Horticulture Commons^™

Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Kelly Loftin, Eva Berryhill

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Salt Tolerance And Stress Response In Us Department Of Agriculture Tomato Germplasm At The Seedling Stage, Ibtisam Alatawi, Haizheng Xiong, Kenani Chiwina, Hanan Alkabkabi, Qun Luo, Neelendra K. Joshi, Xiaolun Sun, Xuan Zhuang, Kai-Shi Ling, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soil salinity is a significant abiotic factor that impedes sustainable crop production in key agricultural regions worldwide. Saline cultivation adversely affects soil quality, whereas the use of saline water for irrigation disrupts the physiological and biochemical processes of plants. Continuous irrigation with high salt concentrations leads to a gradual buildup of soil salinity, thus hindering optimal plant growth and development. Consequently, there is a growing emphasis on breeding salinity-tolerant cultivars of various crops. In this study, 71 tomato accessions sourced from 20 countries and provided by the US Department of Agriculture were evaluated under controlled greenhouse conditions and subjected to …

Quantifying Temperature Effects On Development Rate And Plant Quality Of Compact Container-Grown Tomato, Morgan Humphrey, Ryan W. Dickson, Sonali Padhye

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality were evaluated for compact container-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Compact tomato varieties ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Expt. 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Expt. 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and 16-h photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, first ripe fruit and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g., 1/d). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a linear (for first open flower) and a nonlinear exponential function (for …

Characterization Of An Acetogenin-Carrying Nanosuspension And Its Effect On Bacteria Of Interest In The Poultry Industry, Brandon A. Lopez-Romero, Gabriela Aguilar-Hernandez, Billy M. Hargis, Maria De Lourdes Garcia-Magana, Ulises M. Lopez-Garcia, Rosa I. Ortiz-Basurto, Adalberto Zamudio-Ojeda, Juan D. Latorre, Efigenia Montalvo-Gonzalez

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This work aimed to develop a nanosuspension (NSps) as an acetogenin (ACGs) carrier, using soy lecithin (SL) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (βCD) named NSps-βCDSL-ACGs. It was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (DLS, FTIR, UV-vis diffuse reflectance). Moreover, the NSps morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, the antibacterial activity of NSps-βCDSL-ACGs was evaluated against strains of interest in the poultry sector. NSps-βCDSL-ACGs presented nanometric size (207–239 nm), acceptable polydispersity index (PDI) values (0.13–0.17) and a high Z potential value (−47.17–50.36 mV), demonstrating high stability. The presence of ACGs in NSps-βCDSL-ACGs was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The nanoparticles had a spherical …

Shade, Height Of Cut, And Plant Growth Regulator Effects On Bermudagrass And Zoysiagrass Putting Greens, Thomas E. Walton, John Mccalla, Douglas E. Karcher, W. J. Hutchens, Ambika Chandra, Michael D. Richardson

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Warm-season turfgrasses, especially hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davy), continue to be widely used on golf course putting greens in tropical and subtropical climates globally and are also gaining popularity in the transition zone region of the United States. Hybrid bermudagrass produces a high-quality putting green surface; however, it has relatively poor shade and cold tolerance. Recently, fine-textured zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) cultivars have been released and may be another potential option for golf course putting greens, especially since zoysiagrass is generally considered more shade tolerant than bermudagrass. “Lazer (DALZ 1308)” zoysiagrass (Zoysia …

Strategic Light Use Efficiency Optimization Of Hydroponic Lettuce Exposed To Different Photosynthetic Photon Flux Densities, Peyton Lou Palsha, Marc W, Van Iersel, Ryan W. Dickson, Lynne Seymour, Kuan Qin, Rhuanito Saranz Ferrarezi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Light use efficiency characterizes the ability of a crop to convert radiation into biomass. Determining optimum cultivar-specific photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) values from sole-source lighting can be used to optimize leaf expansion, maximize biomass, and shorten the production period. This study evaluated the growth of hydroponic lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ‘Rex’ cultivated under different PPFD levels using sole-source lighting. At lower PPFD levels of 201 to 292 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, the plant projected canopy size (PCS) and specific leaf area increased to enhance light capture by 36.2% as compared to higher PPFD levels (333 and 413 µmol·m^{−2 …}

Fifteen Years Of Findings: Advancements In Spring Dead Spot Research From 2009 To 2024, W. J. Hutchens, J. K. Anders, E. L. Butler, J. P. Kerns, D. S. Mccall, G. L. Miller, N. R. Walker

