Commercial Horticulture Research Articles

Getting intimate with crops in horticulture’s loveless human-plant relations

ABSTRACT Intimacy suggests familiar, close-up knowing, resulting in emotional attachment to another. Such affective encounters occur between domestic gardeners and their plants, but what about commercial horticulture? Anna Tsing suggests not, characterizing plantationocene agribusiness as production without the love (2012). Relations between commercial growers and plants have scarcely been considered, but horticulture complicates multispecies ethics as plants are to be eaten, and tackling human exploitation might have precedence. Applying a care ethic to agriculture therefore must question care work’s outcomes and motivations. In research with UK commercial growers I trace plant intimacies as how growers relate to their plants, and how globalized food systems touch plant and human bodies in horticultural fields, asking: can following plant intimacies signal how more just food production could love human and plant labourers? Intimacies are shown to be shaped by time, scale and labour, as global food regimes press into intimate plant work, whilst specific modes of plantiness shape labour regimes. Tracing plant intimacies reveals that power to gain intimate plant knowledge is unequally distributed, whilst harmful intimacy concentrates with the most marginalized workers. Rather than questioning whether growers love or care for plants, it may be more important to ask who owns the crops, and who/what benefits.

Dynamics of damage by the buddle mite (<i>Cecidophyes ribes</i> West.) to collection varieties of black currant

The aim of research is to evaluate collectible black currant material according to resistance to bud mite in conditions of Kirov region, to study the dynamics of damage accumulation by a pest and to distinguish the varieties which have been showing the resistance for a long time. The evaluation of varieties had been held on the collectible plantations of fruit and berry crops of laboratory of FSBSI FARC of the North-East (Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Federal Agricultural Research Centre”) (Kirov) which is situated in a central agro-climatic zone of Kirov region in 2014–2021. 36 black currant varieties of 2013 planting year were included in the research. The check variety is Vologda. The scheme of planting is 3.0 × 1.0 m, 5 plants on an every accounting plot. The repetition is single. As a result of a long-term study of the dynamics of bud mite damage accumulation, the varieties, which remain free from the pest longer than others were distinguished: Alexandrina (the features of the pest had not been noticed during the whole research); Dobriy Jinn (Kind Genie) and Gulliver (5.6% of the number of the studied) which showed the first damage on the 7th and 8th year after planting. Chishma, Yadrenaya, Mila, Vasilisa, Sputnick, Nezhdanchick (16.7%) showed the first features of damage on the 5th year of planting. The varieties with the resistance to a bud mite (47.2%) are promising as a basic material for bringing in a selection process and recommended for the production. The varieties with middle and low resistance to the pest can be recommended for amateur and commercial horticulture but as a basic material on resistance to a phytophage in selection, they are unsuitable. The analysis of a link between a degree of pest damage of studied varieties and productiveness showed an average negative relationship between these features (r = –0.62).

The Role of Environmental Factors and Plant Growth Regulators on Grapes Coloration

Grapevine is the world's commercial horticulture crop. Poor coloration of grapes is one of the problems in grape production. Climate changes could negatively affect grape quality by reducing color formation. The effect of high temperatures on anthocyanin content and composition in the main red-producing grapes would help estimate their phenotypic change and perhaps predict whether they will be able to sustain the attributes of high-quality grapes in the context of climate change. Climate changes played an important role in lack sufficient berry color especially high temperature inhibited L-phenylalanineammonialyase (PAL). L-phenylalanineammonialyase improved accumulation of anthocyanin in the skin of grape berries. Environmental factors like light, temperature and irrigation are effective in either grapes coloration or discoloration. Plant growth regulators like Brassinosteroids (BRs), Jasmonic acid (JA), Salicylic acid (SA) and Abscisic acid (ABA) are accelerating the accumulation of anthocyanin in grapes berry skin. So it is very important to know how grapes coloration, the effect of plant growth regulators and environmental factors on grapes coloration.

