Departmental Newsletter, Spring 2004
- NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD
- by Julia Kornegay
- Spring is on its way! Hooray! For a tropically-adapted
person who likes to garden year round, getting use to winter was
a challenge; but, overall, I’d have to say that it wasn’t
too bad. My family enjoyed the thrill of experiencing snow and ice
for the first time, and my kids especially liked “snow days”
and being out of school. I was pleasantly surprised in March when
a riot of daffodils came up all over our front yard. Daffodils really
help to move winter along.
- I’m looking forward to the upcoming PAX Spring Plant
Sale on April 17 and 18 at the JC Raulston Arboretum and
getting some plants for my garden. The plant sale is run by our
graduate students and benefits horticultural scholarships and area
charities. Many rare and unique annual, perennial and woody ornamentals
are available for the public. If you are looking for other garden
events to enjoy in the spring, nothing is more beautiful and special
that the annual Gala in the Garden at the JC Raulston
Arboretum on May 2. The profits from this event support research,
extension and education programs at the Arboretum.
- I hope you noticed the changes in our departmental newsletter
and website. Dr. Todd Wehner, cucurbit breeder and computer-internet
aficionado, has been working on this new look all winter with the
help of Chris Glenn, assistant webmaster. Each time you click on
the newsletter a different seasonal image comes up in the top right
corner. There are also other neat features and lots of images, which
I’ll let you find yourself.
- The Department of Horticultural Science is looking for a new
logo to represent the outstanding education, research,
and extension programs that are taking place in the department.
Anyone is eligible to submit an entry - students, faculty, alumni.
Mail or deliver your original entries to Ms. Barb Amos, Dept. of
Horticultural Science Logo Contest, 120 Kilgore Hall, Campus Box
7609, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609. All entries must be your original
work. Entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2004. Entries
must be submitted with a signed entry form (available on the HS
web page). A $250 cash prize will be awarded to
the winning entry.
- Mr. Jack Jones, president and owner of Jones’
Landscaping and Maintenance, Inc., recently fulfilled one of our
‘Wish List’ requests and had new blinds and shades installed
in a classroom and conference room in Kilgore Hall. We greatly appreciate
Jack’s contribution to the Horticulture Department and for
helping us to upgrade our facilities. His generosity will benefit
our faculty, staff and students alike.
 DEPARTMENTAL
HIGHLIGHT
- by Todd Wehner
- Weeds, weeds, everywhere. Weeds reduce crop yields
and aesthetic quality of landscapes, displace native flora in our
parks and woodlands, and can affect human health and recreation.
For those needing help in controlling their weeds, Joe
Neal and David
Monks have a web site to provide assistance. See http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/weeds/.
At the site, you will find lists of weed species, help with identification
of major weeds, and management guides for control of weeds in different
crops. Watch for a major overhaul of the web site that is planned
for this spring.
- INTERESTING WEB SITES
- Get the facts on the sudden oak death pathogen on the APHIS
website, including the SOD hotline (888-703-4457).
- Educate yourself on the area of endangered species and invasive
species in preparation for seminars on March 22 and 29 at the PLANTS
database. This is a very well-developed site which
includes names, distribution, species abstracts, images, links,
references and crop information. It also has valuable tools, such
as a crop nutrient calculator and information on plant materials
and information on endangered and invasive species.
- Georgia also maintains a website on invasive
and exotic species where you can search for images
and information.
- For information on pests in the Southeast U.S., the Southeast
Exotic Pest Plant Council also maintains a website,
and for local information on weedy species, the NC
Botanical Garden offers assistance.
- FACULTY NEWS
- by David Monks
- Allan Thornton joined the horticultural science
department as an extension associate in February 2004. He received
his B.S. degree in Agronomy and his M.S. degree in Crop Science
from North Carolina State University. He worked five years as a
research technician in the crop science department at NC State University.
Allan then joined NC Cooperative Extension in 1993 as a horticulture
agent in Johnston county. In 1994, he became the horticulture agent
in Sampson county and remained there until he assumed his present
position. Allan will be assuming extension responsibilities for
watermelon. He will also share extension responsibilities with Doug
Sanders for pepper. Allan will work closely with producers of major
vegetable and fruit crops for Sampson and surrounding counties.
Welcome Allan to the horticultural science department!
