Horticultural Industry Research Articles

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

Effect of Aged Cherry Orchard Soil on the Potted Seedling Growth of Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd

Due to the aging of trees, aged apple and cherry orchards need to be rebuilt urgently. However, due to the limitation of land resources, it is inevitable to rebuild the apple orchard by taking the aged cherry orchard as a replacement, which will lead to replant disease and seriously affect the sustainable development of the horticulture industry. This study investigated the effect of aged cherry orchard soil on the growth of M. hupehensis seedlings grown in pots, and it was further verified that allelochemicals in soil were one of the reasons for this effect. Three treatments were implemented: aged apple orchard soil (ppl), aged cherry orchard soil (pyl), and aged cherry orchard soil after fumigation with methyl bromide (pyz). Compared with pyz, pyl treatment significantly decreased the biomass, root growth, and antioxidant enzyme activity of M. hupehensis seedlings, and increased the content of MDA. Compared with ppl, pyl contains a smaller number of fungi and bacteria, but the abundance of the four disease-causing Fusarium remained high. In addition, the levels of allelochemicals found in the soil of aged cherry orchards can inhibit the normal growth and development of M. hupehensis seedlings. Amygdalin most strongly inhibited these seedlings. In summary, directly planting M. hupehensis seedlings in the soil of the aged cherry orchards still inhibits their normal growth and development, although the seedlings grow better than in aged apple orchard soil. Therefore, it is not feasible to directly plant M. hupehensis seedlings in the soil of aged cherry orchards, and measures should be taken to eliminate allelochemicals such as amygdalin and harmful microorganisms.

Stratified substrates enhance water storage and distribution between irrigation events

AbstractThe specialty crop industry requires copious amounts of water to meet production needs; however, current substrates are highly porous to mitigate risks and are subsequently inefficient with regard to water use. Therefore, more sustainable soilless substrates are needed to ensure the future success/profitability of the horticultural industry, especially as finite fresh water sources become limiting. Substrate stratification (i.e., vertically layering unique substrates atop one another) provides opportunities to augment an existing system by maintaining substrate porosity, while strategically redistributing the air‐ and water‐filled pores, retaining more water when applied, and controlling vertical water distribution. The aim of this research was to further understand the complex stratified systems of hydraulics. Herein, the hydraulic properties of individual substrate components were measured and modeled using HYDRUS 1 d. Furthermore, matric tensions and volumetric water content (VWC) were measured continuously under two different irrigation schedules (single [1×] and cyclic applications [3×]) for 15 days with a fully established Dianthus barbatus ‘Amazon Neon Purple’ crop. The results showed that screened bark particles have more pore homogeneity assessed by steep declines in VWC with small changes in water potential. Moreover, HYDRUS 1 d modeling demonstrated that stratified substrates have more uniform hydraulic gradients (difference in moisture content from the top to the bottom of the substrate profile; 21%) present in the container profile when compared to non‐stratified systems (45%). Non‐stratified upper layers experienced greater diurnal tension fluctuations under single irrigation than in cyclic applications. Stratifying substrates resulted in a significant reduction in these fluctuations in the top layer when compared to non‐stratified systems. Additionally, when both substrate (stratifying) and irrigation (cyclic) management strategies are implemented, tension fluctuations can be even further reduced, and hydraulic gradients become more uniform due to improved moisture infiltration and distribution.

H-2A Workers in Demand in the Ornamental Horticulture Industry

The US agricultural industry depends on immigrant farm labor, particularly in the specialty crop sector where tasks like harvesting require a lot of labor. Most US farmworkers are from other countries, and almost half are not authorized to work in the United States. The importance of immigrant labor in meeting the demand for workers in the nursery and floriculture production sector has been further highlighted with this industry's recent growth. This publication offers an overview of the increasing demand for H-2A workers in the ornamental horticulture industry, examines growers' challenges, and explores the underlying factors affecting workers’ participation in the H-2A program. It guides industry stakeholders to monitor changes in immigration policies and labor regulations, including the H-2A program and to adjust labor management practices accordingly. It includes strategies to address labor challenges and remain competitive in the marketplace

Future Research Prospects of Floriculture Industry from Management Perspective: A Bibliometric Analysis Using the SPAR-4-SLR Approach