Investigating consumer preferences for known wild provenance of plants within the horticultural trade

Societal Impact StatementAlthough significant advances have been made in implementing international mechanisms to support the benefit sharing of natural resources in low and middle income countries, there are limited practical examples. Our research examines how the ornamental horticulture sector might be able to meet its benefit sharing requirements. Employing a consumer survey, we reveal the potential for monetary benefit sharing to emerge for plants with Known Wild Provenance. Our results indicate that although consumers value plants that have their Known Wild Provenance clearly labelled, the magnitude of this estimate is insufficient to generate meaningful monetary benefits.Summary The global trade in ornamental plants is significant and growing. Historically, the relationship between the acquisition of novel plants from the wild for use in ornamental horticulture has been referred to as plant hunting. However, questions are now being raised about the ethical utilisation of biological resources and if those countries providing access to material from the wild are receiving adequate benefits. It is in this context that we examine if plants of Known Wild Provenance (KWP) are valued by UK consumers, and if a potential premium could be the basis of a benefit‐sharing agreement. Employing a choice experiment, we assess consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for KWP. Our analysis reveals that KWP did not prove to be a strong driver for plant buyers. Although a positive WTP is generated it is relatively small. Thus, the ability of commercial horticulture to provide monetary benefits to support benefit sharing is likely limited. This result raises questions as to how benefit sharing might then be implemented if buyers of plants are not prepared to pay a price premium.

Annual Growth of Quince Varieties in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, due to the favorable combination of soil and climatic conditions, is the most important region in the world for the development of commercial horticulture. Horticulture is characterized by product innovation, which is characterized by the introduction into production of valuable varieties of fruit and berry crops, new technologies for their cultivation, storage and processing. When cultivating fruit plants, it is necessary to pay attention to the important role of the biological characteristics of varieties, including the annual growth of trees. As you know, annual growth is a shoot, that is, an annual stem with leaves or buds located on it, which has grown during the last growing season. The research results showed that the annual growth, leaf area and foliage index of quince bushes differ significantly depending on the variety. The total number of shoots on a bush between the studied varieties varies from 50 to 104 pieces. By varieties, this indicator is: Shakeri quince — 50 pcs., Velechin — 75 pcs., Sary quince, Penser and Bardak quince — 84 pcs., Garaman quince — 104 pcs. The average length of one shoot between the studied varieties fluctuates 5.0-9.6 cm. Based on the above, the annual growth by varieties ranges from 0.480-0.655 m.

Impact of Cultivation and Origin on the Fruit Microbiome of Apples and Blueberries and Implications for the Exposome

Vegetables and fruits are a crucial part of the planetary health diet, directly affecting human health and the gut microbiome. The objective of our study was to understand the variability of the fruit (apple and blueberry) microbiome in the frame of the exposome concept. The study covered two fruit-bearing woody species, apple and blueberry, two countries of origin (Austria and Finland), and two fruit production methods (naturally grown and horticultural). Microbial abundance, diversity, and community structures were significantly different for apples and blueberries and strongly influenced by the growing system (naturally grown or horticultural) and country of origin (Austria or Finland). Our results indicated that bacterial communities are more responsive towards these factors than fungal communities. We found that fruits grown in the wild and within home gardens generally carry a higher microbial diversity, while commercial horticulture homogenized the microbiome independent of the country of origin. This can be explained by horticultural management, including pesticide use and post-harvest treatments. Specific taxonomic indicators were identified for each group, i.e., for horticultural apples: Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Stenotrophomonas. Interestingly, Ralstonia was also found to be enriched in horticultural blueberries in comparison to such that were home and wildly grown. Our study showed that the origin of fruits can strongly influence the diversity and composition of their microbiome, which means that we are exposed to different microorganisms by eating fruits from different origins. Thus, the fruit microbiome needs to be considered an important but relatively unexplored external exposomic factor.

