Richard Harkess

Richard Harkess

Professor
Undergraduate Coordinator

Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture



Email: richard.harkess@msstate.edu
Phone: (662)325-4556


Mailing Address:
Box 9555
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Physical Address:
142A Dorman Hall
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Research/Extension Assignments:
  • Greenhouse and woody ornamental plants
  • flowering
  • New crop development
  • New production technology

Websites:
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station
Future Growers Technology
Education:
  • Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • M.S., Colorado State University
  • B.S., University of Minnesota

Courses:
  • PSS 3433 Horticulture Internship
  • PSS 4553/6553 Plant Growth and Development
  • PSS 4613/6613 Floral Crop Programming
  • PSS 8553 Phytohormones and Growth Regulation

Society Membership:
  • American Society for Horticultural Science
  • American Society for Horticultural Science - Southern Region
  • American Orchid Society
  • Botanical Society of America - since 1996
  • Gamma Sigma Delta (Agriculture Honor Society)
  • International Working Group on Flowering
  • Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association
  • Pi Alpha Xi (Honor Society for Floriculture/Ornamental Horticulture)
  • Society of American Florists

Recognitions and Awards:
  • 2023 Alumni Career Achievement Award, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
  • 2021 John Grisham Master Teacher Award, Mississippi State University
  • 2018 Superior Faculty Service Award, Regions Bank and Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine
  • 2018 Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Student Advising Award, Mississippi State University
  • 2018 Faculty Service Award, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University
  • 2018 Gold Award, The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc.
  • 2016 Superior Faculty Teaching Award, Regions Bank and Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine
  • 2016 Excellence in Teaching, Graduate Level Teaching Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University
  • 2016 Excellence in Teaching, Teacher of the Year Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University
  • 2007 Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Career Award, American Society for Horticulture Sciences
  • 2007 J. Creighton Miller Distinguished Educator Award, Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Sciences
  • 2006 Excellence in Teaching, Upper Level Teaching Award, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Mississippi State University

