Progress 02/01/07 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities - Field and laboratory research and public outreach/education on invasive plants and alternative plants were conducted. A survey of the Maine Landscape and Nursery Industry was conducted and published to identify industry views on invasive plant issues, attitudes towards potential regulation, and to estimate the potential economic costs of banning the sale of specific invasive plant species in Maine. Several "Invasive Plant Education" sessions were held for the green industry members, students, professional colleagues, and Maine home gardeners. Invasive plant mapping workshops were held for the Hancock Co. Master Gardeners and at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Mentoring - Three PhD graduate students worked on this project as well as two undergraduates. The students presented at local, regional, national and international scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: PI Mary Rumpho led the basic research studies to identify soil microbial symbionts associated with invasive Japanese barberry plants in Acadia National Park, ME, and native Japanese soils. PI Donglin Zhang led the basic and applied research efforts focused on the development of alternative ornamental plants and also measured and monitored the alternative plant gardens. PI Lois Stack led the education and outreach efforts. Graduate students included Youping Sun, Ph.D. 2010, Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences; Vanessa Coats, PhD candidate,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, expected graduation date 5/2013; Fang Geng, PhD student, Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. Elizabeth Brochu and Siobhan Cusack, undergraduates in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Dept., also carried out research on invasive Japanese barberry in PI Rumpho's lab. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the Maine Landscape and Nursery Industry members, other scientists, and the general public. Invasive plant education to green industry members included: Maine Ag Trades Show, New England Grows (Boston MA), Maine Landscape and Nursery Assoc. Maine Pesticide Applicator Training (Lewiston ME) and Maine Pesticide Applicator Training (Houlton ME). Formal courses taught by PI Stack included BIO455, Lecture: Plant Invasions. Coordinated student project: updating Cooperative Extension fact sheet series (22 titles) that address invasive plants. Invasive plant education to professional colleagues included: Maine Invasive Species Network (MISN) Co-produced 2nd annual meeting of MISN (Orono ME), MISN Coordinated small group discussion: "Citizen science issues and managing volunteers," Co-developed website for MISN http://umaine.edu/invasivespecies/. PI Rumpho taught BMB322, Introduction to Biochemistry, and BMB464, Quantitative and Analytical Biochemistry Lab. PI Rumpho and PhD student Vanessa Coats presented an oral talk at the International Symbiosis Society Congress in Poland in 2012 to a very diverse audience of students and professors interested in all aspects of symbiosis. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Based on our field and laboratory research efforts, publications, interactions with the scientific community, as well as feedback from the nursery and landscape industry and the public, we are able to assess our efforts in addressing the invasive plant issue in Maine. A report of our industry survey was published. Alternative plants continue to be developed, tested, and monitored, but it is too early for commercialization. Ongoing evaluation of trial gardens demonstrate the potential of some alternative plants to adapt to Maine's harsh climatic conditions. Experiments to identify symbionts associated with invasive populations of Japanese barberry in Acadia National Park continue and are being compared with results obtained from native soils in Japan. As a result of the meeting to establish the Maine Invasive Species Network, participants gained a better understanding of colleagues' projects and the extent of invasive plant work in Maine. We have reached out to all sectors through peerreviewed publications, presentations, extension bulletins, surveys, workshops, and informal and formal education. Students were trained for conducting basic and applied research including molecular biology experiments as well as greenhouse experiments, field investigation, and writing papers and grant proposals and giving presentations.

Publications

• Coats VC, P Stack and ME Rumpho 201x Pre-dispersal seed predation by Rhagoletis meigenii (Diptera: Tephritidae) reduces the fecundity of naturalized Japanese barberry. Symbiosis (submitted July 2012)
• Coats VC, LB Stack and ME Rumpho 2011 Maine nursery and landscape industry perspectives on invasive plants issues. Invasive Plant Science and Management 4 (4): 378-389
• Geng F, D Zhang, ME Rumpho and LB Stack 2011 Effect of temperature on seed germination of Invasive Berberis thunbergii DC. HortScience 46(9):S6-S7 (Abstract)

