Ornamental Industry Research Articles

First detection of alfalfa mosaic virus in Ficus benjamina in Chile

Ficus benjamina, commonly known as ficus or weeping fig, is an ornamental tree from Southeast Asia in the Moraceae family. It is an evergreen species grown as an interior plant worldwide, prized for its glossy green leaves, gray stem, and multiple branches. F. benjamina can be pruned and kept as a small shrub when grown indoors, with most commercially available cultivars in the ornamental industry derived from sports and propagated cuttings (Chen et al., 2010). In October 2022, symptoms indicative of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) infection, such as intense bright yellow spots, mottling and chlorosis were observed in leaves of F. benjamina growing in office environments in Santiago, Chile (supplementary Fig.1). Seven symptomatic and three asymptomatic plants were sampled and traced back to the same plant nursery, and only leaf tissue samples from the symptomatic plants tested positive for the presence of the AMV using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). These results were verified using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with specific primers AMV-F and AMV-R, targeting a region of the AMV CP gene (Xu and Nie, 2006). AMV was detected in all symptomatic leaf samples, producing 351-bp amplicons in the RT-PCR assay for all samples that were positive to AMV by ELISA. No amplification product was observed when seronegative samples or non-template control was used as templates in the RT-PCR assays. Three RT-PCR amplicons were directly sequenced in both directions. BLAST analysis of these sequences showed 100% nucleotide sequence identity to an AMV isolate previously reported (GenBank Accession No. KX458469), confirming the detection of AMV in F. benjamina. This pathogen causes disease in several species, including ornamentals plant such as Viburnum tinus L. (Peña et al., 2011), peony (Belardi and Rubies, 2003), phlox (Holcomb et al., 2006), and weeds such as Cayratia japonica (Thunb.) Gagnep, Justicia procumbens L. and Veronica persica Poir. (Gao et al., 2020). F. benjamina is among the most popular ornamental indoor plants in Chile, so nurseries should ensure AMV-free plants to restrict disease incidence and prevent the spread of this virus. However, Chile lacks specific regulations for ornamental nurseries, making adherence to pest and disease recommendations voluntary, and only imported plant material requires a sanitary certificate.

Uncovering the fungus responsible for stem and root rot of false indigo: pathogen identification, new disease description, and genome analyses.

Calonectria spp. can cause destructive diseases on forestry crops, legumes like soybean and peanut, and ornamentals. Species of Calonectria affecting ornamental plants are not well characterized or understood, though they have been widely documented as an issue in the ornamental industry. This research focused on the molecular identification, pathogenicity validation, and genome analysis of a Calonectria sp. isolate recovered from ornamental blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) plants showing disease symptoms of crown and root rot in a commercial nursery in Virginia. The fungus on B. australis was identified as C. fujianensis (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales), a member of the C. colhuonii species complex using multilocus sequencing. Pathogenicity tests were fulfilled by inoculating C. fujianensis conidia on B. australis seedlings, confirming a causal relationship between this pathogen and the disease symptoms observed. A 62.7 Mb high-quality hybrid genome assembly generated using Illumina and Nanopore data was obtained, contained in 16 contigs, four of which were complete chromosomes. A total of 750 effectors were found in the genome, similar to cutinase and pectinase virulence factors described from other Calonectria species' genomes. Characterization of this novel disease of B. australis advances our understanding of Calonectria as an important but poorly studied group of plant pathogens.

Profitability and Cost Estimates for Producing Tropical Hibiscus in South Florida

Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree native to the temperate regions of Asia and an economically significant crop in Florida. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the market value of the ornamental industry in Miami-Dade County was $697 million, and approximately 25% of the production was in hibiscus. Demand for the cultivation of plants with minimal pesticides is rising due to concerns about potential adverse environmental and health effects. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is an alternative to conventional pesticide application. A broad-based approach, it integrates both chemical and non-chemical practices for sustainable control of pests. To help growers and other stakeholders determine the best approach to changing demands for pesticide management, this publication estimates the costs and returns of producing tropical hibiscus on an established nursery in south Florida using both traditional and IPM methods.

