Plants, People, Science American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)

Spring has sprung in the world of horticulture, and as Mother's Day nears, we welcome Dr. John Dole, a Professor of Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University. His current research activities focus on cut flowers, including new cultivar evaluations, production, postharvest, and marketing analysis. Dr. Dole opens our eyes to the science of cut flower production, the crucial post-harvest practices, and the flower's voyage from farm to tabletop. With his expertise, you'll h...

Embark on an intoxicating voyage through the storied groves of apple history and the intricate science of cider with Dr. Greg Peck from Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science. Prepare your palate for a revelation as we uncover why cider apples bear little resemblance to their grocery store relatives, and how a symphony of tannins, sugars, and acidity beautifully ferment into the cider that elevates our dining experiences. Greg's expertise illuminates the journey from orchard to glass, ...

We usher in a new era of the Plants People Science podcast with Curt Rom of the University of Arkansas joining Sam Humphrey as a Co-Host for Season 2. Rom's wealth of knowledge, from his roots as an undergraduate research assistant to his career in teaching and research, is set to invigorate our discussions with fresh insights. This episode introduces Curt with a discussion of his academic journey and explores his work and his contributions to the American Society for Horticultural Science.Le...

In the second part of our two-part series on strawberries, and the final episode of Season 1, Sam talks with Dr. Jayesh Samtani, an Associate Professor and Small Fruit Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech. As an extension specialist, he does a lot of work connecting with growers and other extension agents, in Virginia and numerous other states. He also runs a research program, which has covered a variety of strawberry projects, including cultivar evaluations, soil disinfestation, strawberry ...

In the first part of this two-part series on strawberries, Sam and Lara interview Dr. Gerald Holmes, director of the Strawberry Center at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He discusses the challenges that growers face, the costs of producing and harvesting strawberries, the factors that influence the flavor of the berries, and the future of the industry.To learn more about the Strawberry Center at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo go to https...

In this episode of Plants, People, Science, Sam and Lara talk with Dr. Teresita D. Amore, Associate Researcher in the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She discusses her orchid and anthurium breeding program, the traits that growers and designers are looking for, the rewarding aspects of her job, and what led to her career.To see Dr. Amore's work on the cover of HortScience go to https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/56/8/ho...