Departmental Newsletter, Spring 2009
- NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT HEAD
- by Julia Kornegay
- The raised beds my husband gave me as a present this past December are planted with spring vegetables. Using season-extension fabric over the beds, I planted several varieties of vegetables in early February. I am happy to report that I harvested my first crop of lettuce on March 30th! Of course, this is only possible using transplants, not seeds. My broccoli are producing florets, the potato plants are up out of the ground, and my sugar snap peas (which were planted as seed, twice, because the first batch rotted after a cold winter rain) are beginning to twine up their trellis. All-in-all, it has been a very satisfying gardening experience and it kept me active in the garden during the winter months of January and February. My vegetable garden is small and consists of six beds, the largest being 8 x 4 ft. I located it in the last remaining sunny spot of my garden – my front yard, and as it is near the road, it serves as kind of extension demonstration plot. It seems to be working as two of my more curious neighbors have already started their own vegetable gardens, and several others are interested. I’m thinking of getting a scale to record harvest weights. That would allow me to make some economic calculations on how much I have spent getting the garden set up and planted verses how much I would have had to spend to buy a similar amount of produce. I won’t break even this year, but hopefully, I won’t have a $64 tomato either (remember that book?).
- The Department of Horticultural Science has gone through a difficult financial downsizing this Spring. We had to make significant reductions in both professional and technical positions, as well as cutbacks in graduate student assistantships, and operating budgets. Most of these cuts have come from research and extension programs. The academic (teaching) budget is better protected from reductions, and fortunately, we are still able to replace teaching faculty who retire or leave. We are presently in the process of recruiting two new teaching faculty: one to teach in our landscape design program and the other to teach ornamental/nursery plants (with a 15% research appointment). We are also recruiting a leafy vegetable breeder to be based at the Plants for Human Health Institute at Kannapolis. Like everyone else, we hope that the economy gets stronger as the year advances so that we won’t have to do another round of reductions next fiscal year. In spite of the difficult year, our faculty continue to bring in grants, contracts, gifts and fees to support their programs, and we are looking forward to a summer full of field trials and field days.
 DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHT
- The JC Raulston Arboretum is a nationally acclaimed garden with the most diverse collection of plants adapted for landscape use in the southeastern United States. Plants especially adapted to Piedmont North Carolina conditions are collected and evaluated in an effort to find superior plants for use in southern landscapes.
- There have been major developments at the JC Raulston Arboretum! If you have not visited in a while, even a few months, then it is time to come by.
- FACULTY NEWS
- by Todd Wehner
- Dr. Mary Peet has accepted a position as National Program Leader (Horticulture) with the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) in Washington, DC. She will start in her new position in August after completing her term on the ASHS Board of Directors. This is the position formerly held by Dr. Jim Green, who has retired. Her area of specialization within horticulture will be the organic programs. Dr. Tom Bewick will continue at CSREES as the other Horticulture national program leader.
- Congratulations to Katie Jennings! She is a new mommie! Katie had little Frances Conley on Thursday, February 12th. Frances weighed 7lbs. 12oz. and is 21” long. Momma and baby are doing great! Congratulations to Denny Werner! He is a grandfather for the first time! His daughter, Sarah, gave birth on Friday, March 6th at 6:01pm. Wilder (Will) James Elsaesser weighs 7 lbs. 11 oz. and is 20.5" long. Maternal grandmother, grandfather, and Aunt Bea are doing fine.
- Faculty Awards
- Ted Bilderback was honored as a Fellow of the International Plant Propagators Society at the Southern Region North America meeting held in October 2008 in Charlottesville, VA. Ted was also elected as alternate international delegate to the International Board of the IPPS, a 2-year appointment, leading to a 2-year appointment as the voting representative of the Southern Region North America to the International Board. International Board meetings in the next 4 years will be in Ireland, Eastern US, Australia and Japan.
- Bryce Lane won the Kim Powell Friend of the Industry Award for his efforts in education, both in and out of the classroom.
- GRADUATE PROGRAM
- by John Dole and Rachel McLaughlin
- At the 54th Annual Southern Nursery Association Research Conference in Atlanta, GA, three NC State graduate students won awards for their written and oral presentations of their research. MS competition: Lis Meyer, 1st place. "In Vitro Shoot Regeneration from Leaves of Hypericum sp." Elisabeth M. Meyer, Thomas G. Ranney, and Darren H. Touchell. (propagation) Cary Hebert, 2nd place. "In Vitro Regeneration of Rhododendron 'Fragrantissimum Improved'" Cary Hebert, Thomas G. Ranney, Darren H. Touchell, and Anthony LeBude. (propagation)
- PhD competition: J. Kevin Parris, 1st place. "Ploidy levels and genome sizes of Magnolia species, hybrids, and cultivars" J. Kevin Parris, Thomas G. Ranney, W. Vance Baird and Halina T. Knap. (plant breeding) Kevin is attending Clemson University in South Carolina, but is conducting the majority of his research with Tom Ranney here at the MHCREC.
- Congratulations to Per McCord (1st place) and Ramon Molina Bravo (3rd place) who received the Warren S. Barham PhD Graduate Student Paper Competition Award at the 2009 annual meeting of the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science.
- The Fourth Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium was held March 18th. There were 159 poster presentations, representing 60 graduate programs and all colleges. Poster presentations were divided into seven broad academic categories, and faculty judges selected a first and second place winner in each category. In the Agricultural Sciences category, Ramon Molina Bravo received 2nd place. Congratulations Ramon!