First report of Sclerotinia minor causing soft rot of Scabiosa atropurpurea in California.

In May of 2019, Scabiosa atropurpurea samples with brown discoloration, soft rot of the crown and lower stem, with presence of white mycelium and black sclerotia (Supp. Fig. 1A, B) were collected from a 0.10 ha open field diversified cut flower production in San Luis Obispo County, CA. Approximately 30 to 40% of the scabiosa crop planted in a quarter of the field, exhibited symptoms. Symptomatic crowns and lower stems from five plants were surface disinfested by rinsing in 0.1% Tween 20, soaking in 70% ethanol for 30 s, 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min and sterile water. Disinfested tissue was placed in 1/10 potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 20°C (12 h photoperiod). Resulting colonies (n = 5) formed abundant white mycelia, with black sclerotia formed on the outer edge of the plates after two weeks (Suppl. Fig. 1C). Sclerotia (n = 50) had an average size of 1.6 (± 0.19) mm in diameter. Morphological identification resulted in Sclerotinia sp. (Hao et al., 2003). The pathogen was further identified by DNA extraction of two hyphal tipped isolates, followed by amplification and sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), calmodulin (CaM), CAL-228F/CAL-737R (Carbone and Kohn, 1999), and DNA replication licensing factor Mcm7 Mcm7-709for/Mcm7-1348rev (Schmitt et al., 2009). NCBI BLAST searches with consensus sequences for each maker revealed 99 to 100% identity with S. minor ex-types for all loci (Supp. Table 1). A maximum parsimony multilocus phylogenetic analysis clustered Californian isolates with reference strains of S. minor (Supp. Fig. 1F). Sequences were deposited in GenBank (Supp. Table 1). Pathogenicity tests were conducted with isolate CS435, which was transferred onto PDA plates and incubated at 20°C for one week. Inoculum consisted of CS435 infested PDA plugs (1 cm3). In the greenhouse, the experiment was set as a complete randomized design and observed for six weeks. Fourteen-week-old scabiosa 'Merlot Red' grown in 3.78 L pots (n = 6), were inoculated by wounding plants at 0.5 cm above the crowns with a 1 mm probe. Inoculum was placed directly on top of the wound and was secured with parafilm. Negative control plants (n = 6) were wounded as above and inoculated with PDA plugs. In experiment 1(19.4 (± 3) °C, RH 46.9), 83% of plants exhibited yellowing of the lower leaves and wilting at one week post inoculation (wpi). Symptoms progressed over time until wilting, major leaf and stem necrosis, was observed in all inoculated plants (Supp. Fig 1E, D). Plant mortality incidence at five wpi was 83%. Pathogen signs including white mycelia and black sclerotia were also observed. In experiment 2 (20.0 (± 10) °C, RH 39.6), 66% of the total plants were symptomatic at five wpi: 33% exhibited yellowing of the lower leaves and wilting, and 33% of plants died. Disease did not develop in non-inoculated plants in either experiment. S. minor was successfully reisolated from surface disinfested tissue of at least 50% (Exp. 1) and 100% (Exp. 2) of inoculated plants, yielding identical sequences to those of the inoculated isolate. S. minor is a soil-borne pathogen that infects tomato, lettuce, brassica, and sunflower crops in California. This study stablishes S. minor as a new soil-borne pathogen of Scabiosa in California. Soil-borne pathogens are a recurrent issue in the cut flower industry, characterizing new pathogens in these crops can inform crop advisors and disease diagnostician to improve disease management in the ornamental industry.

An integrated analysis of the Passifloraceae virome using public-domain data.

Passifloraceae is a plant family that includes several species of interest in the food, medicinal, and ornamental industries. The most relevant species are the purple and yellow varieties of P. edulis, which are among the most highly prized tropical fruits in the international markets. Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of this crop worldwide has resulted in the emergence of several viral diseases that endangered the productivity of this crop. In this work, we performed an integrated analysis of the Passifloraceae virome using public data. We investigated Pubmed and Genbank records and analyzed all the transcriptome data available for members of this plant family. This analysis resulted in the identification of six novel virus associations and six putative new viral species. We also used RNAseq to inspect virus accumulation levels and mixed infections. Using network analysis, we also examined the global distribution of Passiflora viruses and their associations with alternative hosts, which is valuable information in implementing viral disease management strategies. Our data suggest that a large diversity of viruses remains to be discovered. Finally, we used the information gathered in this work to estimate the cross-transmission risk of viruses in Colombian Passiflora fields.