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities - Field and laboratory research and public outreach/education on invasive plants and alternative plants were conducted. A survey of the Maine Landscape and Nursery Industry was conducted and published to identify industry views on invasive plant issues, attitudes towards potential regulation, and to estimate the potential economic costs of banning the sale of specific invasive plant species in Maine. Several "Invasive Plant Education" sessions were held for the green industry members, students, professional colleagues, and Maine home gardeners. Invasive plant mapping workshops were held for the Hancock Co. Master Gardeners and at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Mentoring - Three PhD graduate students worked on this project as well as two undergraduates. The students presented at local, regional and national scientific meetings. PARTICIPANTS: PI Mary Rumpho led the basic research studies to identify soil microbial symbionts associated with invasive Japanese barberry plants in Acadia National Park, ME. PI Donglin Zhang led the basic and applied research efforts focused on the development of alternative ornamental plants and also measured and monitored the alternative plant gardens. PI Lois Stack led the education and outreach efforts. Graduate students included Youping Sun, Ph.D. 2010, Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences; Vanessa Coats, PhD candidate, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, expected graduation date 8/2012; Fang Geng, PhD student, Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. Elizabeth Brochu and Siobhan Cusack, undergraduates in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Dept., also carried out research on invasive Japanese barberry in PI Rumpho's lab. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the Maine Landscape and Nursery Industry members, other scientists, and the general public. Invasive plant education to green industry members included: Maine Ag Trades Show annual greenhouse. Three presentations at New England Grows (Boston MA). Maine Landscape and Nursery Assoc. Maine Pesticide Applicator Training (Lewiston ME) and Maine Pesticide Applicator Training (Houlton ME). Formal courses taught by PI Stack included BIO455, Lecture: Plant Invasions. Coordinated student project: updating Cooperative Extension fact sheet series (22 titles) that address invasive plants. Invasive plant education to professional colleagues included: Maine Invasive Species Network (MISN) Co-produced 2nd annual meeting of MISN (Orono ME), MISN Coordinated small group discussion: "Citizen science issues and managing volunteers," Co-developed website for MISN http://umaine.edu/invasivespecies/. PI Rumpho taught BMB322, Introduction to Biochemistry, and BMB464, Quantitative and Analytical Biochemistry Lab. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Based on our field and laboratory research efforts, publications, interactions with the scientific community, as well as feedback from the nursery and landscape industry and the public, we are able to assess our efforts in addressing the invasive plant issue in Maine. A report of our industry survey was published. Alternative plants continue to be developed, tested, and monitored, but it is too early for commercialization. Ongoing evaluation of trial gardens demonstrate the potential of some alternative plants to adapt to Maine's harsh climatic conditions. Experiments to identify symbionts associated with invasive populations of Japanese barberry in Acadia National Park continue and will be compared with results obtained from native soils in Japan. As a result of the meeting to establish the Maine Invasive Species Network, participants gained a better understanding of colleagues' projects and the extent of invasive plant work in Maine. We have reached out to all sectors through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, extension bulletins, surveys, workshops, and informal and formal education. Students were trained for conducting basic and applied research including molecular biology experiments as well as greenhouse experiments, field investigation, and writing papers and grant proposals and giving presentations.

