Duration: 10/01/2010 to 09/30/2015

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

The spread of non-native, invasive plants is one of the most challenging ecological problems in the 21st century, causing economic losses in the U.S. of $35 billion per year. Invasions of non-native plant species into residential properties, public lands or other natural areas may cause a significant decline in biological diversity and reduce the quality of these important habitats. Invasive plants are one of the most serious threats to native species and the environments that they are found in (Stein and Flack, 1996). The spread of invasive species is ranked second, behind habitat loss, as the greatest threat to biological diversity in the U.S. More than 57% of plant species classified as threatened or endangered are imperiled by invasive non-native species (Wilcove et al., 1998; Wilson, 1992).


Many plants of horticultural interest are found on the lists of invasive species compiled by state and regional Exotic Pest Plant Councils and native plant societies (Bell et al., 2003). According to Reichard and White (2001), most woody plants that are considered "invasive" were originally introduced for horticultural purposes. They found that more than 80% of the 235 woody plant species widely considered invasive had been used in landscaping or for ornamental purposes.


The U.S. nursery and greenhouse industry is an important part of the national economy, producing $15.7 billion in wholesale receipts during 2004 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005). Ornamental plant sales are driven by consumer demand for novel, often non-native species or cultivars (Brand and Leonard, 2001). These market forces make it difficult for growers and landscapers to change their approach to the production and use of invasive species. Many nursery growers agree that invasive plants are one of the primary issues that affect the industry today. Landscapers, groundskeepers and other land managers struggle with invasives that overtake managed and natural landscapes.


Nursery and landscape professionals continue to expand their understanding of the complex issues surrounding invasive ornamental plants (Gagliardi and Brand, 2007). However, it is clear that the invasive ornamental problem requires a concerted research and extension effort in order to overcome this specialty crop limitation, which is widely recognized as a top problem nationally for the nursery industry.


Since few states have the expertise to integrate all these issues, and further since invasive plant issues do not observe state boundaries, we need a national multi-disciplinary approach to invasive ornamentals. There are five interrelated areas relevant to this project: 1. Consumer demand for noninvasive ornamentals, 2. Alternatives to invasive ornamentals, 3. Basic research approaches to develop alternatives, 4. Grower concerns regarding alternative plants, and 5. Implementation of safe ornamentals.


1.1 Consumer demand for noninvasive ornamentals


Several plant introductions to the United States that were subsequently increased by the nursery industry as ornamentals now pose environmental and social problems, which in turn threaten the industry. For example, Rock Creek Park, a federally protected 2,900-acre forest cutting through Washington, DC, now hosts 238 species of exotic plants - most of them garden escapes. Forty-two of these have proven invasive enough to overgrow their native neighbors with dense, smothering foliage (Raloff, 2003). The cost to remediate these biologically contaminated sites is considerable, frequently putting the nursery industry in a defensive position with environmentalists and the general public. When introduced species such as winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus; also known as burning bush) escape from managed landscapes and move into natural areas, they cause significant damage to the ecosystem. Ceasing importation and production of all non-native plant species might seem like a possible option for stemming the spread of invasive species. However, rapid loss of many non-native ornamental crops would be deleterious to the US nursery industry and the agriculture of many regions of the U.S., especially those areas in which suburbanization dominates.


Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and winged euonymus, two invasive ornamental shrubs that are economically very important to the nursery industry, are widely planted in residential and public landscapes. In Connecticut nurseries alone, retail value of these two ornamentals exceeded $8M in 2003; and 2008 values are in the $15-20M range. These nurseries are typical of most significant wholesale producers of nursery stock throughout the majority of the U.S. Similarly, the Midwest also has significant production and sales of barberry and euonymus. Three additional ornamentals, Amur maple (Acer ginnala), Norway maple (A. platanoides) and honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) are very important to the Midwest nursery industry and are also invasive, leading the industry in the Midwest to press for development of sterile cultivars. Production of all these species occurs in different parts of the U.S. such that regulation in any one state impacts the economy of several states. Thus loss of Japanese barberry and winged euonymus through legislative banning would result in substantial financial duress for the U.S. nursery industry. Further, beyond the dollar value of these crops, the level of adaptability exhibited by barberry and euonymus is difficult to replace, thus restricting the plants available for many landscape applications.


