SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report

Sections

Basic Information
Additional Info

Status: Approved

Basic Information

Project No. and Title: WERA1013 : Intermountain Regional Evaluation and Introduction of Native Plants
Period Covered: 10/01/2020 to 09/30/2021
Date of Report: 12/22/2021
Annual Meeting Dates: 10/29/2021 to 10/29/2021

Esther McGinnis (esther.mcginnis@ndsu.edu) – North Dakota State University; Fargo, ND Heidi Kratsch (kratschh@unce.unr.edu) – University of Nevada; Reno, NV James E. Klett (jim.klett@colostate.edu) – Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO Ji-Jhong Chen (jijhong1227@aggiemail.usu.edu) – Utah State University; Logan, UT Karen Panter (kpanter@uwyo.edu) – University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY Orville Baldos (obaldos@hawaii.edu) – University of Hawaii; Manoa, HI Stephen Love (slove@uidaho.edu) – University of Idaho; Aberdeen, ID Katie Pierce – University of Idaho; Aberdeen, ID Ben Pierce – University of Idaho; Aberdeen, ID Amy Jo Detweiler (amyjo.detweiler@oregonstate.edu) – Oregon State University Extension Service; Redmond, OR Asmita Paudel (asmita.paudel@aggiemail.usu.edu) – Utah State University; Logan, UT William Graves (graves@iastate.edu) – Iowa State University; Ames, IA Genhua Niu (genhua.niu@ag.tamu.edu) – Texas A&M University; Dallas, TX Larry A. Rupp (larry.rupp@usu.edu) – Utah State University; Logan, UT Mengmeng Gu (mgu@exchange.tamu.edu) – Texas A&M University; College Station, TX Tracy Dougher (tracyaod@montana.edu) – Montana State University; Bozeman, MT Ursula Schuch (ukschuch@ag.arizona.edu) – University of Arizona; Tucson, AZ Youping Sun (youping.sun@usu.edu) – Utah State University; Logan, UT Donald Merhaut – University of California; Riverside, CA Randy Nelson – North Dakota State University; Fargo, ND Vance Owens – National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Kansas City, MO Brandon Miller – University of Minnesota; St. Paul, MN Gerald Burgner – Texas A&M University; College Station; TX Roger Kjelgren – University of Florida; Apopka, FL John Erickson – National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Kansas City, MO Hang Duong – University of Florida; Gainesville, FL Amita Kaundal – Utah State University; Logan, UT

Attached file:

updateSAES422-Annual-Report-2021-WERA-1013.pdf

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Brief Summary of Business Minutes:

October 29, 2021 @11 a.m. - 3:30 MST – Zoom

--- All participants introduced themselves.

--- Tracy Dougher (Administrative Advisor) shared that the midterm review of our project was highly positive. Highlight collaborations in reports, and keep impact statements non-technical and concise. Focus on how we meet objectives:

“Objectives: 1) Establish a regional system for the development, evaluation, and introduction of new native plant materials; 2) Coordinate regional efforts to provide education to both public and industry professionals on native plant use, propagation, and production.”

--- Minutes of the 2020 annual business minutes were approved unanimously.

---Steven Love explained how to become a state’s official member/representative.

---Membership: Issues associated with sustaining e-mail address database were discussed. Personal contacts with those who might be interested in joining was described as an effective strategy for expanding participation. The potential for collaborations with a group based in the Southeast were discussed.

--- Updates on collaborative research, education and grant activities (see additional detail under Collaborative Accomplishments):

Multi-state grant proposal in preparation
Potential to pursue collaborative research on mitigation of heat islands
Collaborative groups collecting plant germplasm
Shared educational programs in North Dakota and Minnesota

--- WERA-1013 Website (https://wyoextension.org/westernnativeplants):

Utah State University is hosting the website.
New native plant species profiles can be added to the website via contacting Steven Love.

--- Annual meeting in 2022:

The importance of a tour associated with meeting with ASHS in 2022 was discussed. A tour at Chicago Botanic Garden is possible.

---Vance Owens and John Erickson (NIFA representatives) overviewed the opportunities for funding through NIFA.

--- Nomination and election of incoming Chair-elect and Secretary:

Chair: Orville Baldos, University of Hawaii.
Chair-elect and Secretary: Amita Kaundal selected if she is designated as a member of the group; Brandon Miller would accept role if Amita Kaundal cannot serve.

--- Participants delivered research reports from their states.

--- Meeting adjourned @ 3:30 pm MST.

Accomplishments

WERA-1013’s tradition of collaborations among participants has continued this year, despite restrictions resulting from the global pandemic. Collaborations are closely linked to the groups two objectives.