Publications

• Coats, V.C., L.B. Stack, and M.E. Rumpho. 2011. Maine nursery and landscape industry perspectives on invasive plants issues. Invasive Plant Science and Management (doi: 10.1614/IPSM-D-10-00086.1)
• Sun, Youping, Donglin Zhang, and Lijuan Han. 2011. Cross compatibility of Ilex glabra (L.) A.Gray with Ilex meserveae S.Y. Hu and Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray. Journal of Central South University of Forestry and Technology 30(12):xxx-xxx. (in press)
• Geng, Fang, Donglin Zhang, Mary E. Rumpho, and Lois B. Stack. 2011. Effect of temperature on seed germination of Invasive Berberis thunbergii DC. HortScience 46(9):S6-S7. (Abstr.).
• Geng, F., D. Zhang, Z. Li, X. Jin, and L. Wang. 2010. Cutting propagation of Ilex angulata. The International Plant Propagator's Society Combined Proceedings 60:147-150.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The PIs taught formal courses and mentored a visiting scientist, graduate and undergraduate students. One PhD student was graduated. Four alternative planting gardens on the University of Maine campus were continued to be monitored and measurements recorded. Growth performance and cold hardiness data were recorded at each site. Germination experiments were carried out on the invasive plant Japanese barberry to determine the range of cold-hardiness and its contribution to the invasive potential of this plant. Field and laboratory-based cold hardiness experiments were continued on the alternative plant, Ilex glabra, a native evengreen plant that could be used to replace some invasive plants. Basic and field research focused on identifying symbiotic associations with Japanese barberry that may contribute to the invasive potential of this plant and/or a biological control mechanism, were investigated. A survey of the Landscape and Nursery Industry was conducted to identify industry views on invasive plant issues, attitudes towards potential regulation, and to estimate the potential economic costs of banning the sale of specific invasive plant species in Maine. A full-day workshop was held on 26 June 2010 to train Maine Master Gardeners to identify and map invasive species in Maine, and voucher their data into the IPANE database. A second session was held at the Viles Arboretum in Augusta ME on September 9, 2010. Thirty-two Master Gardener Volunteers attended the full day session, where they learned how to identify thirteen invasive terrestrial plants, how to conduct a field siting, and how to publish their sitings in the VitalSigns system. The Maine Invasive Species Network was established following a one-day workshop involving professionals from four universities, several state and federal government agencies, one national park and two non-government agencies. This meeting included formal presentations, two poster sessions and several small group planning sessions focused on potential collaborative projects. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Donglin Zhang (Plant, Soil and Environment) worked on alternative garden plantings, development of alternative plants including Ilex glabra, barberry mapping and public outreach. Mary Rumpho (Biochemistry) researched on symbiotic associations with invasive Japanese barberry in Acadia National Park, publication of an industry-based survey, and public outreach. Lois Berg Stack (Coop. Extension and Plant, Soil and Environment) focused on alternative garden plantings, master gardener/green industry surveys and analysis, and public outreach. Conducted a training session to teach Maine Master Gardeners to identify and map invasive species in Maine, and voucher their data into the IPANE database. Led the effort to establish the Maine Invasive Species Network. Youping Sun, PhD 2010 in Plant, Soil and Environment; Vanessa Coats, PhD student in Biochemistry; Fang Geng, MS student in Plant, Soil and Environment. Dr. Nestor Rey spent about 6 weeks as a visiting scientist at UMaine during the summer of 2010 examining the genetic relationship among Japanese barberry plants in Wells Reserve, ME. Mr. Phil Stack was hired as an independent consultant to collect and identify fly populations associated with Japanese barberry populations in 4 locations throughout Maine. Siobhan Cusack and Liz Brochu, undergraduate students, helped conduct field studies in Acadia National Park and basic lab research characterizing symbionts associated with Japanese barberry. Dr. Zhang is working with Chinese colleagues to explore possible native habitat of some invasive plants. Partner organizations include: The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) has a long history of mapping invasive plants throughout New England in support of research projects. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE) trains hundreds of Master Gardener Volunteers every year; these volunteers seek meaningful projects, and many share an interest in invasive plants. The New England Invasive Plant Center supports research and outreach programs related to invasive species. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has established VitalSigns, a citizen science program that documents invasive species throughout Maine. GMRI provides environmental education in addition to conducting research on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Also, National Park; Ann Gibbs, Maine State Horticulturist; the University of CT, and the Central South University of Forestry and Technology (Changsha, Hunan, China). TARGET AUDIENCES: There are several broad audiences that this research is targeted at including: the scientific community (other researchers as well as undergraduate and graduate students), the nursery and landscape industry, master gardeners (especially through invasive plant training workshops), home gardeners, and the general public. Survey results will also assist policymakers, research investigators, and industry members in making educated decisions regarding invasive plant regulation in Maine. We have reached out to all sectors through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, extension bulletins, surveys, workshops, and informal and formal education. Students were trained for conducting basic and applied research including molecular biology experiments, greenhouse experiments, field investigation, and writing papers and grant proposals and giving presentations. Formal and informal courses on invasive plants, propagation, and symbiotic associations, were taught. Presentations emphasizing the spread of common landscape plants as invasives were made to several public groups including the UMaine Foundation and Women in Leadership and Philanthropy in Maine. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Based on our field and laboratory research efforts, publications, presentations and interactions with the scientific community, as well as feedback from the nursery and landscape industry and the public, we are able to assess our efforts in addressing the invasive plant issue in Maine. A report of our industry survey will be published and summarized for the industry in an extension report. Alternative plants continue to be developed, tested, and monitored, but it is too early for commercialization. Ongoing evaluation of trial gardens demonstrate the potential of some alternative plants to adapt to Maine's harsh climatic conditions. Experiments to identify symbionts associated with invasive populations of Japanese barberry in Acadia National Park led to the identification of a fruit fly, Rhagoletis meigenii, in the barberry fruits. This is being explored as a possible biological control agent. As a result of the meeting to establish the Maine Invasive Species Network, participants gained a better understanding of colleagues' projects and the extent of invasive plant work in Maine. Specific known outcomes that occurred as a direct result of this program include: 1) Training of volunteers to map invasive terrestrial plants (collaboration among Gulf of Maine Research Institute, UMaine Cooperative Extension and New England Invasive Plant Center as well as among the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, UMaine Coop Ext and New England Invasive Plant Center), 3) Successful grant to NE-IPM to develop similar networking among the six New England states and New York (collaboration between UMaine and UMaine Coop Ext), and 4) Development of website to facilitate future MISN projects http://umaine.edu/invasivespecies. Outcomes of the IPANE training session include: All 11 participants completed the full day, which included training in plant identification, mapping protocol and the process for submitting information to IPANE. All established passwords and entered the IPANE website to identify a piece of land to map. In the 5 months since the training, they have vouchered some samples into IPANE, but the intensive process often requires years to completely map parcels of land. Ultimately, these volunteers' data will support research about invasive plants in Maine. Outcomes of the VitalSigns training program include: A total of 32 Master Gardeners attended the training representing 10 of Maine's 16 counties. Only 25% of the Master Gardeners did not complete an upload during the training session. Nearly 50% submitted data during training, but did not submit data after the training, for reasons unknown. More than 25% went home and got busy, submitting 2 or more species observations each and contributing 75% of the data. Nine people submitted 45 of the 60 species observations published in VitalSigns. A camera raffle worked to motivate people to get involved. Those who got involved commented that the mapping is addictive, they see the value of the project, and the camera incentive is no longer needed. They're hooked.

