Heavy Metal Contamination in Hemp

Destany Westlake (recently graduated M.S.) has researched heavy metal uptake and contamination in hemp. Heavy metals are heavily regulated by the EPA as a contaminant and pose a significant threat to hemp growers because of its tendency to accumulate heavy metals. Destany evaluated soil testing methods to determine the plant-availability of heavy metals in crop inputs, and strategies to reduce the risk of plant uptake of heavy metals with substrate amendments such as peat, lime, and biochar.

Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
Further information: Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida (pfisher@ufl.edu)

Energy and economics of vertical indoor propagation

Jacob Muller (recently graduated with an M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering) is researching the energy demand and economics of vertical indoor propagation ("VIP") of young plants under sole-source LED lighting. This technology is being used by leading growers to consistently produce hard-to-root transplants such as tissue culture plants.
However, to confidently adopt VIP technology, growers need information on system design, capital and operating costs, and return on investment.

Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
Further information: Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida (pfisher@ufl.edu)

Training Needs and High Tech Irrigation

Nelda Hernandez (Ph.D. student at UF) is focusing on both staff and automation to improve irrigation of young plants.
Nelda developed the “Professional Irrigator” grower training series which combines online and hands-on activities on various irrigation topics. The goal of this training is to standardize staff training in irrigation practices to ensure high quality plants and effective water use.

Nelda is also researching high-tech automation of irrigation for seedling plugs. Currently, irrigation decisions rely on subjective methods such as time-based schedules, grower experience, and tray weight. While helpful, these methods are not always objective or practical for commercial use. Using a combination of thermal and RGB cameras, climate and plant sensors, Nelda’s research aims to establish objective parameters for irrigation decisions.

This project will eventually expand to include sensors and cameras mounted on irrigation booms in greenhouses to map water needs and trigger automated irrigation events.

Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
Further information: University of Florida (Dr. Paul Fisher, pfisher@ufl.edu)

Improving Propagation Practices with AI and Sensors

Carly Anderson (Ph.D. student at UF) is researching how new technologies such as AI and climate sensors can support greenhouse propagation practices. Carly's PhD project includes:

• AI chatbots based on scientific publications and focused on specific topics such as cuttings and stock plants.
• A climate dashboard to summarize current greenhouse conditions, and highlight issues in real time.
• Evaluating sensors including leaf wetness and tray weight to finetune mist irrigation.
• Measuring output and uniformity of irrigation booms to benchmark water use by young plant growers.

Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
Further information: Paul Fisher, University of Florida (pfisher@ufl.edu)

Ozone and Cold Plasma Technology for Water Treatment

Dr. Dharti Thakulla recently completed a series of research projects evaluating ozone and cold plasma technologies for water treatment. Microbial contamination of the nutrient solution is a key challenge faced by growers using recirculating systems or surface water supplies. She and undergradute Heather Buss ran a series of experiments on dose response for cold plasma and ozone for controlling biofilm organisms and Pythium, in addition to effects on compatibility with micronutrient fertilizers and beneficial microbes.

Last updated: 2 Nov 2026
Further information: Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida (pfisher@ufl.edu)

Managing Supplemental Lighting and Temperature to Prevent Undesirable Foliage Color in Rooted Cuttings

Charlie Smith is a PhD student at Michigan State University. He is researching how to prevent the development of purple foliage in vegetatively propagated crops such as petunia.

As more young growers replace high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps and adopt light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures as their main source of supplemental lighting, they are reporting that some unrooted cuttings grown under these high-intensity LEDs are developing purple and chlorotic foliage.

Preliminary work suggests that the purpling is occurring from a combination of the high-energy, short wavelength blue light being emitted onto the crop, and the drop in plant temperature that occurs when switching from HPS lamps to LEDs.

From this work, we hope to develop environmental protocols that growers utilizing LEDs can employ to prevent or mitigate the onset of this foliage discoloration.

Last updated: 12 Nov 2025
Further information: Roberto Lopez and Erik Runkle (rglopez@msu.edu)

Determining the Critical Cycle Number for Flower Induction in Begonia and Dahlia

Sean Tarr is a research technician at Michigan State University and is studying how a defined number of short-day cycles influences flowering time, and flower quantity and morphology in floriculture crops such as dahlia and begonia.

Dahlia is a facultative short-day plant: while short days accelerate flowering, prolonged exposure also promotes tuber formation, which can be undesirable in production. There may be a critical cycle number where a limited short-day exposure hastens flowering without inducing tuberization.

Identifying this threshold could provide growers with a strategy to improve crop timing during spring to mid-summer in dahlia, tuberous begonia, and other photoperiod-sensitive crops, including ornamental grasses.

Last updated: 12 Nov 2025
Further information: Dr. Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University (rglopez@msu.edu)