Objective 1: Establish a regional system for the development, evaluation, and introduction of new native plant materials

Members of the group traveled to the Mount Charleston area in southern Nevada, where germplasm from plants adapted to harsh environments was collected. Identification of such germplasm is important as members of the group work together to assess newly collected taxa for their potential as marketable introductions to horticultural commerce. Planning is underway among members for such work to expand regionally. Several members of WERA-1013 collaborated this year on a proposal to acquire funding overcome barriers to increased use of native plants in managed landscapes. The proposed outcomes of the project are to enhance the competitiveness of the commercial native plant market through research to improve native plant propagation and production success and through increased access and awareness of the value of native plants to landscape sustainability. This collaboration will include WERA-1013 members from Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Texas. The team will take annual field trips to collect propagules from candidate plants, propagation and production research to determine effective protocols, field trials within each state to clarify the range and define the parameters to determine an appropriate market, and outreach to increase awareness of native plant landscape benefits. Ultimately, a regional system for ongoing development of novel native climate-adapted plant products will result, supporting water conservation across arid West. Separately, members of the group are in early stages of discussions on collaborations focused on mitigation of local and regional urban heat islands.

Objective 2: Coordinate regional efforts to provide education to both public and industry professionals on native plant use, propagation, and production

Members of WERA-1013 from North Dakota and Minnesota have partnered to share educational programming on native plants, leading to greater impacts on clients in industry and the general public than would be the case if each state catered only to those within its borders. The WERA-1013 website, which includes content from numerous members of WERA-1013, continues to provide factual information on plants native to the western United States. Utah State University delivered 7 presentations and published 8 conference abstracts and 6 peer-reviewed papers on Native Plants Journal, HortScience, or HortTechnology, jointly with the University of Idaho or the University of Nevada. North Dakota State University Extension, in a collaboration with the University of Minnesota, has an active pollinator education program that educates the public, Master Gardeners, and the nursery industry on the use of native perennial plants to nourish pollinators. These pollinator gardens/meadows totaled 131,542 square feet in both North Dakota and Minnesota. In the past year, 33 individuals or institutions across the two states qualified for a free pollinator garden sign, indicating that an area was transitioned to a pollinator garden.

Impacts

Increasing stakeholders’ knowledge of which native plant species can thrive, and attract and/or support a diversity of pollinators and other beneficial insects will contribute to conservation of pollinator habitat, facilitate landscape water conservation, and add to the tools available for effective management of plant pests, while minimizing overuse of chemical pesticides.
The ultimate impacts of the native plant domestication project will be the water conservation, urban habitat creation, and native pollinator support that results from public acceptance and utilization of attractive, adapted, drought-tolerant native plants.
The 'Native Plants for Intermountain West' web site is a source of useful information for native plant enthusiasts in the Rocky Mountain west.

Publications

Chen, J.-J., J. Norton, H. Kratsch, Y. Sun, and L. Rupp. 2021. Nodulation of Shepherdia ×utahensis ‘Torrey’ and the diversity of symbiotic Frankia strains. HortScience 56(7):762-768.

Chen, J., S. Zhen, and Y. Sun. 2021. Estimating leaf chlorophyll content of buffaloberry using normalized difference vegetation index sensors. HortTechnology 31:297-303.

Chen, J., H. Kratsch, J. Norton, Y. Sun, and L. Rupp. 2020. Growth and nodulation of Shepherdia ×utahensis ‘Torrey’ topdressed with controlled-release fertilizer. HortScience 55:1956-1962.

Chen, J. and Y. Sun. 2021. Buffaloberry changes its leaf morphology and reflectivity under water stress. HortScience 56(9): S214.

Chen, J., H. Kratsch, J. Norton, and Y. Sun. 2020. Nodulation of Shepherdia ×utahensis ‘Torrey’ topdressed with controlled-release fertilizer. HortScience 55(9): S187-188.

Chen, J., S. Zhen, and Y. Sun. 2020. Using NDVI sensors to determine the chlorophyll content of Shepherdia ×utahensis ‘Torrey’. HortScience 55(9): S340.

Chen, J.J., H. Xing, A. Paudel, Y. Sun, and G. Niu. 2020. Gas exchange and mineral nutrition of twelve viburnum taxa irrigated with saline water. HortScience 55(8): 1242-1250. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14941-20

Graves, W.R. and A. Gimondo. 2021. Phenology of annual dormancy release and its association with fruit set of Dirca occidentalis (Thymelaeaceae). Madroño 68: in press.

Klett, James E. 2021 Plant Select® promotes new plants for 2021. Colorado Green Jan/Feb Vol. 36 No. 1 40-41.

Klett, James E. 2021 2020 Top Performing Perennials. Colorado Green March/April Vol. 37 No. 2 42-43.

Klett, James E. 2021 Another reminder: Use these fastigiate trees in Colorado Landscape Colorado Geen May/June Vol. 7 No. 3 42-43.

Klett, James, E. 2021 Plant Select® recommends these plants for 2022, Colorado Green July/August Vol.37 No.4 42-43.

Klett, James E. and Lauryn Schriner 2021 Cool Season Trails yield some top picks for off-season color. Colorado Green Sept/Oct Vol. 47 No. 5 42-43.