Publications

• Sun, Y., Zhang, D., and Geng, F. (2010). Genetic diversity and taxon delineation of Ilex glabra (L.) Gray using AFLP markers. Acta Horticulturae 859:261-269.
• Sun, Y., Zhang, D., and Smagula, J. (2010). Micropropagation of Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray. HortScience 45(5):805-808.
• Huang, H., Zhang, D., Li, Z., Geng, F., Liu, J., and Yang, Y. (2010). Cutting propagation of Ilex centrosinensis. Northern Horticulture 11:105-106.
• Stack, L.B., Rumpho, M.E., and Zhang, D. (August 2010). Recognizing and managing invasive plants: Asiatic bittersweet. Maine Home Garden News. http://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/blog/2010/08/07/maine-home-gard en-news-5/#Asiatic Bittersweet.
• Stack, L.B., Rumpho, M.E. and Zhang, D. (July 2010). Recognizing and managing invasive plants: Sweet autumn olive. Maine Home Garden News. http://umaine.edu/gardening/blog/2010/07/01/maine-home-garden-news-4/ #Sweet Autumn Olive.
• Zhang, D., Stack, L.B., and Rumpho, M. (2010). Selection and breeding woody plants as alternatives for invasive ornamentals. XXVIIIth International Horticultural Congress Book of Abstracts Volume II (Symposia), Page 408.
• Geng, F., Zhang, D., Jin, X., and Li, Z. (2010). Natural resource and cutting propagation of Ilex suaveolens (Levl.) Loes. HortScience 45(4):480-481.
• Fang, X., Yi, Y., Zhang, X., Yang, L., and Zhang, D. (2010). Four wild species of Magnoliaceae appear different resistances to cold stress. XXVIIIth International Horticultural Congress Book of Abstracts Volume II (Symposia), Page 457.
• Sun, Y., and Zhang. D. (2010). Cold hardiness of Ilex glabra cultivars from field trial and laboratory test. HortScience 45(4):481.
• Coats, V.C., Stack, L.B., and Rumpho, M.E. (201x). Maine nursery and landscape industry perspectives on invasive plant issues. Invasive Plant Science and Management(pending).
• Sun, Y., Zhang, D., and Han, L. (2010). Cross compatibility of Ilex glabra (L.) A.Gray with Ilex meserveae S.Y. Hu and Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray. Journal of Central South University of Forestry and Technology 30(x):xxx-xxx. (in press, accepted for publication July 2010).
• Sun, Y. and Zhang, D. (2010). Cold hardiness of Ilex glabra cultivars from field trials and laboratory tests. Journal of Environmental Horticulture (in press, accepted for publication June 2010).