Volunteer groups like the CT Invasive Plant Working Group have provided a rallying point for the many diverse stakeholders in the invasive plant problem. While the debate about invasive ornamentals is often viewed as a clash between the nursery industry and gardener/environmentalists, our surveys have shown that the concerns about invasive ornamentals are actually shared by these groups. In a University of Maine survey of 497 Green Industry members and 1184 Master Gardeners, noninvasiveness was ranked as a very important landscape plant trait (third most important of 12 traits, surpassed in importance only by hardiness and high quality) by both groups. Both groups rated the issue of invasive plants as either a top priority or a major problem. Green Industry professionals (69%) agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to sell/install only plants that will not become invasive, and Master Gardeners (87%) agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to buy only plants that will not become invasive. Thus, the goals and expectations of producers and consumers of ornamentals are aligned.


1.2 Alternatives to invasive ornamentals


Unfortunately, plant characteristics that are correlated with invasiveness are not good predictors of whether a plant will, in fact, prove to be invasive in a new environment. However, if a plant produces lots of seeds, especially in fruits that are likely to be attractive to birds, its risk to minimally managed environments needs to be considered. At the University of Connecticut, Dr. Mark Brand has amassed a collection of barberry and euonymus cultivars that are used in the nursery and landscaping trades. Seed production by the different cultivars varies tremendously in this common garden planting in CT. Thus, one approach to the invasive ornamentals problem is to pre-screen existing cultivars for seed production and recommend the low-seed cultivars. Native alternatives to barberry and euonymus such as fothergilla, blueberry, and bayberry are available in the nursery trade. However, few of these plants have the landscaping toughness that has made barberry and euonymus such stand-outs in the trade (and no doubt also contributes to their invasive advantage).


1.3 Basic research approaches to develop alternatives


Based at the University of Connecticut, the New England Invasive Plant Center uses biotechnology and horticultural approaches to develop alternatives to invasive ornamentals. These approaches include creation of sterile cultivars through (1) mutation breeding of current cultivars; (2) development of sterile triploid plants through direct regeneration from endosperm tissue of current cultivars; (3) development of sterile triploid plants by crossing a standard cultivar with a tetraploid version of itself (tetraploids generated through treatment of tissue cultured material with mitotic poisons); and (4) rapid breeding and selection of new ornamentals using genetic markers as guides. These are long-range solutions to the problem, taking 5 to 7 years for development of new plants. University of Connecticut and University of Maine are collaborating on these long-term approaches through the New England Invasive Plant Center.


1.4 Grower concerns regarding alternative plants


Owners of wholesale nurseries and retail nurseries/garden centers fear loss of products as a result of legislation of invasive species. A typical comment from garden center owners is, "If I don't supply a specific plant that a customer wants, then that customer will buy it elsewhere and I will lose both that transaction and that customer." However, some businesses have voluntarily eliminated invasive plants from inventory and anecdotally reported no loss of income. Development of alternative, noninvasive ornamental plants would provide economic benefits to growers and would address diverse stakeholder groups who want a) sterile forms of popular landscape plants and b) greater selection of underused or novel native plants as noninvasive alternatives.


1.5 Implementation of safe ornamentals


Members of the CT Nursery and Landscape Association were surveyed on their preferences for different potential solutions to reduce the annual sale of billions of dollars of invasive ornamental plants (Perry and Stack, 2006). A total of 114 members responded (a 42% rate) and clearly indicated their interest in the development of sterile versions of popular invasive ornamentals, and of native alternatives to these ornamentals. The survey showed that in order to foster maximum Green Industry participation in invasive plant control efforts, future directions should focus on creation of sterile forms of popular landscape plants, identification of consumer preference for noninvasive alternatives, and development of strong consumer education programs. In a similar survey of 167 respondents from the MN horticultural industry, 63% indicated that the issue of invasive plants was very important and 89% indicated they would try to direct customers to plants that are least likely to harm the environment.


