In 2025 - 2026 , the American Floral Endowment ( AFE ) is funding 12 inquiry projects for a total of $ 636,525 . The four raw projects and eight continuing projects focus on topics such as gadfly management , disease control , post - production , and engineering science in floriculture . By affirm these projects , AFE helps drive the stay growth of floriculture , give to the manufacture ’s advancement through practical solution and innovation .
" We are majestic to plunk for research that addresses both straightaway and recollective - full term challenges in floriculture . These project provide practical solutions for today ’s growers while laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and resilient futurity , " Laura Barth , AFE Research Coordinator , state . " We depend onward to following the outcome of these study and how they will contribute to the continued growth and succeeder of floriculture . "
fresh labor - Disease research managementAssessing Biocontrol and Chemical Strategies for Managing Phytophthora spp . in Commercial Floriculture Production : Ana Maria Pastrana Leon , University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources .
Objective : This enquiry aims to ( 1 ) characterize primal Phytophthora spp . affecting California floriculture crops , ( 2 ) confirm their pathogenicity on host plants , ( 3 ) evaluate the efficacy of two biological and two man-made fungicides against two morbific Phytophthora spp . identified , ( 4 ) measure fungicide effectiveness in preventing pathogen penetration using qPCR , and ( 5 ) disseminate findings to floriculture stakeholder through bilingual publications and outreach .
Reducing Powdery Mildew Disease in Floriculture Using RNAi Bioproducts : Mary Wildermuth , University of California , Berkeley
Objective : Develop an effective RNAi biocontrol product against powdery mildew for use in floriculture . In improver to powdery mold , puberulent mold can be a trouble for roses ; therefore , we will prioritize designation of powdery mildew mark genes potential to also be effective target for downy mold control condition .
New projects - Insect managementRefining UV - C Light program for Thrips Management in Greenhouse ornamental : Margaret Skinner , University of Vermont
Objective : 1 . rarify the design and construct an automatise UV - C apparatus ( The Dome ) to uniformly treat young ornamental flora for western flower thrips ( WFT ) . 2 . Test the efficacy of the UV - C Dome applier to boil down WFT population and their generative rate on three cosmetic plant life specie . 3 . evaluate the plant life result from exposure from the UV - C Dome applier .
raw projects - Nutrition / water managementBioreactors for Reduction of Agrochemicals in Agricultural Production weewee : Tom Fernandez , Michigan State University
objective lens : To determine optimum hydraulic retention times and oxidation - reducing conditions for pesticide remediation and selective dominance of food from return flood - floor irrigation at the commercial-grade scale . Understand the microbiome kinetics responsible for ( taxa present tense and abundance , change in population in answer to pesticides , and sentence of class ) for remediation at different hydraulic retentivity times and oxidisation - reduction status .
Continuing projects - Insect managementMitigation of the Invasive Tropical Pest , Thrips Parvispinus : Clean Start and Biological Control : Rose Buitenhuis , Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
Objective : The end of this 3 year project is to develop sustainable long - term solution for management of T. parvispinus in glasshouse ornamentals . claim a systems approach , the labor will inquire several IPM strategies that may be commingle to leave optimum control of T. parvispinus .
innovational 3 - Tiered Management of Western Flower Thrips ( WFT ) in Ornamental Greenhouse Productions : Christian Nansen , UC Davis
Objective : In this 3 - tiered projection , we will develop , test , and advertise a highly innovative coming to WFT management , in which we integrate three technology : a DoS - of - the - artistic creation organization ( robotic railing system ) to let go of predatory mites , customized ignition ( light-emitting diode ) , and optimized formulations of evidence organic insecticides with plasma activated H2O .
Continuing task - Disease managementEnhancing the Performance of Biological Control Agents for Botrytis Control : Jim Faust and Guido Schnabel , Clemson University
Objective : Prospective biological control agents for Botrytis blight often execute well in the lab but fail in the greenhouse . Our target is to enhance the performance of these organisms by understand the reason(s ) that they fail and then provide the condition that will aid them survive and come through as disease management tools in the greenhouse environment
go along projects - Post productionDevelopment of Potent Ethylene Antagonists for Floricultural Crops : Rasika Dias , The University of Texas at Arlington
Objective : Development of potent anti - ethylene production for commercial function by selective targeting of ethene tie up sites , blocking ethene bio - synthetic pathways , and make stabilized silver-tongued formations .
bear on projects - Production technology and toolsIdentification and app of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria to Improve Floriculture Crop Plant Quality and Reduce Inputs : Michelle Jones , The Ohio State University
Objective : The goal of this proposition is to screen the OSU nursery rhizospheric bacterium collection to identify bacteria that can promote growth with lower fertilizer inputs and to characterize and optimize the ontogeny promoting effects of these bacterium in containerized soilless greenhouse production systems .
Putting Floriculture A.I. to Work : ontogenesis of Smart Diagnostic Tools : Brian Whipker , North Carolina State University
documentary : 1 . To blow up a robust framework of leaf tissue paper standards to ameliorate the truth of diagnose nutritionary issues of the top floriculture species . 2 . Develop an algorithm that create an automate AI rendering tool for leafage tissue diagnostics for poinsettias , geranium , New Guinea impatiens , petunia , and gerbera . 3 . produce a web - based symptomatic app for poinsettias , geraniums , New Guinea impatiens , petunia , and gerbera growers to input their lab analysis results and receive rendition and recommendations .
dilute Peat - Use in Greenhouse Production Through Wood Fiber Substrate Stratification : Jeb Fields , University of Florida
objective lens : Reduce peat - use and reliance in greenhouse production through stratified substrate systems by ( 1 ) value the effectiveness of wood roughage and other low - cost " makeweight " materials as submarine - strata , ( 2 ) explore shallow stratification to increase ratio of makeweight textile , and ( 3 ) rectify the upper ( high - operation ) strata with Mrs. Henry Wood fiber . We will fine tune irrigation and fertility applications to beef up comprehension of stratified - grown harvest H2O usage and fertilizer efficiency .
Continuing task - Water and nutrition managementFloriculture Production Practices in Peat Reduced substrate : Brian Jackson , North Carolina State University
objective lens : offer data on craw direction scheme that can be at once implemented in grower trading operations to improve production efficiency , boil down craw losings , better harvest calibre , while using more economical and sustainable peat alternatives .
AFE has expressed that it is proud to continue support inquiry that cover the challenge and chance within floriculture . The 2025 - 2026 funding will drive continued growth and winner across the diligence .
Frontpage photo : © American Floral Endowment
