Dr. Pemberton's area of research is in nursery and floriculture crop production and physiology. His research has an emphasis on field production of rose plants including work on propagation and irrigation practices, production systems, weed and disease control, and postharvest care and shipping. He is working with a group of scientists on improving disease resistance in roses. He is also studying the effects of production environment on and the involvement of ethylene in postproduction shipping and decorative life problems with potted roses. In addition, bedding plant pack and garden trials are performed each spring and fall featuring new varieties available for production in the bedding plant industry. Various problems with bedding plant production and utilization are addressed. New crop development includes field and low-input structure cut flower production.