Evaluation of novel native shrubs for landscape adaptability
Although native plants are being promoted, their ability to replace tough invasive plants like Japanese barberry and winged euonymus remains unclear. Barberry and euonymus are among the most popular landscape shrubs in the U.S. because they are highly adaptable to variable landscapes and perform well under difficult growing conditions such as parking lot island plantings, which are dry, nutrient-poor, and sun and heat exposed. If native plants are going to be successful as replacements, landscapers need to know which ones will fill the void left by barberry and euonymus.

Related, Current and Previous Work

In the U.S., there are several laboratories involved in development of noninvasive ornamental crops but it looks there are no more than 3 laboratories working on winged euonymus or Japanese barberry. For the labs working on these two plant species, based on our knowledge, either their strategies are different from what we are proposing here or their efforts on these plant species have been minimal. Dr. Thomas Ranney at North Carolina State University stated (Pooler and Ranney, 2004; Ranney, 2008; Ranney, 2005) that they had been working on development of noninvasive triploids of Acer ginnala (Amur maple), Acer platanoides (Norway maple), Albizia julibrissin (mimosa), Campsis tagliabuana (trumpet vine), Cytissus scoparius (scotch broom), Euonymus alatus (burning bush), Elaeagnus spp. (elaeagnus), Hedera helix (English ivy), Hypericum andorsaemusm (tutsan St. Johnswort), Koelreutaria paniculata (goldenraintree), Ligustrum sp. (privet), Miscanthus sinensis (maiden grass), Pyrus calleryana (callery pear) and Ulmus parvifolia (lacebark elm), that they had identified tetraploids of most of these species, and had successfully developed triploids of Pyrus, Hypericum, and Campsis. However, as of today, he or his former student, Dr. Richard Olsen (a research scientist at the U.S. National Arboretum) has not reported production of tetraploids or tripoloids of Euonymus alatus (Olsen, 2008).


At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Alan Smith has demonstrated the function of their transgenes to create reproductive tissue ablation in tobacco plants and proposes to use these genes to produce male and female sterile exotic ornamental crops including Euonymus alatus (Gardner et al., 2008). Dr. Smith is currently investigating risk invasive assessments of herbaceous floriculture crops through breeding and genetic studies (Smith 2008). At the North Carolina Regional Plant Introduction Station, studies are underway to look at plant-environment interactions, including risk assessment, which would indicate the potential of a plant to become invasive in a particular environment (Wintersteen and Gardener, 2009). Dr. John Ruter of University of Georgia has used mutation breeding techniques to develop sterile butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) (http://www.canr.org/Ruter%20CANR%20Butterfly%2006.pdf). Dr. Ruter is also investigating the use of gamma radiation to create sterile forms of Buddleia, Berberis thunbergii, Euonymus alatus, and Nandina domestica for the nursery trade and reduce their invasive potential, but has not reported production of sterile cultivars (Ruter, 2008).


In New England, Dr. Mark Brand conducts research at the University of Connecticut to produce sterile cultivars of invasives through mutagenesis and the development of sterile triploid plants (3n). Tetraploid barberry and euonymus have been produced using the mitotic poisons colchicine and oryzalin. The plants are beginning to flower and appropriate crosses with the diploid can now be made. Gamma ray treated cuttings and seeds of barberry (C), maples, and euonymus began to flower in 2009. Those that are sterile will be vegetatively propagated for container crop and field evaluation (Brand, 2004, 2007, 2008). Dr. Yi Li, Director of the New England Invasive Plant Center is producing sterile cultivars of Japanese barberry and winged euonymus through genetic engineering. The triploid (3n) plants produced from euonymus endosperm are currently being evaluated (Li, 1998; Li and Ellis, 2003; Li et al., 2004).


