MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SERA-IEG 27
NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE CROPS
JUNE 5-7, 2002
McMinnville, Tennessee

Participants:
ADVISORS: Dewayne Ingram (University of Kentucky) and Jerzy Nowak (VPI--not present). Jerzy Nowak will replace David Foster as Extension Advisor.

OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES: Tom Ranney (NCSU), Ed Bush (LSU), Allen Owings (LSU), Win Dunwell (UK), Gary Knox (UF), Mike Scheiber (UF), Jon Lindstrom (U. Ark.), Jim Robbins (U. Ark.), Bill Klingeman (UT), Stephen Garton (UT), Greg Eaton (Va. Tech.), John Ruter (UGA), Donna Fare (U.S. National Arboretum--McMinnville), and Margaret Pooler (U.S. National Arboretum--Beltsville).

OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Amy Fulcher (UK), Scott Renfro (U. Ark grad student), and Ken Tilt (not present -- report submitted by email.).

States Not Represented: SC (Bill Klingeman will contact Bill Bauerle with a formal invitation to participate), MS, OK, TX, AL.

Wednesday began with nursery production tours at Stoner Nursery: Glen, Chris, and Allen Stoner (931) 934-2169; Botanico Inc.: Terry Mitchell (931) 934-2868; and Swan Hill Nursery: Dale Bennett (931) 473-8760. A trip to Shadow Nursery: Jennifer Shadow (931) 637-6059 was made on Thursday. Mr. Mark Halcomb, Area Extension Specialist, volunteered his time and expertise to lead the production tours.

The Chair, Gary Knox (UF), called the business meeting to order at 6pm.

Minutes from last year were briefly reviewed and accepted by affirmation, pending grammatical corrections. Gary Knox then called for:

1.Program Reviews from each University

2.Elections of Officers

3.Future Meeting Sites

4.Old Business

5.New Business

6.New Plants for Evaluation

Reviews of State University Programs

University of Georgia: (John Ruter) Marc van Iersel is leaving the Griffin campus for the Athens campus, where he will assume greater teaching responsibility in the areas of Plant Nutrition and Plant Physiology. Hiring for all new positions has been frozen. The College of Agriculture had an 8.3% funding reduction during 2001 and anticipates a $5.5 million cut this year. Undergraduate enrollment is stable with (perhaps) a slight decrease.

North Carolina State University: (Tom Ranney) As with Georgia, the NCSU is in a state of "budget flux". A reduction in staff may be pending. There have been 2 new hires: Pat Lindsey and Anne Stafford have been hired with 100% responsibility to teach Landscape Design. December 20 and 21 saw the dedication of the Education center at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. A Field Day will be held September 26 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Station in Fletcher, NC. Undergraduate and graduate student enrollment is holding steady.

U.S. National Arboretum (Beltsville): (Margaret Pooler) Scott Warneke, formerly of Oregon, has been hired into a Turf Breeder/Geneticist position at Beltsville's National Arboretum site. His responsibilities will include sustainable grasses and selection of pest and disease resistant turves. This position will start in mid-August, pending U.S. Congressional funding. The position formerly held by Frank Santamour is indefinitely on hold.

Virginia Tech University: (Greg Eaton) Greg reported for Blacksburg faculty. The new Provost want to position VA Tech to be a Top 30 Research Institute. Budgets are tight, with 7% recalled from last year's budget. In both FY2002 and FY2003, 8% additional cuts are anticipated. To date, internal transfers and retirements have resulted in the loss of 4 professorial and 60 county agent positions, although none are in Horticulture. The Department Head of Horticulture is confident that the Horticulture Department will survive. Faculty are now collaborating at interdepartmental and inter-institutional levels to an unprecedented extent. Undergraduate enrollment continues to decline in response to raised requirements for SAT scores. Enrollment 5-years-ago was 210 undergrads and has declined incrementally from 170, to 140, to the current 105 enrolled students. Currently, Virginia Tech supports 16 MS and 9 PhD students. Only 1 of the PhD students has experience with woody ornamentals.