Continuity and Change: Socio-Spatial Practices in Bamberg's World Heritage Urban Horticulture

The German city of Bamberg offers lessons in how continuity and change interact within the context of the inner-urban land use of commercial horticulture, thereby informing sustainable urban transformations in historic cities. The case of Bamberg shows that urban food production is not just well-established, but a consistent and centuries-old cultural structure that influences the fabric of today’s city. In this article, we discuss what forms of urban horticulture (and thus also food production) are evident from Bamberg’s past and which may prevail in the future. Two questions structure our analysis. First, how are historical sites and spatial structures of horticulture shaped in the tension between continuity and change? Second, which practices/forms of urban horticulture are taken up and how are they updated by which actors? Both the heritage and contemporary practices of urban horticulture, it is argued, can be conceived of as a resource to create sustainable places and ways of life for citizens. Two new contributions result from this work. First, the article highlights the ongoing cultural heritage dimensions of urban horticulture in a field still dominated by eco-technical contributions associated with post-industrial innovation in urban planning; in this respect, heritage should be recognised as a dynamic that shapes urban change. In addition, secondly, the application of Luhmannian concepts of evolution in social systems reinforces the interdependence of continuity and change in urban settings.

Major challenges facing the commercial horticulture

Major challenges facing the commercial horticulture

Adaptive potential of apple varieties in the foothill zone of Dagestan

The article presents the results of studying the adaptability of apple varieties on the M9 clone rootstock in the agroecological conditions of the southeastern foothill subprovince of Dagestan. The purpose of the research is to identify the adaptive potential of apple varieties for the establishment of intensive type orchards in the zone of commercial horticulture. It is especially important to choose the optimal variant of scion-rootstock combinations of apple trees, which should be distinguished by annual productivity, high commercial quality of fruits and environmental sustainability. The southeastern foothill sub-province has great prospects for the development of commercial horticulture. The most common of the unfavorable environmental factors that negatively affect the vital activity of fruit crops are recurrent cold in spring and early frosts in autumn, when fruit plants are still windy. According to the results of the research, biometric parameters of growth and yield of trees in a young orchard were determined, depending on the type of plantings design. It is noted that at the age of three years, the condition of trees on a 5-point scale is good. The height of trees, depending on the rootstock, compared with the variety Renet Simirenko (control), reached an average of 2.3 to 2.9 m. On dwarf rootstocks of M-9, the diameter of the stem of the Majesti variety was 4.2 cm, the diameter of the Simirenko variety was 3.5 cm. The growth of annual shoots clearly reflects the growth activity of trees with different scion/rootstock combinations. It has been established that dwarf rootstocks provide a weakening effect and allow growing stunted trees with a compact crown, a strong stem and are convenient for care, harvesting. The largest number of fruit formations was observed in the introduced Majesti variety with a planting scheme of 3.0×1.5 on a dwarf rootstock M9(67sh), compared with the control variety of the Renet Simirenko (46pcs).The yield from one tree was 7.1 kg., in the control variety Renet Simirenko — (5.3 kg). When calculated per hectare, the Majesty variety produced 15.7 tons, Renet Simirenko — 11.7 tons.

Technological innovations in commercial high tech horticulture, vertical farming and landscaping

Technological innovations in commercial high tech horticulture, vertical farming and landscaping

Impact of climate change on fruit and vegetable crops and its mitigation strategies

The biggest challenge to humanity in the twenty-first century is global warming and climate change. Climate change reduces production and efficiency, while also increasing environmental stress on fruit and vegetable crops. Increased temperature, decreased irrigation water supply, flooding, and salinity are thought to be the limiting factors in improving fruit and vegetable productivity. The melting of the Himalayan ice cap would minimise the cooling effect needed for the flowering of many horticultural crops such as apples, saffron, rhododendrons, and orchids, among others. Commercial horticulture plant development especially that grown in open fields will be severely harmed. Integrated approaches such as fertiliser and tillage, residue management, water management, mulching, enhanced pest management, and breeding approaches such as production of genotypes resistant to high temperatures, salinity, modification of current horticultural practices, and increased use of greenhouse technology are to be adopted. Conservation agriculture, renewable energy, forest and water conservation, reforestation, and other methods are the most important.

