Seventy Years of Evaluations and Selections of Ornamentals by the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program. - Todd West Micropropagation and production of Amur and Norway maple triploids - Ryan Contreras Tea Plant Propagation for Nursery Production - Carol Miles Establishment of Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Plantations in Response to Mulch and Root Dips - Bert Cregg Cultivating Control: Effective Suppression Methods for Jumping Worms in Container Nursery Production - Jenna Simon Effects of Water Quality and Fertilization Practices on Container Tree Growth in Nurseries - Zachary Davis
Dr. Bert Cregg is a professor of Horticulture and Forestry at Michigan State University. He conducts research and extension programming on the physiology and management of trees in landscapes and nursery and Christmas tree production.
Tuesday September 24, 2024 9:59am - 11:30am HST
South Pacific 3
The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Woody Plant Improvement Program has been servicing the Northern Great Plains for 70 years, beginning germplasm trial evaluations in 1954. NDSU purchased an 80-acre (~32 hectares) farm in the early 1970s to be established as the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm near Absaraka, ND and began trial plantings in fall of 1974. This research farm provides ideal horticultural soil for evaluation and breeding projects for ND. Approximately 45 acres (~18 hectares) of this farm is used for evaluation, selection and breeding of woody ornamental plants including a 35-acre (~14 hectares) research arboretum. This research arboretum is the most extensive collection of woody ornamental plants in North Dakota and in the Northern Great Plains. There have been over 15,000 accessions obtained, evaluated, and developed since planting began in 1974. Accessions have been collected from local, regional, national, and international sources. After 50 years, this program has introduced 62 superior ornamental woody plants for production and sale with 44 active registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. NDSU woody plant introductions have a nursery wholesale sale value of over $2.0 million and a $6.0 million value in retail sales for 2022 alone. Introductions are currently being propagated for sale by commercial wholesale firms in four countries: Australia, Canada, England, and the United States (22 states, including 35 nurseries). The primary focus of this program is with increasing the diversity and availability of woody plants with increased disease/insect resistance and winter hardiness for landscapes throughout North Dakota, region, and nation. One issue that this program is addressing is that native woody (trees and shrubs) plant species diversity is extremely low in the central United States, especially in North Dakota. Most of the available trees and shrubs in the specialty crop nursery trade in North Dakota are non-native introductions. Many non-native plants have been shown to be invasive to native environments. Woody plant research has reacted to this issue utilizing sterility breeding. This results in new cultivars that are not considered invasive and are allowed to be utilized by the commercial nursery and landscape industry, even in states where they are banned. Sterility breeding through polyploid induction has become a focus of the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program. The research focus of this project is to induce, or develop, polyploids produce sterile cultivars to be used in the nursery and landscape trade.
Dr. Todd P. West is currently a Professor at North Dakota State University and director of the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program. He earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program focuses on the development of new woody... Read More →
Tuesday September 24, 2024 10:00am - 10:15am HST
South Pacific 3
Acer ginnala (Amur maple) and A. platanoides (Norway) are trees that perform well under challenging urban and suburban conditions. Unfortunately, both are highly fecund and have escaped cultivation in several regions of the United States including becoming invasive. To address this, we have developed seedless triploids. To safely deploy seedless cultivars that present little or no ecological risk, they need to be on their own roots, as opposed to being budded onto seedling rootstocks, as was customary for Norway maple. Growing own-rooted plants prevents possible outgrowth of seedling rootstock. Amur maple roots well from stem cuttings but this is not feasible for Norway maple. Micropropagation presents a path forward both to increase propagules rapidly for initial introduction as well as a viable propagation method for the more recalcitrant Norway maple. Both species were successfully micropropagated and stage III plants were delivered in early April 2023. Plants were acclimatized and grown during the 2023 growing season to produce finished trade gallon whips. Material was variable in size because we effectively grew on everything without culling for inferior material. Both species were demonstrated to be amenable to micropropagation and their growth after acclimatization was better than expected. Micropagation will be further optimized, and as available material increases, size and production will be further standardized. This method will facilitate rapid introduction of seedless triploids and allow growers to be successful and profitable in production.
Tea (Camellia sinensis) is the second most popular beverage worldwide and the U.S. annually imports 240 million pounds of tea. The limited availability of tea cultivars and limited knowledge for tea plant propagation are primary barriers for tea production in Washington and the U.S. overall. Time of year and section of shoot for propagation cuttings were tested in northwest Washington for tea cultivar Minto Pacific. Shoots were collected on 8 and 21 Sep, 6 and 24 Oct, 3 and 21 Nov, and 8 Dec 2022, and 18 Jan and 8 Feb 2023, then processed into top, mid, and bottom section cuttings. The bottom end of each cutting was scored (1-2 inches depth) using a knife, dipped into rooting hormone for 5-10 seconds, and placed into a treepot filled with propagation media (5:3:2 ratio peatmoss, vermiculite and perlite, pH 4.5) with the bottom node leaves resting on the mix line. Treepots were placed in a mist chamber with 50% shade and 70-80% relative humidity for 4 months. Survival rate was greatest for shoots collected from 21 Sep through 8 Dec 2022: 99.5% on average 4 months after collection. Cuttings from 8 Sep 2022 had the lowest survival rate overall: 77% at 4 months after collection. Top, mid and bottom section cuttings had an average survival of 96.7%, 95.8% and 94.7% at 4 months after collection. Plant height at 4 months after collection was greatest for cuttings collected on 8 Feb (6.6 cm) and lowest for all other dates (4.5 cm on average). Overall, cuttings from the mid and bottom sections had the greatest plant height at all times: average 5.0 cm at 1 month, average 5.1 cm at 2 months, average 5.2 cm at 3 months, and average 5.6 cm at 4 months. The number of new leaves measured in June 2023 was greatest for top and mid sections of the shoot (3.8 leaves on average) while the bottom section had the lowest number of new leaves (2.8 leaves on average). The overall health rating up to 4 months after collection was highest for cuttings collected on 6 and 24 Oct, and 8 Dec (more than 4.5 on average for all months). The top section of the shoot had the highest rating for overall health in all months (≥ 4.5). Keywords: Camellia sinensis, Cuttings, Northwest Washington, Vegetative
In the Great Lakes region of the United States Christmas tree plantations are established by planting seedlings or transplants. Reducing plant moisture stress after planting is crucial to successful establishment of these small conifers. A myriad of products have been marketed to Christmas tree producers with claims to improve transplant success by limiting transplant shock. Since 2021, we have conducted a series of field trials in collaboration with Michigan Christmas tree growers to evaluate the effect of root dips, mulching and other cultural practices on transplant survival and growth. Root dip products applied immediately prior to planting included: DieHard™ Root Dip (endo/ecto mycorrhizae polymer), MycoApply® Injector Ecto (ectomycorrhizae), SoilMoist™ Fines, and Roots® Terra-Sorb® Fine Planting Gel (polymer). Cultural treatments that were applied following planting included: foliar antitranspirant spray (Wilt-Pruf® [25% di-1-p-menthane]), wood chip mulch, shade blocks (20.3 cm x 30.5 cm mesh screen), controlled release fertilizer, and biochar. Root dips did not affect tree survival or growth in any of the trials. Mulch and shade blocks increased shoot growth at several farms. Improved survival of trees under mulch was associated with improved soil moisture. Mulch did not affect foliar nitrogen (N) concentration, indicating that mulch did not ‘tie-up’ N. The application of Wilt-Pruf reduced transpiration but also reduced photosynthetic rate, resulting in a net decrease in shoot growth. Fertilization at planting significantly reduced survival on two of four sites. Overall, the results suggest that cultural treatments, especially mulch, are more likely to improve plantation establishment than root dips.
Dr. Bert Cregg is a professor of Horticulture and Forestry at Michigan State University. He conducts research and extension programming on the physiology and management of trees in landscapes and nursery and Christmas tree production.
Keywords: Amynthas spp., Biological Controls, Invasive Species, Soil Health, Temperate Ecosystems Jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) present a significant threat to biodiversity and overall soil health across temperate ecosystems. In forest systems, jumping worms alter ecological dynamics by impacting the organic litter layer, soil structure and chemistry, food web functionality, and nutrient cycling processes. These annual, hermaphroditic worms reproduce through parthenogenesis and inhabit the top few inches of moist soils. They survive extreme temperatures in their cocoon stage with the possibility of remaining dormant for several growing seasons. One inadvertent method of jumping worm spread is through container-grown nursery stock and horticultural substrates. In nursery production, jumping worms modify plant quality by consuming organic matter such as roots, altering substrate structure and chemistry in the container, and contributing to excessive nutrient leaching. The rapid movement of these worms may also impact consumer buying potential and preference. There are currently no products listed for controlling jumping worms in the United States, leading to challenges with the management of their spread. We hypothesize that control methods not yet listed for jumping worms in the United States have the potential to effectively suppress jumping worm populations in container-grown crops. Our objective was to further evaluate chemical and biological approaches for managing jumping worms in container nursery production systems. Treatments included a non-treated control, BotaniGardⓇ (2 Tbsp/gal), Thiophanate-methyl fungicide (0.625 mL/400mL), Sodium lauryl sulfate (2 mL/L ), Cedarwood oil (1.5625 mL/L), ConserveⓇ (0.317 mL/400mL), Castaway 3-0-1 Tea Seed Meal Fertilizer (2.7 g/pot), Slug MagicTM (0.5 oz/pot), and SevinⓇ (8.75 mL/400mL). The results of this work suggest differential efficacy between treatments and highlight options with potential for application in horticultural production. Identifying effective control methods benefits the scientific community and the horticultural industry by providing a foundation for future research activities centered on jumping worm management as well as limiting their spread through horticultural products. These findings support growers by outlining potential management practices that demonstrate efficacy for controlling jumping worms in the Amynthas genus.
Research Assistant, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Jenna Simon studies invasive jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) with a focus on containerized production. She has a strong passion for the nursery profession and strives to bridge the gap between horticulture and ecology. She believes that ecology should be viewed from many different lenses... Read More →
The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns led to an increase in revenue and production for green industry products in early 2020. In Study 1. an evaluation of fertigation (liquid feed, quick release) and controlled release fertilizers (CRFs, slow release) were applied to container-grown (7 gallon) live oak (Quercus virginiana) and Nutall oak (Quercus nuttallii) trees (100% Liquid feed, 0% CRF, 67% Liquid feed, 33% CRF, 33% Liquid feed, 67% CRF, 100% Liquid feed, 0% CRF). Live oak trees fertilized with CRFs had increased stem calipers (>30%). Nuttall stem caliper and height were significantly increased by 62% and 58%, respectively, with substrate incorporation of CRFs. Live oak tree height was increased by 35% and stem caliper when CRFs were incorporated. In study 2, the effect of alkaline water quality on live oak tree production was initiated at a nursery in Point Coupee Parish. Ca and Mg sources were used to study the impact of water quality on live oak tree container-growth and study the benefits of using different rates of lime and gypsum [0% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 100% gypsum (Ca) Epsom salt (Mg), 25% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 75% gypsum (Ca) Epsom salt (Mg), 50% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 50% gypsum (Ca) Epsom salt (Mg), 75% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg), 25% gypsum (Ca) Epsom salt (Mg), 100% dolomitic lime (Ca, Mg) 0% dolomitic lime]. Live oak tree growth measurements increased with the reduction of dolomitic lime and increase of Epsom salt and gypsum applications. Leaf Na content was significantly reduced using higher proportions of gypsum and Epsom salt. Soil pH was also reduced by more than 1 pH unit after a growing season. Soil pH did increase when irrigated with highly alkaline water. Growers using alkaline water need to manage irrigation water and soil pH and consider using gypsum and Epsom salt reducing dolomitic lime rates as a source of Ca and Mg. All Ca and Mg sources provided greater than the threshold levels of leaf Ca and Mg content.
A Mentor-Mentee Undergraduate Scientific Communications Course - Danielle Jaden Yamagata Santos Growth and Volatile Compounds on Thai Herbs at Different Cultivation Systems in Vertical Farming - Akira Kakai Growth, Anthocyanin Content and Its Gene Expression in Purple Color Paprika Fruit Applying Blue Light at Night - Ryuhei Mitsuzuka The Effect of Mixing Artificial Seawater into Hydroponic Solution to Tomato Fruit Growth and Ion Contents - Miyuki Baba Detection of Postharvest Quality of Cut Roses using Vis/NIR Spectroscopy - Ji Yeong Ham Developing Utah’s Own Sap Drinks - Catherine Sun Effect Of Temperature Alterations On Phytochemicals Accumulation Among Two Variety Of Feverfew Cultivars - Jalynn Greer Increased Airflow Improves Yields of High Density Indoor Micro Dwarf Tomato - Matthew Arrington Assessing the Impact of Urban Environments on the Biomolecular Composition of 'Mosco' Chili Peppers - Kathryn Braun Growth and Physiology of Three Buckwheat Cultivars under Reduced Substrate Water Contents - Sawyer Zook
Tuesday September 24, 2024 12:29pm - 2:10pm HST
South Pacific 3
TPSS 491 Scientific Communications is a new one-credit undergraduate course in the TPSS Department. It was offered for the first time in Fall 2023 with six undergraduate students. The objective was to enable personalized instruction and mentoring of students on their projects. Consulting with the instructor, each student decided on two projects to work on. Students indicated what specific feedback they were looking for, and the instructor provided individualized assistance. One-to-one meetings enabled more detailed personal instruction. Students were more motivated when working on their own projects. This course’s flexible meeting dates and times allowed tailoring it to each student’s schedule. TPSS 491 helped me to develop and complete personal projects that are crucial in professional development. The flexibility of the course allowed me to partake in one-on-one meetings that worked with my schedule as a full-time student which was one factor why I decided to take this course. Being able to receive personalized feedback on my projects allowed me to make constant improvements that made me feel confident in my work, especially as I plan to use these as tools to enter the professional setting after graduation. The course’s flexible scheduling and wide choice of projects were very appealing to me. As an upper-class student, I had multiple ongoing research projects, more classes than usual, and a research-based part-time position. Each commitment involved weekly meetings, assignments, and demanded a significant portion of my time and attention. However, the flexibility of the “To Be Determined” scheduling of the course created more freedom within my schedule, providing me with the necessary time to complete my other projects and courses. Having the choice to decide which projects to work on enabled me to receive valuable feedback on an important graduate school funding application and a research project. Without this flexibility, I might not have received as much feedback on these important parts of my academic journey. In conclusion, TPSS 491 is an important course for undergraduate students to receive valuable feedback from the instructor regarding scientific communication. TPSS 491 proved to be an invaluable course for me. The constructive feedback I received on my projects was instrumental in my personal and academic growth. This course allowed me to focus on projects that held significance for my academic and professional development and provided the flexibility needed to balance various commitments required to advance my experience as an early-career researcher.
Thai culinary herbs such as coriander and sweet basil become popular. For production of them in vertical farming, we need to investigate the suitable growing conditions, especially the relationship between nutrition condition in the root zone and vegetation growth. Moreover, we investigated the aroma quality under these conditions. Here, we report the comparing of nutrient conditions at both of perlite and hydroponic cultivation. Thai coriander (Coriandrum sativum ‘Saisamorn’) and Thai sweet basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum ‘Micro’) were sown under white LEDs for 24 hr. After 14 days, seedlings were transplanted into deep flow hydroponic culture in environment-controlled growth chamber at air temperature of 25℃, 60% relative humidity, and luminance at PPFD 450 µmol/m/s. The photoperiod was set for 16 hr. light and 8 hr. dark. Different concentrations ranged from EC 1.6, 2.0, and 3.5 at pH 5-6 of nutrient solution were supplied to hydroponic system and perlite system. The perlite system was used by mixing vermiculite with perlite at ratio of 1:2. The mixture of vermiculite and perlite was poured into planter for herb cultivation. Dripping tubes were provide for irrigation. After 40-50 days of transplant, vegetative growth; fresh weight, shoot growth, root length, and stem growth were measured. The major aromatic compounds for coriander such as Decanal, Dodecanal, (Z)-3-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and trans-2-dodecenal, and major aromatic compounds for sweet basil such as linalool, eugenol, methyl eugenol, estragole, eucalyptol were evaluated by using GC-MS. The growth and volatile compounds of coriander and sweet basil are varied toward nutrient solution condition and cultivation systems. As the result of this study, it can be assumed that we have found one of the optimum conditions to cultivate Thai herbs in a controlled environment.
In this study, we investigated the effect of night blue lighting on anthocyanin content and expression of its transcription factors and structural genes in purple paprika fruits. Purple paprika fruits (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Tequila’) were used for this experiment. Before light treatment, we used fifty plants grown under hydroponic conditions (EC 2.5, pH 6.0) in a greenhouse. At 10 days after pollination, we started irradiating the fruits at night with blue LEDs light at wavelength 460 nm and radiation intensity at 500 W-m-2. Control is non-irradiated treatment. Fruits were harvested at 15, 20, and 40 days after pollination, for fresh weight evaluation, then following analysis was performed. In the pigment analysis, anthocyanin content was determined based on cyanidin-3-glucoside. By adding 10% acetic acid to frozen ground fruit sample overnight at 4C, the absorbance was measured at 530 nm. In the gene analysis, RNA was extracted from fruit and cDNA was transcripted using kit with gDNA eraser. Then, cDNA template was mixed with PCR Master Mix for quantitative RT PCR analysis. The result was calculated as relative expression to UBI. As the results, fresh weight was not affected by light. Anthocyanin content of treated fruit increased approximately twice as much as that of control fruits at 15, 20, and 40 days after pollination. Furthermore, the expression levels of transcription factors; HY5, MYB, bHLH, and WDR, and structural genes; PAL, CHS, F3H, ANS, DFR, and UFGT increased in treated fruits. These results indicate that blue light irradiation enhanced anthocyanin synthesis in purple paprika fruits, by increasing the expression of its transcription factors and structural genes.
NaCl has been frequently used for applying salt stress to plants. However, in this study, we tested to use sea salt instead of NaCl for applying salt stress to tomato plants. Plants were grown under hydroponic conditions, mixing artificial seawater to nutrient solution (liquid fertilizer). To estimate strength of the stress treatment, we used EC (Electrical Conductivity) value to control it. Fifty-six seedings of two tomato varieties ('Momotaro York' and 'Saturn') were grown at deep flow technique in a greenhouse, and the stress treatments were applied 10 days after the first truss bloomed. In experiment 1, we designed 3 treatments (EC was set for 5.0, but the ratio of Liquid Fertilizer : Artificial Seawater were 5.0 : 0, 1.5 : 3.5 and 2.5 : 2.5, respectively). In experiment 2, we designed 3 treatments (EC for liquid fertilizer was set at 1.5, but the concentration of artificial seawater was different as Liquid Fertilizer : Artificial Seawater were 1.5 : 0, 1.5 : 3.0 and 1.5 : 6.0, respectively). Fruits were harvested at almost 90 days after blooming and fruit weights were measured. The contents of 5 cations and 3 anions in fruit were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), then we added all of the ions contents as total ion contents. As a result, fruit weight was not different significantly at experiment 1, but decreased when EC value was increased at experiment 2. In experiment 1, when the ratio for liquid fertilizer was increased, the total ion contents were increased, especially Na in treatment at (1.5 : 3.5) and Ca2 in treatment at (5.0 : 0) were increased. At experiment 2, total ion contents increased when the ratio of sea salt was increased. In conclusion, we estimated various strength of stress by EC value in this study. Then the different ratio of liquid fertilizer and artificial seawater caused different ion contents in tomato fruits. This result was similar for the two varieties.
Visible and Near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy is widely used to analyze plant physiological state and chemical properties non-destructively and rapidly. Recently, Vis/NIR spectroscopy has been used to analyze and estimate the photosynthesis capacity, water content, and soluble solids content (SSC) in various horticultural crops such as fruits and vegetables. Cut roses are often sensitive to water stress under unfavorable conditions during storage and transportation. Water stress of cut flowers generally leads to premature wilting of leaves and petals, thus decreasing the vase life of cut flowers. In this study, we measured the water content and SSC and evaluated the postharvest quality of cut roses using Vis/NIR spectroscopy to screen the quality of cut rose flowers for promoting exportation. Cut roses underwent either wet transport (WT), dry transport (DT), or dry and sucrose treatment, to identify the characteristics of reflectance wavelengths (RW) closely correlated with water content of cut flowers based on Vis/NIR data. Our results showed that dry treatment reduced the vase life and maintenance of positive water balance (PWB) and initial fresh weight of cut roses. Sucrose treatment exhibited a longer duration of retaining PWB and increased SSC in the petals and leaves of cut rose flowers. WT resulted in cut roses with a longer vase life of 1.4 d, compared to DT. DT treatment also decreased the capacity of the cut flowers to maintain PWB by 0.7 d compared to WT. Our results also showed that the Vis/NIR reflectance of the rose petals in the wavelength range 620-720 nm differed among treatments. In particular, the water balance of cut roses showed a positive correlation with RW735 nm and a negative correlation with RW680/RW(620 720) nm, while the SSC of cut roses was positively correlated with RW680/RW(620 720) nm. These results imply that it is possible to evaluate and screen the postharvest quality of rose flowers based on the water relation of cut flowers using Vis/NIR spectroscopy data.
Maple products, such as syrup, sap-based beverages, soft drinks, candies, and butters, are significant agricultural commodities in Canada and the northeastern United States. In recent years, syrup derived from various maple sources, including bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum), boxelder maple (Acer negundo), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum), has been commercialized in the Intermountain West. However, producing one gallon of maple syrup requires approximately 40 gallons of sap and consumes substantial amounts of energy and time due to the need for extensive heating and evaporation. Utilizing sap as a drink can help conserve energy, expand the sap product market, and retain essential minerals with potential health benefits. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate beverages made from sap obtained from bigtooth maple, boxelder maple, and Norway maple. Sap samples were gathered from maple trees in Cache County, Utah, filtered through a food-grade filter, bottled in 12 oz glass containers, sealed, and then autoclaved at 121°C. Sugar concentration in both raw and autoclaved sap samples was determined utilizing a refractometer, while comprehensive mineral analyses were conducted by submitting samples to the Utah State University Analytical Laboratories. These drinks contain rich mineral nutrients, varying with plant species. A Utah’s Own designation will be applied to these drinks.
Feverfew, a member of the Asteraceae family, has a long history of traditional use for various health purposes, including anxiety and depression management, and alleviating arthritis and inflammation. Feverfew consists of a specific chemical compound named parathenolide which is a phytochemical naturally found in Tanacetum parthenium, which plays a significant role in being responsible for feverfew’s anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to investigate the effect of the temperature changes in parathenolide accumulation among two varieties Matricaria Tetra White and Matricaria Tetra Virgo Feverfews based on their genetic differences. Feverfew cultivars will be grown in a container containing potting mix which has enough nutrients for plant growth and development. The two varieties will be randomized with each variety receiving varying temperature differences (low, medium, and high). The accumulation for parathenolide will be analyzed using HPLC analysis to evaluate the accumulation of the phytochemical in each variety in response of the differences in temperatures. Among the phytochemicals of interested in this study include an understanding the effect of temperature on the accumulation and synthesis of the phytonutrients can highly assist scientists and health care professionals to increase and promote medicinal plants. Feverfew can benefit low-income communities like urban areas where majority of the community members are incapable to afford medication that can treat sickness such as anxiety and depression.
Indoor agriculture production allows producers to control all of the environmental parameters given a system with enough sophistication. However, the expense of comprehensive systems is prohibitive from an economic standpoint, in most cases. Identifying the most important parts of the plant environmental experience to control is a critical part of building efficient and economical indoor farms. In this study with temperature, nutrition, lighting and other aspects of the farm being controlled, airflow was manipulated. Micro dwarf cherry tomato varieties (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘Pinocchio Orange’) were grown in an NFT style hydroponic systems for 90 days. All plants were grown in a greenhouse with natural and supplemental lighting. Control plants received airflow native to the greenhouse environment, mixing fans, ridge line vents and pad fan based HVAC control. The treated plants experienced a “high air flow” condition. The results indicate a clear improvement in the fruit weight, number of fruit per plant, and fruit diameter for plants which experienced increased airflow. These results, while preliminary, demonstrate the clear advantage of additional airflow targets for indoor plant production and provide the basis for an important indoor production lever to improve yields in micro dwarf cherry tomatoes.
Dr. Matt Arrington is an assistant professor of applied plant science at Brigham Young University. Matt graduated with his PhD in horticulture from Washington State University and Masters degree from Oregon State University. His areas of research focus include crop efficiency in controlled... Read More →
The rapid increase in urban populations and urbanization, coupled with the increasing demand for natural resources, has underscored the critical significance of global sustainability. Urban farming has been recognized as a promising solution to address these challenges. Despite the growing popularity of urban agriculture, there is a lack of research on how the built environment and urban micro-climates impact plant growth and food crops cultivated in cities. Our study aims to address this gap in knowledge by investigating how urban climates impact the growth and quality of 'Mosco' chili peppers, a significant crop in the Southwest United States. Peppers were cultivated in four different locations at the CSU Spur research facility in Denver, Colorado, including a ground-level plot, two rooftop areas with varying sunlight exposure, and a rooftop site under a solar panel array. Throughout the growing season, climate data and plant growth metrics were consistently monitored. Post-harvest, we characterized the biomolecular composition of the peppers using standardized methods from the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI). Collectively, the results of this study offer valuable insights into the impact of urban environments to the production and quality of peppers, informing sustainable urban farming practices and enhancing our understanding of plant adaptability in city settings.
