Consumers Influence Christmas Tree Styles

Advanced techniques may produce “European style” trees to meet consumer demands

Advanced techniques may produce “European style ” trees to meet consumer demands. Click here for more information.

RALEIGH, NC – The Fraser fir is gaining popularity among American consumers looking for beautiful, long-lasting Christmas trees. Consumers favor Fraser fir for its conical shape, dark green foliage, pleasant aroma, and excellent needle retention.

Consumer surveys indicate that the shape of a tree is the most important factor affecting Christmas tree selection, followed by needle retention, species, and price. Traditionally, Americans have preferred dense trees, whereas Europeans have preferred more natural, or “open” trees. Open trees have more space to hang ornaments, holding up to two-thirds more decorations than heavily sheared trees, and tend to weigh less than dense trees, providing advantages for growers and consumers alike.

Researchers and Christmas tree growers are working to shape Fraser firs that satisfy public preferences. M. Elizabeth Rutledge, a graduate student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University, is the primary author of a recent study of shearing techniques on Fraser fir. Rutledge and her collaborators evaluated the use on Fraser fir of the Top-Stop Nipper (TSN) a four-bladed, hand-held tool used to reduce growth in Christmas trees. They found that the TSN, when combined with traditional knife shearing or growth regulator treatments, “might offer a method to produce dense trees with minimal shearing or to leave longer leaders to produce a more open “European-style” tree with a layered, natural appearance.

According to the study, published in the April 2008 issue of HortTechnology, use of the Top-Stop Nipper shows promise for tree growers, but “there is so much variation among trees that the effect of the TSN on long-term appearance, quality, and marketability of Fraser firs is yet unknown.” One thing is certain: Americans can look forward to new and improved holiday decorating as researchers and growers listen to consumer preferences and create ways to produce picture-perfect Christmas trees.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/256

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at: http://ashs.org

 

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Original Article:

Top-Stop Nipper Reduces Leader Growth in Fraser Fir Christmas Trees
M. Elizabeth Rutledge, John Frampton, L. Eric Hinesley, and Gary Blank
HortTechnology 2008 18: 256-260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail eric_hinesley@ncsu.edu

Migrant Laborers Valuable to Horticulture Industry

Presence of migrant workers raises wages and work hours for all workers

AUBURN, AL—Despite tremendous growth in mechanization and technological advances, nursery, greenhouse, and sod production in the U.S. are still extremely labor-intensive. The agricultural industry depends heavily on laborers who can provide on-time production of highly perishable horticultural crops. Savvy employers know that a skilled and accessible labor supply is imperative for the agricultural industry’s continued growth and stability.

Migrant workers account for a large percentage of the U.S. agricultural labor force. Recent congressional debates and pending changes in immigration reform legislation could have a substantial impact on the industry and, in turn, American consumers.

A study published in the April 2008 issue of HortTechnology examines and analyzes the effects of migrant labor on wages, hours, and gross sales in Alabama’s horticulture industry. Using data from a 2004 survey of 2,286 Alabama “green industry” producers, researchers set out to estimate the effects of migrant labor on wages, hours worked, and gross sales in Alabama’s horticulture industry.

According to Moriah Bellenger, a graduate student in the Department of Economics at Oregon State University and lead author of the research study, the presence of migrant workers in a labor force was found to raise average wages within green industry firms, but had no significant effects on hours and sales.

Bellenger stated, “Contrary to fears expressed by local workers, in this study, the presence of migrant workers appears to raise wage levels for both seasonal part-time and full-time workers. The total number of hours worked by seasonal part-time and full-time employees is also positively related to wage rates.”

The study also indicated that producer’s concerns about government regulations may influence their decision to hire migrant workers. Specifically, employers who perceive government regulations as a threat to their industry are less likely to hire migrant laborers. Bellenger and her colleagues at Auburn University noted that more research is needed to determine workers’ perceptions of the impact of migrant and laborers on the horticulture industry.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/301

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Producer Preferences for Migrant Labor and the Wage, Hours, and Gross Sales Effects in Alabama’s Horticulture Industry
Moriah Bellenger, Deacue Fields, Kenneth Tilt, and Diane Hite
HortTechnology 2008 18: 301-307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail fieldde@auburn.edu

Good Breeding Increases Shelf Life

Packaged salad-cut lettuce studied for stability, freshness

Salinas iceberg lettuce. Click here for more information.

