The Tiller

U N I V E R S I T Y O F V E R M O NT

The Tiller

Plants & Soil: Tools for a Cleaner Environment

Annual Newsletter Winter 2014

WELCOME, FROM THE CHAIR

Dear Alumni, We reached a few landmarks this year. This was the first year of Catamount Farm and our 12-week summer Sustainable Farm Practicum.

Catamount Farm is the name of our on-farm educational programs at UVM that includes both academic credit and certificate offerings.

Furthermore, the department passed our academic program review with flying colors and celebrated our fiftieth anniversary!

Two celebrities graced our presence at the Horticulture Research and Education Center festivities, inaugural extension faculty member and Professor Emeritus Norm Pellet, and Emily Wiggans, the granddaughter of Sam Wiggans our first department chair.

There were 71 guests in attendance to enjoy live music, wood-fired pizza, hay rides, and fresh-squeezed apple cider. We launched our fund drive for the purchase of a new van in Summer 2015 to support our legendary experiential learning focus. Please consider making a donation by visiting the UVM Foundation’s Website and enter “PSS Van” in the last box marked ‘other’.

Our student numbers remain steady at historically high levels with 68 undergraduate and 26 graduate students. This past fiscal year, our faculty and staff competitively earned 18 new extramural research exceeding $450,000 in spite of this time of extremely low funding success rates. We welcome Terry Bradshaw as a new full-time faculty member this fall as tree fruit and viticulture specialist. We are grateful for your continued loyalty and support of our programs!

Deb

The Tiller, Winter 2014

Inside this issue: Chair Welcome

2

Fun Facts about Poinsettias

4

Pollinators

5

Alumni Welcome

6

Accolades

8

Recent Research

10

Social Media

11

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Departmental Faculty

Annual newsletter for: The Department of Plant and Soil Science



John Aleong - Applied Statistics



Sidney Bosworth - Field & Forage Crops

Jeffords Hall, 63 Carrigan Drive



Yolanda Chen - Insect Agroecology

Burlington, Vermont 05405-1737



Josef Gorres - Ecological Soil Mgmt.



College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Ann Hazelrigg - Plant Pathology



Stephanie Hurley– Landscape Design



Scott Lewins - Entomology



Ernesto Mendez - Agricultural Systems

Editors: Anne Marie Resnik, Deb Neher



Scott C. Merrill - Entomology



Katlyn Stillings-Morris -Agroecology

Contributors: Leonard Perry, Deb Neher, Anne Marie Resnik, Annie White



Keith Morris - Permaculture



Photographers, Sally McCay, Anne Marie Resnik

Deborah Neher - Soil Ecology



Jane Neroni - Botanical Illustration



Bruce Parker - Entomology



Jason Parker– Agricultural Anthropology



Leonard Perry - Ornamental Horticulture



Donald Ross - Soil Chemistry



Margaret Skinner - Entomology



Jane Sorensen - Pollinators



Mark Starrett - Horticulture/Landscape



Annie White - Landscape Design

University of Vermont

Page 3

Fun Facts About Poinsettias Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor Do you like trivia, or at least learning more about the top-selling holiday plant? If so, perhaps you will be interested in some fun facts about the poinsettia plants you buy and see everywhere each December.

Did you know that the poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves? The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center, termed “cyathia�. The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves, that turn color in response to the plant forming flowers. When buying a poinsettia, make sure it has the buds, preferably not yet open.

How many poinsettias do you think are sold in a year? According to the 2014 USDA Floriculture Crops report, poinsettias accounted for about 19 percent of sales of all flowering potted plants. In economic terms, that's $146 million out of a total of $778 million in sales of all flowering potted plants, with about 35 million pots sold. This makes them the highest selling potted flowering plant.

In the wild, the poinsettia can reach heights of 12 feet with leaves measuring six to eight inches across. It is actually a small tropical tree (Euphorbia pulcherrima) belonging to the Euphorbia plant family.

A native of southern Mexico, the poinsettia blooms in December and has been used in that country to decorate churches for centuries. In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes, including to help control fevers. They also considered the red color a symbol of purity, and so poinsettias were traditionally part of religious ceremonies.

Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and first United States ambassador to Mexico, introduced the plant that became known as the poinsettia to this country. He discovered a shrub with brilliantly colored red leaves growing by the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico, in December 1828 and sent cuttings home to his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina. Most botanists at that time dismissed the poinsettia as a weed. Fortunately, Poinsett continued to study and breed this plant in his greenhouse,

This article is a seasonal sample of one of the five Dr. Perry sends out monthly to media outlets across North America as part of his Extension outreach, and posts on his Perry's Perennial Pages website.

sharing plants with his horticulturist friends. It soon gained acceptance as a holiday plant, despite its very short bloom time. It wasn't until the 1960s that researchers were able to successfully breed plants to bloom more than just a few days.

True or False? The poinsettia is a poisonous plant. If you answered false, you're correct. The plant has been tested repeatedly and cleared of this charge by authorities such as the National Poison Center and the American Medical Association. However, this doesn't mean that poinsettias are meant to be eaten. If ingested, this plant can cause stomach irritation and discomfort. Cats and children may choke on the fibrous parts, so be sure to keep these plants out of their reach.

The best way to prolong the life of this seasonal plant is to avoid hot or cold drafts, keep the soil moist not soggy, and place in a room with sufficient natural light and temperatures of around 60 to 70 degrees F. Water when the soil begins to dry. Once the leaves wilt too far, it's too late.

Above all, protect it from exposure to wind or cold on the way home from the store. Poinsettias are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and even a few minutes of exposure to 50-degrees F or lower temperatures will cause them to wilt. But when cared for properly, poinsettias usually will outlast your desire to keep them!

Poinsettia plant in the wild, The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl".

The Tiller, Winter 2014

Evaluating Flowering Plant Selection for Pollinator Habitat Enhancement: Open-Pollinated Natives vs.

Native Cultivars

Some important constituents, perched on

Helenium_Autumale

The recent trend towards ecologically sensitive landscaping presents a strong opportunity for the horticulture industry to breed, propagate and market perennial plants with high ecological value.

Under the guidance of Dr. Leonard Perry, Ph.D. student Annie White is conducting research, which seeks to highlight the ecological value potential of flowering perennials, and aims to understand the differences between open-pollinated native flowers and cultivars of native flowers in terms of attracting and supporting beneficial pollinators.

The debate over whether native cultivars provide the same ecosystem services as native plants is beginning to emerge as a contentious topic. The majority of native plants sold through garden centers are cultivars of native plants (also known as “nativars”) as opposed to straight, open-pollinated, native species, which grow naturally in wild areas. There is a tremendous amount of variation in the origin of native cultivars, how they are propagated, and the desirable traits for which they are maintained. This makes the distinction between open-pollinated native plant species and native cultivars a little-understood and confusing topic for growers, garden centers, designers, home gardeners, and land owners alike.

Ph.D. student Annie White

Because cultivars have been selected primarily based on ornamental traits, it is not clear if they perform the same ecological roles as open-pollinated native plants. Annie’s research is helping to determine which native cultivars are the ecological equivalents of the true native species in terms of attracting and supporting native pollinator populations.

In 2012, Annie established large research plots at River Berry Farm in Fairfax and Maidstone Plant Farm in Maidstone. For three field seasons, she has been observing floral characteristics and pollinator interactions. In addition, Annie is committed to education for both professional and home gardening audiences about the importance of pollinator-friendly plants and how to restore pollinator habitat in their landscapes. She has given numerous presentations throughout Vermont and beyond. Annie is also a member of a multi-state, multi -disciplinary working group, established to share information, assess critical research and outreach needs, and identify emerging issues in conservation, maintenance, and enhancement of pollinator habitat across northern New England.