Evaluation of Priokskoe columnar apple variety from All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding

The use of adaptive, scab-immune, stable-fruiting columnar apple tree varieties of domestic selection enhances profitability of commercial horticulture for a higher competitive power of national agricultural market. The diversity of columnar varieties remains little, yet offering a promising line of selection given a rising interest in this form of apple tree. The research aimed to comprehensively assess the economic and biological potential of the Priokskoe columnar variety to produce recommendations on its introduction in home and industrial gardening. A number of promising selected and elite genotypes, as well as five cultivars (Priokskoe, Poeziya, Vostorg, Orlovskaya Yeseniya, Girlyanda) have been identified from the extensive hybrid fund of columnar apple trees established at the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding for over 40 years. Priokskoe was the Institute’s first early-fruiting columnar variety starting at the third year post-inoculation on low-medium vigour rootstock. Average yield at planting density 14,000 plants/ha on dwarf stock 62-396 makes 49.1 t/ha and 78.3 t/ha — in the crown of skeleton-forming stock 3-17-38 at planting density 3,333 plants/ha. Priokskoe is a strong-vigour category among columnar varieties. A 7-year tree height on dwarf rootstock 62-396 was 217.3 cm, a crowned tree height on stem stock 3-4-98 — 281.7 cm. The variety’s winter hardiness is sufficient for its cultivation in the Middle Chernozem zone at no risk of irreversible winter loss. The Rvi6 gene-conditioned scab immunity enables improvement of the orchard phytosanitary situation via reduced chemical burden. The adaptability, economic and biological traits of the Priokskoe columnar variety ensure it a worthy rating among the current apple tree assortment recommended for intensive industrial horticulture.

Compost Functions as Effective Replacement for Peat-Based Potting Media in Organic Greenhouse Transplant Production

Commercial horticulture in many regions of the world depends upon Sphagnum peat as a potting-media substrate, but extracting peat has serious environmental consequences. Composts may be able to serve as effective substitutes for peat and offer potential environmental advantages. The suitability of compost as potting media depends upon the raw materials as well as processing methods used. This study includes two related experiments—one with beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and the other with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)—aimed at assessing the potential viability of farm-produced, food-residuals compost as a replacement for peat-based potting media in the production of organic vegetable transplants. The experiments were conducted in 2021 on the Berea College Farm in Kentucky, USA, a USDA certified organic farm. The results indicated that potting media composed of 75% to 100% compost performed as well as fertilized, peat-based growing media for plant growth. Further, although weeds were present in the compost, weed pressure was not severe enough to adversely affect crop growth. Thus, sterilization of compost, which did eliminate weeds in the compost, was not deemed necessary for using the compost as a partial or complete potting medium. Compost pasteurization was also assessed but was ineffective in destroying weed seeds.

Entrepreneurship opportunities in horticulture sector

Horticulture sector has the potential to enhance the farm income, provide livelihood security and earn foreign exchange. However, focused policy interventions are needed to realise the potential of this sector. India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally. During 2019-20, the production of fruits is 102.03 million MT and that of vegetables is 189 million MT and that of flowers is 2.94million MT. The salient features of commercial horticulture are perishability, intense technology, high profitability accompanied with high investment and high risks including vulnerability to post-harvest losses. Overall, it demands very good entrepreneurship and leadership.The review reveals the trends of the horticultural sector in India and identifies the growth prospects. According to the Economic Survey 2020-202, the share of agriculture in gross domestic product (GDP) has reached almost 20 per cent for the first time in the last 17 years, making it the sole bright spot in GDP performance during 2020-21. The resilience of the farming community in the face of adversities made agriculture the only sector to have clocked a positive growth of 3.4 per cent at constant prices in 2020-21, when other sectors slid. The share of agriculture in GDP increased to 19.9 per cent in 2020-21 from 17.8 per cent in 2019-20.The Horticulture has become a key driver for economic development in many of the states in the country and it contributes 30.4 per cent to GDP of agriculture, which calls for technology-led development. The research priorities are for genetic resource enhancement and its utilization, enhancing the efficiency of production and reducing the losses in environment friendly manner. Horticultural sector accounts for about 37% of the total exports of agricultural commodities, and the exports have recorded sustained rising trend.The major concerns of the sector are improving the productivity through research and development, enhancing the share of value-added products, geographical diversification of exports and enhancing the infrastructure including cold storage and rural roads.The horticulture sector has been considered as the sun rising sector of Indian agriculture because of its contribution to livelihood and nutritional security. Here are some strategic options to overcome the hurdles in the entrepreneurship climate setting process to enhance farmers’ income.