First Report of Powdery mildew Caused by Golovinomyces ambrosiae on Verbena × hybrida in the U.S.

Verbena × hybrida, also known as common garden verbena, has an important ornamental value for their wide range of flower colors and for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. During the winter of 2021-2022 (December through February), more than 50% pot-grown verbena plants showed symptoms of powdery mildew in a field trial at a Syngenta Crop Protection research facility in Vero Beach, FL. Symptoms were characterized by the development of white, superficial mycelium on the adaxial side of leaves which, eventually, progressed to covering the whole surface of leaves, causing leaf discoloration, shoot distortion, and eventual plant death. Morphological characterization was carried out by observing powdery mildew colonies under the microscope. This powdery mildew forms dense patches of white mycelia, mainly on the adaxial leaf surfaces. The mycelium was a mat of hyphae with septa. Conidiophores were erect. The foot cells were straight, followed by one to three short cells bearing short chains of up to four conidia. The conidia were hyaline and ellipsoidal to doliiform in shape. Conidial germination is of the Eudoidium type. The conidia ranged from 25 to 32 μm long by 12 to 16 μm wide. The length to width ratio ranged between 1.6 and 2.3, but most were between 2.0 and 2.2. This is further verification of its identity as Golovinomyces ambrosiae and not Golovinomyces latisporus, because the length to width ratio of the latter species is consistently less than 2.0 (Qiu et al. 2020). Chasmothecia were not observed. Additionally, the ITS, GAPDH, and IGS regions were sequenced using the primer pairs ITS4/ITS5 (White et al. 1990), PMGAPDH1/PMGAPDH3R (Bradshaw et al. 2022a), and IGS-12a/NS1R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), respectively. The ITS region (GenBank number=PP924119) cannot distinguish between G. latisporus and G. ambrosiae and as such aligned 100% with both species on GenBank. However, the GAPDH and IGS regions can be used to distinguish G. ambrosiae from G. latisporus (Bradshaw et al. 2022b). The GAPDH (GenBank number=PP931995) and IGS (GenBank number=PP931996) regions aligned 100% with multiple G. ambrosiae sequences from GenBank including ON360708 and MK452567, respectively. The specimen was deposited in the Larry F. Grand Mycological Herbarium (NCSLG 24479). To confirm pathogenicity, 'Tuscany® Pink Picotee' and 'Quartz XP Violet with Eye' plugs were transplanted to 10-cm diameter pots containing ProMix potting mix and maintained in a greenhouse (± 26 °C). Inoculation was carried out 21 days after transplanting by touching infected leaves onto healthy leaves of 15 disease-free plants of each variety. Fifteen non-inoculated plants of each variety were used as controls. Typical powdery mildew symptoms and signs were first observed ten days after inoculation and the pathogen was more aggressive on 'Tuscany® Pink Picotee'. Symptoms were not observed on non-inoculated plants. The fungus was morphologically identical to the one originally recovered from infected plants in the field. There have been many reports of Golovinomyces spp. affecting Verbena spp. worldwide; however, this is the first report of G. ambrosiae causing powdery mildew on Verbena × hybrida in the U.S. (Braun and Cook, 2012, Choi et al., 2021; Bradshaw et al. 2024). Powdery mildews reduce plant quality and decreases the aesthetics value of infected plants, causing great losses to the ornamental industry. Correct identification of the causal agent is crucial to recommend appropriate control methods, as they may differ according to the pathogen species.

