Departmental Research

For an overview of IAHEES Projects – http://www.ag.iastate.edu/iaexp/projects/sources-revised.htm#Overview

For CRIS Forms Assistance – http://cwf.uvm.edu/cris/

Following is a summary of the umbrella IAHEES projects in the Department of Horticulture:

Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (IAHEES)
Project No. IOW3601

Project Dates: 9/1/2004-8/31-2009

Title: Improving Landscape and Horticultural Production Systems

Personnel: PI – Rajeev Arora; Co PI's – Cynthia Haynes, Nick Christains, Shui-Zhang Fei, William Graves, Jeff Iles, David Minner, Loren Stephens, Ann Marie VanDerZanden

Objectives

  1. Develop and test management practices in turf systems to minimize inputs thus potentially reducing environmental impact. esearchers at Iowa State University are currently focusing on two areas considered problematic for turf magangers; weed control and high traffic areas. Weed control on golf course greens is difficult due to the persistence of Poa annua. Gylphosate tolerant creeping bentgrass may help ease eradication of Poa annua in golf course greens. However, guidelines on transitioning efficiently from traditional greens to those containing glyphosate tolerant creeping bentgrass have yet to be determined. Controlling weeds with natural materials have the potential of replacing synthetic herbicides on Kentucky bluegrass turf. Corn gluten meal has been developed and patented as a natural herbicide. Presently 23 companies licensed with Iowa State University are marketing corn gluten meal. Another naturally occurring product from fungi is being tested as a potential herbicide for control of dandelion. The popularity of sports continues to place increased demands on athletic fields. Natural grass systems that tolerate traffic stress are being developed to provide safe and attractive playing surfaces.
  2. Create functional and sustainable ornamental landscapes through plant evaluation, selection, and breeding. Creating functional and sustainable ornamental landscapes requires multiple diverse strategies. First, plants must be selected and bred for tolerance to the managed landscape environment. Regeneration systems for turfgrass species and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) will be developed. Identification of suitable turfgrass species or cultivars for low maintenance lawns in Iowa will be studied. Selections of pollen sterile Indian grass will be developed to reduce allergic reactions. The managed landscape is often associated with multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. In the Midwest, evaluation of plant response to winter injury, and invasive potential are also important considerations. Under-used woody taxa will be identified and possibly promoted based on their ornamental merits and potential for stress resistance in managed landscapes. Predictive models that assess the risk of naturalization posed by introduced landscape plants are being determined to prevent introduction of invasive plant species. Winter injury, a common phenomenon in Iowa, on landscape and turf species can cause significant economic loss and limis the range of plant available in the landscape. Researchers at Iowa State University are studying the genetic markers responsible for cold tolerance mechanism in Rhododendron and conducting winter trials to elucidate the causes and remedies for winter injury in two turfgrass species (Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass).

Approach

  1. Develop and test management practices in turf systems to minimize inputs thus potentially reducing environmental impact. The competitive nature of creeping bentgrass and their ability to slow the establishment of glyphosate-tolerant types will be evaluated. Additional studies will compare 1) the timing of glyphosate application and 2) new seeding equipment during the renovation process. Natural products are being greenhouse screened and field evaluated for herbicidal effects. Hydrolysate isolation is being used to identify specific plant ingredients associated with herbicidal activity. For the high traffic study, a traffic simulator will be used on several field studies to provide realistic athletic field conditions. Over the next five years studies will be conducted to evaluate,1) traffic intensity and periodicity, 2) the traffic tolerance of mature and seedling grass species, 3) optimal seeding rate, and 4) population shift between Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.
  2. Create functional and sustainable ornamental landscapes through plant evaluation, selection, and breeding. Regenerants of Indian grass in tissue culture will be selected for pollen sterility and ornamental traits. In turfgrass breeding, over 100 tall fescue cultivars and 50 fine fescue cultivars are currently being evaluated for turf quality, color, and winter survival with the data being submitted to the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. For the Low Input Sustatinable Turf project, 13 species and cultivars are currently being evaluated on tolerance of differing mowing heights. Acetylene reduction assay, carbon fixation and partitioning, asexual propagation, seed pretreatments, and DNA analysis will be used to identify stress resistance in under-used taxa. To characterize freezing injury in Rhododendron, genetic linkage maps are under construction and proteins associated with deacclimation will be extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE. Ten winter management treatments of turfgrass involving snow cover, ice cover, desiccation, winter watering, and synthetic covers will be field tested on two separate putting greens, one creeping bentgrass and the other annual bluegrass. To predict the invasive potential of plant species, The Modified Decision Tree, Decision Tree/Matrix Model, and New CART Model will be externally evaluated by applying these models to data sets assembled for plant naturalization observed in nearby areas outside Iowa.

Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (IAHEES)
Project No.3701_

Title: Fruit and Vegetable Adaptation and Culture

Project Dates: 9/1/2004-8/31-2009

Personnel: PI: P. A. Domoto; Co Pi's: R. J. Gladon, M. L. Gleason, D. J. Hannapel, G. R. Nonnecke, H. G Taber

Objectives

  1. Increase the quality and percentage of marketable product per acre, reduce production costs and increase business profitability through improved cultural techniques and use of adapted fruit and vegetable cultivars.
  2. To improve the access to an affordable food supply.
  3. To improve the harmony between horticulture production practices and the environment.

Approach

Replicated field studies to evaluate new cultivars for adaptability and productivity under Iowa climatic conditions. Replicated field mineral nutrition studies to assess silicon as a crop protectant. Replicated field studies to assess alternative cultural practice associated with plant nutrition, weed control, and pest management practices that promote sustainability. Use of molecular techniques to identify mechanism(s) that control tuber development, and fruit ripening. Evaluate new fruit and vegetable cultivars for adaptability and productivity under Iowa growing conditions. Cultural studies to improve productivity through fertilizer practices. Develop alternative fertilizer, weed control, insect and disease control practices that improve the harmony with the environment. Improve crop utilization by identifying key regulators in tuber development and fruit ripening processes. Improve profitability for fruit and vegetable growers.

Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (IAHEES)
Project No. 3801

Title: Improving the Sustainability of Iowa Horticultural and Agronomic Crops

Project Dates: 9/1/2004 – 8/31/2009

Personnel: PI: K. Delate, CO Pi's: J. Iles, N. Christians, G. Nonnecke, P. Domoto

Objectives

Develop a better understanding of the basic nutrient, water, soil and pest management processes for sustainable and organic horticultural and agronomic cropping systems in Iowa.

Develop value-added products and markets for sustainable and organic crop production systems.

Increase awareness and understanding of agricultural professionals and the general public regarding sustainable and organic agriculture through development of research-based training and educational materials.

Approach

1.) Continue filed plots dedicated to sustainable/organic research. The Neely-Kinyon and Crawfordsville Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) sites were established in 1998 and will continue as long-term sites to examine the agroecological and economic performance of conventional and organic systems, using required practices for certified organic production. Longer crop rotations, which include small grains and legumes, will be examined for effects on yield stability, improved plant protection, enhanced soil health and economic benefits. 2.) Implement production and management regimes, examining crop rotations, soil media, soil amendments, pest management, and postharvest practices. Organic herb production (St. John's Wort and Echinacea) research will include an examination of prevention of leafhopper problems with naturally-based insecticide treatments, and weed management with mulches and vinegar-based herbicides. Production of high-quality, organic day-neutral strawberries using compost and corn gluten meal and biological disease control treatments (Bacillus subtlis and Trichoderma harzianum) will be examined. In other grain, vegetable and fruit research projects across Iowa, yields and soil health parameters, including organic carbon pools and microbial biomass, will be monitored for effects on long-term sustainability. Soil amendments, such as zeolite clinoptilolite, will be examined for effects on turf quality. The identification of apple and grape cultivars adapted for Iowa winters and humid summer conditions will continue as part of on-going work to increase the percentage of value-added products in Iowa. 3.) Provide critical training and information on sustainable/organic agriculture. Research-based information will be provided in trainings to key agricultural professionals-producers, lenders, NRCS, FSA, landowners, Extension, and private consultants. Stakeholders will be critical in providing input regarding training needs and outcomes. Educational meetings, field days, workshops, publications, mass media dissemination, one-on-one contacts, phone contacts, research and demonstration grants, and direct teaching events will be included in this objective.