Pictured above, River Berry Farm, Fairfax VT . Owner Jane Sorensen instructs PSS 195, “ n pe n Poll at ”

To learn more, please visit pollinatorgardens.org

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Celebrating Alumni 50 Years of Research, Education, and Outreach On a cool Saturday in October, faculty, alumni, staff and students gathered at the UVM Horticultural Research & Education Center to celebrate each other and the Department of Plant and Soil Science. A tent, live music and wood fired pizza by NOFA VT made for a festive day.

For more great photos please visit our Flickr page, courtesy of Cheryl Dorschner, photographer for the College of Agriculture and Life Science.

A special thanks to the alumni who came out, we hope you enjoyed the day!

Alums gathered for wood fired pizza, salad made from greens grown right on site at the Horticulture Farm, live music and hay rides.

We are looking forward to Fall 2015, on the Green at the main campus for more fun, and chances to connect.

We always love to hear from you, find us on Facebook, Linked In, Instagram and Twitter. Or, just drop us an old fashioned e-mail.

Pictured, above and left: Alum Brian Crosby, with giant pumpkins that he grew in St. Albans, VT. Brian brought the pumpkin on the far right to the party for a raffle. It’s weight was 107 lbs!

Left, alums John and Patty Padua joined Jessie Bradley for a walk up to the rhododendrons.

The Tiller, Winter 2014

Pictured are Terry Bradshaw, Andy Bessette and a tractor load of folks enjoying themselves.

Below, Prof Sid Bosworth approves of Prof. Mark Starrett’s cider making ability.

Chair Deb Neher calling for trivia answers and giving away prizes.

The department will be purchasing a new van for fall 2015 and is actively seeking funds to assist with the purchase. If you are interested, please visit our web page: PSS Van Fund Raiser

Page 7

Accolades

Undergraduate Graduate

Congratulations to our graduates: 

Spencer Fitz-Gerald



Eoin Kenny



Kimberly Manning



Craig Morrill



Zachary Noel



Janine Provenzano



Katherine Robinson



Jeremy Shapiro



Patrick Smerzcynski



Alan Wiley

May 2014 Graduation, Professors Deb Neher and Mark Starrett with our graduates.

Graduate Degrees 

Rebecca Bourgault, Ph.D Advisor Donald Ross. “Hydropedology of Podzols at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire”



Lindsey Ruhl, M.S. Advisor Josef Gorres. “Micro-Topographical Effects on Redox-Sensitive Nutrient Availability of Manganese, Iron, Sulfur, and Phosphorus”



Sebastian Castro-Tanzi, Ph.D. Advisor Ernesto Mendez. “Agroecology and Ecosystem Services in a Coffee Landscape of Costa Rica”

HAPPY RETIREMENT! Professor Vladimir V. Gouli joined the Entomology group on Spear Street in 1995.

After nineteen years he has retired, and acquired Emeriti status.

Vladimir V. Gouli, Research Associate Professor Emeriti

Unofficially he continues his research interests which include, invertebrate pathology of noxious invertebrates isolation and identification of entomopathogenic and antagonistic fungi for biological control of pests; estimation of basic biological properties of fungi and selection of strains suitable for practical use; methodology and technology of mass-production of fungi for microbial plant protection and practical application of microbial formulations.

He has authored or co-authored 13 books

The Tiller, Winter 2014

in a variety of languages including Russian, Ukrainian, English, Japanese, Chinese, Romanian. Other work includes booklets for microbial and agricultural industries along with 250 scientific articles.

Professor Gouli has shown his motto is both a way of life, and a calling“Nam sine doctrina vita est quasi mortis imago” Translation: Because life without science is like a kind of death. (Unknown ancient Roman philosopher.)

We wish him the best in his well deserved retirement!

Honors and Awards

Chair Deb Neher with graduating senior Donald Keith III holding his American Society for Horticultural Science Collegiate Scholars Award and his Plant and Soil Science Teaching Assistant Award.

Chair Deb Neher with current Senior Brittany Spezzano helping her hold her awards. Brittany received the W. H. Darrow Horticulture Prize, the American Society for Horticultural Science Collegiate Scholars Award, and the James E. Ludlow Endowed Scholarship.

Samuel Hughes (left) and

Current Junior Jacob Suissa received the Rachel Butterworth-Dietz Scholarship in the amount of $5,000.

