Children’s Gardening Programs Grow Environmental Stewards

Hands-on Experiences Encourage Future Environmentalists

COLLEGE STATION, TX –- A new generation has come of age since the first celebration of Earth Day in 1970. For this and future generations, environmental awareness is an important and burgeoning point of reference.

Today’s urban children live in environments that offer little chance for direct contact with natural ecosystems, and often have to depend on sources such as television and educators for information about ecology and nature. Many children grow up without the valuable personal experiences in nature that are essential to developing a true understanding of environmental issues.

Educators are being challenged to create learning experiences that mold subsequent generations of environmental stewards: young people who are capable of making knowledgeable and conscientious decisions regarding the environment. But classroom teachers who make environmental education experiences a priority often lack resources, funding, time, and ideas about ways to integrate environmental education into classroom learning. Getting children involved in hands-on activities is critical, and gardening just may be the answer.

Youth gardening programs are becoming popular experiential vehicles to help children get “down to earth” and promote environmental awareness in communities and schools. Previous studies have indicated that children who participate in formal gardening programs have shown improvements in science achievement, nutritional choices, self-esteem, and patience. Recently, researchers studied the effect of gardening programs on the development of students’ environmental consciousness.

O.M. Aguilar, a graduate assistant in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University and lead author of the study, explained; “The objectives of the study were to examine an interdisciplinary and experiential approach to environmental education by use of a youth gardening program for third through fifth grade students. In addition, this study evaluated the gardening program’s effectiveness on promoting positive environmental attitudes and a high environmental locus of control with children.”

More than 80% of children who participated in the study had been previously involved in gardening, either through school programs or informal experiences at home. Test results indicated that children that had any type of experience with gardening had more positive attitudes toward the environment when compared with students that had not gardened. The study showed that hands-on gardening activities are important to the development of environmentally concerned citizens, and that children’s involvement in informal gardening experiences has as much impact on their environmental outlook as involvement in formal school-based programs.

Results from the study also found that there were gender and ethnicity differences among children, with girls and Caucasians appearing to benefit more from the gardening curriculum. Researchers suggested that future research should focus on the development of gardening curricula that target the needs and interests of boys and minority children.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/243

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. Society website – ashs.org

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Original Article:

Growing Environmental Stewards: The Overall Effect of a School Gardening Program on Environmental Attitudes and Environmental Locus of Control of Different Demographic Groups of Elementary School Children
O.M. Aguilar, T.M. Waliczek, and J.M. Zajicek
HortTechnology 2008 18: 243-249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail j-zajicek@tamu.edu

Campus Green Spaces Enhance Quality of Life

Students More Satisfied Then They Go Green

SAN MARCOS, TX — The next time you see students playing an energized game of touch football or studying in the sunshine on a college quadrangle, consider this: campus green spaces can help students feel better about life and improve learning.

Trying to determine the relationship between availability and access to green spaces and students’ quality of life, researchers at Texas State University recently surveyed 373 undergraduates at the San Marcos campus. Results of the survey were published in the April 2008 issue of the American Society for Horticultural Science’s journal, HortTechnology.

Depending on their answers to survey questions, respondents were ranked as “low users”, “medium users”, or “high users” of campus green spaces. More than 90 percent of respondents were ranked as either high or medium users of green space. Students were also asked to rate their perception of quality of life. A mean score of more than four (on a scale of 1 to 5) indicated that most students rated their quality of life as positive.

According to A.L. McFarland, a graduate student in the Department of Agriculture at TSU and primary author of the study, the researchers were able to make a “statistically significant” correlation between green space users and those who gave a high rating to their quality of life. “These findings indicated that those (students) who used campus green spaces more frequently rated their overall quality of life higher when compared with students who used the campus green spaces and arboretum less frequently”, said McFarland.

Higher quality of life wasn’t the only bonus for green space users. “High users” of campus green spaces also rated their cognitive ability to apply knowledge learned in college as higher when compared to those students who spent less time in green spaces. It appears that going green is not just for the environment anymore, so, students—get outside and get happy!