First Steps toward a Test Procedure to Identify Peat Substitutes for Growing Media by Means of Chemical, Physical, and Biological Material Characteristics

Due to the major environmental impact of peat-based growing media production and the need of lowering greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, a wider application of peat substitutes in growing media is requested. All peat substitutes under use have constraints associated with their properties. Therefore, a preliminary test procedure for identifying new raw materials as peat substitutes in growing media was developed and validated. By applying the preliminary test procedure, the potential limitations of cultivation of potential peat substitutes are indicated, and measures for cultivation regulation are recommended. For the development of the new preliminary test procedure, four raw materials were investigated: composted heather, alder, cattail, and reed. The preliminary test procedure comprises several material and technological criteria as well as aspects of plant cultivation, enabling the evaluation of the raw materials and the processed components for growing media. Results derived from the preliminary test procedure were checked and confirmed by experiments with horticultural crops in different sections of commercial horticulture. Within two years, the identification of new peat substitutes was possible by the application of the preliminary test procedure and its test criteria, which provide a structure for the systematic investigation of potential new peat substitutes starting with the raw material.

Water Quality Threats, Perceptions of Climate Change and Behavioral Responses among Farmers in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

This work aims to assess water quality for irrigated agriculture, alongside perceptions and adaptations of farmers to climate change in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Climate change is expected to cause a rise in temperature and variability in rainfall in the region, reducing surface water availability and raising dependence on groundwater. The study data come from surveys with 147 farmers living in the Ziway–Shala basin and water quality assessments of 162 samples from groundwater wells and surface water. Most groundwater samples were found to be unsuitable for long term agricultural use due to their high salinity and sodium adsorption ratio, which has implications for soil permeability, as well as elevated bicarbonate, boron and residual sodium carbonate concentrations. The survey data indicate that water sufficiency is a major concern for farmers that leads to frequent crop failures, especially due to erratic and insufficient rainfall. An important adaptation mechanism for farmers is the use of improved crop varieties, but major barriers to adaptation include a lack of access to irrigation water, credit or savings, appropriate seeds, and knowledge or information on weather and climate conditions. Local (development) agents are identified as vital to enhancing farmers’ knowledge of risks and solutions, and extension programs must therefore continue to promote resilience and adaptation in the area. Unfortunately, much of the MER groundwater that could be used to cope with declining viability of rainfed agriculture and surface water availability, is poor in quality. The use of saline groundwater could jeopardize the agricultural sector, and most notably commercial horticulture and floriculture activities. This study highlights the complex nexus of water quality and sufficiency challenges facing the agriculture sector in the region, and should help decision-makers to design feasible strategies for enhancing adaptation and food security.

Synthesis of carbon dots@Mg(OH)2 solid-state composites with blue, red emitting for horticultural application

Carbon dots (CDs) are being increasingly favored by researchers due to their suitable size, simple preparation method, low cost, and excellent optical performance. However, CDs are often self-quenched in the solid state, limiting their application and development. In this work, blue/red-CDs (B/R-CDs) materials are synthesized using hydrothermal method. By combining CDs with Mg(OH)2 hexagonal nanosheet in one step, a series of B/R-CDs@Mg(OH)2 anti-self-quenching luminescent composites with dual characteristic peaks at 447 and 677 nm was then synthesized. Their photoluminescence (PL) spectra are consistent with the blue and red spectrum, which match well with the absorption of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. The emissive colors are also tunable by various weight ratios of these composites. These materials have the excellent thermal stability and photostability. light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and light-conversion films for plant growth are further prepared and studied. Results indicate that the materials have excellent commercial horticulture applications in plant-growth lamps and light-conversion film.

Plant Associated Rhizobacteria for Biocontrol and Plant Growth Enhancement.

