Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Beginning farmers, home gardeners, and established farmers, K-College students, 4-H volunteers, returning veterans, county extension agents and local retired community volunteers farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students laboratory rotation and summer internships were provided under the research realm of this project. Scientists and extension personnel received training in professional development workshops such as proper postharvest handling and GAPs, as well as attendance at the Professional Agricultural Workers and Annual Farmers conferences. Other opportunities for training for graduate and Extension faculty inclusdesd in the area of postharvest and processing technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The findings from several research projects were presented in 2017 at PAWC and ARD conferences, the national 4-H Congress and anual AgFair of the George Washington Carver Festival and In Vitro biology. Information was also disseminated through various other workshops and field days. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Work will include using trap crops to increase bee poopulation and determine impact on overall pollination events and subsequent yield; instrumented sphere technol;ogy to determine produce-to-produce on cause of bruising in fruits and vegetables; complete study evaluating the response of kale, tomatoes and radish to different levels of vermicompost (worm castings).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Cluster 1. The study evaluating the influence of harvesting intervals on the yield and chemical constituents of leaves of Rico Red and Thai Red Early varieties of Hibiscus sabdariffa was completed along with a thesis by the graduate stufent.Plants were either harvested once over (check) or every 7, 14, 21 and 28 days beginning 42 days after transplanting. Calyx yield was not influenced by harvesting intervals, but a strong trend towards a greater impact by cultivar was evident. Thai Red Early produced a 16% greater calyx yield and the highest lycopene levls were observed between 70 and 84 days after transplanting. As part of postharvest work tomatoes, squash, water melon,okra and blueberries were subjected to drop tests and various compression forces to simulate produce-toproduce contact pressures that may cause bruising, entrance of microorganisms and subsequent spoilage and food loss. Impact and compression forces produce external and internal damage on five crops, with blueberries, tomatoes (pink or turning) being more susceptible than squash and water melons. Nine additional houses with four located in the AL black belt counties of Greene and Monroe, the remainder were located in Escambia, Geneva, Russell, and Dale counties. Work was completed on the sweetpotato variety trials and preliminary results show that generally, the varieties achieved close to 80% of maximum percent dry matter between 60 and 75 days after transplanting.Soil samples were collected from these studies and evaluated for changes and modifications in the plant mycorrhizae and soil ecological conditions. Cluster 5. Several schools in our targeted area were assisted with school gardens and students grew and harvested seasonal crops and marketed them in local businesses. Crops were also donated to elderly in the community.One youth won first place in 4-H sponsored competitive events and was selected to present his project at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. The Annual Ag- Fair at the George Washington Carver Festival yielded over 400 science projects. Sixty per cent of the projects were fruit and /or vegetable - related issues.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Desmond G. Mortley, Douglas R. Hileman, Conrad K. Bonsi, Walter A. Hill, and Carlton E. MorrisFailure Analysis under Electric Lights: Growth and Yield of Sweetpotato in Response to 14 Days of Prolonged Darkness. HortScience 51:1479-1481.
Veronica E. Walton, Raymon Shange, Victor A. Khan, James E. Currington, Edward Sparks, Nathaniel Ellison, George X. Hunter, and Jeffery Moore. Yield of two sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) cultivars grown in a wiregrass model tunnel house under trellised and conventional planting systems. PAW (In press).
