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K-State Today

September 12, 2014

Horticulture faculty participate at the International Horticultural Congress

Submitted by Candice Shoemaker

Shoemaker, Rivard, and Pliakoni (left to right) in the Exhibit Hall at the Congress

Several faculty from the horticulture, forestry and recreation resources department recently presented at the 29th International Horticultural Congress, Aug. 17-22, in Brisbane, Australia. The congress, a meeting of the International Society for Horticultural Science, occurs every four years. This congress included 43 symposia covering a wide range of topics on all aspects of horticulture.

Eleni Pliakoni, assistant professor of urban food production and postharvest handling, presented the poster "Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence as an Indicator of Brown Stain (CO2 Injury) in Romaine Lettuce."

Cary Rivard, assistant professor of fruit and vegetable production, extension specialist and director of K-State Research & Extension Center–Olathe, gave the presentation "Effect of Seedling Shoot Removal on the Yield of Grafted Tomatoes in High Tunnels in the Central United States." Rivard also gave the presentation "The Growing Growers Farmer Education Program."

Candice Shoemaker, professor and department head, gave the presentation "Building a New Graduate Program: A Model for Collaboration between Institutions and Industry" and "Career Exploration of Horticultural Therapy Professionals: United States, Japan, and Korea." Shoemaker also served as the convener for the symposium "Horticulture & Human Communities: People, Plants and Place" and as a chair of two oral sessions.

Kim Williams, professor of greenhouse management and university distinguished teaching scholar, gave the presentation "Challenges of using Organic Fertilizers in Hydroponic and Recirculating Production Systems." Williams also presented the poster "Differences between the Physiological Disorders of Intumescences and Edemata."

Williams followed participation in the conference with a visit to the University of Queensland where she began collaboration with Australian colleagues who are conducting scholarship of teaching and learning in the sciences. Rivard and Pliakoni also toured several organic farms representing a variety of food production systems including permaculture, biodynamics and radionics.