From propagation to consumers: HRI research powers every link in the green industry supply chain

The horticulture industry continues to change as new technologies, production practices and
consumer expectations reshape the marketplace. Research plays an essential role in helping
growers, landscapers, and retailers adapt and succeed. That’s exactly where the Horticultural
Research Institute (HRI) enters the chat.

Every year, HRI selects and funds research projects that advance horticulture. In 2026, HRI is
investing more than $560,000 in 18 research projects that target challenges across the
horticultural supply chain, including plant production, pest and disease management, landscape
plant performance and consumer insights.

“What makes HRI research so valuable is that it focuses on real challenges the industry is facing right now,” said Mark Yelanich, HRI president and research director at Metrolina
Greenhouses. “The 2026 HRI-funded projects were selected because they develop knowledge, processes, or tools that businesses can actually use.”

HRI’s four strategic research priorities guide funding decisions, focusing on quantifying plant
benefits, creating innovative solutions, gathering consumer insights and producing practical
solutions to industry challenges. The 2026 projects reflect these priorities across the horticulture
supply chain.

Getting started in the supply chain

The supply chain starts with plant propagation. But, when plants root slowly or unevenly,
growers can face frustrating delays and unpredictability. In 2026, HRI is investing in projects that
will improve propagation systems and rooting success.

For example, Hsuan Chen at North Carolina State University is developing micropropagation
systems for redbud cultivars. Redbud demand is rising, but vascular streak dieback complicates
traditional methods. The research will refine tissue culture protocols and compare tissue-
cultured plants to chip-budded liners.

Other research is focused on improving rooting in difficult woody ornamentals. Clemson
University’s Haiying Liang is testing a slow-release synthetic auxin for woody cuttings and
Virginia Tech’s Kristopher Criscione is studying plant growth regulators to accelerate root
development in container-grown nursery stock.

HRI’s industry-supported investments in projects that improve rooting efficiency and plant quality
help build a stronger foundation for success downstream.

Producing plants more efficiently

After propagation, growers must maintain quality while managing labor and production costs.
Becoming more efficient means the industry must continue to adopt new production
technologies. HRI is investing here, too.

At Oregon State University, Marcelo Moretti is testing new ways to manage suckers and water
sprouts in ornamentals, reducing the need for hand-pruning and reducing labor and lowering
costs. This research tests growth regulators and mechanical methods to reduce sucker growth
while maintaining plant quality.

Patricia Knight at Mississippi State University is developing an AI-based drone system to
identify, count, and classify southern magnolia trees at different growth stages. This system
could give growers real-time inventory data to improve planning and labor management.

Although southern magnolia serves as the model crop, researchers may adapt the technology
to other ornamental species over time.

Protection from pests and diseases

Plant health poses a significant challenge for nursery and greenhouse growers. When new
pests and diseases emerge, they can quickly undermine plant quality and marketability,
underscoring the importance of effective management tools. HRI continues to address the most
pressing plant health challenges head-on, and 2026 is no exception.

Johanna Del Castillo Munera at UC Davis is developing rapid molecular diagnostic tools to
detect Phytophthora in irrigation and recycled water. Current tests can take weeks, but faster
detection will let growers find contamination sooner and act quickly.

Fulya Baysal-Gurel at Tennessee State University is studying management strategies for
vascular streak dieback, a disease that has become an increasing concern in redbud
production. The project is evaluating fungicides, biofungicides, and emerging treatments under
commercial nursery conditions to identify effective control programs.

Researchers are also exploring biological approaches. Jonathan Jacobs at The Ohio State
University is testing bacteriophages and Bacillus species for managing diseases like
Xanthomonas and Rhodococcus. Jean Burns at Case Western Reserve University is studying
beneficial fungi to help rhododendrons tolerate root rot from Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Insect pests remain another persistent challenge. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia at Virginia Tech is
studying integrated pest management for box tree moth, an invasive pest of boxwood. Raymond
Cloyd at Kansas State University is testing systemic insecticides applied through container
media to reduce redheaded flea beetle damage.

Other HRI-funded projects are exploring next-generation pest control technologies. For
example, at Texas A&M University, Hongmin Qin is developing RNA interference-based sprays
designed to control crapemyrtle bark scale by targeting essential genes in the pest.

Plants for tomorrow’s landscapes

HRI-funded research is not limited to production challenges. It also examines how plants
perform in landscapes. Two Oregon State University projects are studying pollinator plants in
landscapes this year.

Ryan Conteras is researching whether polyploid ornamental cultivars maintain quality under
reduced irrigation while still attracting pollinators. The research explores potential tradeoffs
between drought tolerance and ecological value and could help identify cultivars suited for
water-limited landscapes.

Gail Langellotto’s project focuses on pollinator diversity in ornamental plantings by evaluating
how highly attractive non-native ornamentals, referred to as magnet plants, influence pollinator
behavior in garden systems. By attracting honeybees away from native plants, these
ornamentals may reduce competition and allow a wider range of pollinators to access floral
resources.

Exploring these questions helps the industry unlock new ways ornamental plants can shine both
in the landscape and in supporting ecosystems.

Last link in the supply chain: The consumer

The consumer is the final and most crucial link in the horticultural supply chain and HRI projects
show up here as well. Want to spark demand? Start by understanding how people connect with
plants.

At Michigan State University, Juan Mundel is studying how artificial intelligence and
personalized digital marketing influence consumer trust and purchase intent for horticultural
products. The research will examine how different forms of AI-assisted advertising affect
engagement while maintaining transparency with consumers.

Another project led by Xuan Wu at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension explores the social and
emotional benefits of plant gifting and cooperative gardening activities among young adults with
disabilities. The research measures stress reduction, social bonding, and consumer interest in
plants.

These insights can help garden centers, public gardens, and horticulture businesses develop
programming and marketing strategies that highlight the social and wellness benefits of plants.

A shared investment in the industry’s future

Each project in the 2026 HRI research portfolio addresses a specific question, but together they
reflect the broad range of challenges facing the green industry.

“Research like this moves the entire industry forward,” Yelanich said. “When growers, suppliers,
and researchers work together through HRI, the results benefit businesses across horticulture.”

The 2026 HRI-funded projects will provide growers with new management tools, improve
propagation and production practices, and offer insights into how consumers engage with
plants.

For an industry built on living products and complex biological systems, research is one of the
smartest ways to strengthen long-term resilience and profitability. To read more about HRI’s
funded projects for 2026 and to learn about our strategic research priorities, visit HRI’s website.

Jennifer Gray is administrator for the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), where she leads industry-driven research and workforce development initiatives that connect science with practical industry impact.