Tea, one of the world’s most consumed beverages, has a rich variety of sensory qualities such as appearance, aroma, mouthfeel and flavor. This review paper summarizes the chemical and volatile compositions and sensory qualities of different tea infusions including black, green, oolong, dark, yellow, and white teas based on published data over the past 4 years (between 2021 and 2024), largely focusing on the methodologies. This review highlights the relationships among the different processing methods of tea and their resulting chemical and sensory profiles. Environmental and handling factors during processing, such as fermentation, roasting, and drying are known to play pivotal roles in shaping the unique flavors and aromas of different types of tea, each containing a wide variety of compounds enhancing specific sensory characteristics like umami, astringency, sweetness, and fruity or floral notes, which may correlate with certain groups of chemical compositions. The integration of advanced analytical methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), with traditional sensory analysis techniques was found to be essential in the evaluation of the chemical composition and sensory attributes of teas. Additionally, emerging approaches like near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electronic sensory methods show potential in modern tea evaluation. The complexity of tea sensory characteristics necessitates the development of combined approaches using both analytical methods and human sensory analysis for a comprehensive and better understanding of tea quality.

Crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus (=Eriococcus) lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is a newly introduced insect pest on crapemyrtles, Lagerstroemia spp. (Myrtales: Lythraceae), one of the most popular flowering shrubs in the U.S. Since first detected in Texas in 2004, this pest has spread to twelve states causing losses to stakeholders. To develop a management plan, we reviewed current knowledge about the pest’s biology and ecology, and suggested research approaches including studying its thermal tolerance, host range, plant resistance and biological control. Parasitoids and predators have been reared from A. lagerstroemiae in the U.S. and China. However, new surveys of natural enemies should be conducted in China, and studies on the host range and impacts of natural enemies on A. lagerstroemiae may help determine the potential for classical biological control. The life history, preying efficiency and rearing methods are important for coccinellid predators found in the U.S. including Chilocorus cacti L. and Hyperaspis spp. To enhance natural enemy performance, it is important to evaluate a sustainable insecticide program that considers efficacy, timing, rate and impact on pollinator health. Finally, an integrated management program of A. lagerstroemiae is discussed including planting resistant cultivars, using host specific natural enemies, and prudent use of insecticides.

A nutrient recirculation system (NRS) was used to assess the ability of four ornamental and three wetland plant species to remove nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) from stormwater runoff. The NRS was filled with a nutrient solution with total N and P concentrations of 11.3 and 3.1 mg·L ⁻¹ , respectively, to simulate high levels of nutrient contaminations in stormwater. Nutrient removal abilities of herbaceous perennial ornamental plants, canna ( Canna × generalis Bailey) ‘Australia’, iris ( Iris pseudacorus L.) ‘Golden Fleece’, calla lily [ Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng], and dwarf papyrus ( Cyperus haspan L.) were compared with those of wetland plants arrow arum [ Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott], pickerelweed ( Pontederia cordata L.), and bulltongue arrowhead ( Sagittaria lancifolia L.) in three experiments. ‘Australia’ canna had the greatest water consumption, total biomass production, and aboveground N and P content followed by pickerelweed. ‘Golden Fleece’ iris had higher tissue N concentrations than canna but much lower biomass production. Dwarf papyrus had similar total biomass as pickerelweed but less shoot biomass. N and P removed from the NRS units planted with canna (98.7% N and 91.8% P) were higher than those planted with iris and arrow arum (31.6% and 31.5% N, and 38.5% and 26.3% P, respectively). NRS units planted with dwarf papyrus had similar nutrient recovery rate as pickerelweed, but much less total N and P were removed as a result of less water consumption. The NRS units planted with calla lily had lower nutrient removal than canna and pickerelweed. Our results suggest that canna is a promising ornamental species for stormwater mitigation, and harvesting the aboveground biomass of canna can effectively remove N and P from the treatment system. However, more research needs to be done to evaluate factors that might affect plant performance in a floating biofiltration system.