- Drs. Dennis Osborne, Doug Sanders and Donn Ward
will offer a one day school on how to pass a USDA third party audit
for fresh produce food safety the first time. The schools will be
held at Mountain Hort Crops REC, Fletcher, on April 20, 2004 and
Cunningham Center May 12, 2004, from 10 am to 4 pm. They will include
guidance in how to prepare for the audit and all the materials to
initiate an on-farm food safety program. Registration is $100 per
operation, with reduced rates for second members of the same farming
operation. There will be a materials fee and a fee for additional
educational materials. Those interested should contact Dennis Osborne,
Box 7609, NCSU, Raleigh, NC, 27695, 919-515-1184. Osborne and his
cooperators say they will offer special versions of the program
for any group of ten or more.
- Dr. Mary Peet is hosting Dr. Hyung Jun
Kim, a visiting scientist from Korea, working with the
Rural Development Administration. Dr. Kim has worked with nutrition
in hydroponic systems, and will be assisting with an aeroponic project.
He is accompanied by his wife, Hoe Mi Park, daughter Min Jeong (12)
and son Dong In (7).
- Mary Peet is also hosting Dr. Asao, arriving
from Japan with his wife and two children in April. Dr. Asao has
worked with autotoxicity in hydroponically grown cucumbers and will
be working on a project with organic production. He will be looking
for a place to stay, furniture and inexpensive transportation, if
anyone has recommendations or items to sell. Dr. Asao is a Professor
in the Faculty of Life and Environmental Science at Shimane University
in Matsue, Japan.
- Faculty Awards
- At the 2004 Northeastern Weed Science Society meeting, Joe
Neal received the Distinguished Member Award, one of
the highest honors the Society presents in recognition of service
to weed science in the Northeast and to the Northeastern Weed
Science Society.
- Congratulations to the following awardees at the Southern
Region meetings of the American Society for Horticultural Science:
Jonathan Schultheis - H.M. Covington Outstanding
Extension Specialist Award; Jennifer Yarbrough*, Doug
Sanders, and Ed Estes - Third place in J.B. Edmond
undergraduate student paper 'Pruning Techniques Influence Eggplant
Growth Yield and Economics'; Paclobutrazol and Uniconazole';
Extension Blue Ribbon Publication Award: Dennis Osborne,
Doug Sanders, Donn Ward, Kenneth Ellzey and Sonya Williams
for the video 'Bridging the GAPs from the Farm to the Table';
E. Barclay Poling, Charles Mainland, William T. Bland,
Bill Cline, and Kenneth Sorensen for the bulletin 'Muscadine
Grape Production Guide'.
- STAFF NEWS
- by Barb Amos
- Welcome to Nathan Lynch who began working as
an Agricultural Research Technician on February 23rd in Dr. Tom
Ranney's program.
- George Cox, Agricultural Research Technician
III, is retiring April 1 after 30 years of service at the Mountain
Horticultural Crops Research Station and the Mountain Horticultural
Crops Research and Extension Center. During that time he worked
for Mr. Harley Blackwell, Dr. Tom Konsler, and Dr. Jeanine Davis.
He has provided technical assistance and oversight to projects on
a wide variety of crops including commercial vegetables, staked
tomatoes, woodland botanicals, culinary herbs, luffa gourds, pyrethrum,
and organic vegetables.
- Staff Awards
- Congratulations to Tammy Ellington on winning
a Pride of the Wolfpack Award. Great job Tammy!
- Barb Amos was initiated into the Iota Chapter
of Pi Alpha Xi as an associate, honorary member at a banquet
held on February 6, 2004 in Raleigh. Pi Alpha Xi is the national
professional honor society for floriculture, ornamental horticulture,
and landscape horticulture.
- Mary Lorscheider is the recipient of an 'Award
for Excellence' from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
in the on-campus technical category. Mary and five other college
awardees will be honored during an Awards for Excellence Luncheon
on Wednesday, April 7 at noon at the University Club. For this
honor Mary will receive a plaque and a check for $250. Congratulations
Mary!
- UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
- by Bryce Lane
- ALCA Team XIV. Thirty one students are heading
to Columbus State Community College in Columbus Ohio on March 24
to participate in the Associated Landscape Contractors of America
Annual Student Career Days Event. The event consists of Thursday
workshops, Friday Career fair and competition and Saturday competition.