Louisiana State University: Dan Gill has transferred to a state office position to assume consumer horticultural leadership responsibilities. David Himelrick was appointed LSU Department Head of Horticulture in August 2001. A new turfgrass extension specialist position may be advertised in Fall 2002. County agent horticulture positions are vacant in Shreveport and New Orleans. LSU AgCenter efforts, statewide, are compromised of 24% ornamentals and turfgrass, and 76% fruit and vegetable programming. The Department of Horticulture hosts 50 undergraduate students. Three ornamental assistantships have been funded by the Burden Foundation with another supported by departmental funds. Stipends are $12,000 for MS assistantships and $14,500 for PhD assistantships. Tuition is not waived. A new 20-acre ornamental and turfgrass research and extension center is being developed with about $250,000 in funds from the LSU AgCenter and $60,000 from LNLA. Completion is pending a successful renewal of the sales tax. The first Field Day is scheduled for October 15, 2003.

University of Kentucky: Win Dunwell reported that UK has a new University President. The UK Arboretum constructed a Visitor Center that accommodates offices and display/meeting space and restrooms. Amy Fulcher (present at the meeting) was hired as an Extension Associate in Nursery Crops this May. Her position, and that of Shane Vogel (Extension Associate in Fruits/Vegetables), were funded from the Tobacco Settlement monies. Dr. Joe Masabni begins an 85% Extension/ 15% Research appointment in Fruit/Vegetable production this July. Amy, Shane, and Joe can be contacted at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445, Tel. (270) 365-7541. Dr. Larry Turner is UK's new Associate Dean of Extension. Bob McNiel and Win Dunwell have just returned from a tour of Washington and Oregon nurseries. The tour included 11 students and 4 faculty. Even more recently, the McNiel Traveling Twenty Tour spent time at horticultural sites of interest in Holland, Germany, Belgium, France and England. The "Dr. Robert McNiel Foundation" is being established to help fund future tours. Student numbers at UK have remained fairly consistent: Department of Horticulture students number 60 of a Plant and Soil Science degree program that totals 125 students. Many are non-traditional (over 25) and Donovan Scholars (65 yrs.+).

University of Florida: (Gary Knox) IFAS anticipates an 8% budget cut during FY2003, which would follow a 15% cut last year. Hiring of [nearly] all positions has been frozen. A. Dudeck (turf) and R. Black (home horticulture) have, or will soon, retire. Mike Scheiber (present) has been hired at Apopka for horticultural teaching and research. Lisa Hall has been hired as the Statewide Academic Coordinator in Gainesville, FL. A teaching coordinator has been hired for the new teaching program at the Hillsborough County Community College in Plant City (near Tampa) with responsibility for undergraduate recruitment and to process applications at the BS level. A Teaching/Research faculty position is also being recruited to work in association with Hillsborough County Community College. Statewide, there are 22 graduate students and 76 undergraduates in the IFAS program. New teaching facilities have been completed at the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce. The Fountain H. May, Sr. Building was dedicated and opened on April 4 at the UF North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy (outside Tallahassee). The facility contains administrative and faculty offices, 12 laboratories, 2 conference rooms, and a computer training room, as well as a seminar room that can accommodate 150 people. At the facility (which opened December 2001) Extension and research efforts encompass vegetable and fruit crops, field crops, forages, and environmental horticulture. Supporting disciplines include Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Nematology.

University of Arkansas: (Jon Lindstrom) There have been no new hires and no departures at the University of Arkansas. There are 11 MS and PhD students and about 100 undergraduate students. Jim Robbin's PhD student is working with birch species, Jon Lindstrom's MS student, Scott Renfro (present) is working with neo-tropical buddleias.

University of Tennessee: (Bill Klingeman) With the merger of Plant and Soil Sciences (PSS) and Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design (OHLD) departments, which happened last June, the Plant Sciences and Landscape Systems Department now has about 37 faculty, numerous staff, and 15 MS and PhD students. Neil Rhodes is serving as interim Department Head. Dr. Bob Trigiano has joined the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department. C.A. Speer, the Dean of Research and Teaching, has resigned to accept an Endowed Chair position as the B. Ray Thompson Professor of Molecular and Cellular Immunology. New Hires include Neil Stewart (Racheff Chair of Excellence in Plant Molecular Genetics), Max Cheng (Tree Physiology and Floricultural Breeding), John Sorochan (Turf research and teaching). Other positions are on hold, pending budgetary constraints. The construction of the Plant Biotechnology building and Bridge to main campus are well underway. The UT Trial Gardens has undergone partial restoration and 10 to 12 mature elm and oak trees have been removed.

