Farewell Letter from Retiring Research Director, Dr. Terril Nell

Industry colleagues and friends,  As many of you may know, I will be retiring from AFE at the end of 2023. At the threshold of a new chapter in my life, my heart fills with gratitude for the incredible journey I’ve had in the floral industry. Looking back, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by the profound impact AFE has had on my life and career. Unwavering grant support, the platform to explore innovative and impactful research, and lifelong collaboration with those in our vibrant community have helped shape me into the person I am today. It has been a privilege to serve and contribute to an industry that breathes this kind of life, beauty, and camaraderie into the world.…

Passing of the Torch: AFE Research Director Dr. Terril Nell Retires

Dr. Nell has spent his entire career working for the benefit of the floral industry. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Floriculture after a 35-year tenure at the University of Florida, where he served as Chair of the Environmental Horticulture Department from 1991–2012. His research has led to the development of best practices and advances within the floral industry leading to improved flower and plant longevity. He has consulted for growers, wholesalers, and retailers nationally and internationally for over 40 years. A highly respected care and handling expert, Dr. Nell co-authored the Flower and Plant Care Manual produced by the Society of American Florists and Flowering Potted Plants: Prolonging Freshness by Ball Publishing. For the past nine years, Dr. Nell has served as the…

Manipulating Light to Improve Quality of Cut Flowers

Once completed, this research will provide growers with well-defined recommendations for vegetative and reproductive growth to increase cut flower production efficiency and profitability. Specifically, we are quantifying how several new and commercially important cut flower varieties respond to daylength and/or vernalization temperature and duration to ultimately determine how these environmental parameters should be managed to hasten flower initiation and induction without negatively impacting stem quality and yield. This information is especially crucial for cut flower growers located in northern latitudes as they transition to year-round greenhouse production.   Bluebeard (Caryopteris ×clandonensis) and Billy button (Pycnosorus globosus) are both crops that have been recently introduced as cut flowers, however, there is very little production and flower induction information available. These crops have the…

The Influence of Internships

AFE’s Visits with Students and Faculty at Michigan State University Just a few short weeks ago, AFE Staff, alongside the Vic & Margaret Ball Committee, had the opportunity to visit Michigan State University (MSU) to review internship applications, select students, and spend some time with faculty and students who directly benefit from the Endowment’s programs. Every year, the Vic & Margaret Ball Committee meets in March and October to evaluate applications and select students for its prestigious internship program. The program awards three-, four-, or six-month internships to students pursuing a career in commercial production/growing.  On top of the paid internship, students receive a scholarship of up to $6,000 upon completion. This program grants a full-circle experience of both hands-on…

2024 National Floriculture Forum: A Gathering of Floriculture Experts and Educators!

We cordially invite floriculture stakeholders from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and the floriculture/greenhouse industry to join us in Biloxi for the 2024 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) taking place from Thursday to Saturday, February 22-24, 2024. For over two decades, dedicated faculty and educators have collaborated to organize these annual events that promote unity, communication, and advancement within the floriculture community. .“After a pause due to the global pandemic, the 2024 National Floriculture Forum will make an exciting return, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and students in the spirit of collaboration and innovation that has long defined the floricultural community,” Dr. Jim DelPrince, this year’s conference co-chair, said. “This event holds great significance as we move forward together, addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie…

Optimizing the Efficacy of Beneficial Bacteria Against Botrytis Blight in Greenhouse Crops

Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of botrytis blight or gray mold, the most common and economically devasting disease for greenhouse crops. Fungicides are routinely used to control Botrytis; however, some Botrytis strains are developing resistance to those chemicals. Beneficial bacteria have been used successfully as biological control agents for disease control. The Jones laboratory at Ohio State University has screened a collection of beneficial bacteria to identify strains that can control Botrytis blight in petunia. These experiments have identified some strains of Pseudomonas bacteria that are effective microbial biocontrol agents (MBCAs). We have characterized these bacteria to identify potential modes of action by which they inhibit the severity of Botrytis blight. This research was made possible by a research…

AFE Spotlight at Proflora 2023: Two Informative Presentations and an Award of Recognition

Proflora, Colombia’s premier horticultural trade show, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. After a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the event returned in-person with a bang, drawing over 300 exhibitors from 18 different countries. Organized by Asocolflores, one of the key sponsors of the American Floral Endowment’s Thrips and Botrytis Campaign, Proflora 2023 was a resounding success. AFE’s Research Director Dr. Terril Nell, Executive Committee Chairman Ken Young, and researchers Dr. Melissa Muñoz and Ashley Summerfield attended, representing the Endowment and sharing our important work. AFE seized this opportunity to connect with industry members from across the world and delivered two informative presentations that highlighted the latest research on Thrips and Botrytis management..Dr. Melissa…

A Spotlight on Thrips and Botrytis Management at Cultivate 2023

An incredible 188 people attended AFE’s educational session “Effective Management of Thrips and Botrytis” at Cultivate ’23 this July. It was one of the highest attended sessions in the history of the event.   This session was part of the American Floral Endowment’s Thrips and Botrytis Campaign, an initiative aimed at reducing the impact of these pests on the floriculture industry. Dr. Rose Buitenhuis from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre shared insights into the components of a successful thrips IPM program, including identification of different thrips species and biological control. Dr. Jim Faust from Clemson University focused on the recommended techniques for reducing botrytis from the greenhouse to the postharvest environment. The session provided participants with practical information that could…

Helping the Next Generation Succeed at ASHS

Warm weather, beautiful summer blooms, and a vibrant student presence were the backdrop for this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida from July 31-August 4th, which was attended by nearly 1100 people. AFE was proud to support ASHS’s efforts to engage young professionals by sponsoring the Education and Career Day, the Undergraduate Poster Competition, and the Floriculture Professional Interest Group’s Oral Presentation Competition for Graduate students. AFE’s Research Coordinator Laura Barth attended to present the AFE-sponsored awards and connect with AFE Young Professionals Council (YPC) members and scholarship winners who were in attendance. Events like ASHS are crucial in the development of budding researchers, growers, educators, and leaders, and AFE is dedicated to fostering…

AFE’s Research Director, Dr. Terril Nell, Inducted into the Floriculture Hall of Fame

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is excited to celebrate and recognize Research Director, Terril Nell, Ph.D., AAF for his recent induction into the 2023 Society of American Florists (SAF) Floriculture Hall of Fame. Dr. Nell was awarded this accolade at SAF’s 2023 Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.The Floriculture Hall of Fame is the industry’s highest honor. It is designed to recognize and encourage the highest standards of service and professional responsibility in members of the floral industry. The goals of this award are to: provide appropriate recognition honoring those men and women of sound moral character and high integrity who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the advancement of floriculture as an integral part of the American way of…

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