ASHS 2024 Conference

A Mentor-Mentee Undergraduate Scientific Communications Course - Danielle Jaden Yamagata Santos
Growth and Volatile Compounds on Thai Herbs at Different Cultivation Systems in Vertical Farming - Akira Kakai
Growth, Anthocyanin Content and Its Gene Expression in Purple Color Paprika Fruit Applying Blue Light at Night - Ryuhei Mitsuzuka
The Effect of Mixing Artificial Seawater into Hydroponic Solution to Tomato Fruit Growth and Ion Contents - Miyuki Baba
Detection of Postharvest Quality of Cut Roses using Vis/NIR Spectroscopy - Ji Yeong Ham
Developing Utah’s Own Sap Drinks - Catherine Sun
Effect Of Temperature Alterations On Phytochemicals Accumulation Among Two Variety Of Feverfew Cultivars - Jalynn Greer
Increased Airflow Improves Yields of High Density Indoor Micro Dwarf Tomato - Matthew Arrington
Assessing the Impact of Urban Environments on the Biomolecular Composition of 'Mosco' Chili Peppers - Kathryn Braun
Growth and Physiology of Three Buckwheat Cultivars under Reduced Substrate Water Contents - Sawyer Zook

TPSS 491 Scientific Communications is a new one-credit undergraduate course in the TPSS Department. It was offered for the first time in Fall 2023 with six undergraduate students. The objective was to enable personalized instruction and mentoring of students on their projects. Consulting with the instructor, each student decided on two projects to work on. Students indicated what specific feedback they were looking for, and the instructor provided individualized assistance. One-to-one meetings enabled more detailed personal instruction. Students were more motivated when working on their own projects. This course’s flexible meeting dates and times allowed tailoring it to each student’s schedule. TPSS 491 helped me to develop and complete personal projects that are crucial in professional development. The flexibility of the course allowed me to partake in one-on-one meetings that worked with my schedule as a full-time student which was one factor why I decided to take this course. Being able to receive personalized feedback on my projects allowed me to make constant improvements that made me feel confident in my work, especially as I plan to use these as tools to enter the professional setting after graduation. The course’s flexible scheduling and wide choice of projects were very appealing to me. As an upper-class student, I had multiple ongoing research projects, more classes than usual, and a research-based part-time position. Each commitment involved weekly meetings, assignments, and demanded a significant portion of my time and attention. However, the flexibility of the “To Be Determined” scheduling of the course created more freedom within my schedule, providing me with the necessary time to complete my other projects and courses. Having the choice to decide which projects to work on enabled me to receive valuable feedback on an important graduate school funding application and a research project. Without this flexibility, I might not have received as much feedback on these important parts of my academic journey. In conclusion, TPSS 491 is an important course for undergraduate students to receive valuable feedback from the instructor regarding scientific communication. TPSS 491 proved to be an invaluable course for me. The constructive feedback I received on my projects was instrumental in my personal and academic growth. This course allowed me to focus on projects that held significance for my academic and professional development and provided the flexibility needed to balance various commitments required to advance my experience as an early-career researcher.

Thai culinary herbs such as coriander and sweet basil become popular. For production of them in vertical farming, we need to investigate the suitable growing conditions, especially the relationship between nutrition condition in the root zone and vegetation growth. Moreover, we investigated the aroma quality under these conditions. Here, we report the comparing of nutrient conditions at both of perlite and hydroponic cultivation. Thai coriander (Coriandrum sativum ‘Saisamorn’) and Thai sweet basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum ‘Micro’) were sown under white LEDs for 24 hr. After 14 days, seedlings were transplanted into deep flow hydroponic culture in environment-controlled growth chamber at air temperature of 25℃, 60% relative humidity, and luminance at PPFD 450 µmol/m/s. The photoperiod was set for 16 hr. light and 8 hr. dark. Different concentrations ranged from EC 1.6, 2.0, and 3.5 at pH 5-6 of nutrient solution were supplied to hydroponic system and perlite system. The perlite system was used by mixing vermiculite with perlite at ratio of 1:2. The mixture of vermiculite and perlite was poured into planter for herb cultivation. Dripping tubes were provide for irrigation. After 40-50 days of transplant, vegetative growth; fresh weight, shoot growth, root length, and stem growth were measured. The major aromatic compounds for coriander such as Decanal, Dodecanal, (Z)-3-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and trans-2-dodecenal, and major aromatic compounds for sweet basil such as linalool, eugenol, methyl eugenol, estragole, eucalyptol were evaluated by using GC-MS. The growth and volatile compounds of coriander and sweet basil are varied toward nutrient solution condition and cultivation systems. As the result of this study, it can be assumed that we have found one of the optimum conditions to cultivate Thai herbs in a controlled environment.