SALINAS, CA – The lettuce cut and packaged for food service and salad mixes is an increasingly important component of the produce industry. Lettuce is highly perishable, and the cutting required in processing further shortens its shelf life.

Packaging cut lettuce and other fresh produce in semipermeable plastic films extends shelf life via a technique called “modified-atmosphere packaging”. The success of modified-atmosphere (MA) packaging for lettuce and certain salad greens has led to innovative products, marketing strategies, and enhanced sales to consumers.

Increased demand for the convenient, pre-cut salads and lettuce has led to scientists to search for ways to select lettuce cultivars that stay fresh, colorful, and crisp. Shelf life and visual quality of salad-cut lettuce are affected by many things, including production environment, vegetative maturity, and type of lettuce chosen. Although an increasing variety of lettuce types are being grown, romaine and “crisphead” (such as iceberg) are the most widely produced for salad-cut products

Ryan J. Hayes, a research geneticist, and Yong-Biao Liu, research entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, published the results of a study that should give lettuce breeders and producers enhanced product information and a market edge. During the two-year study, lettuce was processed from field-grown plants of 33 romaine and three “crisphead” cultivars. Shelf life of each cultivar was evaluated after storage in modified-atmosphere bags and in CO₂-free controlled-atmosphere chambers.

Lettuce cultivars ‘Clemente’, ‘Darkland’, and ‘Green Forest’ performed consistently well, ranking in the top 10 in every experiment. ‘Alpi’, ‘Dark Green Romaine’, and ‘Queen of Hearts’ showed clearly unstable shelf life. Hayes noted, “cultivars that performed well in our MA environments will likely be useful as parents in breeding programs to develop new romaine cultivars with an acceptable shelf life. It is also clear that not all crisphead cultivars have good shelf life. Wide variation was observed between the crisphead cultivars Pacific, Salinas 88, and La Brillante.”

In concluding the impact of the study outcomes, Hayes stated; “Breeders can use these methods to characterize or identify breeding lines that are suitable for salad-cut markets before release, and to select for increased shelf life within breeding populations. These practices should facilitate a consistent release of germplasm with high quality in MA environments.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science electronic journal web site: http://journal.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/133/2/228

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Genetic Variation for Shelf-life of Salad-cut Lettuce in Modified-atmosphere Environments
Ryan J. Hayes and Yong-Biao Liu
J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. March 2008 133:228-233. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail rhayes@pw.ars.usda.gov

Digital Cameras, Satellites Measure Crop Water Demand

Crop water demand measured from space

Measurement of canopy cover on 2-year-old almond orchard using the TetraCam camera on a 6.1-m stand. Click here for more information.

FRESNO, CA – Horticultural crops account for almost 50% of crop sales in the United States, and these crops are carefully managed to ensure good quality. But more information is needed about the crops’ growth and response to seasonal and climatic changes so that management practices such as irrigation can be precisely scheduled. Existing research can be difficult to generalize because of variations in crops, planting densities, and cultural practices.

Determining growth stage, size, and water needs are especially important for horticultural crops because most crops are grown in limited water environments and require irrigation. The measurement of “canopy light interception” is a primary means of determining water and irrigation needs. Fractional canopy cover (CC) is a relatively easily measured property that is a good indicator of light interception. Canopy cover, the percent of the soil surface covered by plant foliage, is an important indicator of stage of growth and crop water use in horticultural crops. Methods of using remote sensors to determine canopy cover in major crops have been studied for years, but the studies have not included most horticultural crops.

Thomas J. Trout, Research Leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, along with colleagues from the NASA Earth Science Division, recently published a study that addresses the relationship of remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) relative to canopy cover of several major horticultural crops in commercial fields.