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Noxious Invasive Plants have significant impacts on our environment. To address this problem, we conducted basic and applied research experiments. The PIs taught formal courses and mentored graduate and undergraduate students. Two surveys were conducted, the first addressed the Landscape Industry and Master Gardners (MG) and the second was sent to the Nursery Industry (GI) members in the state of Maine. Both groups (60% GI; 82.7% MG) rated the issue of invasive plants as either a top priority or a major problem. They want more information about identifying invasive plants (80.2% GI; 82.5% MG), controlling invasive plants (78.4% GI; 86.2% MG), and using many information channels to seek or obtain information about invasive plants. A one-day conference was held with Maine nursery industry members to discuss the invasive plant issue in Maine and where the focus of research efforts may be most helpful. An international conference was held at the Univ of CT to develop an international collaborative effort to address the import and spread of invasive species world-wide. Four alternative plantings gardens were established on the University of Maine campus. Growth performance and cold hardiness data were recorded at each site. Berberis thunbergii is classified an invasive plant. To evaluate its vegetative reproduction ability, 43 cultivars of Japanese barberry stem cuttings were prepared for rooting. Different cultivars had various rooting potential. Ilex glabra is a native evengreen plant that could be used to replace some invasive plants in the southern US ladscape. To better understand genetic relationships among inkberry cultivars and breed cold-hardy cultivars, a group of 48 inkberry accessions and two other Ilex species (Ilex crenata Thunb. and I. mutchagara Makino) were studied using AFLP markers. The genetic distance among cultivars ranged from 0.001 to 0.349. Within the inkberry clade, 48 accessions were classified into six groups. Within each group, the legitimacy of named cultivars and distinguished clones are discussed based on both morphological and molecular data. Inkberry was also hybridized with cold-hardy male Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray (common winterberry) and Ilex x meserveae S.Y. Hu (meserve holly). Cross pollination of inkberry wild species and its five cultivars with both male plants was carried out in a greenhouse. Reproduction barriers, including the inhibition of pollen germination and pollen tube growth to the style and ovary, lack of fertilization resulted in the cross incompatibility of inkberry with both cold hardy species, should be considered. Cold hardiness measurements of inkberry cultivars were conducted in both field trials and laboratory tests. The cold hardiness ratings from field trials were significantly correlated with REC50 value from laboratory tests. Laboratory test results could be applied to predict the cold tolerance of inkberry cultivars in the field. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Donglin Zhang (Plant, Soil and Environment) worked on alternative garden plantings, barberry mapping and public outreach. Mary Rumpho (Biochemistry) researched on symbiotic associations with invasive Japanese barberry, alternative garden plantings, and public outreach. Lois Berg Stack (Coop. Extension and Plant, Soil and Environment) focused on alternative garden plantings, barberry mapping, master gardener/green industry surveys and analysis, and public outreach. Youping Sun, PhD candidate in Plant, Soil and Environment; Hildy Ellis, MS student in Plant, Soil and Environment; Vanessa Coats, PhD student in Biochemistry. Fang Geng, visiting Ph.D. student in Plant, Soil and Environment; Prof. Colette Imbeau and Laura Cooper, undergraduate student in Environemnatl Horticulture. Stack spent a sabbatical year studying the coordinated effort in the State of CA to address invasive plant issues by bringing together efforts and expertise of individuals from university, industry, and private and governmental sectors. Dr. Zhand is working with Chinese colleagues and explore possible native habitat of some invasive plants. Partner organizations include Acadia National Park; Ann Gibbs, Maine State Horticulturist; as well as the University of CT, the center for the New England Invasive Plants network, as well as Central South University of Forestry and Technology (Changsha, Hunan, China). TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for this research are both the scientific community (undergraduate and graduate students, researchers) and the public (the landscape nursery industry professionals, master gardeners, home gardeners, and the general public). We have reached out to all sectors through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, extension bulletins, surveys, workshops, and informal and formal education. Students were trained for conducting basic and applied research including molecular biology experiments as well as greenhouse experiments, field investigation, and writing papers and grant proposals and giving presentations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Based on our research findings and stakeholder feedback, we assess our efforts in addressing the invasive plant issue in Maine. Reports of invasive sightings by the public are used to monitor the spread of Japanesebarberry and burning bush in Maine. We will continue to use written surveys and provide reports of our findings to the public, green industry, governmental officials, etc. New and alternative plants are being developed and tested, but it is too early for commercialization at this time or to gauge public acceptance. We will continue to add to established trial gardens to evaluate alternative non-invasiveplants and super-sterile plants (as they become available). Four plantings with native alternative plants were monitored annually (no super-sterile plants were available for planting yet). The ongoing evaluation shows the ability of these alternative plants to grow and adapt to the environmental conditions in Maine and will provide alternative ornamental plants for gardeners and landscapers in the future. We will develop alternative native crops through traditional breeding and selection fromnative and cultivated plant populations. From a Maine native population of Cephalanthus occidentalis, a plant with red fruits was selected. Ilex breeding lines have reached 27 taxa. As a result, new native alternatives will soon be commercially available. We will continue to gather baseline data on Euonymus alatus (wingedeuonymus) and Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry) throughout the state of Maine and assess their ecological impact. Public sightings of these invasive species have been reported in Maine. This scientific data will be available for basing legislative/regulatory decisions about whether certain species and their cultivars should beprohibited in the Maine wholesale and retail market. Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry) within Wells Reserve and Acadia National Park were partially surveyed and we began to analyze why the plant is so invasive using DNA markers and other biological and environmental factors. Experiments have been initiated to identify symbionts associated with invasive populations of Japanese barberry in Acadia and ultimately compare with findings in non-invasive populations (China or Japan). These findings could impact future management plans.