Publications

  • Miller, C.T., R.L. Harkess, C.L. Haynes, K.A. Williams, A.N. Wright. 2023. Conference Workshop Proceedings: Developing a scholarship of teaching and learning portfolio in applied horticulture. HortTechnology 33:59-64.  Download
  • Li, T., X. Zhao, G. Bi, T.C. Barickman, R.L. Harkess. 2022. Nitrogen fertigation rate and foliar urea spray affect plant growth, nitrogen, and carbohydrate status of Encore Azalea 'Chiffon' grown in alternative containers. Horticulturae 8(6):525.  Download
  • Neigel, E.R., R.L. Harkess, A.A.A. Fox. 2022. Mapping potential butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) habitat in Mississippi using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Native Plants Journal 23(1):84-92. Download
  • Werner, A., S. Deb, R.R. Rafa, A.A.A. Fox, R.L. Harkess, D.W. Carruth, C.R. Hudson. 2022. Student perceptions of traditional and simulated learning in greenhouse management. In: S. Nazir (ed) Training, Education, and Learning Sciences. AHFE (2022) International Conference. 59:198-205. AHFE International, USA. Download
  • Zhang, Q., G. Bi, T. Li, Q. Wang, Z. Xing, J. Lecompte, and R.L. Harkess. 2022. Color shade nets affect plant growth and seasonal leaf quality of Camellia sinensis grown in Mississippi, the United States. Frontiers in Nutrition 9:1-13.  Download
  • Zhao, X., G. Bi, T. Li, R.L. Harkess, and E.K. Blythe. 2021. Nitrogen and phosphorus rates influence growth, flowering, and nutrient uptake in Iris germanica 'Immortality'. Horticultural Science and Technology 39(6):726-737. Download
  • Li, T., G. Bi, X. Zhao, R.L. Harkess, C. Scagel. 2020. Nitrogen fertilization, container type, and irrigation frequency affect mineral nutrient uptake of hydrangea. Water 12:1987. Download
  • Li, T., L. Geoffrey, Q. Zhang, G. Bi, R. L. Harkess. 2020. High-tunnel production of strawberries using black and red plastic mulches. Horticulturae 6(4):73.  Download
  • Smith, H. R., R. Harkess, C. Overstreet, P. R. Knight, G. Lawrence, K. P. Lawrence, D. Lang, M. Phillips. 2020. Effects of seed treatment nematicides on the growth and development of Gossypium hirsutum growing in Rotylenchulus reniformis infested soils under greenhouse environments. Nematropica 49(2):181-188. Download
  • Stephenson, R. C., C. E. Coker, B. C. Posadas, G. R. Bachman, R. L. Harkess, J. J. Adamczyk, P. R. Knight. 2020. Economic effect of insect pest management strategies on small-scale tomato production in Mississippi. HortTechnology 30(1):64-75. Download
  • Zhang, Q., T. Li, Q. Wang, J. LeCompte, R. L. Harkess, G. Bi. 2020. Screening tea cultivars for novel climates: Plant growth and leaf quality of Camellia sinensis cultivars grown in Mississippi, United States. Frontiers in Plant Science 11:280. Download
  • Li, T., G. Bi, R. L. Harkess, E. K. Blythe. 2019. Mineral nutrient uptake of Encore Azalea 'Chiffon' affected by nitrogen, container, and irrigation frequency. HortScience 54(12):2240-2248.  Download
  • Li, T., G. Bi, R. L. Harkess, G. C. Denny, C. Scagel. 2019. Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation frequency affect hydrangea growth and nutrient uptake in two container types. HortScience 54(1):167-174. Download
  • Stephenson, R. C., C. E. Coker, B. C. Posadas, G. R. Bachman, R. L. Harkess, J. J. Adamczyk, P. R. Knight. 2019. Effect of high tunnels on populations of whiteflies, aphids, and thrips on tomatoes in Mississippi. Journal of Horticulture 6(3):259-267. Download
  • Li, T., G. Bi, R. L. Harkess, G. C. Denny, E. K. Blythe, X. Zhao. 2018. Nitrogen rate, irrigation frequency, and container type affect plant growth and nutrient uptake of encore azalea 'Chiffon'. HortScience 53(4):560-566. Download
  • Rezazadeh, A., R. L. Harkess, T. Telmadarrehei. 2018. The effect of light intensity and temperature on flowering and morphology of potted red firespike. Horticulturae 4(4), 36. Download
  • Akgul, A., A. Akgul, S.D. Roberts, R.L. Harkess, S.V. Diehl. 2016. Genetic variation in the FT1 locus involved in reproductive onset in Populus deltoides. Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 6(1):1-10.
  • Rezazadeh, A., R. L. Harkess, G. Bi. 2016. Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and flowering of potted red firespike. HortTechnology 26(1):6-11. Download
  • Rezazadeh, A., R. L. Harkess, G. Bi. 2016. Effects of paclobutrazol and flurprimidol on water stress amelioration in potted red firespike. HortTechnology 26(1):26-29. Download
  • Zhao, X., G. Bi, R. Harkess, J. J. Varco, E. K. Blythe. 2016. Spring Nitrogen Uptake, Use Efficiency, and Partitioning for Growth in Iris Germanica 'Immortality'. HortScience 51(5):563-566. Download