In the Midwest, Dr. Rajeev Arora leads a team of collaborators at Iowa State University to evaluate the invasive potential of woody plants and identify plant species currently underutilized as ornamentals in the landscape. Predictive models are being developed to assess risk that the introduced pants might become invasive (Arora, 2008). Dr. Wenhao Dai at North Dakota State University (Dai, 2009) is investigating biotechnology approaches such as in vitro mutation and chromosome manipulation to develop new sterile, noninvasive Buddleia davidii shrubs for the landscape. Dr. Ruth Hufbauer at Colorado State University used diffuse and spotted knapweeds (Centauria diffusa and C. maculosa) to investigate genetic and ecological factors enabling exotic plant species to invade (Hufbauer, 2007). Dr. Mark Brand has been developing native alternatives to invasive plants at the University of Connecticut. Aronia (Aronia arbutifolia and melanocarpa) and common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) germplasm evaluations are well underway, along with breeding strategies for landscape applications (Brand, 2008).


Several projects at the University of Florida are being conducted by Dr. Rosanna Freyre and Dr. Sandra Wilson (Freyre, 2008; Wilson et al., 2008; Wilson and Wilson, 2006) to assess invasive impacts of noninvasive ornamental plants for the landscape currently listed as invasive in Florida and develop approaches to produce sterile invasive plants of interest to the green industry (Lantana, Nandina, Petunia) through tetraploid induction and triploid production. Dr. Ranney and colleagues are investigating new forms and cultivars of woody ornamental plants in North Carolina to reduce the risk of invasive plant spread into natural areas and provide new sustainable plants into the nursery trade (Werner and Ranney, 2008; LeBude et al., 2008).


At the University of Maine, Dr. Mary Rumpho, Dr. Donglin Zhang, and Dr. Lois Berg-Stack gathered data on invasive plants that occur statewide and are developing a plan to prevent or slow the movement of invasives through the state. They are also conducting research to develop and evaluate alternative replacement plants for non-native invasive species in trial gardens.
Dr. Rumphos lab is focused on identifying ecto- and endo-symbionts associated with Japanese barberry invasions in the state. They are using molecular techniques to identify bacterial, fungal and insect symbionts that may contribute to the success of invasiveness. These findings may also be applicable in adapting new, alternative species to thrive under the environmental conditions in ME and New England. Drs. Rumpho, Zhang, and Berg-Stack are members and contributing scientists to the New England Invasive Plant Center (Rumpho et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2007).

Objectives

1. Develop an effective multistate group to identify knowledge gaps in the problem of invasive ornamental plants; organize transdisciplinary teams to address these gaps, and leverage existing national programs to maximize impact.
   
2. Develop effective outreach programs that a) change behavior and implement best management practices; b) increase the use of noninvasive ornamentals in the landscape; c) increase production efficiency and profitability of alternatives to invasive ornamentals; and d) allow regulatory agency and public sectors to access baseline information that can be used for policy and other decision-making.
   
3. Disseminate research results to the academic community through traditional means (e.g., peer reviewed journals and extension programs) and also more novel web-based methods (knowledge centers, eXtension and social networks).
   
4. Integrate projects, programs and results according to the following specific project objectives outlined in Section 1.
   
5. Consumer demand for noninvasive ornamentals: <br>a. Conduct an online web-based survey during the first 2 years to ascertain consumer preference for alternative native landscape plants that would replace existing invasive species.
   
6. Alternatives to invasive ornamentals: <br>a. Evaluate and develop cultivars of native species or other noninvasive alternatives as replacements for invasive ornamentals.
   