Floriculture as a branch of the horticulture industry is still at a developing stage that needs to be assessed for further orientation in the areas of management, business and economics. The commercialization of ornamental plants and cut flowers is of recent origin in developing economies which have high growth potential, both in domestic and international markets. The study highlights the evolution of the floriculture industry having a management perspective and paving the way for future research directions. The paper conducts a bibliometric analysis and rigorous systematic review of 126 papers published in peer-reviewed journals related to the floriculture industry using the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol. The Biblioshiny function of R software and VOS viewer is used for the analysis. The intellectual structure of the floriculture literature is presented through bibliographic coupling and thematic cluster analysis. The findings indicate considerable opportunities for further investigations in the field of floriculture focusing on the inclusion of sustainability practices, the evolution and role of women farmers and entrepreneurs, and supply chain management of floriculture products.

Seed Dormancy Class and Germination Characteristics of Prunus spachiana (Lavallée ex Ed.Otto) Kitam. f. ascendens (Makino) Kitam Native to the Korean Peninsula.

Prunus spachiana (Lavallée ex Ed.Otto) Kitam. f. ascendens (Makino) Kitam leaves exert natural anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide formation. P. spachiana flowers bloom earlier than other Prunus spp. and thus could serve as a valuable resource for the horticulture and pharmaceutical industries. However, its seed dormancy class and germination traits remain uncharacterized. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the seed dormancy and germination of P. spachiana. Imbibition, phenological, and move-along experiments were performed, and the effects of H2SO4 treatment, hormone soaking, warm/cold stratification, and endocarp removal on germination were explored. Observation revealed that ripe seeds of P. spachiana contain developed embryos and are water permeable. Radicle and shoot emergence began in March and April, respectively, under natural conditions in the year following production. No seed germination was observed after 30 days of incubation at 4, 15/6, 20/10, or 25/15 °C under light/dark conditions, indicating the physiological dormancy of the seeds. Germination increased with prolonged stratification and was affected by incubation temperature. Seed scarification by H2SO4 and soaking with gibberellic acid (GA3) and fluridone were ineffective in breaking dormancy. However, GA3 soaking of the seeds after endocarp removal effectively induced germination (100%). These results indicate that P. spachiana seeds exhibit intermediate physiological dormancy.

State labeling's impact on geographic boundaries of local

AbstractLocal labeling is an important issue within the horticultural industry as many producers have devoted considerable resources to advertising their products as local. Further, all states have implemented some form of local labeling program to increase local purchasing. As states expand the reach of these programs, the programs begin to compete as awareness and perception move across state lines. Using an online survey to study consumers in the Southeastern United States, we look to identify how state labeling programs are viewed in nearby states. Notably, we assess awareness, perception, and its impact on the local definition of these programs in their “home” state as well as nearby states. Specifically, we evaluate the impact of nine Southeastern state‐level branding programs. Our results indicate that consumers are more aware of their home state's local label, but awareness does exist for other states' labels. We also find that a home state label moves some consumers to a more state‐level local boundary, while seeing another state's label increases the boundary for what is perceived as local [EconLit Citation: Q13].

Forecasting seasonally fluctuating sales of perishable products in the horticultural industry

Accurately forecasting demand is a potential competitive advantage, especially when dealing with perishable products. The multi-billion dollar horticultural industry is highly affected by perishability, but has received limited attention in forecasting research. In this paper, we analyze the applicability of general compared to dataset-specific predictors, as well as the influence of external information and online model update schemes. We employ a heterogeneous set of horticultural data, three classical, and twelve machine learning-based forecasting approaches. Our results show a superiority of multivariate machine learning methods, in particular the ensemble learner XGBoost. These advantages highlight the importance of external factors, with the feature set containing statistical, calendrical, and weather-related features leading to the most robust performance. We further observe that a general model is unable to capture the heterogeneity of the data and is outperformed by dataset-specific predictors. Moreover, frequent model updates have a negligible impact on forecasting quality, allowing long-term forecasting without significant performance degradation.