Publications

• Burnett, S.E., D. Zhang, L.B. Stack and Z. He. 2008. Effects of phosphorus on morphology and foliar nutrient concentrations of hydroponically grown Scaevola aemula R. Br. Whirlwind Blue. HortScience 43(3):902-905.
• Stack, L.B. 2008. Native plants: a Maine source list 2008. Web-published: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2502.htm
• Stack, L.B. and L.P. Perry. 2007. The 2008 north country garden calendar.
• Stack, L.B., ed. 2008. New England greenhouse floriculture guide: a management guide for insects, diseases, weeds and growth regulators 2009-2010.
• Stack, L.B. 2008. New annuals for your garden: five top performers from the 2007 field trials. Maine Master Gardener News (Feb 2008):1-3.
• Sun, Youping, Donglin Zhang, and John Smagula. 2009. Micropropagation of Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray. HortScience 44(4):1042.
• Sun, Youping, Donglin Zhang, and Lijuan Han. 2009. Cross compatibility of inkberry with meserve holly and common winterberry. HortScience 44(3):545.
• Zhang, Donglin, Youping Sun, Lois Stack, and Mary Rumpho. 2009. A rapid woody plant breeding system for alternative ornamentals: Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray (inkberry) as an example. International Symposium for Invasive Plants. Page 54.
• Sun, Youping and Donglin Zhang. 2009. Genetic diversity and taxon delineation of Ilex glabra using AFLP markers. International Symposium on Molecular Markers in Horticulture. Page 49.