Measuring ornamental tree canopy attributes for precision spraying using drone technology and self-supervised segmentation

Tree canopy attributes or characteristics, such as canopy volume and density, are important parameters for calculating the precise quantity of agrochemicals required in each tree. Assessing the agrochemical needs in a nursery can help growers effectively estimate expenses, mitigate the risks of overuse or underuse, enhance resource utilization, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. This study aimed to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based system to measure tree canopy attributes like tree height, tree count, canopy area and canopy volume using an image processing and self-supervised zero-shot segmentation approach. A high-resolution red-green-blue (RGB) sensor mounted on a drone captured three aerial image datasets, D1 and D2 from the first experimental plot and D3 from the second experimental plot. The acquired aerial images were stitched together and processed to generate a digital surface model (DSM) and a digital terrain model (DTM). A self-supervised zero-shot segmentation model, Segment Anything Model (SAM), was applied for tree segmentation and counting. The tree canopy area was calculated by segmenting individual trees and applying a conversion factor to convert pixelwise areas into square meters. Height calculation was done using elevation data of each pixel from DSM-DTM imagery within SAM-derived bounding box coordinates, and the highest pixel was considered as the height of the tree. The drone-calculated heights of 24 randomly selected trees were compared with manually measured heights in all datasets. The results showed an average absolute error of 2.43% in D1, 7.09% in D2 and 12.58% in D3. The Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) were noted to be 0.09 m and 0.23 m in D1, 0.13 m and 0.25 m in D2, and 0.16 m and 0.21 m in D3, respectively. In D3, manual area and volume calculations were performed for validation. The RMSE and MAE for area calculation were calculated as 0.18 m2 and 0.15 m2, respectively, and the RMSE and MAE for volume measurements were calculated as 0.33 m3 and 0.26 m3 respectively, which indicated the level of agreement between manual and drone measurements. Using canopy volume information, calculated by summing pixel heights within each tree’s bounding box and multiplying by the ground sample distance (GSD) of 0.025 m per pixel, the average quantity of agrochemicals needed for a Maple tree was estimated at 0.20 L. These results underscore the high potential of this method for accurate canopy characteristic calculations and precision spray applications in the ornamental industry.

Light Quality Influence on Growth Performance and Physiological Activity of Coleus Cultivars

This study investigates the influence of different light qualities, including red, green, blue, purple, and white lights, on the growth, physiological activity, and ornamental characteristics of two Coleus cultivars. Emphasizing the importance of leveraging phenotypic plasticity in plants within controlled environments, using light quality is a practice prevalent in the ornamental industry. The research explores the varied responses of two Coleus cultivars to distinct light spectra. The key findings reveal the efficacy of red light in enhancing shoot and leaf parameters in C. ‘Highway Ruby’, while red and green light exhibit comparable effects on shoot width and leaf dimensions in C. ‘Wizard Jade’. White light-emitting diodes (LEDs), particularly with color temperatures of 4100 K and 6500 K, promote root length growth in the respective cultivars. Moreover, chlorophyll content and remote sensing vegetation indices, including chlorophyll content (SPAD units), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the modified chlorophyll absorption ratio index (MCARI), and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI), along with the chlorophyll fluorescence, were significantly affected by light qualities, with distinct responses observed between the cultivars. In summary, this study highlights the transformative potential of LED technology in optimizing the growth and ornamental quality of foliage plants like Coleus, setting a benchmark for light quality conditions. By leveraging LED technology, producers and nursery growers access enhanced energy efficiency and unparalleled versatility, paving the way for significant advancements in plant growth, color intensity, and two-tone variations. This presents a distinct advantage over conventional production methods, offering a more sustainable and economically viable approach for increased plant reproduction and growth development. Likewise, the specific benefits derived from this study provide invaluable insights, enabling growers to strategically develop ornamental varieties that thrive under optimized light conditions and exhibit heightened visual appeal and market desirability.

Genetic diversity and population structure of a rare flowering tree endemic to Appalachia, Stewartia ovata.