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/232

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. Society website – ashs.org

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Original Article:

The Relationship Between Student Use of Campus Green Spaces and Perceptions of Quality of Life
A.L. McFarland, T.M. Waliczek, and J.M. Zajicek
HortTechnology 2008 18: 232-238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail j-zajicek@tamu.edu

Bring on the Pak Choi

Consumers Interested in Trying more Asian Vegetables

CARBONDALE, IL — Asian vegetables, a diverse group of specialty vegetables grown and consumed throughout Asia, are becoming an integral part of the American diet. The demand for Asian vegetables is rapidly increasing in the United States thanks to increasing ethnic diversity in the population, a rapid rise in popularity of Asian cuisines, more emphasis on healthy and specialty foods, and increasing familiarity with the foods’ culinary uses.

Local or direct marketing of horticultural food crops is rapidly expanding in the Midwest as consumers desire high-quality, fresh produce and want to support local farmers. To better understand consumer attitudes regarding Asian vegetable crops, researchers from the Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems at Southern Illinois University conducted a survey in two direct-market venues to determine key attributes that influence Asian vegetable purchase decisions, including consumption habits and knowledge of preparation and use.

To gauge their familiarity with a range of Asian vegetables, consumers were asked to complete a written survey as they entered two fruit and vegetable markets in Belleville, Illinois, on busy Saturday mornings. The surveys revealed that most of the consumers had never tried most of the fourteen Asian vegetables listed in the survey. More than 80% of the participants had not tried nine different vegetables: bitter gourd, chinese mustard, chinese okra, chinese winter squash, chinese winter melon, japanese snake gourd, kabocha squash, winged bean, and yardlong bean. Surprisingly, nearly half of the respondents had tried napa cabbage and Asian eggplant.

Although more than 80% of the people surveyed consumed less than five pounds of Asian vegetables per year and ate them less than once per month, the consumers expressed a strong interest to learn more about these vegetables. Consumers purchased Asian vegetables most often at supermarkets (29.4%) and restaurants (28.1%), and much less at local markets (12.5%). Results also indicated that Asians as well as consumers with higher income levels were most likely to consume these vegetables. Thirty-eight percent of consumers strongly indicated that the availability of recipes for various Asian vegetables at direct markets would increase the likelihood of purchasing the vegetables. More than one-third of survey respondents said that access to recipes would persuade them to purchase fresh Asian vegetables.

Of the consumers surveyed, 97% were non-Asian and unfamiliar with most Asian vegetables. The survey showed that although non-Asians have some interest in the vegetables, Asians were more likely to purchase and consume them. S. Alan Walters, principle author of the study, says the survey resulted in some practical advise for vegetable growers and retailers, including an opportunity to increase Americans’ consumption of Asian vegetables by educating non-Asian consumers about them.

Walters explained, “Education efforts to promote alternative vegetable consumption should work with existing consumer attitudes and behaviors defined by our survey. Because consumer willingness to learn more about Asian vegetables was highly correlated with their total annual consumption, education efforts should probably be concentrated on increasing Asian vegetable consumption for those consumers that tend to purchase the two most popular crops (napa cabbage and Asian eggplant). Promotional activities (e.g., recipes at the point-of-purchase) should be developed around these crops and related to one of the most likely previous exposure venues—restaurant dining or supermarkets—as opposed to direct markets.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/3/500

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. Society website – ashs.org

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Original Article:

Consumer Attitudes for Asian Vegetables in Direct Markets
S. Alan Walters, Kurt T. Range, Bradley H. Taylor, and Wanki Moon
HortTechnology 2008 18: 500-505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail awalters@siu.edu

Integrated Curriculum Enhances Academics

National Wildlife Federation’s Program Boosts Student Math Scores

HOUSTON, TX — “Integrated” or “interdisciplinary” education evolved in the United States from the progressive education movement of the early 20th century. Integrated education features a student-centered approach to teaching that engages students and teachers as co-planners of learning experiences.

In the early 21st century, American educators are being challenged to incorporate integrated curriculum strategies into primary and secondary schools while satisfying ever-stricter national and state educational standards. Controversies in many American school systems now focus on access to meaningful learning experiences to help students keep up with academic standards and perform well on exams, the primary form of standardized measurement.

Environmental education, defined as any educational activity that had a goal of producing citizens who had knowledge of the environment and its problems, as well as a motivation to solve those problems, is rooted in integrated education. It has become a popular and relevant addition to K-12 classrooms throughout the world. One example of an integrated environmental curriculum used in K-12 schools is the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Schoolyard Habitat Program (SYHP). The SYHP grew out of an already existing NWF program called the Backyard Wildlife Habitat program that fostered the creation of backyard wildlife habitats by private landowners. In the SYHP, backyard wildlife habitats must also be used as an educational teaching resource.

