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N.C. PSI News

Spruce weevil

Jul 10, 2023

Study Reveals How a Tall Spruce Develops Defense Against Hungry Weevils

Findings from a new study could help researchers breed genetically improved Sitka spruce trees resistant to a nibbling insect. 

angular metal arch silhouetted against a cloudy sky

Jul 5, 2023

Is Our Phosphorus Use Sustainable? Most Stakeholders Doubt It

The study underscores the complex challenges facing efforts to ensure our continued access to a critical agricultural and industry resource. 

The University of York in the winter

Jun 14, 2023

Colleen Doherty Wins Fulbright Award to Study Phytomining in England

Doherty will study how plants can be used to mine rare earth elements during a six-month Fulbright Award at the University of York this winter. 

Imani Madison

May 24, 2023

A Passion for Plant Research

Imani Madison won the 2022 Kenneth R. Keller Research Award for her research on how stress and other external factors affect the development of plant cell tissues. 

Extension Agent Network

Apr 27, 2023

N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative Launches Extension Agent Network

12 NC State Extension agents were selected from a competitive pool to beta-test N.C. PSI technology in the field. 

state of change

Apr 20, 2023

Earth Day Special Highlights Soil-Based Solutions

In a new Earth Day broadcast special, PBS NC examines natural solutions to carbon removal and carbon capture to mitigate North Carolina’s evolving climate impacts. The special feature N.C. PSI faculty, Alex Woodley. 

blurred image with audio symbol with name of podcast

Apr 20, 2023

Farming with A.I.

In this episode of Farms, Food and You, we’ll dig deep into A.I. and other technology utilized in agricultural research with Jevon Smith, a research computing manager for the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative. 

image shows an electronic patch attached to the leaf of a tomato plant

Apr 12, 2023

Multifunctional Patch Offers Early Detection of Plant Diseases, Other Crop Threats

The patch can be applied to the leaves of plants to monitor crops for different pathogens – such as viral and fungal infections – and stresses such as drought or salinity. 

Potato plant with leaf blight

Apr 3, 2023

NC State Researchers Assemble Pathogen ‘Tree of Life’

Researchers provide open-access tool to capture new data on a global plant destroyer, Phytophthora. 

plant sprout in the sand

Apr 1, 2023

Agriculture’s Promised Land?

Regenerative agriculture: It’s a buzzword that’s easy to sell but hard to define.  Regenerative agriculture’s professed goal is to use the soil and environmental ecosystem—rather than conventional fertilizers and tillage—to…