In this study, we investigated the effect of night blue lighting on anthocyanin content and expression of its transcription factors and structural genes in purple paprika fruits. Purple paprika fruits (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Tequila’) were used for this experiment. Before light treatment, we used fifty plants grown under hydroponic conditions (EC 2.5, pH 6.0) in a greenhouse. At 10 days after pollination, we started irradiating the fruits at night with blue LEDs light at wavelength 460 nm and radiation intensity at 500 W-m-2. Control is non-irradiated treatment. Fruits were harvested at 15, 20, and 40 days after pollination, for fresh weight evaluation, then following analysis was performed. In the pigment analysis, anthocyanin content was determined based on cyanidin-3-glucoside. By adding 10% acetic acid to frozen ground fruit sample overnight at 4C, the absorbance was measured at 530 nm. In the gene analysis, RNA was extracted from fruit and cDNA was transcripted using kit with gDNA eraser. Then, cDNA template was mixed with PCR Master Mix for quantitative RT PCR analysis. The result was calculated as relative expression to UBI. As the results, fresh weight was not affected by light. Anthocyanin content of treated fruit increased approximately twice as much as that of control fruits at 15, 20, and 40 days after pollination. Furthermore, the expression levels of transcription factors; HY5, MYB, bHLH, and WDR, and structural genes; PAL, CHS, F3H, ANS, DFR, and UFGT increased in treated fruits. These results indicate that blue light irradiation enhanced anthocyanin synthesis in purple paprika fruits, by increasing the expression of its transcription factors and structural genes.

NaCl has been frequently used for applying salt stress to plants. However, in this study, we tested to use sea salt instead of NaCl for applying salt stress to tomato plants. Plants were grown under hydroponic conditions, mixing artificial seawater to nutrient solution (liquid fertilizer). To estimate strength of the stress treatment, we used EC (Electrical Conductivity) value to control it. Fifty-six seedings of two tomato varieties ('Momotaro York' and 'Saturn') were grown at deep flow technique in a greenhouse, and the stress treatments were applied 10 days after the first truss bloomed. In experiment 1, we designed 3 treatments (EC was set for 5.0, but the ratio of Liquid Fertilizer : Artificial Seawater were 5.0 : 0, 1.5 : 3.5 and 2.5 : 2.5, respectively). In experiment 2, we designed 3 treatments (EC for liquid fertilizer was set at 1.5, but the concentration of artificial seawater was different as Liquid Fertilizer : Artificial Seawater were 1.5 : 0, 1.5 : 3.0 and 1.5 : 6.0, respectively). Fruits were harvested at almost 90 days after blooming and fruit weights were measured. The contents of 5 cations and 3 anions in fruit were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), then we added all of the ions contents as total ion contents. As a result, fruit weight was not different significantly at experiment 1, but decreased when EC value was increased at experiment 2. In experiment 1, when the ratio for liquid fertilizer was increased, the total ion contents were increased, especially Na in treatment at (1.5 : 3.5) and Ca2 in treatment at (5.0 : 0) were increased. At experiment 2, total ion contents increased when the ratio of sea salt was increased. In conclusion, we estimated various strength of stress by EC value in this study. Then the different ratio of liquid fertilizer and artificial seawater caused different ion contents in tomato fruits. This result was similar for the two varieties.