Stewartia ovata (cav.) Weatherby, commonly known as mountain stewartia, is an understory tree native to the southeastern United States (U.S.). This relatively rare species occurs in isolated populations in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. As a species, S. ovata has largely been overlooked, and limited information is available regarding its ecology, which presents obstacles to conservation efforts. Stewartia ovata has vibrant, large white flowers that bloom in summer with a variety of filament colors, suggesting potential horticultural traits prized by ornamental industry. However, S. ovata is relatively slow growing and, due to long seed dormancy, propagation is challenging with limited success rates. This has created a need to assess the present genetic diversity in S. ovata populations to inform potential conservation and restoration of the species. Here, we employ a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach to characterize the spatial distribution and genetic diversity of S. ovata in the southern Appalachia region of the eastern United States. A total of 4475 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across 147 individuals from 11 collection sites. Our results indicate low genetic diversity (He = 0.216), the presence of population structure (K = 2), limited differentiation (F ST = 0.039), and high gene flow (Nm = 6.16) between our subpopulations. Principal component analysis corroborated the findings of STRUCTURE, confirming the presence of two distinct S. ovata subpopulations. One subpopulation mainly contains genotypes from the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee, while the other consists of genotypes present in the Great Smoky Mountain ranges in Tennessee, North Carolina, and portions of Nantahala, Chattahoochee-Oconee national forests in Georgia, highlighting that elevation likely plays a major role in its distribution. Our results further suggested low inbreeding coefficient (F IS = 0.070), which is expected with an outcrossing tree species. This research further provides necessary insight into extant subpopulations and has generated valuable resources needed for conservation efforts of S. ovata.

Bioeconomics of juvenile seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) culture: Optimal harvest time

AbstractThe culture of seahorses Hippocampus erectus in captivity represents a window of opportunity for the diversification of the aquaculture activity in the ornamental industry. In this study, we have constructed a bioeconomic model to evaluate the optimal harvest time (OHT) over a culture period of 562 days. The bioeconomic model was integrated with three submodels: biological, technological, and economic. Three different mortality rates were used for different periods in culture, registering a higher survival in the period from 0 to 60 days with a rate of 53.4%. The sensitivity analysis showed that the mortality rate in this period was the parameter with the greatest influence on the benefits. The Von Bertalanffy growth model was indicated to describe the growth of H. erectus given its statistical significance using Theil's inequality coefficient, registering parameters of (L∞ = 141.62 mm) and (k = 0.0049 month‐1). The bioeconomic model determined the OHT in the 4th month of culture, the time when the maximum profit is recorded. It is concluded that the culture presents challenges to be addressed although the bioeconomic model allows for demonstrating the OHT.

A Review on Flower Bulb Micropropagation: Challenges and Opportunities

This comprehensive review scrutinizes tissue culture and micropropagation methodologies in geophytes, focusing on bulbous plants. The examination encompasses key stages, including somatic embryogenesis, bulb growth, dormancy breaking, and planting. Studies underscore the pivotal role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) in plant regeneration and bulb growth. Bioreactor systems for healthy plant regeneration, rooting methods, acclimatization strategies, and considerations for ex vitro survival are elucidated. The review also delves into somaclonal variation dynamics and acknowledges the burgeoning field of gene editing, particularly Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) studies, as a promising avenue for enhancing valuable compound content in geophytes. In addition to addressing challenges in flower bulb micropropagation, this review briefly highlights emerging opportunities, including the potential integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize culture conditions, predict growth parameters, and enhance efficiency in bulb production. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of a multifaceted approach integrating biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology to address existing challenges and improve tissue culture protocols for diverse geophyte species. This review article also intends to highlight how tissue culture techniques could contribute to the development and valorization of flower bulbs in today’s scenario of the ornamental industry.

Enhancing Orchid Inventory Management with K-Means Clustering: A Case Study in Sales Optimization

In the ornamental industry, particularly in orchid sales, manual inventory management has presented significant challenges. These challenges include excessive stock accumulation, financial pressure due to overstocks, and limited land resources to store overstocks. Utilizing information technology, data mining, specifically the K-Means Clustering algorithm, emerges as a solution. This research aims to optimize orchid inventory management by grouping products into three clusters: "highly sellable," "sellable," and "less sellable." Historical sales data was used as the main dataset, considering parameters such as sales volume, demand patterns, and seasonality. The K-Means Clustering algorithm categorized the orchid products, with 97 products in the "highly sellable" cluster, 68 products in the "sellable" cluster, and 22 products in the "less sellable" cluster. This analysis offers insights. Orchids that are "highly marketable" require higher stock levels to meet demand. "Sellable" varieties require standard stock levels, while "less sellable" types should maintain lower stock levels to avoid overstocking. In conclusion, using k-means clustering for orchid inventory management can optimize sales strategies. Orchids in high demand receive adequate stock, ensuring customer satisfaction. Effective stock allocation improves financial stability by overcoming the problem of overstock in the ornamental industry.

