OLD_SERA27: Nursery Crop and Landscape Systems (IEG-63)
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
OLD_SERA27: Nursery Crop and Landscape Systems (IEG-63)
Duration: 10/01/2007 to 09/30/2012
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Accomplishments: To date, 43 taxa were distributed for evaluation. Concluding reports have been written or are being written for thirteen of these taxa. One taxons has been withdrawn due to poor survival. A webpage (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/landscape/SERAhomepage.html) was established to extend information about our efforts. Committee members are responsible for requesting data collection during the season they deem most appropriate. Data are submitted to the introducing member, and that member is responsible for compiling the data and submitting a concluding report. A collaborative poster was prepared and presented at the 2004 SNA Research Conference (SERA-IEG 27 Regional plant evaluations. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 566-568).
Statement of Issues and Justification: New germplasm continues to be discovered or created in the ornamental plant realm. The introduction of new plant material, whether through traditional breeding programs or plant exploration expeditions, has been an integral part of ornamental horticulture in the United States. This hunger for new plant material continues to exist with both horticultural professionals and consumers, and molecular techniques have increased the realm of new plant possibilities. Some nurseries have invested in the discovery and development of new plant releases and are using this technique to gain market share. Unfortunately, some releases are not widely tested and most have not been independently tested in unbiased trials. In addition, most Southern Region universities are engaged in landscape plant evaluations or have active plant breeding programs and seek ways to determine the adaptability range of these plants. A coordinated plant evaluation system throughout the Southeast will rapidly provide unbiased information on performance and adaptation of selected new introductions, thus benefiting producers, landscapers and consumers alike.
A number of the plants evaluated by the group have gained common status by the gardening community. These plants include Cephalotaxus harringtonia (1998), Lagerstroemia Pocomoke (1999), Lagerstroemia Chickasaw (1999), Illicium mexicanum Aztec Fire (1999), Styrax japonicus Emerald Pagoda, and Ceanothus x delilianus 'Gloire de Versailles' (2005)
This project relates to the following Southern Region Priority Areas for Multi-state Research Activities: Goal 1, An agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy; Goal 4, Greater harmony between agriculture and the environment; and Goal 5, Enhanced economic opportunity and quality of life for Americans. In addition, participation in this project contributes to the professional development of faculty involved.
Objectives
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As a group, identify underutilized ornamental plants with superior environmentally-sustainable qualities that can enhance the ornamentals industry in the Southeast
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Using multistate cooperators, evaluate these selected plants at multiple trial locations over a 5-year period
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Annually, meet to share and discuss quantitative and qualitative results collected from the multiple trial sites.
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At the end of the evaluation period, the group will summarize the regional results with quantitative data, qualitative comments, and an overall rating for the plant
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Collectively and individually disseminate information gained from the plant evaluation system such as cold hardiness, heat tolerance, growth rate, environmental adaptation limits, etc. to a wide variety of audiences.
Procedures and Activities
Objectives will be accomplished by implementing the protocol for plant evaluation that was developed by IEG 63 in 1994 and subsequently modified. State representatives and invited guests will meet annually to exchange plant information results, distribute plant material for future evaluation, and select candidates for future evaluation. Plants will be evaluated for not less than three years at participating sites in the Southeast Region using the established protocol. Responsibility for timely reports (at the annual meeting) rests with the evaluator. The introducer will then provide a finished summary to the chair. For each plant that the group judges worthy of regional approval, the chair will appoint a committee to develop and disseminate propagation and production protocols to the nursery industry. The same committee will compile and distribute landscape-use information on the plant to the nursery and landscape industry and to the gardening public.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Output Indicators: Plants selected and distributed for evaluation; data collected, analyzed and summarized for completed plant evaluations; information packaged for dissemination to producer, landscaper and consumer audiences
- Outcome Indicators: To date, 43 taxa have been distributed for evaluation. Concluding report have been written or are being written for thirteen of these taxa. One taxons has been withdrawn due to poor survival. A webpage (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hf/landscape/SERAhomepage.html) was established to extend information about our efforts. A web-based data entry form was developed to facilitate data entry and tabulation of results by evaluators. A collaborative poster was prepared by Jon Lindstrom and presented at the 2004 SNA Research Conference (SERA-IEG 27 Regional plant evaluations. Proc. SNA Res. Conf. 566-568.)
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Information gained from the plant evaluation system such as cold hardiness, heat tolerance, growth rate, environmental adaptation limits, etc. will be disseminated collectively and individually to producer, landscaper and consumer audiences via scientific articles, industry trade magazines, webpages and presentations in extension and popular information channels.
Organization/Governance
Officers elected for 2006 - 2007 were Michele Scheiber (University of Florida) - Chair, Allen Owings (Louisiana State University ) - Secretary, and Jim Robbins (University of Arkansas) -Executive Committee. Ed Bush is Chair of the Plant Evaluation Committee. Administrative Advisors: Dewayne Ingram (University of Kentucky), and Jerzy Nowak (Virginia Tech). CSREES Representative: James Green.
Guidelines for Officers
SERA-IEG-27
CHAIR
The Chair is responsible for coordinating IEG activities throughout the year, working with the Plant Evaluation Committee to ensure plant evaluation information is collected and compiled, and planning the working program for the next meeting. She/He may delegate or request assistance from the Secretary or Executive Committee Member to accomplish these objectives or making recommendations/decisions as needed throughout the year.
SECRETARY
The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes of the meeting and distributing them in coordination with the IEG Chair and Administrative Advisor. The Secretary also works with the Chair to develop an annual report that is submitted to the Administrative Advisor for posting on the NIMSS system. The minutes and annual report must be written, reviewed, approved and posted on the website and the NIMSS system within 60 days after the annual meeting. It is the intent of the SERA-IEG-27 for the Secretary to serve as the Chair the next year.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
The Executive Committee members functions as a member of the Executive Committee in decision-making between annual meetings and to assist the Chair as assigned. It is the intent of the SERA-IEG-27 for the Executive Committee Member to serve as the Secretary the next year.
MEETING HOST
The host for our annual meeting is responsible for making arrangements for meeting space, local tours/events, a hotel, etc. The Host coordinates with the Chair regarding local requirements for the formal program/agenda for the IEG annual meeting. The Host and/or Chair provides the details of the local arrangements, travel, and agenda to the Administrative Advisor who maintains the e-mail addresses of members. The Host/Chair may also send such nformation to the members by mail. The Administrative Advisor can provide mailing addresses/labels.
PLANT EVALUATION COMMITTEE CHAIR
The chair of the standing Plant Evaluation Committee reminds members to submit evaluation data at the appropriate time and in the pre-determined format, logs plants made available or to be made available for distribution, records who requested each plant, and compiles and summarizes the data annually for the SERA-IEG-27 meeting.