Visible and Near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy is widely used to analyze plant physiological state and chemical properties non-destructively and rapidly. Recently, Vis/NIR spectroscopy has been used to analyze and estimate the photosynthesis capacity, water content, and soluble solids content (SSC) in various horticultural crops such as fruits and vegetables. Cut roses are often sensitive to water stress under unfavorable conditions during storage and transportation. Water stress of cut flowers generally leads to premature wilting of leaves and petals, thus decreasing the vase life of cut flowers. In this study, we measured the water content and SSC and evaluated the postharvest quality of cut roses using Vis/NIR spectroscopy to screen the quality of cut rose flowers for promoting exportation. Cut roses underwent either wet transport (WT), dry transport (DT), or dry and sucrose treatment, to identify the characteristics of reflectance wavelengths (RW) closely correlated with water content of cut flowers based on Vis/NIR data. Our results showed that dry treatment reduced the vase life and maintenance of positive water balance (PWB) and initial fresh weight of cut roses. Sucrose treatment exhibited a longer duration of retaining PWB and increased SSC in the petals and leaves of cut rose flowers. WT resulted in cut roses with a longer vase life of 1.4 d, compared to DT. DT treatment also decreased the capacity of the cut flowers to maintain PWB by 0.7 d compared to WT. Our results also showed that the Vis/NIR reflectance of the rose petals in the wavelength range 620-720 nm differed among treatments. In particular, the water balance of cut roses showed a positive correlation with RW735 nm and a negative correlation with RW680/RW(620 720) nm, while the SSC of cut roses was positively correlated with RW680/RW(620 720) nm. These results imply that it is possible to evaluate and screen the postharvest quality of rose flowers based on the water relation of cut flowers using Vis/NIR spectroscopy data.

Maple products, such as syrup, sap-based beverages, soft drinks, candies, and butters, are significant agricultural commodities in Canada and the northeastern United States. In recent years, syrup derived from various maple sources, including bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum), boxelder maple (Acer negundo), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum), has been commercialized in the Intermountain West. However, producing one gallon of maple syrup requires approximately 40 gallons of sap and consumes substantial amounts of energy and time due to the need for extensive heating and evaporation. Utilizing sap as a drink can help conserve energy, expand the sap product market, and retain essential minerals with potential health benefits. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate beverages made from sap obtained from bigtooth maple, boxelder maple, and Norway maple. Sap samples were gathered from maple trees in Cache County, Utah, filtered through a food-grade filter, bottled in 12 oz glass containers, sealed, and then autoclaved at 121°C. Sugar concentration in both raw and autoclaved sap samples was determined utilizing a refractometer, while comprehensive mineral analyses were conducted by submitting samples to the Utah State University Analytical Laboratories. These drinks contain rich mineral nutrients, varying with plant species. A Utah’s Own designation will be applied to these drinks.

Feverfew, a member of the Asteraceae family, has a long history of traditional use for various health purposes, including anxiety and depression management, and alleviating arthritis and inflammation. Feverfew consists of a specific chemical compound named parathenolide which is a phytochemical naturally found in Tanacetum parthenium, which plays a significant role in being responsible for feverfew’s anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to investigate the effect of the temperature changes in parathenolide accumulation among two varieties Matricaria Tetra White and Matricaria Tetra Virgo Feverfews based on their genetic differences. Feverfew cultivars will be grown in a container containing potting mix which has enough nutrients for plant growth and development. The two varieties will be randomized with each variety receiving varying temperature differences (low, medium, and high). The accumulation for parathenolide will be analyzed using HPLC analysis to evaluate the accumulation of the phytochemical in each variety in response of the differences in temperatures. Among the phytochemicals of interested in this study include an understanding the effect of temperature on the accumulation and synthesis of the phytonutrients can highly assist scientists and health care professionals to increase and promote medicinal plants. Feverfew can benefit low-income communities like urban areas where majority of the community members are incapable to afford medication that can treat sickness such as anxiety and depression.