Instances of water scarcity attributed to insufficient precipitation have amplified across the western United States (U.S.), leading to restrictions on ornamental plant irrigation. Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat) is widely used in pollinator-friendly U.S gardens due to its ornamental value and significance to pollinators. However, buckwheat's drought tolerance has not been widely investigated. The objectives of this research are to determine the effects of substrate volumetric water content on the visual quality, growth, and physiology of F. esculentum (common buckwheat), F. esculentum ‘Rose Red Soba’ and F. esculentum ‘Takane Ruby’. Cultivars were grown in an electromagnetic sensor-based automated irrigation system at substrate volumetric water content of 0.10 m3·m-3 (drought) and 0.40 m3·m-3 (control) for 35 days in a greenhouse. Plant growth index [(height (width 1 width 2)/2)/2], proportion of visibly wilted leaves, and the number of flowers were recorded weekly throughout the experiment. Gas exchange parameters were recorded at the termination of the experiment. Decreased substrate volumetric water content increased the number of visibly wilted leaves on three buckwheat cultivars. The plant growth index and number of flowers also declined as substrate volumetric water contents decreased from 0.40 to 0.10 m3·m-3. Alternatively, 'Rose Red Soba' and common Buckwheat exhibited a lower net photosynthesis rate in decreased substrate volumetric water content. Drought treatment also led to decreased stomatal conductance among all three buckwheat cultivars. Our results indicate that drought could impair buckwheat's ornamental value and growth due to the increased accumulation of visibly wilted leaves and decreases in plant growth index. Additionally, buckwheat's ability to attract pollinators could decline under drought conditions due to the loss of flower abundance. Nevertheless, 'Takane Ruby' buckwheat could maintain a higher capability of drought tolerance compared with 'Rose Red Soba' and common Buckwheat due to its capacity to maintain photosynthesis rate when substrate volumetric water content decreases.
I am currently an Assistant Researcher and A EPSCoR NASA fellow at the University of Wyoming. I bring a diverse range of experience from various roles related to Agriculture Research, Oil seed proccesing, Water/Wastewater Treatment, Plumbing, Welding. As well as an Organization Leadership/Horticulture... Read More →
Revolutionizing Grapevine Breeding: Overcoming Perennial Challenges with Genome Editing - Bridget Bolt CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Development of Low Mowing Frequency Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescue Varieties - Roshani Budhathoki Precision Breeding Using CRISPR to Improve Production Traits in Blackberry - Pradeep Marri Double CRISPR Knockout of Pectin Degrading Enzymes Improves Tomato Shelf-life While Ensuring Fruit Quality - Isabel Ortega Salazar Functional Characterization of a Candidate Bacterial Wilt Resistance Gene in Tomato - James Duduit Novel Short Synthetic Promoters for Constitutive Expression in Dicot Species - debao huang
Climate change poses a significant threat to perennial crops like grapevine in the USA, with projections indicating that 50-81% of acreage may become unproductive by 2040. To address this, breeding resilient varieties is imperative. However, traditional breeding for perennials is time-consuming (25-30 years) due to extended evaluation periods. Genome Editing, specifically CRISPR/Cas9, offers targeted modification potential but faces hurdles in perennial crops such as grapevine. These include somaclonal variation, inefficient transformation, transgene removal needs, and industry hesitance. We propose an efficient Genome Editing method for grapevine leveraging the systemic mobility of methylated dicistronic mRNA:tRNA molecules. This approach aims to: 1. Enable genome editing without transgene integration, negating the need for backcrossing and preventing unintended genetic changes. 2. Circumvent in-vitro culture, reducing somaclonal variation risk and preserving existing chimerism. Our method addresses key challenges in Genome Editing adoption for grapevine and could accelerate the development of climate-resilient varieties, crucial for sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.
Tall fescue (Lolium arundinacea Schreb.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) are common cool-season turfgrass species. They are widely utilized in home lawns, athletic fields, golf courses, and roadsides. However, these grasses require frequent mowing to maintain lawn quality. Developing low-mowing frequency varieties is highly desirable because it can significantly reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption. Gibberellin 20-oxidases (GA20ox) are key genes in the gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis pathway, mutations in which can induce a dwarf phenotype in plants and, therefore, reduce mowing frequency, as demonstrated by our dwarf turf varieties developed using conventional mutagenesis techniques. We have recently employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create knockout or knockdown mutations in the GA20oxidase1 gene to develop dwarf tall fescue and perennial ryegrass lines. The CRISPR/Cas9 construct used for editing LaGA20ox1 and LpGA20ox1 has ZmUbi and OsU6a promoters controlling the expression of Cas9 and sgRNA, respectively. We have delivered the CRISPR/Cas9 construct into tall fescue and perennial ryegrass via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We have observed a 35-50% reduction in plant height compared to the parental wild-type plants. Furthermore, the leaf widths in these mutants are reduced by 30-60%. Some mutants display a smoother leaf texture compared to the wild type. The T2 homozygous mutant progenies will undergo field evaluation for mowing frequency and fertilizer requirements. We anticipate that some of these gene-edited lines should exhibit a significant reduction in mowing frequency and fertilizer input.
Pairwise is a technology-focused food and agriculture company that makes tiny alterations to plant genetics to solve big problems. Powered by our best-in-class technology, Pairwise is harnessing new genomics technologies to create innovative new products. With our FulcrumTM platform, we accelerate innovation in plants and plant-based production systems, delivering value to people and our planet. Partnering with Plant Sciences, Inc. to access their elite germplasm, we created a platform to transform and edit tetraploid blackberry (Rubus sub. Rubus). We used the power of genetics and genomic tools to identify the candidate gene for thornless in blackberries and used CRISPR based gene editing to validate the trait. The identification of this gene will enable faster deployment of a thornless trait, an essential production trait, into blackberries. The gene may be broadly applicable to other Rubus species and horticultural crops such as roses.
Tomato fruit is an important and popular commodity worldwide. One of the main challenges for the fresh market tomato industry is postharvest deterioration, which is mainly determined by the rate of softening. This rate can affect tomato shelf-life, pathogen susceptibility, and fruit waste. The softening rate is regulated by multiple factors, but mainly by the pectin composition of the cell wall, which is remodeled, disassembled, and solubilized by enzymes during fruit ripening; a process that induces and determines the fruit softening in fleshy fruits. The main pectin-degrading enzymes that act on the pectin backbone are Polygalacturonases (PG) and pectate lyases (PL). In this study, we generated a double CRISPR knockout PGPL. We investigated the combined functions of SlPG2a and SlPL on fruit quality traits in postharvest, including shelf-life attributes like firmness and water loss, fruit marketability, and disease incidence. We also assessed additional attributes impacting consumer acceptance, such as taste and aroma. Our findings revealed that the tomato ripening enzymes SlPG2a and SlPL act additively, significantly affecting fruit firmness and shelf-life. Additionally, aspects of fruit quality, such as external color, sugar: acid ratio, and aroma volatiles, were improved or not affected in the double CRISPR knockout PGPL when compared to control. The discoveries of this research provide new insights into the influence of pectin backbone degradation on fruit physiology and postharvest quality, which can be used in crop improvement programs to make fruit more resilient in the supply chain without compromising consumer-based quality traits.
Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), is an economically devastating plant pathogen that causes rapid death and has been widely distributed worldwide. Rs is a soil-borne bacterium that plugs plant xylem vessels, causing wilt and ultimately death in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and many other economically important crops. The most cost-effective and efficient means of managing Rs is planting resistant cultivars. However, acceptable Rs resistance in these genotypes is tightly linked to small fruit size, preventing development of BW-resistant large fruited tomato cultivars. Previous research has shown that a highly resistant cultivar's candidate resistance gene (Sl-BWR) is linked to qualitative resistance of Rs. Our preliminary data indicates that overexpression of the resistant allele in a susceptible cultivar background confers resistance comparable to the wild-type resistant allele. There is ongoing work to generate susceptible allele overexpression lines and knockout lines from the susceptible and resistant cultivars. We hypothesize the resistant allele knockouts will be susceptible to Rs, indicating that the candidate gene is the primary resistance factor. The gene could be functionally characterized to elucidate the Rs resistance mechanism in tomatoes to be deployed in a breeding program to develop resistant cultivars against bacterial wilt.
Determining the promoter motifs involved in regulating transcription, the first process of gene expression, is critical for synthetic promoter engineering. A gene’s promoter contains cis-regulatory elements, or motifs, which are binding sites for transcription factors (TFs) to initiate and drive transcription. Many bioinformatic tools have been developed for determining statistically overrepresented regions, representing sites of potential cis-regulatory elements, that are shared across groups of promoters. Combining the results produced by multiple bioinformatic tools can lead to improved detection accuracy of motifs conferring biological activity. In the present study, we compiled a set of 11 known soybean constitutive gene promoters under the assumption that some of the promoters are regulated by the same transcription factor(s). Seven bioinformatic tools capable of de novo motif discovery were used to determine potentially shared motifs within the promoters, which were then mapped back to the original promoter sequences. A total of 64 overlapping motif regions (OMRs) were commonly detected amongst the 11 constitutive promoters, and each OMR was cloned individually in front of the minimal CaMV 35S promoter driving GUSPlus reporter gene expression. Transient tobacco leaf agroinfiltration and subsequent quantitative GUS activity assays were used to determine each OMR’s ability to drive reporter gene expression. We found that 20 of the 64 bioinformatically-determined OMRs drove functional gene expression significantly higher than the basal levels conferred by the minimal 35S promoter. Of the 20 functional OMRs, 11 drove GUSPlus expression at levels from just twice that of the minimal 35S promoter up to nearly half of the full-length 35S promoter. We also transformed these 20 functional OMRs individually into Arabidopsis. While GUS staining is still ongoing, we identified a few OMRs which showed strong promoter strength in single-copied homozygous Arabidopsis seedlings. These functional OMRs are strong candidates for further characterization and can be used for crop improvement.
Genome-wide Association Study and Genome Prediction of Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Spinach - Kenani Chiwina Spinach Seed for Grain Consumption: Feasibility and Potential for Genetic Improvement - Carlos Avila Progress and Insights Into Downy Mildew Resistance Mapping Efforts in Spinach - Gehendra Bhattarai Screening Baby Leaf Salad Greens for Downy Mildew Resistance - Shunping Ding Detection of Novel Lettuce Fusarium Wilt Pathogenic Variants in California - Santosh Nayak Unraveling Gene Regulation on the Interaction of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians Causal Agent of Bacterial Leaf Spot. - Byron Manzanero Exploring Physiological Traits as Predictors of Heat Content in Chile Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) - Muhammad Ibrar Khan
Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., poses a significant threat to spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) production, necessitating genetic resistance as the primary defense against this disease. This study conducted a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers linked to Verticillium wilt resistance in spinach and to evaluate genomic prediction for disease resistance. GWAS utilized a panel of 98 spinach germplasm accessions and 20,742 SNPs obtained from whole-genome resequencing. Various statistical models, including GLM, MLM, FarmCPU, and BLINK, were employed using the GAPIT 3 tool for analysis. Two quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions on chromosome 6 were found to be significantly associated with Verticillium wilt resistance. Specifically, SNP SOVchr6_29382746 at 29,382,746 bp and three SNPs (SOVchr6_86904401, SOVchr6_86906249, and SOVchr6_86906255) at 86,904,401 bp and 86,906,249 bp, respectively, demonstrated notable associations with disease resistance. Genomic prediction exhibited high accuracy, with a prediction ability (GA) represented by an r value of 0.95 for the panel. The identified SNP markers, along with the high prediction ability, offer valuable tools for breeders to select Verticillium wilt-resistant spinach plants and lines through molecular breeding, incorporating marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) strategies.
Dr. Ainong Shi is a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas. His research laboratory specializes in plant breeding and genetics, particularly focusing on vegetable crops such as arugula, cowpea, and spinach for cultivar and germplasm development... Read More →
Spinach production is constantly challenged by endemic diseases that significantly reduce producers’ income. Even when resistant cultivars and cultural practices are used, mild disease damage can happen, negatively affecting quality and therefore reducing its commercial value. In contrast, under those conditions, spinach could still produce seed for grain with valuable nutritional content that can fetch premium prices for the gluten-free niche markets. This project evaluated grain production as an additional source of income by assessing yield potential, nutritional quality, and economic feasibility and potential for improvement. A total of ~200 USDA-NPGS accessions were evaluated for GWAS. For all nineteen amino acids evaluated, a wide range in content was observed. E.g. aspartic acid population mean was 106.5 nmol/g with a minimum of 36.2 nmol/g and a maximum of 353.9 nmol/g. Similar results were observed for all eight minerals evaluated. E.g. K population mean was 9,998.1 mg/kg with a minimum of 3,227 mg/kg and a maximum of 24,770 mg/Kg. High diversity can be used to improve nutritional content in spinach seed. Several SNP markers associated with amino acid and mineral content were identified in more than one nutrient, indicating pleiotropic genetic control. Furthermore, protein digestibility tests indicate that spinach provides ~50% of all amino acids required in the diet as compared with Amaranth and Quinoa protein in grain that provided ~20% of all amino acid required. Therefore, indicating spinach grain has a higher nutritional content as compared with highly demanded Amaranth and Quinoa grains. Finally, a partial budgeting approach was used to assess the economic feasibility of producing spinach seeds for grain. The added costs totaled US$ 218.71/ac, including custom harvesting (US$ 24/ac), an additional application of fertilizers (US$ 17.36/ac) and fungicide (US$ 62.54/ac), extra irrigation costs (US$ 60.63), and US$ 54.18/ac in associated interest on production expenses. The break-even price of seeds was estimated to be equal to US$ 0.20/lb when the average experimental yield was considered (i.e., 1,089lbs/ac). Producing seed for grain could expand the farmer portfolio, increase farmed acreage, and fringe products.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a popular leafy vegetable crop in the US, particularly for the fresh market baby leaf spinach. However, downy mildew (DM), caused by the obligate oomycete Peronospora effusa, poses a significant challenge to spinach cultivation in California and Arizona as it reduces the quality and yield of spinach. This is particularly concerning given that the two production areas contribute over 85% of the total fresh market spinach in the US. The emergence of new races of P. effusa, with nineteen races reported and fourteen identified in the last two decades, presents a persistent threat as new races and variant isolates can overcome the existing resistance in commercially deployed cultivars. Furthermore, over 50% of the spinach market is organic production, so utilizing host genetic resistance is a crucial disease management strategy. To combat this challenge, we conducted screenings of germplasm, cultivars, and multi-parent progeny populations in greenhouse conditions to identify resistant sources and genomic regions associated with resistance to multiple races of P. effusa (specifically race 5, 13, and 16). The spinach population panel was sequenced utilizing genotyping by sequencing (GBS), low coverage resequencing, and 10x coverage whole genome resequencing (WGR) to generate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. Subsequently, genetic analysis was performed using disease phenotype response data obtained and SNP markers for the identification of resistance-associated SNP markers and candidate resistance genes. The molecular analysis and mapping efforts have yielded valuable insights into the basis of downy mildew resistance in spinach, providing essential molecular tools to facilitate breeding for disease resistance. This work will summarize the updated findings from these efforts. This work will enhance our understanding of resistance mechanisms, which will contribute to developing more effective breeding strategies, increasing selection gains and breeding efficiency in spinach.
Dr. Ainong Shi is a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas. His research laboratory specializes in plant breeding and genetics, particularly focusing on vegetable crops such as arugula, cowpea, and spinach for cultivar and germplasm development... Read More →
Downy mildew presents major challenges to baby leaf salad greens production in California. Baby kale (Brassica oleracea) particularly holds substantial economic value in the region with a crop value of over $12 million in 2022. Downy mildew, caused by the oomycete pathogen Hyaloperonospora brassicae, infects baby kale resulting in leaf chlorosis, necrosis, and sporulation, rendering affected leaves unmarketable. Resistant varieties offer an effective solution, reducing the need for pesticides and promoting sustainable disease management in baby kale production. This research aims to screen baby kale plant materials (accessions) for resistance to downy mildew isolates from across California. Initially, 212 baby kale accessions were evaluated for resistance using a downy mildew isolate from Gilroy, CA. Plants were inoculated with downy mildew spores and incubated in high-humidity conditions before being evaluated for disease symptoms. The initial screening indicated an average disease severity of 31%. From this screening, 50 accessions showing the lowest disease severity were further screened against seven additional downy mildew isolates. Among the subset of 50 accessions, disease severities ranged from 0.1% to 7.6%. Notably, nine accessions consistently exhibited a disease severity of 0%, and 17 accessions maintained disease severities of 0.1% or 0.2% across all seven isolates, making an elite secondary subset of accessions. Ongoing research includes replication trials with a secondary subset of accessions and the two most virulent and weak downy mildew isolates. This research will identify resistant baby kale varieties, providing valuable insights for breeders and improving downy mildew management practices in kale production systems.
Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae (FOL), is an economically important disease of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Four pathogenic races of FOL have been reported, though only race 1 is known to exist in the United States. Recently, California coastal lettuce growers have experienced changes in the severity and incidence of FW. Some race 1-resistant cultivars have exhibited susceptibility, whereas some susceptible cultivars have displayed a reduction in disease severity. In order to determine whether such changes in disease patterns are responses to potentially novel variants, we collected FW symptomatic plant samples from commercial fields in Salinas Valley and Santa Maria, recovered the fungus, and conducted a series of pathogenicity tests in controlled conditions over two years (2022 and 2023) using a standard set of FOL race differentials. Pathogenicity tests revealed two new FOL variants, Fol621s and 916, that elicited novel disease reaction patterns on the standard differentials which have never been reported in the United States or other parts of the world. Isolate 916 incited severe FW on race 1-resistant ‘Costa Rica No. 4’, whereas Fol621s was less virulent on race 1-suceptible ‘Banchu Red Fire’. This study provides valuable information critical for the development of FW management strategies, including broad-spectrum resistance breeding efforts against multiple FOL races and novel variants.
Bacterial leaf spot (BLS) of lettuce is a sporadic and destructive foliar disease that poses an economic threat to farmers, particularly those within Florida due to the subtropical environmental conditions. The disease is caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians (Xhv), which has three races. There are no chemical interventions that can effectively control this pathogen, creating a significant challenge for farmers to manage BLS. Additionally, most commercial lettuce cultivars are susceptible to BLS, emphasizing the need to improve host resistance. Resistance to Xhv race-1 has been identified in heirloom lettuce PI 358001-1 and ‘La Brillante’, and PI 667690. To facilitate and accelerate modern plant breeding techniques and the introgression of resistance into new cultivars, the identification of resistance genes is crucial. However, a detailed description on how these genes is regulated in the lettuce genome remains unknown. To aid in the understanding of the interaction between lettuce and Xhv, a gene expression study was conducted. A total of 180 plants each of La Brillante (R), PI 358001-1 (R), PI 667690 (R), and Okeechobee (S) were grown in laboratory conditions for 21 days. Half of the plants were mock inoculated with buffer, and the remaining plants were inoculated with Xhv race-1 isolate L7. Leaf samples were collected at 24-, 72-, and 144-hours post-inoculation, and RNA was extracted for sequencing using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The analysis of differentially expressed genes and their associated pathways revealed distinct reactions upon interaction with Xhv. Additionally, similar reactions were observed in other crops and their respective Xanthomonas pathovars, such as the upregulation of peroxidases, chitinases, and proteases, were observed between inoculated and mock-inoculated plants, such response was time point dependent. Primers will be designed and validated for these candidate genes using qPCR with additional time points to confirm their expression across key plant development stages. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular resistance of lettuce to BLS, unlocking new opportunities for molecular breeding techniques, identification of chemical compounds within the plant that control BLS, and the development of new resistant cultivars. This knowledge will benefit not only the UF/IFAS lettuce breeding program, but also be disseminated to other research groups working to breed BLS-resistant lettuce cultivars.
Chile peppers (C. annuum L.) are valued for their capsaicinoid content, which contributes to their pungency (heat) and has various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Assessing photosynthetic efficiency through the LICOR-600 porometer/fluorometer (https://www.licor.com/env/products/LI-600/) provides insights into the physiological vigor of the plants. This study employs a comprehensive suite of machine learning models to investigate the correlation between photosynthetic efficiency (stomatal conductance and chlorophyll a fluorescence) and Scoville Heat Units (SHU) to predict the capsaicinoid content within 20 chile pepper varieties. Photosynthetic data were collected at two sites, Fabian Garcia Science Center and Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center, Las Cruces, NM, with readings taken from three different leaves of each of five plants per genotype. Capsaicinoid levels were quantified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for each variety. Correlation and principal component analyses (PCA) were implemented to discern the primary influencers on capsaicinoid production. Five predictive models were explored: Decision trees, Random forests, Ridge regression, LASSO Regression, and Support Vector Regression. Each model was applied to predict both total SHU values and categorical SHU labels (mild, hot, very hot). Among these, the decision tree model was the most superior, achieving an R² of 0.77. Initial findings indicate notable variability in photosynthetic activity and capsaicinoid concentrations across the varieties, suggesting a significant but complex relationship that may guide future genetic improvements. The challenges in modeling can be attributed to data collection constraints. Additionally, uniform growing conditions across all test plants might have limited the variability necessary for more definitive model differentiation. This analysis not only advances our understanding of the physiological and genetic factors affecting capsaicinoid content but also underscores the complexities of modeling agricultural traits under consistent environmental conditions. Future research should consider more frequent data collection and the introduction of environmental stressors to better capture the dynamics influencing capsaicinoid production in chile peppers. Key word: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Scoville heat unit, photosynthetic efficiency
The Assessment of Plant Growth Regulators on Sweetpotato Slip Propagation - Kerington Bass Effects of a Cytokinin-Containing Biostimulant Applied at Different Phenological Timings on Almond (Prunus dulcis) Yield - Orlando Tapia Preharvest Abscisic Acid (S-ABA) Spray Application Promotes Fruit Ripening, Color Development and Regulates Quality in Early Maturing ‘Yoho’ Persimmon - Mahmood Ul Hasan The Application of a Cytokinin B-Mo-based Product Influences the Source-to-Sink Dynamics and Non-Structural Carbohydrate - Mayra Toro Herrera PGR applications to reduce HLB-associated preharvest fruit drop in Sweet Orange - Tripti Vashisth Ethephon Effect on Blooming of Three Southern Highbush Cultivars - Lilian Carcamo Development of a Tissue Culture Approach for Doubling the Ploidy Level of Southern Highbush Blueberry Varieties - Emily Walter
Originally from Louisiana Nontraditional ag background Interested in horticulture of specialty crops or ornamentals Highly interested in Controlled Environment Agriculture Looking for job opportunities Looking for opportunities to learn a second language
Wednesday September 25, 2024 7:59am - 9:45am HST
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Producing sweetpotatoes involve several phases presenting unique challenges, most notably during transplanting. Sweetpotato slips, used for asexual reproduction, have non-uniform characteristics, making transplanting difficult. Additionally, the transition from a greenhouse to a field condition poses environmental risks and challenges, resulting in low transplant survival rates. A high slip mortality rate creates economic and logistical problems for producers. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been found to induce lignification or thickening of cell walls, which can alleviate environmental stresses in other crops; however, their impact remains unexplored in sweetpotato slips. Therefore, a study at Mississippi State University was conducted with the primary goal to enhance sweetpotato slip quality and improve transplant establishment rates. The study involves two greenhouse trials to identify the most effective PGR types and concentrations, and two histology trials to illustrate the effects of PGRs on sweetpotato slip lignin and cell wall. The greenhouse trials utilize a randomized complete block design to assess four different PGR types and thirteen concentrations on three replications of sweetpotato slips with 38 subsamples per treatment per replication. Data on plant height, stem diameter, number of nodes, SPAD, leaf area, and dry weight and fresh weight of the slips and roots were collected to determine the effects of PGRs on the plants. The histology trials included the same PGR treatments and concentrations to the slips. The slips were then collected, cross-sectioned, stained, and evaluated and measured under a microscope. The study proved that PGRs do have an effect on sweetpotato slips, by altering plant height, dry weight, and fresh weight, while not impacting the number of nodes. Thickening of the cell wall was also observed in slips treated with certain PGRs and it is hypothesized that this thickening of cell walls can contribute to reduced slip mortality when transplanting greenhouse produced slips to the field.
Originally from Louisiana Nontraditional ag background Interested in horticulture of specialty crops or ornamentals Highly interested in Controlled Environment Agriculture Looking for job opportunities Looking for opportunities to learn a second language
Almond (Prunus dulcis) is one of the most important crops in California. This commodity represented an economic impact of over 3.5 billion dollars for the state in 2022. During that year, 1,630,000 million planted acres were reported. In 2023, this number dropped by 74,000 acres, continuing the trend of decline due to numerous challenges that the industry has been facing. These include volatile prices, high input costs, reduced water allocations, climate unpredictability, and high temperatures during key phenological timings. The almond crop is highly sensitive to environmental factors, and photosynthetic rates can significantly decrease when temperatures reach 94F, heat levels are easily reached during the hot summer months in California’s production areas. To this matter, significant contributions are needed to support the industry. There are over 700 peer-reviewed scientific publications that evidence the benefits of using biologicals, which include plant biostimulants (PBS), in agriculture. It has been shown that season-long exogenous applications of cytokinin-containing PBS can support higher marketable yields. It is important to understand the physiological timings in which these applications have the most impact, in terms of maximizing the yield and quality potential. In 2023, a randomized complete-block design (RCBD) study was conducted on 5th leaf Var. Nonpareil in California’s Central Valley. The objective was to evaluate the yield and quality effects of an application of X-CyteTM, a 0.04% cytokinin-containing biostimulant registered for use on almonds in California, at different standalone phenological timings. These included early bloom, full bloom, petal fall, may spray, and hull-split. The trial consisted of six four-tree replications per treatment. Yield and quality data were subjected to a one-way ANOVA using IBM® SPSS® Statistics, and means were separated using Tukey’s HSD. The standard grower practice (SGP) produced 1801.5 marketable pounds of kernel meat per acre. X-Cyte™ treatment yields of 1845.16, 2140.16, 2215.66, 2137.67, and 2318.33, were observed for early bloom, full bloom, petal fall, may spray, and hull-split timings, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed (p-value: 0.003). The hull-split and petal fall timing applications represented the higher yield increases (516.8 and 414.2 lbs/A, respectively) overall, compared to the SGP. It has been documented that taking place at these timings are key phenological stages deemed as major contributors to the components of yield: fruit set and nut fill. Significant differences in kernel size were not observed (p-value: 0.549). These findings further support and help fine-tune the use of biologicals and PBS in agricultural production systems.