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Spring dead spot (Ophiosphaerella spp.; SDS) is one of the most detrimental diseases to warm-season turfgrasses, particularly bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.), growing in climates where cold temperatures induce dormancy. The pathogen can infect the crowns, stolons, rhizomes, and roots of bermudagrass most of the year, but infection in the fall predisposes the turf to winter injury and plant death. Symptoms typically appear the following spring, making management of SDS challenging. Moreover, the biology, epidemiology, and management of SDS are not fully understood. Ample research has been conducted on SDS which was thoroughly summarized before 2009 by Tredway et al. …

Quantifying Temperature Effects On Plant Development Rates And Quality Of Compact Container-Grown Pepper, Ryan W. Dickson, Sonali Padhye, Leala M. Machesney, Josh Tebow

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality of compact container-grown pepper were evaluated. Compact pepper cultivars Fresh Bites Yellow and Hot Burrito were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Expt. 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Expt. 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and a 16-hour photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, to first ripe fruit, and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and the development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g., 1/day). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a nonlinear exponential function that included the base temperature ( …

Management Strategies For Preventing And Recovering From Bermudagrass Winterkill, W. J. Hutchens, T. Q. Carr, A. J. Patton, C. A. Bigelow, Eric J. Deboer, J. M. Goatley, D. L. Martin, D. S. Mccall, G. L. Miller, J. S. Powlen, M. D. Richardson, M. Xiang

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. Rich) is a warm-season grass that is widely planted throughout tropical, sub-tropical, and even temperate climates, and it generally requires fewer inputs than most cool-season turfgrasses. In recent years, the area of adaptation for bermudagrass has progressively expanded to cooler climates due to the development of more cold-tolerant cultivars. The expanded area of adaptation as well as the reduced inputs required to maintain healthy turfgrass have made bermudagrass a popular choice in areas of marginal adaptation. In these areas, the greatest threat to bermudagrass health and survivability is winterkill. This management guide seeks to describe …

Improving Winter Survival Of Interspecific Hybrid Bermudagrass In The Mid-Atlantic Region Through Cultural Practices, Joseph R. Doherty, W. J. Hutchens, Jordan C. Booth, David S. Mccall, Michael V. Battaglia, Eric J. Deboer, Joseph A. Roberts

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Winter injury can cause significant loss of hybrid bermudagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] in the transition zone. Current research has focused on high-value, low-acreage areas like putting greens, but those practices are impractical to implement on golf course fairways. To that end, multi-year research projects were conducted at three sites across Maryland and Virginia to investigate the influence of annual N fertility [2.0 lb N 1000 ft⁻² (early summer application) or 4.0 lb N 1000 ft⁻² (split applied early and late summer)] across multiple fall mowing heights (0.5 inches, 0.8 inches, or 1 …

Using Machine Learning To Combine Genetic And Environmental Data For Maize Grain Yield Predictions Across Multi-Environment Trials, Igor K. Fernandes, Caio C. Vieira, Kaio O.G. Dias, Samuel B. Fernandes

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Complementing phenotypic traits and molecular markers with high-dimensional data such as climate and soil information is becoming a common practice in breeding programs. This study explored new ways to combine non-genetic information in genomic prediction models using machine learning. Using the multi-environment trial data from the Genomes To Fields initiative, different models to predict maize grain yield were adjusted using various inputs: genetic, environmental, or a combination of both, either in an additive (genetic-and-environmental; G+E) or a multiplicative (genotype-by-environment interaction; GEI) manner. When including environmental data, the mean prediction accuracy of machine learning genomic prediction models increased up to 7% …

Tolerance Of Young Blackberries To A Selection Of Preemergence Herbicides And Rates, Kayla Knepp, Matthew B. Bertucci, Aaron J. Cato, Amanda L. Mcwhirt, Nilda Roma-Burgos

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Limited preemergence herbicides are registered for new blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) plantings. This greenhouse experiment was designed to investigate the effects of a broad selection of preemergence herbicides at multiple rates on blackberry transplants. Screening was initiated Aug 2021 and repeated Mar 2022 in Fayetteville, AR, USA, in a greenhouse at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center. ‘Ouachita’ blackberry plugs were transplanted into utility pots that contained field soil and growth media treated with preemergence herbicides. After transplanting, plant height was measured from the substrate to the highest apical meristem of 25 representative plants. Initial …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2023, Jason Kelley, Travis Faske

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2023 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

The Most Outstanding—Recognizing Achievements Through Ashs Publication Awards: A Brief History Of Publications And An Introduction To Publication Awards, Curt R. Rom

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) has since its inception published annual serial monographs or journals to achieve its mission of communicating horticultural science. To recognize the accomplishments of the membership, a series of professional awards was created. After the individual awards, the ASHS created publication awards. This paper, and the papers that follow, document the publication awards of the ASHS. The papers were based on presentations at the 2023 annual conference and serve as additional recognition of the contributions of member authors and as a historical record of achievements of the ASHS.

