Organization And Plan Of Work

Overview

Research Areas

Research Areas

 I. Animal and Alternative Livestock

·        Evaluation of doe reproductive output, fitness and longevity among three meat goat breeds

·        Management strategies to improve meat goat and guinea fowl production

·        Nutritional and management strategies to improve growth and production performance of guinea fowl

II. Economics and Policy Research Team

·        Analyzing the green industry and related sub-sectors in Tennessee: challenges and prospects

·        Evaluating strategies to promote the goat meat industry in Tennessee

·        Impact of the tobacco buyout program and strategies to promote economic viability of small farmers

·        Reducing risk of food borne illness by characterizing food pathogens and risky consumer practices

 III. Environmental Assessment at Enhancement

·        Assessment of nutrients in the Collins River basin

·        Biopesticides to control diseases and insects and improve water quality from container nursery stock

·        Controlling imported fire ants in the nursery industry using behavior modifying chemicals

·        Development of treatments to manage quarantine insects in field nursery production

·        Pathology research to benefit the Tennessee nursery industry

IV. Food Safety Nutrition and Family Well-Being

·        Developing a recombinant antibody-based biosensor for rapid detection of salmonella in foods

·        Improving families through improved nutrition and well-being of limited resource households

·        Reducing the costs of food borne illnesses to small producers, selected food handlers and consumers

V. Nursery, Medicinal and Alternative Crops

·        Evaluation and characterization of heirloom varieties of tomato, pepper and eggplant

·        Evaluation of pathogen infectivity in stressed plants.

·        Evaluation of poinsettias and seasonal alternative crops for production in Tennessee

·        Functional studies on cold and heat-regulated genes using tomato as a model plant

·        Germplasm collection and evaluation of Goldenseal clones with superior properties

·        Molecular approaches for the study of leaf surface microorganisms in ornamental crops