2023 Program – Turfgrass Trends for Changing Times

North Carolina State University’s
Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education
Fourth Annual Research Symposium

TUESday, DECEMBER 5TH 2023
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7:30 – 8:15 Check in
8:15 – 8:30 Opening Remarks

Dr. Jim Kerns, Co-Director, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education, NC State University

Dr. Steve Lommel, Associate Dean and Director, NC Agricultural Research Service

8:30 – 9:20 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

“North America 2026 World Cup – Challenges and Opportunities”

Dr. John N. Trey Rogers III

Professor, Turfgrass Management

Michigan State University

9:20 – 10:20 CENTERE Updates Session I :

  • Sustainable Water Management” – Dr. Grady Miller, Professor and Extension Specialist
  • Approaches to Precision Turfgrass Fertilization Management” – Qiyu Zhou, Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Management
  • Introducing Middle School Youth into The World of Turfgrass Through an Interactive 4-H Curriculum” – Matthew Clay, Wilkes County Extension Agent, and Liz Driscoll, 4-H Specialist
  • Q&A Panel
10:20 – 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:15 Lightning Talks Session

  • The Influences of Nitrogen Fertilization and Edaphic Factors on Take-All Root Rot Incidence” – Brandi Merrick, MS student, Turfgrass Pathology
  • Optimizing tissue culture protocols in warm-season turfgrass species for genetic engineering applications” – Esdras Carbajal, PhD student, Turfgrass Breeding
  • Characterization of Non-Target Site Resistance Mechanisms of ALS Resistant Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua L.)” – Trip Rogers, PhD student, Pesticide Fate
  • The Physiological Basis of Drought Tolerance in Zoysiagrasses” – Emma Simpson, MS student, Turfgrass Physiology – 
  • Determining the genetic diversity of 288 accessions of St. Augustinegrass” – Ty Thomas, PhD student, Crop Genomics
  • Response of root- associated microbial community of Bermuda and Zoysiagrass under compaction in turf field” – Sayada Momotaz Akther, Soil Microbiology
  • Q&A Panel
11:15 – 12:15 CENTERE Updates Session II :

  • Strategies for Emerging Turf Insect Pests” – Dr. Terri Billeisen, Extension Associate, Turfgrass Entomology 
  • Adventures in Keeping Grass Green: Turfgrass Pathology Updates” – Dr. Jim Kerns, Professor, Turfgrass Pathology
  • Exploring molecular tools for weed control and necessary steps for adoption in turfgrass” – Dr. Ramon Leon, Professor and University Faculty Scholar of Weed Biology and Ecology
  • Q&A Panel
12:15 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 1:45 Closing Remarks