Departmental Newsletter, Fall 2008
- NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD
- by Julia Kornegay
- It was a busy summer for the Horticultural Science Department. In addition to our normal activities, including summer school, field and lab research, field days, and professional meetings, we also recruited four new faculty for the new NC Fruit and Vegetable Science Institution (FVSI) at the NC Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis. We are happy to announce that the top candidates for each of the four positions have accepted our offers and will soon be joining the faculty:
- Penny Perkins-Veazie has been hired as the Postharvest Physiologist as a tenured Full Professor. She has 20 years experience as a plant physiologist with USDA-ARS in Lane, Oklahoma. She also holds adjunct associate professor appointments at Oklahoma State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Maine. Penny has been the project leader of a multi-scientist team working on postharvest shelf life and phytochemical content of small fruits and vegetables. She is an ASHS Fellow and the 2008 President of ASHS – Southern Region. She has over 144 publications; 72 peer reviewed. Penny received her PhD and MS from the University of Florida in Horticulture. Her start date is December 30.
- Allan Brown has been hired as an Assistant Professor for the Molecular Geneticist position. He has been a Curator/Research Geneticist at the National Arid Land Plant Genetic Resource Unit with USDA-ARS in Parlier, California since 2007. Prior to that, Allan had a two year Post-Doc Research Associate position with USDA-ARS Cool Season Legumes Western Regional Plant Introduction Unit at Washington State University, Pullman WA. He also worked for one year as the Director of the Illinois Genetic Marker Center at the University of Illinois. Allan's PhD is from University of Illinois in Horticulture and his MS is from New Mexico State University. His start date is October 30.
- Ryan Hayes has been hired as an Assistant Professor for the Leafy Vegetable Breeder position. Since 2003, he has been working as a Research Plant Geneticist at the USDA-ARS Station in Salinas, CA and serves as a project leader for the lettuce breeding program in California and Arizona. Prior to that, Ryan had a two year Post-Doc Research Assistant position in potato breeding and genetics at the University of Minnesota. His PhD and MS degrees are from the University of Minnesota. His start date is January 28, 2009.
- Jeremy Pattison has been hired as an Assistant Professor for the Strawberry Breeder position. He has been an Assistant Professor Small Fruits Research and Extension Specialist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VT) since 2006, working on both strawberry breeding and production research. Prior to that, he worked as a Senior Research Associate at VT for one year. Jeremy has his PhD from Cornell University. His start date is October 1.
- We are delighted to have had a very successful recruitment process and look forward to the new faculty joining us over the next few months. We will include a more extensive bio, job description, and a recent photo of each person in our newsletter as they arrive so that you can get to know them better.
- The NC Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture Program is also located at the NCRC in Kannapolis. This program is headed by Dr. Blake Brown, economist and policy analyst, from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Since January, the program has hired two horticulture extension associates to work with NC’s commodity associations, growers and with faculty in the Horticultural Science Department:
- Diane Ducharme serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team from horticulture, plant pathology, family and consumer sciences, food science, economics and communications to address fresh produce production, harvest and marketing issues. She shares leadership of developing and delivering comprehensive and coordinated educational programs focused on fresh produce food safety production and marketing. She joined the team in January 2008. Prior to her current position, Diane was a Cooperative Extension agent in commercial horticulture in western North Carolina. diane_ducharme@ncsu.edu or (704) 250-5402.
- Rod Gurganis represents the team in eastern North Carolina, based at the Vernon James Center located on the NCDA Tidewater Research Station in Plymouth. Rod works with agribusinesses, economic development officials and farmers to identify and develop opportunities for value-added and innovative agriculture. Prior to his current position, Rod was a Cooperative Extension agent in Beaufort County, with commercial and consumer horticulture responsibilities. During that time he established an Extension Master Gardener program, a regional pesticide container recycling program and served as pesticide coordinator for the county while finishing a graduate degree in crop science. rod_gurganus@ncsu.edu or (252) 793-4428 ext. 129.
- DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHT
- by Todd Wehner
- The JCRA Cercis (redbud) collection has been approved by the American Public Garden Association (APGA) as a North American Plant Conservation Consortium collection. APGA commented on the comprehensive nature of the collection, its value for research purposes, and was particularly impressed with the unique aspect of an in-house active Cercis breeding program developing new cultivars and contributing to the existing living collection.
- FACULTY NEWS
- by Todd Wehner
- Rafael Orozco Rodriguez, a visiting scholar from Central America, worked with with Gina Fernandez in small fruit research during August and September. Mr. Rodriguez is associate professor at the National University Heredia, Costa Rica.
- Ted Bilderback enjoyed his sabbatical leave in New Zealand. It is a beautiful country where stunning views become average. Ted's sponsor was a horticultural substrates supply company, New Zealand Peat Southland. The company supplied potting mix to many types of horticultural enterprises including vegetable seedling growers, avocado producers, citrus propagators, forestry liner producers, greenhouse floral crop producers, native plant producers and traditional nursery businesses. Ted visited about 80 horticultural businesses during the 6 month spent in New Zealand. Ted also presented 10 seminars all around the county and one presentation to the New Zealand Chapter of the International Plant Propagators Society. Ted and Linda lived in Auckland and had the opportunity to travel extensively and see most areas of New Zealand. Ted drove approximately 10,000 km on North Island and South Island, had the opportunity to take the InterIslander Ferry, visit vineyards, greenhouses, nurseries and be a tourist in between. Ted will present a seminar on November 3 on his horticultural experiences, but there are at least 3 other talks to give, one on North Island, one on South Island and one that focuses on the plants in New Zealand. This was Ted and Linda's Great Adventure!!
- Faculty Awards
- Joe Neal received the 2008 Porter Henegar Memorial Award for Horticultural Research which was presented by the Southern Nursery Association.
- STAFF NEWS
- by Dolores Lawson
- We have two new technicians at the MHCREC in Mills River; please welcome Tom Hoyt and Amy Hamilton.
- Angela Begley was married in July; her new last name is Oldham.
- GRADUATE PROGRAM
- by John Dole and Rachel McLaughlin
- Jared Barnes. Jared is a native of Martin, Tennessee. In May 2008 he received his BS degree from the University of Tennessee majoring in Environmental Biology. From August 2005 to mid-2008, he was a garden columnist for a local bimonthly magazine. Prior to starting his graduate program, Jared worked on a sweetpotato farm, a nursery and in January 2007 he began a small landscaping business. Jared will be working on his MS degree with Brian Whipker.
- Alicain Carlson. Alicain is a native of Lorton, Virginia – well most recently – she is from a military family. In May 2008 she received her BS degree from Virginia Tech majoring in Biological Sciences. She has spent many years surrounded by flowers TAing at Virginia Tech as an undergraduate and working on a cut flower farm. She has also been a lab assistant for the Aquatic Ecotoxicology Lab at Virginia Tech’s Biology Department. Alicain will be working on her MS degree with John Dole.
- Mahendra Dia. Mahendra is native to Ajmer, India. In April 2004 he received his BS degree from Rajasthan Agricultural University majoring in Agriculture. In December 2005 he received his first MS degree from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University majoring in Agronomy where he studied production of baby corn. In June 2008 he received his second MS degree from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas majoring in Soil Science studying heavy metals in soils. Mahendra will be working on his PhD degree with Todd Wehner.
- Fei Ding. Fei is a native of Rizhao, Shandong Province, China. He attended Shandong Agricultural University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree of Agriculture in July 2005 majoring in Horticulture and in July 2008 he received his Master’s Degree of Agriculture majoring in Vegetable Science. During his undergraduate program, Fei worked with cucumbers and green tea. His graduate program was involved with cucumbers and Chinese cabbage which has already produced about five publications. Fei will be working on his PhD degree with John Williamson.
- Qianni Dong. Qianni is a native of Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. In July 2008 she received her BS degree from Beijing Forestry University majoring in Ornamental Horticulture. While working on her undergraduate degree, Qianni received internships at Kunming Arboretum in Yunnan, Beijing Jiu Zenith Forest National Park and Baihua Mountain Natural Scenery District and Beijing Botanic Garden. Qianni will be working on her MS degree with John Dole.
- Aimee Marshall. Aimee is a native of Washington, DC. In December 1998 she received her BS degree from Virginia Tech majoring in Forestry and Wildlife Science minoring in Biology. She has also taken classes at NCSU and Iowa State University. January 2008 began her second year as an Assistant Agriculture Agent for Anson County Cooperative Extension Service. Aimee will be working on her MHS degree with Lucy Bradley.
- Jessica Spencer. Jessica is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. In May 2004 she received her BS degree from NCSU double majoring in Biological Sciences and Biochemistry minoring in Biotechnology. Prior to starting her graduate program, she was a research technician (UNC-CH Thurston Arthritis Research Center), cytogenetics technologist trainee (LabCorp of America), lab assistant (BASF), and intern at the University of Minnesota (Cedar Creek Ecological Research). Jessica will be working on her MS degree with Gina Fernandez.
