https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from American Society for Horticultural Science The citrus industry in Florida, a historic hub for citrus (Citrus sp.) production, has been grappling with the devastating effects of Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus). In the face of this challenge, a recent study delves into the potential economic viability of incorporating cover crops in citrus groves to enhance soil health and overall tree well-being. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-analysis-crops-citrus-production.html Agriculture Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:58:04 EST news626029082 Since microgreens entered the market in the 1980s and 1990s, their use has expanded far beyond being a garnish in high-end restaurants. They can now be found in casual dining establishments and private homes. They are used to add texture and color, as well as for their taste, aroma, and visual appeal. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-info-treatments-boost-microgreen.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:16:29 EST news624816987 Although crops often respond immediately to enriched CO2 concentrations (e.g., increased photosynthesis), this initial response is often not sustained throughout production, thus reducing the benefit of this input. For horticulture species, the timing and extent of these acclimation responses are still widely uncertain. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-petunia-pansy-reactions-prolonged-carbon.html Plants & Animals Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:07:44 EST news624816462 Sweet corn (Zea mays L.var. rugosa or saccharata) is sown across a wide range of dates to provide a steady supply of marketable ears for fresh market and processing. Because the product is perishable, marketable ears must be harvested in a timely manner. A steady supply of marketable ears is important for both the fresh market to maximize sales period and the processing market because processing facilities have a finite capacity to handle incoming perishable ears. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-evidence-date-optimum-density-sweet.html Agriculture Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:56:03 EST news624552961 Harvesting apple (Malus × domestica) fruit at optimal horticultural maturity is critical to meeting consumer preferences and to maintain quality throughout storage. Management during harvest is complicated by uneven ripening, overlapping maturity of cultivars, and lack of labor availability. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-xylem-functionality-indicator-apple-preharvest.html Agriculture Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:52:03 EST news624552721 Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is primarily produced in the United States in California, Arizona, and Florida, with a production value of $2.7 billion (USDA-NASS 2021). Florida produces an estimated 3% of the total lettuce in the United States (USDA-NASS 2019), primarily in the Everglades Agricultural Area, which is a humid subtropical region in southern Florida. Despite this relatively low proportion of the industry in the United States, lettuce grown in Florida has significant market demand because it is harvested during winter and spring months. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-pink-rib-disorder-tolerance-lettuce.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:24:03 EST news623611441 Heat stress induces and accelerates leaf senescence, which is characterized by a loss of chlorophyll and cellular membrane deterioration, as well as oxidative damage). Leaf senescence can be exacerbated by the hormone ethylene, which acts as a signal to trigger cellular maturation and senescence. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-apple-preharvest-linked-xylem-functionality.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 27 Dec 2023 14:45:42 EST news622910738 Fruit trees are pruned to maintain a desired tree shape and size to increase light penetration into the canopy, thereby enhancing fruit quality and flower bud development. Most modern apple orchards consist of high-density plantings, and they must be managed to maximize light interception and distribution throughout the canopy. Pruning is essential, especially in modern high-density operations and represents approximately 30% of the apple production costs for trees trained as central leaders https://phys.org/news/2023-12-apple-tree-conversion-narrow-walls.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:14:03 EST news622138441 Citrus packed and marketed in the United States is generally washed and sanitized on a commercial packing line for decay control, food safety, and appearance reasons. The purpose of a new study was to evaluate the use of different coating protocols and storage temperatures suitable for Shiranui mandarins in a commercial packing house. The research was the result of the recognition that special procedures would be needed for this highly valuable but more difficult to handle mandarin variety. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-post-harvest-storage-issues-shiranui-mandarins.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:04:03 EST news622137841 Irregular flowering and biennial bearing are challenging in many apple (Malus × domestica) cultivars such as "Honeycrisp." Apple flowering is influenced by many factors including crop load, fruit weight, seed number, and bourse shoot length. However, it is unclear how these factors exert their control. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-honeycrisp-apple-spurs-semiautonomous.