Author Archives: C Paterson

Dr. Rose Buitenhuis
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

This project will look at the implementation of more sustainable production and pest control practices, including the broader integration of natural enemies, biopesticides and biostimulants into growers’ production programs. Specific objectives include:

• Eliminate/reduce pest (thrips) infestations on imported propagative material by cutting dips in reduced -risk materials
• Fertilizer optimization a. Optimize nutrient inputs and biostimulant amendments to reduce the risk of pest outbreaks while maintaining plant health and quality for two major floriculture crops (gerbera and chrysanthemum); b. Quantify effects of reduced nutrients and/or biostimulants on biocontrol efficiency
• Validate the effectiveness of the systems approach by growing two crops from start to finish in commercial greenhouses in ON and QC, incorporating best practices from objectives 1 and 2

Buitenhuis (Eng) Mar 2019

Buitenhuis (Eng) Feb 2020

Buitenhuis (Eng) Mar 2021 or watch on YouTube

Buitenhuis (Eng) Mar 2022 or watch on YouTube

Dr. Yves Desjardins / Dr. Guillaume Gregoire
Université Laval

Following the results of research funded through the previous clusters, the goal of this project is to optimize fertilizer use of turfgrass in order to reduce nitrate-N losses through leaching, with the intent of helping growers to mitigate their impact on Canada’s water sources and enhancement of the environmental sustainability of the turfgrass sector through optimization of fertilizer use. Specific objectives include:

• Measurement of short-term nitrate losses resulting from different fertilization strategies in different soil types,
• Measurement of long-term nitrate losses resulting from best treatments as identified above, and
• To validate greenhouse results in an outdoor field trial.

Gregoire (Eng) Mar 2019

Gregoire (Eng) Feb 2020

Gregoire (Eng) Mar 2021 or watch on YouTube

Gregoire (Eng) Mar 2022 or watch on YouTube

Dr. Barry Shelp
University of Guelph

This research work will further test the hypothesis that nutrient use efficiency of modern cultivars of greenhouse-grown potted chrysanthemums can be improved by reducing nutrient supply during vegetative growth, in combination with an interrupted supply during reproductive growth, without sacrificing plant yield and quality. The current project objective is to optimize the delivery of the remaining macronutrients (calcium and magnesium), as well as the micronutrients, to sub-irrigated and drip-irrigated potted chrysanthemums.

Research in years one to four will study the delivery of specific macronutrient combinations during vegetative growth of sub-irrigated potted chrysanthemums over two growing seasons. The year five objective will be to determine whether the optimized nutrient delivery system established for sub-irrigated potted chrysanthemums in the research greenhouse is applicable to both sub-irrigated and drip-irrigated chrysanthemums.

Shelp (Eng) Mar 2019

Shelp (Eng) Feb 2020

Shelp (Eng) Mar 2021 or watch on YouTube

Shelp (Eng) Mar 2022 or watch on YouTube

Dr. Nityananda Khanal
AAFC and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Creeping red fescue is a major export commodity with an annual export value of $26 million, however, seed productivity in Canada is much lower than US and Denmark, thus affecting its competitiveness in the international marketplace. Research will include genetic improvement, agronomic studies and an economic analytical approach to provide beneficial management options.

Specific research project objectives include:

• Re-initiate creeping red fescue breeding for better disease resistance & environmental adaptability
• Increase multi-harvest seed yield and seed quality of creeping red fescue through plant growth regulation, plant nutrition and stand health management
• Determine the economic profitability of creeping red fescue seed crop management factors included in the study.

Khanal (Eng) Mar 2019

Khanal (Eng) Feb 2020

Khanal (Eng) Mar 2021 or watch on YouTube

Khanal (Eng) Mar 2022 or watch on YouTube

Dr. Alan Sullivan / Dr. Praveen Saxena
University of Guelph

The objective of this research project is to develop integrated production systems that will include new varieties, tissue culture systems for propagation and technologies to enhance early stage survival of transplants. Specific objectives include:

• Develop new varieties and germplasm with an emphasis on novel species that are adapted to drought and low nutrient environments
• Develop novel techniques to improve the survival and vigour of seedlings and tissue culture plantlets during transplanting
• Optimize tissue culture propagation systems by improving light quality, plant growth regulators and culture vessels such as bioreactors
• Develop cryopreservation techniques to efficiently preserve important genotypes and ecotypes of rare, endangered and horticulturally important ornamental species

Sullivan Saxena (Eng) Mar 2019

Sullivan Saxena (Eng) Feb 2020

Sullivan Saxena (Eng) Mar 2021 or watch on YouTube

Sullivan Saxena (Eng) March 2022 or watch on YouTube

Dr. Rose Buitenhuis
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

The goal of this research project led by Dr. Rose Buitenhuis was to provide effective pest management strategies for problem aphid species in greenhouse ornamentals that are compatible with existing biological control systems. The focus during the third and final year was to integrate the different tools developed during years one and two into a complete IPM strategy.

Through Vineland’s research it was determined that the best time to release Aphidius ervi against foxglove aphid was when aphids were found in the crop; previously, wasps were released preventatively. In small and large-scale trials, A. ervi controlled aphid populations when used alone or together with a novel predatory mite. No negative interactions (such as intraguild predation) were observed. The research also showed high compatibility of A. ervi with biopesticides, which will enhance biocontrol of foxglove aphids. Based on the knowledge generated in this project, recommendations were developed for an IPM strategy against foxglove aphids, which significantly reduces the number of chemical sprays.

Project summary PDF
Webinar on video
Final Report