tHRIve - WEB SERIES

Explore the hidden world of boxwood microbiomes and how they impact plant health in this webinar summary. Learn about beneficial microbes, the effects of fungicides and antidesiccants, and how research on soil microbiomes is paving the way for sustainable boxwood cultivation. Discover how mycorrhizal fungi can enhance blight tolerance and why soil may be a reservoir for pathogens.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Box Tree Moth Compliance Agreement, including its goals, implementation strategies, and the roles of various stakeholders. Attendees will also learn practical tips for complying with the agreement and mitigating the moth’s impact. Understanding the BTM Compliance Agreement - Join us for an in-depth webinar on the Box Tree Moth Compliance Agreement, designed to protect our boxwood plants from this invasive pest. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the agreement’s objectives, key provisions, and the roles of various stakeholders in its implementation. BTM Regulations and Regulated Areas - Explore the BTM regulations with a detailed analysis of how these regulations were designed to control this invasive pest, including an understanding of the BTM quarantines. Learn why these regulations are essential for protecting the nursery trade and the economy and how you can contribute to these efforts. What is the National Plant Board? A brief introduction to the National Plant Board and their role in BTM Compliance Agreements and other phytosanitary topics. Maintaining Training Records and What to Expect During Inspections - Learn why record-keeping is essential and gain an understanding of what to expect during BTM compliance inspections.

his educational session aims to equip nursery producers, gardeners, and plant health professionals with vital knowledge and strategies to combat the pervasive threat of Calonectria pseudonaviculata, the fungus responsible for the devastating boxwood blight. Boxwood blight, a serious concern for the horticulture industry, jeopardizes the health and viability of boxwood plants, significantly impacting the ornamental plant market. Addressing this issue, the webinar will delve into the critical control points in nursery production, emphasizing effective sanitation practices to prevent and manage the spread of this disease. Attendees of the webinar can expect to gain: An understanding of the lifecycle and spread of Calonectria pseudonaviculata. Insight into the latest research and developments in boxwood blight control. Practical guidance on implementing effective sanitation and preventive measures in nursery production. Strategies for identifying critical control points to mitigate the risk of boxwood blight in their operations.  This webinar is essential for anyone involved in the cultivation, care, or management of boxwood

Are you seeking to fortify your expertise in identifying and managing Boxwood Tree Moth (BTM)? Watch the recording for an in-depth webinar focused on the nuances of BTM identification, lookalikes, controls, trapping, and scouting.

This webinar dives into the emerging nursery problem of Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD). In this session, experts will provide a comprehensive overview, sharing insights gleaned from surveys, research updates, and practical management strategies. From understanding the timeline of recognition to discussing the fungus associated with VSD, its range of hosts, and symptoms, our speakers will cover it all. Delve into the latest research findings on identifying causal agents, fungicide efficacy trials, and cultivar screening. Whether you're a nursery owner, researcher, or simply interested in plant health, this webinar offers valuable knowledge and a platform for addressing your queries. Join us as we tackle VSD head-on and explore effective management approaches to safeguard woody ornamentals.

The Boxwood Blight Insight Group (BBIG) invites horticulturists, researchers, and plant enthusiasts to join an insightful webinar titled, "In the Lab and the Landscape at the National Arboretum: Boxwood Genomics and AI Solutions for Blight Detection and Protection." This webinar will offer an exploration of the latest boxwood research from the National Arboretum, with a focus on the intersection of boxwood breeding, genomics, and machine learning.

Dr. Christopher Ranger - Research Entomologist·USDA Agricultural Research Service

The Boxwood Blight Insight Group is pleased to host the next webinar in their on-going efforts to assist the industry manage boxwood health in the nursery and in landscapes.

Presented by Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden  What happens when you mix a desire to support pollinator health with a passion for growing beautiful, high-performing plants? What if you then added in a commitment to sharing information with and assisting a community of gardeners? For more than two decades, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has trialed plants with the goal of determining what plants work best in the Mid-West region. Over the last three years, they’ve paid particular attention to which plants bring in and support the most pollinators. Their renowned plant trials and expertise, combined with their impressive position within the surrounding gardening community, has created a unique program where gardeners and pollinators work hand-in-hand helping the horticultural industry thrive. Join us for an exciting look into this unique program, the best pollinator plants, and the people behind it all with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s own director of horticulture, Steve Foltz. Inspiring every visitor, every day with plants!

Thrips parvispinus may lack a universally accepted common name (some refer to it as Pepper Thrips, others as tropical tobacco thrips), but by whatever name you might call it, it is one destructive little pest. Native to the Asian tropics, T. parvispinus has been reported in or intercepted from five continents in the last 30 years and has a wide range of host plants including vegetable, fruit, and ornamental plants.

Boxwood producers and boxwood plantings are facing a new threat—the invasion of the box tree moth (BTM-Cydalima perspectalis), an invasive insect from East Asia. With total annual value of U.S. sales at an estimated $141 Million, boxwood is an important revenue source for plant producers. Boxwood plantings are among the oldest plantings in the United States, with living plants dating back to the 1700s. The triple threat of box tree moth on revenue for boxwood producers, on the viability of historic boxwood plantings, and on the health of boxwood plantings throughout North America makes this pest high-consequence.  In this webinar, Dr. Jeanine West will provide background on the box tree moth best management practices developed in Canada, where the pest was first detected in 2018. Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo will share updates from Western New York, where the pest was first detected in 2021, including phenology, biology, and ecology. Phenology of the Box Tree Moth in Western New York This presentation, led by Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo, will discuss the data collected on this invasive pest in Niagara County, New York from June to October in 2022. A Virginia Tech research team documented the fluctuation of densities for this insect utilizing adult trapping and visual examinations. Additional field observations on the biology and ecology of this insect in its new US invasive range will be shared during this presentation. Managing BTM in the Nursery Immediately following the first report of BTM in Toronto, Canada, the nursery growers’ association formed a best management practices document. Over the last few years, these “BMP’s” have evolved along with the science, and nurseries across Canada are using this information to guide BTM management and/or prevention at their farms. Dr. Jeanine West will share experiences and challenges of boxwood producers in the regulated area

Presented by Iryna Matsiakh - Doctor of Biological Science - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Iryna Matsiakh will be rounding out our seminar series with a talk on the unique boxwood forests (Buxus colchica) in the Caucasus: their habitat, ecology and biodiversity. Dr. Matsiakh is Dr. in Forestry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre and in the Forestry Department of the Ukrainian National Forestry University. Boxwood trees growing in the Caucasus Mountains are threatened by habitat loss and defoliation by an introduced disease, boxwood blight, and an introduced insect, the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis. Dr. Matsiakh’s story will include invasive species introductions, actions taken by forestry authorities against box tree moth, research studies and the current situation in boxwood forests.