7. Basic research approaches to develop alternatives: <br>a. Reduce the number of invasive plants in landscapes and natural area by introducing sterile cultivars. <br>b. Use tetraploid plants in crosses with diploid plants to create sterile triploid Japanese barberry plants. <br>c. Development of sterile winged Euonymus and Japanese barberry will occur through mutation breeding techniques.
   
8. Grower concerns regarding alternative plants: <br>a. Develop case studies of nurseries/garden centers that have transitioned away from invasive plants, such as in ME (a state which does not regulate the sale of invasive plants) and MA and CT (states that do regulate sales of invasive plants).
   
9. Implementation of safe ornamentals: <br>a. Evaluation and implementation of plants developed through these approaches will take place through our industry collaboration as well as by the efforts of collaborators at other Universities.
   

Methods

The methods are described in the context of the objectives in the previous section, but it is important to realize that these are not clearly delineated areas; rather there is much overlap among these areas, which is necessary to assure that this project will integrate the most promising approaches.

• A multistate group will be developed to identify knowledge gaps regarding invasive ornamental plants and noninvasive alternatives that can be used as replacements. Transdisciplinary teams will be organized to address these gaps. The teams will gather data and other relevant information, and they will leverage existing national programs to maximize impact.

• Effective outreach programs will be developed that a) change behavior and implement best management practices; b) increase use of noninvasive ornamentals in the landscape; c) increase production efficiency and profitability of alternatives to invasive ornamentals; and d) allow regulatory agency and public sectors to access baseline information which can be used for policy and other decision-making.

• Research results will be presented to the academic community and stakeholders through traditional means (e.g., peer-reviewed journals and extension programs) and also more novel web-based methods (knowledge centers, eXtension and social networks)

• Projects, programs, and results will be integrated according to the following specific project objectives outlined in Section 1.

1. Consumer demand for noninvasive ornamentals

Conduct an online web-based survey during the first 2 years to ascertain consumer preference for alternative native landscape plants that would replace existing invasive species.
The survey will tap into the large base of online consumers/horticulturists (approx. 12,000 users per day) who use the University of Connecticut Plant Database. Survey findings will assist nursery producers and landscapers in the selection of replacement crops for invasive plants they currently produce. Research to optimize production methods for new native plants would be directed toward those plants identified by the survey as having the greatest market potential. 2. Alternatives to invasive ornamentals

Cultivars of native species that directly replace invasive Japanese barberry and winged euonymus will be developed and evaluated.
To facilitate a landscape industry shift away from their profitable, but invasive, barberry and euonymus crops, superior forms of native plants must be identified or created that can directly substitute for the characteristics of barberry and euonymus. Red and black aronia (Aronia arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa) are highly adaptable shrubs with multiseason interest and red fall color, making them good candidates to be euonymus replacements. Field trials of new aronia cultivars will evaluate their landscape performance and ability to directly substitute for the landscape characteristics of their invasive counterparts. Evaluations of aronia will focus on quality of fall foliage color, compactness of plant habit, flowering capacity, fruit color, fruit quantity and fruit size. Breeding efforts with aronia will address the aforementioned characteristics of interest. Development of low growing red and black forms with dense foliage, abundant flowering and fruiting and intense red fall foliage color are our goals. Dr. Brand has been collecting aronia germplasm, including USDAs accessions, for 5 years and has an extensive germplasm base to work with that includes more than 50 taxa collected across the genera's native range from TX to ME. In particular, dwarf genotypes have been identified that will facilitate development of compact cultivars. Breeding efforts with common ninebark will address issues of large plant habit and powdery mildew resistance.

