New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station

As summer temperatures rise in New Hampshire, UNH researchers are working to better understand one of New Hampshire’s growing water quality challenges: harmful cyanobacteria blooms.

Supported by NHAES, a multidisciplinary team led by Anyin Li, Amanda McQuaid and Anna O’Brien is developing new research methods to track cyanobacteria toxins and better understand where they go during and after blooms.

For those exposed to toxin blooms, an upset stomach is the most common symptom, but they have also been associated with other health problems, including neurodegenerative disorders and damage to the liver.

As the weather heats up and people head to their favorite lakes and ponds, concerns about cyanobacteria blooms are sure to blossom as well. And until more about the blooms and their toxins is known, those concerns are well founded.

The uncertainty concerning potential harm is even captured by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ warning advice: “When in doubt, stay out!”

“If you can see microbes with no microscope needed, there is a problem!” says McQuaid. “We coexist with them all the time, but we need a better understanding of how toxic the cyanobacteria really are, and the risks associated with them. And that’s the goal of our work.”

Read more at the link in comments.

UNH Research Association of Public and Land-grant Universities USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture

The new issue of Inspired is coming soon!

The Spring 2026 issue of Inspired focuses on soils research. The foods we eat, the forests we enjoy, and the lives we lead are all directly tied to the soil under our feet. The two main themes for the issue are “crop management for soil health” in support of sustainable agriculture, and “measuring soil properties and dynamics” in a changing world.

Sign up to get your copy of Inspired at the link in comments!

Johnny's Selected Seeds, a commercial breeder and seller of plants and supplies headquartered in Winslow, Maine, has grown into an international company. But despite its presence in national and international marketplaces, Johnny’s maintains close ties with regional research and innovation neighbors.

Its relationship with the University of New Hampshire dates back decades, since company founder Rob Johnston worked with Brent Loy, former leader of UNH’s renowned cucurbit research program, more than 40 years ago.

Now Johnny’s is partnering with NHAES to co-locate plant development work in the Macfarlane Research Greenhouses, beginning with a zinnia breeding project.

Zinnias are among Johnny’s most popular flower seeds, but the variety used for cut flowers originated in the warm, dry weather in Mexico. In cool, damp areas, such as New Hampshire and the rest of New England, they are very prone to disease.

Johnny’s is working to create varieties that combine long stems and large flowers with the disease resistance of other varieties with shorter stems and small flowers used for bedding plants.

Plant genetics are complex, so they are also working with UNH experts in plant breeding and genetics to improve the chances of success. If the project goes well, the work will likely expand into other plants and other goals.

Read more at the link in comments.

UNH Research

Happy National Grape Day! 🍇

UNH researchers are studying which seedless table grape varieties can thrive in New Hampshire’s cool climate — helping create more opportunities for locally grown grapes across northern New England.

After seven years of research at the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, varieties like Mars, Canadice and Lakemont showed strong potential for commercial production in the region.

The goal? Expanding options for local growers and bringing more locally grown grapes to Granite State shoppers.

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USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

UNH research indicates that accurately predicting atmospheric carbon must consider multiple tree root factors.

It may come as a surprise, but the soil under our feet generates a lot of the atmospheric carbon above our heads. Tree roots are a major source of carbon dioxide released, contributing between 40%-60% of all soil respiration. Understanding how roots respond to environmental changes is essential for assessing the potential impacts of soil carbon on climate.

For 15 years, NHAES researchers gathered data that measured how much carbon dioxide tree roots were emitting in the Harvard Forest. They made separate plots so that they could compare different factors: control, heated (with buried cables), nitrogen added and heated with nitrogen added.

A study led by NHAES scientists Serita Frey and Thomas Muratore highlighted the complexity of the situation, as different tree species, oak and maple, responded quite differently to the changes in their environment.

Forest composition likely represents an important variable for root respiration, as different tree species will contribute more or less carbon as conditions change. Also, a combination of factors such as warmth and nitrogen addition leads to effects that differ from those produced by either factor alone.

This research and more soil studies are featured in the Spring 2026 issue of Inspired, which will be available soon. Full story and Inspired webform are linked in comments!

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Ag Is America

Happy strawberry month of May! 🍓

(To be frank, the New Hampshire strawberry harvest doesn’t actually begin until later in June, but any reason to treat yourself to some sweet strawberries is a good one.)

UNH researchers have made significant contributions to our understanding of strawberry genetics. It’s far from an easy task: strawberries are octoploid, meaning they have eight sets of chromosomes instead of the two found in humans and most mammals.

UNH scientists have assembled the complicated genomic sequence and studied how it varies from plant to plant, and they are applying that knowledge to strawberry breeding.

Their goal is to develop strawberry plants that thrive and produce high quality fruit in New Hampshire to meet the unmet demand for locally grown berries. They are also working on producing attractive ornamental varieties for home gardens and landscapes.