Horticulture Research & Education Unit
The Horticulture Unit encompasses several projects. The ornamentals project is led by Crofton Sloan and works with a wide range of crops and industries such as turf grass, trees and shrubs, roses, and flowering annuals and perennials. The Horticulture Unit also works with fruit crops and conducts research with strawberries and tree fruits. Demonstration plantings of blueberries are also maintained. A new project, focused on the production of medicinal herbs, is also being established within the Horticulture Unit.
Dr. Valtcho Jeliazkov and his group with the MIssissippi Specialty Crops Research Program are
developing a research program on specialty crops and value-added products in
Mississippi. The group is evaluating medicinal and aromatic crops as new
high-value crops for the region. They are also developing cropping systems with
oilseed crops (canola, mustard, sunflower) for bioenergy/biodiesel production.
The overall goal of the program is to increase profitability of cropping
systems in Mississippi and Southern US.
Learn more about Dr. Jeliazkov's research and education taking place within this unit at the following address: http://www.msstate.edu/courses/vj40/home.html