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:15:03 EST news621796501 Most ornamental crops can be classified as long-day, short-day, or day-neutral plants based on their flowering responses to the photoperiod (which is the day length), or the skotoperiod (which is the night length). Chrysanthemum is a common ornamental crop with an obligate short-day flowering response and only flowers when the night length is consistently longer than a critical duration. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-day-extension-blue-inhibits-chrysanthemum-far-red.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 07 Dec 2023 17:07:03 EST news621191222 Hemlocks [Tsuga (Endl.) Carrière] are foundational, climax coniferous evergreen trees in forested ecosystems and are also iconic in cultivated landscapes. In the United States, the eastern hemlock, T. canadensis (L.) Carr., is a well-known and economically significant species for forest and cultivated landscapes. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-adelgid-resistant-hemlock-hybrids-crossroad-unveiled.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:13:02 EST news620586781 The domesticated apple (Malus ×domestica) is an economically valuable crop and an important source of nutrients and calories throughout temperate regions of the world. Fruit production is directly influenced by bloom time, which is a highly heritable trait greatly affected by the way a genotype perceives its environment. Because of climate change, fruit trees are becoming more susceptible to crop loss. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-bloom-vary-malus-species-due.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:38:04 EST news620408281 Nutrient use on United States golf courses increases management costs and has the potential to influence ecosystems. Therefore, assessing nutrient use and management practices is critical to developing and teaching the best management practices. The objectives of this survey were to measure nutrient use and management practices on United States golf courses in 2021 and to determine if changes occurred since 2006. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-golf-courses-nutrient-tactics.html Plants & Animals Ecology Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:39:03 EST news619720741 Biobased sprayable mulch (BSM) films are a potential alternative to herbicides, polyethylene plastic mulch film, and hand weeding for specialty crops. Researchers at the American Society for Horticultural Science have developed a series of BSM films using locally available biomaterials and tested their effects on weeds and crop yield during a total of seven greenhouse or field trials between 2017 and 2019 in Nebraska, U.S.. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-biobased-mulch-spray-curbs-weeds.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:13:03 EST news618768781 In Honduras and El Salvador, coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of the leading agricultural exports, and the share of specialty coffee is growing each year. However, despite the importance of specialty coffee production and exports, there is a knowledge gap regarding its cost structure and profitability, particularly those associated with labor costs https://phys.org/news/2023-11-profitability-specialty-coffee-central-america.html Other Agriculture Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:58:03 EDT news618238681 Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is an understory shrub native to the southeastern United States. The species occupies a small native range, and little is known about its demography, genetic diversity, or needs for conservation. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-climate-population-impact-oakleaf-hydrangea.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 04 Oct 2023 12:06:03 EDT news615639961 Ethylene is an essential plant hormone at low concentrations. Concentrations in the field rarely exceed 5 nmol⋅mol−1 (0.005 ppm), but it can accumulate as a gas in closed, indoor environments. These elevated levels can reduce growth and yield. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-high-ethylene-independently-halt-tomato.html Biotechnology Agriculture Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:27:07 EDT news614867224 Passion fruit has become an important fruit crop in Taiwan and Southeast Asia due to its special taste and nutrient-rich flesh. However, it is seriously harmed by viruses, blight, and brown spot diseases. As a result of virus disease, producers have to renew passion fruit plantlets every year to ensure yield and fruit quality. https://phys.org/news/2023-03-grafting-passion-fruit-plantlets.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:38:02 EDT news598203481 The objective of a recent study published in HortScience was to quantify the sorptive effects on substrate wettability and water-holding capacity. Inferences into the effectiveness of the substrate to capture water have been difficult to demonstrate statistically. To assist in this, researchers used a monomolecular exponential model to quantify water holding capacity and the irrigation volume required to reach that capacity. Because the wetting behavior of peat can be greatly affected by hydrophobicity, a second objective was to determine the effectiveness of hydrophilic coconut coir in mitigating the initial hydrophobicity of a peat substrate. https://phys.org/news/2023-03-traditional-horticultural-substrate-sorptive-behavior.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 09 Mar 2023 16:11:02 EST news597600661 Huanglongbing (HLB) is presumably caused by the phloem-limited bacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), and is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus. A distinctive chlorotic mottle on fully expanded leaves is one of the identifying symptoms of HLB. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-nutrient-uptake-citrus-rootstock-affected.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:36:45 EST news596392602 Closed loop hydroponics, where nutrient solution drainage is captured and reapplied to the crop, offers advantages over flow-through or single pass systems by way of water and nutrient resource use efficiency. Increasing resource use efficiency reduces production costs and ultimately prevents environmental impacts associated with nutrient discharge to receiving water bodies. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-hydroponics-electrochemical-hypochlorination.html Biotechnology Agriculture Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:29:03 EST news596132941 In the past decade, tropical ferns have increased in popularity for use in hanging baskets or as a potted indoor crop. To date, tropical ferns are the second largest (14%) category of the foliage plant sector in the commercial floriculture industry in the United States, with a reported volume of 12 million containers (hanging baskets and pots) representing a total sales value of $67.2 million US (US Department of Agriculture, 2020). https://phys.org/news/2023-02-effects-photosynthetic-daily-swordfern-cultivars.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:48:02 EST news595518481 Research has confirmed that there are physical and mental benefits associated with performing horticultural activities, such as being in contact with soil and viewing plants. In addition, due to the rapidly increasing volume of affective neuroscience research, it is now possible to understand emotional processing in the brain through neuroimaging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-02-horticultural-affect-brain-emotion.html Psychology & Psychiatry Neuroscience Thu, 02 Feb 2023 16:05:03 EST news594576301 New Mexico is one of the largest producers of chile pepper (Capsicum spp.) in the United States, with 51,000 tons of production in 2021 from an area of 8500 acres with average productivity of 6 tons/acres according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service. The average productivity decreased by 25% as the area planted to chile pepper production remained the same. This resulted in a reduction in economic activity of almost 10% in 2020 compared with the previous year, from $50.1 million to $44.9 million. This significant decline in the total production of chile pepper in the state spurred scientists to new modernization efforts aimed at accelerating the genetic gain and improving productivity in the NMSU Chile Pepper Breeding and Genetics program by evaluating different traits related to yield and yield potential using high-throughput phenotyping tools such as the Tomato Analyzer (TA). https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tomato-software-reveals-phenotypic-diversity.html Agriculture Thu, 19 Jan 2023 17:12:48 EST news593370761 Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a geophyte perennial plant from the family Iridaceae with underground soft corms. The stigmas of the saffron flower have been cultivated as a spice for at least 3,500 years. Conventional cultivation processes, such as planting, flower harvesting, and separation of the stigmas, are labor-intensive and time-consuming. The labor costs and low supply contribute to the high cost of saffron. Studies suggest that growing saffron hydroponically will lower production costs while at the same time increasing yields. Additionally, hydroponic growing systems have potential for sustainable production of saffron by providing pathogen-free stock corms. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-hydroponic-method-sustainable-saffron-production.html Plants & Animals Agriculture Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:50:02 EST news592069673 Watermelon farmers in Florida consider multiple uncertain risk factors when deciding when to transplant watermelon in a field. Early planting (late February or early March) is associated with higher risk of freeze damage and higher incidence of fusarium wilt disease, but typically finds more favorable markets. Late planting (late March or early April) can decrease the chances of freeze damage and diseases to the watermelons but results in later harvest, which brings lower prices and higher risk of losing market access. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-watermelon-decisions-involve-multiple.html Ecology Agriculture Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:32:03 EST news590689922 Researchers at Konkuk University in the Republic of Korea conducted a study to measure the effect of a soil-mixing activity on the psychological and physiological responses of humans, according to the presence or absence of Mycobacterium vaccae microorganisms in the soil. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-physiological-responses-adults-soil-mixing.html Ecology Agriculture Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:01:03 EST news589737661 Nearly all apples grown in the U.S. are currently harvested by hand. Hand harvesting labor is typically the largest variable operating expense for apple orchards. Mechanical harvesting bruises fruit and greatly reduces fresh-market apple storage potential, but it also greatly reduces harvesting costs and is faster. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-mechanical-harvesting-hard-cider-apples.html Agriculture Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:57:02 EST news589737421 In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to transition their courses to online delivery. In a matter of weeks, many horticulture courses became reliant on video conferencing software. https://phys.org/news/2022-11-horticulture-online.html Agriculture Tue, 22 Nov 2022 01:10:38 EST news588301832