Crop disease remains a major problem to global food production. Excess use of pesticides through chemical disease control measures is a serious problem for sustainable agriculture as we struggle for higher crop productivity. The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a proven environment friendly way of controlling plant disease and increasing crop yield. PGPR suppress diseases by directly synthesizing pathogen-antagonizing compounds, as well as by triggering plant immune responses. It is possible to identify and develop PGPR that both suppress plant disease and more directly stimulate plant growth, bringing dual benefit. A number of PGPR have been registered for commercial use under greenhouse and field conditions and a large number of strains have been identified and proved as effective biocontrol agents (BCAs) under environmentally controlled conditions. However, there are still a number of challenges before registration, large-scale application, and adoption of PGPR for the pest and disease management. Successful BCAs provide strong theoretical and practical support for application of PGPR in greenhouse production, which ensures the feasibility and efficacy of PGPR for commercial horticulture production. This could be pave the way for widespread use of BCAs in agriculture, including under field conditions, to assist with both disease management and climate change conditions.

What do we know about the origin of our urban trees? – A north European perspective

The ecosystem services provided by urban trees make substantial contributions to the urban environments. However, many of these ecosystem services are strongly connected to tree size and health which means that right tree for site and climate is essential. Whilst most urban forestry literature focuses on finding “the right tree for the right place” by describing the variation in physiological traits at the species level, many species also show substantial intraspecific variation in their traits at the level of the organ, such as leaf economic traits or wood density. The question is how well do the nursery industry that support us with trees acknowledge this fact. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent provenance and ecotypes is understood within the largest tree nurseries in Germany, Netherlands and the UK. We identified five tree species commonly planted within urban forests in central and northern Europe and carried out a brief analysis of the climatic envelopes experienced by them in their natural range. We then carried out short interviews with nursery representatives to examine whether it is possible to identify which ecotypes of these species are represented in commercial horticulture. The results show that in the large majority of cases (63 %), provenance knowledge was unknown. In some cases (11–12 %), the nurseries identified sources at the country level (e.g. Netherlands or Germany). None of the nurseries in the study hade any information from which ecotypes their material originated from. The principal finding of this study is that it is not currently possible for specifiers to select trees at an intra-specific level based on climate or ecological criteria since it is of the utmost importance that the plant material that is used is of the best possible fit with the target site.

Biological potential of the Carmen apple variety in the South of Dagestan

The article provides a pomological estimation of the Carmen apple variety cultivated in the southeastern foothill sub-province of Dagestan. The purpose of the research is to study the biological potential of the variety and to reveal the best in productivity apple scion/stock combinations that combine high adaptive capabilities for constructing intensive-type orchards in the commercial horticultural zone. The establishment of such orchards is associated with high material costs; therefore, improving the technology plays a crucial role. Especially important is the selection of scion/stock combinations in the production of apple planting material, which in the intensive horticulture should be characterized by precocity, stable productivity, high fruit quality and environmental sustainability. In Dagestan, fruit zones are sharply heterogeneous in terms of soil and climate conditions, which prevents the unification of the technology of intensive apple plantations. The most promising for the development of commercial horticulture is the South-Eastern foothill sub-province. Among the unfavorable environmental factors that negatively affect the vital activity of fruit crops in Dagestan, the first place is occupied by recurrent cold in spring and early frosts in autumn. In accordance with the Program of scientific research of the Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the Republic of Dagestan, it is planned to study the influence of different stocks – dwarf M9, SK7 and medium-tall SK2, MM106 on the productivity of the Carmen variety. Based on the research results, biometric parameters of tree growth in a young orchard were studied depending on the design of the plantings. It is noted that at the three-year-old, the condition of the trees estimated on a 5-point scale is good. The height of the trees, depending on the stock, reached an average of 1.9 to 2.6 m. On dwarf rootstocks M9 and SK7, the diameter of the tree stem in the Carmen variety was 3.0-3.3 cm; on stocks SK2 and MM106, respectively 3.6-4.0 cm. The most prominent growth activity of trees of various scion/stock combinations reflects the total length of shoots. The smallest shoot length was observed in stands with dwarf rootstocks M-9 and SK-7, the largest – on medium-sized rootstocks MM-106. The largest number of fruit formations was on the dwarf rootstock SK7 (24.7 PCs.), with a planting scheme of 3.0×1.5 m; per square meter of food area, the number of fruit formations was 4.3-5.4 PCs./m2, and on stocks SK-2 and MM-106 with a planting scheme of 5.0×2.0 m their number was 2.1-2.2 PCs./m2.