- Steven Todd. Todd is a native of Springfield, Illinois. In May of 2003 he received his BA degree from Bradley University, Peoria, IL majoring in Biochemistry. In December 2006 he received his MS degree from Texas A&M University majoring in Plant Sciences. Prior to beginning his graduate program at NCSU, he worked for the Monsanto cotton breeding program at Leland, Mississippi. Todd will be working on his PhD degree with Craig Yencho.
- Hao Zhu. Hao is a native of Mianyang, China. In June 2008 he received his BS degree from Zhongshan University majoring in Biotechnology. During his undergraduate program, he worked at the Biotechnology Research Center on plant molecular biology, the Aquiculture Center, and Qi’ao Island. Hao will be working on his MS degree with George Allen.
- And last but not least ... Adam Call. Adam began his MS degree in Spring 2008 working with Todd Wehner. Adam is a native of Overland Park (suburb of Kansas City), Kansas. He began his college work at Johnson County Community College. In December 2007 received his BS degree from Kansas State University majoring in Horticultural Science minoring in Plant Pathology. Prior to starting his graduate program, he was a freelance gardener, worked in a lab studying bacterial leaf blight in rice, managed a farm stand at 3 farmer’s markets in Kansas and Nebraska for Britt’s Garden Acre’s and interned with Todd Wehner’s project the summer of 2006.
- Graduate Students Awards
- Dennis Carey received first place in the Bryson James MS Research Competition at the Southern Nursery Association for his presentation entitled “Benzyladenine Foliar Sprays Increase Offsets in Sempervivum and Echerveria.” Dennis is working with Brian Whipker, Ingram McCall and Wayne Buhler.
- Jeff Jones received second place in the Bryson James MS Research Competition at the Southern Nursery Association for his presentation entitled “Fertility of Neopolyploid Rhododendron and Occurrence of Unreduced Gametes in Triploid Cultivars.” Jeff is working with Tom Ranney.
- Lis Meyer received third place in the Bryson James MS Research Competition for her presentation entitled “Propagation of Gordoniae Trees by Hardwood Cuttings.” Lis is working with Anthony LeBude and Tom Ranney.
- The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarships were awarded to Lis Meyer and Cary Hebert.
- Blake Bowen received the Foil W. McLaughlin Fellowship Award for 2008-2009 including a check for $2,000. Blake began his MS degree in Fall 2007 under the direction of Craig Yencho, with his thesis subject "Genetic and Cultural Management Studies of the Production of Industrial Sweetpotatoes from ‘Cut Seed Pieces.’" Blake was selected for this award because of his excellent academic performance in graduate school (GPA 3.9) his contributions to the department, and his superior research skills.
- UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
- by
Bryce Lane and Betty Coleman
- Irene Palmer received first place in the Bryson James Undergraduate Student Research Competition at the Southern Nursery Association for her presentation entitled “In-vitro Polyploid Induction of Rudbeckia spp.” Irene is working with Darren Touchell and Tom Ranney.
- NEWS FROM AROUND NORTH CAROLINA
- JC Raulston Arboretum (Raleigh, West Campus)
- Greetings from the JC Raulston Arboretum. Some recent staff changes have taken place. Foremost, I am pleased that Ms. Anne Porter has now returned to the JCRA as the Director of Development and Membership. Anne has so much passion for the JCRA and its members, and we look forward to her leadership in JCRA membership and fundraising initiatives.
- One of our major garden efforts this spring and summer has been the renovation and expansion of the old southwest Garden in the west arboretum. Through funding provided by the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association, the Southwest Garden has been completely transformed. The garden has been renamed the xeric garden to reflect the inclusion of both North American and introduced drought tolerant plants. The garden has only recently been planted, but it already demonstrates a character that only will be enhanced as the garden matures.
- In addition to the new plantings in the xeric garden, the JCRA has acquired over one thousand new plant accessions in calendar years 2007 and 2008, most of which have already been planted in the arboretum. Mark Weathington, Assistant Director, has just returned from a plant exploration trip to the mountains of Taiwan, and has acquired some extraordinary plants for the arboretum collection.
- The installation of a main path through the center of the Arboretum has been completed. Almost 300 ft in length, the new path extends from the existing summer bulb border to the Necessary, and parallels the herbaceous perennial border. The path was constructed of Chapel Hill gravel, and includes a beautiful concrete edge with leaf pressings on both sides of the path. With this path now completed, navigating the central part of the arboretum will be easier for all guests, and our handicapped guests now have an accessible route extending from the Visitor Center to the Rooftop Garden, and from the Rooftop Garden to the Necessary. Additional projects are planned to enhance our path system in the future.
