The American Floral Endowment has approved more than $310,000 in scientific research project funding for 2015-16 to support six continuing projects and five new projects, according to a news release.

“These projects will directly benefit the entire industry by providing information on production of insect and disease free plants and details of Botrytis infection on floral crops,” said Terril Nell, research coordinator at AFE, in the release.

The grants for plant breeding and genetic engineering projects were:

• Development of Petunia and Enhanced Stress Tolerance, Nicole Waterland, West Virginia University, $22,065 (year two of two).

• Making Better Plant Products by Understanding Dynamic Facets of Metabolism, Thomas A. Colquhoun, University of Florida, $33,000 (year one of three).

For disease management:

• Managing Pythium Species in Floriculture Irrigation Water, Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University, $40,000 (year two of three).

• Engineering Impatiens for Resistance to the Devastating Disease Downy Mildew, Zhanao Deng, University of Florida, $31,500 (year one of three).

For insection management:

• Beneficial Fungal Endophytes for Effective Insect Management in Floricultural Crops, Kevin Heinz, Texas A&M University, $34,000 (year three of three).

• A Novel Approach to Fungal-Based Thrips Management with Marigold Guardian Plants, Margaret Skinner, University of Vermont, $21,721 (year one of three).

The grants for post-production projects were:

• New and Potent Inhibitors of Ethylene Action for Improving Cut Flower Longevity, Rasika Dias, University of Texas at Arlington, $24,900 (year two of two).

• Postharvest Management of Botrytis During Shipping and Storage, John Dole, North Carolina State University, $31,000 (year one of three).

The grants for production technology/protocols projets were:

• Utilization of Ultraviolet-C Irradiation on Ornamental Plants for Disease Suppression, Growth Regulation and Extended Post-Harvest Longevity, Mark Bridgen, Cornell University, $18,700 (year three of three).

• Development and Evaluation of Various Biochars as Aggregates for Increasing Substrate pH Stability, Brian Jackson, North Carolina State University, $5,400 (year three of three).

Other (pollinator conservation and insecticide management):

• Impacts and Residual Longevity of Systemic Insecticides on Pollinators in Floricultural Plant Production Systems, Juang-Horng Chong, Clemson University, $50,621 (year one of two).

Research projects can last from one to three years, pre-proposal applications are due by June 1 each year and primary research priorities are focused on all floricultural crops — fresh cut flowers, fresh cut greens, flowering potted plants, foliage plants and bedding plants. They are:

• Biocontrol.

• Breeding. Can include breeding to enhance postharvest quality, plant and flower quality or to reduce insect and diseases.

• New technology to increase floriculture quality.

• Pest and disease. Focus areas are aphids, botrytis, downy/powdery mildews, leaf miners, thrips, whiteflies and others.

• Postharvest. Can include shelf life, transportation, home or garden performance.

AFE is also funding a new research project to examine the health of honeybees on ornamental plants following treatment with neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides. A new educational video was released that provides information on the horticultural industry’s essential role in bee and pollinator stewardship. The video was produced as part of the Horticultural Industry’s Bee & Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, which was established in 2014 in collaboration with the Society of American Florists, AmercanHort and HRI.

“In a future issue, we will inform about other activities of the Endowment in market research, consumer behavior, and ways people appreciate and use floral products,” Gabriel Becerra, board chairman at AFE, told The Produce News. “The AFE is making emphasis on getting all organizations of the floriculture industry to work together to promote it to young people through scholarships and internships -- get involved.”

More than 150 free online research reports on a variety of topics that focus on important floral industry issues are available at www.endowment.org/research.