Twenty-Five Years Of Award-Winning Education Publication Excellence In Ashs Journals, Curt R. Rom

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The American Society for Horticultural Science Education Publication Excellence award was established in 1997 to recognize the most outstanding publication in ASHS journals related to education and teaching. This article reviews the award history, authors, and topics of the awarded papers. The award was recognized annually from 1998 to 2023 except for 3 years when no award was given. The majority of awarded papers were published in HortTechnology. Awards were presented to 70 authors from 23 institutions in 20 states and two other countries. Of the awarded papers, three had single authors, and 20 had multiple authors. Several awarded authors …

Evaluation Of Late Season Potassium Applications To Arkansas Soybean, Carrie Ortel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency is one of the most important yield limiting factors in Arkansas soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production, although there are recently improved diagnostic and management opportunities available. However, several questions regarding the successful implementation of in-season K management in soybean production remain. Therefore, the research objectives were to (a) delineate the relationship between drought stress and K deficiency on soybean vigor, (b) identify the spatial dependencies of leaf-K concentrations at the production scale, (c) develop a leaf sampling protocol, (d) calibrate the fertilizer-K rate needed to correct varying levels of K deficiency at 15, 30, and …

Vegetation Management During Establishment Of Native Grasses And Forb Plantings On Roadsides And Prairie Restoration, Rachel Woody-Pumford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

North American prairies have been shrinking due to agricultural production, overgrazing, development of cities and towns, and climate change. However, integrated roadside vegetation management (IRVM) creates the opportunity to reestablish prairies along roadsides through planting native grasses and forbs. Utilizing postememergence (POST) herbicides registered for use along rights-of-way has the potential to remove invasive species and create space for newly establishing native grass and forb species. The use of clopyralid, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, metsulfuron, and quinclorac were found to be safe for use in plantings containing big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa L.). However, florpyrauxifen-benzyl injured and stunted …

Genome-Wide Association Study/ Genomic Prediction Of Cowpea Seed Protein And Black Seed Coat Color In Cowpea, Yilin Chen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) is a crucial crop in many regions, serving as a vital protein source for humans and livestock. Addressing the need to enhance its nutritional quality and make it easier to cultivate cowpeas of specific colors, this study utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify markers associated with protein content and seed coat color patterns in cowpea.

In the protein content study, a GWAS was conducted on 161 cowpea accessions using 110,155 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Seven significant SNP markers were identified, all located at a locus on chromosome 8 associated with the gene Vigun08g039200, enhancing …

Production And Heat Unit Accumulation Tracking Of Long-Cane Blackberry In Controlled Environments, Leala Machesney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Consumer demand for locally produced and high-quality blackberries is projected to increase. Most blackberry production is field-based, however, there is interest in producing blackberries using soilless culture and “long-cane” technique, where plants are grown in containers and trellised vertically. Soilless “long-cane” production of blackberries is viewed as a possible solution to the yield losses caused by soilborne pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum, and methods of soil-borne pathogen control have become increasingly difficult with the ban of methyl bromide, a highly effective and widely used but environmentally harmful soil fumigant. Other reported benefits of soilless caneberry production include greater yields, increased …

Turfgrass Soil Surfactants: Examining Active Ingredients, Application Strategies, And The Structure–Function Relationship In Sand-Based Putting Greens, Daniel O'Brien

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soil surfactants, commonly referred to as wetting agents, are a leading water management strategy for golf courses. Non-ionic block copolymers are the most common type of turfgrass soil surfactant. However, differences in the registration process and labeling requirements allow soil surfactants to enter the marketplace accompanied by far-less data compared to other products used on golf courses. This has led to considerable confusion among golf course superintendents. Three primary sources of confusion are: (i) the widely-used marketing terminology of “penetrants” and “retainers” to classify wetting agents; (ii) active ingredients which in some cases are not disclosed at all; and (iii) …

The Role Of The Social Network In Adopting New Turfgrass Varieties: An Analysis Of Twitter Data, Joohun Han, Chanjin Chung, Yanqi Wu

