I have a 30% Agricultural Experiment Station appointment on a 9-month contract. I am in the process of developing a new expertise in vegetable horticulture. Formerly, I worked on tropical tree fruit physiology and pathogen defense mechanisms of forest trees. My research is taking form in the three major areas of vegetable crop production, sustainable vegetable production practices, and plant-microbe interactions in crop plants and phytoremediation systems. It will take time to make the transition. However, there has already been some success in my research program.
Highlights for the period from January 2002, through December 31st, 2003 include:
Six research presentations (total) at local, state, national, and international meetings:
Stover, E., Tignor, M., Timmer, P. Overview of citrus culture. Invited Presentation to the Bermuda Fruit Growers' Association, June, 2002, Hamilton, Bermuda.
Sands, N., D. Heleba, and M. Tignor. 2002. Effects of a single addition of compost on potato yields when nitrogen and plant available water are not limiting. Proceedings of XXVIth International Horticultural Congress:105.
Sands, N., D. Heleba, and M. Tignor. 2002. Marketable yield evaluation of eleven heirloom tomato varieties. Proceedings of XXVIth International Horticultural Congress:535-536.
Tignor, M. 2002. Heirloom tomato variety trials: findings and reflections from year 2. Presented at Vermont Vegetable and Berry Grower’s Association Annual Meeting. February 19th, 2002.
Sands, N. and M.Tignor. 2002. Effect of a single compost amendment at three different rates on yield and water use by potato. Presented at Vermont Vegetable and Berry Grower’s Association Annual Meeting. February 19th, 2002.
Tignor, M. 2002. Implementation of subsurface constructed wetlands to treat dairy farm stormwater runoff at the University of Vermont. PSS Seminar Series. November 13th.
Submission of 5 grants related to research:
Tignor, M. 2003. Long-term compost amendment study for Vegetable Production Research Education and Outreach. ($149,676) pre-proposal approved (only 60 of 210 research pre-proposals selected). PENDING
Tignor, M., G. Giacomelli, T. Irani, M. McMahon, S. Wilson. 2003. Multimedia instrument for worldwide greenhouse education. USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant. Multi-state proposal: UVM (lead institution, University of Arizona, Ohio State University, and the University of Florida. ($247,563). FUNDED
Tignor, M. 2003. Dairy manure compost effects on root architecture and growth of vegetables. Competitive USDA Hatch Funds. ($20,000). FUNDED
Hession, W.C., T. Lewis, D. Rizzo, and M. Tignor. 2003. Correlation of wastewater treatment efficiency, Plant-Root Architecture, and Microbial Ecology to Measurement of Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland Redox Potential. NSF. (356,961). NOT FUNDED.
Hession, W.C., M. Tignor, and N. Hayden. 2002. Demonstration/Research Constructed Wetland to Treat Dairy Wastes. Lake Champlain Basin Project. ($58,000). FUNDED
Refereed journal articles:
Whitney, D. N. Hayden,, W. Hession, and M. Tignor. 2003. Effects of supplemental aeration on dairy wastewater treatment efficiency in laboratory-scale subsurface flow constructed wetlands. J. Eco. Eng. In Review
Tignor, M.E., S.B. Wilson, and P.C. Wilson. 2002. Development of an undergraduate plant science course promoting environmental awareness, native flora and critical thinking skills. NACTA J. 46(1):26-32.
Scientific proceedings:
Whitney, D., N.J. Hayden, W.C. Hession, and M. Tignor. 2002. Developing a constructed wetland center at the University of Vermont. In: Wetlands and Remediation II: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Wetlands and Remediation. Eds. Nehring and Brauning. Battelle Press. Columbus, OH.
Creative Work: Multimedia lecture developed on Apomixis for Plant Propagation CD:
Wilson, S.B. (editor), M.Thetford, D.G. Clark, F.T. Davies, B. Dehgan, G.A. Giacomelli, M.E. Kane, K.A. Klock-Moore, S.M. Scheiber, R.K. Schoellhorn, M.E. Tignor, W.A. Vendrame, and J.F. Williamson. 2002. Principles and Practices of Plant Propagation CD (PLS 3221/5221), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
One book chapter submitted to editors for Plant Propagation Text:
Tignor, M.E. 2003. Chapter 3: Laboratory exercise “holistic thought process for the design of a mist/fog/cutting/seed propagation facilities.” To be published in: Plant Propagation Concepts And Laboratory Exercises. By CRC Press. (Submitted to editors Preece, Beyl, and Trigiano on 8/1/2003).