Welcome to the New CANR website, if you are having trouble viewing this site Click Here

CANR Logo

Green Indusrty Research Needs

This list is to inform you of the areas of research needs and their priority as suggested by the green industry. Research needs were suggested by a panel of nursery growers and professionals, and were ranked by participants as high (*****), medium (***) and low (*). .

 

Plant Specific Problems

***** Sterility - making invasive plants sterile (e.g. Chinese Elm)
***** Evaluation of cultivar selections within economically significant species for their invasiveness and environmental impact(s)
***** Evaluation of cultivar selections within economically significant species for compact size
***** Evaluation and development of invasive plant alternatives; including native plant material
***** Evaluation and development of plant material genetically tolerant of abiotic and biotic stress (e.g. conifers)
***** Evaluation and screening of ornamental species and cultivars within species for insect and disease resistance/tolerance. (e.g. rose rosette, leaf spot on ornamental grasses, oak diseases)
***** Development of a protocol for assessing drought tolerance of ornamental plant material in production and in landscape situations.
**** Evaluation of ornamental plant materials for deer herbivory preference
**** Evaluation of edible landscape plants (ex: blueberries) in nursery production and for landscape value/use.
** Evaluation and selection of tropicals– cold hardiness in containers, over-wintering, cool climate production protocols, guidelines
** Evaluating tissue culture procedures in economically important species.

Pest Management

***** Phytophthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Thielaviopsis management – best management practices; fungicide resistance
***** Fire Argentine and Crazy ants – insecticide longevity (shipping problem - need slow release product); rate of incorporation; control in fruit bearing crops, control in propagation
***** Degree-day pest schedules/models - link info to state weather sites; pest calendars
***** Downy mildew and Powdery mildew resistance management (fungicide resistance)
***** Pre and Post-emergent weed control in propagation and liner production
***** Wood boring insects (Asian Ambrosia Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, Wood Wasp, etc.) – systemic control, application technology, and penetrants
**** Virus control and management in production to ensure clean stock
**** Best management practices for scale, thrip and mite control - with an emphasis on field production
**** Longevity and efficacy of pre-emergent herbicides.
*** Identifying chemical control and host plants of chili thrips
*** Biorational/biological soil amendments / foliar sparys (ex: myccorhizal fungi, amino acids) – effect on rooting, disease suppression and plant growth
*** Rose rosette management
** BMPs for pest management and/or condensed pest-specific BMPs

Crop Production

***** Water conservation and management in production and the relationship between irrigation and leaching of nutrients and pesticides.
***** Reducing root stress - insulation, container wraps and colors, water management, pot types for survival and growth
***** Nursery production using very low phosphate fertilizers.
***** Reducing nursery effluents with an emphasis on phosphorous effluent.
***** Measuring water consumption (as opposed to use) in nursery production, i.e. water pumped vs recaptured
**** Reducing nursery waste generation – recycling, alternative fuels, composting used potting soil and plant material
**** Weed control in beds, roadways, pond waterlines, and drainage ditches in nurseries
**** Control release fertilizer development with a focus on advancing fertilizer technology.
**** Micronutrient product evaluation for longevity in production cycles– heavy metals for plant growth
*** New plant introductions – development of protocol for cultivar introductions to include screening for invasiveness, trial length, etc.
*** Understanding relationship between pH and nutrient/micronutrient availability in soilless substrates.
*** Crop production calendars
** The effect(s) of using grey-water for irrigation.
** Identification of affordable and effective organic products to incorporate into production.
** Determine the viability or hardiness of finished plants, both BandB and cans, as they are shipped northward.

Economics and Marketing

***** Investigating the nursery industry's role in production of alternative fuels
***** Reducing energy costs
***** Economic assessment of the value of landscape plants (commercial and residential)
***** Ecomomics of plant liner root system size as it relates to finished plant size.
**** Maximizing shipping efficiency
**** Economics of mechanization
**** Life-cycle assessment of nursery production practices.
**** Economic impact of “Obamacare” on the Green Industry
*** Identifying value-added products for the nursery industry
** Evaluation of production costs compared to sale price and crop production budgeting (keep or dump)
** Cost comparison of chemical applications (e.g. PGRs) to labor.

 

Click here If you would like to comment on the needs list