Estudo bibliométrico da pesquisa sobre flores de corte

Abstract Ornamental plants play a fundamental role in diverse applications, from cut flower production to landscape design and space decoration. The ornamental industry, which is part of horticulture, has experienced significant advances and mobilizes billions of dollars in the global economy, being also a totally globalized market. In recent years, this industry has implemented advanced production strategies, from genetic improvement to sustainability and supply chain, promoting scientific research in various areas. However, the dispersion of knowledge has hindered the integration of the various research networks. Therefore, this article seeks to provide an overview of the scientific production in the cut flower sector, establishing a reference line for researchers, using bibliometrics as a tool to identify trends and the scientific structure of this area of knowledge. The results revealed that worldwide since 1983 there have been 975 articles focused on this productive system, gene rated in more than 69 countries by 2750 authors who published their research in 160 academic journals. Relevant research topics that are already developed and those that need a more intense and integrated research focus on the knowledge already generated were also identified.

A Survey on Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Problems in Ornamental and Pecan Industries in Georgia

Abstract The ambrosia beetles, mainly Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), are serious pests of young trees in the ornamental industry and pecan orchards as infested trees develop branch dieback with occasional tree mortality. Surveys were conducted in the ornamental industry in 2020 and 2021 and the pecan industry in 2020 because clientele perspective on the extent of damage, phenology, monitoring, management, and loss related to the ambrosia beetle was unclear. Of 35 and 40 ornamental industry respondents, 68% and 82% indicated problems with this pest in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Of 66 pecan industry respondents, 52% reported beetle problems in 2020. About 85% of ornamental and 58% of pecan respondents indicated that 1–10 trees were attacked by ambrosia beetles and 1–30 or more trees were culled annually. The beetle problem persists throughout the growing season but appears greater during the spring than in other periods. About 73% of respondents indicated that current monitoring tools helped them with management decisions; however, a proportion did not use recommended monitoring tools but instead relied on visual signs to determine attacks on trees. In the 2020 surveys, only 37% of ornamental respondents and 43% of the pecan respondents used insecticide sprays, whereas in the 2021 survey, 71% of the ornamental clientele (mostly nurseries) sprayed pyrethroid insecticides for ambrosia beetle management. In 2020 surveys, about 48% and 56% of ornamental and pecan respondents, respectively, spent <$500 USD for ambrosia beetle management.

First report of tobacco rattle virus infecting Weigela florida in the USA.