- The JC Raulston Arboretum Endowment for Excellence general endowment fund is now over $170,000. Growth in this fund is so critical to the future of the JCRA. If you are considering a gift to the JCRA, please consider making a contribution to the JCRA Endowment for Excellence. By doing so you can take satisfaction that your contribution will generate recurring yearly income to sustain the future operations of the Arboretum. Numerous Summer Solstice parties were held in June to benefit the JCRA. JCRA supporters from around the state hosted these fundraising parties, and I am pleased to share that almost $38,000 was raised at these Summer Solstice parties. This is remarkable, considering this was the first year for our Summer Solstice event. Funds raised at the Summer Solstice parties will be equally divided between the JCRA Endowment for Excellence and the JCRA Master Plan.
- We were fortunate to have had a great group of 7 student interns join us this past summer. This group of interns participated in diverse jobs and responsibilities in the gardens, and made significant contributions to all of our summer projects. Most noteworthy was their involvement in the renovation of the southwest garden and the establishment of the new xeric garden. As always, thank you for your support, and please visit your JC Raulston Arboretum.
 Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station (Mills River)
- by Tom Ranney
- Apples at last; 2007 was a year to forget, the Easter freeze dealing a blow to most apple varieties except the late blooming ‘Rome Beauty’. It was a very different story in 2008, most varieties set huge crops and so the work of finding new varieties that might be suited to production here in the Southeast has continued. ‘Suncrisp’ is a 'Golden Delicious' x ('Cortland' x 'Cox') cross from the New Jersey apple breeding program tested as NJ55 and named in 1994. It’s a large-fruited variety (3+ inches in diameter) harvested early in October that has a spicy-tart flavor when mature and is suited to both fresh market and processing. It’s slow to brown after cutting so may also be suitable for fresh cut slices. For now however, you won’t find this promising ‘new’ variety in your local grocery store. Next time you visit with us at Fletcher stop by the Apple Research program and we just might give you a sample.
- NC Research Campus (Kannapolis)
- by Todd Wehner
- Four new faculty are joining the department this fall, to be located at Kannapolis. They are Allan Brown (molecular genetics), Penny Perkins-Veazie (postharvest physiology), Ryan Hayes (vegetable breeding), and Jeremy Pattison (fruit breeding). The director of the Fruit and Vegetable Science Institute, Mary Ann Lila began August 1.
- Muscadine Grape Program (Kenansville)
- by Connie Fisk
- The NC Muscadine Grape Association Bus Tour was a success - the bus was full! We visited the northeastern corner of the state, with stops at the wineries on Knotts Island, the Newbold-White House in Perquimmans County, and the Mother Vine in Manteo. A last minute stop at the Elizabethan Gardens allowed participants to purchase their very own Mother Vine cutting to take home and plant. Their Winter Meeting will be February 4th at the Brownstone - visit their website (http://www.ncmuscadine.org) in December for meeting details.
- This was a great year for muscadine yield across NC. In areas still recovering from the 2007 Easter Freeze though, many growers had to make the tough decision of harvesting their crop at the normal time (mid-September) when as little as 1/3 was ripe or gambling on the 2/3 that may not ripen until the end of October. This split crop occurred on vines that were not pruned back as recommended last year and should not be a problem next year.
- Cunningham Research Station (Kinston)
- by Bill Jester
- The Specialty Crops Program efforts and activities have been very successful all over the state in 2008, through the hard work of Tammy Baysden, Specialty Crops Program Assistant. We have been sending out a monthly newsletter that features a growers who has benefited from the program’s efforts. If any of the faculty would like to be on the mailing list please let us know.
- Lettuce research conducted at the Upper Mountain Research Station at Laurel Springs and the Mountain Research Station at Waynesville this summer is finishing up for this year.
- Vernon James Research and Extension Center (Plymouth)
- by Mark Clough
- In June, we welcomed Rod Gurganus to the faculty stationed at the Vernon James Center. Rod is an extension associate whose focus is horticultural entrepreneurship working with the Innovative Agricultural Opportunities Program at the Fruit and Vegetable Science Institute. He joins us from Beaufort county where he was an ag. extension agent for a number of years in consumer and commercial horticulture.
- Potato harvest went well at the Tidewater Research Station. Overall this year the tubers looked very nice but without adequate rainfall yield for the state was down quite a bit. Per McCord finished his final field season this summer, working with internal heat necrosis, a physiological disorder in potatoes, for his MS and PhD. We will miss him!
- DEPARTMENTAL NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE
- Editor: Todd Wehner
- Assistant: Rachel McLaughlin
- Send items for the newsletter to Todd Wehner (todd_wehner@ncsu.edu)
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