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two surveys in fall 2006 assessed green industry members' and Master Gardeners' attitudes about invasive plants in Maine, where invasive terrestrial plants are not regulated. Both groups rated non-invasiveness (1.38 GI; 1.21 MG) as their top 3 in importance. Both groups (60% GI; 82.7% MG) rated the issue of invasive plants as either a top priority or a major problem. GIs (69%) agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to sell/install only plants that will not become invasive; MGs (86.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that it is important to buy only plants that will not become invasive. Both groups (59.8% GI; 75.3% MG) disagreed or strongly disagreed that there is enough education about invasive plants. Both groups agreed or strongly agreed that they want more information about identifying invasive plants (80.2% GI; 82.5% MG), and controlling invasive plants (78.4% GI; 86.2% MG). Both groups reported using many information channels to seek or obtain information about invasive plants. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.)is classified an invasive plant. To evaluate its vegetative reproduction ability, 43 cultivars of Japanese barberry stem cuttings were collected and divided into four groups according to their foliage colors, i.e: green, purple, yellow, and bicolor foliage. The green foliage cultivars had the highest rooting percentage of 76.3%. The next highest rooting percentage, 70.3%, was found from bicolor foliage cultivars. Half of purple foliage cultivars had been rooted and the lowest rooting percentage, 39.3%, was observed from the yellow foliage cultivars. Root quality followed the trend of the rooting percentage and decreased significantly from green and bicolor foliage cultivars to purple and yellow foliage cultivars. Cuttings treated with K-IBA had better rooting than that treated with Hormondin#2. Different cultivars had various rooting potential. Ilex glabra is a native evengreen plant that has been widely cultivated in the southern US ladscape. To test its performance in the northern landscapes, fully cold acclimated potted plants of inkberry 'Densa' and 'Shamrock' were moved into a greenhouse (about 20.8C) for deacclimation every other day. The results showed that ELC fit well for this model (X2 < 0.016; SSR < 0.01 and R2 > 0.89). Cold hardiness of 'Densa' significantly reduced by 3.9 C from one to three days of deacclimation (DOD), then gradually dropped only by 1.1 C till seven DOD, and followed by another dramatically decreasing of 5.5 C at nine DOD. While that of 'Shamrock' gradually decreased only by 5.4 C from one to nine DOD. Their cold hardiness had a strong, negative linear correlation as DOD increased (r2 = 0.88 for 'Densa' and 0.78 for 'Shamrock'). 'Densa' lost its cold hardiness faster than 'Shamrock' did. A total of 33.5% and 17.2% of cold hardiness reduction were observed for 'Densa' and 'Shamrock', respectively. Deacclimation significantly reduced cold hardiness of inkberry and its effect varied with cultivars. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Mark H. Brand (University of Connecticut) collaborated in this research. Two graduate students, Fang Geng(MS) and Youping Sun(Ph.D), also worked on this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project served undergraduate and graduate students, collaborators, green industry members, and gardeners. Students were trained for conducting field survey and investigation, and preparing publication. Collaborators were communicated via personal discussion and long-distance interaction, such as email and video conference. Industry members and public were informed through our special workshop and monthly meetings with group leaders, such as Ornamental Horticultural Council and publications of our findings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The green industry is increasingly aware of its relationship to invasive plants, and eager to play a positive role. Green industry members (GI) and home gardeners like Master Gardeners (MG) often view each other as a barrier to changing the plants offered for sale. The results of our survey suggest a shared concern about invasive plants, and a desire for more information about them. Maine GIs and MGs agree generally that the invasive plant issue is important; that GIs have a responsibility to address this issue in some way; that invasive plants should be regulated; and that the regulation should be a collaborative effort. In May 2007, Maine's legislature mandated the state's Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to "convene a stakeholder group to conduct a study to develop processes and criteria to assess the danger posed to naturally occurring ecosystems by invasive terrestrial plant species and to determine which invasive plant species are of significant concern." This is widely viewed as a first step toward regulation of such plants. To better manage noxious invasive plants in Maine, one invasive plant, Japanese Barberry, is identified to further investigate its principal of dispersal. To substitute invasive plants from our landscape, a native plant, Inkberry (Ilex glabra), is evaluated for its potential to grow in Maine.