Edward Sparks, Victor A. Khan, Raymon Shange, James E. Currington, Nathaniel Ellison, George Hunter, and Jeffery Moore. THE effect of two planting dates and methods on snapbean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production in a tunnel house. PAW (In press)
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Beginning farmers, home gardeners, and established farmers, K-College students, 4-H volunteers, returning veterans, county extension agents and local retired community volunteers farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students laboratory rotation and summer internships were provided under the research realm of this project. Scientists and extension personnel received training in professional development workshops such as proper postharvest handling and GAPs, as well as attendance at the Professional Agricultural Workers and Annual Farmers conferences. Other opportunities for training for graduate and Extension faculty inclusdesd in the area of postharvest and processing technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Dissemination occurred mainly through presentations given at Professional Agricultural Workers and Annual Farmers conferencs as well as postharvest training and studytours,Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science and Invitro Biology. Information was also disseminated through various other workshops and field days. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Work will include competing the sweetpotato variety trials; evaluate compression impacts and drop tests on selected vegetables and small fruits, conduct second run of harvest intervals in Hibiscus sabdariffa and initiate work on vermicomposting impacts on rhizosphere micronial ecology.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Production of selected fruits and vegetable crops through improved production practices for diversified multiple markets; Screening of 6 summer squash, and 3 okra varieties continued. The 6 varieteis of summer squash were Multipik and Zephyr (yellow straight neck), Gentry and Goldstar (yellow crookneck), Sunburst (yellow, scalloped) and Tigress (zucchini). Seeds were planted in Mayunder white plastic mulch, drip irrigated, and hervested beginning the middle of June. Gentry produced the highest fruit yield followed by Multipik, Zephyr,Tigress, Sunburst, and Goldstar. Both Sunburst and Tigress are later maturing than the other 4. Clemson Spineless, Red Burgundy and Jambalaya okra varietes were planted similarly as abovefruit numbers were greatest for Clemson Spineless > Jambalaya > Red Burgundy while fruit yield was highest for Clemson Spineless > Jambalaya > Red Burgundy. Another study evaluated the influence of harvesting intervals on the yield and chemical constituents of leaves of Rico Red and Thai Red Early varieties of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Plants were either harvested once over (check) or every 7, 14, 21 and 28 days beginning 42 days after transplanting. The highest biomass yield for both leaves and calyxes regardless of variety was achieved at harvest of 7 day intervals regardless of variety. No detectable betacarotene was observed in leaves but chlorophylls a and b and lycopene peaked at 60 days after transplanting, although lycopene levels then plateaued and began to decline at about 91 days after transplanting. Because of challenges encountered with curing and storage facilities for the 2015 sweetpotato harvest, only limited planting materials were available. Therefore, the final run of the verietal trial was not done. Development of agricultural curriculum and programs for secondary and post-secondary students, beginning farmers and returning veterans. Produce losses are a major problem in the postharvest chain which includes harvesting, handling, storage, processing, packaging, transportation and consumers. Approximately 30-50% of horticultural crops produced in the US and 20% for Alabama, in particular are subjected to postharvest losses and wastes. Experiments were initiated to determine the produce-to-produce impact using an instrumented sphere force transducer and drop tests from various heights on tomatoes,blueberries, watermelon, okra and summer squash. Impact and compression forces produced internal and external damage on fruits from all 5 crop species. Bblueberries and turning and pink tomatoes appear to be more susceptible to impact damage than summer squash and watermelons. Dropping from any height on either hard or soft surfaces resulted in injury with the magnitude ofinjury being greater for blueberrieson a stainless steel (hard) surface while ripe tomatoes dropped on a flat cork material (soft) surface showed more internal injury damages than on hard and cardboard surfaces.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:beginning farmers,home gardeners, and established farmers, K-College students, 4-H volunteers, returning veterans, county extension agents and local retired community volunteers farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students laboratory rotation and summer internships were provided under the research realm of this project. Scientists and extension personnel received training in professional development workshops as well as attendance at local and regional meetings. Other opportunities for training for graduate and Extension faculty inclusdesdin the area of postharvest and processing technology. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Dissemination occurred mainlythrough several presentations given at scientific and professional agriculture meetings, such as Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC), Farmers Conference and Southern Region ASHSregional,Invitro Biology (SIVB). Information was also disseminated through workshops and field days. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue activities initiated under all five Clusters. New activities will include initiating studies on the use ofalyssumas an insectary for beneficial insects such as pollinators for water melon production, and for ontrol aphids in selected leafy vegetables, screening varieties of zucchini squash in Wire Grass Tunnel Housesfor hermaphroditism, screening Southern Field Pea varieties for drought responses, mitigation of flooding in Tunnel Houses in low areas, as well asmicrobial diversity and enzyme activity, radiation capture and profile degree growing days, prepare, analyze and test a sweetpotato puree,incorporate intospecificproducts for value addition, conduct sensory evaluation analysis and results of products andmanuscript preparation of products analysis and results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Production of selected fruit and vegetable crops through improved farming practices for diversified multiple markets. Screening of 6 summer squash, 3 water melon and 3okra varieties was initiated. The 6 varieteis of summer squash were Multipik and Zephyr (yellow straight neck), Gentry and Goldstar (yellow crookneck), Sunburst (yellow,scalloped) and Tigress (zucchini). Seeds were planted in June under white plastic mulch, drip irrigated, and hervested beginning the middle of July. Preliminary resuklts show that fruit the the number of fruits and fruit yield were highest for Zephyr (yellow straight neck), followwd by Tigress (zucchini) and Gentry (yellow crookneck). The other three varieties yielded poorly. Three water melon varieties were Sweet Favorite, Estrella and SSX8585. Fruit yields were similar among varieties, with SSX8585 being highest followed by Estrella and Sweet Favorite. No disease symptoms such as anthracnose was evident. Yield results of Jambalaya, Clemson Spineless and Burgundy okra varietes planted similarly as abopve indicated that mean fruit number was identical for Burgundy and Clemson Spineless but fruit yield was marginally greater for Burgundy. Six sweetpotato varieties were sequentially harvested at 15 day intervalsbeginning 60 days after planting up to 120 days. Generally totalstorage and US#1 rootyields and percent dry matter increased with harvest time regaredlesss of harvest time, Yield of TU Purple increased between 105 and 120 days but dry matter did not while B63 yield was similar while dry matter increased between 105 and 120 days. However, the percent dry matter declined for NCC-58 while yield remaind constant at 105 to 120 days. In terms of total root yield, these preliminary results suggest that TU Purple, andJ6-66 would benefit by remaining longer in the field. Preliminary organoleptic analysis showed that color (L-values) increased with time, but there were very few differences among the varieties in texture and it appears that ash was optimal at 75 days after planting. Studies were initiated to assess the response of two sweetpotato cultivars soil microbial profile, and enzymes under Tunnel House growing conditions. Initial results showedsignificant interactions between cultivars and growing systems for US#1, Canner, and marketable yields. In general yieldof all grades were greater for "TU-1892" compared to "Carver " however, "TU-1892" had higher yields when grown under the conventional system, and "Carver" showed greater yields under the trellised system Soil microbial and enzymatic analyses arecontinuing and will be reported at a later date. Other studies initiated included the responses of collards and cabbage to fertilizer and irrigation applications andofirrigation frequencyonproduction and nutrition quality ofcollards. Localized training activities in IPM and statewide organic food production workshops for the general public were conducted, and GAP training for vegetable farmers...Development of value-added products for multiple markets. Appropriate orange and purple sweetpotato varieties suitable for value-added product development (ex. sweetpotato puree)were identifiedand collaborationwith the plant scientists (in objective 1 above) initiatedto produce those varieties. These varieties were harvested, cured, sorted and selectedand they have been harvested. Laboratory equipment and supplies were procured and product development will commence in FY 16. Results will be disseminated through fact sheets and publications.As part of a funded capacity building grants project,participants were recruited to be trained initially astrainers for farmers in Post-Harvest and Processing Technology scheduled.. Developoment of Agricultura Curriculum and Programs for Secondary and Postsecondary Students, Beginning farmers and Returning Veterans. Activities under this Cluster included organizingschool visits with USDA,Ag Science Fairs and field trips to AgDiscovery,Ag Carnival, Cooperative Extension Day at Tuskegee University, continued to promote school gardens and encourage participation in the annual school garden competition, initiated aCulinary Concert format to visit schools as another approach to reach this group, encouraged veterans and beginning farmers to attend the local Farmers' Conference, provided planting and harvesting assistance to veterans with a community garden at the local VA Hospital, implement aHOTLINE or WEBSITE for veterans and beginning farmers to request information and assistance, assisted local high school and college studentsto sell their produce at the local farmers' market and encouragedlocal independent store owners to purchase some of thisproduce as well as organizing successful SOUP and SALAD Night at Tuskegee Universityto include elementary and college students who offer salads made from their produce.