Nursery/Landscape/Urban Ag

Landscape

222 - Evaluation of Propiconazole for Control of Fusarium Wilt of Canary Island Date Palm

Principal Investigator: Donald R. Hodel, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension. For more project information, click here.

Fusarium wilt of the iconic Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), a popular landscape tree, is a lethal and increasingly common disease in California and elsewhere. This disease is particularly troublesome because documented treatments are unknown and replacement Canary Island date palms replanted in the same location where one died from Fusarium wilt invariably become infected. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the fungicide Propiconazole, when injected directly into leaf bases near the apical meristem, to control Fusarium wilt.

224 New Urban Trees for a New Climate

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alison M. Berry, Plant Sciences, University of California - Davis. For more project information, click here.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the survival, growth and arboricultural characteristics of a selection of climate-ready trees in the South California Coastal climate zone. Data will be compared with similar plantings in two other climate zones, the Inland Valley (Sacramento-Stockton-Davis), and the Inland Empire (Los Angeles- San Bernardino County). By identifying tree species that perform best under stressors associated with climate change, we can help shift the palette of trees commonly planted to species that will provide the most environmental, social, and economic value in the future.

232 - Landscape Plant Performance: Water Use Assessments and New Cultivar Selections

Principal Investigator: Dr. Loren Oki, CE Specialist, Environmental Horticulture, Co-Director, UC Nursery & Floriculture Alliance Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

Co-Investigators: Dr. Darren Haver, Water Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension Orange; Karrie Reid, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension San Joaquin; Dr. Ryan Contreras, Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University

This project will determine irrigation requirements and assess disease resistance of new and recently introduced landscape plants at South Coast Research and Extension Center. Plants will be established in year one and exposed to irrigation treatments in year two. Plants will be measured for growth, assessed for disease resistance, and evaluated for aesthetic quality. Three new fields will be installed at the University of California, South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, CA to duplicate the University of California, Davis fields. This project will collaborate with the plant breeder, Dr. Ryan Contreras, Oregon State University Department of Horticulture, to bring his landscape plants to California. The test site design will enable the concurrent determination of the fire blight resistance and irrigation requirements of Dr. Contreras' Cotoneaster plant selections.

233 - Identifying Growth Reduction Rates for Shrubs Using Shortstop 2CS

Principal Investigator: Don Hodel, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension Los Angeles.

Growth in landscape shrubs pose a challenge to landscape managers from both a green waste and labor standpoint. Plant growth regulators (PGR) have had some benefit as foliar sprays but must be repeated throughout the season to be effective. Shortstop 2SC (22.3% wt. /wt. Paclobutrazol, Greenleaf Chemical, LLC.) is one of several PGR options but has a longer residual than other products when applied as a soil drench. This trial will assess several Shortstop 2SC rates with some commonly planted shrubs for growth reduction over a 2-3 season period.

239 - Advancing Urban Irrigation Management to Enhance Water Use Efficiency

Principal Investigator: Dr. Amir Haghverdi, Assistant CE Specialist, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside

Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Darren Haver, Water Resources Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension Orange.

The US west is generally arid and subject to droughts, yet some of the largest cities across the nation are in this region. Irrigation demand is usually the largest component of total outdoor water use in urban sectors. Therefore, improving irrigation water use efficiency of urban landscapes is crucial for maintaining urban green infrastructure. This project will develop and disseminate scientific knowledge, and practical recommendations for sustainable urban irrigation management through field research trial, and laboratory analyses. A three-year turf irrigation research trial will be conducted at SCREC to develop turfgrass irrigation best management practices (BMPs) to sustain the desired landscape quality using minimum water. On a technological level, smart irrigation technologies will be used to develop water conservation strategies. The findings of this project will be published in peer reviewed journal articles and presented at scientific conferences and disseminated through a variety of extension approaches including field days, on-farm demonstrations, workshops, meetings, and extension publications.

Nursery

141 – Evaluation of Agriculture Chemicals, Biologicals and IPM Methods for Ornamentals

Principal Investigator: Dr. Cheryl Wilen, Integrated Pest Management Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension. For more project information, click here.

The University of California is relied upon to provide ornamental plant growers with unbiased evaluation of pest management and other projects. The objective of this project is to provide nursery growers, landscape, and turf pest management professionals, PCAs, and related industries with information on new or refined pest management methods with an emphasis on integrated pest management. Pesticides and other pest management methods or materials that have been newly developed or adapted will be evaulated for pest management in the targeted industries or end users.

The greenhouse and nursery facilities at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center allows us to evaluate products for the IR-4 program in a controlled environment. This is adventageous because: 1) growers would not need to set aside a portion of of the growing area or worry that the test will inadvertently be moved or sold by workers, 2) the site is easily accessible to most growers in Southern California, and 3) products can be tested on a more regular basis.

206 – Biological Filtration of Greenhouse Irrigation Runoff

Principal Investigator: Dr. Loren Oki, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California – Davis. For more project information, click here.

This project examines biological filtration systems (BFS) that treat runoff water for reuse in the irrigation of greenhouse and nursery grown plants. A BFS system can remove pathogens and other contaminants from water yet is relatively inexpensive to install, simple to operate and easy to maintain. There are 4 objectives of this research project: 1) To optimize slow sand filtration by determining the maximum rate of filtration while still maintaining effective removal of plant pathogens; 2) to determine if a BFS system established against Phytophthora capsici can be effective in removing other Phytophthora species; 3) to determine the ability of BFS systems to remove nematodes from runoff water; and 4) to evaluate the use of existing BFS systems in California commercial settings.

234 - Pollinator Project

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jim Bethke, Emeritus Nursery and Floriculture Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension San Diego.

The ornamental horticulture industry supplies diverse plant resources necessary for pollinators. However, to maintain plant quantity and quality, and to allow shipment of plants across state and national borders, crop production and landscape maintenance often requires the use of pesticides to manage insect pests. The use of systemic insecticides could lead to unintended exposure and risk to pollinators through ingestion of nectar and pollen, but there are significant gaps in understanding the level of exposure of pollinators to treated plants. The objective of the present study is to analyze the residue of different neonicotinoids on the pollen and nectar of common ornamental plants. Our results will be combined with similar data from all over the United States to cover all climates and growing zones, then published for growers, landscape professionals, and the general public who can contribute to pollinator health and conservation.

Urban Agriculture Extension

242 - UC Cooperative Extension Orange County Master Gardener Extension Plots

Principal Investigator: Dr. Darren L. Haver, Director, University of California Cooperative Extension Orange

Project Collaborator: Randy Musser, Master Gardener Coordinator, University of California Cooperative Extension Orange

The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County extend science-based gardening related information to the general public. Extension activities consist of workshops, field demonstrations, and tours addressing a variety of topics including composting, beekeeping, pruning, school gardens, and general home horticulture. South Coast Research and Extension Center provides a unique location for the Master Gardeners to demonstrate how the public benefits from the science generated by UC in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, and sustaining the environment. The UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County have created extension plots addressing critical topics of interest by urban gardeners that include an apiary, composting demonstrations, and school garden training and demonstration areas. These plots serve as training areas for Master Gardeners as well as the site for hands-on workshops and training for the public.