ASHS 2024 Conference

As a strategy, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in agriculture has stood out because they interact symbiotically with plants, promoting their growth directly or indirectly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the effects of inoculation with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 23858 and Burkholderia seminalis TC3.4.2R3 on the biopshycal characteristics of the plants, technological attributes of the fruits, and productivity of common cherry tomatoes . The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three treatments: i) inoculation with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 23858; ii) inoculation with Burkholderia seminalis TC3.4.2R3; and iii) non-inoculation, with eight replications. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the F-test followed by the Tukey test (P

How can we help students, the public, and stakeholders become familiar and engaged with controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and its benefits? Besides offering undergraduate courses such as TPSS 300 Tropical Production Systems and TPSS 491 Experimental Topics "Controlled Environment Agriculture" we sought other ways to accomplish this. The objective is to describe how we use displays about our CEA lab at campus-wide events to help inform audiences about CEA and its technology. Various events at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) enable colleges, departments, units, and individual laboratories the opportunity to showcase their programs, curricula, and research. At these campus-wide events, we set up table displays that explain CEA and highlight our CEA research. Our displays exhibit various aspects of the technology used in CEA such as LED (light-emitting diodes) lights, hydroponics, and greenhouse materials. We display high tech acrylic greenhouse coverings and walls, smart glass, photoselective shadecloths, and light spectrum control plastic films to show recent developments in greenhouse coverings. Hydroponic principles are explained through the use of micro-hydroponics, dwarf vegetables grown under LED lights, and hydroponic kits. A display using simulated Martian soils and LEGO® figures shows a Martian landscape with a plastic dome greenhouse with plastic vegetables growing inside. The audience gets to experience a hands-on working miniature grow tent, a replica of actual grow tents, to demonstrate how CEA experiments are conducted using grow tents with manually controlled red, blue, and white LED lights and fans. We have a shadecloth covered PVC pipe box with red and blue photoselective shadecloths and LED light placements on top, sides, and intracanopy to explain light spectrum and light placement. The Lunar/Martian greenhouse model displays an example of how plants could be grown on extraterrestrial bodies such as the moon and Mars. The display shows a cutaway view of a greenhouse installed below the soil surface for protection from radiation. Natural light is supplied with light pipes and artificial light is supplied with LEDs. Our lab’s table displays have been well received by people stopping by our tables. The campus events provide the opportunity for students to assist in staffing the tables and talking about CEA and their research. We also discuss CEA research opportunities provided by the UHM Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and the UHM Hawaii Space Grant Consortium Program.

Every year, farmers around the world lose more than $95 billion from uncontrolled weed infestation. Herbicide-resistant weeds, also known as “superweeds”, are fast becoming a significant part of this weed problem and are a significant threat to crop production and food security. Late detection of resistant weeds leads to increasing economic losses and severe environmental damage. Traditionally, genetic sequencing and herbicide dose-response studies are used to detect herbicide-resistant weeds, but these are expensive and slow processes. To address this problem, an AI-based superweed identifier program (SIP) was developed to quickly and accurately distinguish herbicide-resistant from susceptible chickweed (Stellaria media). A regular camera was converted to capture light wavelengths from 300 to 1,100 nm. These full spectrum images were used to develop a hyperparameter-tuned convolutional neural network (CNN) model utilizing a “train from scratch” approach. This novel approach exploits the subtle differences in the spectral signature of resistant and susceptible chickweed plants as they react differently to herbicide treatments. The SIP was able to identify resistant chickweed to acetolactate synthetase (ALS) inhibitor herbicides as early as 72 hours post treatment at an impressive accuracy of 85%. It has broad applicability due to its ability to distinguish resistant from susceptible chickweed plants regardless of the type of ALS herbicide or dosage rate used. Utilizing the superweed identifier program will allow farmers to make timely interventions and develop more effective and safer weed management practices. This can optimize yield, reduce herbicide use, minimize environmental harm, prevent herbicide-resistant weed proliferation, and improve overall public health.