Nursery production of novel native shrubs
There is increased interest in using native plant alternatives to invasive species for landscaping. While some native plants are commonly used, others with ornamental potential have yet to be developed. The identification and development of such species as landscape plants would broaden the palette of native plants available to consumers. Some ornamental native species for which little horticultural information is known are Comptonia peregrine (Sweetfern), Corylus cornuta (Beaked filbert), Leucothoe racemosa (Sweetbells), Myrica gale (Sweetgale), Prunus pumila var. depressa (Eastern sandcherry), Rhus copallina (Shining sumac) and Spirea tomentosa (Steeplebush). Research to optimize crop production protocols will be conducted. The specific list of new species to be studied will be adjusted based on the findings of the consumer preference survey. This work will identify the best propagation and transplanting methods, container media, fertility, cultural conditions and scheduling for each species. The information gained from this research will be disseminated to growers interested in producing native plant alternatives. 3. Basic research approaches to develop alternatives

Tetraploid plants will be used in crosses with diploid plants to create sterile triploid Japanese barberry plants.
Numerous tetraploid plants of barberry have been created using the mitotic poisons colchicine and oryzalin. For barberry, many separate tetraploid lines of 'Crimson Pygmy' (most popular dwarf purple form) and 'Atropurpurea' (standard size purple form) have been created and numerous tetraploid seedlings with green, yellow, and variegated foliage have also been developed. Tetraploid plants are maturing and beginning to flower so appropriate crosses can now be made. Crosses will be made between various tetraploid and diploid genotypes and seedlings will be raised for ploidy analysis using flow cytometry. Confirmed triploids will be grown to maturity to verify sterility and evaluate ornamental characteristics. The evaluation of the inheritance of sterility or parthenocarpy, horticultural and ornamental characteristics, and field performance of vegetatively propagated progeny will occur. 4. Grower concerns regarding alternative plants

Develop case studies of nurseries/garden centers that have transitioned away from invasive plants, including ME (a state that does not regulate the sale of invasive plants) and MA and CT (states which do regulate sales of invasive plants).
Traditional breeding, biotechnology, and horticultural selection would be used to achieve new, safe ornamental crops by the end of 5 years. Research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics would improve crop characteristics such as product appearance. Consumer preference for alternative species will be addressed so growers can efficiently shift production away from popular invasives and toward alternatives that have known market appeal or promote underused alternatives as replacement plants. Case studies would be developed to examine nurseries and garden centers that have adjusted their plant inventories to include alternatives to invasive ornamental plants. 5. Implementation of safe ornamentals

Pilot product evaluation
Evaluations of plants developed through the approaches described above will take place through industry collaborations as well as by the efforts of collaborators at other Universities.

Evaluation of novel native shrubs for landscape adaptability
Landscapers, landscape designers and landscape architects all desire plants that will tolerate a range of growing conditions. New native plants that growers can successfully produce and use as replacements for invasive ornamental plants will be evaluated for their adaptability to different landscape environments and uses. Plant establishment studies will be set up in locations that vary in degree of soil moisture and exposure to sun, heat and road salt. The specific landscape conditions will range from a dry, nutrient-poor, sun and heat exposed site, such as a parking lot island planting, to a moderately moist, nutrient rich, partly shaded residential site. Benefits of mulching and irrigating native plants during establishment will also be studied. Information on adaptability of new native species will be conveyed to landscapers and the gardening public. In conjunction with landscape architects, design principles to utilize new native plants will be developed and distributed.

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

• Develop multi-state and multidisciplinary proposals for granting agencies with a goal of at least one proposal submission annually.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for articles and speakers from members to national and member state trade journals, conferences, workshops, and other presentations. The goal will be to have at least 5 articles or presentations related to project activities annually. The internet and other novel methods for delivering information to stakeholders will also be used and developed.
• Present project results at regional, national and international scientific conferences as symposia, colloquia, workshops, presentations or posters. The goal will be to have at least one presentation from the project annually.
• Present project results via educational outreach programs and through other extension activities or publications. Dissemination of project results will also occur via news media.
• Refereed journal articles will be developed based on activities generated by the project. Although refereed publications will likely not be generated in the first few years during the planning or establishment phase, the goal is to have at least 3 refereed publications during the 5 years of the project related to the groups activities.
• Consumer demand for noninvasive ornamentals: <br>a. Analyzed survey results will indicate consumer preference for alternative native landscape plants.
• Alternatives to invasive ornamentals: <br>a. Reduction of the number of invasive plants in landscapes and natural areas by introducing sterile cultivars and cultivars of native species. <br>b. Development of cultivars of native species that directly replace invasive plants such as Japanese barberry and winged euonymus.
• Basic research approaches to develop alternatives: <br>a. Development of sterile cultivars of Japanese barberry and winged euonymus. <br>b. Development of alternatives to invasive ornamentals, including sterile cultivars of other invasive ornamental plants or native alternative crops.
• Grower concerns regarding alternative plants: <br>a. Case study results will document nurseries and garden centers that have transitioned away from invasive plants.
• Implementation of safe ornamentals: <br>a. Collaborations with the nursery industry and other Universities to evaluate and implement plants developed will provide relevant information on alternative, safe ornamental plants.

