Members of the HLA’s Horticulture Crops Weed Science Lab recently published three peer-reviewed research articles. Greenhouse evaluation of napropamide and pendimethalin for suppression of strawberry daughter plant rooting and runner management implications. Jeanine Arana, Stephen Meyers, Wenjing Guan, Bryan Young, and Nathan Boyd. Available ahead-of-print in Weed Technology. This research is one of former HLA…Read more about Weed Science Lab publishes three articles.[Read More]
Wenjing Guan is helping advance Indiana’s strawberry industry through research and Extension outreach. A recent Agricultural Communications feature highlights her work with growers to improve production systems, adapt practices like plasticulture to Indiana conditions, and address challenges such as emerging diseases. Through applied research and strong partnerships, Guan is supporting growers in increasing productivity, improving…Read more about Berry Breakthroughs: Supporting Indiana Strawberry Producers[Read More]
Extension professionals from the Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department and the Diversified Farming and Food Systems Team hosted the first-ever combined Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds and Conference Complex, March 3-5, 2026. With a total of 64 educational sessions, 22 research posters, and several demonstrations to choose from over…Read more about Purdue Hosts First‑Ever Combined Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference, Bringing Nearly 200 Participants Together for Three Days of Learning and Collaboration[Read More]
Wenjing Guan presented research on plasticulture strawberry production at the 2026 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School on February 11. The project is a collaboration between Steve Meyers and Wenjing Guan and part of graduate student Jeanine Arana’s PhD dissertation. On February 18–19, Guan also participated in the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, where she…Read more about Wenjing Guan Presented at Two Fruit and Vegetable Grower Events[Read More]
Over the past two weeks, Wenjing Guan and her collaborator, Lei Zhang from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, presented their research on managing root-knot nematodes in high tunnel tomato systems at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention. Wenjing also delivered presentations at three in-state Extension events: the Northwest Indiana Vegetable Farmer Workshop (with…Read more about Wenjing Guan Showcases Vegetable and Watermelon Research Across Regional and Statewide Extension Events[Read More]
The Northwest Indiana Vegetable Farmer Workshop, organized by Liz Maynard and county educators Becca Koetz and Emily Evers was held on February 2 in Valparaiso. Wenjing Guan and Liz discussed vegetable quality. Plant pathologist César Escalante and entomologist Laura Ingwell reviewed sprayer calibration and covered key points for scouting and identifying pests and diseases early…Read more about Extension Specialists and Educators Organized Northwest Indiana Vegetable Farmer Workshop[Read More]
Wenjing Guan has been sharing her expertise at several grower-focused events this winter. In December, she presented on watermelon production at the Great Lakes Expo. Over the past two weeks, she delivered two presentations on strawberry production and one on cucumber production at the Great Plains Growers Conference. She also helped organize the Southern Indiana…Read more about Wenjing Guan Shares Specialty Crop Insights Across Regional Grower Conferences[Read More]
Congratulations to several of our HLA researchers who received AgSEED grants for their projects. Petrus Langenhoven (PI) and collaborators Kranthi Varala, Amanda Deering, Allison Kingery, and Brian Schilling were awarded an AgSEED grant titled Assessing Scotch Bonnet Pepper Adaptability in the Midwest: A Preliminary Study of Variety Performance and Molecular Characterization. Scotch Bonnet peppers present…Read more about HLA Researchers Awarded AgSEED Grants[Read More]
Two innovative initiatives led by Wenjing Guan are set to strengthen Indiana agriculture: Strengthening Purdue Extension’s Ability to Serve Indiana Cut Flower Farmers supported by the 2026 AgSEED program. Resilient Watermelon Production in Southern Indiana, funded by the National Watermelon Association’s 2026 Research Grants Program