The Puʻuhonua Kauluwehi project aims to develop a rapid response to the recent Maui wildfires by collaboratively establishing a network of biocultural refuges supporting the cultivation of native plants to accelerate landscape-scale agroecological resilience, food security and community well-being strategies. Puʻuhonua Kauluwehi is a Hawaiian phrase describing regenerative agroecosystem areas that provide shelter for native vegetation, attract native birds and insects, and serve as a source of thriving launching points to revegetate the landscape through community engagement. In Hawaiʻi, establishing biocultural refuges is even more critical as the unique ecosystems of the islands continue to come under threat from invasive species, drought, commercial development, lack of ecosystem management and are more at risk due to the dependence on imported response and aid resources from the mainland as demonstrated by the devastating impact of the Maui wildfires in August 2023. The project’s specific objectives are to: (1) Provide applied research and GIS mapping services that integrate water quality testing, soil testing and native plant and tree cataloging in one accessible database for the growing coalition of local agricultural and conservation organizations responding to the wildfires; (2) Develop strategies to ensure all children, youth, and adults have access to abundant local food during and after wildfire disasters through a network of seed orchard, seed bank, nursery and food hub partners; and (3) Design extension and non-formal community education initiatives to address the health and well-being of children, youth, and adults affected by wildfire disasters through work-based agroecosystem and stewardship training in the Kauluwehi Biocultural Garden for 300 participants. The Puʻuhonua Kauluwehi restoration project, led by University of Hawaii Maui College, will share initial outcomes of launching a technology platform to connect critical nodes of the Maui wildfire response into a thriving network that will serve as a social-ecological incubator for the positive impact of vibrant and culturally authentic landscapes and redefine the value of agroecosystems in Maui’s unique context for disaster recovery.

Hot peppers (Capsicum chinense) are attracting increasing attention due to their rich reservoirs of secondary metabolites, notably capsaicinoids, which are in high demand across various industries such as culinary, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical. Consequently, there has been a surge in the number of new pepper growers emerging throughout the United States. Despite ranking fifth in pepper production, North Carolina’s pepper cultivation remains smaller compared to other states known for hot pepper production. Additionally, the southern U.S. anticipates an increase in extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify the most suitable pepper cultivars and implement efficient production management practices tailored to local climatic conditions to maximize both crop production and quality. To address this need, the current study was conducted at Reid Greenhouse, North Carolina Agricultural

Current agricultural practices are facing several challenges because of the use of large and heavy machinery used in the fields. The benefits of covering large areas to meet the time of spraying crops is becoming questionable because the heavy machinery (large self-propelled boom sprayers) also can cause soil compaction and require large amounts of fuel and technical labor to be operated. Moreover, spraying drones are emerging as a pivotal technology in modern agriculture. They serve multiple purposes, from measuring and understanding fields using sensor and camera-captured images to acting as spray applicators for a wide range of products e.g.,including herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers. As a novel technology, spraying drones overcome some of the challenges faced by traditional methods. For instance, they can initiate applications in specific areas that require treatment, thereby avoiding issues like soil compression and unnecessary use of cultivated areas. This enhances precision while reduces losses in the field. However, defining application rate and the impact of adjuvant products is still scarce in previous studies. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed whether the coverage area is influenced by application rates and surfactant addition. The study was conducted in a carrot crop field. Water-sensitive papers were placed on the top leaf and at the bottom of the plants to quantify the coverage area. The measured area comprised a swath of 40 feet and a drone route of 100 feet. Measurements were performed in 9 crop-rows, each row with three hydrosensitive papers spaced in 33 feet apart. A multirotor spraying drone XAG P100Pro with Atomized Nozzles was used to apply spraying rates of 5 and 10 gallons per acre, both with and without surfactant addition. Results showed more coverage area on the top leaf than at the bottom of the plants. Similarly, when 10 gallons per acre were applied, it produced a higher covered area. However, there was a difference when applied 10 gallons with and without adjuvant. By applying adjuvant, the trial proved more efficient in reaching the plants. Conversely, when 5 gallons were applied, the surfactant did not contribute to either the top leaves or bottom part. Therefore, our results are promising and contribute to the enhancement of technology in agricultural production. The insights allow from farms to research centers to improve the spraying drone application, guaranteeing a more sustainable environment.