Dr. Deyton received his Ph.D. in 1979 from North Carolina State University, his M.S. in 1973 from Michigan State University, and his B.S. in 1971 from NCSU. His emphasis in his graduate programs was crop physiology and production; fruit crops at NCSU and vegetable crops at MSU. He received a broad background training in horticulture in the B.S. program. He worked as an extension urban horticulturist in Durham, NC from 1973 to 1976. He joined the University of Tennessee in September, 1979 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1984 and to professor in 1996. Dr. Deyton's research program emphasizes improvement of production of fruit crops (and more recently nursery crops) through influencing the physiology of plants. His research includes the evaluation physiological and phenological effects of botanical oils (soybean oil) on late-winter floral development of fruit crops. Studies are being conducted to determine the effects of soybean oil on mite and insect populations and on the physiology of horticultural crops.