The research team measured canopy cover of 11 different annual and perennial horticultural crops in various growth stages on 30 fields in California’s San Joaquin Valley with a handheld multispectral digital camera. Canopy cover was compared with NDVI values calculated from Landsat 5 satellite imagery. According to Trout, “The NDVI was highly correlated and linearly related with measured CC across the wide range of crops, canopy structures, and growth stages, and predicted CC with mean absolute error of 0.047 up to effective full cover. These results indicate that remotely sensed NDVI may be an efficient way to monitor growth stage, and potentially irrigation water demand, of horticultural crops.”

The research indicates that NDVI can potentially provide field-specific and regional estimates of CC for horticultural crops with minimal requirement for supporting information. This new information may also be useful to improve estimates of crop growth stage and water use.

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The complete study is available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/2/333

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at ashs.org

 

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Original Article:

Remote Sensing of Canopy Cover in Horticultural Crops
Thomas J. Trout, Lee F. Johnson, and Jim Gartung
HortScience April 2008: 333–337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail Thomas.Trout@ars.usda.gov

Saltwater Olives

Saline water irrigation cultivates healthy olives

BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL – The news that olives are sources of “good fat” has increased worldwide demand for the luscious, versatile fruits. Olives have become extremely popular, enjoyed as condiments, appetizers, spreads, and additions to salads and sauces. Their heart-healthy oil has is also enjoying superstar status in kitchens around the world.

The olive’s reputation as a health food is being borne out by modern science, as studies of olive-consuming Mediterranean peoples have shown. To keep the world’s olive lovers satisfied, an intensive wave of olive planting has occurred in the past decade in many parts of the world. Traditionally, olives have been cultivated in the Mediterranean region. But fresh water is becoming increasingly hard to come by in semiarid areas, and irrigation of most new olive plantations is often accomplished with low-quality sources of water that contain relatively high levels of salt.

The relationship between the use of “saline water” and olive cultivation has been actively studied for many years. According to Professor Zeev Wiesman, Department of Biotechnology Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, it is well-known that saline conditions can limit the development of olives, mainly because the salty water interferes with the olives’ root system and causes “toxic accumulation of chloride and sodium ions on the leaves.”

Weisman and other researchers recently published the report of a long-term study in which they established a new saline irrigation controlled experimental olive plot. The plot was planted with 12 local olive cultivars as well as olive varieties from Mediterranean countries, then divided into identical subplots: one irrigated with tap water, the second with moderate saline water. “In the study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the vegetative and reproductive multiannual response of mature yielding trees of the 12 tested olive cultivars drip-irrigated with tap water and moderate saline water in a commercial orchard simulation study in a semiarid area”, stated Weisman.

Olive trees in both subplots were evaluated for trunk growth, olive yield, oil percentage, olive oil yield, and other characteristics. The data clearly showed a significant difference between the tested cultivars in terms of growth, yield, and oil parameters. Researchers concluded that all the tested olive varieties could be cultivated with moderate saline water irrigation. Weisman added: “Although a significant variation in terms of horticultural performance was found between the various tested olive cultivars, the differences may be attributed to the natural characteristics of each cultivar or to their rate of adaptation to the environmental conditions in the tested area, rather than to moderate saline drip irrigation.”

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/2/320

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Vegetative and Reproductive Response of Olive Cultivars to Moderate Saline Water Irrigation
Sebastian Weissbein, Zeev Wiesman, Yhonathan Ephrath, and Moshe Silberbush
HortScience Apr 1 2008: 320–327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail wiesman@bgu.ac.il

Reclaimed Wastewater Benefits Florida’s Citrus Orchards

Cities find new uses for treated water in citrus crop irrigation

Navel oranges growing in Florida. Click here for more information.

IMMOKALEE, FL – The Sunshine State has seen rapid growth in population during the last 50 years. The 1997 U.S. Census showed that the population of Florida increased more than five-and-a-half times from 1950 to 2000. Naturally, along with population increases, Florida is experiencing an increase in the amount of municipal waste. Studies confirm that the amount of wastewater generated by cities in Florida has increased more than five-fold since 1950.

Environmental concerns about pollution of surface waters by treated wastewater have caused many communities to consider alternate ways to use secondary-treated, or reclaimed, wastewater. Before 1986, the city of Orlando and Orange County were discharging wastewater into a creek that flows into Lake Tohopekaliga in central Florida. To address concerns that the process would affect the quality water in the lake, city and county officials, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, devised a plan to use the wastewater for agricultural irrigation.

According to a 2005 report by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, there are currently 440 “reclaimed water reuse systems” in Florida, irrigating thousands of acres of golf courses, public land, and residential landscapes with 2,385 million liters of reclaimed water per day. Reclaimed wastewater is also being used to irrigate some of Florida’s world-renowned citrus orchards. Because yearly rainfall in Florida is seasonal, with 75% of annual rainfall usually occurring between June and September, citrus growers rely on supplemental irrigation for healthy citrus crops.

In a study supported by the City of Orlando and Orange County (FL), researchers set out to determine whether long-term irrigation with treated municipal wastewater reduced citrus tree health (appearance and leaf nutrient content), decreased fruit loads, impacted fruit quality, or created increases in soil contaminants. Dr. Kelly T. Morgan, a scientist at the University of Florida’s Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, published the study report in the April 2008 issue of HortScience.

Dr. Morgan explained, “Increased water use by the growing population and localized water shortages during low rainfall years have resulted in the development of water use restrictions and decreases in permitted water use for agriculture. Increased use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation would not only reduce the wastewater disposal problem for urban areas, but could also reduce the amount of water withdrawn from Florida’s aquifers used for irrigation.”

The yearly monitoring project, which began in the 1990s and ended in 2004, concluded that using reclaimed water for irrigation of citrus orchards showed few detrimental effects on the orchards. Morgan commented, “Appearance of trees irrigated with reclaimed water was usually better, with higher canopy, leaf color, and fruit crop ratings than orchards irrigated with groundwater. Although there was higher weed growth in reclaimed water-irrigated orchards due to higher soil water content, growers apparently have made adequate adjustments to their herbicide practices.”

Researchers concluded that long-term citrus irrigation with high-quality reclaimed water on well-drained sandy soils did not significantly reduce tree viability or yield and required relatively little adjustment in crop production practices: good news for the environment and citrus producers alike.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/2/459

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org.

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Original Article:

Effects of Reclaimed Municipal Waste Water on Horticultural Characteristics, Fruit Quality, and Soil and Leaf Mineral Concentration of Citrus
Kelly T. Morgan, T. Adair Wheaton, Larry R. Parsons, and William S. Castle
HortScience Apr 1 2008: 459–464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail ktm@ifas.ufl.edu

Fresh from the Grapevine to the Table

Study finds environmentally friendly, economical method to keep grapes fresh

High quality table grapes Click here for more information.

BET DAGAN, ISRAEL – Table grapes are subject to serious water loss and decay while making the long trip from the vine to dinner tables around the world. Mold and browning of the stems are the two main factors that reduce grape quality during shipping and storage in retail produce sections.

Pads placed over the fruit packed in boxes are one way of ensuring that consumers get fresh, appealing fruit. The pads release sulfur dioxide, or SO₂ , a chemical used to prevent mold and decaying of table grapes.  Sulfur dioxide as a method of controlling decay has been in use for more than 75 years. Since the late 1960s, grape producers and packers have favored the use of a dual-release pad, which can keep grapes from decaying for extended periods.

Two methods are presently used for transporting the packed grapes. One method is to place a perforated plastic liner inside each box, put the grapes in the liner, and then cool. The other method is to cool the boxed grapes and then externally wrap the entire pallet of boxes.  In both cases, a SO₂ pad is placed in each box. 

Researchers in the Department of Postharvest Science at the Agricultural Research Organization of Israel’s Volcani Center recently compared both packing methods for their efficiency in maintaining grape quality and preventing decay for periods ranging from 33 to 117 days. The experiments included ‘Redglobe’ and ‘Zainy’ grapes packaged in plastic boxes and ‘Thompson Seedless’ grapes packaged in cardboard boxes.