Comprehensive phenomic and genomic studies of the species, Pectobacterium cacticida and proposal for reclassification as Alcorniella cacticida comb. nov

IntroductionPectobacterium cacticida was identified as the causative agent of soft rot disease in cacti. Due to a high potential of spread in the face of global warming, the species poses a significant threat to horticultural and crop industry. The aim of this study was to revise the genomic, physiology and virulence characteristics of P. cacticida and update its phylogenetic position within the Pectobacterium genus.MethodsWhole genome sequences of five P. cacticida strains were obtained and subjected to comprehensive genomic and phylogenomic data analyses. We assessed the presence of virulence determinants and genes associated with host and environmental adaptation. Lipidomic analysis, as well as biochemical and phenotypic assays were performed to correlate genomic findings.ResultsPhylogenomic analysis revealed that P. cacticida forms a distinct lineage within the Pectobacterium genus. Genomic evaluation uncovered 516 unique proteins, most of which were involved in cellular metabolism. They included genes of carbohydrate metabolism and transport and ABC transporters. The main differing characteristics from other Pectobacterium species were the lack of a myo-inositol degradation pathway and the presence of the malonate decarboxylase gene. All tested strains were pathogenic towards Opuntia spp., chicory, Chinese cabbage, and potato, but exhibited only mild pathogenicity towards carrot.DiscussionThis study sheds light into the genomic characteristics of P. cacticida and highlights the pathogenic potential of the species. Unique genes found in P. cacticida genomes possibly enhance the species’ survival and virulence. Based on phylogenomic analyses, we propose the reclassification of P. cacticida to a new genus, Alcorniella comb. nov.

Advancing tree genomics to future proof next generation orchard production.

The challenges facing tree orchard production in the coming years will be largely driven by changes in the climate affecting the sustainability of farming practices in specific geographical regions. Identifying key traits that enable tree crops to modify their growth to varying environmental conditions and taking advantage of new crop improvement opportunities and technologies will ensure the tree crop industry remains viable and profitable into the future. In this review article we 1) outline climate and sustainability challenges relevant to horticultural tree crop industries, 2) describe key tree crop traits targeted for improvement in agroecosystem productivity and resilience to environmental change, and 3) discuss existing and emerging genomic technologies that provide opportunities for industries to future proof the next generation of orchards.

Optimizing The Growth of Palm Palm Seedlings by Providing Several Types of Market Waste Fertilizer and Planting Media

Oil palm is a plant that holds a significant position in the agricultural and horticultural industries. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between the composition of the planting medium and the utilization of commercial fertilizer waste on the growth of oil palm in nurseries. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the impact of different waste fertilizers on the market and the composition of the growing media for oil palm trees in the nursery. The research was conducted at the Education and Research Garden (KP2) in Wedomartani Village, Depok District, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The research site is at an altitude of 118 meters above sea level, and the study was conducted from March to June 2023. A factorial randomized design (CRD), consisting of two factors, was employed for this study. The first factor involved market waste, which was categorized into three levels: fish waste (70g), vegetable waste (70g), and fruit fertilizer (70g). The second factor focused on the composition of the planting media, which also had three levels: latosol 100g: beach sand 1900g, latosol 150g: beach sand 1850g, and latosol 200g: beach sand 1800g. The study included five repetitions, resulting in a total of 45 plants. The research data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 5%. The study's results revealed an interaction between the combination of market waste fertilizer and the composition of the oil palm planting media in the pre-nursery stage. Significant interactions and effects were observed between the combinations of fertilizer market waste and the composition of the growing media on leaf area and soil pH. Furthermore, the market waste fertilizer significantly impacted the number of leaves, stem diameter, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, plant fresh weight, and plant dry weight. Additionally, the composition of the media had a significant influence on stem diameter and soil pH.

Horticulture in Kashmir Valley: Opportunities and Challenges

Horticulture industry benefits the economic well-being of the people involved and the economy of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It increases the GDP of the state by approximately 9 percent (Directorate of Horticulture J&K Govt.). Horticulture crop production has increased since the inception of the state. In this study, the area under the horticulture crops is decreasing. Some of the horticultural crops in the valley are experiencing a rapid decrease. The aim of this study is to find the trend and variability of horticulture crops in the state of Kashmir. In this paper, we attempt to analyze the overall trends of the overall area, production and yield of the fresh & dry fruit crops in the Kashmir valley covering ten districts over a period of 50 years. Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was used to calculate the growth and volatility of the area under the crop. The area under the crop showed a negative CAGR over the last 10 years while production and yield showed moderate volatility.

