From Mark Bridgen, director of the Long Island Horticulture Research and Extension Center.
This year $19,065 in grants was awarded for 9 different research projects:
- Efficacy of cultural control measures for Alternaria Leaf Spot (Alternaria spp.) on California Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium). Alexis Alvey and Margery Daughtrey.
- Effectiveness of the insect-parasitic nematode, Steinernema Feltiae, for control of Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella Occidentalis. Nora Catlin and Daniel Gilrein.
- Identifying the best cut-flower lilies for Long Island farm stands. Margery Daughtrey and Mark Bridgen.
- A Victory Garden demonstration at the LIHREC. Jane Foster and the Cornell Gardeners.
- Testing the phytotoxicity of organic and minimum-risk insecticides labeled for organic use on woody ornamentals. Dan Gilrein.
- Tillage radish: a new cover crop for Long Island growers. Sandra Menasha.
- Monitoring resistance to fungicides and impact on control of Cucurbit Powdery Mildew to guide fungicide recommendations and support section 18 request. Margaret McGrath.
- Evaluating disease resistant tomato varieties. Margaret McGrath.
- Investigating impact on management of pathogen adaptation to powdery mildew resistance in melon, pumpkin, and squash. Margaret McGrath.
The Friends of Long Island Horticulture was organized in 1993 by individuals in the New York horticulture industry to raise funds that are greatly needed to support the research and educational efforts of Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) and the Cornell Cooperative Extension. To date, through the generosity of many ‘Friends’, more than $427,000 has been awarded through the competitive grant process.
In 2010, Friends of Long Island Horticulture awarded $28,190 to 13 different projects.