The ultimate purpose of the SYHP was to connect students, teachers, schools, community, wildlife, and the local environment. SYHP gave teachers opportunities to offer powerful learning tools to improve students’ environmental and ecological literacy in addition to the basic principles of core academic subjects. The goal of the SYHP was to create a cross-curricular learning environment while teaching about wildlife habitat and conservation.

To address concerns that using an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to curricula detracts from students’ abilities to perform on standardized tests, P.E. Danforth, T.M. Waliczek, S.M. Macey, and J.M. Zajicek recently undertook a study of fourth grade students in Houston, Texas. The objective of the study was to determine if participation in the National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitat Program (SYHP) had an effect on standardized test scores of fourth-grade students.

Study results showed that students who participated in SYHP had significantly increased math scores when compared with peers from schools that used a more traditional curriculum. Interestingly, few differences were found in comparisons of reading scores of those students taught with SYHP and those taught using a more traditional curriculum. These findings support related studies of students’ academic achievement when an interdisciplinary or integrated curriculum, particularly one with an environmental slant, was imposed.

Addressing difference in ethnic group participation, the study authors stated: “This study showed that, although the Caucasian sample of students outperformed others on the standardized tests, the most significant improvement of overall test scores was from improved scores for Hispanic students. However, although there was a statistically significant improvement in math scores between control and treatment schools, the improvement attributable to the SYHP was only evident in the predominantly Caucasian sample school pair, indicating that students in predominantly minority schools do not gain the same level of benefit from this program.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/3/356

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. Society website – ashs.org

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Original Article:

The Effect of the National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitat Program on Fourth Grade Students’ Standardized Test Scores
P.E. Danforth, T.M. Waliczek, S.M. Macey, and J.M. Zajicek
HortTechnology 2008 18: 356-360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail tc10@txstate.edu

Consumers Influence Christmas Tree Styles

Advanced techniques may produce “European style” trees to meet consumer demands

Advanced techniques may produce “European style ” trees to meet consumer demands. Click here for more information.

RALEIGH, NC – The Fraser fir is gaining popularity among American consumers looking for beautiful, long-lasting Christmas trees. Consumers favor Fraser fir for its conical shape, dark green foliage, pleasant aroma, and excellent needle retention.

Consumer surveys indicate that the shape of a tree is the most important factor affecting Christmas tree selection, followed by needle retention, species, and price. Traditionally, Americans have preferred dense trees, whereas Europeans have preferred more natural, or “open” trees. Open trees have more space to hang ornaments, holding up to two-thirds more decorations than heavily sheared trees, and tend to weigh less than dense trees, providing advantages for growers and consumers alike.

Researchers and Christmas tree growers are working to shape Fraser firs that satisfy public preferences. M. Elizabeth Rutledge, a graduate student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University, is the primary author of a recent study of shearing techniques on Fraser fir. Rutledge and her collaborators evaluated the use on Fraser fir of the Top-Stop Nipper (TSN) a four-bladed, hand-held tool used to reduce growth in Christmas trees. They found that the TSN, when combined with traditional knife shearing or growth regulator treatments, “might offer a method to produce dense trees with minimal shearing or to leave longer leaders to produce a more open “European-style” tree with a layered, natural appearance.

According to the study, published in the April 2008 issue of HortTechnology, use of the Top-Stop Nipper shows promise for tree growers, but “there is so much variation among trees that the effect of the TSN on long-term appearance, quality, and marketability of Fraser firs is yet unknown.” One thing is certain: Americans can look forward to new and improved holiday decorating as researchers and growers listen to consumer preferences and create ways to produce picture-perfect Christmas trees.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/256

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at: http://ashs.org

 

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Original Article:

Top-Stop Nipper Reduces Leader Growth in Fraser Fir Christmas Trees
M. Elizabeth Rutledge, John Frampton, L. Eric Hinesley, and Gary Blank
HortTechnology 2008 18: 256-260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail eric_hinesley@ncsu.edu

Migrant Laborers Valuable to Horticulture Industry

Presence of migrant workers raises wages and work hours for all workers

AUBURN, AL—Despite tremendous growth in mechanization and technological advances, nursery, greenhouse, and sod production in the U.S. are still extremely labor-intensive. The agricultural industry depends heavily on laborers who can provide on-time production of highly perishable horticultural crops. Savvy employers know that a skilled and accessible labor supply is imperative for the agricultural industry’s continued growth and stability.