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

• One of the challenges to Extension professionals working with industry to address public concerns about invasive ornamentals has been lack of clarity with regard to what qualifies as an invasive plant threat. Great potential for progress lies ahead because both environmental and industry groups readily get behind the concept of marketing noninvasive ornamentals, which are good for both the environment and the economy. The invasive plant problem is not just a biological issue. Because of this our research efforts, although they include biological approaches, also includes a social component. It will take a multi-faceted approach to move forward on this problem: the development of sterile cultivars and native alternative crops is only one step. Training the growers, users (installers), public, and regulators in the components of this complex system will allow us to effect meaningful change.
• The group will have 3-5 new sterile cultivars and 5-7 new native alternatives ready for commercialization at the end of the project. Because of our multidisciplinary approach, "ready" means:<ul><li>Stakeholder needs have informed the cultivar development<li>Basic research and discovery has developed and tested the plant material<li>The plant material has been thoroughly evaluated<li>Growers know the best way to produce and market the new plants<li>Users are equipped with the information they need for effective deployment<li>Sustainable design and management of the landscape is promoted</ul>
• Long term measures of impact will have to be made after our project has concluded. During the course of the project we will make use of the University of Connecticut's large (400 attendees), yearly home gardening conference, perennial plant conferences, and invasive plant symposia; the New England Invasive Plant Center's international symposia; the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Maine Garden Day event (400 attendees); and other events to track impact by assessing the knowledge and perceptions of our grower and user groups. Inventories of invasive ornamentals should decrease during the final years of the project as the industry begins production of the new plants. We will use our industry contacts to obtain these numbers.
• The greatest impact of this project will be seen in the future. Invasive ornamentals that currently make up a large portion of the nursery industry's product will be replaced by our noninvasive alternatives. This will directly impact the nursery industry by getting it past the "thorny problem" of invasive ornamentals, through providing new alternative crops that are environmentally friendly. The plant breeders trained during participation in our project will become a national resource for future service to the industry and the environment. Further, our project will help keep agriculture viable in states that no longer have big agricultural commodities and thus benefit from specialty crops such as those described herein.

Milestones

(2011): Develop multistate group and transdisciplinary teams. The group and teams will interact on a regular basis during all years of the project. <br>Develop and send out consumer preference survey. Conduct case studies of nurseries and garden centers. Prepare and submit first group research proposal. Proposals will be developed in all years and research will be based on funding success.

(2012): Complete survey and case studies. Use survey results to refine research proposals and develop outreach information.

(2013): Present survey results to scientific and lay audiences through presentations at scientific and grower meetings and peer reviewed and trade publications.

(2014): Disseminate research results through the preparation of presentations and publications based on previous years' activities and research.

(2015): Disseminate research results through the preparation of presentations and publications based on previous years' activities and research.