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examines the effect of social learning on new turfgrass variety adoption decisions using data from 231 turfgrass professionals’ Twitter accounts between 1 Jun 2018 and 31 Dec 2019. To determine the social learning effect, we decompose networking effects into social learning, individual-level and group-level similarities, herd behavior, and clustering effects. Our study estimates a spatial autoregressive probit model that directly incorporates the social network structure to account for unobservable networking effects and potential reflection problem. A Bayesian estimation procedure is used to alleviate the convergence problem caused by the complexity of model specification. Empirical results show that the …

Arkansas Cotton Variety Tests 2023, F. Bourland, J. Gann, B. Milano, B. Guest, L. Martin, J. Mcalee

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The primary goal of the Arkansas Cotton Variety Tests is to provide unbiased data regarding the agronomic performance of cotton varieties and advanced breeding lines in the major cotton-growing areas of Arkansas. This information helps seed companies establish marketing strategies and assists producers in choosing varieties to plant. These annual evaluations will then facilitate the inclusion of new, improved genetic material in Arkansas cotton production. Adaptation of varieties is determined by evaluating the lines at five University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture research sites (Manila, Keiser, Judd Hill, Marianna, and Rohwer). The 2023 tests at Keiser were adversely affected …

Wayne E. Sabbe Arkansas Soil Fertility Studies 2023, Nathan A. Slaton

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Rapid technological changes in crop management and production require that the research efforts be presented in an expeditious manner. The contributions of soil fertility and fertilizers are major production factors in all Arkansas crops. The studies described within will allow producers to compare their practices with the university’s research efforts. Additionally, soil-test data and fertilizer sales are presented to allow comparisons among years, crops, and other areas within Arkansas.

Evaluation Of Fall And Winter Trinexapac-Ethyl Applications On Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Green Color, Quality, And Green Cover, J. C. Booth, W. J. Hutchens, S. D. Askew, J. M. Goatley, X. Zhang, D. S. Mccall

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ultradwarf bermudagrass (UDB) putting greens grown in subtropical and temperate climates can face elevated risk of winter injury from cold temperatures. Trinexapac-ethyl (TE) inhibits UDB growth potentially reducing spring green-up and overexertion of carbohydrate reserves for UDB during the cold de-acclimation period. A field study was conducted to determine the effect of fall and winter TE applications on the visual quality and color of UDB putting greens in Virginia from the cold acclimation phase through the cold de-acclimation phase. A second controlled-environment study was conducted to determine how TE applications to UDB during cold acclimation affected UDB cold tolerance. In …

Evaluation Of Downy Mildew Resistance In Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea), Dotun Olaoye, Gehendra Bhattarai, Chunda Feng, James C. Correll, Ainong Shi

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an economically important leafy vegetable grown in the United States and world-wide. The downy mildew pathogen, Peronospora effusa (Pfs), is a major biotic constraint impacting spinach production and quality. The use of resistant cultivars is an economical and environmentally-friendly management option especially in organic production systems. As new races of the pathogen continue to appear, there is a need to continue to select for resistance to the emerging races. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a set of spinach hybrids and F2 breeding populations for resistance to Pfs race 5 …

An Evaluation Of Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia Solanacearum) Resistance In A Set Of Tomato Germplasm From The United States Department Of Agriculture, Theresa M. Phiri, Gehendra Bhattarai, Kenani Edward Chiwina, Qiurong Fan, Haizheng Xiong, Ibtisam Alatawi, Ryan Dickson, Neelendra K. Joshi, Alejandro Rojas, Kai-Shu Ling, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial wilt (BW), caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is one of the devastating diseases in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The use of resistant cultivars and breeding for genetic resistance is the most effective, economical, and environmentally friendly management strategy for this disease. It is necessary to screen diverse germplasm and cultivated genotypes to identify resistant resources and to develop resistant cultivars in tomatoes to combat the changing pathogen isolates. This study evaluated 40 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tomato accessions for their BW resistance to the R. solanacearum isolate P822 under greenhouse conditions. The tomato plants were inoculated …

Evaluation Of Drought Tolerance In Usda Tomato Germplasm At Seedling Stage, Kenani E. Chiwina, Gehendra Bhattarai, Haizheng Xiong, Neelendra K. Joshi, Ryan W. Dickson, Theresa M. Phiri, Ibtisam Alatawi, Yilin Chen, Zachary Stansell, Kai-Shu Ling, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Drought, a crucial abiotic stressor, markedly reduces the growth and yield of tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Consequently, adopting drought-resistant cultivars and implementing breeding programs to enhance drought tolerance have emerged as enduring solutions to alleviate the adverse effects of drought in various tomato cultivation regions. In this study, 68 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tomato accessions were assessed in a controlled greenhouse experiment, encompassing both water deficit treatment and a control group subjected to standard watering conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of this study pinpointed four …

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.