting. Then, CNN (convolutional neural network) was employed to extract the plant and NFT channel feature information. Then, the spatial pyramid pooling approach was used to encode and decode the contextual information and segment the plants and NFT channels. This approach helped to achieve an F1-score of 0.90 on the test dataset to estimate space between plants and NFT channels. These results show the potential of the proposed approach for automated plant space adjustment for efficient resource utilization.

Current mist irrigation practices in plant propagation do not represent the variable rate of water loss experienced in a greenhouse environment and often rely on grower experience for adjusting irrigation settings. Automated control logic for these systems can be improved by considering climate data to predict the real-time water loss in the propagation environment. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify the impacts of environmental parameters on the water loss of young plants in greenhouses and indoor environments and 2) develop an evapotranspiration model based on the key parameters identified to achieve weather-based mist irrigation control for resource-efficient plant propagation in controlled environment agriculture. Data sets that include climate data, water applied, and water loss were collected in greenhouse sunlight and indoor sole-source LED environments with unrooted chrysanthemum cuttings. Trials were completed in June and September in 2023 and February in 2024 to collect diverse minute-by-minute data in each environment. Measurements using load cells indicated highly variable water loss in the greenhouse environment. Conversely, in the indoor environment with lower and constant photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and reduced vapor pressure deficit via a fog system, rate of water loss was lower and consistent over time. The key parameters for modeling water loss, found using stepwise regression, were PPFD, leaf temperature, and air vapor pressure (temperature and relative humidity). These climate parameters were correlated with water loss data over time to yield a simple evapotranspiration equation that could be programmed into commercial environmental control systems to improve current irrigation scheduling programs. By improving the control of mist irrigation to take climate data into account, growers have the potential to reduce crop losses (“shrinkage”), reduce rooting time, and improve water use efficiency.

Tomatoes, strawberries, paprika, and Korean melons, which are major fruit vegetables in Korea, are primarily grown in protected horticultural greenhouses, and their production is significantly influenced by seasonal and climatic factors. Extreme low irradiance caused by abnormal weather conditions not only reduces light input but also affects the internal temperature and relative humidity of greenhouses, thereby greatly impacting the growth and production of fruit vegetables. In 2024, fluctuations in production due to prolonged abnormal low irradiance during the flowering, fruit-setting, and fruit-enlargement periods (January to March) have become a significant issue in Korea. The duration of irradiance hours in the winter of 2024 (December to February) was 427.8 hours, a 20% decrease compared to the average of 535.4 hours (1990-2020). In particular, in February, it decreased sharply by 42.1% to only 104.7 hours. Additionally, there were two occurrences of low irradiance lasting more than five days, with the longest period extending up to 11.6 days. As a result, the market volume of strawberries, paprika, and Korean melons from February to April decreased by 19.3%, 29.4%, and 46.8%, respectively. The average selling price of strawberries increased by 1.3 times during this period. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop environmental control and crop cultivation techniques to mitigate the damage caused by reduced yields due to abnormal low irradiance.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues development at a rapid pace, our current teaching and learning methods are also swiftly transforming. AI itself is often combined with various technologies such as image recognition, virtual reality (VR), machine learning, adaptive learning algorithms, and gamification. With the merger of existing technology, AI and education will change the way we teach as well as how students learn. Some examples for teaching Horticulture, Landscape Architecture or Plant Science include individualized teaching, deep learning, adaptive learning environments, AI-based assessment and image recognition. In this Professional Interest Group Session speakers will provide examples of how they are using AI in their teaching methods, followed by an open discussion with the audience that should provide additional examples and applications.

Coordinator(s)

• Kathryn Orvis, Purdue Univ, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Mary Rogers, University of Minnesota, Department of Horticultural Science, St Paul, Minnesota, United States
  How to Incorporate Generative AI in Teaching a Writing Intensive Urban Agriculture Course (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Aaron Thompson, Purdue University, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, West Lafayette, IN, United States
  Teaching with AI in Landscape Architecture (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Cynthia Haynes, Iowa State University, Horticulture, Ames, Iowa, United States
  Potential benefits and pitfalls of using AI software in Horticulture teaching. (15 mins)
  Summary: