ASHS 2024 Conference

Growing Together: Enhancing Accessibility, Engagement, and Inclusion in the Horticulture Society

Accessibility, inclusion, and engagement are foundational to any society, including our own American Society for Horticultural Sciences, ensuring that every community member can contribute to and benefit from the diverse array of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences within the fields of horticulture and plant sciences. This special interest group session is dedicated to fostering these principles within the broader horticultural society, the green industry, and the gardening community. The meeting aims to unite ASHS members who share a passion for the art, science, and business of plants, gardens, landscapes, and gardening, making these accessible to everyone, irrespective of their abilities or backgrounds.

Committee members Heather Kirk-Ballard, Assistant Professor of Consumer Horticulture at Louisiana State University and Sam Humphrey, Graduate Research Association at North Carolina State will lead a discussion to address key topics such as strategies for creating more inclusive systems. We will discuss practical ways to interact, cultivate, and enhance diversity within our workforce and society, aiming to break down barriers that can perpetuate disparities.

In this session, we will discuss the findings from the recent ASHS DEIJA committee climate survey that examined the feedback from members regarding the impact of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. We acknowledge the resistance some may have towards the formation of a diversity and inclusion committee. As many organizations face similar backlash against DEI initiatives, often due to misunderstandings or perceived threats to the status quo, it is essential to engage in transparent and constructive dialogue. Our aim is to clarify the objectives and benefits of DEI, underscoring its role in promoting fairness, opportunity, and representation for all members of the organization.

The session will include discussions about accessible practices, presentations and workshops that can be designed for individuals with physical disabilities or mobility issues. Strategies to increase participation from diverse community members. This could involve outreach programs for schools, collaboration with a greater community, and events that cater to a wide demographic. Developing programs that cater to people of all ages, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. This may include bilingual garden tours, programs for the visually impaired, and workshops tailored for elderly gardeners. The meeting also provides a platform for members to share their experiences and best practices in creating inclusive environments. There will be networking opportunities to foster collaborations and partnerships among participants, aiming to build a supportive community that values diversity and inclusion in horticulture. The objective of this meeting is to establish clear, actionable steps that the society can implement to enhance accessibility and engagement. This will ensure that all members of the broader community can fully benefit from the opportunities offered by horticulture.

Coordinator(s)

• Heather Kirk Ballard, SPESS, School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Baton Rouge, EBR, United States
• Samson Humphrey, NCSU, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Meeting new people is one of the best ways to start collaborating. It can be difficult to meet new people even at the annual conference with so many disciplines represented. This  session /event will provide the following impacts:

• Enhance and develop connections of ASHS members with each other.
• Create a structured time and space for low-pressure conversations and introductions.
• Practice elevator speeches and first impressions for aspiring and experienced professionals.
• Increase potential collaborations across disciplines and ASHS members.

The goal of this session is for participants to meet 10 to 15 people at the conference in a fast but low-pressure time.
 
The Partnership Development Committee (PDC) will create a signup sheet for the event to gauge the number of participants so that the room can best be set along with the time each pair has to converse. All members are welcome, even those who did not sign up prior to the conference. 
We will promote this event via social media, the ASHS newsletter, and by members of the PDC personally reaching out to other ASHS Professional Interest Groups. Participants will be encouraged to bring business cards, resumes, CVs, and job opportunities to this event.

1. Introduction (10-15 minutes)
   1. Establish groundwork for the networking event.
   2. Provide tips and potential questions for participants to ask.
2. Networking session 1 (30 to 35 minutes)
   1. Split into two groups.
   2. Pairs have 6-7 minutes (will determine based on # of participants).
   3. 1 person from each pair will stand up and move to the next chair at the end of the designated time.
3. Break (10-15 minutes)
   1. Opportunity for participants to talk more with someone they connected with.
4. Networking session 2 (30 to 35 minutes)
   1. Moving sets from Groups 1 and 2 swap.
   2. Pairs have 6-7 minutes (will determine based on # of participants).
   3. 1 person from each pair will stand up and move to the next chair at the end of the designated time.
5. Recap and discussion (15-30 minutes)
   1. Sharing opportunity for participants.
   2. Promotion of the collaboration center and other collaborative events.
   3. Opportunity for participants to talk more with someone they connected with.

The amount of time each pair has to discuss will depend on the number of participants and will be determined shortly before the session.

In the this session, the Nursery LEAP (Labor, Engineering, Automation, and Production) Team will present results culminating from a USDA SCRI planning grant survey and related topics. The team will describe current labor challenges, limitations of the current workforce, and opportunities through multiple visa programs. Team members will also present the correlation between perceived barriers to adoption, nursery business characteristics, and the likelihood of adopting automated technologies; nursery producers’ perceptions and intent to use automated nursery technologies; and an overview of current mechanization and automation levels in nurseries. Founders of Moss Robotics, Inc. will share their approach to developing and commercializing AI, computer vision, and machine-learning-based technology for the nursery industry. The session will conclude with a facilitated panel discussion featuring all speakers.
Coordinator(s)

• Jacob Shreckhise, USDA-ARS, U.S. National Arboretum, McMinnville, Tennessee, United States
• Amy Fulcher, University of Tennessee, Plant Sciences, United States
• Anthony LeBude, NC State University, United States
• James Altland, USDA-ARS, Wooster, OH, United States

Moderator(s)

• Natalie Bumgarner, University of Tennessee, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Anthony LeBude, NC State, United States
  The Nursery Industry’s Labor Dilemma (10 mins)
  Summary: Dr. Anthony LeBude, NC State University, will provide an overview of the US nursery industry’s labor challenges and the threat that these challenges pose to the sustainability of this labor-reliant industry.
• Margarita Velandia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
  The Role of U.S. Temporary Foreign Worker Visa Program in Addressing the Green Industry Labor Needs: Challenges and Opportunities (20 mins)
  Summary: In this presentation, Dr. Margarita Velandia, University of Tennessee, will give a general overview of the H-2A, H-2B, and the TN NAFTA or TN USMCA visa programs and discuss challenges and opportunities associated with each program in addressing the green industry labor needs.
• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
  Factors Correlated with the Propensity to Use Automation and Mechanization (20 mins)
  Summary: Several of the U.S. nursery industry’s characteristics and actions to address labor issues are correlated with the use of automated technologies. Dr. Alicia Rihn, University of Tennessee, will explore the correlation between perceived barriers of adoption, nursery business characteristics, and the likelihood of adopting automated technologies.
• Amy Fulcher, University of Tennessee, Plant Sciences, United States
  Nursery Mechanization and Automation Adoption Levels (20 mins)
  Summary: Nursery Mechanization and Automation Adoption Levels – Dr. Amy Fulcher, University of Tennessee, will present current nursery mechanization and automation adoption levels and compare the current percentage of individual tasks that are automated with 2006 levels.
• James Altland, USDA-ARS, Wooster, OH, United States
  Panel Discussion (10 mins)
  Summary: Dr. James Altland, USDA-ARS, will facilitate the panel session through thoughtful prompts and questions from the audience to foster enriching discussion.
• Anthony LeBude, NC State University, will describe collaborative work led by Dr. Laura Warner, University of Florida, on using Diffusion of Innovations theory to understand growers’ perceptions of nursery technology and how these perceptions shape growers’ adoption of automation, as well as results from a Theory of Planned Behavior evaluation of nursery growers’ intent to use automation from 4 technology clusters. 
• Di Hu and Shrijit Singh, founders of Moss Robotics, Inc., will discuss how advancements in autonomous driving and AI have unlocked new possibilities for the green industry. Moss leverages robotics, computer vision, and machine learning to revolutionize field scouting, providing nursery producers with cost-effective solutions for efficient crop management and monitoring. In this presentation Ms. Hu and Mr. Singh will explore Moss’ innovative approach, including a case study demonstrating the transformative impact of their robotic field scouting solution. 

ASHS Intellectual Property Interest Group Session
Proposal Proposed by: Fruit Breeding Interest Group and Intellectual Property Interest Group

Plant intellectual property is an important topic for plant breeders, universities and private companies who handle the release and exchange of plant materials. On the one hand, properly protecting new cultivars is critical to protect the genetic integrity of the genotype and credit the developer. On the other hand, understanding the types of intellectual property laws relevant to plants is important for breeders/researchers to exchange materials for collaborative evaluation and development. Therefore, this interest group session will focus on plant intellectual protection and material transfer. We will invite speakers from public and private plant breeding programs as well as experts on intellectual property laws to share their knowledge and advice on following areas: Domestic plant protection, International plant protection, Domestic plant material transfer, and International plant material transfer. The topic of intellectual property was voted by members of both interest groups (Fruit Breeding Interest Group and Intellectual Property Interest Group) as a high priority area. This session will greatly benefit plant breeders, researchers, and intellectual property officers.

Coordinator(s)

• Sushan Ru, Auburn University, Auburn, United States

Moderator(s)

• Julia Harshman, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Matthew Clark, University of Minnesota, Department of Horticulture, United States
  Plant Protection and Material Transfer in the University of Minnesota Grape and Apple Breeding Program

Leveraging the inherent genetic diversity conserved in plant resource collections is key to new crops, new cultivars, and adapted germplasm with improved traits that provide food security for a growing population, remain productive amidst rapid climate change, meet shifting consumer demands, and enhance sustainability and efficiency. The USDA National Plant Germplasm System manages large and genetically diverse plant collections representing crop plant species and many of crop wild relatives (CWR) that have significant impacts on crop production. In this Special Topic Session hosted by the Federal Partners Interest Group, scientists of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will discuss the current efforts and future perspectives on the restoration and utilization of germplasms and CWR at the USDA with a special focus on fruit, nut, and beverage crops.

Coordinator(s)

• Lisa Tang, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, United States

Moderator(s)

• Lisa Tang, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, United States
• Matthew Mattia, USDA-ARS U. S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Fort Pierce, FL, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Lisa Tang, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, United States
  Introduction of the Federal Partners special session (5 mins)
• Gayle Volk, USDA, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
  The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System Strategic Plan: A roadmap to conserve and utilize U. S. plant genetic resources (15 mins)
  Summary: The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) conserves more than 620, 000 accessions of plant genetic resources of crops and crop wild relatives which annually distribute 200, 000+ samples globally. As directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, an NPGS Strategic Plan was developed to address the backlogs in maintenance, characterization, and to enhance utilization. This presentation will provide information about the impacts of the NPGS and details about the NPGS Strategic Plan, which, when funded, will result in: 1) More plant germplasm maintained disease-free, securely backed up, and readily available; 2) Expanded knowledge of the intrinsic genetic variation and high-value traits in NPGS collections; and 3) New plant germplasm with valuable traits acquired, safeguarded and developed. This presentation is authored by Gayle M. Volk (USDA), Marilyn L. Warburton (USDA), Moira Sheehan (Cornell University), Christina Walters (USDA), Stacey Estrada (USDA), Glenn Hanes (USDA), Jim McFerson (USDA), and Peter K. Bretting (USDA-retired).
• Chris Gottschalk, USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, United States
  Into the wild: utilization of wild crop relatives the USDA ARS apple pre-breeding program (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Nahla Bassil, USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, OR, United States
  Crop wild relatives of temperate fruits at the Corvallis Genebank: Uses and prospects (10 mins)
  Summary:
• Michael Hardigan, USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, United States
  Crop wild relatives of temperate fruits at the Corvallis Genebank: Uses and prospects (10 mins)
  Summary:
• Tracie Matsumoto, USDA-ARS Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research Unit, Hilo, HI, United States
  Sub-Tropical/tropical Fruit, Nut, and Beverage Clonal Repository in Hilo, Hawaii (15 mins)
  Summary: The National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Tropical Fruit, Nut and Beverage Crops is located in Hilo, Hawaii and is a part of the National Germplasm Repository System and USDA ARS DKI PBARC Tropical Plant and Genetic Resources Unit. The repository is responsible for collecting, maintaining, evaluating, and distributing germplasm of tropical/subtropical fruit and nut crops. Crops include Pineapple (Ananas), Breadfruit (Artocarpus), Starfruit (Averrhoa), Peach palm (Bactris), Pili nut (Canarium), Papaya (Carica and Vasconcellea), Coffee (Coffea) Longan (Dimocarpus), Litchi (Litchi), Macadamia (Macadamia), Acerola (Malpighia), Rambutan and Pulasan (Nephelium), and Guava (Psidium). In addition to the field and greenhouse collections, we are actively investigating new methods to propagate and effectively manage the collections. We work to characterize the collection for resistance to pest and diseases and genetically characterize the germplasm to determine potential gaps for future collections.
• Qingyi Yu, USDA-ARS Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research Unit, Hilo, HI, United States
  Exploring germplasm diversity to understand the domestication process of papaya (15 mins)
  Summary: Papaya (Carica papaya L.), originating and domesticated in southern Mexico and Central America, is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions due to its nutritional benefits and the commercially significant proteolytic enzyme, papain. While wild papaya yields small, seedy fruits with minimal edible flesh, domesticated papaya varieties can weigh over five pounds. Wild papaya populations are exclusively dioecious, whereas cultivated papaya is predominantly gynodioecious, although certain dioecious cultivars exist. In this study, we conducted whole-genome resequencing of 86 diverse papaya accessions, comprising 63 cultivars and 23 wild accessions. To identify regions undergoing selection during domestication and improvement, we scanned for areas exhibiting a drastic reduction in nucleotide diversity in cultivars compared to wild accessions. Our results suggest that papaya domestication involved selecting fruit quality traits such as taste and flesh color. Moreover, we re-sequenced the male-specific region of the Y (MSY) in 24 wild males and the hermaphrodite-specific region of the Yh chromosome (HSY) in 12 cultivated hermaphrodites. The Yh sequence is highly similar to one Y haplotype (MSY3), exclusive to wild dioecious populations in the north Pacific region of Costa Rica. The low MSY3-Yh divergence suggests that hermaphrodite papaya resulted from human domestication.

This year’s PB session will combine a keynote speaker session, business meeting and PB 2024 award ceremony together.
1. Keynote speaker: Hui Duan, USDA-ARS-REE (45 minutes) Biotechnology of Woody Ornamental Plants
2. PB business meeting (30 minutes) Chair annual report, elect new chair, chair elected and secretory. Plan next year’s work.
3. 2024 Plant Biotechnology Interest Group annual award ceremony (45 minutes)

The agricultural production system and the education system in Indian subcontinent and US are very different. Thus, students and post docs coming to US to pursue research and career encounter dilemma and challenges in selecting right career path. For example, in Indian subcontinent higher emphasis is given to research and teaching whereas extension and administration are not fully understood. The goal of this special session will be for students to have open dialogues with experts in the field of research, extension, teaching, and administration with Indian sub-continent background, so the panel understands the challenges faced by incoming students. This session will benefit all the graduate students and researchers who are preparing to for the next step in career.

Coordinator(s)

• Tripti Vashisth, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Bhimu Patil, Texas A&M University, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, Texas, United States
• Ajay Nair, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States
• Rammohan Uckoo, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
• Rajasekaran Lada, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada

The business environment in the horticultural industry is evolving and consumer preferences for value-added products are shaping market trends. With an increasing emphasis on health, sustainability, and convenience, consumers are seeking horticultural products that offer added value and benefits. This shift in consumer preferences presents both challenges and opportunities for horticultural businesses. Understanding these evolving consumer demands is crucial for horticulture businesses to develop innovative products and marketing strategies that resonate with their target audience.

The session aims to explore consumer behavior and preferences for value-added horticultural products, providing attendees with valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making and drive business growth in the competitive market. Presentations will explore the specific information consumers seek on wine packages and labels, and the influence of state marketing programs on consumer preferences for tomato transplants. Additionally, the session will explore the return on investment of social media marketing for US green industry firms, consumer preferences and willingness to pay for Florida-grown fresh blueberries, strategies for expanding marketing potential to appeal to all horticulture consumers, and the influence of demographics on the perception of flatheaded borer damage on ornamental plants. Through these diverse presentations, attendees will gain insights into key factors shaping consumer behavior, industry dynamics, and marketing strategies in the horticulture sector.

Coordinator(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
• Chengyan Yue, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN), St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Moderator(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Alicia L Rihn, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
  Do State Marketing Programs Impact Consumer Preferences for Tomato Transplants? (15 mins)
• Ariana P Torres, Purdue University, United States
  The Return of Investment of Social Media Marketing: A Case of U.S. Green Industry Firms (15 mins)
• Chengyan Yue, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN), St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
  What Information Consumers Are Looking for On Wine Packages and Labels? (15 mins)
• Hayk Khachatryan, University of Florida, United States
  Analyzing Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Florida-Grown Fresh Blueberries (15 mins)
• Melinda Knuth, North Carolina State University, Horticultural Science, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  Expanding Marketing Potential to Appeal to All Horticulture Consumers (15 mins)
• Ben Campbell, University of Georgia, United States
  Demographic Influences on the Perception of Flatheaded Borer Damage on Ornamental Crops (15 mins)
  Summary: Mounata Dahal, Tate Norman, Ben Campbell, and Alicia Rihn

The overall goal of this session is to highlight the latest advancements from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Multi-State Program funded project titled “Climate Ready Landscape Plants”.

Coordinator/Moderator

• Youping Sun, Utah State University, Department of Plants, Soils & Climate, Logan, Utah, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Jared Sisneroz, UC Davis
  Climate Ready Landscape Plants Trialed in Davis, CA
  Summary: To develop landscape irrigation recommendations, a field trial evaluated 22 taxa of landscape plants under three levels of deficit irrigation. Taxa included cultivars of Hibiscus syriacus, Nandina domestica, Rosa spp., and Salvia spp., among other common perennials and shrubs. Taxa were planted in a grid pattern with 2 meters spacing between rows and plants. Several larger taxa were planted in an adjacent field with 3 meters spacing. After an initial growing season of regular irrigation to establish the plants, from April to October 2022, plants were irrigated with one of three deficit irrigation treatments equal to 80%, 50%, or 20% of ETo. Treatments functioned like a crop coefficient in modifying daily ETo values. Irrigations occurred whenever this threshold was reached, with the volume of water applied being equal to 50% of PAW. The volume applied at each irrigation was constant across treatments with the frequency between irrigations varying by treatment. As a result, the 80% treatment was irrigated most frequently with the 20% treatment was irrigated thrice during the deficit period. Monthly during the deficit period, each plant was rated on six categories of aesthetic quality. Aesthetic performance between the treatments was compared using an ANOVA in conjunction with Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test in R. A majority of the taxa evaluated maintained acceptable aesthetic quality ratings on the lowest irrigation treatment. Two taxa evaluated, Lagerstroemia ‘SMNLCIBF’ Center Stage® Red and Rosa ‘ChewPatout’ Oso Easy® Urban Legend achieved high levels of aesthetic performance on the 20% treatment.
• Amelia Keyser-Gibson and Soo-Hyung Kim, University of Washington, United States
  Variation in Landscape Plant Aesthetics, Growth, and Physiology to Deficit Irrigation Across the Western U.S. (20 mins)
  Summary: Climate change is causing more frequent and severe droughts in the Western U.S., while concurrently, about 70% of urban water use is dedicated to landscape irrigation. Therefore, water conservation techniques in the horticultural space, such as planting water-use-efficient landscape plants, will be essential to reduce irrigation consumption. Five different taxa, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Gandini Santiago’ Purple Pillar®, Hibiscus syriacus 'ORSTHIB5x1' PPAF, Rosa ‘Meibenbino’ Petite Knock Out®, Rosa ‘ChewPatout’ Oso Easy® Urban Legend®, and Vitex ‘SMVACBD’ Blue Diddley®, were subjected to one of three water deficit treatments in six sites: Tucson, Arizona; Davis, California; Irvine, California; Aurora, Oregon; Logan, Utah; and Seattle, Washington. Plants were rated on foliage quality, flowering, pest tolerance, disease resistance, vigor, and overall appearance. Growth measurements were also taken to calculate a plant growth index and relative plant growth index. Stomatal conductance and the efficiency of Photosystem II (ΦPSII) were measured when the treatments were in full effect and compared to the aesthetic ratings to get a broad picture of plant health. Overall, at individual sites, treatment did have a significant effect on aesthetic qualities and growth of specific taxa. Additionally, between sites, aesthetic qualities and growth differed significantly. Stomatal conductance and ΦPSII were not higher in the high treatment for all taxa and differed significantly between most sites. Additionally, higher gs and ΦPSII did not correlate with higher aesthetic ratings and growth. Our results highlight the importance of climate-specific plant selection for reducing landscape water use while achieving satisfactory aesthetic qualities and growth of landscape plants.
• Ursula Schuch, University of Arizona
  Climate Ready Landscape Plants Trialed in Tucson, AR
  Summary: : Fifteen taxa of shrubs growing in a field in Tucson, Arizona were irrigated with three levels of irrigation based on local reference evapotranspiration (ETo) to assess growth and plant quality. Plants established during 2021 under 80% of ETo and in 2022 were irrigated at 20%, 50%, or 80% of ETo. Irrigation was applied 2, 9, and 15 times between April 1 and October 31, 2022, for the low, medium, and high irrigation, respectively. Best performing plants were Dodonaea viscosa ‘Emerald Ice’, Eremophila glabra ssp. carnosa ‘Winter Blaze’, Ericameria laricifolia ‘Aguirre’, Hamelia patens ‘Sierra Red’, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘San Antonio Rose’, and Tecoma ‘Red Hot’ which maintained a high overall rating at the low irrigation treatment. Irrigation did not affect plant growth of these taxa from April to October. Monthly visual quality assessment of some taxa was temporarily affected by irrigation, however, all performed acceptably or better at the low irrigation. Two field days were held in August and October 2022 where green industry professionals were invited to rate plant performance of one representative plant from each taxon and irrigation treatment. Most participants’ favorite plants included the taxa with consistently high overall ratings. The best performing taxa are low water use shrubs that can grow in the landscape with 20% of ETo in the low desert in Arizona. However, some may benefit from additional irrigation during the hottest time of the year for optimum performance.
• Natalie Levy, South Coast Research & Extension Center, The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
  Climate Ready Landscape Plants Trialed in Irvine, CA
  Summary: As climate extremes, population growth, and agricultural/industrial water demands continue to increase, urban landscapes are an essential area where water conservation efforts must be improved. Deficit irrigation trials of ornamental plants began at the University of California, Davis (UCD) in 2004 and became the University of California Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials (UCLPIT™). In 2016, it was replicated at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources’ South Coast Research and Extension Center (SCREC) in Irvine, California. Researchers observed differences in performance between sites on selected taxa indicating that plant species will have irrigation requirements that vary in different climates. In 2019, the UCLPIT methodology was expanded to multiple western climate zones and soil types in Arizona, Utah, Oregon, and Washington through a USDA Specialty Crops Multi-State Program grant. Two seasons of data were collected in 2022 and 2023. The overall appearance and plant growth of 12 shared ornamental plants to deficit irrigation were investigated. Eight plants per species were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 deficit irrigation frequencies, calculated based on 80% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) (high), 50% ETo (moderate), and 20% ETo (low). Overall appearance and plant growth were evaluated monthly during April to October in both 2022 and 2023 at SCREC. There were variations in overall appearance across species under deficit irrigation in both years of the trial. Evapotranspiration rates were higher in 2022 and more irrigation events occurred for all treatments. The Philadelphus madrensis ‘ORSTPHILx2’ (Swan Lake® mock orange) and the Philadelphus lewisii 'Blizzard' (Blizzard mock orange) species evaluated in 2022 had significantly greater overall appearance on the moderate treatment than the low treatment.

The USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NGPS) is an invaluable resource to researchers and breeders of horticultural crops. Crop Germplasm Committees, with members from academic, private and governmental organizations provide expertise in a variety of topics, including collection priorities and vulnerabilities, identifying important traits for evaluation, and reviewing Plant Exploration and Evaluation grant proposals. The CGCs are a great opportunity for ASHS members to get more involved in setting germplasm related priorities for their crops of interest. This session gives an overview of the activities of the CGC and highlight activities of 3 specific CGCs. The talks will be followed by a 30-minute discussion session on avenues for increased interaction between the ASHS PICs and the CGCs to ensure that germplasm collection priorities are relevant to the needs of stakeholders.


Coordinator(s)

• Cecilia McGregor, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Gayle Volk, USDA, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
  Introduction to Crop Germplasm Committees: An Opportunity to have an Impact on Crop Collections in the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (20 mins)
  Summary: The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) maintains over 620, 000 accessions of more than 200 crops at 22 sites around the United States. Most crop collections have Crop Germplasm Committees (CGC) that provide guidance to the curator with regard to vulnerabilities, acquisitions, maintenance, genotypic characterization, phenotypic evaluations and distribution. CGCs welcome new members to improve the quality and impact of the NPGS collections.
• Glenn Wright, University of Arizona - Yuma Agriculture Center, Yuma, AZ, United States
  The Rewards and Challenges of Chairing Two Crop Germplasm Committees (20 mins)
  Summary: The Citrus CGC and the Date Palm CGC are both affiliated with the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus and Dates in Riverside, CA. Membership of both committees include representatives of the federal government, academia, and industry. Activities of both committees include advising the NCGRCD on critical issues, including staffing, infrastructure, threats to the genebank, and germplasm backup, acquisition, sanitation, and distribution. We also advise repository staff on project plans, relevant research, and strategic planning. Finally, the committees comment and approve germplasm evaluation, plant exploration and plant exchange proposals.
• Kim Shearer, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL, United States
  Seeing the Forest for the Trees (20 mins)
  Summary: The Woody Landscape Plant Crop Germplasm Committee has a somewhat unique task in that the wild crop relatives can include all of the trees and shrubs of all of the forests. As a group, we found that the task of identifying priorities and vulnerabilities limited to specific taxonomic categories seemed insurmountable. How could we predict an event like the introduction of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) wiping out native floodplain forests and masses of street trees? What can be lost in an uncertain future with the onset of climate change? And how could we communicate this vulnerability in a way that was politically palatable? In this talk, the strategy for developing a new crop vulnerability statement and QUAD will be presented along with some examples of projects that have been funded and implemented for both plant exploration and evaluation.
• Cecilia McGregor, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
  Crop Germplasm Committees: An Opportunity for Value-added Research (20 mins)
  Summary: The Cucurbit Crop Germplasm Committee (Cucurbit CGC) includes experts from local and global academic institutions and private industries, as well as the federal government. In addition to the routine activities of the CGC, the participation of several Cucurbit CGC members in the federally supported SCRI CucCAP and CucCAP2 projects provided the opportunity for improved coordination and alignment of federally funded academic research and germplasm priorities This contributed to the development of tools and resources that adds value to the existing Cucurbit germplasm collections.

