horticulture science News
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Chronica Horticulturae Volume 55 Number 4
Topics of this number include: Views from the Board ISHS is an international society, but how can we keep achieving more?, R. Tao Issues Metro nature for mental health and wellness: horticulture secondary benefits, K.L. Wolf Multifunctional rooftop horticulture: a promising strategy for intensifying horticulture production in cities, F. Orsini, M. Dubbeling and G. Gianquinto ...
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Conference Recordings Available
The American Society for Horticultural Science is pleased to announce the recorded sessions from the 2014 ASHS Annual Conference are now available. You can access the recordings under the tab “Conferences” on the ashs.org website or by clicking or cutting and pasting the following link: http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2014/webprogram/meeting.html Please note: The recorded presentations ...
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Root hydraulic conductance linked to trees` post-transplant recovery
Survival of field-grown trees grown for transplanting into landscapes depends on many factors, such as transplant timing and tree size. Species-specific characteristics also contribute to trees' ability to withstand and survive environmental stresses. In a newly published study researchers report on the relationship between tree roots' hydraulic conductance -- the roots' ability to take up water ...
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First raisin grape that dries naturally on vine developed
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in California have developed a new raisin grape that dries naturally on the vine, making it unnecessary for growers to cut into the woody “canes” connecting the grapes to the mother vine weeks before harvest. For mechanically harvested raisin grapes like Thompson Seedless, growers have to cut the canes each summer, usually about 2 weeks ...
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Liquid corn, fish fertilizers `good options` for organic blackberry production
Managing soil nutrients in organic production systems presents multiple challenges for fruit growers. The availability and release rate of nitrogen from organic fertilizers, ease of application, and cost are among the important factors that influence choices in organic production. The authors of a new study say that there has been limited information available about the influence of fertilizer ...
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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 Knoche reveal their discovery of what makes sweet cherries crack. Knoche, lead author of the study published in the Journal of the American Society ...
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Wild Tomato Species Focus of Antioxidant Study
Tomatoes are known to be rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, lycopene, β-carotene, and phenolics. Antioxidants, substances capable of delaying or inhibiting oxidation processes caused by free radicals, are of interest to consumers for their health-related contributions, and to plant breeders for their ability to provide plants with natural resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. While ...
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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 popular fruit is susceptible to severe disorders during storage. A new study from Iran recommends treatments that can extend storage life and improve ...
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Vermicompost leachate improves tomato seedling growth
Worldwide, drought conditions, extreme temperatures, and high soil saline content all have negative effects on tomato crops. These natural processes reduce soil nutrient content and lifespan, result in reduced plant growth and yield, and ultimately translate to lower profits for tomato producers. As an alternative to unsustainable practices such as the use of synthetic fertilizers, producers are ...
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Helping Sweet Cherries Survive the Long Haul
A new study says that cherry producers need to understand new intricacies of the production-harvest-marketing continuum in order to successfully move sweet cherries from growers to end consumers. For example, the Canadian sweet cherry industry has had to modify logistics strategies--from shorter truck or air shipping to long-distance containerized shipping--to accommodate burgeoning export ...
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Study reveals causes of apple skin spot
For fruit crops such as apples, compromised skin appearance usually results in reduced market value. Identifying causes of fruit disorders and diseases can help producers modify growing strategies and increase profits. Researchers in Germany recently released a study of "skin spot", a disorder found in 'Elstar' (and occasionally in 'Golden Delicious') apples after CA storage that is characterized ...
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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 Sciences published a study of orchard floor management systems (HortScience, March 2015) that revealed the benefits of using "sandwich systems" in ...
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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 resources, the controllers are becoming more popular with homeowners in this high water-use state. A new study evaluated homeowners' satisfaction with ...
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Nitrogen in reclaimed water can benefit turfgrass
As competition for fresh water increases and fertilizer prices rise, the horticulture industry is looking to reclaimed wastewater as a valuable resource for supplying irrigation and necessary nutrients for urban landscapes. In the U.S., Florida is a leading user of recycled water; more than 50% of the state's reclaimed water is being put to use for irrigation of recreational areas such as golf ...
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Abscisic acid treatments can prevent tomato blossom-end rot
Plants are subjected to numerous environmental stresses -- drought, extreme temperatures, and excess light can all affect plant growth and quality. Looking for methods to improve the quality of tomato plants, researchers at the University of Tennessee turned to abscisic acid, a plant hormone known to help plants acclimate to these types of severe environmental stresses. The research results and ...
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Optimal substrate moisture content determined for high-quality bedding plants
The bedding plants sold in retail outlets are typically grown in greenhouse production environments where professionals can monitor irrigation, light, and temperature. When the greenhouse-grown plants reach the retail market, however, they are often subjected to a range of less-than-ideal light levels, temperatures, and irrigation schedules that can be detrimental to plant quality and vigor. ...
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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 stress, and enhanced postharvest shelf life. A study in the August 2015 issue of HortTechnology determined the effects of rockweed extract, applied as a ...
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Hydrolyzed fish fertilizer tested in organic vegetable production
In the production of organic vegetables, nitrogen is important, yet can be quite costly to manage. Nitrogen management is even more challenging when production practices call for the use of polyethylene mulch combined with fertigation. The authors of a new study published in HortScience have found that hydrolyzed fish fertilizer holds promise as an "economically feasible" nitrogen source for ...
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Sensor-based Irrigation Systems Show Potential to Increase Greenhouse Profitability
Wireless sensor-based irrigation systems can offer significant benefits to greenhouse operators. Advances in sensor technology and increased understanding of plant physiology have made it possible for greenhouse growers to use water content sensors to accurately determine irrigation timing and application rates in soilless substrates. The wireless sensor systems provide more accurate measurements ...
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Healthier processed food? Essence of strawberry could be the key
University of Florida scientists believe they have pinpointed the exact compounds in strawberries that give the fruit its delightfully unique flavor – findings that will allow UF breeders to create more flavorful varieties even faster. What’s more, the researchers believe that eventually, those naturally occurring compounds will be used to make processed foods taste sweeter, using ...
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