Weigela (Weigela florida (Bunge) A. DC., Family: Caprifoliaceae) are woody shrubs native to North China, Korea, and Japan. In the U.S., weigela are commonly used as landscape ornamental plants (McNamara et al. 2010). Two viruses have been reported in weigela: tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus and impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus (Sastry et al. 2019). Ten weigela plants, originating from commercial nurseries in Minnesota, exhibiting chlorosis, chlorotic line patterns, and necrosis (e-Xtra) were submitted for virus diagnostics as potted plants at the University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic and the Virology Lab in 2019 and 2020 (five plants each year). Under greenhouse conditions, symptoms progressed from chlorosis to necrosis and even plant death in two of the five plants in 2019. Electron microscopy revealed rod-shaped particles of ≈20 nm in diameter and lengths between 40-200 nm with similar morphology to members of the genus Tobravirus (e-Xtra). Virus-like particles were enriched by ultracentrifugation and total nucleic acids were extracted from partial purifications using a phenol:chloroform extraction method (Lockhart et al. 1997). Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) was identified by cloning and sequencing of the 463bp amplicon obtained with the TRV detection primers described in Robinson, 1992. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) was done to confirm the TRV detection. A cDNA library was prepared from purified viral RNA using the TruSeq Stranded mRNA kit and sequenced on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform as 150 bp-paired end reads. A total of 44,316,446 raw data reads were obtained, preprocessed using the BBDuk plugin, and de novo assembled using SPAdes assembler. Viral contigs were identified using the NCBI BLASTX tool. The assembly of TRV RNA1 was 6,842 nt with 20,627,348 reads (47% of total reads) mapped to it and an average coverage per nucleotide at 323,639X. The assembly of TRV RNA2 was 3,033 nt with 22,769,253 reads (52% of total reads) mapped to it and an average coverage per nucleotide at 798,660X. NCBI GenBank accession numbers for the assemblies representing RNA1 and RNA2 are OQ408335 and OQ408336, respectively. NCBI BLASTn analysis showed the highest level of nucleotide identity to TRV genomic RNA segments 1 and 2, with 97% and 99% identity to the TRV isolate RNA1 (GQ903771) and RNA2 (GQ903772), respectively, that originated from Michigan potato. No other viral contigs were detected from the virion nucleic acid extraction by HTS, however this enrichment method doesn't exclude other viruses. In addition to using the detection primers by Robinson 1992, we designed primers based on our HTS data: TRV-WG-DetF3 5'- GACGAAGGAGGCTGTCATTGC-3' and TRV-WG-DetR3 5'-CGGACTATCGTGATGCCCATGC- 3'. RT-PCR amplicons from each of the 10 symptomatic plants were cloned and sequenced. Among these clones, Sanger sequence identities ranged between 96-100% compared to the HTS data and 98-99% to the TRV potato isolate from MI. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TRV infecting the ornamental host W. florida worldwide. TRV is a nematode-transmitted viral pathogen of economic importance, most notably in potatoes (Sastry et al. 2019). In the US, TRV has been reported on several landscape ornamentals, horticultural crops, and native habitats. Further research is needed to investigate the impact of TRV on the ornamental industry and the role of ornamentals as reservoirs for cultivated crops like potatoes.

Removal of heavy metals using Iris species: Apotential approach for reclamation of heavy metal-polluted sites and environmental beautification.

Globally, the number of heavy metal (HM)-polluted sites has increased rapidly in recent years, posing a serious threat to agricultural productivity, human health, and environmental safety. Hence, it is necessary to remediate HM-polluted sites to increase cultivatable lands for agricultural productivity, prevent hazardous effects to human health, and promote environmental safety. Removal of HMs using plants (phytoremediation) is a promising method as it is eco-friendly. Recently, ornamental plants have been widely used in phytoremediation programs as they can simultaneously eliminate HMs and are aesthetically pleasing. Among the ornamental plants, Iris species are frequently used; however, their role in HM remediation has not been reviewed yet. Here, the importance of Iris species in the ornamental industry and their different commercial aspects are briefly described. Additionally, the mechanisms of how the plant species absorb and transport the HMs to the above-ground tissues and tolerate HM stress are highlighted. The variation in HM remediation efficiency depending on the plant species, HM type and concentration, use of certain supplements, and experimental conditions are also discussed. Iris species are able to remove other hazards as well, such as pesticides, pharmaceutical compounds, and industrial wastes, from polluted soils or waste-water. Owing to the valuable information presented in this review, we expect more applications of the species in reclaiming polluted sitesand beautifying theenvironment.

Navigating the future: exploring technological advancements and emerging trends in the sustainable ornamental industry

Technological advances have played a critical role in the production of flower crops, enabling farmers to maximize yields and reduce losses while also improving the quality of flowers. These advances have included the development of new breeding techniques, such as molecular marker-assisted breeding, and the use of modern technologies like high-throughput phenotyping to identify and select superior cultivars. In addition, precision farming techniques, such as the use of sensors and remote monitoring systems, have made it possible to closely monitor crop growth and optimize inputs like water and fertilizer, leading to higher yields and improved resource efficiency. Advancements in biotechnology have also resulted in the development of transgenic plants that are resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and improving plant health. Modern molecular genetic tools, particularly genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases, are emerging in addition to conventional approaches of investigating these plants. Furthermore, the use of novel growing systems, such as hydroponics and vertical farming, has allowed for year-round flower production in controlled environments, mitigating the challenges associated with seasonal changes and climate variability. These innovations have also made it possible to produce high-quality flowers in urban areas, bringing fresh blooms closer to consumers. Overall, technological advances in flower crops have revolutionized the floriculture industry, enabling growers to produce high-quality flowers in a more sustainable and efficient manner. These advancements have not only improved the productivity and profitability of flower farming but have also contributed to the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

LED Lighting to Produce High-Quality Ornamental Plants.