The study concluded that the quality of the grapes in the trials with plastic boxes was either similar in both packaging methods or better in the wrapped pallet than the liner method. Prevention of decay was also better with the wrapped pallets than for storage in liners. In the experiment with cardboard boxes, however, the externally wrapped boxes contained lower levels of SO₂, probably because the cardboard absorbed more SO₂, and the grapes developed more decay than when perforated liners were used.

Although the most commonly used method of grape packaging for long-distance shipment is the use of perforated liners, the study proved that using external wrapping of pallets with low-density polyethylene film can be as effective as the liner method in preventing grape decay. The external wrapping method has significant advantages over the use of box liners: it allows faster precooling of grapes and is more economical than using individual liners. The pallet wrapping method works best when used with recyclable plastic boxes, as the plastic boxes do not absorb the SO₂. A bonus for the environmentally conscious industry: plastic boxes also can be more environmentally viable than traditional cardboard boxes.

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The complete study is available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/206

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at: http://ashs.org

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Original Article:

Evaluation of Table Grape Storage in Boxes with Sulfur Dioxide-releasing Pads with Either an Internal Plastic Liner or External Wrap
Ammon Lichter, Yohanan Zutahy, Tatiána Kaplunov, and Susan Lurie
HortTechnology 2008 18: 206-214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: slurie43@agri.gov.il

New Roadside Beautification Concept Studied

Linear garden concept saves space, adds visual interest

FORT PIERCE, FL – Travel America’s highways or drive down any city street this summer and you’ll probably see them. From small, manicured beds of flowers maintained by community volunteers to extensive landscaping projects along America’s byways, roadside gardens are taking root.

Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits, studies indicate that roadside beautification, including landscaping and gardens, can help drivers reduce stress, frustration, and aggression, while helping maintain safe highways. Implementing simple, cost-effective beautification projects can enhance communities and improve quality of life for residents and travelers.

A recent article published in the April 2008 issue of HortTechnology introduces the “linear garden”; a new, dual-purpose method to enhance roadsides while providing teaching gardens for students and community members.

Dr. Sandra Wilson, Associate Professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida’s Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), and a team of researchers designed and planted a linear garden along a road at the entrance to the University of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Fort Pierce, Florida. Wilson explained the concept of the linear garden, saying, “The idea originated when existing university gardens, used as teaching labs for students, reached maximum plant capacity. We needed to find a way to teach students about plants in a limited amount of space, and that need paralleled our community’s interest in enhancing local roadside beautification projects.”

With minimal installation and maintenance costs, students and professors established the linear garden in a single strip measuring three feet wide by 2,426 feet long. Amazingly, 817 plants were planted in the compact space. The garden was designed to showcase landscape plants commonly used in south-central Florida, and year-round visual interest was maintained by planting trees, palms, shrubs, ground covers, and grasses.

Dr. Wilson noted that the new linear garden is used as a teaching experience for students in five college courses. Visitors to the garden also include students from local community colleges and garden club members. The garden also provides visual interest for residents and passers-by.

Summing up the project, Wilson stated, “A linear garden is an efficient, space-saving way to present plants for teaching purposes, and also serves to beautify the roadside throughout the year”.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/18/2/318

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education and application. More information at: http://ashs.org

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Original Article:

The Linear Garden: A Unique, Inexpensive, and Effective Way to Facilitate Plant Identification and Roadside Beautification
Sandra B. Wilson, Keona L. Muller, Judith A. Gersony, and Brian T. Scully
HortTechnology 2008 18: 318-319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail: sbwilson@ifas.ufl.edu

Saving the Wild Orchids of Borneo

Efforts underway to save thousands of orchid species from extinction

KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA– Borneo (Kalimantan) is the third largest island in the world. It is rich with a variety of indigenous orchid species that grow in the forests. Borneo’s rain forests are also home to some extremely rare species of orchids, all highly valued for their exotic aromas and aesthetic beauty. It has been estimated that 2500 to 3000 orchid species grow in the forests of Borneo.