Persimmon is an important fruit crop gown all over the world due to its unique fruit taste and nutritional quality. The skin color is one of the key attributes in persimmon fruit to determine the harvest maturity. Poor color development in early maturing cultivars causes losses to the growers. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of preharvest S-ABA spray application on advancing color development and improving fruit quality at harvest. ‘Yoho’ persimmon trees grown in Western Australia were sprayed with S-ABA (0, 25, 50, 75 mg L-1) two weeks before anticipated harvest. The preharvest spray application of S-ABA showed significant increase in color indicators such as color index, a*, b*, and chroma of persimmon fruit harvested after one and two weeks of spray application. S-ABA (25 and 50 mg L-1) spray application showed significantly higher soluble solids content (SSC), and slightly reduced firmness in harvested fruit. Additionally, the 50 mg L-1 S-ABA spray application markedly increased carotenoids content in fruit harvested after one week, while fruit harvested after two weeks exhibited higher carotenoids in 25 mg L-1 and 50 mg L-1 S-ABA treatments. Moreover, the total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidants were enhanced by S-ABA treatments as compared to control. In conclusion, the preharvest spray application of S-ABA (50 mgL-1) triggers fruit ripening sharply even after one week, while 25 mg L-1 S-ABA treatment showed significant improvement in color after two weeks of application. A single spray application of S-ABA could be employed for advancing harvest maturity, color development, and promoting overall persimmon fruit ripening quality.
I am a PhD student in Horticulture at Edith Cowan University, Australia. My areas of interest include assessment of preharvest factors affecting quality, understanding physiological and biochemical processes and factors affecting shelf life and quality (consumer and nutritive aspects... Read More →
Understanding the sink-to-source relationship on leafy crops offers valuable insights into optimizing resource allocation for enhanced plant growth and quality. Variations in growth rates and carbon pools across individual leaves or groups of leaves at similar developmental stages allow us to understand the plant strategies of carbon allocation and partitioning. We hypothesized that products that enhance the carbon source-to-sink relationship during leaf development can lead to increased growth and dry matter accumulation. This project aimed to determine if the exogenous application of a cytokinin and B-Mo-based product during leaf development would impact carbon source-to-sink relationship and, hence, influence plant growth and quality. The experiment was a complete randomized design with two treatments consisting of a negative control and the application of the product twice during the growing cycle. The experimental unit consisted of a deep-water culture reservoir with three lettuce plants. Destructive sampling was conducted at five sampling points. At each sampling point (n=4 per experimental run), the phenological stage was determined, and root and shoot length and dry matter, leaf length, width, area, and non-structural carbon and chlorophyll contents were measured. This data was used to estimate growth rates. Results indicate that the cytokinin and B-Mo-based product increased the number of true unfolded leaves by 1 ± 0.4 and the overall size of the lettuce head by 9%. The treated lettuce reached a marketable size four days earlier than the control treatment. Statistically significant differences were observed in the shoot and root dry matter accumulation and foliar length and width at some sampling points. Some of the growth indices indicate an increase in leaf surface area investment and enhanced conversion efficiency of assimilates into biomass in plants treated with the product. Plants exhibiting these alterations had higher sucrose and total soluble sugar content. There was a noticeable pattern of higher concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids in the leaves compared with the roots across all plants and treatments. Overall, our study on using a cytokinin and B-Mo-based product to strengthen the source-to-sink relationship during the development of a leafy crop provides new insights into non-structural carbohydrate metabolism and the role of CKs, B, and Mo in generating a high-quality plant in a shorter timeframe.
The Florida citrus industry has seen a steady decline in production since the arrival of Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, in Southern Florida in 2005. Following infection, trees experience a steady decline in health and productivity. HLB has since spread throughout all of Florida’s citrus producing regions resulting in nearly 100% infection rates in traditional field settings. Lamentably, no cure has been found for HLB, so research efforts have focused on mitigating the symptoms associated with this disease. Among the myriad of symptoms associated with HLB, the increased rates of mature fruit (preharvest fruit drop) is a major concern for growers. Not only do more fruit drop in HLB-affected trees, but fruit also begin dropping earlier in affected trees as well. This loss of mature, and potentially marketable, fruit in the months leading up to harvest represents a visual loss of revenue for the growers. The authors have previously reported that the likelihood of a fruit to drop during preharvest fruit drop is related to the size of that fruit; the relatively smaller fruit on the tree are more likely to drop during the preharvest fruit drop window. As plant growth regulators (PGRs) have had promising results in preventing fruit drop in many crop species, the efficacy of PGR applications in reducing preharvest fruit drop was evaluated. Thirty small and thirty large fruit were tagged on four 12-year-old ‘Valencia’ on ‘Swingle’ rootstock trees. Small fruit were those that were a ½ standard deviation below the average fruit size for that tree whereas large fruit were those that were a ½ standard deviation above the average. Ten of the small tagged fruit and ten of the large tagged fruit were then dipped into ProGibb® (33 ppm Gibberellic Acid [GA]), Citrus Fix® (106 ppm 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid [2,4-D]), or left untreated (control). Citrus Fix® improved retention in both small and large fruit whereas ProGibb® only improved retention in the large fruit. As GA prevents drop by delaying the senescence process, the lack of effect in the small fruit may suggest that they have already entered the senescence process. To further explore why the small and large fruit differ in their likelihood to drop and why they respond differently to PGR applications, additional biochemical and molecular analyses are underway.
Spring frost is the primary cause of yield reduction in southern highbush, representing a significant challenge to blueberry production in the southeastern United States. Plant growth regulators are used as aids in different agricultural industries to either advance or delay growth and development process. Ethephon influences fruit set, size, and yield and has also been used as a tool to delay bloom in order to avoid freeze damage. This study examined the efficacy of ethephon to delay flower bud growth stages in three Southern Highbush Blueberry cultivars (‘Farthing’, ‘Georgia Dawn’, and ‘Kee Crisp’). Ethephon was applied at different concentrations of 200, 400, and 800 ppm, and a control treatment water/surfactant was also included. Flower buds were visually assessed from January until March. No relevant results were found for ‘Farthing’; however, for ‘Georgia Dawn’ and ‘Kee Crisp', ethephon at 800 ppm had the highest effect on delaying blooming development compared to the control. These results suggest that ethephon might delay flower bud growth stages in Georgia Dawn and Kee Crisp, offering potential advantages in reducing susceptibility to spring chill injury.
Increased consumption of blueberries has led to a prominent rise in demand. However, Georgia blueberry production is limited by challenges including short orchard life of southern highbush (SHB; tetraploid) and fruit quality issues associated with rabbiteye (RE; hexaploid) varieties. Interspecific hybridization can bring in beneficial alleles to improve the local adaptability and fruit quality of commercial varieties. Many of the wild blueberry germplasm with valuable soil adaptability and fruit quality traits such as V. fuscatum are diploids. Heteroploid crossings between SHB and diploid wild blueberry were shown to have a very low level of success. Ploidy induction through tissue culture is promising to circumvent the ploidy barrier and improve the efficiency of wide-hybridization. The objective of this research focuses on developing a ploidy induction protocol using two SHB varieties ‘Emerald’ and ‘Rebel’. SHBs previously initiated in tissue culture, were treated with 0%, 0.02% and 0.2% colchicine. SHBs were segmented into single and double node segments and put into woody plant medium (WPM) culture media containing either 6-(γ,γ-Dimethylallylamino)Purine (2iP) or trans-Zeatin. The treatments, along with non-treated control, were grown in a growth chamber of 26°C with 16/8 day and night cycles. The number and length of new shoots were recorded 35 and 50 days after treatment (DAT). Significant longer axillary stem growth was observed in the non-treated control compared to that of colchicine-treated segments for both SHBs indicating the suppressive effect of stem growth from colchicine treatments. Several Octo- and mix ploidy-shoots of ‘Emerald’ and ‘Rebel’ were identified among colchicine-treated SHB explants after ~ 21 weeks using a flow cytometer. Both levels of colchicine treatments generated octoploids. These new synthetic octoploid blueberries will be useful to cross with SHB and RE blueberries. The established ploidy induction protocol will be utilized to double the chromosomal levels of diploid V. fuscatum species and make them cross-compatible with SHB varieties.
A Snapshot of Nursery Container Substrate Prices in Tennessee - Amy Fulcher Suppression of Stem Elongation of UV-B Treatment Timing and Intensity on Tomato Scion and Rootstock in Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting - Dongcheol Jjang Effects of Nitrogen on the Nodulation of Ceanothus velutinus - PRAKRITI NEPAL Evaluating the Effects of Varying Container Height and Volumes on Southern Highbush Blueberry Production - Brandan Shur
In container nursery production, the potting substrate serves as the foundation of the crop, providing essential nutrients, aeration, and moisture retention. A well-chosen substrate is crucial for optimizing plant health and growth, and ultimately influences a nursery’s economic viability since substrate is estimated to be 13% of the total variable costs of 3-gallon production. Our objective is to determine the cost of common potting substrate components. The study goal is to identify opportunities for nursery producers to reduce costs and increase profits by optimizing their substrate components. Email surveys supplemented by interviews were used to collect data from six Tennessee container nursery producers. All growers were within a 117-mile radius of McMinnville, Tennessee, and provided the prices they paid in the last 12 months for the primary components of their potting substrate. Delivery fees and fuel surcharges were not considered in the cost when these expenses were itemized. However, one producer’s prices included delivery expenses. Participating nursery producers self-identified as having 100 (66.7%) acres in container production. Growers in this case study paid an average of $19.07 (SD=$5.53) per yard3 for pine bark; however, the prices ranged from $14.53 to $29.00 per yard3. In general, smaller producers paid more for pine bark. Sand ranged from $40.50 to $49.95 per yd3. Nursery producers paid $1.12 to 1.32 per pound for controlled release fertilizer (CRF), an input estimated at 5% of total variable costs. Therefore, some growers paid 18% more for CRF than others. Growers paid from $0.01 to $0.11 per pound for lime. Tennessee nursery producers were paying on average $66.79 per cubic yard for wood fiber-based substrate and vermicompost, 250% more than the average cost of pine bark but just 46% of the market price for peat. These preliminary data show 1) individual nurseries pay a range of prices for the same potting substrate components, and 2) the relatively high cost of peat replacements, i.e., wood fiber and vermicompost. The data highlight the range of prices being paid for CRF and its relative expense, underscoring the opportunity for growers to reduce costs by optimizing their use and placement of CRF. Additional research is needed to more broadly sample nurseries for these data and determine the influence of nursery size on substrate component costs. cparwutcakwt8uvpamtb
Jim Owens is a USDA-ARS Research Horticulturist located at the Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, OH. Jim received his B.Sc. in Plant and Soil Science at the University of Kentucky, his M.Sc. in Environmental Science at the University of Rhode Island, and Ph.D. at North... Read More →
This study aimed to determine the optimal conditions of UV-B exposure for regulating the growth of tomato grafted seedling in Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting by investigating growth characteristics, rhizosphere development, and chlorophyll fluorescence of seedlings. Tomato scion and rootstock were used in the experiment. UV-B treatment timing was divided into three stages from sowing to grafting. UV-B intensities were set at 1.44, 2.88, and 5.76 kJ·m−2·d−1. Results showed that morphology of plants did not exhibit significant differences up to 2.88 kJ·m−2·d−1 for tomato scion and rootstock. However, side effects such as leaf wilting were observed at 5.76 kJ·m−2·d−1. The length of hypocotyl, which is closely related to scion and rootstock suppression of stem elongation, was shortest when treated with 5.76 kJ·m−2·d−1 during the mid-growth stage across all treatment. Interestingly, rhizosphere characteristics such as root volume, surface area, and average root diameter showed improvement trends regardless of treatment timing when exposed to UV-B at 1.44-2.88 kJ·m−2·d−1. Quality indicators of seedlings showed best when 2.88 kJ·m−2·d−1 during the late-growth stage. Comparisons of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters revealed no significant effects of UV-B treatment on cucumber seedlings and grafting except for PIABS. However, tomato seedlings and grafting exhibited significantly reduced FV/FM and DIO/RC at late-growth stage when exposed to 5.76 kJ·m−2·d−1. Therefore, it is concluded that utilizing UV-B in the range of 1.44-2.88 kJ·m−2·d−1 during cucumber and tomato scion and rootstock production in Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting could minimize plant damage while expecting to suppress grafting effects.
Ceanothus velutinus, commonly known as snowbrush ceanothus, is a nitrogen-fixing species native to North America. It plays a vital role in ecosystem by improving soil fertility through nodulation, a symbiotic process with bacteria that fixes atmospheric nitrogen. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of various nitrogen concentrations on the nodulation and plant morphological and physiological responses. Ceanothus velutinus seedlings were transplanted in calcined clay and inoculated with 30 mL of soil containing Frankia. Seedlings were treated with 0.0 to 8.4 g·L-1 of controlled released fertilizer (CRF, 15N-3.9P-10K) or a nitrogen-free nutrient solution supplemented with or without 2mM ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). Plant growth and photosynthesis increased linearly or quadratically along with the increasing CRF application rates with a notable increase observed at 4.2 g of CRF. Nodules were observed only in plants receiving 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.1, or 2.1 g of CRF. However, the number of nodules formed in the treatments was too small to analyze statistically. The study indicates that while CRF significantly boosts C. velutinus growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixing capacity of the plant remains unknown. Further investigation is needed to determine the effect of nitrogen on the nodulation of C. velutinus using peat-based soilless substrate.
In recent years, soilless cultivation methods have emerged as a promising approach for blueberry production, offering opportunities to optimize resource use, enhance yields, and utilize land with poor soil quality. Despite extensive research on soilless substrate production for blueberries, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the specific influence of container geometry. This study aimed to investigate the effects of container capacity (CC) and air space (AS) within the substrate, which vary based on container height and volume. Simultaneously, two studies were conducted: one focusing on container height and the other on container volume. For the container height study, three containers were fabricated to have the same volume but varying heights. In the container volume study, three containers were created using different diameters of Schedule 40 PVC pipe, resulting in three distinct volumes while maintaining the same height. Both studies utilized two substrates, aged pine bark, and coconut coir, in separate trials. The findings highlight a nuanced relationship between container geometry and substrate composition, underscoring the importance of considering these factors in blueberry cultivation practices. This research contributes to refining cultivation techniques, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and productivity of soilless blueberry production systems.
Effect of Plastic Mulch, Living Mulches and Cover Crops on Soil Characteristics, Weed Pressure and Yield in Organic Globe Artichokes Production - Arianna Bozzolo Effects of Off-Season Winter Cover Crops and In-Season Nematicide Application on Plant-Parasitic Nematodes - Abolfazl Hajihassani Lessons Learned from Living Mulch Trials on Midwest Vegetable Farms - Connor Ruen Evaluating Cover Crop Biomass and Roller Crimper Technology for Effective Weed Control in Vegetable Systems - Arianna Bozzolo Fall Cover Crops to Follow Carrot Harvest on High Organic Matter Soils - Mary Ruth McDonald Cover Crops For Vegetable Research Farms Need Nitrogen - Thomas Bjorkman Insurance Industry Standards Over-estimate Yield Loss Due to Stand Reduction in Processing Sweet Corn - Charlie Rohwer Combining Lasers and Distress Calls to Control Birds in Sweet Corn - Rebecca Brown Pea-oat Green Manure and Reduced Nitrogen Rate Delay Maturity of Broccoli But Do Not Reduce Yield - Charlie Rohwer Field Screening of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Cultivars for Resistance to Black Rot - Manisha Kumari Evaluation of Brassica Oleracea Genotypes in Terms of Agronomic Performance - Sotirios Tasioulas
Standard organic farming production practices for specialty crops frequently involve the use of polyethylene plastic mulch or mechanical soil disturbance to reduce weed competition and enhance crop yields. Although successful, these practices come with environmental consequences, including soil pollution and loss of soil organic matter. As such, alternative methods that prioritize the long-term health of the soil and minimize environmental impact are needed. We performed a field experiment to assess and compare the influence of five soil management systems on soil characteristics, weed pressure and yield in globe artichokes production. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) seedling cvs. Tavor were established on raised beds as: A) intercropped with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) as living mulch, or B) intercropped with crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) as living mulch, or C) transplanted into mixture of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) cover crop residue or D) intercropped with Kurapia (Lippia Nodifera L.) as living mulch, or E) transplanted in PE plastic mulch. Results show that white clover increased soil organic matter (SOM), soil potassium and manganese content, water extractable carbon, soil respiration (CO2), soil nitrate, ammonium and total soil nitrogen compared to plastic mulch at 360 DAS (Days After Seeding). White clover weed suppression ability did not differ from crimson clover and buckwheat/pea mixture. Crimson clover increased SOM at preharvest sampling. Both clovers decreased artichokes yield per plant when compared to plastic mulch. Kurapia increased soil sodium content compared to plastic. Cover crop/reduce tillage system increased SOM at 120 DAS compared to plastic. Due to biomass decomposition, the suppression ability of this mixture decreased over time. Plastic mulch increased copper and iron soil concentration. Artichoke yield from plants grown on plastic mulch had comparable bud weight and yield to buckwheat/pea mixture and Kurapia. The potential to enhance soil nitrogen and carbon levels over a longer period of white clover makes it a valuable choice in systems aiming to improve soil fertility. Crimson clover emerges as the most promising among the clovers, exhibiting less competition compared to white clover, effective weed control, and, although the yield is lower than that achieved with plastic mulch, it maintains a well-balanced crop load. The reduced tillage system has shown promising results, successfully managing weeds adequately and allowing for a satisfactory level of production. No detrimental impact on yield were found intercropping artichokes with Kurapia and, but its effect on soil health was limited.
In the Southeast United States, control of parasitic nematodes in vegetable growing systems has traditionally relied on soil fumigation before planting vegetables. However, new regulations on the application of fumigant pesticides and concerns about their toxicity to non-target organisms are compelling growers to adopt sustainable alternatives. This study examined the effects of winter cover crops and subsequent production of cabbage treated with a non-fumigant nematicide on root-knot (Meloiodgyne incognita) and stubby-root (Nanidorus minor) nematodes. Off-season treatments consisted of oilseed radish cvs. “Control” and “Image”, cereal rye cv. “Wrerens Abrussi”, oat cv. “Tachiibuki”, black oat cv. “Protex” and mustard cv. “Caliente”. In-season treatments consisted of an untreated check and the nematicide fluensulfone, applied through the drip irrigation system one week before transplanting cabbage into raised beds covered with plastic mulch. A weedy fallow treatment was also included for comparison. After growing cover crops and incorporating plant residues into the soil, M. incognita population density was significantly reduced only in plots where Tachiibuki oat was grown. None of the cover crops reduced the population density of N. minor. Nematicide application on cabbage significantly reduced M. incognita populations in plots previously grown with Tachiibuki and Pratex oats, and mustard compared to the untreated check. Similarly, the nematicide reduced the N. minor population density in plots previously grown with oats, mustard, and rye. The efficacy of fluensulfone on root gall severity of cabbage was significant only in the untreated check, with plots previously grown with Image radish having a significantly lower root galling than the mustard, rye, and weedy fallow. Nematicide application reduced root gall severity of cabbage in plots previously grown with radish, Tachiibuki oat, and rye compared to the untreated check. Growing cabbage after cover crops and using the nematicide did not impact cabbage yield compared to the untreated check. These results indicate that cover cropping with Tachiibuki oat and the use of non-fumigant nematicides appear to be effective for managing these nematode species.
In the Great Plains region of the United States, perennial clover living mulch is being explored for the potential benefits of reducing tillage, suppressing weeds, and supplementing soil. Perennial living mulch systems also have the potential to reduce the use of single-use plastic. Research on the use of perennial living mulch in vegetable systems has been limited in the Great Plans, and farmers have expressed interest in trialing this system to improve soil health and reduce erosion by wind and rain. Two vegetable farms, Haroldson Farms in Bruce, SD and Blue Sky Vegetable Company in Worthing, SD, have participated in the on-farm trials since 2023. In collaboration with South Dakota State University, the on-farm trial collaborators were interested in using living mulch to control weeds and reduce the need for plastic. ‘Domino’ white clover (WC) (Trifolium repens), and ‘Dynamite’ red clover (RC) (Trifolium pratense) are the clovers that were selected for the on-farm trials. The clover struggled to grow with the lack of rainfall and was soon overtaken by weeds. Results quickly showed that the lack of moisture had a detrimental effect on the clover’s ability to compete and establish in walkways. A mixture of grasses and broadleaf were observed as the clover declined. Early moisture is essential for the establishment of clover living mulch and be used to its full potential. The planting method of frost seeding would be recommended for future trials to encourage clover germination and establishment before weeds get large enough to compete.
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of roller crimper technology in tandem with various cover crop mixtures for weed management in coastal California's vegetable systems. The experiment was conducted at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center (34.220453, -199.108214) in Camarillo, CA. Twenty randomized plots 46 x 12 m were measured and assigned to either to a bare soil treatment or one of two cover crop mixes: oat (Avena sativa) hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), or oat pea (Pisum sativum), with cover crops terminated via conventional tillage using a disk (T) or using a roller crimper for no-till system (NT). Pumpkins (Howden variety) were direct seeded, and data on cover crop growth and weed pressure were collected at three time points: before cover crop termination, after cover crop termination and after harvest. At harvest, a subset of each plot was sampled to count and weigh pumpkins for crop yield assessment. Before termination, the total dry matter of cover crop biomass showed no significant differences between oat/peas and oat/vetch mixes. Oat/vetch exhibited lower weed biomass at 0.74 t/ha compared to oat/peas at 1.98 t/ha (0.8 t/a); bare soil plots had the greatest biomass at 21.35 t/ha. After termination (30 DAT), NT plots showed similar biomass production between oat/peas and oat/vetch. T plots displayed residues on the soil surface, with higher amounts in oat/vetch at 8.7 t/ha compared to oat/peas at 8.4 t/ha. Weed emergence after cover crop termination was comparable across all plots with cover crops, ranging from 1.24 t/ha to 2.22 t/ha, while bare soil exhibited higher weed biomass at 10 t/ha compared to plots with cover crops. After harvest (120 DAT), oat/vetch in NT plots showed greater biomass retention compared to T plots, as did oat/peas in NT plots. All plots experienced biomass reductions, with oat/peas T plots experiencing the most significant decrease at 61.5%. Oat/vetch mixture plots (T and NT) and bare soil had similar pumpkins production per hectare, outperforming oat/pea T plots in terms of fruit number and production per hectare. Oat/pea T plots exhibited decreased fruit weight compared to bare soil.
The high organic matter (muck) soils in the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Canada, are prone to wind erosion, especially in the fall and winter months. Good canopy coverage of ideally 30%, is important for protecting the soil and reducing soil erosion. Carrots are usually harvested in October. Cool temperatures at this time result in slow germination and growth of cover crop species. Field trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of various cover crops and methods for rapid establishment after carrot harvest. One approach to increasing germination and emergence is seed priming. Seeds of barley, oats, and triticale were primed by soaking for 24 hr in water (hydro-priming) or potassium nitrate at 5 mg L-1 (osmo-priming). Seed was dried for 24 hours and then seeded into pots placed in controlled environments at 5, 10 or 21°C. Priming generally resulted in faster germination and higher biomass especially at lower temperatures of 5 and 10°C. Primed and non-primed seed was seeded into high organic matter soil (50% organic matter, pH 6.9) on 17 Oct. and crop growth was assessed on 13 Nov. There were no advantages of priming in the field trials. Non-primed barley had high or higher canopy coverage (13%), plant counts and dry weight, compared to other species and primed seed. Barely was also grown as transplants with 2 seeds/plug and transplanted in the trial on 17 Oct. This treatment had higher canopy coverage (25%) and dry weight than seeded treatments. However, using barley transplants is not a cost effective option at this time. In a separate trial on an adjacent site, barley was over-seeded into standing carrots on 27 Sept. at 200 kg ha-1, and the carrots were harvested on 17 Oct. Barley and fall rye were direct seeded on 17 Oct. Pre-harvest seeding of barley resulted in significantly better establishment, canopy coverage and biomass, although all were low, maximum 12% coverage. There was a strong positive correlation between canopy coverage and biomass production across all trials. More research is needed on cover crops species and establishment methods.
On research farms on which vegetable crops are studied, there is often a need to aggressively maintain and improve soil health, while also keeping fields ready to be assigned to research projects. We tested a protocol for keeping a Northeast farm in an appropriate condition by alternating a winter cover crop of cereal rye and a summer cover crop of forage sorghum-sudangrass with no tillage. The alternating cycle was flexible for entry points when vegetable researchers finished with an experiment, as well as for exit points to make the ground ready for an experiment. Rye was sown in late September in Geneva, NY with a no-till drill and allowed to grow to anthesis in May. Sorghum-sudangrass was sown in mid-June with the no-till drill. We tested how much nitrogen fertilizer was needed to obtain a desirable amount of growth (3 tons/acre dry mater) in the sorghum- sudangrass. The trial was done in four fields using 0, 20, 40 and 60 lb N broadcast on the rye residue at planting. The highest rate is as much as our farm would agree to invest in a cover crop, but also below forage-crop recommendations. The biomass when growth stopped due to cold (Sept 18) responded strongly to nitrogen. Without nitrogen, the biomass was only 0.5 T/ac. At 60 lb/ac, the biomass ranged among fields from 2 to 4 T/ac. Nitrogen limitation was also assessed using a SPAD chlorophyll meter. The leaves in the 0, 20 and 40 lb/ac were yellow (SPAD 22-28), with the top N rate notably greener (SPAD 30-35). The fully green control had a SPAD value of 40. The cover crop rotation kept the field in a condition where is could be prepared to being a research project with about a month’s advance notice. However, to get sufficient growth of the summer cover crop, additional nitrogen is needed. This farm is on a high-fertility silt loam, but with low organic matter from repeated research trials. In that situation, at least 60 lb/ac of actual N is needed for the cover crops to meet biomass expectations.
