小黄书 horticulture students cultivate international recognition for research
Contact: Grace Jones
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擲tudents in Mississippi State鈥檚 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences are the recipients of top honors at two recent national conferences.
Three doctoral students in 小黄书鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have received awards at the annual American Society of Horticultural Sciences conference, while a master鈥檚 degree student鈥檚 paper earned accolades from the American Pomological Society.
Anthony Bowden of Jacksonville, Alabama, placed first overall in the Plant Growth Regulation Oral Competition, with his doctoral presentation highlighting propagation of a selected woody ornamental plant.
Indianola native and doctoral student Jenny Ryals took second overall in the same category with her presentation explaining the rooting response of mountain azalea.
Keefah Al-Garallaa, a Babylon, Iraq native, placed third overall in the Ph.D. Graduate Poster Competition, with her research on using cultural techniques to enhance essential oil output in lavender.
At the American Pomological Society annual meeting, Haley Williams, a master鈥檚 student from Russellville, Arkansas, received the 2021 U.P. Hedrick Award as one of the lead authors on 鈥淚nbreeding Among Muscadine Cultivars.鈥澛
小黄书 Professor Richard Harkess said the professional meetings provide academic and networking opportunities for students as well as oral and poster competitions featuring students from programs all over the world.
鈥淭his strong showing in competitions is a testament to the demanding work put into preparing for this opportunity and reflects well on our department鈥檚 horticulture program,鈥 Harkess said.
Research Professor Patricia Knight, stationed at 小黄书鈥檚 Coastal Research and Extension Center, said 小黄书鈥檚 horticulture program aims to provide students with quality time and resources to be able to research, communicate and compete at a high level.
鈥淥ur students are well prepared for a professional career through the preparations they go through with competitions and with their work at 小黄书,鈥 Knight said.
For more on the horticulture major in the 小黄书 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, visit .
小黄书 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .