Ornamental Industry Research Articles

Germplasm diversification – a kiwi perspective on tools and strategies

The international ornamentals industry is benefiting from perennial plants developed in New Zealand (NZ) such as begonia Bonfire™, limonium Sinzii™, and the gentian Showtime™ series. The 'Bonfire' series of begonia, with its distinctively new flower shape, was released in the year 2000. While flower and foliage colour were important; architectural form, vigour and floral productivity were key selection criteria. Understanding the underlying physiology of plant architecture (physiologically informed breeding) was key in the introduction of subsequent new cultivars to the series. These screening criteria allowed us to evaluate annually ten times more begonia seedlings per season. Planting of limonium Sinzii continues to expand exponentially: in 2018/19 plantings almost doubled compared with those of the previous year. The limonium Sinzii range resulted from successful hybridisation between Limonium sinuatum and L. perezii. Embryo culture, chromosome doubling, and backcrossing were some of the in vitro and in vivo tools and strategies applied to achieve the current range. The sterile gentian 'Little Pinkie' was another plant developed using wide crosses and embryo rescue. As with other gentians in the Showtime series, a physiologically informed breeding strategy was used. In the case of 'Little Pinkie', an understanding of how crown buds arise was used to generate at least double the number of shoots on propagules. This has underpinned the success of this crop for us, and our industry partners. The preceding examples illustrate how, for each crop species, our breeding programmes have diversified germplasm, through exploiting a diverse skill base within the team. Our conclusion is that our most successful examples of breeding programmes have been those in which plant breeders, plant physiologists, in vitro specialists, horticulturalists, and marketers are all actively engaged.

Owner motivation in small size family farms: insights from an exploratory study on the ornamental plant industry

Owner motivations are a relatively new area of investigation, which has seen over the last fifteen years the succession of numerous articles and studies.Therefore an in-depth study of the owner motivation can become an useful and strategic tool for improving strategies of small firm success. This case study particularly aims to analyse this phenomenon in the context of the ornamental plant sector, considering that the characteristics of this sector may be indicative of the ongoing dynamics for modern agricultural productions. The analysis was designed and planned in order to identify the owners motivations within family farm and it was conducted by segmenting the sample into two sub-samples according to a range of different production (short or long productive cycle) and economic size farm.Results allow to highlight how emotion item is particularly relevant for owners in both groups. Affective motivation is a key factors influencing the actions and business approaches of respondents. In addition inheritance is another predominant motivation among respondents that prompted the decision to become an owner. The findings also show interesting questions that could have on the potential impact about the owner’s decision-making. In fact, we have identified two aspects of owner action, which can be exclusively the competence of the individual (Group A), or well distinct among managerial responsible management and commitment to operational management skills and more knowledge of human resources (Group B). Despite the limit of the research, this study contributes to report the results for a specific region and a specific sector, its empirical applications could reasonably be extensible and also applicable to other similar agricultural sectors of the Mediterranean, with a high level of technological innovation and a high level of owners’ know-how where there remains a strong link between businesses and socio-familiar context. Keywords: micro size farms, innovation, ownership, organization training management.

The state of the Hungarian ornamental horticulture industry, recommendations for development

R&D and innovative technologies are required in the EU for being competitive on the world market. Education and professional co-ordination is vitally important, as well as maintenance and development of our genetic bases.

Comparative Water and Nutrient Application Rates among Ornamental Operations in Maryland

Quantifying the range of fertilizer and irrigation application rates applied by the ornamental nursery and greenhouse industry is challenging as a result of the variety of species, production systems, and cultural management techniques that are used. To gain a better understanding of nutrient and water use by the ornamental industry in Maryland, 491 potential operations (including multiple addresses and contacts) in the state were mailed a packet of information asking for their voluntary participation. Of the 491 potential operations, it was determined that 348 operations were currently in operation. Of those 348 operations, 48 (14% of the operations in the state) participated in a site visit and an in-depth interview, and a detailed site analysis of the water and nutrient management practices was performed on a production management unit (MU) basis. The authors define an MU as a group of plants that is managed similarly, particularly in regard to nutrient and irrigation application. Greenhouse operations reported, on average, 198, 122, and 196 kg/ha/year of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P, as P2O5), and potassium (K, as K2O) fertilizer used, respectively, for 27 operations, representing 188 MUs. Twenty-seven outdoor container nursery operations had a total of 162 MUs, with an average of 964, 390, and 556 kg/ha/year of N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizer used, respectively. Field nursery (soil-based) operations were represented by 17 operations, producing 96 MUs, with an average of 67, 20, and 25 kg/ha/year of N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizer used, respectively. Irrigation volume per application was greatest in container nursery operations, followed by greenhouse and field nursery operations. Data were also analyzed by creating quartiles, which represent the median of the lowest 25%, the middle 50%, and highest 75% of values. It is likely that the greatest quartile application rates reported by growers could be substantially reduced with little to no effect on plant production time or quality. These data also provide baseline information to determine changes in fertilization practices over time. They were also used as inputs for water and nutrient management models developed as part of this study. These data may also be useful for informing nutrient application rates used in the Chesapeake Bay nutrient modeling process.

Genome analysis of the ubiquitous boxwood pathogen Pseudonectria foliicola.

Boxwood (Buxus spp.) are broad-leaved, evergreen landscape plants valued for their longevity and ornamental qualities. Volutella leaf and stem blight, caused by the ascomycete fungi Pseudonectria foliicola and P. buxi, is one of the major diseases affecting the health and ornamental qualities of boxwood. Although this disease is less severe than boxwood blight caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata and C. henricotiae, its widespread occurrence and disfiguring symptoms have caused substantial economic losses to the ornamental industry. In this study, we sequenced the genome of P. foliicola isolate ATCC13545 using Illumina technology and compared it to other publicly available fungal pathogen genomes to better understand the biology of this organism. A de novo assembly estimated the genome size of P. foliicola at 28.7 Mb (425 contigs; N50 = 184,987 bp; avg. coverage 188×), with just 9,272 protein-coding genes. To our knowledge, P. foliicola has the smallest known genome within the Nectriaceae. Consistent with the small size of the genome, the secretome, CAzyme and secondary metabolite profiles of this fungus are reduced relative to two other surveyed Nectriaceae fungal genomes: Dactylonectria macrodidyma JAC15-245 and Fusarium graminearum Ph-1. Interestingly, a large cohort of genes associated with reduced virulence and loss of pathogenicity was identified from the P. foliicola dataset. These data are consistent with the latest observations by plant pathologists that P. buxi and most likely P. foliicola, are opportunistic, latent pathogens that prey upon weak and stressed boxwood plants.

Mitigation of soil loss from turfgrass cultivation by utilizing poultry abattoir sludge compost and biochar on low-organic matter soil

ABSTRACTCommercial turfgrass cultivation is one of the main ornamental industries world-wide; however, successive turfgrass sod cutting from the same site removes surface soil, leading to a decline in soil organic matter, impairment of soil fertility and degradation of environment. The present study was aimed to investigate the applicability of poultry abattoir sludge compost (PASC) and biochar (BC) on the establishment of turfgrass by evaluating plant growth performance and mitigation of soil loss by organic waste amendments. The experimental study was designed on the soil which had originally low-organic matter content and previously used as a turfgrass sod harvested site in a sandy loam soil. Incorporation of PASC to soil improved the physicochemical properties in terms of bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, total nitrogen, total organic carbon (TOC), and organic matter (OM) by 37 (±2)%, 45 (±3)%, 55 (±3)%, 21 (±2)%, 48 (±2)%, 90 (±10)%, and 96 (±4)%, respectively. PASC-amended treatments enhanced the turfgrass growth rate more than the BC due to its increased nutrient availability. Incorporation of 100 Mg ha–1 (mega gram per hectare) PASC in surface soil with or without BC decreased the mineral soil removal rate by half of the respective soil (control) treatments. The results of the present study confirmed the utilization of PASC and BC as promising agro-industrial-based fertilizers in turfgrass sod production for sustainable soil and nutrient management.

Sustainable globalization within international markets for the Proteaceae ornamental industry

Sustainable globalization within international markets for the <i>Proteaceae</i> ornamental industry

Factors affecting Zantedeschia Spreng. dedifferentiation in vitro

Zantedeschia Spreng. is an economically important ornamental plant species. Improvement of aesthetic parameters and creation of novel variations of decorative plants are important economic goals for the commercial ornamental industry. The effect of the combination of growth regulators and the explant type on dedifferentiation induction in Zantedeschia aethiopica and Zantedeschia elliottianna was investigated. Research was carried out at the Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology of Aleksandras Stulginskis University and at the Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology of the Joint Research Centre in 2016–2017. Explants (leaf discs, spathe discs, and petiole segments) were cultured on the MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 30.0 g l–1 sucrose, and 8.0 g l–1 agar. Leaf discs and spathe discs did not show any response in the medium without growth regulators, while 16.3% (Zantedeschia aethiopica) and 24.3% (Zantedeschia elliottianna) of isolated petiole segments formed callus. Our results showed that an appropriate combination of growth regulators for callus induction varied depending on the genetic background and the explant type. It was documented that isolated petiole segments of the arum lily and the calla lily induced more statistically reliable callus in a medium supplemented with combination BAP + IAA, while the combination BAP + IBA promoted callus formation from spathe disc tissues. Petiole segments manifested the highest dedifferentiation capability among the tested explant types. The results of the study showed that the ability of the somatic tissues of the arum lily and the calla lily to induce dedifferentiation seems to be a valuable material for improvement of ornamental values in these plants.

Automated ebb-and-flow subirrigation for citrus liners production. I. Plant growth

Ebb-and-flow subirrigation is a closed system that applies water to the bottom of the containers, reducing water and nutrient losses due to recirculation of fertilizer solution (FS). The technology can improve plant growth and eliminate the improper disposal of salts into the environment. Subirrigation is widely used in the ornamental industry, and sensor-based ebb-and-flow benches can be used by the citrus nursery industry. There is a need for establishing water and fertilizer guidelines to produce citrus rootstocks. The objectives of this study were: 1) design and build an ebb-and-flow subirrigation equipment, 2) automate the system operation using soil moisture sensors, 3) evaluate the system performance on plant growth, and 4) determine the water and fertilizer guidelines to produce Rangpur lime (Citrus×limonia) liners in 56-cm3 cone-shaped containers. The treatments were four volumetric water content (VWC) to trigger subirrigation (0.12, 0.24, 0.36 and 0.48m3m−3), three FS concentrations (25%, 50% and 75% of the fertilizer recommendation) and a control (nursery manual overhead irrigation using breaker nozzles), arranged in a completely randomized 4×3+1 factorial plus design, with three replications. The system was automated by 39 capacitance sensors connected to a data logger, multiplexer and relay drivers, which controlled independent submersible pumps. Subirrigation was turned on when VWC dropped below the set thresholds. Sensors effectively monitored the substrate moisture and controlled subirrigation. Treatments with highest VWC had higher substrate moisture and number of irrigations over time (p<0.0001). The volume of water applied doubled from treatments 0.12–0.48m3m−3 (p<0.0001). Subirrigation increased shoot height, stem diameter, dry weight, leaf area, physiological parameters (leaf intracellular concentration of CO2, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and net photosynthesis), and water use efficiency in response to increase in VWC and FS (p<0.0001). Subirrigation shortened the crop cycle in 30 days, anticipating the liners transplant for grafting, allowing another cultivation cycle in the nursery during the year. VWC of 0.48m3m−3 and FS concentration of 50% of the recommended value for overhead irrigation are indicated for Rangpur lime liner production in 56-cm3 containers.

Development of nutrient-rich growing media with hazelnut husk and municipal sewage sludge

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to develop structurally stable, nutrient-rich and environmentally safe growing media by combining waste material: crop residue hazelnut husk (HH) and municipal sewage sludge. In order to achieve this goal, lignocellulosic HH residue was mixed with nutrient-rich sewage sludge (S) in various proportions: HH 100%; HH + S1 87.5% : 12.5%; HH + S2 75% : 2 5%; HH + S3 50% : 5 0%. Following composting, the key physical, chemical and microbiological properties of the growing media were characterized for long-term ornamental nursery crops. The addition of S to the mixture had both significant detrimental and remedial effects on physical properties such as reduced total porosity and water-holding capacity, whilst improved the air capacity, wettability and shrinkage. S content of growing media significantly enriched the plant nutrients, especially the most desired soluble and organic nitrogen fractions and micro nutrients. Germination tests and microbiological analysis confirmed the products as environmentally safe ornamental growing media. We conclude that composting of HH with S is a viable alternative for the development of nutrient-rich growing media and recycling of such waste in the ornamental industry could be a beneficial method in order to sustain waste management and crop production.

Tropical and subtropical ornamental plant industry in Guangdong province, China

Tropical and subtropical ornamental plant industry in Guangdong province, China

花き生産における土壌病害研究の展望 : 「花き病理学」への誘い

花き生産における土壌病害研究の展望 : 「花き病理学」への誘い

Anticipation of Artemia sp. supply in the larviculture of the barber goby Elacatinus figaro (Gobiidae: Teleostei) influenced growth, metamorphosis and alkaline protease activity

The barber goby Elacatinus figaro is considered endangered due to overexploitation by the ornamental industry. Farming marine ornamental fishes, especially the threatened ones, can be one of the measures to minimize the pressure on the natural stocks. Among the priority issues for their production is the determination of the most appropriate feeding management. The feeding protocol commonly used in the larviculture of barber goby, when the start of Artemia sp. offer occurred at the 18th DAH (days after hatching) (treatment T18), was modified, by anticipating brine shrimp supply in 6 days (treatment T12). Alkaline proteases activity, growth and metamorphosis of larvae were evaluated in both protocols. Juveniles at T12 showed higher weight (0.04 ± 0.001 g) and lower activity of total alkaline proteases (1.3 ± 0.2 mU mg-1 protein) compared to T18 (0.02 ± 0.001 g; 2.8 ± 0.4 mU mg-1 protein, respectively). With anticipation of brine shrimp, the commencing and end of larval transformation was observed earlier (at 24 and 34 DAH, respectively) in comparison to those with the supply of Artemia sp. at 18 DAH (27 and 41 DAH, respectively). Thus, the Artemia sp. anticipation was beneficial during the larviculture of the barber goby, considering that larvae reached metamorphosis earlier.

A new irrigation controller to improve water use in the hard ornamental nursery stock industry in Italy

A new irrigation controller to improve water use in the hard ornamental nursery stock industry in Italy

A Study on competition between &lt;em&gt;Hydrilla verticillata&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Mayaca fluviatilis&lt;/em&gt;