Publications

• 1. Stack, Lois B., Donglin Zhang, and Mary Rumpho. 2007. Attitudes of green industry members and master gardeners concerning invasive plants. HortScience 42(4):966-967.
• 2. Geng, Fang, Donglin Zhang, Mark H. Brand, Youping Sun, and Zhihui Li. 2008. Japanese barberry and hybrid cultivars showed various rooting ability from stem cuttings. HortScience 43(4):1179.
• 3. Sun, Youping and Donglin Zhang. 2008. Deacclimation significantly reduced cold hardiness of 'Densa' and 'Shamrock' inkberry. HortScience 43(4):1273-1274.

Progress 02/01/07 to 09/30/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Obj 1. Four alternative plantings gardens were established on the University of Maine campus. Growth performance and cold hardiness data were recorded at each site. Dead plants were replaced. Obj 3. Articles were printed in the Maine Master Gardener (MG) Newsletter and the Small Woodlot Owners of Maine (SWOAM) Newsletter, and emails were sent to Josselyn Botanical Society members, to solicit sightings of Euonymus alatus (burningbush) in Maine. Obj 4. All three sites (University of Maine, Laudholm Farm in Wells, and Monhegan Island) have been/or are being mapped for Japanese Barberry. DNA from barberry plants growing throughout Laudholm Farm is being analyzed to determine the source plants and the mechanism of invasive spread in this area. We are also isolating DNA from 38 cultivars of barberry to look for genetic similarity/diversity among the cultivars. This information will be correlated with their invasiveness and potential for development as alternative plantings to the invasive Japanese barberry cultivars currently planted. 5. Two surveys conducted in the fall of 2006 are being analyzed to assess green industry members' and Master Gardeners' attitudes about invasive plants in Maine, where invasive terrestrial plants are not regulated. PARTICIPANTS: Zhang, D., Principal Investigator, Research on alternative garden plantings, barberry mapping and public outreach. Rumpho, M.E., Principal Investigator, Research on alternative garden plantings, barberry mapping and public outreach. Berg-Stack, L.B., Principal Investigator, Research on alternative garden plantings, barberry mapping, master gardener/green industry surveys and analysis, and public outreach. Imbeau, C., Undergraduate Honors student. Analyzed survey data for Honors' thesis. Collaborating Universities: University of CT and University of VT through the establishment of the New England Invasive Plant Center (http://www.invasivecenter.uconn.edu/) TARGET AUDIENCES: Green Industry Members, Master Gardeners, Legislators/Government employees. Faculty, staff and students interested in Horticultural Science - Survey results prsented at the annual meeting of the American Soc. of Horticultural Sciences in the summer of 2007. University of Maine faculty, students and staff and general public - planting and labeling of alternatives to invasive plants on UMaine campus in 4 sites. General public - articles published in popular newsletters to report sightings of invasive plants around the state of Maine.

Impacts
Our December 2006 workshop raised awareness of the invasive plant issue among industry members, and educated them about their colleagues' and their customers' attitudes concerning invasive plants in constructed landscapes and natural areas. Two of the workshop attendees currently serve as members of the legislatively mandated committee that will develop a list of invasive plants in Maine; this committee will complete its work by February 2008. In response to the two articles printed in the SWOAM and MG newsletters, 12 people contacted us with information about naturalized burningbush populations around the state. These people were visited and the plants mapped, giving us a more complete idea of the distribution of this invasive plant throughout Maine. The results of the green industry surveys were presented at the annual meeting of the American Soc. of Horticultural Sciences in the summer of 2007.

Publications

• Stack LB, D Zhang and ME Rumpho 2007 Attitudes of green industry members and master gardeners concerning invasive plants. HortScience 42(4):966-967