Research responsibilities involve flowering potted crops and bedding plants. About half of the work is directed at developing information the use of plant growth regulators for size control. The growth regulator research includes evaluations of new chemicals and application procedures, and studies sponsored by chemical companies to expand label information to more crops. Additional research activities include poinsettia production problems, environmental factors involved in production of floriculture crops, and developing crop cultural information. The research program addressescurrent environmental and cultural problems in the production of greenhouse flowering crops.
Emphasis is placed on evaluation of plant growth regulators and factors affecting chemical efficacy.
Environmental studies center on plant water requirements and heatstress. Efficacy of uniconazole on chrysanthemum altered by spray volume, timing, and site of application. Barrett, JE and Nell, TA 1990. Factors affecting efficacy of paclobutrazol and uniconazole on petunia and chrysanthemum. Barrett, JE and Nell TA 1992.