Sweet corn is an important processing crop in the upper Midwestern United States. It can be insured for hail losses, but actuarial tables are based on field corn. The first step in developing accurate yield loss assessments is determining yield loss due to complete plant loss. To that end, we compared ear yield of sweet corn thinned to 75, 50, or 25% of a full population at three times throughout the growing season to control plots that were not thinned. We repeated this in three consecutive years at two locations, without irrigation or supplemental fertilizer. Average yield for control plots was 16.4–20.3 Mg•ha-1. Average yield losses due to thinning were generally less than currently-used actuarial estimates. For example, average yield of sweet corn when thinned to 50% of a full population at growth stage V3–V5 was 88–96% (95%CI) of full yield. The actuarial estimate is 78% of full yield, indicating greater resilience than expected. The number of tillers per plant was greater in all thinned plots, especially those thinned early in the season. Kernel recovery was unaffected by thinning treatment in one location and declined slightly at heavy thinning in the other location. Sweet corn actuarial tables should be different from actuarial tables based on field corn.
Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) cause significant damage to sweet corn (Zea mays). Even minor damage can render ears unmarketable and the need to sort out damaged ears during packing increases costs for growers. Propane cannons and pyrotechnics have long been the preferred methods for preventing birds from damaging corn, but both methods create noise pollution and conflicts with farm neighbors. Automated laser scarecrows and automated recordings of bird distress and predator calls are two newer technologies for deterring birds from crops. We tested both technologies on a research farm in Kingston, Rhode Island and in commercial processing sweet corn fields in western New York in 2022 and 2023. All experiments used naturally occurring flocks of wild birds; flock size and species makeup varied between fields and over time. The automated laser scarecrows (LS) were designed and built by the URI Laser Scarecrow Project; they utilized a 50 mW 532 nm green laser with a beam diameter of 14 mm at the aperture and a dispersion of 4 mrad. Vertical and horizontal movement of the beam was randomized by a microcontroller. Bird Gard Super Pro units (BG) randomly played digital recordings of distress and alarm calls of red-winged blackbirds and European starlings and hunting calls of hawks and falcons. Data were collected as counts of damaged ears and converted to percentage of total ears for analysis. In Rhode Island the effect of laser scarecrow alone was compared to the effect of the laser scarecrow combined with the bird distress calls. In New York the two deterrent treatments were also compared to an unprotected control. In Rhode Island in 2022 bird damage averaged 20.7% with just LS and 7.1% with LS BG; the difference was significant at P
Cover crop biomass can provide nitrogen (N) to a sequential cash crop as a ‘green manure’, whether the N is sourced from the atmosphere or from the soil. For short-season vegetable crops in Minnesota, like transplanted broccoli, there is time for a cover crop to be grown before or after the main crop. Growing a pea-oat cover crop early in the spring, before broccoli, may increase the N available to the broccoli. However, immobilization of green manure N may reduce N availability at a time of high N demand in broccoli. In order to study N availability to broccoli provided by a spring-planted pea-oat cover crop mix, four reduced-rate nitrogen treatments were applied to two broccoli hybrids (‘Green Magic’ or ‘Gypsy’) after a spring-planted pea-oat cover crop was incorporated. Yield and maturity of broccoli were compared to broccoli grown without green manure and given a full nitrogen rate (170 kg N / ha). The fertilizer treatments included slow-release urea (139 or 110 kg N / ha), composted poultry litter with blood meal at ~110 kg N available / ha, and turkey manure applied with blood meal in the autumn before growing green manure and broccoli (~110 kg N available / ha). There was no reduction in total yield (7900 kg / ha) or marketability (>95%), but maturity was delayed by ~2 days for most treatments. A microbial inoculant (Nature’s Source®) applied to the soil at planting did not have a measurable impact on any response.
One of the most effective management strategies for controlling black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris (Xcc)) in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is resistant cultivars. The objectives of this research were to evaluate commercial and experimental cabbage cultivars for black rot resistance and determine yield potential, harvest maturity, and head quality. A field experiment with nine cultivars (1488, Capture, Celebrate, Cheers, Expat, Melissa, TCA-576, TCA-606, and TCA-607) was carried out during the fall season of 2023 at Hort Hill research farm on the University of Georgia, Tifton campus. ‘Cheers’ (commonly grown high-yielding cultivar), ‘Capture’, and ‘Expat’ (claims high resistance to black rot), and ‘Melissa’ (black rot susceptible Savoy cabbage) were used as checks for comparison with other F1 cabbages. Plants were spray-inoculated with Xcc (250 ml of 10^6 CFU/ml) at 5 and 7 weeks after transplanting. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Relevant agronomic practices, such as irrigation, fertilization, and insect management, were implemented uniformly across all plots. Black rot severity was rated using a 1-9 scale, where 1 indicates the most resistant and 9 represents the least resistant (most susceptible) cultivar. The trial was harvested four times on the following dates:11/30/2023, 12/12/2023, 12/20/2023, and 01/03/2023. Black rot severity, total head counts and weights; and average head weight and height: and average core height, and width were statistically significant between treatments. ‘TCA-607’ and ‘Capture’ had the highest resistance to black rot disease, while ‘1488’ was the most susceptible. All other cultivars expressed moderate levels of resistance. In the first harvest ‘Cheers’ and ‘TCA-607’ had the highest total marketable head counts and weights, indicating early maturity. In addition, ‘Cheers’ and ‘TCA-607’ cabbage had the highest total marketable head counts and weight, followed closely by ‘TCA-606, ‘Celebrate’, and ‘1488’. ‘Cheers’ and ‘TCA-607’ had the highest average head height. Furthermore ‘TCA-607’ outperformed all the cultivars for the average head weight. Among all the cultivars ‘Melissa’ and ‘Expat’ performed the worst for total marketable counts and weights. Overall based on our trial, the experimental cultivar ‘TCA-607’ has the best combination of traits: best black rot resistance, highest yields, and biggest heads.
Plant growth performance of 35 different broccoli cultivars was assessed during the Fall season 2023 in terms of plant growth and head development in SW Florida. In particular, seeds of Brassica oleracea var. italica genotypes that were obtained from USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)
Vegetable soybean, also known as edamame, is a specialty crop harvested at an immature stage and consumed as pods. It has become increasingly popular in the United States due to its high nutritional value and good taste. Currently, most edamame consumed in the U.S. is imported as a frozen product. States such as Arkansas and Kentucky have started to grow this crop locally on a small scale to meet the high demand. South Florida, known for producing fresh vegetables sold nationwide, especially in the winter and spring markets, also has a highly diverse and growing ethnic population with significant local market potential. These factors make growers in South Florida highly interested in cultivating edamame to meet the demand in both national and local markets. Sixteen commercial edamame varieties were selected and assessed for differences in phenotypic performance, including emergence, yield, plant height, plant width, 10-pod weight, and pod size, to evaluate their production potential in South Florida. Varieties showed significant effects on most traits studied. Emergence rates ranged from 0 to 85%, and fresh pod yield ranged from 4.41 to 14.34 t/ha among all 16 varieties. Varieties like Goo, Karikachi #3, and Midori Giant, despite having moderate emergence rates, produced higher fresh pod yields due to their larger plants, resulting in bigger pods. There were variations in average pod length (35.61 – 51.21 mm), width (9 - 14 mm), and thickness (5.46 - 8.74 mm) among the varieties, with Goo standing out significantly in size. Overall, Goo, Karikachi #3, and Midori Giant demonstrated particularly favorable yield and good pod quality, showing potential for commercial edamame production in South Florida. This research highlighted the potential to grow edamame in higher hardness zone, providing foundational knowledge on edamame production in the US.
Multiple Modeling Approaches Reveal Temperature Dependent Germination Traits of Vegetable Varieties - Miro Stuke Identifying Pollinators Present on Flowers of the Pawpaw Cultivars 'Sunflower' and 'Susquehanna' - Subas Thapa Magar Characteristics of the Secondary Walls of Xylem of the Tomatoes Cultivated Under Water Deficit - Marcio Mesquita Molecular Assessment of Heat Sensitivity in Broccoli Flowering - Thomas Bjorkman Morpho-physiological Response of Plectranthus amboinicus under Flooding and Drought Stress - Samuel Asiedu Effects of Paclobutrazol, Progressive-raising Temperature and Spike-truncated Treatments on Phalaenopsis Join Grace ‘TH288-4’ - Yi Chien Lu
A major change happened when the tragedy of Corona hit the world. Hi, I am Subas Thapa Magar, a graduate research assistant under the supervisor Dr. Kirk Pomper. I am currently working on Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba), the native fruit tree of the United States of America, and my research... Read More →
Wednesday September 25, 2024 1:44pm - 2:45pm HST
South Pacific 3
Crop seed germination is a critical factor in food production. Germination traits vary between different vegetables and between cultivars of the same vegetable. Traits such as germination proportion and the rate and uniformity of germination also contribute to the success of vegetable cultivars to regional temperature averages and regimes. Temperature is a major abiotic factor in seed germination, and selection of seed varieties suited for local temperatures is important to successful crop establishment. Here we aim to model the germination traits of several Korean and North American vegetable cultivars in relationship to temperature. We hypothesize that a model based on time and temperature will represent germination traits across multiple cultivars and species of vegetable. Additionally, we hypothesize that predicted germination traits will be similar within species but will vary between cultivars of the same species based on the regional temperature norms. Eleven vegetable cultivars including two corn, four radish, two pepper, and three onion, were germinated in growth chambers set at 5°C intervals between 5 and 40°C with a 12 hour photoperiod. Germination, defined by radicle emergence equal to the length of the seed, was monitored and recorded daily. Two modeling approaches were used. 1) A time to event model using the drcSeedGerm package in R was used to determine maximum germination proportion (Pmax), germination rate at 50% germination (GR50), and uniformity. 2) A 12-parameter compartmental temperature and time model was implemented, parameterized, and validated in the Cropbox modeling framework. Results show differing temperature responses in germination traits. Additionally, high uniformity was observed in most varieties within the optimal temperature range. The optimal temperature for germination was broad for the vegetable cultivars tested here, with a rapid decrease in Pmax at high and low temperature extremes, except in onions, which showed high Pmax even at 5°C, and a gradual decline above 25°C. All cultivars showed decreased Pmax at 40°C. A time to event model was able to predict germination traits in several crop species. The compartmental model was better equipped to handle heat induced seed degradation but was less parsimonious for determining germination probability and germination rate related parameters. Modeling crop germination traits can provide important context for selecting appropriate cultivars for local climates. A thermal time to event model and a compartmental model both provide potential frameworks for modeling germination traits of diverse vegetable species.
Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba) is a temperate species of tropical Annonaceae plant family native to the United States. They are small to medium-sized deciduous trees that bear unique and flavorful fruit. Pawpaw fruits are used in various culinary products such as jam, bread, ice cream, cookies, and even to produce brandy. Additionally, they contain antioxidants and acetogenins, which are currently being researched for their potential in cancer treatment. Fruit sets may be limited in some cultivars due to pawpaw flowers being protogynous and self-incompatible, blooming at various stages of development from late March to April. Consequently, the role of insects in pollination is crucial for increasing fruit production. To address this gap in research, this study aims to identify the different insect orders that visit both flowering and non-flowering branches of two distinct pawpaw cultivars (Sunflower and Susquehanna), along with their respective abundances. Ten trees from each pawpaw cultivar were selected to investigate the various pollinator types. In a completely randomized design, 40 wire cage traps with tangle trap adhesive were placed on both the flowering and non-flowering branches of each chosen cultivar. After 18 days of the flowering period, the traps were collected, and the insects captured were identified by order and counted. The data were analyzed using R software (R 4.3.2) and subjected to a one-way ANOVA with flower and non-flower of each cultivar, a two-way ANOVA, Least Significant Difference (LSD) means separation, with flowers and cultivars as the treatments. In 2023, ‘Sunflower’ had significantly more Dipterans and total insects (p-value: 0.3373 NS and 0.3740 NS). In comparison, ‘Susquehanna’ had significantly more Coleopterans (p-value: 0.40525 NS), and in ‘Susquehanna’, coleopterans had significantly more in the flower-branch (p-value: 0.0255*) for 2023. Additionally, data for 2024 will also be reported and will include additional data on insects observed inside the female receptive and matured male flowers from each cultivar.
A major change happened when the tragedy of Corona hit the world. Hi, I am Subas Thapa Magar, a graduate research assistant under the supervisor Dr. Kirk Pomper. I am currently working on Pawpaw (Asimina Triloba), the native fruit tree of the United States of America, and my research... Read More →
Dr. Kirk W. Pomper is the Professor of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. As Horticulture Research Leader, his program is focused on research and Extension efforts toward developing pawpaw as... Read More →
The morphological characteristics of the xylem elements influence water ascent in the plants. Few models determine the physical process of water movement in the vascular system of plants based on the hydraulic architecture. This study aims to determine the anatomical characteristics of the xylem and potential hydraulic conductivity at different positions along of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum; Solanaceae). The xylem vessels characteristics were examined in four internodes using three segments in each internode. The analogy between Ohm’s law and Hagen-Poiseuille was used to determine the hydraulic conductivities. A successive decrease in the mean vessel diameters from the bottom to the top stem was observed, with a significant difference between successive decrease in the mean vessel diameters from the bottom to the top stem was observed, with a significant between different percentages of height. The variation of the hydraulic conductivity along the useful length of tomato allowed a better application of the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.
In the warm growing season on the East Coast, broccoli crown development is often disrupted because insufficient cold accumulation for flower bud initiation and enlargement. As part of an effort to breed for adaptation to higher growing temperatures, we investigated whether the sensitivity is due to expression of one or more of the central genes involved in flower initiation. Broccoli transitions from vegetative to reproductive phase normally, it is the transition from reproductive meristem to floral meristem and flower bud that is arrested or delayed in warm temperatures. We compared the heat response of a highly sensitive genotype, ‘Clara’ and the most resistant available genotype ‘P13xP19’ (P. Griffiths, Cornell). Plants that had just entered the reproductive phase were exposed to temperatures that were either permissive (16/12°C Day/Night) or restrictive (28/22°C Day/Night) for three days, then RNA was isolated from the meristem. The RNA was sequenced, transcripts were identified and relative abundance of each transcript was determined. Transcripts were available corresponding to the genes of interest. The model is that various developmental and environmental cues affect expression of the integrator gene SOC. The expression level of SOC then influences a gene that maintains meristem (TFL1) and one that promotes flower development (LFY). The interplay between those genes in time and space is believed to control how big the meristem will get and when the meristem will start to make flowers. When LFY expression dominates, it promotes expression of AP1 (and paralogs) inducing floral primordia. A gene responsible for the heat sensitivity would have differential expression in heat only in the sensitive genotype. That was the case for TFL1 and one copy of SOC1, but not for the other genes. Therefore, heat sensitivity is caused by genes associated with meristem transition, not with the classic flower-initiation genes.
Water stress is one of the major limiting factors of crop growth and productivity worldwide. Plectranthus amboinicus (Jamaican Thyme) is an aromatic, spicy and medicinal plant which is also valued in the pharmacological industry. Although the plant is generally known to tolerate some levels of drought, its response to sequences of different water stresses is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of flooding and drought on the growth and development of Plectranthus amboinicus. The treatments were regular watering (RW), flooding (FL), drought (DR), and rehydration (RH) after drought. The result showed that plant height was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in DR and FL plants while fresh aboveground weight was increased by ca. 17.4% in FL compared to RW. Stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were higher in FL plants but reduced drastically in DR. Moreover, chlorophyll fluorometric indices including maximum quantum yield efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and potential photosynthesis capacity (Fv/Fo) were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the FL but decreased in DR plants. Leaf relative water content was significantly (p < 0.01) highest in the RH followed by the RW, and the least in DR and DH. Leaf cell electrolyte leakage was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the RH followed by the RW while FL recorded the least cell electrolyte leakage. These results indicate that Jamaican thyme regulates physiological characteristics to tolerate flooding and demonstrate that DR poses a severe threat to plant development.
Phalaenopsis is the most popular potted plant worldwide. However, its long spikes often lead to increased shipping costs and risks. This study investigates the effectiveness of varying the concentration, timing, and frequency of paclobutrazol (PP333) applications on shortening the spike of Phalaenopsis Join Grace ‘TH288-4’. Also we examine on different progressive-raising temperature promoting inflorescence development for prior anthesis, and on spike-truncated treatment optimizing flowering performance. Three experimental groups were established based on different PP333 application schedules: T2, T2T3 and T7T8 group. The PP333 concentrations used were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg·L-1, applied as foliar sprays. The shortest spikes, measured from base to first flower, were observed in the T2 group with 750 and 1000 mg·L-1; the T2T3 group treated with 500, 750, and 1000 mg·L-1 PP333; and the T7T8 group treated with 1000 mg·L-1. These treatments resulted in spike lengths of 16.7-22.2 cm, which are 54-69% shorter than the control ones. PP333 application had minimal effects on other traits except root diameter. Subsequently, four experimental groups: G20, G25, G30, and G35 group, were set up based on different final flower induction temperature. Mature plants were applied with 750 mg·L-1 PP333 by foliar spray, after four weeks moved to a cool room as 20/18℃. Until the flower stalk bore 0-3 nodes, the G25, G30 and G35 groups were transferred to 25/20℃. While the flower stalk bore 4-5 nodes, the G30 and G35 group were moved to 30/25℃. When the flower stalk bore 6-7 nodes, the G35 group was finally cultured under 35/30℃. Half of plants were randomly selected and truncated the spikes while the first flower bud was 1-1.5cm long. The spike of the G35 and G30 were truncated on the 21st week, which took only 113 and 117 days from the day started placing at a cool room. The G25 and G20 group took 124 and 138 days respectively. The days to flowering of G35 and G30 group were less than G20 at least by 45 days. However, the flower of G35 group performed unusual and were the smallest. All flowers of spike-truncated plants were bigger than the controls under different temperatures. This study establishes a PP333 treatment and a flower induction temperature protocol, offering a strategy to effectively produce single-flowered phalaenopsis.
Planting-hole Steam Application for Pathogen and Weed Control in Organic Strawberry in Southern California - Oleg Daugovish Elucidating the Impact of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation on Organic Watermelon Production in South Carolina - Sohaib Chattha Alternative Carbon Sources for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in California Strawberry - Oleg Daugovish Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Variety Tolerance to Different Herbicidal Weed Control Methods - Alyssa Miller Soil Steaming: A Sustainable Weed Management Strategy in Sweetpotato - Alaina Richardson Assessment of Various Carbon Sources for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation to Manage Weeds in Organic Sweetpotato - Simardeep Singh Evaluation of saturated steam with boiling water to control Guinea grass (Megathyrus maximus) in riparian
Organic strawberry production has been expanding in California, but opportunities for crop rotation are limited due to lack of organically certified fields. Continuous strawberry production promotes soil-borne pathogens, such as Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot and increases populations of weeds. These problems are exacerbated by lack of cost-effective management tools. In summer and fall production seasons at Oxnard, CA we evaluated pre-plant steam injection to raise soil temperature to 70 C or above for at least two minutes. Steam generated on-site was applied via four 25-cm long spikes to planting holes in raised beds covered with the plastic mulch. Five to ten days later, bare-root strawberry plants were placed in six steamed and six untreated plots and their performance and fruit production assessed. Additionally, we collected soil at 0-25 cm for analyses of resident Macrophomina phaseolina abundance before and after treatment and evaluated weed densities in planting holes. Steam application reduced M. phaseolina microsclerotia levels 80% in summer and 96% in fall. Steaming provided near 100% control of weeds germinated from the soil seed bank, but had no effect on germination of wind-dispersed weeds deposited to holes after steaming as was the case with fumigants. In summer season, strawberry mortality due to soil-borne pathogens was 12-18% in steamed plots and 70-75% in untreated soil. Due to loss of plants, marketable fruit yields in untreated plots were reduced 95% compared to steam treatment. No early-season plant mortality occurred in fall season but strawberry plants were 39 and 54% larger at two evaluation dates in steamed plots compared to untreated soil. We continue evaluations of fruit production and plant responses to soil pathogens. The completed work suggests that hole steaming may be very effective in suppressing soil-borne pathogens and weeds interfering with organic strawberry production in coastal California.
Weeds and soil-borne pathogens are limiting factors in organic watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a problematic weed for Southeastern watermelon growers. Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum (FON), is responsible for significant yield loss in watermelon production. Inefficient non-chemical tactics are an impediment to curtail weeds and soil-borne diseases in organic watermelon; and necessitate the adaption of an alternative strategic and holistic approach. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has the potential to control weeds and soil-borne pathogens across a range of environments and crop production systems. ASD is a preplant chemical independent technique, which requires incorporation of labile organic carbon (C) sources into the soil, followed by tarping the soil with plastic mulch, and irrigating the soil to the saturation. Shifts in soil microbial communities and production of volatile organic compounds during ASD process are the main mechanisms that are believed to kill soil-borne pathogens and weeds seeds. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine whether ASD can suppress the emergence of yellow nutsedge, 2) compare the efficacy of locally available C sources, 3) evaluate if ASD can influence grafted and non-grafted watermelon yield. A field trial was conducted at Clemson University’s, Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, South Carolina in 2023. The study was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Main C sources were subjected to control (CT) with no C, chicken manure molasses (CMM), and cotton seed meal (CSM). All treatments were assigned as ASD with non-grafted (Powerhouse) and grafted (Carolina strongback) rootstock grafted to scion Powerhouse. Indicators of reduction in soils (IRIS) tubes paint removal (%), yellow nutsedge shoot count, and crop yield data were recorded. Higher anaerobic soil conditions and lower yellow nutsedge shoot count were observed in ASD plots. At the time of watermelon harvest, total number of yellow nutsedge shoot count were recorded as 65, 25, and 22 in CT, CSM, and CMM, respectively. Higher marketable fruit yield was recorded in ASD plots treated with CMM. Based on weed control and yield assessments, CMM to facilitate ASD is an ideal practice for growing organic watermelon in South Carolina.
Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has been adopted in approximately1,000 ha in California strawberry production as an alternative to chemical fumigation of soil. Rice bran, the predominant carbon source for ASD, has become increasingly expensive. In 2022-2024 field studies at Santa Paula and Oxnard, CA we evaluated 20-30% lower-priced wheat middlings (Midds) at 6 or 7 t/acre as alternative carbon sources to rice bran. The ASD treatments were applied in August at each location in preparation for strawberry planting in October. Soil and air temperatures were 18-35 C during that time. After incorporation of carbon sources into the top 30 cm of bed soil, beds were shaped, irrigation drip lines installed and covered with totally impermeable film (TIF) to prevent gas exchange. Beds were irrigated to full capacity within 24 to 72 hours after TIF installation. Anaerobic conditions were measured with oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensors placed at 15 cm depth. Midds plots maintained Eh at -180 to 0 mV during the two ASD weeks at Santa Paula and -300 to 0 mV during five weeks at Oxnard, while untreated soil was aerobic at 200 to 400 mV. At Santa Paula, permeable bags with inoculum of Macrophomina phaseolina, a key soil borne pathogen of strawberry, and tubers of Cyperus esculentus, the most difficult to control weed, were placed 15 cm deep in soil and retrieved two weeks after ASD initiation for analyses. At Oxnard, resident populations of M. phaseolina and C. esculentus in soil were assessed before and after ASD. Two weeks after the completion of ASD, holes were cut to aerate beds and bare-root strawberry were transplanted into them: ‘Fronteras’ at Santa Paula and ‘Gaviota’ at Oxnard. ASD with Midds reduced viable microsclerotia of M. phaseolina 75% at Santa Paula and 98% at Oxnard. ASD treatments reduced tuber germination of C. esculentus 68-74% compared to untreated soil. Additionally, Midds and DDG provided greater sufficiency of plant-available nitrogen and increased fruit yields 40%, compared to untreated soil at Santa Paula. We continue fruit production evaluations at Oxnard in 2024. ASD with wheat middlings as a carbon source can suppress soil pathogens and weeds and help sustain organic strawberry production in California.
There are limited herbicides labeled for use in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) production in the United States. Therefore, the registration of additional herbicides with different modes of action (MOA) would provide growers added weed control options to enhanced crop yield and provide a more sustainable sweetpotato (SP) production system. As herbicide-resistant weed populations continue to emerge and become more prevalent, weed control strategies need to include herbicides with different MOAs for the long-term success of (SP) cultivation. This research will identify herbicides, along with rate and application time that could be registered for use in sweetpotato. Herbicide tolerance of four (SP) varieties (Beauregard, Orleans, Dianne, and Covington) were evaluated in a screening study. These varieties were selected to represent sweetpotato production areas across the United States in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Herbicides evaluated include fluridone, glyphosate, glufosinate, carfentrazone, saflufenacil, acifluorfen, and others. The study involved the foliar application of herbicide treatments at 1X and 0.5X rates, laid out in a completely randomized design, using a spray chamber onto individual (SP) plants cultivated in 4x4 inch containers within the controlled environment of the Dorman Hall Greenhouse at Mississippi State University. Visual assessments of herbicide-induced injury were conducted at regular intervals of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment (DAT), accompanied by measurements of vine length in centimeters. Furthermore, dry root and shoot biomass were quantified at 28 DAT to provide a comprehensive assessment of herbicide impacts on (SP) growth and development. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and means separated by Fisher’s protected LSD (α=0.05). Results indicate varying levels of tolerance among the (SP) varieties to specific herbicides and application rates. Noteworthy trends in visual injury, vine length, and biomass measurements highlight the nuanced responses of the cultivars to different herbicide chemistries.
The Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) has flexible uses as food, feed, and industrial product usage. There are over 27,000 acres across one-hundred and fifty farms in Mississippi and the state also ranks second and third in the nation in acreage and production, respectively. It is paramount for all farmers to suppress weed species, enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and minimize pests and diseases in plants. In sweet potatoes, there is a significant problem with weeds interfering with yields, reducing crop yield by up to 80%. A chemical approach is usually the most popular utilization, but it can lead to disadvantages with crop quality, intolerance, and, in worst-case scenarios, environmental toxicity. To overcome limited weed control options and preserve or improve sweet potato quality and yield for Mississippi growers, there is a great need to find a supplemental weed control strategy. One solution is the utilization of soil steaming, an alternative method that is environmentally friendly and organically favored. This study aimed to assess the most effective soil steaming depth and duration for controlling a troublesome weed in sweetpotatoes, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus (L.)). This study is conducted in split plot designs with the soil steaming plots as the main plots in field and greenhouse situations. This was to test different durations of times and depths in the soil for both areas. Depths of 2, 5, and 8 inches, were used. Times of 0, 1, 5, 20, 45 minutes, were used. Maximum temperatures reached were 82 ºC. The germination count was recorded at 21 DAT. The highest weed coverage (55%) was observed in 0 minutes duration. The second highest (30%) was observed at 5 minutes. The least amount of coverage (20%) was observed at 20 minutes. The adoption of soil steaming would be beneficial in sustainable suppression of yellow nutsedge in organic sweetpotato farms. Keywords: soil steaming, weed suppression, sweetpotato, sustainability, organic
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) management in organic plasticulture systems is challenging as it reproduces both by seeds and tubers. Yellow nutsedge has a strong midrib and sharp leaf tip which allows it to puncture plastic mulch and creates favorable conditions for other weeds to grow, compete for resources with crop plants, and decrease crop yield. Lack of available herbicide options in specialty crops make weed management more challenging. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a technique that has shown potential to manage weeds in organic production systems. ASD is facilitated by incorporating carbon sources into the soil, tarping the soil with plastic mulch, and irrigating to the soil saturation. A field study was conducted at Clemson University’s Coastal Research and Education Center, Charleston, South Carolina, to evaluate the impact of various carbon sources in ASD on weed management in organic sweetpotato. This treatment structure for this study consisted of a factorial with four carbon source treatments (cotton seed meal, chicken manure molasses, brassica waste, and non-amended control) and four sweetpotato cultivars (Bayyou Belle, Muraski, Monaco, and USDA 18-040). These sweetpotato cultivars have two different growth habits, either bunch type (USDA 18-040 and Monaco) or spreading type (Bayyou Belle and Muraski). The primary purpose of using different plant architecture is to evaluate the impact of the sweetpotato vine growth habit on weed emergence. Experimental plots receiving chicken manure molasses and cotton seed meal as carbon source resulted in the greatest cumulative anaerobic conditions (
Boiling water and steam have been effectively used as a non-chemical means to control weeds in croplands and urban areas. In Hawaii, it is a relatively new technology with limited trials done on local conditions and weeds. Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) is a noxious weed that invades landscapes and agricultural fields in Hawaii and throughout the world. While it is typically controlled using herbicide sprays, this may be restricted if the guinea grass being controlled is located in riparian areas. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of saturated steam with boiling water in controlling mature clumps of guinea grass growing along a streambank. Guinea grass bunches were divided into small (less than 15.2 cm) and large clumps (15.2 to 30.5 cm) and then cut 5 to 15 cm from the ground. Cut clumps were either not treated (control) or treated with saturated steam and boiling water for 1 minute using a 15cm long spike injector inserted into different points of the crown. Percent green color and number of resprouts were collected 7, 14, and 21 days after application. Dry biomass was collected 22 days after application. Results indicate that saturated steam with boiling water was effective in controlling guinea grass clumps. Small clumps were completely controlled (no resprouts and new biomass) while large clumps had significantly reduced the number of resprouts and reduced production of new biomass. Saturated steam with boiling water offers a non-chemical means to control guinea grass in riparian areas in Hawaii.
This competition is open to graduate students that have a poster presentation scheduled during the ASHS conference AND have also signed up to participate in this competition (Note: This is separate of the assigned time to present your abstract during the conference program).
Please note that if you do not also present your poster during the regularly scheduled Poster session, you will be disqualified from the Poster Competition.
Competition participants will be assigned to a room to present for the competition (this information will be emailed to you the week prior to the conference). You will be responsible for bringing your poster on a thumb drive to your assigned room in order to participate.
Wednesday September 25, 2024 6:00pm - 7:00pm HST
South Pacific 3
Sustainability Beliefs and Practices in the United States Floriculture Industry - Amanda Solliday Hydroponic, Soilless, and Field Produced Cut Flower Bouquets in the Northeast US. - Jacob Schwab Influence of Varietal Differences and Cutting Lengths on the Rooting Abilities and Growth Performances of Bougainvillea - Olatunde Olosunde Influence of UV-A Night Interruption Lighting on the Growth of Potted Basil Plants - Seth Benjamin Evaluating Nighttime Application of Low Intensity LED Light Qualities to Suppress Downy Mildew Caused by Plasmopara obducens on Greenhouse Grown Impatiens - River Dean Supplemental Day-Extension Lighting Influences Rooted Cutting Growth and Quality of Finished Annual Bedding Plants - Lauren Seltsam Daily Light Integral Influences Adventitious Rooting of Achillea Cuttings - Garrett Owen
Today’s environmental and social concerns – including climate change and economic inequality – push sustainability to the forefront of many business strategies, from tech companies to grocery retailers to flower farmers. To better understand the scope and limitations of sustainable practices among flower growers, wholesalers, retail florists, and floral suppliers, the research team administered an industry-wide survey. Sections of the survey delve into aspects of floriculture businesses throughout the United States, including scale of operations, current sustainability measures, motivations driving sustainability activities, and barriers preventing sustainable practices. The results indicate strong personal motivations for sustainability measures within floriculture, yet respondents perceived a lack of financial or regulatory incentives to implement such practices. A subset of results for growers are compared to a 2008 survey to assess changes in sustainability practices within domestic flower production over time. Regional variances in perceived access to resources and implementation of sustainability practices will also be discussed. Our study aims to identify key areas where progress has been made or can be made in the industry, including educational efforts and incentives to address the perception of risk when implementing sustainability practices. A subset of results for growers are compared to a 2008 survey to assess changes in sustainability practices over time within domestic flower production. Our study aims to identify key areas where progress has been made or can be made in the industry, including educational efforts to address the perception of risk when implementing sustainability practices and communicating benefits to consumers.
Cut flower production in the Northeastern United States is restricted by a short growing season. This impacts profitability for many growers and reduces the number of flower options available to them. While there is a reduced selection available, it can still be difficult to select which flowers are profitable and high yielding during a short season. For these reasons, field and controlled environment production of a variety of flowers that could be used in bouquets sold at markets or available for events was investigated. An early- and late-season arrangement was designed utilizing six different plants which could be harvested, assembled, and sold as a bouquet. Two synchronized trials occurred in 2024 with one in the field and the other in the greenhouse. The field plants were germinated indoors and transplanted in a full sun location in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The greenhouse plants were grown in three systems which included drip irrigated plants in containers with 4:1 coconut coir: parboiled rice husks, drip irrigated containers filled with rockwool GrowCubes, or hydroponic nutrient film technique. Greenhouse and field plants in both trials were assessed for germination rate and timing; time to flower; flower number, stem length, and subjective quality; and vase life utilizing 3 different floral preservatives. Plants grown in the greenhouse were also compared for adaptability to each growing system. Seeds for the early season bouquet were germinated in April and transplanted into their respective systems in May. Seeds for the late season bouquet were germinated in June and transplanted in July. This information can be used by cut flower growers in the Northeast to potentially extend their season and develop a market for designed “grow-a-bouquet” planting strategies.
Bougainvillea spp. a difficult root ornamental plant does not root easily requiring the need for growth regulators. Moreover, the varieties have high aesthetic values and commercial florist desires. Experiments were conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria to determine the effect of varietal differences and cutting length on the rooting ability and growth of Bougainvillea plants. The experiment was a completely randomized design replicated three times. The cutting lengths had a significant effect on the number of leaves produced, with the highest leaf production observed for the 15cm cutting lengths in B. glabra variegata and B. glabra white plants, 5cm cuttings however produced the highest number of leaves in B. spectabilis variety. The cutting length also has a significant effect on the heights produced in the three varieties of Bougainvillea plants where 15cm cutting produced the highest plant heights in B. glabra variegata and B. glabra white varieties which were significantly different from those obtained from the 10cm cuttings, However, 5cm cuttings produced the highest plant heights in B. spectabilis. The interaction effect of cutting length and variety was significant (p
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most popular culinary herbs sold in containers, but plants can quickly become tall, leggy, and unmarketable. Chemical plant growth regulators (PGRs) are not labelled for use on herbs, so there is a need for a nonchemical alternative. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) has been shown to be an effective alternative to PGRs on ornamentals, but there are no guidelines for effective use of UVA in potted basil production. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the stage of development plants should be exposed to UVA radiation and the effective duration. Fifteen seeds of either sweet basil cultivars ‘Nufar’ or ‘Genovese’ were sown into 15-cm containers. The containers were placed in a glass-glazed greenhouse at 23 °C and under a 16-h photoperiod (LD) provided by LED supplemental lighting or under a 9-h photoperiod and 6-h night interruption lighting providing 385 nm of UVA radiation at an intensity of 20 µmol∙m–2∙s–1. Seeds were germinated for one week under either LD or UVA and then grown for 3 weeks under 10 treatments. The treatments included: LD entire time, LD 1 week-UV 2 weeks, LD 1.5 Weeks-UV 1.5 Weeks, LD 2 weeks-UV 1 week, LD 1 week-UV 1week-LD 1week, UV entire time, UV 1 week-LD 2 weeks, UV 1.5 weeks-LD 1.5 weeks, UV 2 weeks-LD 1 week, and UV 1 week-LD 1week- UV 1 week. Both cultivars responded differently to UVA radiation. Generally, plants grown under UVA from germination to harvest were the most compact. For example, ‘Genovese’ under UV entire time were 3.6 cm shorter than plants under LD entire. However, the chlorophyll content and dry mass of ‘Genovese’ were reduced by 33 and 53%, respectively, when exposed to UV entire compared to plants under LD entire. Additionally, if the treatment a plant ended under was LD, the chlorophyll content was generally higher than those ending under UV. Therefore, the most compact and green potted basil ‘Nufar’ and ‘Genovese’ were those grown under UV 2 weeks-LD 1 week.
Downy mildew (DM) of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), caused by the oomycete, Plasmopara obducens, results in chlorosis, defoliation, and significant crop losses. Current management includes fungicides and genetic resistance. We applied photoperiodic light quality treatments to ‘Accent Premium White’ impatiens from seed sowing until flowering to limit DM and enhance plant quality. Seeds were sown in a greenhouse with a day and night greenhouse air temperature set point of 23 °C and a target daily light integral of 12 mol·m–2·d–1. A truncated 9-h short-day (SD) photoperiod was achieved by opening and closing opaque black cloth over individual greenhouse benches. Supplemental light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures provided 120 µmol·m–2·s–1 at plant height. Each bench was randomly assigned to one of nine discreet photoperiod treatments: 9-h SD (control) or 9-h SD extended by continuous 7-h LED fixtures emitting blue (405 nm), blue (445 nm), green (525 nm), red (660 nm), far-red (730 nm), white fixtures provided 100-nm waveband ratio (%) of 18:38:41:3 blue:green:red:far-red radiation, a screw-in LED flowering lamps provided 100-nm waveband ratio (%) of 7.6:15:72.4:5. Additionally, 6-h intermittent (1900 to 2200 HR and 0300 to 0600 HR) LED fixtures emitting ultraviolet-A (385 nm) were assigned to one bench. The total photon flux density was adjusted to 20 µmol·m–2·s–1 at plant height under black out curtains for each treatment. Impatiens were inoculated 70 days post sowing with a P. obducens sporangial suspension (2.6 to 3 x 105 sporangia·mL–1) until runoff on the abaxial side of the leaves. Afterwards, each plant was placed in a clear plastic bag containing 300 mL of Hoagland Solution (50%) and returned to its respective treatment. After 9-10 days post inoculation, the ratio of diseased leaves to the total leaf number was determined. In the initial experimental trial, control plants exposed to a 9-h SD treatment displayed an average disease incidence of 72.7%, while other treatment groups ranged from 30.6 to 98.3%. In the subsequent trial, control plants exposed to the same 9-hr SD treatment showed an average disease incidence of 42.6%, while other treatment groups ranged from 0 to 59.5%.
Floriculture makes up the largest sector of ornamental horticulture production, valued at $6.7 billion and dominated by the production of annual bedding-plants. Production is timed to meet spring market dates, starting during a time of year when ambient outdoor temperatures and daily light integrals are below optimal for high-quality plant production. As a result, heating and supplemental lighting can represent a significant operational and energy cost for producers. Yet, producers and investors of the industry have acknowledged an inability to evaluate their resource use due to a lack of industry-wide benchmarks and key performance indicators (KPIs). Past research has compiled energy and water data from controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and, for floriculture, investigated the potential of energy-efficient production strategies and used life cycle assessments (LCAs) to evaluate the environmental impact of the products produced. However, CEA focuses on food production and both the compiled CEA data and the LCAs are largely based off modeled data. Therefore, this research will validate models utilized in LCAs and carbon footprint studies with experimental data, giving producers additional benchmarks and KPIs to evaluate their operational resource-use efficiency. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the use of supplemental day-extension lighting (SDEL) from two different fixtures [(light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and high-pressure sodium (HPS)] during unrooted cutting (URC) propagation of five annual bedding plants and (2) to quantify the greenhouse energy and water consumption. Unrooted cuttings were received from a commercial propagator and stuck in a 105- (calibrachoa, coleus, impatiens, and petunia) or 72- (geranium) propagation tray filled with a pre-moistened soilless propagation substrate and placed under oner of three SDEL treatments on root-zone heating set to 23℃. Each treatment consisted of a propagation tent for callusing and an adjacent rooting environment. Until adventitious root formation, cuttings were misted with clear water, and then were removed from the propagation tent where they were irrigated daily with 150 mg·L–1 nitrogen provided by 15-5-15 water-soluble fertilizer (JR Peters, Inc.; Allentown, PA). After 21 days, data were collected on rooted cuttings. As expected, the energy-use of HPS-lamps exceed that of the LEDs. However, cutting stem-length and stem and leaf dry mass were decreased under SDEL, resulting in liners that were more compact, uniform, and of higher quality than those propagated under ambient conditions. An opposite trend was observed for root dry mass. This indicates that SDEL is a critical tool when utilized for bedding-plant propagation.
Rooting of herbaceous perennial cuttings occurs year-round in greenhouses under photosynthetic daily light integrals (DLIs) ranging from ≈1–20 mol·m–2·d–1. The effects of DLI on rooting and cutting growth have not been quantified for many vegetatively propagated herbaceous perennials. As such, our objectives were to determine the effects of DLI on adventitious rooting and cutting quality of a popular herbaceous perennial, yarrow (Achillea sp.). Unrooted cuttings of yarrow (Achillea millefolium ‘Apricot Delight’) were received from a commercial cutting supplier and callused in a glass-glazed greenhouse for 5 d under ≈3.6 mol·m–2·d–1 at 24 °C root-zone and air temperatures. Upon callusing, cuttings were transferred to a rooting environment with 21 °C air temperature and 24 °C root-zone temperature set points. Cuttings were rooted under one of four different fixed-woven shadecloth providing ≈86%, 62%, or 26% shade or no shade (0%) thereby establishing mean DLIs ranging from 1.6 to 15.2 mol∙m‒2∙d‒1. Cutting growth and biomass accumulation evaluations were made 8, 11, and 14 d after transfer. In general, yarrow stem caliper, stem length, and leaf number were unaffected by increasing DLI; however, leaf, stem, root, and total biomass accumulation increased with increasing DLI though to different magnitudes. For example, as DLI increased from 1.6 to 15.2 mol∙m‒2∙d‒1, leaf, stem, root, and total biomass accumulation increased by 84%, 85%, 458%, and 93% at 8 days after transfer to 98%, 110%, 893%, and 128% at 14 days after transfer, respectively. When taken together, DLI should be properly managed to hasten and improve rooting and growth of yarrow cuttings during adventitious root development.
Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Greenhouse & Nursery Systems, The Ohio State University
Dr. W. Garrett Owen is Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Sustainable Greenhouse and Nursery Production Systems with primary responsibilities in teaching (20%), research (30%), and Extension (50%) in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University... Read More →
Quality Analysis of Bitter Acids in Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) from a Controlled Environment Versus Field Production System - Katie Stenmark The Affect of High pH on Hydroponic Lettuce in a Controlled Environment - Alexander Speck Drought Stress Responses of North American Native Bog Birch and Sweetgale in a Sensor-automated System - Jessica Hutchinson Effects of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Yield of Amaranth viridis Linn. Grown in a Growth Chamber and Greenhouse - Zachary Williams Shade-Avoidance Responses of Kale and Lettuce Elicited by Far-Red Light Can Persist Under High-Light Intensity - Jiyong Shin Does Intermittent and Continuous Nutrient Flow Affect the Growth and Phytochemicals of Culinary Herbs in NFT Hydroponics - Abishkar Regmi Adjusting Supplemental LED Light Intensities Based on Real-time Chlorophyll Fluorescence Measurements in a Greenhouse - Suyun Nam Interactions of Far-Red Photons with Orange Photons or Red Photons: Photosynthetic Response, Morphology and Fruit Yield - Seonghwan Kang
Hop plants are produced for harvest of mature hop cones that are utilized in the medicinal, agricultural, cosmetic and craft beer industries. Hop plants are vigorously climbing perennials that require shorter than 15-hour days for flowering induction, and a trellis structure (3-6m annual height) for seasonal support. In the United States, the majority of hops are grown in field production systems in the Pacific Northwest where summer day lengths are long. The demand for hops has increased due to a boom in the craft beer industry which has led growers in southern states to seek alternative methods for producing hops outside of their traditional commercial growing region. Hop performance in greenhouse systems has not been evaluated in Oklahoma before, but controlled environments offer an alternative for hop producers in the south to limit pests, reduce contact with Downy Mildew (Pseudoperonospora humuli), and harvest multiple crops per year. Four cultivars of hops (‘Cascade’, ‘Comet’, ‘Newport’, ‘Tahoma’) were grown on a 3m trellis using a Dutch bucket hydroponic system with one rhizome per bucket spaced 0.5m apart without supplemental lighting in the USDA research greenhouses at Oklahoma State University. Four identical cultivars of hops were grown in a field system using a V-style trellis (5m height) at the Cimarron Valley Research Station in Perkins, OK. Mature hop cones were hand harvested at 80% moisture and dried at ambient temperature to 8-10% moisture. Hops were stored for up to six months frozen under nitrogen in vacuum sealed bags until analysis was performed. Hop bitter acids (α-acids and β-acids) were extracted using a 0.1% formic acid solvent, and hop quality was determined by HPLC. Bitter acids of greenhouse hops were determined to be highest in cultivars ‘Comet’ (α- 2.12%, β- 0.73%), ‘Cascade’ (α- 2.00%, β- 1.04%), and ‘Tahoma’ (α- 1.92%, β- 1.23%), where ‘Newport’ had a notably lower α and β-acid content (α- 0.71%, β- 0.81%). Bitter acid quality in field hops were comparable to hops produced in the greenhouse (‘Cascade’ α- 2.99%, β- 1.77%; ‘Newport’ α- 2.95%, β- 1.56%; ‘Tahoma’ α- 1.42%, β- 1.56%; ‘Comet’ α- 1.95%, β- 0.71%). With the information from this research, local greenhouse growers will be able to determine if hops are a viable option for their region.
In North Dakota, indoor-grown lettuce faces water pH levels higher than the ideal 5.5 to 6.5 range, with Fargo's water averaging a pH of 9.2 from 2018 to 2022. Addressing the gap in research on high pH's impact on lettuce, this study, running from 2023 to 2024, explored the effects of pH levels on the yield of lettuce grown in deep water culture (DWC) hydroponic systems. We tested three lettuce varieties (Casey, Gladius, and Tendita) under four pH conditions (6.3, 7.0, 8.3, and an unbuffered level), with each setup replicated four times. Th initial growth was in rock wool cubes under a clear dome for a month before transferring to DWC for another month. The results indicated significant differences in yield and size across pH levels and varieties. Gladius yielded the highest at pH 6.3 (86.0 g/plant), while Casey showed the lowest yield at pH 7.0 (9.6 g/plant). Gladius also achieved the largest diameter (25.1 cm) at pH 6.3, contrasting with Casey's smallest at 7.0 pH (10.2 cm). Notably, high pH (8.3) still produced reasonable yields and sizes, especially with the Gladius variety, highlighting the potential for selecting suitable varieties to mitigate adverse pH effects. This study underscores the importance of variety selection in hydroponic systems with non-ideal water pH, providing crucial insights for optimizing indoor lettuce production.
Climate change in the Northern United States is causing less consistent rain events that pressure horticulturists to mitigate the negative impacts of drought stress in ornamental plants. Selecting ornamental native plants that can adapt to predicted changes in climate is a way to preserve and strengthen landscape biodiversity and resilience. Bog birch (Betula pumila) and sweetgale (Myrica gale) are native, colony-forming shrubs indigenous to bogs across the Northern regions of North America with aesthetic features that merit their introduction as ornamental plants. The successful introduction of wetland plants into the nursery industry depends upon their tolerances to variation in water availability typical of managed landscapes. Our 8-week study assessed physiological responses to gradual declines in substrate volumetric water content (VWC) for both shrubs, as water stress intolerance may be a constraint in horticultural landscapes. To model a severe water deficit, we built an automated irrigation system using Arduino microcontrollers connected to soil moisture sensors and solenoid valves that allowed us to track and control VWC. Control plants were maintained at 40% throughout the 8-week period, while drought was simulated by decreasing VWC by 5% each week. Water potential, stomatal conductance, and rate of leaf photosynthesis declined in the plants experiencing drought, with symptoms of leaf dieback and yellowing. In contrast, plants held at 40% VWC maintained physiological functions and had minimal aesthetic decline. By week 8, droughted bog birch and sweetgale reduced their leaf dry masses by 20% and 28%, respectively, relative to control plants. Plants held at 5% VWC had lower stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates compared to those held at 40%, with sweet gale showing a steeper decline compared to bog birch. During the experiment, stomatal conductance of drought-stressed bog birch and sweetgale decreased by 93% and 77% respectively, and increased for control plants. Similarly, bog birch and sweetgale experienced photosynthetic declines, with respective average decreases of 68% and 62%. At the end of the experiment bog birch maintained a higher leaf retention after severe drought. Most plants of both species retained some living leaf tissue under severe drought. Despite their natural habitats in waterlogged areas, bog birch and sweetgale have potential as drought tolerant, native ornamental shrubs for gardens and landscapes.
Amaranth viridis Linn. (amaranth), commonly referred to as Callaloo, is highly nutritious, drought tolerant, and require few inputs to grow. Amaranth is also known to have pharmacological properties. However, this crop is susceptible to pest damage, which hinders the crops growth, development, and marketable yield. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are naturally occurring soil microorganisms that live in the rhizosphere, aggressively colonize plant roots, and provide many benefits to plants. PGPR can promote plant growth, improve plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, increase nutrient and water uptake, and cause induced systematic resistance. This study was conducted to investigated the application of PGPR on yield and development of amaranth grown in a growth chamber and greenhouse. The study was conducted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Agricultural Experiment Station in a complete randomized design with four treatments (T1: Control, T2: Strand 209 (single strand), T3: Blend 5 (double strand), T4: Blend 8 (triple strand)), and six replications in the growth chamber study and nine replications in the greenhouse studies. One growth chamber study (duration for 5 weeks) and three greenhouse studies (summer 2022, fall 2022, and summer 2023) were conducted for ten weeks. Amaranth shoots grown in the greenhouse were harvested biweekly, and fresh weight and dry weight were measured. In both PGPR studies, height data and chlorophyll content were collected weekly, and fresh and dry weight of the whole plant (shoots and roots) were collected at the final harvest. Blend 5 was shown to significantly increase shoot growth when compared to the other treatments in the growth chamber study. In the 2022 summer greenhouse, Strand 209 and Blend 8 significantly increased root biomass, while Blend 5 significantly increased fresh weight of the whole plant. In the 2023 summer study, Strand 209 was significantly higher in average shoot dry weight and whole plant fresh weight when compared to the other treatments. The results of both studies showed that the application of PGPR increased amaranth growth and development. Future studies will evaluate the effects of the PGPR on systemic resistance of amaranth against the pigweed beetle.
Far-red (FR; 700–750 nm) light induces shade-avoidance responses such as stem and leaf elongation and an increase in specific leaf area (SLA). Previous studies have reported that a high photon flux density (PFD) can mitigate the effects of FR light. However, limited research has explored the impacts of individual waveband PFDs on the effects of high total PFD (TPFD) in regulating FR-light responses. To address this gap, we conducted an experiment hypothesizing that the effects of a high FR fraction [FR-PFD divided by the sum of red (R; 600–699 nm) and FR PFD] on shade-avoidance responses would persist when the TPFD increases were solely from increases in R and FR PFDs. We grew kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) ‘Red Russian’ and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ‘Rex’ and ‘Rouxai’ under 12 lighting treatments with a 24 h∙d−1 photoperiod, TPFDs of 85, 170, 255, or 340 µmol∙m−2∙s−1, and FR fractions of 0.00, 0.17, or 0.33. The blue (400-499 nm) PFD was constant in all treatments and the alterations in the TPFDs were solely due to R and FR PFDs. Based on preliminary results, high FR fractions increased the leaf length of kale to a similar degree at all TPFDs except for no increase at the TPFD of 85 µmol∙m−2∙s−1. High FR fractions increased the leaf length of lettuce ‘Rex’ and ‘Rouxai’ to a similar degree at all TPFDs. In contrast, the SLA of kale did not respond to the FR fraction at any of the TPFDs. The SLA of lettuce ‘Rex’ and ‘Rouxai’ was increased by high FR fractions to a similar degree at all TPFDs except for no increase at the TPFD of 85 µmol∙m−2∙s−1. Contrary to the paradigm, our results suggest that FR-fraction effects can persist under a high TPFD when R and FR PFDs are elevated. Moreover, the lack of response of kale leaf length and lettuce SLA to the FR fraction at the lowest TPFD implies that a low R and FR PFD attenuates the effect of the FR fraction in eliciting shade-avoidance responses.
