The primary goal of my research program is to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of the nursery and Christmas tree industry in Pennsylvania. My current research program addresses four areas:
Improving establishment and survivability of bare-root trees:
Bare-root trees produced in the west are an important liner source for Pennsylvania's nurseries. Growers often experience delayed bud break, stem dieback and low establishment rates for certain genera. We have shown that artificially forcing bud break improves survivability for some species. The goal of this project is to evaluate how forcing bud break impacts water stress, stem water relations, establishment and survivability.
Christmas tree post-harvest quality:
Maintaining Christmas tree freshness is of major concern to both growers and consumers. Freshness is determined largely by foliage water content. Cut trees continually transpire water through their foliage; it can only be replenished with stem reserves or basal absorption of water. Cut Christmas trees vary in their drying rate following harvest, and their ability to maintain freshness during display. This research investigates dehydration characteristics, moisture thresholds, needle retention and other post-harvest quality factors for Christmas tree species important to Pennsylvania, such as Fraser fir, Canaan fir, Concolor fir and Douglas fir.
Rhabdocline management in Douglas fir:
Rhabdocline needlecast (Rhabdocline pseudotsugae) can devastate Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and set back salability by years. A new azoxystrobin fungicide is labeled for several needlecast diseases of Christmas trees, but many questions exist concerning how to use this compound in a standard chlorothalonil-based disease management program. This research assesses the impact of application rate, application interval and sequence of azoxystrobin in combination with chlorothalonil, on efficacy for the control of Rhabdocline on Douglas fir.
Curriculum development and teaching methods:
An ongoing research goal is to explore techniques to enhance the extension education system and improve the problem-solving capability of the green industry adult learner. This research focuses on innovative pedagogy and addresses issues such as case study development, novel extension education delivery systems, place-bound access to education and at-distance education opportunities.