Congratulations to All!

Chair Deb Neher with graduating senior Zachary Noel.

Zach was the recipient of the American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Horticulture Student Award, the Ralph Lewis Jones Award, the W.H. Darrow Horticulture Prize, and the Seymour Horticultural Prize.

Page 9

Fresh Ink This is a sampling of recent publications by our faculty and graduate students. To see the full listing, visit our Research web page.

Jokela, W., Bosworth, S.C. and Rankin, J. 2014. Sidedressed dairy manure effects on corn yield and nitrate leaching potential. Soil Sci. 179: 37-41 Izzo, V., Armstrong, J., Hawthorne, D.J., Chen, Y.H. 2014. Geographic variation in winter hardiness of a common agricultural pest, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle. Evolutionary Ecology 28:505-520.

Izzo, V., Armstrong, J., Hawthorne, D.J., Chen, Y.H. 2014. Time of the season: Effect of photoperiodism on hostmediated cues for diapause induction in Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Ecological Entomology 39(1): 75-82 Görres, J.H., Melnichuk, R.D.S., Bellitürk, K., 2014. Mortality pattern relative to size variation within Amynthas Agrestis (Goto & Hatai 1899)(Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) populations in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, USA. Megadrilogica 16: 9- 14.

Görres, J.H., Bellitürk, K. 2014. Failure of an Amynthas agrestis (Goto & Hatai, 1899) (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) population to expand its range within a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) stand. Megadrilogica 17, 7-13 Alvez, J.P., Schimtt Fo., A.L., Farley, J.C., Erickson, J.D., Méndez, V.E. 2014. Transition from semi-confinement to pasture-based dairy in Brazil: Farmer's view of economic and environmental performances. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 38(9): 995-1014.

Bacon, C., Sundstrom, W.A., Flores-Gomez, M.A., Méndez, V.E., Santos, R., Goldoftas, B., Dougherty, I. 2014. Explaining the 'hungry farmer paradox': Smallholders and fair trade cooperatives navigate seasonality and change in Nicaragua's corn and coffee markets. Global Environmental Change 25:133-149.

Morse, C., Strong, A.M., Méndez, V.E., Lovell, S.T., Troy, A., Morris, W.B. 2014. Performing a New England landscape: viewing, engaging and belonging. Journal of Rural Studies 36: 226-236.

Neher, D.A., Weicht, T.R., Bates, S.T., Leff, J.W., and Fierer, N. 2013. Changes in bacterial and fungal communities across compost recipes, preparation methods, and composting times. PLoS ONE 8(11):e79512, Neher, D.A., Weicht, T.R., and Dunseith, P. 2015. Compost for management of weed seeds, pathogen, and early blight on brassicas in organic farmer fields. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 39:3-18 Neher, D.A., Muthumbi, A.W.N., and Dively, G.P. 2014. Impact of coleopteran-active Bt corn on non-target nematode communities in soil and decomposing corn roots. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 76: 127-135.

Bailey, S.W., P.A. Brousseau, K.J. McGuire and Ross, D.S., 2014. Influence of landscape position and transient water table on soil development and carbon distribution in a steep, headwater catchment. Geoderma, j.geoderma.2014.02.017.

Chen, M.-S., Wheeler, S., Davis, H., Whitworth, R.J., Knutson, A., Giles, K.L. and Skinner, M. 2014. Molecular markers for identification of Hessian fly males caught on sticky pheromone traps. J. Econ. Entomol. 107: 1110-1117 Kim, J.S., Lee, S.J., Skinner, M., Parker, B.L., Oh, B-T and Lee, K-J. 2014. Relationship between endospore viability and insecticidal potency of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Aizawai NTO423. Biological Control 58 (5): 607-614.

Kim, J.S., Lee, S.J., Skinner, M. and Parker, B.L. 2014. A novel approach: Beauveria bassiana granules applied to nursery soil for management of rice water weevils in paddy fields. Pest Management Science 70 (8):1186-1191

The Tiller, Winter 2014

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