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience included beginning farmers, home gardeners, and established farmers, K-College students, 4-H volunteers, returning veterans, county extension agents and local retired community volunteers farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students laboratory rotation and summer internship were provided under the research realm of this project. Scientists and extension personnel received training in professional development workshops as well as attendance at local and regional meetings How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The outcomes of the vegetable production components were not only published in peer-reviewed journals, but also disseminated through several presentations given at scientific and professional agriculture meetings, such as PAWC, Society for Invitro Biology (SIVB), UC-Davis CREATE–IGERT, Carver Symposia, and Southern Region ASHS.. Information was also disseminated through workshops field day.s What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Repeat vegetable production experiments in the fied and initiate production experiments under High Tunnels Continuesweetpotato nematode studies and capitalizing on the transgenics against sweetpotatoto potyviruses undercultivated conditions. Analyze Next-generation sequencing on three sweetpotato samples and upload data to NCBI to be made available to the scientific community, and select genes of interest for further characterization. Testingthe efficacy of nematocidal peptides in vitro Experimentson irrigation management for local crop production: 1) a microirrigation study that assesses the impact of various mulching practices on soil physiochemical, biochemical, and microbial properties, and 2) a fertigation study that assesses the impact of inorganic and organic fertilizer injection on crop yield and soil properties under plastic mulch and microirrigation, and 3) Initiate a water quality monitoring survey of three wells and three irrigation ponds for potable water using traditional and molecular methods. Continued testing of enterprise budgets on local model farm in Macon county
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Production of selected fruit and vegetable crops through improved farming practices for diversified multiple markets. Processing tomatoes were supplied with NPK fertilizer based on soil test at one or two thirds or the full rate banded, broadcast only or a combination of banding or broadcasting, and an untreated check. Fruit yield were highest when two-thirds of the fertilizer was applied by a combination of banding and broadcasting (at 1/3 the rate each). This yield exceeded those of plants receiving the full rate broadcast, followed by one-third the rate broadcast, one third banded with two thirds applied in two side dressings of 1/3 each, and two thirds banded. These preliminary results suggest that processing tomatoes used in the study appear to respond more favorably to a combined broadcast/banding or full broadcast than banded fertilizer applications. Six varieties of organically grown blueberries responded favorably to residual poultry litter application compared to a fish protein based amendment, by producing higher total and individual fruit weights. However, individual fruit weights declined as the season progressed and with each harvest regardless of treatment. Experiments evaluating four harvesting times of 75, 90, 105 or 120 days after planting (DAP) on five sweetpotato varieties showed variations in dry matter content. For example, that for NCC-58 and Whatley/Loretan showed only marginal changes from 75 through 120 DAP while that for B63, BMO and TU Purple fluctuated. As expected, total and US#1 (at 105 DAP) root yields increased with successive harvests for all varieties. Total root yield was consistently greater for TU Purple followed by B63 which also produced the highest yield of US#1s storage roots. For all varieties, US#1 storage roots were not evident until 105 DAP. These preliminary results suggest that at least for two varieties dry matter content was near maximum after 75 DAP and changed very little thereafter and that it takes at least 105 DAP to produce marketable US#1 storage roots. An experiment evaluating the response of Collards and Kale to either drip or sprinkler irrigation showed that the yield of Kale was higher when drip irrigated whereas the opposite was true for Collards. Total plant dry weights were higher under drip regardless of crop species used. The use of jalapeno peppers to attract bees as pollinators for water melons was investigated. Preliminary results indicated that there was more bee activity where jalapeno was interspersed among the water melon plants vs. regular grown water melons. These fruits were uniform at harvest with individual fruit weights ranging from 14 to 23 lbs. Unfortunately, due to praedial larceny no fruits were harvested from the conventionally grown plots. Assess conditions in current markets for selected crops/value-added products as well as develop alternative markets. Enterprise budgets were developed in electronic formats (on CDs) for selected fruits and vegetables covered by the Walmart Project. The fruits and vegetables include purple hull peas, watermelon, okra, yellow squash, collards, kale, turnips, and mustard, broccoli, and cauliflower. Each crop had two sets of “template” budgets. The “a” budgets were sample for the farmers to follow or use as guides to prepare their budgets. The “b” budgets were “shells” for the farmers to use to prepare their own budgets based on their particular situations. These budgets are