Hydroponic cultivation has emerged as an innovative method for efficient and sustainable production of different crops because of year-round production and precise nutrient delivery. Light plays a major role when plants are grown in a controlled environment. Supplemental light is necessary for the physiological function of crops when grown in a hydroponics system. In nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic production, crops are usually produced with continuously flowing nutrient solutions. However, intermittent flow, where nutrient solutions are paused for periods of time instead of continuous cycling, has been proposed as a more efficient hydroponic system. Intermittent flow of nutrients increases the efficiency of hydroponic systems as it reduces the cost of running pumps continuously. Culinary herbs can be grown easily in NFT hydroponic systems. These herbs are a high-value crop and are a rich source of vitamins, nutrients, fibers, and phytochemicals that are known to fluctuate in concentration in different production systems. Yet it is not known if intermittent irrigation will impact phytochemicals in culinary herbs with or without supplemental lights in NFT production. This experiment investigated the effect of intermittent and continuous flow of nutrients in two culinary herbs, cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) with or without supplemental lights. To regulate nutrient solution flow, the pump was turned on continuously in the continuous flow treatment, whereas it was turned on and off periodically for 30-minute intervals in the intermittent flow system. The herbs were grown for a month and different plant growth parameters like plant height, plant fresh weight, dry weight, root length (RL), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and proline were measured. Interestingly, nutrient delivery only affected plant height and plant fresh weight in cilantro. Plant height was greater in intermittent flow whereas plant fresh weight was greater in continuous flow. However, nutrient flow did not show any differences in other studied growth parameters in both herbs. Supplemental light significantly increased the root length, plant fresh weight, and dry weight of both herbs. TFC of cilantro was affected by the interaction of supplemental light and nutrient flow system with greater flavonoids in a continuous flow without supplemental light. In parsley, supplemental light increased the proline content. These findings suggest that cilantro and parsley can be grown easily in intermittent flow by reducing the associated cost of production. However, supplemental lighting is necessary to increase the yield of herbs.
Precise and efficient control of supplemental lighting is vital to minimize electrical energy costs in controlled environment agriculture. Even though various environmental factors such as temperature, vapor pressure deficit, CO2 concentrations, and water status influence photosynthetic capacity, current supplemental light control strategies are controlled only based on ambient sunlight conditions. Meanwhile, chlorophyll fluorescence is widely used as an indicator of environmental stress and photosynthetic capacity on account of its easy and non-invasive measurement. A chlorophyll fluorescence-based biofeedback system has been proposed as an innovative approach for precise control of supplemental LED light intensities. The biofeedback system can dynamically optimize LED light intensities based on real-time measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence while allowing plants to decide the amount of supplemental light they need. The biofeedback system has been previously validated in a growth chamber, but its application in an actual greenhouse condition remains unexplored. The objective of this research was to implement the biofeedback system in a greenhouse environment for real-time control of supplemental light intensities based on photosynthetic activity. Additionally, the productivity and energy efficiency of the biofeedback strategy were evaluated and compared to conventional light control strategies. Two fluorometers (MINI-PAM; Heinz Walz, Effeltrich, Germany) were used to monitor the electron transport rate (ETR) and quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) every 10 minutes, and the Biofeedback system adjusted supplemental LED light intensities until the predefined target ETR and ΦPSII were achieved. Three popular greenhouse crops [lettuce (Lactuca sativa), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)] were grown under five supplemental light conditions. Specific targets of 1) electron transport rate (ETR), 2) quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), 3) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), 4) daily light integral (DLI), and 5) no control (ambient sunlight) were used to control supplemental light intensities. In contrast to conventional lighting control methods, the biofeedback system tailored supplemental light intensities according to not only sunlight levels but also temperature and humidity. The result underlines the effectiveness and energy efficiency of the biofeedback system that could integrate variable environmental factors in the greenhouse and apply them to adjust supplemental light intensities precisely.
Plant response from the interaction between far-red and orange photons were rarely known, compared to that of far-red and red photons. Recent previous studies have found application of supplemental orange photons increases the openness of tomato plant architecture, resulting in improved dry weight than supplemental blue, green and red photons. However, limited information is available on the effects of orange photons on plant growth, morphology, and photosynthetic efficiency. Thus, our objective was to quantify the effects of orange photons on growth and photosynthetic responses during long term crop cultivation, compared to red photons. Dwarf tomatoes ‘Red Robin’ were grown in a walk-in chamber with controlled environmental conditions for 96 days after sowing (day temp. 24.3 ± 0.4℃ / night temp. 19.8 ± 0.5℃ and RH 60.5 ± 3.5%). Four light spectral treatments were applied as follows: 1) B25G25O200 (orange), 2) B25G25R200 (red), 3) B25G25O165FR35 (O FR), and 4) B25G25R165FR35 (R FR) (subscripts denote photon flux densities in µmol m² s-1). All spectral treatments had the same total light intensity of 250 µmol m² s-1 with a 18-h photoperiod. Leaf photosynthetic rate was measured before the fruit stage under sole-source orange or red light, as well as under combination lights (RGB or OGB), in a random order. Plant height and main stem length significantly increased under the two spectral treatments with far-red photons (i.e., O FR or R FR), compared to treatments without far-red photons (i.e., orange and red treatments). In comparison between orange and red treatments (without far-red), total dry weight of orange treatment was significantly higher than in red. However, the trend was opposite in the treatments with far-red photons (O FR treatment was lower than R FR treatment). In comparison between with and without far-red photons, total leaf area and fruit dry weight under far-red photons were significantly higher than those in the treatments without far-red photons, whereas stem weight was lower. Brix° under with far-red photons was higher than the treatment without far-red, and that of orange treatment was higher than in the red. Photosynthesis rate under sole-source orange photons was higher than under red photons, but no significant difference was observed among under combination lights. Overall, our results indicated that application of orange photons instead of red photons led to improved biomass and fruit yields in dwarf tomato, resulting in enhanced openness in the canopy structure; however, the trends were reversed with the application of far-red photons.
Non-invasive Assessment of Haskap Growth (Lonicera caerulea) Utilizing X-ray Computed Tomography and Image Processing - Arturo Duarte Sierra Vase Life Prediction for Cut Roses Using Deep Learning and Hyperspectral Imagining Techniques - Yongtae Kim Extending the Postharvest Storage of Caladium Tubers to Unlock Late-Season Pot Plant Production Potential in Florida - Gasselle Cordova Analysis of Oxidative Decreases in Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Bitter Acids Produced Postharvest - Katie Stenmark The Use of Desiccants for Proper Moisture Preservation in Green Coffee During Storage and Transportation - Laudia Anokye Bempah Transcriptome Analysis Revealed that Metabolites and Hormone Signaling Pathway Differently Respond to Non-chilling and Chilling Temperatures in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit During Storage - Yujin Sim Fresh Weight of Indoor-Grown Lettuce under Different Postharvest Storage Practices -Caroline Blanchard Modified Hydrocooling and Optimized Postharvest Handling Practices Can Improve the Shelf Life of Water Spinach During Summer in Humid Subtropical Regions - Wei Shiang Liao Discovery of Biomarkers for Postharvest Pecan Color Stability Using Metabolomics and Machine Learning Algorithms - Min Jeong Kang Evaluating the Effects of Controlled Atmosphere Storage on Two Georgia-grown Pecan Cultivars - Ramsey Corn
The latest advances in technology have made it easier to accurately assess the quality of fresh produce, reducing the amount of physical handling required. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-intrusive method that can effectively monitor and categorize fresh produce at different stages of development and maturity. Implementing novel CT scanning techniques can provide innovative means for classifying fresh produce in the early stages of development. The present work provides information for the calculation of the volume and the porosity of the haskap during its ontology. Samples of haskap were taken at four stages of growth prior to harvest and at the time of harvest. Image data were acquired using X-ray microcomputed tomography (SkyScan 1272, Bruker, Billerica, MA, USA) at a resolution of 19.69 μm per pixel, operating at 60 kV and 166 μA, using a 0.25 mm aluminum filter. The resultant data was exported to the BMP file format. BMP files were then processed using Avizo 3.0 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA). Automated thresholding using factorization in criteria was applied to the 8-bit images. Subsequently, the images were labeled and an axis connectivity of 26 neighborhoods was established. Finally, a measurement was derived using the volume fraction tool. The results showed that the porosity at stage 3 was 26.56%. It then decreased to 7.52% in the 4th stage and reached a peak of 13.45% during the harvesting stage. These results may have implications for commercial cultivation strategies and optimization of pre- and post-harvest practices and add to the existing understanding of Haskap growth and development.
Japan is a major export market for the Korean cut rose flower industry. The longevity of cut roses significantly influences consumer purchasing decisions, prompting Japan to establish a quality guarantee system to ensure cut flower longevity. However, existing longevity guarantee methods rely heavily on subjective evaluations, overlooking critical factors such as senescence characteristics and disease infections. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique is used for quality control of many fruits and can be performed at video rates, and could thus provide accurate data on aspects of cut flower quality. The You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) and Random Forest models for object detection and classification enable consistent quality assessment and swift longevity prediction. In this study, we developed a non-contact and rapid detection technique for the potential longevity of cut roses using deep learning techniques based on HSI data. Cut ‘Unforgettable’, ‘Egg Tart’, and ‘Catalina’ rose flowers were held in wet conditions during the exportation to Japan. HSI data within the visible near-infrared range 450-900 nm wavelengths were obtained for analysis of the disease infection and quality of cut roses. Image data of diseased cut roses were collected and corresponding data processing was carried out to build diseased cut roses and quality detection dataset. We developed the longevity prediction model based on scoring a grading standard on the flower quality and this model was then used to predict the longevity and evaluate quality changes of cut roses after exporting to Japan. The results showed that the longevity of exported cut roses was 8 d (‘Egg Tart’), 5.9 d (‘Catalina’), and 4.9 d (‘Unforgettable’). The longevity of cut roses was primarily terminated by gray mold disease (‘Unforgettable’ and ‘Catalina’), petal wilting and discoloration (‘Egg Tart’ and ‘Catalina’), and petal abscission (‘Catalina’). The predictive accuracy of the three rose flowers longevity prediction model was three rose flowers ‘Egg Tart’ (r2=0.80), ‘Unforgettable’ (r2=0.78), and ‘Catalina’ (r2=0.65). These results demonstrate that the combination of HSI and deep learning is a reliable method for evaluating the longevity of exported cut roses.
Florida is home to the largest caladium production in the world, supplying essentially all the global caladium tuber demand. These plants are famous for their vibrant leaf colors and patterns and are asexually propagated through tubers. Following plant development, tubers are harvested and stored for a few months before being forced from March to September for potted plant production and direct landscape planting. During extended postharvest storage, caladium tubers face the risk of severe weight loss, tissue decay, and Fusarium tuber rot. The current practice of storage under ambient conditions with high temperatures and high relative humidity exacerbates weight loss and tuber rot. The challenges of long-term tuber storage make it difficult to produce pot caladium plants for winter holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. These challenges also affect the commercialization of tubers in the Southern Hemisphere during the summer. Opening these marketing opportunities can allow growers to extend and increase their production. Additionally, the identification of caladium tubers suitable for late-season production will give Florida growers a competitive advantage. To identify caladium varieties with long-term tuber storage potential and late-season production, 12 varieties were evaluated to target Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. No.1-sized tubers were potted in 5-inch containers and grown in a greenhouse. For each variety, 10 tubers were monitored for sprouting and leaf expansion and later evaluated for plant quality using a rating scale from 1 to 5. Eight cultivars were identified as suitable to grow for Thanksgiving, whereas 3 were identified for Valentine’s Day based on long-term storage potential and plant performance. Identification of cultivars will allow growers to expand their commercialization window not only for major holidays but also to supply tuber demand to the Southern Hemisphere.
Nearing maturity, female hop plants develop inflorescences called hop cones. Inside of a mature hop cone is the lupulin gland where glandular trichomes are present. Within the lupulin gland, the glandular trichomes secrete alpha acids (α), and beta acids (β). Hop bitter acids are extremely sensitive to photolysis and oxidation reactions causing the degradation of α-acids and β-acids which negatively affect their use in beer, and the beer brewing industry accounts for 98% of world use of hops (Fandino et al., 2015). Determining hop storage index (HSI) is a way to measure the amount of α and β-acids lost during postharvest handling. HSI is a ratio determined by measuring the spectrophotometric UV absorption of hop extract at 275nm for oxidative compounds, and 325nm for bitter acids. Bitter acids and any oxidative decreases were determined in eight cultivars of hops (‘Cascade’, ‘Chinook’, ‘Comet’, ‘Mount Rainier’, ‘Newport’, ‘Tahoma’, ‘Willamette’, ‘Zeus’) produced at the Cimarron Valley Research Station in Perkins, Oklahoma. Mature hop cones were hand harvested at 80% moisture and dried at ambient temperature to 8-10% moisture using a centrifugal fan. Hops were stored no longer than six months frozen under nitrogen in vacuum sealed bags until analysis. Hop bitter acids were extracted using toluene and UV absorbance was measured at 355, 325, and 275nm using a spectrophotometer. Based on the HSI, hops were assigned a quality score of good (0.4). Seven of the eight cultivars of hops were of good quality (‘Cascade’, 0.20; ‘Chinook’, 0.19; ‘Comet’, 0.17; ‘Mount Rainier’, 0.12; ‘Newport’, 0.23; ‘Tahoma’, 0.18; ‘Willamette’, 0.22). ‘Zeus’ hops were of questionable quality (0.31) but contained a slightly higher moisture content at storage (11%) than the other cultivars (7-10%), which could have negatively affected hop storage quality. Understanding sources of oxidative stresses to hop bitter acids during postharvest handling is valuable information for determining and maintaining hop quality.
Prolonged storage and long-distance transportation of green coffee beans exposes them to undesirable fluctuations in temperature (T) and relative humidity (r.h.), which can change the physical (wet-basis moisture content (MCwb), water activity (Aw), and color) and sensory characteristics of the coffee. High humidity also supports mold growth, decay, and microbial activities. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available desiccants for preserving the moisture content of green coffee between 10 and 12% MCwb, when stored in either hermetic packages and/or jute sacks, and to assess the corresponding impact on sensory quality. A conventional coffee storage and transportation period from Brazil to Italy with a duration of 42 days was mimicked in environmental chambers. Treatments in a 3 × 3 factorial design consisting of three packaging materials (GrainPro SuperGrain bag, GrainPro TranSafeliner, and/or jute sacks) and desiccants (Drying Beads®, CaCl2, or no desiccants) were evaluated. Additionally, four different mass ratios of green coffee to desiccant ranging from 50 to 300 – g coffee per g desiccant were also evaluated. The MCwb, Aw, and color of all samples were measured approximately weekly over 42 days. In comparison to the control (no desiccant, and only jute sacks), we observed a statistically significant impact for all tested desiccants and hermetic packages for maintaining the proper MCwb, Aw, and color. No significant difference was observed for the different desiccant masses tested when they were placed inside the hermetic packaging, but the desiccants were ineffective without the hermetic packaging. Triangle test and descriptive sensory evaluation yielded no significant differences between the use of hermetic packages with or without desiccants.
Laudia Anokye-Bempah is a Ph.D. student in the Biological Systems Engineering Program at the University of California Davis. Her research focuses on the kinetics of coffee roasting, with the ultimate goal of designing a “Coffee Roasting Control Chart” that will be used to produce... Read More →
Thursday September 26, 2024 12:55pm - 1:05pm HST
South Pacific 3
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit is sensitive to chilling temperatures during storage, and the physiological mechanism of chilling injury (CI) is not well known. Understanding the chilling response in cucumber fruit is necessary to delay CI and extend the storage duration during postharvest. In this study, our goal was to identify CI symptoms and investigate key factors influencing on the chilling response in cucumber fruit (C. sativus var. ‘Hangang’). To assess the severity of CI symptoms, cucumber fruits were stored at low temperatures of both 13 °C (non-chilling response) and 2 °C (chilling response) for 9 d and exposed to 20 °C. As a result, various CI symptoms of discoloration, shirankage, water-soaking and necrosis area appeared on a cucumber fruit peel stored at 2 °C, resulting in loss of its marketability from 6 d. To clear the cellular mechanism of CI symptoms, transcriptome analysis was conducted in cucumber fruit stored for 1 d (early response) and 6 d (late response). The results suggested that phytohormone synthesis and signalling played major roles in chilling responses. To reveal the main phytohormone involved in the chilling response, eight phytohormones were quantified in cucumber fruit peel using LC-MS/MS. Among them, ABA was not sufficiently accumulated at 2 °C compared to 13 °C during the early response, and SA levels gradually increased by persisting chilling stress. Through these results, major phytohormone synthesis and signalling genes were selected by RT-qPCR. For further understanding of CI, targeted metabolite analysis was conducted, and amino acids such as isoleucine, serine, valine, threonine, and sucrose were identified as significant metabolites for acclimating to chilling temperatures. These findings help to elucidate the hormonal mechanisms involved in chilling response as well as the complex interplay of various molecular components involved in chilling response of cucumber fruit during storage.
Two-thirds of food waste occurs once the product has reached the consumer. In an effort to extend the shelf-life of produce, a common practice of hydroponic lettuce growers, particularly those who use controlled environment production systems such as greenhouses or indoor growing facilities, is to harvest the lettuce without removing the root tissue. However, the postharvest quality of this “living lettuce” has not been a focus of academic research, and its effect on the shelf-life of the produce is unknown. In this study, lettuce harvested from an indoor production facility that utilizes a vertical hydroponic setup was subjected to four postharvest treatments. Treatments included harvesting the complete lettuce plant or removing the roots after harvesting and storing the harvested produce either inside or outside of a plastic clamshell. Lettuce was stored for 28 days at 4 °C and 85% relative humidity. Fresh weight of the lettuce heads was assessed for 18 days post-harvest. As days in storage increased, the fresh weight of lettuce decreased by 0.37 grams per day. The rate of lettuce fresh weight decrease was the same across postharvest treatments, but the lettuce with roots intact stored inside a plastic clamshell had a higher fresh weight across all measured time points. A better understanding of the relationship between fresh lettuce weight and storage time under different postharvest conditions can help to increase the shelf life of the stored produce and reduce food waste.
In an effort to improve the shelf life of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) during summer in humid subtropical regions like northern Taiwan, the study investigated the effectiveness of modified hydrocooling and optimized postharvest handling practices. Most farmers in Taiwan often compromised postharvest vegetable quality due to uneven cooling. The first trial implemented a modified hydrocooling system using a 10-minute 5°C shower with a multi-hole perforated pipe and smaller baskets for precooling to substitute the conventional method. The results showed that the modified hydrocooling improved cooling uniformity and reduced vegetable loss rates. Meanwhile, for some farmers needed to meet the specialized market requirement which extend vegetable shelf life, the second trial conducted optimized postharvest handling practices including storage vegetables at 11°C, consistently clean 10°C water for washing/hydrocooling, and wrapping vegetables in plastic film. These practices revealed significantly decreased the water spinach quality loss for longer duration but less effective for amaranth. Even with the addition of hypochlorous acid in washing/hydrocooling water, the shelf life of amaranth was difficult to extend due to severe pre-harvest leaf disease. In conclusion, the study showed that modified hydrocooling offers benefits for most conventional farmers by reducing vegetable loss rates. On the other hands, for farmers needed to meet the specialized market requirement, optimized postharvest handling practices significantly improves the quality of water spinach in longer shelf life. Also, the research emphasized the importance of disease management in amaranth cultivation for postharvest quality.
Nut kernel color is a crucial quality indicator affecting consumers' first impression of the product. In the postharvest stage, nut kernels (e.g., pecans) gradually darken with increasing blue/red colors, which have a negative impact on consumers' preference. While growing evidence suggests that plant phenolics and their derivatives are linked to pecan kernel color, the compounds (biomarkers) responsible for kernel color stability during storage remain elusive. We hypothesized that: (1) the phenotype of pecan color exhibits notable variation among different cultivars during storage; and (2) this variation is attributed to changes in metabolites and their combination effects in the stage of phenolic biosynthetic pathways related to color formation. Here, pathway-based metabolomics with machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to identify key metabolites of postharvest pecan color stability. Nine pecan cultivars with different color stabilities were selected, and the color of each cultivar was measured over a 6-month storage period (0, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months). Metabolites in phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways were analyzed in the outer layer of the kernel (testa) using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Different ML models were compared to find relevant biomarkers of pecan color phenotypes. Lasso regression and support vector machine (linear kernel) in conjunction with recursive feature elimination were chosen as the most effective models to select biomarkers that predict the kernel color of pecans. Results revealed twenty marker compounds (flavonoid precursors, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, and anthocyanins) within phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways, and their roles in pecan color phenotypes during storage. Our findings provide a foundation for future research in the area and will help select genes/proteins for the breeding of pecans with stable and desirable kernel color. The collected information on biomarkers and their effects will also help set up strategies for the quality control of pecans after harvest.
Pecans are an important commodity in Georgia with 180,000 planted acres in 2022. The crop undergoes quality deterioration through lipid oxidation, off-flavor development, and kernel browning in storage. Many new varieties have been introduced to the State with little known about their storage viability. Knowing the varieties performance after harvest can help growers plan for an uncertain market by reducing storage costs. The standard industry technique for storage is low temperature (0°C) cold rooms, which can quickly become expensive over long periods of time due to rising electricity costs. The addition of controlled atmosphere (CA) may possibly aid in reducing oxidation rate and kernel browning during storage. The controlled atmosphere would reduce the amount of oxygen (O2) substituted by carbon dioxide (CO2). Previous studies reported shelf-life increases after oxygen levels were reduced to 2-3% using nitrogen (N2), however carbon dioxide is less commonly seen. Half pecan kernels were hand shelled and sorted before being stored under varied conditions for up to five months. Three treatments were applied to two GA pecan varieties (‘Desirable’ and ‘Sumner’). Conditions included elevated storage temperature at 10 °C, low temperature storage (5 °C) plus CA (10% CO2 4% O2), high temperature storage plus CA, and a control of cold storage at (0 °C). Quality assessments were conducted every month for change of weight, firmness, and color values. Firmness values were conducted using MecMesin texture analyzer to penetrate the half kernel until the breakpoint was achieved. A significant difference was seen in ‘Desirable’ when comparing the days of storage against the atmospheric conditions in the chroma values with the CA treatments exhibiting higher chroma. The Sumner variety saw significant differences in the chroma after two months of storage and varied differences in lightness values throughout storage. A significant difference was seen between the two varieties in firmness values with Sumner exhibiting higher firmness.
Genome-wide Association Study and Genome Prediction of Bolting Trait in Spinach - Hanan Mohammedsaeed Alkabkabi Towards the Improvement of Lettuce for Heat Tolerance Adapted to Controlled Environment Agriculture - German Sandoya Miranda Root Phenotyping in Chile Pepper: Key Steps and Challenges with the RhizoVision Explorer - Ehtisham Khokhar Towards Mechanical Harvest: Leveraging Genomic Selection to Increase Fruit Firmness in Fresh Market Tomato - Jessica Chitwood-Brown Genome-wide Association Study and Genome Prediction of Tallness Trait in Spinach - Ibtisam Alatawi Capitalizing on the Global Capsicum Core Collection to Advance Pepper Breeding - Derek Barchenger Private-public Partnership for Sustainable Cucurbit Breeding and Production in Asia - Narinder Dhillon
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) stands as a globally significant vegetable celebrated for its rich array of nutritional and health-promoting compounds. Bolting, a crucial trait in spinach cultivation across diverse seasons and regions, is heavily influenced by photoperiod sensitivity. The premature induction of bolting in spinach due to extended daylight exposure can render the plant unsuitable for market. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) to pinpoint single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with late bolting in spinach and to perform genomic prediction for this trait. GWAS was executed on a panel of 295 USDA spinach germplasm accessions, utilizing 16,563 SNPs derived from whole-genome resequencing. Various statistical models, including GLM, MLM, FarmCPU, and BLINK, were deployed in the analysis using the GAPIT 3 tool. A significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) region on chromosome 6 was identified, with three SNP markers — SOVchr6_13545609, SOVchr6_13545882, and SOVchr6_13545887 — located between 13,545,609 bp and 13,545,887 bp, demonstrating robust associations with late bolting. Additionally, the gene SOV6g004620, encoding a TTF-type domain-containing protein and situated at 13,566,721 bp to 13,567,164 bp on chromosome 6, emerged as a potential candidate for regulating bolting. Genomic prediction exhibited a high prediction ability (GA) with an r value of 0.85. The identified SNP markers and GA metrics present valuable tools for breeders to selectively cultivate late-bolting spinach plants and lines through marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS), thereby facilitating enhanced spinach breeding endeavors.
Dr. Ainong Shi is a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas. His research laboratory specializes in plant breeding and genetics, particularly focusing on vegetable crops such as arugula, cowpea, and spinach for cultivar and germplasm development... Read More →
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the top ten most consumed vegetables in the United States. In Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), lettuce is one of the most cultivated vegetables. The crop yield is severely affected by heatwaves during production. As a result of severe warmer temperatures, lettuce develops physiological disorders such as bolting and tipburn and consequently less marketability and yield. In order to reduce cooling costs and extend the growing season of lettuce crops, breeding heat-tolerant germplasm is imperative. In this research our aim was to confirm heat tolerance in lettuce identified in fields when grown in hydroponics. Initial screenings were conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee Valley. One hundred and four lettuce accessions from four morphological types (Boston, Latin, leaf, and romaine) were planted in a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic system in a passively vented greenhouse in two experiments. Germplasm included commercial cultivars, plant introductions, legacy cultivars, and breeding lines from the University of Florida /Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Lettuce Breeding Program. Data was collected on head weight and related characteristics including marketability, head height, density and width, and core length. Presence of disorders such as bolting, chlorosis and tipburn were also registered as indicators on the negative effects of warmer temperatures. Germplasm with tolerance to warmer temperatures were identified within each of the lettuce types used on this research. This germplasm had an acceptable head weight with less plants that bolted and insignificant presence of tipburn. Several of the germplasm considered heat tolerant are commercial cultivars currently used by the industry in CEA. Similarly, breeding lines from the UF/IFAS Lettuce Breeding Program showed better tolerance than commercial germplasm and are candidates for breeding and genetics studies to decipher mechanisms of heat tolerance in lettuce for this specific environment. Mapping and breeding populations will soon be developed to first study the genetics of tolerance to warmer temperatures and to select germplasm in this specific environment. While tolerant germplasm will aid to decrease cost production for CEA, additional management strategies should be optimized to decrease even further cost of production for growers.
