48 News & Press Releases found
American Society for Horticultural Science News
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Participatory breeding program assists organic tomato growers
Organic tomato production is growing rapidly in Midwestern states in the US, as evidenced by a USDA study that found certified organic tomato production increased more than 277% in the region from 2007-2011. The authors of a report in the September ...
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Seaweed extract benefits petunia, tomato transplants
Seaweed extracts are used widely in agriculture and horticulture production systems. Benefits of the extracts can include early seed germination and establishment, improved crop performance and yield, increased resistance to biotic and abiotic ...
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Homeowners like money-saving benefits of smart irrigation controllers
Smart irrigation controllers, technologies used to decrease landscape water applications, are catching on in Florida. Incentivized by governmental agencies and water utilities in an effort to reduce public-supply water demand and conserve water ...
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Conventional, compost, organic production compared for strawberry
A team of researchers from North Carolina State University set out to provide strawberry growers in their region with information that could help them transition to more sustainable soil and pest management production practices. Their study, ...
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Preserving the best qualities of `Honeycrisp` apples
`Honeycrisp` apples are among the most popular varieties in today`s fresh fruit market. The apple`s explosive crispness, juiciness, and flavor have made them a new favorite among consumers. However, the apples` distinctive characteristics are at ...
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Study shows potential for sweetpotato production in Pacific Northwest
Sweetpotato, a warm-season root crop grown across the world, needs heat and humidity to flourish. In the United States, commercial sweetpotato production occurs predominantly in the southeastern states and California, while production farther north ...
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New treatment extends shelf life of bananas
Around the world, bananas are one of the most popular tropical fruits. Despite their popularity, bananas have a relatively short shelf life that creates challenges for both producers and consumers. A new study revealed that a postharvest treatment ...
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Forage crop promising as ecologically friendly ornamental groundcover
A new, ecologically friendly groundcover for warm-weather landscapes is on the horizon. Rhizoma peanut, a warm-season perennial native to South America, has been used almost exclusively as a forage crop in the United States since the 1930s, but a ...
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New irrigation strategies for pecans in humid climates
Georgia is the largest pecan producing state in the U.S. Although this humid region receives an average of 127 cm or more rainfall annually, periods of moisture stress can occur during the pecan growing season, particularly during August and ...
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Rotating Trellis Boosts Profits for Blackberry Growers
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist developed a specialized trellis system to help blackberry growers boost profits. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) horticulturist Fumiomi Takeda of the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in ...
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End-of-production LED Lighting Increases Red Pigmentation in Lettuce
Growing vegetables in greenhouses extends crop production seasons in northern latitudes, but the greenhouse environment is far from ideal for providing plants with optimal photosynthetic light. In fact, available photosynthetic daily light in ...
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Malic Acid Encourages Sweet Cherry Cracking
"Cracking" is a problem for sweet cherry production wherever the high-value crop is grown. However, despite considerable research, the reason that this phenomenon occurs has not been clear. In a new study, Andreas Winkler, Max Ossenbrink, and Moritz ...
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Light-emitting Diode Sole-source Lighting Effective in Bedding Plant Seedling Production
In northern latitudes, producers of bedding plants depend on supplemental lighting during the late winter and early spring growing seasons. Unfortunately, these peak times for young plant production are also the darkest. Researchers have determined ...
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Management Strategies to Reduce Catfacing in Peaches
For producers of peaches and other orchard-grown produce, managing the orchard floor can present challenges. Unwelcome vegetation on the orchard floor competes with trees for water and nutrients reducing tree growth and productivity, and can be a ...
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Simulated Seawater Flooding Decreases Growth of Vegetable Seedlings
Crop production in coastal areas is threatened by seawater intrusion, which increases soil salinity. Excessive salinity in soil and irrigation water, in combination with waterlogging, can significantly affect the growth and quality for agricultural ...
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Effective season extension technologies identified for strawberry production
Fruit growers in the U.S. Intermountain West (the region including the states of Montana, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado) are faced with challenges that include decreased agricultural land availability, harsh climatic conditions, and significant ...
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Treatments of hot water with calcium found effective for kiwifruit
Following the introduction of kiwifruit to the world market from New Zealand in the 1950s, increased export of kiwi led to rapid expansion in consumer demand and production. One of the challenges for growers is kiwifruit`s short storage life; the ...
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Sandwich system found effective in organic apple orchards
In organic apple orchards, one of the most serious challenges for growers is determining ways to limit weed competition while improving soil quality and ensuring high yields of quality apples. Scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural ...
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How container-grown plants capture sprinkler irrigation water
As the container nursery industry faces severe restrictions on water use, researchers are looking to identify ways to minimize watering needs and eliminate excess watering. The authors of a new study say that understanding container-grown plants` ...
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Fertilization regimen reduces environmental impact of landscape palms
Palms are an important part of the environment in subtropical and warm temperate climates. Palms` aesthetics and small "footprints" make them desirable in a variety of landscapes throughout the southeastern United States. Unfortunately, palms also ...