Direct Shoot From Root and True-to-Type Micropropagation of Limonium "Misty Blue" in Partially Immersed Culture on an Aluminum Mesh Raft.

Commercial plant tissue culture now primarily serves the ornamental horticulture industry. The main pillars of the commercial tissue culture business are scalability of production, cost reduction, limited labor involvement, high quality, and genetic homogeneity of propagated plants. Based on these requirements, the current protocol employs a partially immersed liquid culture medium supported by a flexible aluminum mesh raft with a wire stand to facilitate shoot organogenesis from the horizontally placed root explants and hold the plants upright for shoot multiplication and rooting of Limonium Misty Blue. It is a florist crop that is in high demand as both dried and fresh flower fillers in various floral decorations. The majority of cultivated Limonium or statice cultivars are heterozygous in nature and propagate commercially through in vitro propagation to cater to the huge demand for planting materials needed for flower production. This is the first protocol to describe direct shoot organogenesis from the roots in a liquid half-component of Murashige and Skoog's (1962) (MS) basal medium supplemented with 1.6μM NAA and 1.1μM BA. The regenerated shoots are multiplied and rooted at the same time on the raft in a MS-based liquid culture medium that included 0.44μM BA and 1.07μM NAA. In comparison to agar-gelled medium, plants cultured in liquid medium grow more quickly without any signs of hyperhydricity. In liquid medium, a clump of 4-5 shoots is formed from a single shoot explant within 4weeks and are rooted simultaneously within 6weeks. On average, seven explants may fit on each raft, so on average, 25 healthy plants are produced from a single bottle. The regenerated plants are easily hardened in the greenhouse, and using ISSR-based molecular markers, the genetic homogeneity of the randomly selected hardened plants can be determined.

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

Significance to the Horticulture Industry

The Cold-store Industry of Jammu and Kashmir: Beginning, Growth and Linkages

One of the most dynamic and sustainable channels of attaining steadfast development is through the process of industrialisation. Nations across the world have shown positive returns accruing to the whole economy by setting in place a well-thought-of, well-planned industrialisation. Drawing instance and inspiration from the same, the hitherto colonialised nations have endeavoured upon the same process. India on the same lines has sought to go for planned industrialisation. Being central to its developmental goals, the unions of India have also had a decentralised focus on industrialising. On the same lines, the region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has been attempting to industrialise as well. One of the latest developments in this channel is the growth of the horticulture industry, creating a number of forward linkages. The development of an indigenous cold-store industry is one of the most significant ones. This study by collecting data from the field brings forth the nature, characteristics, prospectus and linkages of the cold-store industry of J&K. The study concludes by giving some policy recommendations to strengthen the industrialisation process of J&K.

Genetic Engineering and Genome Editing Advances to Enhance Floral Attributes in Ornamental Plants: An Update.

The ornamental horticulture industry is a highly dynamic and rapidly changing market. Constant development of novel cultivars with elite traits is essential to sustain competitiveness. Conventional breeding has been used to develop cultivars, which is often laborious. Biotechnological strategies such as genetic engineering have been crucial in manipulating and improving various beneficial traits that are technically not possible through cross-breeding. One such trait is the highly desired blue-colored flower in roses and chrysanthemums, which can be achieved through transgenic technology. Advances in genome sequencing platforms have enhanced the opportunities to access the whole genome sequence in various ornamentals, facilitating the dissection of the molecular genetics and regulatory controls of different traits. The recent advent of genome editing tools, including CRISPR/Cas9, has revolutionized plant breeding. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing offers efficient and highly precise trait modification, contributing to various beneficial advancements. Although genome editing in ornamentals is currently in its infancy, the recent increase in the availability of ornamental genome sequences provides a platform to extend the frontiers of future genome editing in ornamentals. Hence, this review depicts the implication of various commercially valuable ornamental attributes, and details the research attempts and achievements in enhancing floral attributes using genetic engineering and genome editing in ornamental plants.