being tested on a model farm in Macon county AL. Local farmers and youth participated in financial management classes on in one-on-one financial and marketing sessions and Macon county organic growers comprising primarily of women were assisted in forming the Organic Growers of Alabama Cooperative was established and is working collaboratively with the Macon County Farmers Cooperative to carry out activities. Results on consumer willingness to demand and purchase Asian vegetables showed that 81% of respondents were willing to buy Asian/Korean fruits and vegetables grown locally, and 82% of the respondents were willing to pay at least (5 or > 20%) more for fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers. Development and Education on Food safety and quality through good agricultural practice and good post-harvest handling practices. Activities in this cluster revolved around farmer training for GAP certification and for marketing of produce to larger markets (eg. Wal Mart). A total of 130 farmers from 73 farms received training and 19 operations (15 filed and 4 postharvest) were certified for USDA harmonized GAP?Global Market Addendum. Over 200 farmers were trained on best practices in marketing produce to larger companies and corporations like Walmart through specialized training, workshops, informational group meetings and overall awareness of market opportunities. The specialized training included Food Safety Standards and Food Safety Certification requirements, effective production techniques, harvesting, grading, packaging, refrigeration/cold chain requirements, transportation, fiscal responsibility, financial management, record-keeping, insurance and product liability. Development of agricultural curriculum and programs for secondary, and post secondary students, beginning farmers and returning veterans. Work under this cluster concentrated revolved around the following: Carver Carvers Project and Blue Devil Blueberries involved students form elementary schools in Macon, Lowndes and Perry Counties schools, their principals, science teachers, and cafeteria staff, MANRRS, AU Extension, and a local farmer. Participants gained hands-on experience in planting pumpkin seeds and participated in harvesting blueberries: Kindergardeeners, Raised Gardens and Community (homeless) Garden and Greenhouse at Booker T. Washington High School serve as living laboratories for students to study environmental issues, climate control, and life sciences in relation to safe and sustainable crop production. Cultural activities were linked to reading and writing and involved students in entrepreneurial tasks: Smart Kids Science Camp focused on hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Educational materials were innovative and hands-on. Student participants were given seeds, transplants, soil and other items to cultivate during the summer session: Tuskegee Tigers 4H Club participated in several entrepreneurship activities that involved reinvesting earnings from BTW greenhouse and raised gardens projects to increase profits, marketing and sales strategies for crops, healthy eating projects, cook-offs, fitness, leadership, public speaking, and career fairs. Participants included a local bank, 4H volunteers, and local merchants, extension, school and community volunteers: Science Fairs (4H Science Innovators) and Summer Interns Students learned to apply the scientific method to complete research and create science projects. K-3 Science Fairs were developed for young scientists at local schools. Venues for science fairs were the school facilities in several Black Belt counties. Participants were Public schools in Macon, Lowndes and Perry counties, school principals and science teachers: One Common Acre - Cream of the Crop (Mentor and Eco-Art Projects) students created hands-on audio and visual displays to promote arts in agriculture. These included but were not limited to 3-minute videos depicting the importance of agriculture, the use of natural resources in creating visual arts and visual displays at local fairs (4H), competitions and the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference. .
Publications
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Marian D. Quain and Marceline Egnin. 2014. Agricultural Biotechnlogy In Ghana The Status: In Genetically Engineered Crops In Developing Countries Eds.: DVR Reddy, P Ananda Kumar, P Lava Kumar, G Loebenstein &C Kameswara Rao. Studium Press LLC, Houston, USA. 2014; pp. 377?397.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Samuels, S., M. Egnin, J. Jaynes. 2014. Development of Plant-based Therapeutic Treatment Regimen against HIV Replication. 69th PAWC Proceeding, pg 112-120
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
1. Stover, E., Stange, R., McCollum, G., Jaynes, J. Screening Antimicrobial Peptides In-Vitro for Use in Developing Huanglongbing and Citrus Canker Resistant Transgenic Citrus. (2013). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 138 (2): 142-148.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
2. Jesse M. Jaynes, C.S. Prakash, Marceline Egnin, Clayton C. Yates and Timothy Turner. Application of Synthetic Biology to Solve Problems in Agriculture and Medicine. (2014). Compendium of US Government Sponsored Research and Programs at Historically Black College and Universities.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
3. Kathryn Kamo, Dilip Lakshman, Gary Bauchan, Kanniah Rajasekaran, Jeffrey Cary, Jesse Jaynes. Gladiolus plants transformed with D4E1, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide, for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli resistance. (2014).
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