Indoor agriculture production allows producers to control all of the environmental parameters given a system with enough sophistication. However, the expense of comprehensive systems is prohibitive from an economic standpoint, in most cases. Identifying the most important parts of the plant environmental experience to control is a critical part of building efficient and economical indoor farms. In this study with temperature, nutrition, lighting and other aspects of the farm being controlled, airflow was manipulated. Micro dwarf cherry tomato varieties (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘Pinocchio Orange’) were grown in an NFT style hydroponic systems for 90 days. All plants were grown in a greenhouse with natural and supplemental lighting. Control plants received airflow native to the greenhouse environment, mixing fans, ridge line vents and pad fan based HVAC control. The treated plants experienced a “high air flow” condition. The results indicate a clear improvement in the fruit weight, number of fruit per plant, and fruit diameter for plants which experienced increased airflow. These results, while preliminary, demonstrate the clear advantage of additional airflow targets for indoor plant production and provide the basis for an important indoor production lever to improve yields in micro dwarf cherry tomatoes.

The rapid increase in urban populations and urbanization, coupled with the increasing demand for natural resources, has underscored the critical significance of global sustainability. Urban farming has been recognized as a promising solution to address these challenges. Despite the growing popularity of urban agriculture, there is a lack of research on how the built environment and urban micro-climates impact plant growth and food crops cultivated in cities. Our study aims to address this gap in knowledge by investigating how urban climates impact the growth and quality of 'Mosco' chili peppers, a significant crop in the Southwest United States. Peppers were cultivated in four different locations at the CSU Spur research facility in Denver, Colorado, including a ground-level plot, two rooftop areas with varying sunlight exposure, and a rooftop site under a solar panel array. Throughout the growing season, climate data and plant growth metrics were consistently monitored. Post-harvest, we characterized the biomolecular composition of the peppers using standardized methods from the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI). Collectively, the results of this study offer valuable insights into the impact of urban environments to the production and quality of peppers, informing sustainable urban farming practices and enhancing our understanding of plant adaptability in city settings.

Instances of water scarcity attributed to insufficient precipitation have amplified across the western United States (U.S.), leading to restrictions on ornamental plant irrigation. Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) is widely used in pollinator-friendly U.S gardens due to its ornamental value and significance to pollinators. However, buckwheat's drought tolerance has not been widely investigated. The objectives of this research are to determine the effects of substrate volumetric water content on the visual quality, growth, and physiology of F. esculentum (common buckwheat), F. esculentum ‘Rose Red Soba’ and F. esculentum ‘Takane Ruby’. Cultivars were grown in an electromagnetic sensor-based automated irrigation system at substrate volumetric water content of 0.10 m3·m-3 (drought) and 0.40 m3·m-3 (control) for 35 days in a greenhouse. Plant growth index [(height (width 1 width 2)/2)/2], proportion of visibly wilted leaves, and the number of flowers were recorded weekly throughout the experiment. Gas exchange parameters were recorded at the termination of the experiment. Decreased substrate volumetric water content increased the number of visibly wilted leaves on three buckwheat cultivars. The plant growth index and number of flowers also declined as substrate volumetric water contents decreased from 0.40 to 0.10 m3·m-3. Alternatively, 'Rose Red Soba' and common Buckwheat exhibited a lower net photosynthesis rate in decreased substrate volumetric water content. Drought treatment also led to decreased stomatal conductance among all three buckwheat cultivars. Our results indicate that drought could impair buckwheat's ornamental value and growth due to the increased accumulation of visibly wilted leaves and decreases in plant growth index. Additionally, buckwheat's ability to attract pollinators could decline under drought conditions due to the loss of flower abundance. Nevertheless, 'Takane Ruby' buckwheat could maintain a higher capability of drought tolerance compared with 'Rose Red Soba' and common Buckwheat due to its capacity to maintain photosynthesis rate when substrate volumetric water content decreases.

A Comparative Study Analyzing Light Lengths for the Growth of Rex Butterhead Lettuce Utilizing GREENBOX Technology - Mya Griffith
Evaluating the Feasibility of Lettuce Crop Cultivation with Reclaimed Water Utilizing GREENBOX Technology - Mya Griffith
The Assessment of Different Growth Mediums for Plug Cultivation in a Controlled Environment - George Buss
Comparative Analysis of Lettuce Growth Using Compost Versus Conventional Soil - Sofia Huber
Feasibility of Plug Production Utilizing Digestate From Home Water-Energy-Food Systems (H-WEF) - Rory Dunn
From Flower to Fruit: Growing Degree Days and Peach Ripening - Matthew Almy
Enhancing rose propagation using moisture sensor-controlled irrigation and LED supplemental lighting in greenhouses - Braylen Thomson

The development of GREENBOX technology addresses the challenges posed by rapid population growth, which intensifies the demand for agricultural resources essential for cultivating and distributing fresh produce, including arable land, water, and nutrients, to both rural and urban areas. Utilizing principles of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), GREENBOX technology optimizes growth conditions for leafy green crops by leveraging existing urban infrastructure and readily available commercial equipment. GREENBOX technology allows for precise control over environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, light intensity/spectrum, and nutrient delivery, thereby enhancing the growth performance of leafy greens. We were interested in assessing the feasibility of utilizing reclaimed water for crop production as preliminary experiments employing GREENBOX technology that employed a standard nutrient solution comprising a blend of 5-12-26 and 15-0-0 Calcium Nitrate for crop production. This study's primary objective was to conduct a comparative analysis of Lactuca sativa Rex Butterhead Lettuce production using the standard nutrient solution as the control (Treatment 1), and Reclaimed water or treated wastewater supplemented with additional nutrients (Treatment 2). The assessment focused on measuring crop biomass and productivity and environmental conditions associated with each nutrient solution to identify any significant differences. Biomass parameters, including wet weight, dry weight, leaf area, leaf count, and chlorophyll concentration, were measured alongside derived data such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), Specific Leaf Area (SLA), and biomass productivity. Statistical analysis of the biomass data was conducted to discern differences in biomass parameters between crop growth using both hydroponic solutions. Both treatments yielded Rex Butterhead lettuce well above the anticipated harvest weight of 180g, indicating their suitability for crop production in urban warehouse settings. The findings of this experiment contribute valuable insights into the feasibility of utilizing various types of wastewater for hydroponic crop growth. Future experiments employing GREENBOX technology may utilize these findings to enhance the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of GREENBOX units. This study has impactful implications for sustainability, as it offers a potential solution to mitigate water scarcity and promote efficient resource utilization in agricultural practices. Keywords: CEA, Hydroponics, lettuce, Reclaimed Wastewater, urban agriculture

Plugs are crucial for starting crop production in greenhouses, soil, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Horticultural, vegetable, fruiting, and ornamental crops that utilize plugs for production have demonstrated better plant health, transplant establishment rate, and total yield. Many substances are capable of supporting plug growth, so the APS Laboratory for Sustainable Food at Florida Gulf Coast University investigated the quality of plugs prepared based on different commonly used growth mediums for plug production. We carried out the growth of Rex Butterhead Lettuce Latuca Sativa plugs with six different treatments: 1) Rockwool, 2) Oasis® Horticube, 3) Perlite 4) Coco Coir, 5) Phenolic Foam, and 6) Peat Pellets. The seeds were sowed in their respective growth medium and watered every day. The plugs were then cultivated for 15 days in a controlled environment until two leaves apart from the cotyledon had developed. After 15 days, we collected data which included wet weight (g), dry weight (g), leaf area (cm2), nitrogen content (mg/g), and chlorophyll concentration (mg/cm2). In addition, we derived data including the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Specific Leaf Area (SLA, cm2/g). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the biomass data. Pairwise permanovas were conducted, followed by pairwise Wilcoxon tests to determine which treatments result in significant differences for each response variable. A permutation MANOVA revealed a significant treatment effect on plug preparation (p=0.001). All subsequent multilevel pairwise comparisons were significant, with the exception of phenolic foam vs perlite (p=0.294). Of all the treatments, we concluded that plugs grown in Peat Pellets produced the most viable plugs with the largest wet weight (g), dry weight (g), and total leaf area (cm2). Results from this study may inform growers about appropriate growth mediums for efficient plug production. Keywords: Controlled Environments, Growth Mediums, Lettuce, Plugs, Urban Agriculture