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

Peer-reviewed publications will be generated as well as shorter, trade articles. Presentations will be made at international (International Society for Horticultural Science), national (American Society for Horticultural Science), regional (to include CT Invasive Plant Working Group Symposia, New England Invasive Plant Center International Symposia, and others), and state association and stakeholder meetings. Nearly every study will include a web component, published on the Committees website. Collective and individual manuscripts and presentations are planned. Researchers with extension appointments will take the lead on disseminating information through regional and state trade meetings as well as other extension programmatic activities.


Increasing educational awareness of invasive plants through identification, control, and the use of alternative, noninvasive plants is an important aspect of the outreach plan. Efforts will focus on providing educational outreach to the public regarding the impacts of invasive plants in natural and managed landscapes and incorporating research results from the proposed project. Universities, including the University of Connecticut and the University of Maine, the CT Invasive Plant Working Group and other organizations will addresses invasive plant issues and provide training on invasive plant identification, Integrated Pest Management options for control (mechanical/physical, cultural, biological, and chemical), and the use of noninvasive alternative ornamentals as replacement plants. Public outreach activities will include presentations at stakeholder meetings and development of educational materials. Results of applied research for biological control of targeted invasive plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata) will be disseminated to the public.

Organization/Governance

The Committee shall be organized as a Multistate Research Project in accordance with the Guidelines for Multistate Research Activities (USDA/CSREES/SAESD/ESCOP, Updated October 16, 2006) and shall operate under the regulations specified therein.


Members. Membership will be open to SAES scientists, other public and private sector scientists, extension professionals, an administrative advisor, a CSREES representative, and others who are in a position to contribute to the proposed activities. Voting members will consist of one representative from each SAES. Voting membership may be extended to other members not affiliated with a SAES upon a majority vote of the voting members. In addition to carrying out the agreed research collaboration, project members are responsible for reporting progress, contributing to the ongoing progress of the activity, and communicating their accomplishments to the committee's members and their respective employing institutions.


Officers. All voting members of the committee are eligible for office, regardless of sponsoring agency affiliation. "Chair: In consultation with the administrative adviser, notifies the committee members of the time and place of meetings, prepares the agenda, presides at meetings of the committee and the executive committee. The chair is responsible for preparing or supervising the preparation of the annual report of the project. The chair will serve a two-year term. "Chair-elect: Succeeds the chair and is expected to carry out duties assigned by the chair. The chair-elect serves as the chair in the absence of the elected chair. The chair-elect will serve a two-year term. "Secretary: records the minutes and performs other duties assigned to him/her by the committee or the administrative advisor. The secretary shall prepare and e-mail the minutes of any official meeting to committee members within four weeks after the end of the meeting. The secretary shall be responsible for assisting the chair prepare official communications to the administrative advisor, NIMSS, and other external parties.


Subcommittees. An executive committee consisting of the chair, co-chair, secretary and one or more other members of the technical committee may be designated to conduct the business of the committee between meetings and perform other duties as assigned by the technical committee. Subcommittees will be named by the chair as needed for specific assignments. This format may include subcommittees to develop procedures, manuals, and phases of the regional project; to review work assignments; to develop research methods; and to prepare publications.

Literature Cited

Anderson, N. O., A. Smith, B. Lockhart, R. Becker, G. Heimpel, R. Newman, V. Fritz, S. Poppe, D. Wildung, R. Wagner, N. Eash, and S. Galatowitsch. (2008) Breeding and genetics of floricultural crops: germplasm enhancement, risk assessment of invasiveness potential. USDA CSREES CRIS report. 4 pages.

Arora, R., C. Haynes, N.E. Christians, S. Fei, W.R. Graves, J.K. Iles, D.D. Minner, L.C. Stephens, A. VanDerZanden, and M. Reinert. (2008) Improving landscape and horticultural production systems. USDA CSREES CRIS report. 5 pages.

Bell, C.E., C.A. Whilen, and A.E. Stanfon. (2003) Invasive plants of horticultural origin. HortScience 38:1416.

Brand, M.H. (2008) Conservation, management, enhancement and utilization of plant genetic resources. USDA CSREES CRIS report. 3 pages.

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