Mayaca fluviatilis is an exotic ornamental aquatic introduced to the country via the ornamental aquatic plant industry. The plant is now identified as a potential invasive in the country. The plant morphologically resembles Hydrilla verticillata and, a native aquatic while growing submerged in the water. Hydrilla verticillata has been recorded for its invasive behavior in the Western Province of Sri Lanka while M. fluviatilis is still at its early stages of spread with restricted distribution. Therefore information on M. fluviatilis is lacking as it has only been recently recognized as a problematic plant. The present study was conducted with the objective of evaluating inter-specific competition between M. fluviatillis and H. verticillata . A competition experiment was designed with five treatment combinations viz. terminal shoots of M. fluviatilis only (control), terminal shoots of H. verticillata only (control) and different combinations of M. fluviatilis and H. verticillata . The experimental plots were arranged in Completely Randomized Design and plant growth parameters were recorded after eight weeks of planting. Data were analyzed by using Minitab statistical software (version 16). With the introduction of H. verticillata , all the growth parameters of M. fluviatilis were reduced of which, shoot number root number and root dry weight were significantly (p M. fluviatilis , all the growth parameters of H. verticillata were increased of which, length of newly formed shoots, shoot dry weight and shoot number were significantly (p M. fluviatilis , the growth performances of H. verticillata were increased. Based on the present study, in a situation where H. verticillata and both species coexist, H. verticillata will have a competitive advantage over M. fluviatilis . Hence, the result suggest that despite the similar ecology, H. verticillata may outcompete M. fluviatilis in many situations.

Feasibility of growth and nutrition of Dieffenbachia amoena \'Tropic Snow\' in pot growth-medium amended with sugarcane bagasse vermicompost

Nowadays, introduction of conversion technologies to solve environmental problems in accumulation of sugarcane bagasse, as an alternative to peat, in the ornamental plants industry seems necessary. For this purpose, in an experiment, the effects of substitution of sugarcane bagasse + cow manure vermicompost with peat in 60% peat + 30% vermiculite + 10% perlite medium were examined on growth and nutrition of Dieffenbachia amoena ornamental plant. After production of the vermicompost, rooted cuttings of the plants were cultivated in the control medium (containing 60% peat + 30% vermiculite + 10% perlite) and the media in which 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% of vermicompost was replaced with peat in control medium. Factors such as plant height, diameter, fresh and dry weights of shoots and leaves, fresh and dry weights of roots, leaf area, and nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in plants and substrates were measured. Physical properties of the substrates including aerial porosity, water holding capacity, total porosity and bulk density were measured too. Results showed that increasing the level of vermicompost + sugarcane bagasse had a significant effect on nitrogen and potassium content of leaves, and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium content of the substrates. The highest amounts of these elements were measured at 60% vermicompost + bagasse treatment. The substrate containing 60% vermicompost + sugarcane bagasse had maximum plant height (15.91 cm), diameter (9.53 mm), fresh weight of stem and leaf (158.91 g), dry weight of stem and leaf (33.99 g), dry weight of root (25.87 g) and leaf area (2680.5 cm2). Based on the results, vermicomposting of sugarcane bagasse is in accordance with the environment, and can be used in the growing media for production of flowers and plants.

Genotoxicity and Anatomical Root Changes in Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae) Caused by the Effluent of the Processing of Ornamental Rocks

The effluent of the ornamental rock industry is characterized by presenting great concentrations of total solids, high contents of iron, and elevated pH, all responsible for the contamination of the superficial and ground waters, destruction of the soil, the vegetation, and the silting of the rivers. The purpose of this study is to assess the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects and the anatomical changes caused by the effluents arising from the ornamental rock polishing industry in root apex cells of Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae). The samples of the effluent were collected in a polishing industry located in Nova Venecia, State of Espirito Santo, and were analyzed by mass spectrometry and atomic emission. Bulbs of A. cepa were exposed to the effluent at 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50, 75, and 100 % concentrations (residue in raw form) (v/v) for a period of 20 days. For the positive control, metilmethanesulfonate (MMS) at 4 × 10−4-M concentration was used, and distilled water was used for the negative control. The experiment was assessed taking into consideration the following parameters: mitotic index, frequency of chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities in the root apical meristem, and root anatomy. The mitotic index suffered a decrease proportional to the increase in the concentration of effluent. All the concentrations of the effluent led to chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities being stickiness and nuclear shoots the most frequent. The root apex evidenced changes that reflected on the decrease of the percentage area of the protoderm and the fundamental meristem and the increase in the areas of the cap and quiescent center. The symptoms of toxicity are related to the high frequency of cell in cellular death process observed in the roots exposed to the higher concentrations and to the decrease in the mitotic index of the apical root meristem.

Postharvest behavior and keeping quality of potted poinsettia: a review

Poinsettia is one of the most important potted plants in the ornamentals industry. The most attractive parts of the poinsettia are its bracts and cyathia. Stem breakage, bract fading, bract edge burn (BEB), bract bruising and bract discoloration reduce its ornamental value. The ornamental value of poinsettia is affected by both pre- and postharvest factors. During cultivation as well as after harvest, sub-optimal or improper supply and / or management of temperature, light, relative humidity, nutrition and hygiene affect the quality of potted poinsettia. A low K : Ca ratio can reduce the incidence of bract necrosis and stem breakage. These disorders are negatively affected by high K and NH4-N fertilizer due to an antagonistic relationship with Ca. Spraying either CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2 (400mg/l of Ca per week) or a silicon spray (7.12 mM Na2SiO3) and increasing the transpiration rate by reducing the relative humidity can reduce the incidence and severity of bract necrosis. Appropriate variety selection can lessen the risks of leaf drop and BEB. Propagating with thick stemmed cuttings (&gt; 7.5 mm diameter) and carefully watering of plants can also help to prevent stem breakage. The optimum temperature range to achieve expected bract color, size and bud formation during the growth period is 16 to 22oC. Inappropriate light intensity and quality can delay flowering and promote cyathia abscission by decreasing plant carbohydrate status. Ethylene is central to the leaf and cyathia abscission. 1-MCP treatment can be used during short time (2-3 day) transportation to prevent ethylene responses by blocking ethylene receptors. Avoiding rough handling and shortening transportation play an important role in maintaining the quality of harvested poinsettia. The most important pathological problem is Botrytis infection. Low temperatures of 20 to 21oC during cultivation and 10 to 13oC during transport combined with low relative humidity of 60 to 70% RH can reduce infection by Botrytis cinera.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(2): 185-196, August 2015

Fostering direction of the Ornamental Fish Industry in Korea through a competitive analysis of International Ornamental Fish Industry

This research examined a task to foster into the export industry, through analyzing the competitiveness of the ornamental fish industry and identifying the position of Korea`s ornamental industry in the world. Ornamental fish in Korea holds the world`s leading aquaculture technology, but products are limited to a few species, lacking competitive products. In the case of aquarium supplies, the Korean technology level is receiving relatively positive marks in the global market, but ornamental fish products are lagging behind the global trend. In other words, Korea`s ornamental fish industry has the overall technical foundation, but lacks differentiation in the global market. Meanwhile, Korea`s market share of world trade market in fishery products is minimal. Growth was also analyzed not high compared to other countries. Various trade competitiveness index results rated very low in competitiveness, but it is hard to compare Korea with other countries which have already built a strong foundation in the ornamental fish industry. Therefore, for the mid to long term Korea should adapt a Choice and concentration strategy and focus on the production of ornamental fish and aquarium supplies, which will enable Korea to become differentiated in the global market and capture the world exports.

South African consumers’ selection criteria for ornamental plants: a market perspective

The considerations of South African consumers in the ornamental plant sector can be interpreted as selection criteria and be used as a marketing tool to increase the use of indigenous plants for ornamental purposes locally. A countrywide survey was undertaken by sending questionnaires to role players in the formal ornamental plant industry. The data generated was statistically analysed to indicate market trends. The findings showed that modern-day consumers’ usually expect the new plant acquisitions to offer rapid results after planting, require low maintenance and complement their lifestyles. Consumers are often in search of new plant varieties and require more detailed information about the purchased plants. Further key plant attributes include attractive appearance, plant shape and size suitable to the intended surroundings, decent leafing and attractive flowering properties, and plants that attract wildlife. Consumers also value plants’ performance attributes such as longevity, a visual statement of good quality, good garden performance, and robust resistance to pests and diseases.