Floriculture and Ornamentals Research

Research Interests

Foliar bleaching due to high temperature stress in Ivy Geranium.
Development of Reblooming Iris as a floriculture crop.
New crop development.
Floriculture and Nursery Crop production.
Native Plant production and marketing.
Use and implementation of technology in nursery and greenhouse operations.

Publications List

The Lab Crew
Britteny Hudson

Current Graduate Students
Anna Horton (M.S.)
Working on resolving problems with leaf bleaching in ivy geraniums due to high temperatures.
Kandiace Gray (M.S.) co-advisor Dr. Christine Coker
Working on a survey about edible landscaping.
Amir Rezazadeh (Ph.D.)
Working on Odontonema, a plant with floriculture crop potential.
Xiaojie Zhao (Ph.D.) co-advisor Dr. Guihong Bi
Working on nutrient management of Reblooming Iris.
Tongyin Li (Ph.D.) co-advisor Dr. Guihong Bi
Working on nutrient and water management of Encore Azalea.
Randy Smith (Ph.D.)
Working on nematodes in cotton.
Kanchana Weerasinghe (Ph.D.)
Working on developing an interactive computer program to assist learning plant identification.
Mingshu Zhang (Ph.D.) co-advisor Dr. Guihong Bi
Working on resolving problems with leaf bleaching in ivy geraniums due to high temperatures.

Graduate Students Finished
Diana Cochran (Ph.D. 2012)
Dissertation: Enhancing Plant Tolerance to Cold, Heat, and Drought Through the use of Selected Plant Health Protectants.
Shane Huff (M.S.2012)
Thesis: Optimization of Seed Propagation of Seven Native Plant Species.
Alvin May (M.S. 2010)
Thesis: Effects of Trinexapac-ethyl on Ornamental Grass Species.
Ritu Dhir (Ph.D. 2008)
Dissertation: Causes of Whitening of Ivy Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum).
Adrienne Jackson (M.S. 2005)
Thesis: Improving Rooting of Ludisia discolor
Juan Pablo Brigard R. (M.S. Dec. 2003)
Thesis: Paclobutrazol Seed Treatment for Early Height Control of Tomato Seedlings.
Pablo Hidalgo (Ph.D. May 2001)- Co-advisor Dr. Frank Matta
Dissertation: Vermicompost as a Substrate Amendment for Poinsettia and Chrysanthemum Production.
R. Crofton Sloan (Ph.D. May 2001)- Co-advisor Dr. Frank Matta
Dissertation: Effect of Amendments in an Ultisol Subsoil on Soil Properties and Ornamental Plant Growth.
Andrew Bell (M.S. Dec. 1999)
Thesis: Use of Iron Humate to Control Iron Chlorosis in Rhododendron 'Snow' and 'Coral Bells' and Ternstroemia Production.
Mohammad Baqir (Ph.D. Dec. 1998)- Co-advisor Dr. Frank Matta
Dissertation: Shredded tire rubber as a media amendment for the production of geranium.
Cristin Britt (M.S. 1998)
Thesis: The use of shredded tire rubber as a potential media amendment for chrysanthemum production.
Lynn B. Burney (M.S. 1998)
Thesis: Late season performance of annuals for fall color.
Kathryn Hahne (M.S. 1997)
Thesis: Landscape Performance of the Transplanted Floral Meadow as Influenced by Plug Size and Transplant Spacing.
Mustafa Celik (M.S.1996)
Thesis: Photoperiod and Gibberellic Acid Effects on Juvenility and Flowering of Rudbeckia hirta.