Migrant workers account for a large percentage of the U.S. agricultural labor force. Recent congressional debates and pending changes in immigration reform legislation could have a substantial impact on the industry and, in turn, American consumers.

A study published in the April 2008 issue of HortTechnology examines and analyzes the effects of migrant labor on wages, hours, and gross sales in Alabama’s horticulture industry. Using data from a 2004 survey of 2,286 Alabama “green industry” producers, researchers set out to estimate the effects of migrant labor on wages, hours worked, and gross sales in Alabama’s horticulture industry.

According to Moriah Bellenger, a graduate student in the Department of Economics at Oregon State University and lead author of the research study, the presence of migrant workers in a labor force was found to raise average wages within green industry firms, but had no significant effects on hours and sales.

Bellenger stated, “Contrary to fears expressed by local workers, in this study, the presence of migrant workers appears to raise wage levels for both seasonal part-time and full-time workers. The total number of hours worked by seasonal part-time and full-time employees is also positively related to wage rates.”

The study also indicated that producer’s concerns about government regulations may influence their decision to hire migrant workers. Specifically, employers who perceive government regulations as a threat to their industry are less likely to hire migrant laborers. Bellenger and her colleagues at Auburn University noted that more research is needed to determine workers’ perceptions of the impact of migrant and laborers on the horticulture industry.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/301

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Producer Preferences for Migrant Labor and the Wage, Hours, and Gross Sales Effects in Alabama’s Horticulture Industry
Moriah Bellenger, Deacue Fields, Kenneth Tilt, and Diane Hite
HortTechnology 2008 18: 301-307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail fieldde@auburn.edu

Southern Farmers Realize Profits from Highbush Blueberries

New blueberry crops may enhance Georgia’s economy

Southern highbush blueberry.   Click here for more information.

TIFTON, GA — Southern highbush blueberries are emerging as an important fruit crop in Georgia, but experienced farmers say the fruit can be a challenge to grow. To determine if the blueberry shows true promise as a profitable crop, researchers at the University of Georgia recently studied the economics of these tiny berries.

Esendugue Greg Fonsah, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia, undertook a research project designed to determine the profitability of the blueberry industry in Georgia by estimating total costs of cultivating southern highbush blueberries. He explained that, although there are several methods of profit determination, the “risk-rated” method was adopted for his study.

According to Fonsah, “Southern highbush blueberries are a rapidly emerging crop with a bright future in Georgia. These berries ripen during a lucrative market window in April and May, but blueberries, like other fruit crops, are subject to price and yield fluctuation. These volatilities depend on several factors, including the cultivar produced and product sold (i.e., fresh or frozen), locality, aggregate productivity, targeted market, and timing. As a result, profit margin is very difficult to determine.”

Fonsah and his team studied the costs of growing the highbush blueberries over a four-year period. The first year of the study, establishment and maintenance cost of growing the crop in Georgia was approximately $9585.55 per acre. After the fourth year, which was considered to be the first year of actual full production, the cost was estimated at $13,547.35 per acre. The compounded and recaptured establishment annual costs were $2176.43 per acre, and the risk-rated expected returns over total costs 66% of the time were $5452.65 per acre. Fonsah remarked, “In conclusion, our research showed that the chance that farmers will show a profit from the highbush blueberry crop is 92%.”

Dr. Fonsah commented that “the results of our study show that the blueberry industry is viable and worth farmers’ investment. From our research results, we can inform growers that their return on investment will be positive. Also, our study explained agricultural practices necessary to grow good-quality blueberries. The impact is already visible as growers are expanding their acreage. This increase in acreage plus experience will boost production and value. The viability of the blueberry industry will have a spill-over effect to the agricultural economy, in that growers will need to buy more materials and machines. This will translate into the creation of jobs in our area.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/17/4/571/

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

 

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Original Article:

Risk-rated Economic Return Analysis for Southern Highbush Blueberries in Soil in Georgia
Esendugue Greg Fonsah, Gerard Krewer, Kerry Harrison, and Michael Bruorton
HortTechnology 2007 17: 571-579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: gfonsah@uga.edu

“V45″ Harvester Moves South

High-tech harvester cuts labor costs, maintains quality of Southern blueberry crops

A bowl of berries is a treat for the eye as well as a delight for the palate. But these tasty little morsels happen to be quite tricky to grow,…  Click here for more information.

KEARNEYSVILLE, WV — To meet increasing consumer demands for healthy, high-quality fruit, commercial growers in the United States are ramping up production of blueberries. Domestic production of this tiny antioxidant-packed “super food” has increased in seven Southeastern states, accounting for almost one-third of the U.S. acreage of two of the most popular types of blueberries.

Looking for ways to maintain blueberry quality while keeping production costs low, researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) turned to the “V45″. A mechanical harvester originally developed in 1994 to process blueberries in Michigan, the “V45″ was named for its “V” shaped, 45-degree-angled cutting tool. The V45 features an innovative cane-dividing and positioning system and cushioned surfaces for catching delicate berries. The once-experimental machine was proven to be effective as a commercial harvester for northern highbush blueberries in Michigan, but until recently had not been widely used by growers of southern blueberry cultivars.

Dr. Fumiomi Takeda, Research Horticulturalist and Lead Scientist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, and a team of researchers published their findings of the V45 study in the January 2008 issue of HortTechnology. The study was performed in Georgia to evaluate harvest efficiency and fruit quality of the V45 harvester on specially pruned rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberry crops. Takeda noted that northern and southern highbush blueberries are most often grown for the fresh fruit market and are almost exclusively hand-harvested. Highbush berries are of higher quality and have a longer shelf life than rabbiteye blueberries, which are often machine-harvested in June and July.

According to the report, harvesting highbush blueberries is labor-intensive, requiring up to 520 hours of labor per acre. With labor costs projected to rise while fruit prices are expected to drop as the blueberry industry expands in areas of the southeast U.S. and California, researchers are looking for ways to develop mechanized harvesting system for southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries that retains the fruit’s fresh-market quality.

To study the effects of mechanical pruning techniques on fruit yield, blueberry bushes were pruned to remove 30% to 50% of the canopy and open the middle, resulting in V-shaped plants of rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries. Researchers discovered that yields of winter-pruned ‘Brightwell’ rabbiteye blueberry were lower compared with unpruned plants during both years, but winter-pruned ‘Powderblue’ rabbiteye blueberry plants produced as much as unpruned plants in 2005. In ‘FL 86-19’ southern highbush blueberry, plants that were summer-pruned in June produced as much as unpruned plants the following year, but plants that were winter-pruned in February had lower yields than unpruned plants the same year.

To reduce labor requirements and the cost of harvesting fruit produced for processing, effective power pruning and hedging equipment and mechanical harvesting systems are critical. Takeda explained the significance of the research, stating: “We found that V45 has the potential to mechanically harvest some rabbiteye cultivars while maintaining quality approaching that of hand-harvested fruit. Improved V45 mechanical harvesting system for blueberries in Georgia can help to reduce cost of harvesting and relieve potential labor shortage because of stricter immigration laws.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/1/130

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Assessment of the V45 Blueberry Harvester on Rabbiteye Blueberry and Southern Highbush Blueberry Pruned to V-Shaped Canopy Fumiomi Takeda, Gerard Krewer, Elvin L. Andrews, Benjamin Mullinix, Jr, and Donald L. Peterson
HortTechnology 2008 18: 130-138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: fumi.takeda@ars.usda.gov

DNA fingerprinting simplified

Teen helps design classroom DNA experiments using common food dyes

Andrew N. Trigiano, a middle school student, completing an electrophoresis experiment with food dyes. Click here for more information.

KNOXVILLE, TN — Agarose gel electrophoresis” Most teenagers wouldn’t have a clue what this scientific term means, but middle school student Andrew Trigiano knows the protocol inside and out. When Andrew was 12, his father Robert Trigiano, a professor at the University of Tennessee, was looking for an interesting science project for his son. Setting out to compare differences in popular brands of Easter egg dyes, Trigiano’s project soon grew into a full-blown scientific study and set of replicable classroom experiments.

One of the most frequently used tools in biochemistry and biotechnology, agarose gel electrophoresis is a common forensic technique often used in genetic or DNA fingerprinting. The procedure is achieved by moving negatively charged nucleic acid molecules through a gelatinous substance known as agarose by using an electric field.

