HRI Creates Fund to Combat Box Blight
The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) has created the Emerging Issues and Technology Projects Box Blight Fund (EITPBBF), in response to a newly identified pest to the U.S. ornamental industry.
The “box blight” pathogen (Cylindrocladium buxicola), also known as box blight, boxwood leaf drop and blight disease of boxwood can impact the appearance, aesthetics and health of boxwood plants. The disease results in the yellowing of foliage and stem damage that makes the plant unsalable and unattractive in the landscape.
Executive Vice President, Robert Dolibois of the American Nursery & Landscape Association noted, “Most importantly, this designation of boxwood blight as a primary research topic means that HRI will be organizing a team of willing partners-businesses and associations-to pool research funding to be directed collectively to researchers that collaborate with the team to do the research that the industry identifies.”
Monies directed through HRI’s joint industry effort will positively influence the advancement of boxwood blight research by reducing overhead allocations to university and research institutions with direct contributions and by the leveraging of partnerships and research efforts such as the Floriculture Nursery Research Initiative at the USDA Agricultural Research Service and other USDA agencies.
Monies designated to the EITPBBF will go directly to research focused on boxwood blight and not into the HRI Endowment where traditionally, only the proceeds from investments fund research. The EITPBBF allows donations to be bundled and “passed-through” HRI to fund this focused research effort.
To make a charitable contribution in support of the EITPBBF, contact HRI at 202.695.2474. Make checks payable to HRI at 1200 G Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005 and include a memo line: Boxwood blight or EITPBBF. Credit card donations also are accepted.