Klett, James E. 2021 Ten Top annuals from CSU Annual Flower Trials. Colorado Green Nov/Dec Vol. 37 No. 6 42-43.

Klett, James E. 2021 Consumer Picks from 2021 Annual Flower Trials. CNGA Looseleaf October 2021.

Klett, James E. 2021 Woody Plant Trials on Western Slope of Colorado. CNGA Looseleaf Sept 2021.

Klett, James E. 2021 Boxwood Hardiness Trials. CNGA Looseleaf August 2021.

Klett, James E. 2021 Update on Heritage Arboretum at Colorado State University. CNGA Looseleaf June 2021.

Klett, James E. 2021 Deciduous trees for Winter Interest. CNGA .Looseleaf April 2021.

Klett, James E. 2021 Winter Interest with Plant Select plants in the Winter Garden. CNGA Looseleaf Feb 2021.

Li, L., P. Yu, Q. Li, and M. Gu. 2022. Gibberellic acid and cold stratification improve Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) germination under different collection times. Scientia Horticulturae 291 110606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110606.

Li, Q., P. Yu, J. Lai, and M. Gu. 2021. Micropropagation of the potential blueberry rootstock—Vaccinium arboreum through axillary shoot proliferation. Scientia Horticulturae 280: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2021.109908

Li, Q. and M. Gu. 2020. Vegetative propagation of Elliott’s blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii) by hardwood cuttings. Native Plants Journal 21(2):132–137.

Love, SL, Akins, CJ. Fourth summary of the native seed germination studies of Norman C. Deno: species with names beginning with letters C through E. 2020. Native Plants Journal 21(1):83-111.

Love, SL, Akins, CJ. Fifth summary of the native seed germination studies of Norman C. Deno: species with names beginning with letters R through Z. 2020. Native Plants Journal 21(2):150-187.

Love SL and Stevens M. 2020. Penstemon jonesii. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 79:2-8.

Markovic, Sean J. and James E. Klett 2021 Plant Growth Regulator Impacts on Vegetative cutting Production of Moroccan Pincushion (Pterocephalus depressus) plants, J. Environ Hort, 39(2) 62-67 June 2021

Niu, G., Y. Sun, T. Hooks, J. Altland, H. Dou and C. Perez. 2020. Salt tolerance of hydrangea plants varied among species and cultivar within a species. Horticulturae, 6, 54; doi:10.3390/horticulturae6030054

Paudel A., Y. Sun, L.A. Rupp, and R. Anderson. 2020. Cercocarpus montanus ‘Coy’: a new Sego Supreme™ plant. HortScience 55(11): 1871-1875.

Paudel, A., Y. Sun, L.A. Rupp, J. Carman, and S. Love. 2020. Overcoming seed dormancy in two rocky mountain native shrubs: Ceanothus velutinus and Cercocarpus montanus. Native Plants Journal 21(3):353-358. http://npj.uwpress.org/content/21/3/353.

Paudel, A. and Y. Sun. 2021. Determining the salt tolerance of two penstemon species using a near-continuous gradient dosing system. Bulletin of the American Penstemon Society 80:58-65.

Paudel, A. and Y. Sun. 2021. Propagation of single-leaf pinyon pine for pine nut production. HortScience 56(9): S159-160.

Paudel, A. and Y. Sun. 2020. Asexual propagation of Ceanothus velutinus. HortScience 55(9): S34.

Paudel, A., J. Chen, and Y. Sun, 2020. Determining the salt tolerance of two penstemons using a near-continuous gradient dosing system. HortScience 55(9): S339-340.

Paudel, A., Y. Sun, L.A. Rupp, J. Carman, and S.L. Love. 2020. Overcoming seed dormancy in Ceanothus velutinus and Cercocarpus montanus. HortScience 55(9): S132-133.

Rupp, L., X. Dai, M. Richards, P. Harris, and R. Anderson, 2021. Vegetative propagation of bigtooth maple by layering. Native Plants Journal 22(2):124-132.

Stevens M, Love SL, McCammon T. 2020. The Heart of Penstemon Country: A natural history of penstemons in the Utah region. Farcountry Press, Helena, MT.

Sun, Y., A. Paudel, L.A. Rupp, J.G. Carman, and S.L. Love. 2021. Developing Ceanothus velutinus for nursery production and landscape use. HortScience 56(9): S237-238.

Wu, B., R. Xie, G.W. Knox, H. Qin and M. Gu. 2021. Evaluating beautyberry and fig species as potential hosts of invasive crapemyrtle bark scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) in the U.S. HortTechnology (in press).

Xie, R., B. Wu, M. Gu, S. Jones, J. Robbins, A. Szalanski, and H. Qin. 2021. Identification of New Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) Hosts (Spiraea and Callicarpa) through DNA Barcoding. HortScience (in press).

Xing, H., J.J. Chen, Y. Sun, A. Paudel, and G. Niu. 2020. Growth, visual quality, and morphological responses of twelve viburnum taxa to saline water irrigation. HortScience 55(8): 1233-1241. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI14940-20

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