  • Zhao, X., G. Bi, R. L. Harkess, E. K. Blythe. 2016. Effects of different NH4:NO3 ratios on growth and nutritional status in iris germanica 'immortality'. HortScience 51(8):1045-1049. Download
  • Zhao, X., G. Bi, R. L. Harkess, J. J. Varco, T. Li, E. K. Blythe. 2016. Nitrogen fertigation rates affect stored nitrogen, growth and blooming in iris germanica 'immortality'. HortScience 51(2):186-191. Download
  • Rezazadeh, A., R. L. Harkess, G. Bi. 2015. Stimulation of lateral branching of red firespike with dikegulac sodium, benzyladenine, and pinching. HortTechnology 25(3):358-361. Download
  • Rezazadeh, A., R. L. Harkess. 2015. Effects of pinching, number of cuttings per pot, and plant growth regulators on height control of purple firespike. HortTechnology 25(1):71-75. Download
  • Wang, X., E. D. Peebles, T. W. Morgan, R. L. Harkess, W. Zhai 2015. Protein source and nutrient density in the diets of male broilers from 8 to 21 d of age: Effects on small intestine morphology. Poultry Science 94(1):61-67. Download
  • Cochran, D., R.L. Harkess, P.R. Knight, M. Tomaso-Peterson, E.K. Blythe, and C.H. Gilliam. 2014. Evaluation of a Commercial Extract of Giant Knotweed on Drought Tolerance of Impatiens. HortScience, Vol. 49(8):1034-1040. Download
  • Zhao, Y., M. Gu, G. Bi, W.B. Evans, and R.L. Harkess. 2014. Planting Date Effect on Yield of Tomato, Eggplant, Pepper, Zinnia, and Snapdragon in High Tunnel in Mississippi. Journal of Crop Improvement, Vol. 28(1):27-37. Download
  • Dhir, R., R.L. Harkess, and G. Bi. 2013. Physiological Responses of Ivy Geranium 'Beach' and 'Butterfly' to Heat Stress. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Vol. 138(5):344-349. Download
  • Adams, J.P., A. Adeli, C. Hsu, R.L. Harkess, G. Page, C.W. de Pamphilis, Y. Jiao, E. Schultz, M.C. Yuceer. 2012. Characterization of Poplar ZIP Family Members ZIP1.2 and ZNT1. Journal of Plant Genetics and Transgenetics 3(1):1-13. Download
  • Hidalgo, P.R., R.L. Harkess. 2012. Fertilizer effect on chrysanthemum production by vermicompost of different substrates. International Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering Research 3(2):32-45.
  • Hidalgo, P.R., R.L. Harkess. 2012. Sheep, cattle, and horse manure vermicomposts reduce fertilizer inputs in poinsettia production. International Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering Research 3(2):55-67.
  • Adams, J.P., A. Adeli, C. Hsu, R.L. Harkess, G. Page, E. dePamphilis, E. Schultz, and M.C. Yuceer. 2011. Poplar Maintains Zinc Homeostasis with Heavy Metal Genes HMA4 and PCSI. Journal of Experimental Botany 62:3737-3752. Download
  • Brzuszek, R.F., R.L. Harkess, E. Stortz. 2011. Perceptions of the importance of horticultural knowledge by practicing landscape architects in the southeastern United States. HortTechnology 21(1):126-130. Download
  • Dhir, R., R.L. Harkess, G. Bi. 2011. Elevated air temperatures cause foliar bleaching of ivy geranium ‘Beach’ and ‘Butterfly’. HortScience 46:411-415. Download
  • Gajanayake, B., B.W. Trader, K.R. Reddy, R.L. Harkess. 2011. Thermotolerance classification of ornamental pepper cultivars using seed germination traits. Seed Technology 33(2):134-146. Download
  • Gajanayake, K., B.W. Trader, K.R. Reddy, R.L. Harkess. 2011. Screening ornamental pepper cultivars for temperature tolerance using pollen and physiological parameters. HortScience 46 (6):878-884. Download
  • Hinson, R., R.D. Little, K.W. Hood, A. Owings, J.G. Black, R. Harkness. 2011. Determining the cost of production for selected ornamental crops in plant hardiness zones 8 and 9. Journal of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers 74(1):3-22. Download
  • Brzuszek, R.F., R.L. Harkess, L.S. Kelly. 2010. Survey of Master Gardener use of native plants in the Southeastern United Stated. HortTechnology 20:462-466. Download
  • Brzuszek, R.F., R.L. Harkess. 2009. Green industry survey of native plant marketing in the Southeastern United States. HortTechnology 19(1):168-172. Download
  • Bi, G., C.F. Scagel, R.L. Harkess. 2008. Rate of nitrogen fertigation during vegetative growth and spray applications of urea in the autumn alters growth and flowering of florists' hydrangeas. HortScience 43(2):472-477. Download
  • Brzuszek, R.F., R.L. Harkess, S.J. Mulley. 2007. Landscape architects' use of native plants in the Southeastern United States. HortTechnology 17 (1):78-81. Download
  • Brigard, J.P., R.L. Harkess, B.S. Baldwin. 2006. Tomato early seedling height control using a paclobutrazol seed soak. HortScience 41(3):768-772. Download
  • Hidalgo, P.R., F.B. Matta, R.L. Harkess. 2006. Physical and chemical properties of substrates containing earthworm castings and effects on marigold growth. HortScience 41(6):1474-1476. Download