The flexibility of LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, compactness, long lifetime, and low heat emission, as well as its applications as a sole source or supplemental lighting system, offers interesting potential, giving the ornamental industry an edge over traditional production practices. Light is a fundamental environmental factor that provides energy for plants through photosynthesis, but it also acts as a signal and coordinates multifaceted plant-growth and development processes. With manipulations of light quality affecting specific plant traits such as flowering, plant architecture, and pigmentation, the focus has been placed on the ability to precisely manage the light growing environment, proving to be an effective tool to produce tailored plants according to market request. Applying lighting technology grants growers several productive advantages, such as planned production (early flowering, continuous production, and predictable yield), improved plant habitus (rooting and height), regulated leaf and flower color, and overall improved quality attributes of commodities. Potential LED benefits to the floriculture industry are not limited to the aesthetic and economic value of the product obtained; LED technology also represents a solid, sustainable option for reducing agrochemical (plant-growth regulators and pesticides) and energy inputs (power energy).

Spawning, egg and larval description of the brazilian basslet Gramma brasiliensis Sazima, Gasparini & Moura, 1998 in captivity.

Brazilian basslet Gramma brasiliensis is a fish highly appreciated by the marine ornamental industry. There is an increasing interest in the development of a breeding protocol for this species. However, descriptions of the reproductive biology, eggs and larval development are scarce. This study was the first to describe the spawning, eggs and larvae of G. brasiliensis in captivity, including mouth size information. Six spawning events produced egg masses with 27, 127, 600, 750, 850, and 950 eggs. Larger egg masses showed embryos with at least two different developmental stages. Eggs are spherical (∼1.0 mm diameter), held together by filaments entangling chorionic projections. Larvae with fewer than 12 hph (hours post-hatch) presented 3.55 mm standard-length, well developed eyes, fully absorbed yolk sac, an inflated swim bladder and mouth opened. Exogenous feeding on rotifers began within 12 hph. The average mouth width at first feeding was 0.38 mm. The first settled larva was noted by day 21. This information should help to determine appropriate diets and prey-shift time during the larviculture of the species.

Alternative Management Strategies and Impact of the Northern Root-Knot Nematode in Daylily Production

Bare-root production of Hemerocallis spp., daylily, is of major economic importance to Michigan's ornamental industry, but production of clean nursery material is challenging due to plant-parasitic nematodes. The northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, is the most important perennial ornamental pathogen in northern North America; it causes over 20% yield loss in Hemerocallis spp. production and reduces marketability and distribution. A field trial was established in 2018 to 2020 at a Michigan commercial nursery to determine effective and long-term management strategies to reduce nematode population levels. Eleven treatments were tested: a control, four bio-nematicides, two nematicides, a nematicide root dip, and three compost blends. Soil samples were taken three times per year, along with annual root samples and plant height measurements. Results indicated that TerraClean 5.0 (hydrogen peroxide) and Majestene 304 ( Chromobacterium subtsugae) nematicides best controlled M. hapla populations by 49 and 37%, respectively, compared with the control, whereas Indemnify (fluopyram) significantly increased plant biomass and yields by 31%. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the impact of M. hapla on Hemerocallis spp. production by inoculating daylily with varying nematode inoculation densities. Even at low population levels, plant biomass reductions were observed, and M. hapla was readily able to reproduce on Hemerocallis spp. These experiments highlight the importance of managing M. hapla and provide effective, alternative management methods that can reduce the application of fumigants and prevent yield losses to increase profitability for ornamentals.