Green walls have been used in built environments as a natural element to bring various benefits, thus improving human health and well-being. However, in conventional virtual environments, the visual connection with a green wall is the only way that this natural element could benefit humans. Unfortunately, the impact of such visual connection on human thermal perception is still not well understood. Thus, we conducted an experimental study with 40 participants comparing the thermal state of two virtual sessions: biophilic (a room with a green wall) and non-biophilic (the same room without a green wall). Both sessions were conducted in a climate chamber under a slightly warm condition (28.89 °C and 50% relative humidity). Participants’ thermal state, skin temperature, and heart rate data were collected. According to the results, participants’ thermal comfort and hand skin temperature were significantly different between the two sessions, and their mean skin temperature was statistically increased over time. The study suggests that before the extent to which the impact of visual stimuli (e.g., green walls) on thermal perception is fully understood, researchers may need to control visual and thermal stimuli separately when using them in immersive virtual environments. Furthermore, the virtual exposure time should be an important consideration when designing experimental procedures.

The crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is an invasive pest of crapemyrtles, Lagerstroemia spp. L. (Lythraceae) (Wang et al. 2016). Native to Asia, this pest was first reported in Richardson, Texas, USA, in 2004 (Merchant et al. 2014), and it is currently present in 11 other states including Louisiana (EDDMapS 2017). Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae is a sexual dimorphic with the adult female being sessile on the bark for most of her lifetime (Wang et al. 2016). Honeydew secreted by this scale facilitates sooty mold accumulation on the crapemyrtles, thus reducing aesthetic values as well as producing limited photosynthesis (Gu et al. 2014). Crapemyrtles are ornamentals with the highest economic value in the southeastern US (USDA NASS 2014). With more than 130 cultivars, Lagerstroemia spp. have a wide range of plant size, flower, foliage, and bark color (Chappell et al. 2012). Before the arrival of A. lagerstroemiae, crapemyrtles were valued as an ornamental with low pest problems (Knox 2003; Chappell et al. 2012). Current management of A. lagerstroemiae relies on insecticides such as imidacloprid, cypermethrin, and dinotefuran both in China (He et al. 2008; Zhang 2011) and the US (Gu et al. 2014; Robbins 2014), though most of these chemicals have been prohibited on bee-attractive plants including crapemyrtle (Riddle & Mizell 2016).

Yellow nutsedge ( Cyperus esculentus ) is one of the most troublesome and widespread perennial weeds infesting landscape plantings in the United States. Few selective herbicides are available for managing this weed. A combination of organic mulch with preemergence herbicide may improve control efficacy at tuber emergence and reduce the need for subsequent postemergence applications. However, limited information is available on potential interactions between herbicide placement and mulching and their effect on yellow nutsedge control and landscape plant growth and quality. In this study, control efficacy of preemergence herbicide s-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) applied at 0, 4, or 6 lb/acre above or under pine straw, pine nuggets, or shredded cypress mulches were evaluated in landscape beds infested with yellow nutsedge and planted with ‘Mystery’ gardenia ( Gardenia jasminoides ), ‘Stella de Oro’ daylily ( Hemerocallis ), and ‘Big Blue’ liriope ( Liriope muscari ). Pine nuggets provided greater yellow nutsedge control compared with shredded cypress during the first 6 weeks after treatment (WAT) in mulch-alone plots. All mulch-alone plots had similar yellow nutsedge shoot densities and were 40% to 60% less than untreated bare soil plots from 6 to 12 WAT. Control efficacy was greater when EPTC was applied under mulch compared with above-mulch applications regardless of mulch products. In addition, EPTC at low rate resulted in similar control as high rate when applied under mulch. No injury was observed on any ornamental plants treated with EPTC. Mulching improved growth, flowering, and overall visual quality of gardenia, but reduced number of flowers in daylily and aboveground biomass in liriope at some sample dates though their visual qualities were unaffected. Based on these preliminary data, EPTC applied preemergence before mulching a new landscape bed or replenishing an existing bed can improve yellow nutsedge control without injuring selected ornamental plants.