Conventional agricultural techniques have been degrading American soils nationwide since the beginnings of modern-day agriculture through practices such as soil tilling, using nitrogen synthetic fertilizers, and monocultural systems. These previously mentioned techniques contribute to degrading soil health, mass emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and decreased biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture offers a combination of sustainable practices that will create carbon sinks to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, restore national food systems, and prioritize soil health. Regenerative agriculture techniques include the utilization of cover crops, compost, no-tillage, mob grazing, and polyculture. The APS Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture focused on the effectiveness of compost by comparing the growth of lettuce in four different treatments: 100% compost (100%C), 75% compost 25% Miracle-Gro (75%C-25%MG), 50% compost 50% Miracle-Gro (50%C-50%MG), and finally, 100% Miracle-Gro (100%MG). The lettuce seeds were kept in a growth tent for 15 days during their period of germination before being transferred to four 1x1 meter plots in the Food Forest at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for the 60-day growth period. The lettuce crops grew to full bloom and ready for harvest. Sampling events took place every six days in which crop growth data including wet weight (g), dry weight (g), chlorophyll concentration (μmol/m^2), and leaf area (cm^2) were collected. Specific Leaf Area (g/cm^2) and Leaf Area Index were derived, and statistical analysis was conducted. Based on the statistical tests conducted at the 5% significance level using R statistical software, soil treatment type was found to be significant (p=0.0002). Soil treatment type was shown to have significantly impacted wet weight (p

The integration of sustainable technologies in waste management systems has become imperative in addressing the escalating challenges of agricultural productivity and sustainability. Plugs are essential when starting crop production in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) setups and greenhouses. Horticultural crops such as vegetables, fruiting, and ornamental plants that utilize plugs have demonstrated higher success rates, healthier plants, and higher total yields. The APS Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture at explored the innovative utilization of digestate from the Home Water-Energy-Food Systems (H-WEF), the H-WEF system converts household food waste into biogas, electricity, and nutrient-rich digestate. The digestate from the H-WEF system was used to produce agricultural plugs, presenting a novel approach to circular resource utilization. We carried out the growth of Rex Butterhead Lettuce Latuca Sativa plugs with eight different treatments, 1) control synthetic fertilizer; 2) 5% Digestate – 95% RO Water (5D–95RO); 3) 10% Digestate – 90% RO Water (10D–90RO); 4) 15% Digestate – 85% RO Water (15D–85RO); 5) 20% Digestate – 80% RO Water (20D–80RO); 6) 25% Digestate – 75% RO Water (25D–75RO); 7) 30% Digestate – 70% RO Water (30D–70RO); 8) 35% Digestate – 65% RO Water (35D–65RO). The seeds were sowed with their fertigation treatment and watered every day. The plugs were cultivated for 15 days in a controlled environment until two leaves had developed after the cotyledon. After 15 days, we collected data on wet weight (g), plug head area (cm2), total leaf area (cm2), total nitrogen content (mg/g), total chlorophyll content (mg/cm2), and dry weight (g). In addition, we collected data on the Leaf Area Index (LAI, cm2/cm2) and Specific Leaf Area (SLA, cm2/g). The synthetic fertigation yielded a higher wet weight than the following treatments: 5D–95RO, 10D–90RO, and 35D–65RO. While the 30D–70RO treatment produced a larger plug head than all other treatments. The digestate-based fertilizers were comparable to the synthetic fertilizer at dilutions of 25D–75RO and 30D–70RO. Results from this study may inform growers about the viability of utilizing digestate for plug production.