Genetic studies of root architecture provide valuable insight into the overall yield potential of chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under various biotic and abiotic conditions. Phytophthora root rot , caused by soil born pathogen Phytophthora capsici, is one of the most destructive diseases of chile pepper that incur huge losses under severe infection. Rotting of the roots and crown are the primary symptoms with lesions on stem, wilting, and necrosis leading to the plant death. RhizoVision Explorer is a high throughput phenotyping tool that facilitates precise and in-depth phenotyping of root architecture. In this study, four chile pepper cultivars were planted in three replications under greenhouse conditions. A virulent isolate ‘6347’ was used to inoculate the cultivars. At maturity, shoots were removed, and roots were thoroughly washed to prepare them for scanning. A flatbed scanner was used where a transparent plastic flat allowing roots to be submerged in the water was set up to proceed with scanning and analysis using the RhizoVision Explorer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated significant differences between the treated and control groups coupled with strong positive correlation (r > 0.90; P < 0.001) for maximum number of roots (MNR), number of root tips (NRT), total root length (TRL), depth (DPT), maximum width (MAXW), and width-to-depth ratio (WDR). Preliminary results provided insights into root architecture under P. capsici infection and the optimization of key procedures such as root washing and scanning. Overall, the efficiency of root phenotyping using the RhizoVision Explorer under pathogen infection could be improved by modifying specific steps related to the washing and processing of chile pepper samples. Keywords: High throughput phenotyping, Phytophthora blight, root architecture
Mechanical harvesting could help address the challenges related to the cost and availability of labor experienced by Florida’s fresh market tomato industry. However, tomato fruit are very susceptible to bruising, which is likely to be exacerbated by mechanical harvest. Previous studies have found that fruit firmness plays an important role in cultivar resistance against internal bruising. The UF/IFAS tomato breeding program has worked to develop tomato lines with traits important for mechanical harvest, including a compact growth habit (CGH) and increased fruit firmness. To investigate the inheritance and genetic architecture of fruit firmness among CGH lines in the program, bi-parental populations were developed from firm and soft inbred parents. Genome wide association analysis identified multiple significant fruit firmness quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with minor effects, underscoring the quantitative nature of the fruit firmness trait among the population studied. The dissection of fruit firmness variance components revealed mostly additive variance components. Genomic selection (GS) models were successfully trained to predict fruit firmness, demonstrating the viability of GS integration into the UF Tomato Breeding program. Significant gains in prediction accuracy and computational efficiency were achieved through model parameters fine-tuning such as training population size and marker density optimization, and modeling of significant QTLs as fixed effects. This work demonstrates that significant fruit firmness variability exists in the UF/IFAS tomato breeding program germplasm and can be selected for to develop firm-fruited CGH tomatoes intended for mechanical harvest. Furthermore, the successful training of fruit firmness GS models will aid in the efficient development of CGH fresh market tomato cultivars intended for mechanical harvest. The training of multi-trait and multi-environment genomic selection models to leverage the variance-covariance information between traits and between testing environments may result in increased prediction accuracies and needs to be explored.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a highly nutritious leafy green known for its abundance of health-promoting components. Plant height (tallness), particularly relevant for efficient machine harvesting, is a critical trait of interest in spinach cultivation. This study aimed to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with tallness in spinach and to perform genomic prediction for this trait. GWAS was conducted on a panel of 307 USDA spinach germplasm accessions, utilizing 15,058 SNPs derived from whole-genome resequencing. Various statistical models, including GLM, MLM, FarmCPU, and BLINK, were employed in the analysis using the GAPIT 3 tool. Significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified on chromosome 2, along with two QTL on chromosome 6. Specifically, the SNP marker SOVchr4_38323167 at 38,323,167 bp on chromosome 4, and two SNPs, SSOVchr6_8139833 and SOVchr6_91175684 at 8,139,833 bp and 91,175,684 bp respectively on chromosome 6, exhibited robust associations with tallness. Genomic prediction demonstrated high accuracy, with a prediction ability (GA) represented by an r value of 0.71 in the panel. The identified SNP markers and genomic prediction metrics provide valuable tools for breeders to select spinach plants and lines with desired tallness traits through marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS), thereby enhancing spinach breeding efforts.
Dr. Ainong Shi is a faculty member in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas. His research laboratory specializes in plant breeding and genetics, particularly focusing on vegetable crops such as arugula, cowpea, and spinach for cultivar and germplasm development... Read More →
Unlike other crops, access to genetic and genomic tools enabling more efficient breeding is limited in pepper. The majority of the research in pepper is based on analyzing traits in biparental populations, and in addition, limited access to pathogen strains or races reduces the wide-scale applicability of the developed molecular markers across populations and breeding programs. In contrast to research in bi-parental populations, genome-wide association studies utilizes the broad range of genetic diversity present in natural populations, including historical recombination events, which allows for the identification of more alleles potentially associated with the trait. A well-designed core collection captures the diversity that is present in an entire germplasm collection, which is crucial for preserving unique alleles and traits and facilitates more efficient phenotyping and GWAS. A core collection of 423 accessions was assembled representing the genetic diversity present in the G2P-SOL global collection of 10,038 wild and cultivated Capsicum accessions from 10 major genebanks .The G2P-SOL Capsicum core collection has been phenotyped for resistance to anthracnose, bacterial wilt, phytophthora blight, and Chili leaf curl virus, as well as for heat stress component traits in several locations in Asia. Genome wide association studies have revealed multiple significant loci associated with the individual traits. These loci are being utilized in the breeding program to more efficiently develop and release cultivars.
The global cucurbit breeding program of the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) focuses on tropical pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) and four gourds: bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula), sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptica = cylindrica) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria). This breeding program uses the diversity of hitherto unexploited landrace collections to develop high yielding and disease resistant lines and F1 hybrids with a range of fruit types suitable for various market segments. The program supports breeding research of partners from national agricultural research and extension systems organizations and the private seed industry to develop better cucurbit cultivars for the benefit of stakeholders along the vegetable value chain. To facilitate these partnerships, the WorldVeg cucurbit team displays improved cucurbit lines and F1 hybrids during the cucurbits open field days at the WorldVeg East and Southeast Asia Research and Training Station, located on the campus of the Kasetsart University in Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand. This annual event attracts breeders, pathologists, product development managers, marketing and sales managers, R
Composted Pecan Shells: A Potential Growing Media Amendment For Container Grown Pecan Seedlings In Georgia - Srijana Thapa Magar Oil and Dormex® improve bloom and yield in pistachios by driving metabolite changes - GURREET BRAR Identifying the association between self-fertility and floral reproductive morphology in macadamia - Palakdeep Kaur Pecan sap flow properties in a micro-irrigated Southeastern orchard- M. Y. Leclerc
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland (UQ)
I am pursuing Ph.D. from the University of Queensland, Australia. I started in October 2022 and have successfully finished my candidature confirmation. I did my Bachelors in Agriculture specialisation in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology from India. I did my Masters in Agriculture... Read More →
Thursday September 26, 2024 4:44pm - 5:25pm HST
South Pacific 3
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) production in Georgia holds significant economic importance nationally. It is an energy-intensive practice with a very low output-to-input ratio. Pecan byproducts, notably pecan shells and husks, account for up to 49% of the nut but are underutilized. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the USDA facility in Byron, Georgia in 2023 to study the feasibility of composted pecan shells as a growing media amendment for container-grown pecan seedlings. The composted pecan shell was collected from a local pecan grower’s three-year-old composted pile, while fresh goat manure was sourced from the Fort Valley State University’s farm. Various ratios (25, 50, 75, and 100%) of composted pecan shells, along with biochar, goat manure, and chicken manure, were compared to a commercial soil mix (control). All the growing amendments underwent steam sterilization at 98°F for a couple of hours to eliminate any potential contaminants such as weeds, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Each treatment combination was placed in individual floats to sow the one-year-old stratified ‘Elliott’ seeds. Once the seedlings developed two juvenile leaves, they were transferred to 3-gallon pots to evaluate further soil and plant physiological parameters. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four blocks, each containing one treatment combination. Various soil and plant parameters were evaluated monthly, including soil electrical conductivity and temperature, plant size, photosynthesis, stem water potential, and chlorophyll content, to assess the impact of soil amendments on soil and pecan seedling growth. Results determined that composted pecan shell outperformed others in terms of germination (~80%), while none of the seeds germinated in any chicken manure treatment combination. Remarkably, the growth performance of pecan seedlings under different pecan shell ratios was comparable to those grown in commercial soil mix, biochar, and goat manure, indicating good plant health. The stem water potential values overall ranged above -6 Bar, suggesting no signs of plant water stress throughout the study. However, the 100% goat manure treatment consistently showed seedlings with significantly lower chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, leading to the smallest plant size compared to the control and biochar treatments. These findings highlight the potential of composted pecan shells as a sustainable soil amendment for container-grown pecan seedlings, offering a novel approach to repurpose pecan byproducts to enhance soil quality, promote sustainable agriculture practices, and serve as an additional income source to pecan growers, thus contributing to the economic viability of pecan production in Georgia.
Lack of dormant chilling is a major problem in producing pistachio trees in locations with warm periods during the winter time. In the past years, some locations in California have received insufficient winter chilling which has led to late bloom and crop reduction. Horticultural oil has been used as a rest-breaking agent to promote bud break and improve production. However, there is limited information regarding the merit of chill portion spray timing and the physiological mechanism behind bloom advancement by oil application. In the present study, three locations in California, North (Colusa County), Central (Madera County) and South-Western Fresno County (Cantua Creek) were selected for oil spray applications while Hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex®) was sprayed at Cantua Creek site. Tree of cv. Kerman (female) and Peters (male) on UCB-1 rootstock were sprayed with horticultural oil (IAP 440) @ 6% v/v or Dormex @4% at various chill portion (CP) accumulation milestones. Bloom period from bud swell to full bloom, tree yield, yield components, non-structural carbohydrates and macro and micro nutrients in buds and bark of pistachio shoots were analyzed. NMR-based metabolomics analysis was conducted to investigate the changes in metabolic profiles induced by exogenous oil or Dormex® application. Results showed that oil spraying in two southern locations advanced bud break but not in the northern site showing each location respond to oil spray differently. In Cantua site, Dormex® and oil spray at CP55 could significantly increase the yield while in Madera, oil spray at CP59 showed the highest yield. Results also showed that oil spray at different CPs and Dormex® could change the trend of soluble sugars and starch in bark and bud of pistachio trees. In Cantua, Dormex® significantly increased nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), boron (B), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) mobilization towards bud swell. Moreover, oil spray increased N, P, S in all CPs at all locations. A multivariate analysis conducted to compare the metabolite changes in control samples of bark and bud with these two rest-breaking agents led to the identification of nine metabolites that show a significant change in at least one of the comparisons (Creatine, Aspartate, Sucrose, Asparagine, Succinate, Fumarate, Leucine, Adenosine, and Uridine). It seems that oil and Dormex® applications can significantly increase the yield of pistachio trees by advancing bud break, improving bloom synchrony and also, by changes in carbohydrate, nutrients and metabolite changes in bark and bud of pistachio tree.
Self-fertility, the ability of a plant to set fruits with self-pollen, is an important commercial trait in many crops. Self-fertility has the potential to set fruits in the absence of pollinators and pollenisers. Most macadamia cultivars are self-infertile but a few exhibit degrees of self-fertility. The potential morphological factors underpinning variability in this trait have not been previously investigated in macadamia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether floral reproductive morphology differs among self-fertile and self-infertile cultivars. Pistil length (PL), stamen length (SmL) and stigma-anther distance (SAD) were measured from cultivars within a self-fertile and a self-infertile group for two flowering seasons. The analysed self-fertile cultivars were ‘HAES 741’, ‘HAES 791’, ‘A38’, ‘Q’, ‘K’ and ‘UQM40’, while the self-infertile cultivars were ‘HAES 344’, ‘A16’, ‘Daddow’, ‘D4’ and ‘A268’. There was no significant difference between years for any of the traits (P>0.05). However, significant differences were found between the self-fertile/self-infertile groups and among cultivars within groups for the three examined traits (P
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland (UQ)
I am pursuing Ph.D. from the University of Queensland, Australia. I started in October 2022 and have successfully finished my candidature confirmation. I did my Bachelors in Agriculture specialisation in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology from India. I did my Masters in Agriculture... Read More →
Amazingly, in contrast with other crops and in stark contrast to their tree crop counterparts in the Southwest, little is known regarding the response of pecan trees to their environment in the Southeast. Surprisingly, few studies have been carried out regarding the response of pecan trees to factors influencing their response to variable such as vapor pressure deficit, water availability and other environmental variables. This paper reports on tree sap flow properties in a micro-irrigated pecan orchard near Hawkinsville, GA in 2022 and 2023. Results presented describe the diurnal trend in the sap flow behavior. The paper also reports how the timing of the peak in sap flow density in relation to solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit and temperature. It also reports on the intraseasonal variability and changes in sap flow density throughout the growing season. The daily patterns of sap flow through the day along with their accompanying hysteresis loops and implications for water management are discussed. The hysteretic strength for the sub-diurnal sap flow density against the vapor pressure deficit for the Southeastern pecan is quantified using a hysteresis index. Tree transpiration for these southern pecan trees is also discussed. This new data regarding sap flow properties in pecan trees shed useful insight on how trees respond to environmental conditions in a micro-irrigated orchard in the Southeast.
Biostimulants Promoted Onion Plant Growth and Helped Mitigate Drought Stress During the Seedling Stage - Genhua Niu Effluent of the Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste as a Biofertilizer for Red Cabbage - Roland Ebel Optimizing the Application of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation in Organic High Tunnel Vegetable Production Systems - Francesco Di Gioia Cover Crops Potential for Regulating Soil Moisture and Temperature in Drive-row of an Irrigated Organic Vineyard - Mehdi Sharifi Apple Rootstocks Affect Soil Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Root Exudate Composition - Julie Cardon No-till planting organic dry bean into rolled-crimped cover crops - Matthew Ryan
Climate change and global warming are increasing the frequency of drought incidents, which negatively impact crop production. Onion is one of the major vegetable crops produced in Texas, which requires a long growth period and prone to drought stress as it has shallow roots and needs frequent irrigation. Plant biostimulants may offer a potential solution to mitigate drought stress in onion production. This study investigated the effect of different biostimulants (no application as control, Kelpak, Spectrum DS, MycoApply, and Tribus Continuum) on onion seedling growth under well-watered and drought stressed (50-60% field capacity) conditions. Results showed that there was no significant interaction between biostimulants and drought stress on most of the parameters we collected. All biostimulants significantly increased shoot weight, leaf area, plant height, and root weight compared to the control. Notably, Spectrum DS, MycoApply, and Kelpak specifically enhanced root morphology by increasing root length, root area, and root volume compared to the control. But the application of biostimulants didn’t significantly affect average root diameter or the number of root tips. Drought stress significantly reduced the growth of onion seedlings across all measured parameters, except for the number of root tips, compared to the well-watered group. While drought stress caused a 36.9% decrease in shoot fresh weight, application of Kelpak, Spectrum DS, MycoApply, and Tribus Continuum increased shoot fresh weight by 29.8 to 34.9%, partly offsetting the growth reduction and alleviating the stress experienced by the seedlings. In conclusion, the application of the investigated biostimulants shows promise for enhancing drought tolerance in onion seedlings.
Food and farm waste processed by anaerobic digestion (AD) generates a nutrient-rich digestate suitable for use as a biofertilizer. Small-scale AD systems production of biofertilizer offer an on-site solution accessible to individual households and small horticultural producers. Unlike common and more complex AD solutions, small-scale systems do not require extensive management or infrastructure investments. In 2022, we investigated the nutrient content and usability of digestate from two small-scale biodigester models: A commercially built digester with a 1,200 L digester tank, and a prototype we designed with a 114 L capacity. Locally sourced fresh raw cow milk served as inoculum. Over a span of 16 weeks, 12 randomly selected households in Bozeman, Montana, tested the two digester models, feeding them with the food waste they generated. Six of the households received the commercial model, and six tested the prototype. Digestate samples were collected biweekly to analyze their chemical properties and potential as a biofertilizer. After 16 weeks, we blended all digestate, taking equal parts from all household samples, and tested it in a greenhouse study as a fertilizer for red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata Group) seedlings. In addition to a control treatment where no biofertilizer was used, we applied 40 ml of biofertilizer per plant in a “high dose treatment” and 20 ml biofertilizer per plant in a “low dose treatment.” Each treatment involved 50 cabbage plants growing individually in trays of 10 cm diameter. On a weekly interval, the biofertilizer was sprayed on the substrate, with amounts varying by treatment. The substrate consisted of loam soil, washed sand, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and dolomitic lime. Seedlings were irrigated manually every second day. To ensure sufficient nitrogen supply, all three treatments received an initial application of 40 mL of fish emulsion per cabbage plant. No pest or disease management practices were implemented. After 30 days, all plants were harvested, and their aboveground dry biomass was measured. A trend towards higher aboveground dry biomass in the "high biofertilizer dose" treatment compared to the "low biofertilizer dose" and control treatments was observed. Additionally, the aboveground biomass underwent nutrient content analysis, revealing a tendency towards the highest potassium content in the "high dose treatment." This study showed that household food waste processed through small-scale AD systems generates valuable biofertilizer that can help manage crops’ nutrient needs.
Roland Ebel has dedicated his professional life to the facilitation and the production of sustainable food. He counts with a PhD in Organic Farming, granted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. The thesis project was done in Gran Canaria, Spain, and dealt... Read More →
Friday September 27, 2024 10:15am - 10:30am HST
South Pacific 3
The growth of the U.S. organic vegetable industry is currently limited by the availability of viable and effective solutions for the management of soilborne pests and pathogens. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a pre-planting biological method proposed for the management of a range of soilborne pests and pathogens affecting horticultural crops. As an organic amendment-based approach, ASD is implemented incorporating in the soil an easily degradable carbon (C) source, tarping the soil with plastic mulch, and irrigating the soil to field capacity. The selection of organic amendments suitable as C sources is critical for the efficacy of the treatment and its sustainability. Understanding how the physicochemical properties of alternative amendments may affect the efficacy of the ASD treatment, the soil fertility during and post ASD, and consequently the crop performance is critical. Therefore, a study was conducted on organic-certified land at the Penn State High Tunnel Facility to compare wheat middlings (WM), molasses (M), and soybean meal (SM) and their combination as C sources. Treatments tested included WM, M, SM, WM SM, and M SM applied at the standard rate of 6 Mg/ha of total C, SM0.5 applied to reach the equivalent of 3 Mg/ha of total C, and the untreated controls with (UTC W) and without (UTC) initial irrigation. Three weeks after the ASD treatment, Romaine lettuce was planted as a test crop. Organic amendments tested as C source were characterized by different C:N ratio, ranging between 6.3 (SM) and 57.2 (M). All the amendments tested ensured the achievement of good soil anaerobicity levels. The C:N ratio of the amendments significantly influenced the availability of nitrate-N during and post-ASD, thereby influencing the lettuce crop yield and quality performance. Having the highest C:N ratio, M applied by itself decreased the availability of nitrate-N during and post-ASD. Instead, SM characterized by the lowest C:N ratio, increased the availability of nitrate-N. The availability of N during the growing cycle, determined by the characteristics of the organic amendment and by the ASD treatment influenced the crop yield and nutritional profile. The results of the present study provide new insight for the selection of alternative C sources and the optimization of the ASD treatment in organic protected culture systems.
The utilization of cover crops in vineyards has been promoted for their role in moderating soil climate, thus enhancing vineyard resilience to extreme weather conditions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three drive-row cover crop treatments in regulating soil moisture and temperature within an irrigated organic vineyard characterized by loamy sand soil, located in the semiarid Okanagan Valley, Canada, over the period from 2021 to 2023. Selection of cover crop species was informed by prior greenhouse and field screening experiments. The implemented treatments, established in May 2021, included a mixture of perennial ryegrass, tillage radish, and white clover (PRTRWC); a fescue mixture with white clover (FWC); cereal rye with hairy vetch (CRHV); and a Control (existing vegetation/weeds). The vineyard was equipped with drip lines and undercanopy sprinklers. Soil moisture and temperature were monitored every four hours using Teros 11 sensors at a 10 cm depth in the drive-row. Seasonal observations revealed the highest soil volumetric water content (Ɵv) from November to April, aligning with cooler temperatures and increased precipitation. The Ɵv ranged from 0.10 to 0.14 and significant differences in average Ɵv were noted among the all treatments over the three growing seasons (May to Oct), with CRHV displaying the highest levels, followed by FWC, Control, and PRTRWC. Notably, substantial differences in Ɵv (
Dr. Mehdi Sharifi is a “soil nutrient management” research scientist at Summerland Research and Development Centre in British Columbia, Canada. Before his current position, he was a professors at Trent and Dalhousie Universities. He completed two postdoctoral fellow positions... Read More →
The plant rhizosphere plays a key role in plant function and immunity. Apple Replant Disease (ARD) is a dysbiosis in apple rhizosphere environments that have a history of apple cultivation. Due to increased intensification of apple growing systems and land scarcity, ARD incidence is on the rise and can result in a 50% loss of profitability to growers. Soil fumigation is a common practice for mitigating ARD, but has limited efficacy and is not allowed in some areas because of potential for environmental damage and human harm. Using resistant rootstocks is a key strategy in overcoming ARD. To understand rootstock resistance, it is important to describe and characterize the microbial communities of various rootstocks in an environment conducive to microbial health. We planted an organically managed apple orchard with 5 randomized repetitions of 15 different rootstocks. In both 2022 and 2023, we sampled the soil adhering to the roots of these trees for DNA extraction in order to characterize both bacterial and fungal microorganisms in the rhizosphere of the rootstocks in our research. We also established an aeroponic greenhouse trial (randomized with three repetitions) to sample rhizodeposits from 6 of the rootstocks used in the orchard trial, with the aim of characterizing metabolites with untargeted HPLC/LCMS. Bacterial phyla and genera differed in relative abundance between the rootstocks. A sparse PLS (partial least squares) discriminant analysis of rootstock exudates revealed differential sorting of some rootstocks. Neither study revealed clear biological indicators for ARD resistance, but the results evince that rootstock genotype does influence both microbial community and tree root exudation patterns.
Consumer demand for organic and locally sourced plant-based protein has created an opportunity for farmers in the Northeast and Upper Midwest who are interested in organic dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production. However, standard practices for organic dry bean production can degrade soil health because of the soil tillage and cultivation used for weed management and harvesting. Such soil disturbance is not only labor and fuel intensive, but it also makes soil vulnerable to extreme weather, which is a major concern given the increased frequency of heavy rain events. Building on success with no-till planting soybean into mechanically terminated cereal rye, a team of researchers and stakeholders from Wisconsin, New York, Maine, and Vermont developed a project to assess dry beans for cover crop-based, organic no-till production. In addition to crop yield and profitability, field experiments focused on assessing weed and disease management. Findings from several experiments show that dry beans can successfully emerge through mulch from cover crops and produce yields that are comparable to standard tillage based organic production. In an experiment conducted at two sites in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, a cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and cereal rye produced relatively high biomass (>7000 kg/ha), which suppressed weeds (< 500 kg/ha) and resulted in relatively high (2500 kg/ha) organic black bean (cv. ‘Zorro’) yield. Results are congruent with previous research showing that mulch from cover crops can suppress weeds, particularly small seeded annual weeds. In an experiment conducted in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, we showed that mulch from mechanically terminated cereal rye (Secale cereale) can also reduce the incidence of the fungal disease white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) in organic no-till planted dry bean. Although mulch from cover crops can suppress weeds and soil borne diseases, achieving the high cover crop biomass production that is necessary for suppression can be challenging. A field experiment was conducted in Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, and Maine in 2022-2023 to test the efficacy of interrow mowing weeds that break through the mulch in the space between crop rows. Preliminary results show that interrow mowing has potential to reduce yield loss from weeds and weed seed production in organic no-till planted dry bean production. Additional research is needed to develop management guidelines for no-till planting organic dry beans into rolled-crimped cover crops.
PoDRM2: Unveiling a Key Regulator of Biomass Production and Starch Accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana - JianHuang Efficient high molecular weight DNA isolation and whole genome sequencing of papaya for molecular applications - Jon Suzuki Tissue Culture Regeneration of Miscanthus Sinensis ’Gracillimus’ - Kedong Da In Vitro Shoot Regeneration Protocol For Southern Highbush Blueberry (SHB) Cultivars - Anandi Karn
Friday September 27, 2024 11:44am - 12:25pm HST
South Pacific 3
Starch, a vital dietary component and crucial for bio-ethanol generation, is synthesized by plants during photosynthesis. Augmenting starch output holds promise for human and animal nutrition, as well as bioenergy. Our previous work involved cloning the homolog gene DRM2 from Purslane and subsequently overexpressing PoDRM2 in Arabidopsis. Comparative analysis between wild-type Columbia and homozygous PoDRM2 transgenic lines revealed a substantial increase in plant size and nearly a 90% rise in fresh biomass per plant in PoDRM2 lines, indicating a potentially heightened efficiency in photosynthesis. We conducted further investigations into starch synthesis and accumulation in leaves. Iodine staining revealed that PoDRM2 transgenic Arabidopsis lines accumulated significantly more starch than the control under both dark and light conditions. Additionally, total carbohydrates in the leaves of transgenic lines more than doubled that of the wild type. Furthermore, PoDRM2 lines exhibited higher chlorophyll content compared to the control. These findings strongly indicate that PoDRM2 serves as a crucial regulator of starch accumulation. PoDRM2, encoding a methyltransferase, was implicated in altering the methylation status of over 2,500 genes through genome-wide bisulfite sequencing. Notably, 55 out of 61 genes involved in the photosynthesis pathway were affected, underscoring the significant role of DNA methylation in regulating starch accumulation and photosynthesis in plants.
