Research is Creating New Knowledge

Here at the ASCFG Research Foundation we feel strongly that you should know how the funds you donated to support research on cut flowers have been spent. A panel of seven of your peers evaluated five proposals submitted by researchers, and they agreed that four of these should be funded. Thank you to those committee members for their participation. Here are the projects, listed in alphabetical order of the authors: 

Gary Chastagner and Ph.D. student Andrea Garfinkel, Washington State University, will be surveying peony diseases occurring in the central and eastern parts of the United States.             

Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University proposes to test the control of western flower thrips using water sprays or the application of beneficial nematodes on cut flower species.                

John Dole, North Carolina State University, will continue his studies of the best techniques needed to handle the new cut flowers being grown in the ASCFG Trials programs.                

At Virginia Tech, Holly Scoggins and her graduate research assistant Leslie Peck will test a range of new techniques to extend the vase life of popular dahlia varieties.

By accepting our money, these researchers have agreed to report the results of their work to us in The Cut Flower Quarterly or other means in about a year’s time. We hope that you agree with us that this has been money well spent, and that we should keep the program going in the coming years.  But that requires money.

If you’re one of the generous members who contributed at renewal time, or who recently returned the donor card with a payment—thank you! We’re grateful for your support. If you weren’t able to donate last year, we’re working on other ways you can help build the Foundation fund. We know that the Auctions held at Conferences are not only fun, but bring in tidy sums. Plan to participate in this year’s Auctions at the Grand Rapids Conference by donating and purchasing items.

Every dollar you spend will go directly to cut flower research!