Overview of research programs: An emphasis of Dr. Deyton's research program is development of cultural practices to reduce cold damage of fruit crops (peaches, apple, grape, and blueberry). Early spring-time freezes are the major cause of fruit crop loss in the eastern United States. Drs. Deyton and C. Sams have conducted research since 1992 on methods to delay post-winter-dormancy development of fruit buds. Their research has shown that late winter sprays of soybean oil delayed peach bloom. Furthermore, one of the major expenses in producing a peach crop is the hand-thinning of peach on trees. Their research has shown that the late winter sprays of soybean oil can reduce the number of fruit on a tree and increase fruit size. Current research, in cooperation with NCSU, is evaluating botanical oil sprays for bloom delay of rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries. Soybean oil is also being evaluated for the efficacy of control of pests on horticultural crops during winter-time (dormant sprays) and summer-time (foliar sprays). Evaluations have been conducted in cooperation with entomologist at the Univ. of Tenn., the Univ. of Penn., and NCSU. Current research is evaluating the efficacy of soybean oil on pests of nursery crops. A current emphasis of the project is to develop new botanical oil formulations that are more stable in emulsion, fast-breaking on contact with plants, and with low phytotoxicity. Promising formulations will be tested for residue deposition on plants, wash-off potential, efficacy for pest control, bloom delay of fruit plants, and thinning of fruit. A second area of research emphasis that will start in the summer of 2003 is the evaluation of biofumigation of soil for strawberries. The project will evaluate the effects of soil incorporated Brassica plant material for control of soil-borne pests that damage strawberry plants. The project is in cooperation with Dr. C. Sams (PI) on a grant funded by the Southern Region SARE . A third research project is the advancement of the autumn defoliation of field-grown nursery stock. Delayed autumn defoliation can expose trees to early fall freezes and thus result in increased cold damage. Delayed tree digging can delay shipping of trees for autumn planting. The research is conducted in cooperation with Dr. D. Fare of US National Arboretum, ARS, USDA. A fourth area of emphasis is the improvement of cultural management of fruit crops. Research is being conducted to evaluate cultural management decisions on net carbon exchange of fruit plants and on the light interception and light distribution by crop canopies.