A simple, easy, and efficient HPTLC method for simultaneous determination of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in plant tissues

Polyamine analysis has received a lot of attention in recent years because they are important in several physiological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. This study presents the development and validation of a user-friendly and convenient high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method, using benzoyl chloride as a derivatization agent for the analysis of three abundant polyamines. A comparative study with HPLC-MS/MS was performed to evaluate the putrescine, spermidine, and spermine content of plant tissues. The linear ranges for the determination of putrescine and spermine by HPTLC were lower than those of HPLC-MS/MS. Lower LODs were found for polyamine analysis using HPLC-MS/MS except for spermidine. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the two methods for putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were 0.982, 0.998, and 0.980, respectively, which confirms the applicability of both HPTLC-UV and LC-MS/MS methods. According to these results, the optimized HPTLC-UV method may be used as a practical analytical tool for screening polyamine levels in the horticultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries for quality control purposes.

Enhancing Cut Flower Production through Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) Symbiosis

Cut flower production is a significant segment of the horticultural industry, valued for its aesthetic appeal and economic importance. As growers seek sustainable and eco-friendly practices to improve flower quality and yield, the role of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) in enhancing cut flower production has gained considerable attention. VAM fungi form mutualistic associations with the roots of many flowering plants, facilitating nutrient uptake and promoting overall plant health. This communication highlights recent research demonstrating the potential of VAM symbiosis to revolutionize cut flower cultivation.

Transcriptome analysis of Lantana camara flower petals reveals candidate anthocyanin biosynthesis genes mediating red flower color development.

Flower color plays a crucial role in the appeal and selection of ornamental plants, directly influencing breeding strategies and the broader horticulture industry. Lantana camara, a widely favored flowering shrub, presents a rich palette of flower colors. Yet, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing this color variation in the species have remained largely unidentified. With the aim of filling this gap, this study embarked on a comprehensive de novo transcriptome assembly and differential gene expression analysis across 3 distinct lantana accessions, each showcasing a unique flower color. By harnessing the capabilities of both PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, a robust transcriptome assembly, encompassing 123,492 gene clusters and boasting 94.2% BUSCO completeness, was developed. The differential expression analysis unveiled 72,862 unique gene clusters that exhibited varied expression across different flower stages. A pronounced upregulation of 8 candidate core anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in the red-flowered accession was uncovered. This was further complemented by an upregulation of candidate MYB75 (PAP1) and bHLH42 (TT8) transcription factors. A candidate carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD4a) gene cluster also manifested a marked upregulation in white flowers. The study unveils the molecular groundwork of lantana's flower color variation, offering insights for future research and potential applications in breeding ornamental plants with desired color traits.

Walking back from the edge: thresholds of change reveal options for adaptation to water scarcity under climate change in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia

Climate change has increased the variability of river inflows in the Murray–Darling Basin, threatening the viability of irrigated agriculture, food processing industries and ecological condition of wetlands. With increasing water scarcity, decision-makers and communities face heightened contestation over scarce water resources and trade-offs and adaptation have become increasingly necessary. We used a social-ecological systems approach to identify thresholds of change in the Goulburn–Broken Catchment, a major food-producing region, to reveal options for adaptation to climate change. We developed systems models whereby feedbacks are identified between sub-systems of cultural paradigms, policies, human well-being and environmental condition. Models were constructed using data from semi-structured interviews with managers and decision-makers, industry reports and the scientific literature. We found environmental thresholds are fixed, but whether they are exceeded is socially determined. Environmental condition can be maintained by relaxing constraints on volumes of water released into the highly regulated river system and easing rules on the distribution of water among users in the dairy and horticulture industries. Socio-economic thresholds were more flexible. Industries have adapted to water scarcity through irrigation efficiency measures, inter-industry relationships for water-sharing and feed substitutes in dairy production. However, industry interdependence indicates potential for maladaption, whereas investment in adaptation and diversification offers more sustainable options. Current policy and management disconnects between water for the environment and water for food production reveal opportunities for co-benefits between environmental and socio-economic domains. Realising these benefits requires a systemic, inclusive adaptation pathways approach to design and implement options for change.