Alabama (Auburn University): (Ken Tilt, submitted by email) I have received my plant of 'Jon Jon'. Regarding data submission and retrieval on the SERA-IEG WebSite, Bernice has had only one request for data and no one has submitted data this year. "To enter [or view] data: go to [http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hf/landscape/SERAhomepage.html]. If [our system] is not working, we will be happy to accommodate the wishes of the committee. Ken also writes "I still think we need each plant contributor to notify the participants of a block of time to be looking for flowers to evaluate."

Mississippi State University: No report (not present).
South Carolina: No report (not present).
Texas A&M: No report (not present).
Oklahoma State University: No report (not present).

Regarding Group Communications: Dewayne Ingram will be happy to continue to forward E-mails to the entire group.

Elections of Officers

The Executive Committee currently consists of Gary Knox (Chair), Bill Klingeman (Secretary) and Jon Lindstrom (Member of the Executive Committee). Traditionally, the Chair steps down at the end of the term, other officers move up, and a new member of the Executive Committee is elected. Thus, by affirmation, Bill Klingeman was elected Chair and Jon Lindstrom was elected Secretary. Ed Bush was nominated as Member of the Executive Committee, and was elected by affirmation.

Old Business

A Brief Review of the Plant Evaluation Committee Mission and Operating Guidelines:

The Plant Evaluation Committee is a three-member committee, with the Chair reporting each year, and membership rotating on a three-year cycle. The Plant Evaluation Committee decides on data format and changes.

In 2001, after general discussion, the SERA IEG members agreed to set one deadline for everyone to have data entered: February 1 was decided as the deadline.

The procedures for plant evaluation are as follows:
1) an individual nominates a plant and presents a synopsis of plant characteristics
2) the group votes to accept or reject the plant for evaluation
3) individuals volunteer to receive and evaluate the plant
4) the nominator ships plants (ideally, landscape-size plant material) and an "information/distribution" sheet to evaluators
5) the nominator arranges to have the plant information entered on the website
6) the Plant Evaluation Committee assigns an entry date and entry code (state-year-plant number) to the plant.

The person sending out the plant is responsible for calls-for-information. A website has been established to avoid deadlines and reduce paperwork:

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hf/landscape/SERAhomepage.html

2002 Plant Evaluation Discussion and Plant Evaluation Committee Report:
The Plant Evaluation Committee currently consists of Win Dunwell (Committee Chair), Margaret Pooler, Ken Tilt, Greg Eaton, and Ed Bush. These committee members were elected in 2001 by affirmation.

In short, very little data has been submitted this year. Win received only 3 responses to his request on the status of the plants being tested. In round-table discussion, it was reaffirmed that distributors should try to provide a minimum of three plants per location, although information on single plants is still of interest. The objective of our effort is to provide regional information about the plant materials that have been selected. Summaries are to be written and distributed to SNA and garden/popular press outlets. Non-prescribed uses, including plants grown as annuals or in overwintered containers, will be described in the "Other Comments" box on the WebPage.

Emphasis was renewed regarding the role of the distributor who should list specific events of interest (flowering period, winter injury, pest resistance, etc.) on the distribution sheet. The distributor should also solicit comments from trial participants and should write and submit the terminal reports, which will be communicated to the membership via Dewayne Ingram.

Status (and Recommendations for) Plant Material Currently in Review*:
* Additional Information from States Not Present at the 2002 SERA-IEG Meeting
(MS, AL, TX) May Be Needed, (See "Tested in:" Category)

1996 - NC96-01 Cornus mas 'Spring Glow': Tom Ranney
Tested in: KY, FL, AR, NC
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1997 - GA97-01 Acer oliverianum subsp. formosanum: John Ruter
Tested in: GA, FL1, FL2 (performed poorly at these sites)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1998 - NC98-01 Styrax japonica 'Emerald Pagoda': Tom Ranney
Tested in: NC, FL, KY1, KY2, DC1, DC2, AR
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1998 - AL98-01 Pittosporum heterophyllum: Ken Tilt
Tested in: DC, NC, AL
2002 Recommendation: Contact K. Tilt re: redistribution or report

1998 - TN98-01 Cephalotaxus harringtonia Berry College Selection: Will Witte
Tested in: FL, KY, TN, DC (slow growth)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1998 - FL98-01 Conradina canescens: Gary Knox
Tested in: FL, AR, DC, KY (died at most sites)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1999 - DC99-01 Lagerstroemia 'Chickasaw': Margaret Pooler
Tested in: DC, FL, AR, LA, KY, MS, LA, TN
2002 Recommendation:

1999 - DC99-01 Lagerstroemia 'Pocomoke': Margaret Pooler
Tested in: CD, FL, AR, LA, KY, MS, LA, TN
2002 Recommendation:

1999 - TX99-01 Plumbago auriculata 'Hullabaloo': Mike Arnold
Tested in: TX, FL, AR (died at all sites, ex. TX?)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1999 - TX99-02 Turnera ulmifolia: Mike Arnold
Tested in: TX, FL, AR, NC (died at all sites, ex. TX?)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1999 - TX99-03 Lonicera x americana 'Pam's Pink': Mike Arnold
Tested in: TX, AR, FL, NC
2002 Recommendation: Good plant, needs further distribution

1999 - TX99-04 Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa: Mike Arnold
Tested in: AR (dead), FL (destroyed as invasive)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1999 - NC99-01 Illicium mexicana 'Aztec Fire': Tom Ranney
Tested in: NC, KY, FL, AR1 (died at all sites), (alive in DC, VA, AR2)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

1999 - KY99-01 Iris 'Churchill Downs': Win Dunwell
KY99-02 Iris 'Kentucky Derby': Win Dunwell
Tested in: KY, FL, AR, TN (McMinnville), DC, GA
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

KY99-03 Hemerocallis cultivars: Win Dunwell

·'Octavia Cherry Doll'

·'Octavia Exotic Marble'

·'Octavia Glow'

·'Octavia Orchid'

·'Milano Maraschino'

·'Milano Rocket'

·'Milano Violet Mark'

·'Happy Returns'

Tested in: KY, FL, AR, LA, TX, TN (McMinnville), DC, GA, TX
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

2000 - TX00-01 Bulbine caulescens: Mike Arnold
Tested in: GA, FL, KY, LA, TX (winter killed in all, ex. TX?)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

2000 - FL00-01 Michelia skinneriana: Gary Knox
Tested in: TN (McMinnville), TN2, KY, LA1, LA2, FL, AR
2002 Recommendation: Continue Observations and Data Collection

2001 - AR01-01 Stachys coccinea: Jon Lindstrom
Tested in: TN, AR1, LA, (dead at: KY, VA, AR2)
2002 Recommendation: Concluding Report

2001 - AR01-02 Conradina canescens 'SPH': Jon Lindstrom
Tested in: KY, FL, VA, TN, NC, AR
2002 Recommendation: Continue Observations and Data Collection

2002 - NC02-01 x Sinocalycalycanthus raulstonii 'Hartlage Wine': Tom Ranney
Tested in: VA1, VA2, KY, OK, TN, AR, FL, MS, TX, KY, LA, TN (McMinnville)
2002 Recommendation: Continue Observations and Data Collection

2002 - FL02-02 Magnolia x 'Jon Jon': Gary Knox
Tested in: FL(Quincy, Apopka, Milton), TN (McMinnville), AL, LA, AR, TN, VA (Virginia Beach), NC, KY, OK, TX, GA, MS (Poplarville, Biloxi)
2002 Recommendation: Continue Observations and Data Collection

Phytosanitary Certificates should accompany any plant materials sent for testing by SERA-IEG members. These are obtained once the Inspector for the Department of Agriculture, in the distributing state, conducts a plant inspection.

Together, the SERA-IEG participants reviewed the Web Page that has been designed by Bernice Fischman (bfischma@auburn.edu). The web page looks great! A few suggestions were recommended. These will be compiled and submitted to Ken Tilt by Gary Knox.

New Business

Renewal of the Mission of SERA IEG 27: Our Request for Renewal as SERA IEG 27 was written by Gary Knox (Chair), sent to the membership for review and correction. In March, the Request was submitted via Dewayne Ingram to the Director of the Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (SAAESD) and Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED) program. Anna Marie Rasberry, Assistant to the Director, responded to a request for an update, that in September, Experiment Station and Extension Directors will make final decisions regarding the request. She writes: "I cannot imagine that your group would not be approved for continuation. The outline you have submitted shows evidence of a group that is actually working toward specific objectives and one that has made significant contributions in the past . . . Groups are usually not as diligent about getting renewal information to us. In fact, your proposal is the only one received this far. This is further indication of the fact that this is a well-organized group, with an active administrative advisor". Kudos are extended to Gary and Dewayne for their timely efforts.