Anticipating crop advancement, particularly fruit maturation, is critical for peach growers' success and marketing. Growing Degree Days (GDD) predict the growth and development stages of plants and insects. They are based on the accumulation of heat units above a specific baseline temperature, under the concept that a certain amount of heat is needed to develop from one stage to another in the life cycle. GDDs are used for various purposes in agriculture and horticulture, such as planting scheduling, pest management and crop monitoring. Peach growers use GDD to predict the peach cultivar maturity and schedule harvesting. However, peach cultivars' ripening time is reported in the calendar or Julian days (JD) or as the number of days before or after a reference cultivar, which is not amenable to climate change. Therefore, we modeled GDD in a diverse set of peach and nectarine cultivars and breeding accessions using the Baskerville-Emin (BE) method. The GDD was calculated from full bloom to fruit maturity using historical temperature, bloom and ripening data collected at the Musser Fruit Research Station in Seneca, South Carolina, in the 2017-2023 period. GDD and JD variability will be presented, and implication of providing GDD information on existing and newly released cultivars for producers and researchers will be discussed.

This study addresses the critical need for precise irrigation management in the greenhouse production of high-value ornamental crops, focusing on the propagation of single-stem rose (Rosa rubiginosa) cuttings under light-emitting diode (LED) supplemental lighting. The current lack of effective monitoring and control systems for substrate moisture poses challenges in optimizing plant growth while minimizing water and nutrient losses. In this context, we propose the integration of moisture sensors for real-time monitoring and control of substrate moisture levels, coupled with LED supplemental lighting, to enhance the production of rose cuttings. Our approach involved assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of moisture sensor-controlled irrigation in greenhouses, considering the specific requirements of rose propagation and the influence of LED lighting on plant growth. We tested three Ө thresholds (0.25, 0.35, and 0.45 m3.m-3) and five light levels as supplemental lighting (100, 175, 250, 325, and 400 µmol.m-2.s-1) arranged on randomized complete block design with four replications. Rose Double Knock Out® ‘Radtko’ PP 16,202 CPBR 3,104 plants were grown in 15.6 L pots (Pioneer Pots; Blackmore Co., Belleville, MI) filled with 20% Canadian peat/58% aged pine/10% perlite/12% EZ Hydrafiber lime potting mix (Oldcastle HFC25; Oldcastle Lawn

Exponential population growth adds increasing pressure on the agriculture industry to grow and distribute fresh foods to rural and urban areas, leading to the development of GREENBOX technology, which utilizes Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) principles to optimize the desired conditions for growth of leafy green crops. Using commercially available equipment, GREENBOX technology has the capability to be integrated into existing urban infrastructure to help relieve the negative impact urbanization has on the availability of fresh foods. GREENBOX technology allows environmental variables, such as temperature, humidity, light intensity/ spectrum, and nutrient delivery, to be controlled to enhance the growth performance of leafy greens. Precursory experiments using GREENBOX Technology utilized the standard photoperiod of 16 hours of light, and 8 hours of dark for all crop production. The main objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of Lactuca sativa Rex Butterhead Lettuce production grown under different photoperiods using GREENBOX technology. Using the standard 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark as the control, two different photoperiod treatments were tested. Treatment one consisted of a 14-hour light period and a 10-hour dark period, while treatment two consisted of a 12-hour light period and a 12-hour dark period. The biomass and productivity of the crops were measured in addition to the environmental conditions for each lighting regimen to ascertain any significant differences. The biomass parameters included wet weight (g), dry weight (g), leaf area (cm2), leaf count (n), and chlorophyll concentration (mg/cm2). We derived additional data, including the Leaf Area Index (LAI, cm2/cm2), Specific Leaf Area (SLA, cm2/g), and biomass productivity (kg/m2). A statistical analysis of the biomass data was used to understand the differences in biomass parameters between crop growth and different light lengths. No statistically significant differences were found between the biomass and productivity parameters for the 12-hour and 14-hour photoperiods. However, the weight weights, dry weights, Leaf Count, SLA, and LAI from the 16-hour photoperiod showed statistically significant differences from the 12 and 14-hour photoperiods. All treatments still produced Rex Butterhead lettuce above the expected harvest weight of 180g and are viable for crop production in urban warehouse settings. The results of this experiment may help us understand the relationship between photoperiod and the biomass performance of leafy greens. Future GREENBOX experiments may use this information to increase the efficiency and productivity outputs of GREENBOX units. Keywords: CEA, Hydroponics, lettuce, soilless agriculture, urban agriculture

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
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.