Over 95 horticultural companies will be interacting with over 700
students from as many as 55 schools. Company sponsors lead workshops
dealing with irrigation, arboriculture, brick paving etc, and coordinate
24 competitions including Plant ID, Estimation, Landscape Installation,
Landscape Design, Sales, Arboriculture, and Pest Management. Students
have been working hard to raise all the funds to cover all their
expenses. They have met their goal of $18,000 and are very excited
about representing the department at this event.
- Landscape Construction Class. If you happen to
pass by Kilgore Hall along Hillsborough St., be sure to check out
the sitting structures that Ann Spafford's Landscape Construction
class designed and built. Students worked on designing sitting structures
based on an existing paradigm and built them out of found materials.
They are displayed in front of Kilgore and were evaluated by students
and faculty who spent time sitting in and reading about each structure.
- Mark your calendars for graduation Saturday May
15. Our Departmental Graduation ceremonies are scheduled at the
Ruby McSwain Center at the JC Raulston Arboretum for 11:30AM. We
have 20 undergraduates graduating this spring. All faculty and staff
are invited.
- GRADUATE PROGRAMS
- by John Dole
- Graduate student news
- As many of you know already, I have taken over for Dennis
Werner as graduate program director. I hope you all
will thank Dennis Werner for the 12 years of service he gave
to the department! As Dennis and I were making the transition,
it became apparent how much time both Dennis and Rachel
McLaughlin have invested in the Horticultural Science
Graduate Program. In addition, the graduate committee has taken
quite a bit of time to faithfully review dozens of applications
each year. Certainly the large number of dedicated, bright and
successful students that we have in our department is testament
to a thriving program. I am looking forward to working with
all of the graduate students. They are a fun, hard working group
– as a visit to the grad offices will quickly prove.
- Graduate students starting
- Four students started their graduate programs
in our Department this Spring semester. We welcome all of the
new students to the Department and wish them the best in their
graduate program here at NCSU.
- Ryan Contreras. Ryan was born in Morehead
City, North Carolina. He received his BS December 2002 from
NCSU majoring in Horticultural Science. His long-term career
goal is to work as a research plant breeder. Before Ryan started
his graduate program, he worked in the Dept. of Crop Science
at NCSU, beginning October 2002, with the Peanut Genetics program.
The main purpose of the peanut program was transfer of disease
resistance present in wild species into production cultivars.
During Fall 2002 he had the opportunity to work on a project
with Dr. Dennis Werner. The project involved the application
of cytological techniques to obtain an accurate chromosome number
in the ‘Honeycomb’ cultivar of Buddleia. Ryan will
be working on his MS degree with Tom Ranney.
- Tiffany Harrelson. Tiffany was born in Lumberton,
North Carolina. She received her BS May 2001 from NCSU majoring
in Horticultural Science. In addition to attending classes,
she is the Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent for Johnston
County. In the future, she aspires to transition into production
and run her own commercial greenhouse operation. Tiffany’s
work experience includes a part-time job as a sales associate
at a retail garden center in Raleigh during her undergraduate
degree program. She also completed a three-month internship
with a landscape contracting firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico
during the summer of 2001. She has been employed by the NC Cooperative
Extension Service as a Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent
in Johnston County since November 1, 2001. Tiffany will be working
on her MS degree with Stu Warren and Ted Bilderback.
- Sara Millar. Sara was born in Augusta, Georgia.
She received her BS from NCSU, majoring in Animal Science. While
she was working on her BS degree, she started working at garden
centers and realized that her other passion, plants, was her
ideal area of study. Fall 2002 Sara began taking horticulture
classes (in our Department) and received hands-on experience
at two garden centers, two greenhouses and a landscape company.
Spring 2003, she acquired extra research experience assisting
Dr. Ballington in the greenhouses. Sara has also completed a
summer internship at the JCRA. She is interested in plant propagation,
breeding, plant identification and tree care. Sara will be working
on her MS degree with Frank Blazich.
- Daniel Norden. Daniel was born in Raleigh,
North Carolina. He received his BS May 2003 from NCSU majoring
in Horticultural Science. But that was not an easy decision
because when he was a senior at Enloe High School, he was faced
with the decision of trying to determine which of two passions
he wanted to pursue – horticulture or music. Fortunately
for us it was horticulture. While completing his undergraduate
degree, he worked with two different garden centers –
Logan Trading Company the summer of 2000 and Lassiter Mill Gardens
the summer of 2001. Both summers were very valuable experiences
for Daniel and helped him recognize a few things – he
really liked working with perennials and woody ornamentals,
and helping customers. Of all the awards and honors he received,
probably his proudest accomplishment was being elected the National
President of the National Junior Horticultural Association in
2000 – an organization where he has won 34 national awards
in horticultural competitions. Daniel will be working on his
MS degree with Frank Blazich.