Borneo’s orchids are also endangered, a result of the loss of natural habitat from fire, forest damage, and illegal logging. Increased exploitation of the forests of West Borneo, including gold mining and illegal burning, has led to the certain extinction of hundreds of orchid species. According to a Global Forest Watch 2002 report, Indonesia is experiencing one of the most dramatic losses of forestland in the world. Reports showed that at the current rate of loss, Borneo’s forests could vanish completely by 2010.

Economic factors, including illegal collecting and selling of wild orchids by domestic or foreign “orchid hunters”, along with increasing consumer demand for orchids, also contribute to the endangerment of Borneo’s native orchids.

Compelled by concern for the demise of Borneo’s native orchids, Chairani Siregar of the College of Agriculture at the University of Tanjungpura (Indonesia) undertook a 3-year study to locate and record endangered native orchid species in West Borneo. According to Siregar, “until recently, there were few records kept of the orchids native to West Borneo. For this reason, research was conducted to identify and create an inventory of all orchid species that exist (in West Borneo) before they and their habitats become extinct. The study was done in 10 counties and one municipal city in West Borneo.  Orchids found were identified and recorded by species. A total of 197 species of orchids were identified.”

Siregar is committed to cultivating all vulnerable and endangered species of orchids before they become extinct, adding that “local government intervention and participation in conservation, cultivation and marketing of orchids are necessary” for the popular flowers’ survival.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/2/554

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org.

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Originial Article:

Exploration and Inventory of Native Orchid Germplasm in West Borneo, Indonesia
Chairani Siregar
HortScience Apr 1 2008: 554–557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail chairani8@yahoo.com

Ethanol Byproduct Produces Green Results

DDGS could reduce costs to commercial nursery growers

Tons of distiller’s dried grains held in storage.   Click here for more information.

PROSSER, WA – Commercial flower and plant growers know all too well that invasive, ubiquitous weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. To control weeds, many commercial nursery owners resort to the expensive practice of paying workers to hand-weed containers. Some growers use herbicides, but efficacy of herbicides is questionable on the wide range of plant species produced in nurseries, and many herbicides are not registered for use in greenhouses.

Enter “dried distillers grains with solubles”, or DDGS. DDGS, a byproduct of converting corn to fuel ethanol, is typically used as livestock feed. Rick A. Boydston, Harold P. Collins, and Steve Vaughn, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, undertook a research study on the use of DDGS as a weed deterrent on potted ornamentals. The study results, published in the February 2008 issue of HortScience, evaluated the use of DDGS as a soil amendment to suppress weeds in container-grown ornamentals.

Researchers applied DDGS two ways: to the soil surface, and mixed into the potting media of transplanted ornamentals. Applied to the soil surface after transplanting, DDGS caused no injury to plants. According to Dr. Boydston, an agronomist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), “grains applied to the surface at rates that gave good coverage of the soil (800 and 1600 g/m²) reduced the number of common chickweed and annual bluegrass. Weed control was not perfect, but could reduce the amount of hand-weeding typically required.”

When mixed into the potting media, however, dried distillers grains were toxic to transplanted rose, coreopsis, and phlox plants. Researchers concluded that DDGS may be useful for reducing weed emergence and growth in container-grown ornamentals when applied to the soil surface at transplanting. Dr. Boydston noted that additional research is needed to identify and confirm the safety (of using DDGS) to other ornamentals and effectiveness of controlling other types of weeds.

Dried distillers grains are becoming more readily available as ethanol production in the U.S. increases. The push to produce ethanol, a cleaner-burning alternative to gasoline, has gained interest as gasoline prices continue to soar. As production increases, finding new uses for byproducts like DDGS becomes more critical. Dr. Boydston sees the results of this and similar ARS studies as a win/win for ethanol producers and the agriculture industry, noting, “identifying new uses for byproducts likes distillers grains could increase the profitability of ethanol production”.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/1/191

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org

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Original Article:

Response of Weeds and Ornamental Plants to Potting Soil Amended with Dried Distillers Grains
Rick A. Boydston, Harold P. Collins, and Steven F. Vaughn
HortScience February 2008: 191–195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Corresponding author. E-mail rick.boydston@ars.usda.gov