With soil health and regenerative agriculture continuing to gain interest, the Hort Industry Professional Interest group invites you to join our session exploring the research behind soil health and how soil health is impacting horticulture today. This session will have speakers from across various horticultural disciplines discussing their research and the implications for soil quality, horticultural productivity, regenerative agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Coordinator(s)

• Holly Little, Acadian Plant Health, Technology, Walnut Grove, Ca, United States

Moderator(s)

• Derek Woolard, Valent Biosciences, United States

Speaker/Participant(s)

• Justin Moss, Oklahoma State, United States
  Urban Soil Health and Small Farm Soil Health (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Tai Maaz, University of Hawai'i, United States
  Soil Health (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Noa Lincoln, UH Mānoa, Hilo, Hawaii, United States
  Long Term Effects of Mono-Crop Conversion to Diversified Agroforestry (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Nhu Nguyen, University of Hawai'i, United States
  Soil Microbial Ecology (15 mins)
  Summary:
• Amjad Ahmad, University of Hawai'i, United States
  Organic Farming and Soil Health (15 mins)
  Summary:

 The recent loss of our colleague Marc van Iersel reminds us of the reasons our work in horticulture is so important. Marc's career was devoted to developing processes that judiciously utilized sensors to create efficient strategies to optimize crop quality and production for the grower. By examining the path of van Iersel’s work, we can understand how directed, mindful research can move quickly from the hands of the researcher to the farmer. Marc’s early work centered around developing smart irrigation systems utilizing biofeedback to measure soil moisture, with the goal of reducing water usage. More recently, Marc’s work integrated LED lighting with sensors including light sensors, moisture sensors, and low cost canopy and fluorescence detection to generate strategies for precise, energy efficient control of lighting in greenhouse and vertical growing platforms. Marc frequently consulted with growers to understand their needs and challenges, allowing the grower’s needs to frame his research. Marc also mentored the development of students, fellows, and colleagues in their own research, helping them discover how their programs could unfold in directions which would be most valuable. In this session we will examine the history of Marc’s research and continued work by colleagues, to ensure his lessons in how to provide practical answers for commercial horticulture are not lost. This two-hour session will include presentations from Marc's students and colleagues, and conclude with a 30-minute moderated Q&A/discussion.

Coordinator(s)

• Jennifer Boldt, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Toledo, OH, United States
• Neil Mattson, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
• Melanie Yelton, Grow Big, United States

• Bruce Bugbee, Utah State University, Plants, Soils, and Climate, Logan, Utah, United States
  A Life Filled with People, Plants, Photons, and Perseverance (15 mins)
• Stephanie Burnett, University of Maine, School of Food and Agriculture, Orono, Maine, United States
  Impact on Sensor Automated Irrigation and Student Mentoring (15 mins)
• Rhuanito Ferrarezi, University of Georgia, Horticulture, Athens, Georgia, United States
  The Man Behind the Legend (15 mins)
• Andrew Ogden, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, United States
• Shuyang Zhen, Texas A&M University, United States
  The Light He Shined: Translating Plant Physiology into Smart Lighting Control Strategies (15 mins)
• Leonardo Lombardini, University of Georgia, Horticulture, Athens, Georgia, United States
  Honoring Marc's Legacy (15 mins)

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:

Sponsored by National Issues Committee
Our work in horticulture is made possible to a great extent by Federal funding. That funding will only be available if Congress continues to value the work that we do with it. Therefore, all ASHS members should regularly let their representatives know how the funds are helping in your state or district. This session provides an understanding of how to confidently and effectively contact your Congressional district office about the value of programs that you know and use. This program is designed to be of particular value to members in the Western US, who are not likely to come to Washington DC for policy discussion.

This session will be a panel discussion to understand the perspective from the various offices involved and how they interact. The panel includes the actual people involved in this Congressional district.

• Kendra Oishi, District Chief, Office of U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda, Hawaii 2nd District.
• Anthony Ching, Director of Federal Relations for the University of Hawaiʻi System.
• Thomas Björkman, ASHS National Issues Committee and Cornell University
• Russell Galanti, Extension Educator, University of Hawaiʻi.