- Graduate student awards
- At the 2004 Northeastern Weed Science Society meeting, the
North Carolina State University won first place team and Andrew
MacRae won first place individual. Also, Carrie
Judge received 2nd place award in the student presentation
contest for her presentation "Japanese Stiltgrass seed
dormancy characteristics and germination requirements".
Carrie also was recognized for her service as graduate student
representative on the NEWSS executive committee for the past
3 years.
- Andrew MacRae received the Outstanding PhD
Student Award from Weed Science Society of North Carolina (WSSNC)
at their annual meeting.
- Congratulations to the following awardees at the Southern
Region meetings of the American Society for Horticultural Science:
Brian Krug*, Brian Whipker, and Ingram McCall
- First place in the Norman Childers M.S. graduate student paper
'Stargazer Lily Height Control with Flurprimidol Pre-plant Bulb
Dips, Substrate Drenches, and Foliar Sprays'; Brian
Krug* - Second place in the graduate student poster
presentations 'Caladium Growth Control with Flurprimidol, Paclobutrazol
and Uniconazole'.
- EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- by Todd Wehner
- The JC Raulston Arboretum has several part-time and full-time
summer internships available. Contact Bob Lyons.
- Summer jobs are available for those interested
in working in the field, greenhouse, or laboratory with various
research faculty. Contact John Dole, Bob Lyons, Ken Pecota, Jonathan
Schultheis, Todd Wehner, or Craig Yencho for information.
- NEWS FROM AROUND NORTH CAROLINA
- Horticultural Crops Research Station (Castle Hayne)
- by Susan Rooks
- Betsy Humbles has joined the Horticultural
Crops Research Station at Castle Hayne as secretary.
The search for a superintendent continues, and the end is in
sight. We currently only have three crew working the station,
so patience is essential and project leaders should bring much
of their own help.
- Mike Mainland attended the North American
Blueberry Council and United States Highbush Blueberry Council
meetings in Sacramento, CA. Afterwards he toured the blueberry
production area of California. Mike gave a brief review of that
trip to growers in Ivanhoe, NC.
- JC Raulston Arboretum (Raleigh)
- by Bob Lyons
- Please join us in welcoming Jon Roethling
as the new research technician at JCRA, beginning January 1.
We have known him for some time as an undergraduate in our department,
and then as a temporary, industry-funded worker for 1.5 years.
Jon brings a love of plants to the JCRA, and his presence around
the different areas will increase as he widens his responsibilities.
- The Capitol Trees program gave 2 Champion Trees awards
from the City of Raleigh to the JCRA for Quercus oglethorpensis
(Oglethorpe oak) and Quercus robur (columnar English
oak). The awards are displayed on the awards wall in McSwain
Center.
- LCPTRS-Cunningham Research Station (Kinston)
- by Bill Jester
- Sandy Barnes is continuing to work part time
while a search is underway for a station superintendent.
- Weather has been wet through February, delaying the planting
of lettuce studies on the station, finally
starting March 1. Several companies are growing about 100 acres
of (winter-spring) iceberg and romaine lettuce in Eastern NC.
- Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
(Fletcher)
- by Tom Ranney
- Dick Bir is retiring on April 1, 2004 (no
fooling). All are invited to a casual, bluegrass, barbeque event
in Dick's honor on Saturday, April 17th. More information at:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/nursery/dicksretirement.pdf.
- Welcome to Dr. Zenaida Viloria. Zenaida will
be working as a post-doctoral research associate with Tom Ranney.
She received her Ph.D. from University of Florida and has most
recently been an Assistant Professor at the University of Zulia
in Venezuela. Zenaida has experience in breeding and genetics,
micropropagation, polyploidy, somatic hybridization, and embryo
culture and will be working on developing new nursery crops.
- In order to answer the question, "Can medicinal herbs
be commodity crops for North Carolina?", Jeanine
Davis is leading a new project under the umbrella of
the N.C. Specialty Crops Program with funding from the N.C.
Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the N.C. Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services Plant Industry Division. Seventeen farmers
from across the state will receive $5,000 each to grow one to
two acres of medicinal herbs on contract. Five large raw botanical
buyers helped us select the herbs to grow, based on the current
market. They will evaluate the quality and quantity of herbs
produced in the project, have the first option to buy the herbs
grown, and help us analyze what our competitiveness might be
on the global herb market. Jackie Greenfield is serving as the
project coordinator.
- With funding from the GoldenLEAF Foundation, the N.C.
Specialty Crops Program is funding 19 county agent
led on-farm studies, 14 CALS researcher led projects, and 13
educational programs in 2004. A wide diversity of crops and
value-added products will be covered ranging from specialty
potatoes to new nursery crops to making paper from cotton stalks.
Jeanine Davis is the coordinator of the statewide, multi-agency
N.C. Specialty Crops Program.
- Jeanine Davis is cooperating with Franklin
and Betty Garland of Garland Gourmet on a truffle growing project.
With funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, 50
growers will be selected to plant truffle inoculated filbert
seedlings. Educational programs will be held around the state
to teach people about truffle production. Through this project
we hope to learn if truffles are an economically viable crop
for North Carolina.
- Nathan Lynch recently started as a research
technician working with Tom Ranney and his research group. Nathan
comes with extensive experience having worked for Paul Shoemaker
in Plant Pathology since 1998. Nathan is a native of Asheville,
a graduate of Appalachian State University, and an exceptional
mountain biker.
- What's a Mountain Schimlinia? Find out more
at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/nursery/mountainschimlinia.pdf
 Small
Fruit Program (Morganton)
- by Andy Allen
- The viticulture extension program has conducted two
vineyard pruning workshops so far this season, one
at Raylen Vineyards in Mocksville on January 31 and the second
at Ragapple Lassie Vineyards in Booneville on February 7. Both
events had between 50 and 60 people in attendance. An 'exploring
winegrape production' workshop was held at the Mocksville Public
Library on February 19 with 55 people in attendance, along with
several county extension personnel. This was the third time
this annual event was held to explore basic considerations about
winegrape production for those contemplating entering this expanding
industry.
- The workshop was put on by the Yadkin Valley Extension Grape
Group, a working group formed to develop and present multi-county
workshops and demonstrations on viticultural topics to support
winegrape growers in the Yadkin Valley area. The group currently
consists of Extension Viticulturist Andy Allen
and Extension Horticulture Agents Amy-Lynn Albertson,
Stephen Greer, Greg Hoover, Jack Loudermilk, and Colleen Sparks
(a recent graduate of the department).
- Vernon James Research and Extension Center (Plymouth)
- by Mark Clough
- The conference center on the station is now
back in operation. Funding came through in December and by the
end of January, all the ceiling tiles were in place, the walls
were painted and new carpet was put down. A day later we were
hosting meetings again.
- It is that time again! We are planting eleven potato
variety trials and seven observational trials around
eastern NC.
- WISH LIST
- by Julia Kornegay
- For Kilgore Hall
- stove and extraction hood
- digital camera (5-8 Mpixels)
- For the greenhouses
- two golf carts with back utility beds
- wireless network hubs (802.11b or g)
- For the graduate student office
- double-sided printer
- flatbed scanner
- six replacement computers (Win, Mac)
- computer desks and chairs (8 - 10)
 HORTICULTURE
FACILITIES
- by David Monks
- We moved into the new USTL greenhouses in December 2003, and the
Kilgore greenhouses have been mostly removed.
 Here
is a previous and a current (March 2004) view of Kilgore greenhouses
(thanks to Roland Leatherwood for the photographs).
- DEPARTMENTAL NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
- Editor / Webmaster: Todd Wehner
- Printing / Mailing: Rachel McLaughlin
- Newsletter Design: Anne Spafford
- Administrative News: Julia Kornegay
- Honors / Awards: Rachel McLaughlin
- Faculty News / Facilities: David Monks
- Staff News: Barb Amos
- Undergraduate News: Bryce Lane
- Graduate News: John Dole
- Graduate Student Feature: Richard Olsen
- Interesting Web Sites: Mary Peet
- Location News: Bob Lyons (Arboretum),
Susan Rooks (Castle Hayne), Tom Ranney
(Fletcher), Bill Jester (Kinston), Andy
Allen (Morganton), Mark Clough (Plymouth)
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