Bill Klingeman showed slides of the grounds that will present the new Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. KBGA is now open to the public April through October, Wednesday through Saturday (10 to 5) at 2743 Wimpole Avenue, in Knoxville, TN (865) 637-0004. The property currently consists of 16 acres that were formerly the Joe N. Howell Nursery. 28 additional acres are under contract, which includes the land remaining from C.B. Howell Nurseries. Sylvanius Sampson Howell acquired the original land holdings in 1786 as a land grant from the State of North Carolina. The grounds contain numerous stone fences, stone structures (including a stone-walled greenhouse), and acres of gardens. Many of the plants on-site represent the international collecting efforts of the Howell brothers. A UT MS student is working to locate and identify the ornamental plants on the property.

Meeting Sites

The 2003 meeting is scheduled for Louisiana. Ed Bush and Allen Owings will coordinate this meeting in the Louisiana State University / Baton Rouge area. Potential dates are Wednesday June 4 through Friday June 6. The 2004 meeting site is proposed to be in Fletcher, NC.

New Plants for Evaluation

Margaret Pooler proposed evaluating Daphniphyllum macropodum as an underused ornamental plant. The shrub resembles rhododendron, is relatively compact, and has bluish-tinted foliage. It propagates readily from cuttings, is hardy in Zone 7, but may be slow growing.

Donna Fare recommended 4 named cultivars of dwarf and semi-dwarf forsythia for trial. These plants are cloned from specimens that were irradiated at Oak Ridge National Laboratories several years ago by Dr. Hendrick van der Werken. The cultivars that Donna has are 'Minikin', 'Tinker-bells', 'Pygmy Red', and 'Fairy Land'. A fifth cultivar, 'Lemon Scent', was similarly developed and released. Donna does not have 'Lemon Scent'.

Tom Ranney introduced 'Summer Cascade' PPAF, a weeping river birch. 'Summer Cascade' is heat and soil adaptable and borer resistant. Soft new growth can be staked and trained. It is fast growing, easy to root, and readily grown in container or nursery production. It is a joint introduction from Shiloh Nursery, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Foundation Seed.

Greg Eaton now has enough Persian parrotia (Parrotia persica) to be distributed.

Several Magnolia x (Gresham Hybrid) 'Jon Jon' trees (FL-01-01) were distributed by Gary Knox.

All recommended plants were approved, and distribution sign-up sheets were passed around:
Forsythia. Mike Scheiber, Ed Bush/Allen Owings, Bill Klingeman, Win Dunwell, Greg Eaton, Tom Ranney, John Ruter.

Daphniphyllum. Mike Scheiber, Ed Bush/Allen Owings, Bill Klingeman, Win Dunwell, Greg Eaton, Tom Ranney, Gary Knox.

'Summer Cascade' River Birch. Gary Knox, Mike Scheiber, Ed Bush/Allen Owings, Bill Klingeman, Win Dunwell, Greg Eaton, Margaret Pooler, Tom Ranney, John Ruter, Jon Lindstrom.

Other interested SERA-IEG Members should contact the listed plant provider.

Other Topics

When Materials Transfer Agreements are needed, in order to protect patent potential and intellectual/material property rights, it is recommended that the legal affairs group at the submitting Institution be consulted before any plants or germplasm are sent out for testing.

With no further topics for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 5pm Thursday.

Bill Klingeman and Donna Fare were complimented on the program and scheduled tours. Bill Klingeman acknowledged that the nursery tours were made possible through Dr. Fare's industry contacts and with the valuable contribution of time and knowledge from Mr. Mark Halcomb.

Jon Lindstrom, Scott Renfro, Mike Scheiber, and Greg Eaton joined Bill Klingeman for a tour of Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum in Nashville, TN on Friday, June 7.

Submitted by William Klingeman
Secretary, SERA IEG 27
University of Tennessee
Institute of Agriculture
Plant Sciences and Landscape Systems