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Superintendent:
Gene Garrett

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Ray Glendening

Nancy Bishop
10 Research Center Rd.
New Franklin, MO 65274
Phone: 660-848-2268
Fax: 660-848-2144
Email: Bishopn@missouri.edu

Horticultural Research

Bruce A. Barrett, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, and State Extension Entomology Specialist. Dr. Barrett conducts basic and applied research leading to the development of integrated pest management (IPM) tactics for tree fruit pests, particularly the codling moth, redbanded and obliquebanded leafroller and spotted tentiform leafminer. Building on previous research findings, tree fruit entomology studies will include

• Monitoring and predictive action thresholds for tentiform leafminers -- The goal of the monitoring portion of the study is to examine the attractiveness of different colored sticky traps to adult spotted tentiform leafminer (STLM). Results from this experiment are currently being used in the next phase of the study, the development of a predictive action threshold for STLM based on adult moth trap captures.
• Insect growth regulators and their effect on the arthropod ecology of apple -- A three- year study was initiated in 1995 to examine the effect of an experimental molt accelerating compound (ecdysone agonist), RH-5992, on the arthropod ecology (both beneficial and injurious species) of apple.
• Sublethal effects of ecdysone agonists on major lepidopterous apple pests -- The specific goals of the project are to examine the effects of novel insect growth regulators (molt accelerating compounds), tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide, on adult longevity, adult fecundity, adult fertility, and the role of sex on the expression of such effects on codling moth, redbanded leafroller and obliquebanded leafroller.

W. Hal Shaffer, Jr., Extension Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology. Professor Shaffer’s research at HARC has focused on evaluating fungicide treatments for control of diseases of apples, pears and peaches. He has also helped to develop the Show Me Plant Disease Forecasting^TM , a computerized weather monitoring and plant disease forecasting system.

• Fungicide evaluations -- Sixteen fungicide trials and a bactericide evaluation are underway at HARC. Evaluation of fungicides for fruit disease control, especially on apples, peaches and Asian pears will continue.
• Show Me Plant Disease Forecasting System -- Eight apple disease forecasting models are currently validating the Show Me Plant Disease Forecasting System^TM
• Fire blight of apples -- Erwinia amylovora bacteria, the causal agent of fire blight, have become resistant to the only registered antibiotic for control of this disease. New biological control agents are being evaluated for Fire Blight Control.
• Peaches -- The use of soybean oil as a replacement for petroleum based oil for control of diseases and insects of peach trees is being tested. This orchard will also be used to validate Show Me Plant Disease Forecasting models for stone fruit over the next two or three years. In addition, new peach fungicides will be evaluated when available.
• Pears -- A small planting of several varieties of Asian pears is being studied to find the right combination of spray materials for disease management
• Disease Resistant Apples -- Evaluation of the new disease resistant apple varieties.

Christopher J. Starbuck, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, and State Extension Specialist for Woody Ornamental Plants. Dr. Starbuck’s research at HARC is focusing on the horticultural uses of composted and uncomposted organic waste products and the evaluation of ornamental plants. Development of the Missouri Gravel Bed System as a technique to facilitate the handling of bare root nursery stock continues.

• Composting -- A major objective is to focus on overcoming barriers to horticultural use of sawdust and manure compost and to explore developing a market for this valuable resource. Nurseries, greenhouses, landscape contractors and turf managers are potential large-scale users of compost. Sawdust and manure compost is a product that can be produced continuously using uniform ingredients. Research will also focus on evaluating the performance of compost as a soil amendment and practical criteria will be developed to evaluate compost quality. Field studies will be conducted to document the effects of soil amendments with compost on growth of turf and ornamental species.
• Missouri Gravel Bed -- This system shows promise as a means of extending the planting season for bare root plants. Experiments will focus on plant nutrition in the gravel bed and how to maintain optimal levels for several species of plants.
• Plant evaluations -- Plantings will be developed that will allow nurserymen and plant enthusiasts to compare the merits of various species and cultivars based on observation of mature species. Plant evaluations are an important component of the HARC’s research agenda. In collaboration with HARC staff, Dr. Starbuck has worked to secure plants from nurseries and individuals, and from the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station at Ames, Iowa, for the NC-7 Regional Ornamental Evaluation Trials and the National Crabapple Trials. More recently, plant material has been sent from the U.S. National Arboretum for evaluation. Examples of ornamentals that have been planted at the research center are disease-resistant elms from the National Arboretum (Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge,’ U. Hybrid ‘Patriot’); birches from Forest Lawn and Forrest Keeling Nurseries (Crimson Frost and Whitespire, respectively); crabapples from the National Crabapple Trials; pears from Stark Brothers Nursery; and viburnums from Forest Lawn Nursery. Among the plants from the Plant Introduction Center in Ames, Iowa, are ashes, oaks, and virburnums.

Michele Warmund, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, and State Extension Horticultural Specialist. Dr. Warmund’s research focuses on intensive tree fruit production systems that use unique training and pruning systems; mechanisms of low temperature injury of fruit crops and the development of strategies that enhance survival of cold-stressed fruit crops.

• Blueberry density study -- In this study, a high-density production system was compared with a conventional planting arrangement using three cultivars with different plant architectures. Growth, yield and economics of these systems will be analyzed.
• Yield compensation of secondary blackberry buds following loss of primary buds -- When primary floral buds of blackberry are injured by low temperatures, secondary buds often differentiate and produce a partial crop. The objective of this study is to determine how quickly secondary buds differentiate in their subsequent yield potential in response to primary bud injury at various time intervals during plant dormancy.
• Inarching study -- This study was initiated in 1995 to determine if an unproductive, failing rootstock of an apple tree could be replaced by grafting a new rootstock onto a scion with maintenance of tree size and profitable yield. Either one or two liners of four different dwarfing rootstocks were grafted onto Jonathan or Golden Delicious/Mark apple trees. Tree growth, yield and fruit chemistry data will be recorded for five years.
• Correlation of Blackheart injury and yield -- Blackheart injury will be recorded from apple trees known to have xylem injury from previous fall and winter freezes. Yield will be correlated with blackheart to determine if cold-induced xylem injury actually results in yield decline.
• Air root pruning of apple and pear trees -- The most commonly planted apple on a semi-dwarf rootstock requires five to seven years to come into production. Pear trees require six to eight years to produce a commercial crop. Recently, a propagation technique known as air root pruning has been devised for oak trees that greatly reduces the time required before the onset of fruit production. The objective of these studies is to determine if this type of production technology can be modified and transferred to induce precocity in apple and pear trees.
• NC-140 1994 peach rootstock trial -- Twenty-one different peach rootstocks are being evaluated from growth and yield parameters as part of the coordinated NC-140 regional research trial. Those rootstocks that impart cold tolerance to peach fruit buds are being identified. This project is being coordinated with project leaders in Kansas, Ohio and South Carolina.
• 1993 NC-140 apple rootstock trial and 1999 NC-140 trial -- Twenty different dwarfing rootstocks were grafted onto Fuji apple trees and were planted and trained in a vertical axis system. Fuji apple will soon be the second most widely planted apple cultivar on a worldwide basis. This is a challenging cultivar for Missouri growers to produce. Hence, trees will be evaluated for growth and yield and will be used as a demonstration block to illustrate how production technologies can be used to enhance yield efficiency of this difficult cultivar.
• NE-183 apple cultivator trial -- This is a coordinated regional research trial, being conducted in conjunction with Plant Pathology Professor Hal Shaffer, to demonstrate many of the new disease-resistant apple cultivars that have recently been released.