- Olivia Brakenbury has won an award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant. The University Graduate Student Association Teaching Effectiveness Committee selected the top ten TAs for the 2008 calendar year. Each winner will be honored and receive a cash award of $400 at the 2009 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Ceremony. Olivia will receive her MHS at the May 9, 2009 graduation ceremony.
- Alicain Carlson is the recipient of the OFA Scholars Program. The purpose of the Ohio Florists' Association (OFA) Scholars Program is to expose students to various facets of the floriculture industry they would typically experience as part of their regular academic coursework. The focus of the OFA Scholars Program is on professional development including attending education sessions, networking, and working with an industry mentor. Alicain is a graduate student working with Dr. John Dole where she focuses on the development of new cut flowers, including researching new species for high tunnel production. She plans to pursue a career in education and practical industry research, with grower education being a top priority. Alicain is an active member of Pi Alpha Xi, a national honor society for horticulture students, and is a member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers.
- At the Southern Weed Science Society of America meeting, Ryan Pekarek (David Monks, advisor) was named SWSSA 2009 Outstanding Masters Student. Two NCSU Horticultural Science students tied for 1st place in the Masters oral competition: Clara Englert (Joe Neal and Tom Ranney, co-advisors) presented “Development of an invasive assessment protocol for North Carolina nursery crops” and Ryan Pekarek presented “Tolerance of bell pepper in plasticulture to S-metolachlor at various rates and timings.”
- At the Weed Science Society of North Carolina meeting, Stephen Meyers (Katie Jennings and Jonathan Schultheis, co-advisors) was named 2009 Outstanding Masters Student.
- NEWS FROM AROUND NORTH CAROLINA
- JC Raulston Arboretum (Raleigh)
- by Ted Bilderback
- In honor of the dedicated faculty and staff of Department of Horticultural Science, the JC Raulston Arboretum is offering $5 off individual memberships or $10 off family/duel memberships to anyone who receives this newsletter. (Limited time offer - good till the end of August!). It's not only a deal, it's now just a click away to join or renew! (To receive this special discount, please mark in honor of "DHS" on the registration page or on the memo line of your check.)
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/join_and_support_us/membership/membership.html#join
- Please contact Anne Porter at 513-3826 or anne_porter@ncsu.edu if you have any questions. From the JCRA family to you and your family, we sincerely thank you for your support and hope to see you in the garden soon!
- Green Industry Revival - October 9, 2009 - Save the Date! What's a Green Industry Revival - not sure but we will know it when we see it! We are thinking about some CEU's in Sweat equity at the JCRA. An actual work day followed by dinner and a party and a chance to tell stories about who dug what or who planted that back in the day.. and some of those other stories. There is a football game Saturday so if you are from out of town and want to make a week-end of it, you can! There will more details later but it is time for a reunion!!
- NC Research Campus (Kannapolis)
- by Mary Ann Lila and Tara Vogelien
- Each month, the Kannapolis Citizen & Researcher, introduces one of the universities at the NC Research Campus. This month, its features included the faculty and staff at NC State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute. Mary Ann Lila, Institute Director, was highlighted for her research traveling the world looking for plants that improve health. She plans to map the genome of the blueberry in Kannapolis, a project that could take years. Also featured was Horticultural Science Assistant Professor, Jeremy Pattison, the Institute's Strawberry Breeder, who spoke about the amazing amount of new technology at the NC Research Campus that can be used and applied in the lab to deliver new varieties to the industry to provide growers with agricultural competitiveness. Read the full story at http://kannapoliscitizen.com/ncresearchcampus/2009/03/17/nc-research-campus-brings-scientists-familly-to-rowan-county/#more-1013
- The NC Research Campus also debuted on the March 24th episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show with Dr. Oz speaking about new technologies that can extend the human life span well past 100 years and the importance that fruits and vegetables have in your diet.http://www.oprah.com/media/20090305b_tows_exercise-eats-video
- Muscadine Grape Program (Kenansville)
- This dormant season, over 175 people attended muscadine grapevine pruning workshops across the state. Much new land was prepared for planting this Spring, including 60+ acres of organic fresh market muscadines. The NC Muscadine Grape Association's winter meeting on March 3rd was a success, with over 50 people braving the weather to hear the latest recommendations from NC State University specialists. Planning is already underway for the annual NCMGA bus tour scheduled for Friday, August 7th, and a Muscadine Field Day Wednesday, September 16th at the Horticultural Crops Research Station located at Castle Hayne.
- Cunningham Research Station (Kinston)
- The 2009 NC Specialty Crops Program funded many areas of exploration and research which included developing new markets for underutilized crops, developing high value nutraceuticals, medicinal and natural dyes for plants, developing high value branded crops, breeding crops with greater nutritional value, developing season extending technologies to expand the production and marketing window for crops, and other activities.
- Vernon James Research and Extension Center (Plymouth)
- Mark Clough
- On February 17th, Mark Clough and Craig Yencho hosted the NC Potato Growers Association Board Meeting, and gave board members and others a tour of the facility and the greenhouse. They demonstrated the method for crossing potato clones and showed the most advanced lines from the program.
- HORTICULTURE FACILITIES
- by Julia Kornegay
- We are in the process of surveying all of our office, lab, greenhouse and storage space in the departmental facilities. The information will be used to calculate overhead costs for grant funding.
- 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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