Andrew, in collaboration with his father and other researchers, completed the study, which is published in the January 2008 issue the American Society of Horticultural Science’s journal HortTechnology. The youngest author ever to publish in an ASHS journal, Andrew was only 12 when he began the research project and 14 when the study was published.

The resulting experiments were developed for use in middle and high school classrooms or for teachers and undergraduate students who have limited hands-on experience with this technique. As Dr. Trigiano explained, “one experiment, electrophoresis of common food dyes, was designed for secondary and undergraduate students but can be used as an inexpensive means for introducing the main concepts of electrophoresis to anyone. Popular brands of food dyes (red, blue, yellow, and green) purchased at local markets are mixed into a 60% glycerol/water solution and are separated on 1% agarose gels. Mixed colors are separated into primary colors (e.g., green into blue and yellow) and some apparently single dyes often have extra “surprise” components.”

Explaining another experiment from the study, Trigiano continued: “The second laboratory exercise requires more extensive equipment and a more advanced set of skills, but the exercise has been completed successfully by middle school-level through graduate-level students and teachers. In this exercise, the internally transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal subunit for a fungus, plant, and insect are amplified and separated electrophoretically on agarose gels. A simple crime is solved using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA fingerprinting.”

The experiments outlined in the study provide students with hands-on practice assembling master mixes for PCR, using pipettes, and performing the various steps involved in PCR amplification. Instructions for both exercises are formatted in easy-to-follow procedure boxes, and a downloadable presentation is available on the web. The cost of supplies is about one dollar per student, making these exercises relatively inexpensive to conduct.

Dr. Trigiano hopes the experiments will be a vehicle to introduce electrophoresis to students of all ages. “The experiments are fun, engaging and inexpensive compared to most commercially available kits. The downloadable PowerPoint presentation also helps explain the process visually. The techniques are easily understood and completed by students of all ages with a minimum of equipment and other resources.”

Trigiano attributes his son Andrew for much of the research study’s success. “Andrew did most of the PowerPoint presentation, the dye figures in the article, much of the experimentation with the dyes and helped develop the dye-based forensic exercise.” From the results, it’s clear that this teenager has science in his DNA.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/1/177

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

 

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Original Article:

Two Simple and Inexpensive Laboratory Exercises for Teaching Agarose Gel Electrophoresis and DNA Fingerprinting
R.N. Trigiano, B.H. Ownley, A.N. Trigiano, J. Coley, K.D. Gwinn, and J.K. Moulton
HortTechnology 2008 18: 177-188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: rtrigian@utk.edu

Over the back fence: gardeners get advice from neighbors, friends

University extension services perceived as more credible, but need to become more convenient

ST. PAUL, MN — Where do gardeners turn when they need information about annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees? Staff at University of Minnesota Extension have published results of a survey that concludes that the majority of backyard gardeners get their planting and plant information informally—most often from friends, neighbors and local garden centers.

The survey of 1,000 Minnesota gardeners published in the January–March, 2008 issue of HortTechnology showed that although respondents viewed the The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as more credible than garden centers, 78% of respondents indicated that they were most likely to turn to neighbors and friends for gardening advice.

Dr. Mary Hockenberry Meyer, Professor of Horticultural Science and Extension Horticulturist at UM Extension, explained, “We wanted to determine where gardeners got their information and if they think university information is of higher quality than information from garden centers or home centers. We found that university information is viewed as higher quality; however, a large number of people indicated they “did not know” the quality of university information, which surprised us.”

The survey also indicated that gardeners’ age determined the most likely sources for information seeking. Older gardeners were less likely to use the Internet than younger gardeners. When asked “How do you learn best”", most respondents said that they had not attended a gardening class in the past year and indicated they learn best from talking with friends. Access to publications containing color photos and illustrations was also highly valued by gardeners who responded to the survey.

According to Dr. Meyer, the information from the Minnesota survey can be useful to other universities, extension programs, and arboreta dedicated to providing relevant resources for gardeners. She stated, “Participants in this survey indicated they look for convenient sources of gardening information and, although many felt the land-grant university and arboretum were highly credible and knowledgeable, they were still more likely to use other sources for their gardening information. This poses a challenge to universities and arboreta to use new ways to reach gardeners.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site:http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/1/162

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Consumer Preferences and Perceptions of Gardening Information
Mary Hockenberry Meyer and Karl Foord
HortTechnology 2008 18: 162-167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: meyer023@umn.edu

Categories: HortTechnology