Plant whole genome sequencing provides detailed information on gene content, genome organization, and evolutionary relationships as well as supports biotechnological applications such as gene editing. The first 3X draft genome sequence of papaya based on whole genome shotgun reads from the transgenic ‘SunUp’ papaya cultivar was published in 2008. Since then, advancements in sequencing and whole genome assembly enabled a near complete sequence of ‘SunUp’ and a detailed picture of events resulting from particle gun-mediated transformation. With current technology, the 372 Mb genome size of papaya makes it tractable for routine whole genome sequencing to characterize different cultivars and molecular events. In this study, we improved ease and speed of preparation, efficiency of recovery, and DNA quality through a combination of classical and contemporary plant nuclei or high molecular weight DNA isolation methods. Leveraging Hi-Fi sequencing and Hi-C technology, we achieved rapid chromosome-level sequence assembly of two local Hawaiian cultivars, Kapoho and Waimanalo. The assembled genomes of Kapoho and Waimanalo spanned 341.6 Mb and 337.4 Mb, respectively, with a total of 20,343 and 20,165 annotated protein-coding genes.
The genus Miscanthus is considered an ideal choice for both ornamental and biofuel purposes, owing to its appealing aesthetics and significant potential for high-energy biomass production. Traditional breeding efforts in Miscanthus have predominantly focused on enhancing nutrient efficiency and tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, these endeavors are often time-consuming. The emergence of plant genome editing technologies has opened up a new and efficient avenue for Miscanthus breeding. These innovative techniques hold promise for accelerating the breeding process, allowing for more rapid and targeted improvements in desired traits. The development of an efficient plant regeneration system is crucial for the application of modern genome editing technologies in Miscanthus breeding and for achieving large-scale biomass production. Among the Miscanthus species, Miscanthus sinensis poses a particular challenge in tissue culture regeneration. In this report, we present an effective system for callus induction and regeneration in Miscanthus sinensis. Callus was induced from the stems of in vitro-cultured Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' using a modified MS media supplemented with varying levels of 2,4-D. Regeneration-competent callus was achieved through continuous selection on the callus maintenance/selection medium over a period of 6 months. Remarkably, 100% of the callus successfully regenerated new shoots on a modified MS medium containing Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). This marks the first efficient 'Gracillimus' regeneration system using in vitro culture as the starting material. The established system demonstrates a high potential for the micropropagation of Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' with a propagation rate of 3.5. Currently, efforts are underway for genome editing of Miscanthus sinensis utilizing this established system.
Blueberry (Vaccinium sp. L.) is one of the most important fruit crops from the Ericaceae family and the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is the most widely grown species. It's popularity is increasing day-by-day because of their unique flavor and rich nutritional content. Consequently, significant efforts have been made to develop superior cultivars with high yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance using conventional breeding. However, due to high heterozygosity, polyploidy and long juvenile period, traditional breeding approaches can often be tedious and time consuming. Therefore, there is need to integrate modern precision breeding tools with traditional ones, to accelerate blueberry crop improvement. However, the success of novel biotechnological tools like gene editing and conventional transformation relies on successful shoot regeneration system. Many studies in blueberry show a lack of reliable regeneration protocols and their genotype-dependency. Furthermore, most of the reported regeneration studies have been conducted on northern highbush blueberry (NHB) cultivars. Therefore, the current study aims to develop shoot regeneration protocol for seven important southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars (Colossus, Optimus, Albus, Arcadia, Keecrsip, FL 14-242
Assessing the Viability of Olive Trees as an Alternative Fruit Crop for Cultivation in Florida - Lorenzo Rossi A Comparative Study of Ripening Timelines in Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) Cultivars. - Venkateswara Rao Kadium Biostimulants Did Not Influence Strawberry Yield but Increased Fruit Sugar Content - Jayesh Samtani Assessment of Botrytis Fruit Rot Susceptibility in Selected Strawberry Cultivars under Field Conditions - Jayesh Samtani Evaluation of Cordon Training System in Blackberry Production - Jayesh Samtani Effects of Chitosan and Ultraviolet A (UVA) Light on Postharvest of Blackcurrant Fruit - Venkateswara Rao Kadium Updates on the Genome Database for Vaccinium (GDV): How GDV supports Vaccinium Research and Breeding - Roohollah Abdolshahi
Over the past decade, the cultivation of olive trees (Olea europaea) in Florida has experienced remarkable growth, expanding tenfold. Currently, there are more than 60 growers tending to approximately 800 acres spread across 26 counties in Florida. Despite this significant expansion in Florida’s olive tree cultivation, accompanied by a surge in global olive oil demand, research in this area has been lacking. To address this gap, comprehensive data collection commenced in the summer of 2023 through three distinct trials located in Jay, Wauchula, and Fort Pierce, Florida. These trials aim to determine the most productive olive tree varieties and optimal cultivation techniques tailored to Florida’s diverse climate and soil compositions. Given variations in grove management approaches and tree maturity levels, a range of cultivars representing different genotypes were being tested across various locations. The cultivar ‘Arbequina’ was consistent across all trials. In addition to ‘Arbequina’, other cultivars such as ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Sikitita’ were assessed in Wauchula, while ‘Lecciana’ and ‘Sikitita’ were examined in Fort Pierce. Throughout the trials, parameters including soil fertility, temperature, soil moisture levels, as well as leaf nutrient status and phenological observations were quantified twice a year. No nutrient deficiencies were detected in either soil or leaf samples, but also no consistent patterns regarding flowering or production were observed. The ongoing data collection is expected to shed light on critical aspects regarding the feasibility of olive tree cultivation within the Florida environment and provide valuable insights for growers and stakeholders.
Dr. Rossi’s research program focuses on improving root health and growth on cultivated crops, leading to the development of environmentally sound and effective management methods. He is a horticulturist with specific expertise related to plant stress physiology, root dynamics and... Read More →
Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.), also known as edible blue honeysuckle or honeyberry, is a new and emerging berry crop in North America. Its resilience to cold temperatures, adaptability to various soil pH levels, distinctive flavor, and health benefits make it suitable for cultivation in colder climates. The period from flowering to fruit ripeness is remarkably brief in haskap, typically ranging from six to eight weeks, offering an advantageous alternative in shorter-growing regions. Yet, detailed guidance on its cultivation and fruit quality is scarce. To aid growers, a two-year study at the Western Agricultural Research Center assessed the ripening timelines of 15 haskap varieties, providing critical data to optimize harvest timing and management practices. Throughout the growing seasons of 2022 and 2023, from May through August, fruit quality and ripening stages were closely monitored two to three times a week by collecting berry samples. From these samples, traits such as total soluble solids content (Brix), pH, total acidity (TA), single berry mass, and berry color changes were measured. Assessment of this phenotypic data revealed distinct patterns for each trait across the different varieties studied. Cultivars such as 'Blue Goose', 'Boreal Beauty', and 'Sugar Mountain Blue' reached their harvest readiness sooner, around approximately 650 growing degree days (GDD) for the year, followed by a reduction in berry size due to water loss and a rise in sugar concentration. In contrast, Aurora, Tana, and Kawai matured more slowly, achieving peak ripeness near ~1000 GDD. Yet, they preserved their mature fruit characteristics (consistent berry weight and sugar levels) through the sampling period’s end. These insights into the ripening patterns of haskap varieties from prominent breeding programs in North America can inform growers as they choose specific cultivars and decide on optimal harvest times.
Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) or grey mold disease, caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers., poses a significant threat to strawberry crop production in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The extensive use of fungicides to combat this fungal disease has resulted in listing the strawberries in the Dirty Dozen fruits and the evolution of fungal strain resistance to fungicides. Hence, exploring potential alternative strategies is crucial to reducing pesticide use and minimizing BFR; as such, utilizing resistant plant cultivars is a potential strategy. With this, the current study aimed to assess the susceptibility of two cultivars to Botrytis, Flavorfest, and Honeoye, which showed resistance to gray mold under in vitro conditions, and compare them with grower standard cultivars, Chandler and Sweet Charlie, under field conditions. The field evaluations were conducted at two locations during the 2022-2023 growing season: Hampton Roads Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach, VA, and a grower farm in Fredericksburg, VA. Transplanting of plants was done on October 12, 2022, in Fredericksburg and October 17, 2022, in Virginia Beach. A randomized complete block design was used in the experiments with four replicates per cultivar in Virginia Beach and three replicates in Fredericksburg, and each replicate had 12 plants. Fruits were harvested twice a week throughout the season to assess BFR occurrence and marketable crop yield. The main effect of the cultivar was significant for Botrytis fruit rot and marketable yield for the season. 'Honeoye' showed the lowest BFR-infested fruits (~6.5 g of fruits/plant), compared to 'Chandler' (22.5 g). However, 'Chandler' showed the highest marketable yield (713 g/plant), followed by 'Sweet Charlie' (473 g), while 'Flavorfest' (261 g) and 'Honeoye' (216 g) produced the lowest yields. Additionally, marketable yield differed by location, with higher yields recorded in Virginia Beach. Post harvest parameters including fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), and pH that were measured on a subsample of fruits in Virginia Beach showed significant cultivar effect . ‘Honeoye’ had the least firm fruit but had the highest TSS for the season, not different than ‘Sweet Charlie’. The fruit pH of ‘Sweet Charlie’ was the highest. Information on resistant cultivars could assist growers in choosing appropriate cultivars to meet their farm production practices.
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) is a small fruit known for its health benefits, but treatment effects on postharvest storage for fresh markets remains understudied compared to other berries, such as blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). This work aims to identify the effect of chitosan coating, ultraviolet a (UVA) light, and combined UVA-Chitosan treatments on blackcurrant postharvest storage. Physical (weight loss and firmness) and physiochemical analyses (soluble solid content, pH, citric acid content, and ascorbic acid content) were combined with microbial population quantification, phenolic compound characterization, and antioxidant capacity assessment. Samples were evaluated every three days of storage throughout this experiment. The results indicated that chitosan treatments have positive effects on reducing berry weight loss, maintaining berry firmness, and reducing mold populations. UVA influenced certain bioactive compounds, such as cyanidin-3-galactoside and rutin. The interaction effects from these two treatments were minimal. This study provides important information for blackcurrant postharvest storage and further small fruit storage work, considering both UVA and chitosan had differential beneficial effects on blackcurrant berries’ physical and chemical attributes.
In the past few years, there has been an increased interest in the use of biostimulants for improved crop production. Biostimulants are products that can promote plant growth when applied in amounts so small that they do not provide much nutrition. These are composed of different organisms, compounds or plant extracts; they include beneficial fungi and bacteria, humic and fulvic acid, seaweed extracts, and protein hydrolysates. During the 2022-23 growing season we evaluated three different biostimulant products in annual hill strawberry plasticulture production. ‘Ruby June’ plants were transplanted on 24 Oct, 2022 on non-fumigated beds and were maintained as per grower standard practices. Treatments were as follows (i) no biostimulant (ii) preplant AminoSalmon (247 kg/ha) applied during bed making (3) plugs dipped for 20 seconds in TerraGrow Liquid (TGL, 3ml/38 L) prior to transplanting followed by a foliar spray and a drip application (1.5L/ha) at one, fourteen, and thirty days after transplanting, resuming monthly during spring; and (iv) EZ-GRO 16-0-0 (3.9 kg/ha) drip application 14 days after transplanting and every 14 days during fall, resuming during spring. All non-treatment irrigation valves were closed during treatment injection through the drip lines. Ripe fruit was harvested beginning 31 March and continued twice a week until 16 June. Harvested fruit was categorized into marketable and non-marketable yield by replicate and fruits were weighed for each category. Yields were cumulated for the season and expressed as g/plant for data analysis. For total yield and marketable yield, no treatment differences were found. Fruit size was estimated as g/fruit by weighing 10 marketable fruits weekly. Five marketable fruits were measured weekly for firmness using a texture analyzer then stored at -20 °C for later analysis of pH and total soluble solids (°Brix) using a digital refractometer. While fruit firmness and pH were not influenced by treatments, the application of both the amino salmon and EZ-GRO biostimulants significantly improved total soluble solids values compared to the untreated control.
The Genome Database for Vaccinium (www.vaccinium.org) is a valuable resource for genomics, genetics, and breeding research related to blueberries, cranberries, bilberries, and lingonberries. It provides a wide range of genetic data, including genetic markers, linkage maps, and GWAS/QTL alongside genome data. GDV has the MapViewer tool to dynamically view genetic maps as well as genetic data associated with genomes and powerful search interfaces to query and download genetics data in table formats. For Vaccinium breeders, The Breeding Information Management System (BIMS) is a useful tool for storing, managing, archiving, and analyzing breeding data. Additionally, BIMS can be synchronized with the Field Book App to allow efficient phenotypic data collection and management. This poster will provide an update on new data and tools such as BIMS and MapViewer incorporated in GDV. We will demonstrate how these data and tools can be used for research and breeding activities.
Six -year Performance of Semi-dwarfing Peach Rootstocks From the NC-140 'Cresthaven' Trial in Western Colorado - Jeff Pieper Nutritional Dynamics and Horticultural Performance of Peach Orchard in the United States in Response to Different Soil Amendment Programs. - Ayodeji Idowu Influence of Low-, Medium-, and High-Chill Requirement Rootstocks on the Metabolomic Profile of Low-Chill Peaches - Jonathan Clavijo Herrera Effects of plum tree architecture on canopy light environments and fruit quality - Lisa Tang Does the Utah Model Still Work in Utah? Evaluation of Existing Phenological Models for Tart Cherry in a Changing Climate - Josette Moon A Mobile Cartographer System to Measure Tree Growth Within Tart Cherry Orchards - Brent Black Enhancing Uniformity in Tart Cherry Orchards Through Precision Management and Variable Rate Fertilization - Kurt Wedegaertner Tree temperature prediction to improve chill accumulation estimation in cherry under climate change - Giulia Marino
Eight rootstock cultivars were planted in 2017 as part of the NC-140 semi-dwarfing peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] rootstock trial. The eight rootstock cultivars were budded to ‘Cresthaven’ and examined for their potential use in Western Colorado high density production systems. Listed in order of declining vigor the rootstocks included ‘Guardian®’, ‘Rootpac® 20’, ‘Lovell’, ‘ControllerTM 8’, ‘ControllerTM 6’, ‘Rootpac® 40’, ‘ControllerTM 7’, and ‘MP-29’. One rootstock, ‘ControllerTM 7’, was unable to perform in alkaline soils, showing extreme iron chlorosis and diminutive fruit size. Deemed unsuitable for use in Colorado, this rootstock was removed from analysis in the 3rd leaf. Six years of data showed that all remaining rootstocks, except ‘MP-29,’ had vigor profiles within 14% of ‘Lovell’, a known standard, making them attractive candidates for use in high density production. The two ‘Rootpac®’ rootstocks performed contrary to previous reports. ‘Rootpac® 20’ was the second most vigorous and ‘Rootpac® 40’ was the third least vigorous, slightly larger than ‘ControllerTM 6’. Additional physiological traits showing distinct differences between the rootstocks were yield, proleptic shoot formation, light interception, fruit size, and internal fruit quality. In the six years since planting there have been three harvests. Cumulative yield showed a strong linear relationship to vigor (TCSA). ‘ControllerTM 6’ had early precocity and high yields given its vigor class. Observance of gummosis was also positively associated with vigor. Both vigor and proleptic shoot formation manipulated the canopy light environment. ‘ControllerTM’ series rootstocks had increased proleptic shoot formation. Vigor-limiting rootstocks had increased light availability in the canopy leading to enhanced dry matter content and soluble solid concentration. Cumulative fruit size and weight showed ‘Rootpac® 20’ had the heaviest, and ‘ControllerTM 6’ the largest, fruit size. ‘MP-29’, the most dwarfing rootstock produced smaller fruit on average; however, fruit size was still commercially acceptable.
Compost, mulch and manures have been reported as a potential substitute for synthetic fertilizer in fruit orchards, can improve soil health as well as increase the sustainability of orchard systems. In this study, we compared two rates (10 tons/acre as compost 1x and 20tons/acre as compost 2x) of pre-plant incorporation of food waste compost (FWC) and growers’ standard rate of inorganic/chemical fertilizer (control) of a replanted and virgin peach orchards in South Carolina. Measurement includes soil health indicators such as soil nutritional status and macronutrient dynamics, yield, and fruit quality (specifically on the incidence of diseases and physiological disorders). We hypothesized that the pre-plant incorporation of organic matter with subsequent topical application would improve soil moisture and nutrient availability, increase yield, and enhance the quality of marketable fruits. Higher cation exchange capacity and buffering capacity was recorded in soil treated with FWC than in the control treatment. In the replanted orchard, the 2x treatment resulted in improving soil health indicators such as SOM, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus, soil infiltration, and soil moisture, but not in the virgin orchard compared to the control treatment. Soil extractable P was higher in the FWC treatment as compared to the control treatment, while the soil extractable K ranges from high to excessive K across all treatments. No significant difference between the yields from both orchards. However, we observed numerical differences in the yields of the 2x treatment compared to the 1x and control treatments. Our results show that the yearly application of compost provides the orchard’s nutritional requirement, increases yield, and lower disease pressure in both orchards compared to the control treatments.
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, Clemson University
I am an adept third-year Ph.D. student working on improving soil health and ecosystem conservation through rigorous enhancement of soil organic matter and strategic soil nutrient management for agricultural and environmental sustainability. To achieve this, I am testing different... Read More →
Rootstocks are widely used for commercial orchard establishments throughout the world, as they facilitate scion adaptation to challenging edaphic and environmental conditions, as well as mitigate the impact of pests and diseases. Furthermore, rootstocks may influence physiological, biochemical, or phenological processes in the scion. Nevertheless, little is known about the influence of rootstocks on metabolomic profiles of Prunus scions, particularly in low-chill cultivars. This study aimed to determine the influence of rootstocks with varied chilling requirements on the metabolomic profiles of low-chill peaches. Scion ‘UFSun’ was grafted on low-(Flordaguard), medium-(P-22), and high-(MP-29, Guardian, and Nemaguard) chill requirement rootstocks, and grown in a greenhouse in Gainesville, Florida. Vegetative tissue samples were collected for extraction of metabolites. Untargeted compounds were analyzed using an Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid mass spectrometer system, interfaced with an automated A VanquishTM UHPLC system, and a total of 152 metabolites were detected. Potential differences in metabolomes associated with the rootstocks were analyzed by performing a partial least square–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), although it was not possible to determine group differences when comparing all treatments. An orthogonal PLS-DA approach supported by permutational MANOVA test was implemented for paired comparison of plants grafted on Flordaguard (rootstock recommended for commercial production in Florida) vs. all other rootstocks, and differences were observed for all comparisons. For further confirmation of these results, and determination of the metabolites potentially differentially expressed due to rootstock influence, the Empirical Bayesian Analysis of Microarrays (EBAM) approach was implemented, as adjusted for analysis of metabolites in MetaboAnalyst 6.0. A total of 85, 52, 0, and 61 metabolites were dimmed as potentially differentially expressed when comparing trees grafted on Flordaguard vs. P-22, MP-29, Guardian, and Nemaguard, respectively. Most of these metabolites may be flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and polyketides. According to our observations, low-, medium-, and high-chill rootstocks can influence the metabolomic profile of low-chill scions.
In the orchard production system, upright or pillar trees with vertical branch orientations have narrow architecture profiles and therefore can be suited to high-density planting to increase productivity. In plum (Prunus domestica), there are natural variations of tree forms that range from upright to more horizontal growth habit. Recently, researchers at the USDA-ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station demonstrated that silencing TILLER ANGLE CONTROL 1 (TAC1) via RNA interference (RNAi) in ‘President’ plum led to pillar tree forms with upright lateral shoot growth, whereas silencing LAZY1 in ‘Stanley’ plum resulted in outward shoot orientations and weeping tree shape. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of tree architectures on canopy light availability and fruit quality using field-grown mature (7-year-old) TAC1 and LAZY1 silenced plum trees in comparison with their respective non-transgenic counterparts as controls. Our results indicated that slender canopy profiles due to silencing of TAC1 allowed significantly greater light availability without negative impacts on fruit size, soluble solids contents, or titratable acidity compared to non-transgenic plum with the same genetic background. Additionally, skin color of fruit was more uniform in TAC1-RNAi lines than in standard-shaped control trees, suggesting a positive correlation between canopy light distribution and fruit coloration in association with upright branch orientations. In contrast, light availability in LAZY1-RNAi tree was reduced significantly by over 50% compared to the control. Although there is no difference in fruit size, soluble solids content in fruit of the LAZY1-RNAi plum than that of the non-transgenic counterpart.
Phenological models use local temperature data to predict spring flower bud development and guide management decisions in temperate fruit crops. In high elevation continental regions such as the U.S. Intermountain West, changing climate brings more extreme temperature variability resulting in increased risk of spring freeze damage. We evaluated bloom dates of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L. ‘Montmorency’) in a high elevation continental climate (1327 to 1484 m elevation, Utah) to test the validity of 50-year-old phenological models under current climatic conditions. Mature commercial tart cherry blocks were selected in proximity to existing weather stations (climate.usu.edu, FGNet). Bud stages were observed weekly in April and May of 2019 through 2023 with 3 to 8 locations monitored per year. Observed stages were compared to Utah Standard and Modified prediction models. Prediction error varied with year and stage of development, where 2023 bloom was on average 3 days earlier than predicted, compared to 2020 when bloom was 6 days later than predicted. Modern weather stations provide more detailed climatic data (hourly temperature, light, humidity, wind speed), and the opportunity to refine and improve existing models. Improved model reliability would provide better decision support for increasingly expensive freeze protection measures.
Temperate orchard sites have highly variable soils that contribute to uneven tree growth, providing a unique setting for precision management efforts. Precision management seeks to map spatial variability and implement variable rate management to optimize inputs. The objective of this study was to develop a platform for simultaneous measurement of tree growth and size to facilitate the enhancement of precision management practices in tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) orchards. Measurements included: canopy light interception; canopy height, volume, and width; and trunk cross sectional area (TCSA). Light interception (ceptometry) was by 15 30-cm line quantum sensors recording PAR at 0.6-second intervals, positioned on a UTV-mounted boom that passed under the canopy. Light interception was calculated based on data from a reference PAR sensor placed outside the orchard. Canopy height, width and volume of individual trees were measured using a side-scan LiDAR system mounted to the same UTV that generated point-cloud maps of each orchard row. These canopy measurements were then compared to point-cloud maps generated from aerial visual imaging (UAV). TCSA was estimated using a stereovision depth camera that captured paired visual spectrum (RGB) and point-cloud images, that were then aligned and segmented for individual tree trunks. Using pixel depth data, trunk widths for individual trees were estimated. The platform and associated sensors were used to map four commercial tart cherry orchard blocks (8-10 ha) located near Santaquin, Utah, USA, during the 2023 (ceptometry and UAV, only) and 2024 seasons at 2-week intervals. During the 2023 season, 8 ceptometry maps were generated with corresponding UAV-based maps. Side scan lidar data for 1 map of canopy height, width, and volume were collected in each of the 4 orchards, along with data for 1 TCSA map. Preliminary analysis shows strong spatial agreement among mapping techniques, indicating that the technologies are well suited to precision orchard management. Data for 2024 will also be presented, with multi-season tree growth analysis.
Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) orchard sites are often chosen for favorable microclimates, and consequently exhibit highly diverse soil conditions that result in non-uniform tree growth and yield potential. There is increasing interest in utilizing precision management techniques to map tree vigor and implement variable rate management to optimize inputs and enhance uniformity. The objective of this study was to assess the variability of soil and canopy characteristics and implement prescription fertilizer rates based on the mapped variability. The study was conducted on four mature (18-22 years) commercial tart cherry orchard blocks (8-10 ha) located near Santaquin, Utah, USA. Soil variability maps for each orchard were generated through soil sampling, guided by surveying apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) using an electromagnetic induction meter. Spatial variability in tree vigor was quantified using satellite imagery provided by Simplot Smart Farm® Permanent Crop Analysis. Prescription fertilizer rates, derived from the variability maps, were applied to each block in the spring/summer of 2023 and 2024, which included granular fertilizer applied as a single application or as split applications based on each prescription map. Tree response to the prescription treatments were monitored every two weeks using a novel platform capable of mapping plant growth parameters including canopy height, volume, width, and density; and trunk cross sectional area (TCSA). By monitoring growth parameters within this timeframe, we were able to comprehensively evaluate within-seasonal fluctuations in growth. Soil sampling revealed significant correlations between ECa and soil texture. Preliminary results indicate significant within-orchard variations in mid-season tree vigor, that are also correlated with long-term growth characteristics (canopy size and density). Both long-term and short-term growth measures are also closely correlated with soil ECa (i.e. texture). The effect of variable fertilizer application within this soil texture variability will be discussed, offering insight into the effectiveness of precision management techniques in mitigating variability within tart cherry orchards.
Timing application of dormancy breaking products is essential for adequate bloom and yield in cherry. Available temperature-based chill accumulation models often fail to predict correct spray timing, particularly during years with unusual temperature patterns recently driven by climate change. One potential cause for the unreliability of the current models is their dependence on a single climatic variable, air temperature, to estimate the impact of weather on tree physiological processes. We hypothesized that using tree temperature, rather than air temperature, will increase the accuracy in predicting chill accumulation, especially in warm and sunny winters. Hence, our objective was to develop a framework to predict cherry tree temperature based on easily available environmental data. For three consecutive seasons and in three commercial cherry orchards across California, including the southernmost US cherry production region, we measured main climatic parameters at half hour intervals. At the same time, we monitored tree temperature with T-type thermocouples inserted below the bark of main branches. We developed predictions of tree temperature as a function of meteorological variables obtained from public weather stations using generalized additive models. Trees were, on average, 10 ºF warmer than the air during clear days, with differences being up to 20-25 ºF. Tree chill accumulation was about 8-12 chill portions lower than air chill accumulation. The difference was year- and site-specific, reflecting the importance of including diverse environmental parameters to estimate chill accumulation precisely. The ‘TreeChill model’ predicts tree temperature based only on environmental parameters easily achievable from public weather stations with a coefficient of determination of 0.956 resulting in only 0.4 chill portions difference between measured and predicted tree chill. This model will enable growers to implement tree temperature in their management decisions, including dormancy breaking agent applications, cultivar selection, pest control etc, increasing California cherry industry resilience to climate change. In the future, we plan to adapt the model to different crops and locations.
