Healthy Orchids in Fox Greenhouses

Collaboration is essential in academia, and when a shared venture is both educational and mutually beneficial, most programs are eager to participate. Recently, Diane Mays and Alisha Ray, who work for the Department of Horticultural Science in the greenhouses behind the Marye Anne Fox Science Teaching Laboratory, welcomed Jennie Fagen, a senior research scholar with the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, and her Principles of Plant Pathology class (PP 315). Although Mays, a research specialist, and Ray, a research operation manager, have numerous tasks and responsibilities in the greenhouses, this was a valuable opportunity to focus on the academic aspects of their work with another department.

Mays often works with students and has been a key part of horticultural science’s teaching program for many years, from plant care and upkeep to working with students during their labs and imparting her boundless plant wisdom. Yet, this partnership with Fagen and her class not only offered an exciting educational opportunity but also benefitted the greenhouses as well.

Mays works to keep the plant conservatory in Fox up to high standards, but when dealing with ongoing challenges like viruses, it is best to have a team to combat them. This collaboration saw Fagen’s plant pathology class test around 32 orchids for two viruses, which can cause challenges for Mays and others trying to keep the conservatory pest and disease-free. 

Fagen’s lab conducts this testing annually as part of the class. This year, the Department of Horticultural Science supplied the plant material and lab space. Meanwhile, the class provided the testing kits and conducted the testing directly in the greenhouse. The viruses examined, the orchid ring spot and Cymbidium mosaic virus, are quite common but can take a long time to cause symptoms.

The students found the diseased orchids, which were composted, providing a safer environment for the healthy ones to thrive. Testing for virus-infected plants is beneficial, even if some are lost. 

“It’s not a bad thing because we can rebuild knowing our collection is clean,” Mays says.

Plant pathology testing can be costly and laborious, particularly when one group attempts to manage all the work involved. In this academic collaboration, the students conducted tests in batches and are working with the greenhouse to have test kits available for new arrivals. However, once the students finish testing the orchids, the need for testing doesn’t end there. It is essential to check not only orchids but also countless other plants that enhance the beauty of the conservatory. This process could be ongoing year after year. Fortunately, Fagen is interested in continuing to examine the horticulture department’s orchid collection and may eventually expand to other plants in the conservatory.

“Keeping the conservatory disease-free would allow us to then simply test new, incoming plants and retain current sanitization practices,” Mays says. “In all, it would be far easier to keep diseases out of the conservatory and the plants healthy and flowering.”

While the Department of Horticultural Science is the primary user of the greenhouse, multiple departments share the greenhouse for class and research purposes. Ultimately, their common goal is to keep the plant conservatory and greenhouse space operational with as few disruptions as possible. 

This collaboration benefited everyone who uses the Fox greenhouses and plant conservatory. It serves as a strong foundation for developing similar opportunities in the future. The goal is to find new ways to enhance operations and support additional academic programs. 

“We would love to collaborate more because there are always areas where we can cross over from one subject to another,” Mays says. 

Cultivate Hope Through Horticulture

Supporting the Department of Horticultural Sciences’ academic programs is a vital investment in our community’s future. Our programs train skilled horticulturists and empower students to find innovative solutions to food insecurity, biodiversity loss and extreme weather events. Your support encourages hands-on learning and a sense of responsibility for people and plants. Together, we can nurture the leaders who will drive positive change and ensure a greener, healthier future for all. Let’s cultivate hope through horticulture!

Join NC State’s Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and support the Department of Horticultural Science.