myHortus: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

University of Delaware - Department of Plant and Soil Sciences cultivates next leaders

University of Delaware-trained plant and soil scientists continue to build on the institution's stellar reputation, with six winning recent national honors.

One graduate student and five graduate alumni of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) were presented awards by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) at the national meetings of the societies in San Antonio, Texas.

Honorees are alumni Josh McGrath, Chad Penn and Amy Shober, who were advised by Tom Sims, CANR deputy dean and T.A. Baker Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry; Daniel Strawn and Kirk Scheckel, who were advised by Donald L. Sparks, S. Hallock du Pont Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and director of the Delaware Environmental Institute; and Sudarshan Dutta, who recently completed his doctorate under the direction of Shreeram Inamdar, associate professor of plant and soil sciences.

Read full article: University of Delaware

Georgia - 2012 Master Gardener Training Class, Starts Jan. 24th

For those who love gardening whether a novice or an experienced plant lover, the Master Gardener training class begins January 24th. Classes will be held at the Lake Mayer Community Center and the Bamboo Farm. The class meets from nine to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays and concludes May 24th. The course is open to Chatham and surrounding county residents.

The Master Gardener class is sponsored by the University of Georgia Extension Office and covers a wide range of topics such as soils, turf, fertilizers, organic farming, xerospace methods, herbs, vegetable gardening, plant propagation, native plants and habitats, irrigation, mulching, pruning and features guest speakers from throughout the State. The course includes field trips and hands on experiences.

Cost: $145.00 – Covers all books and materials
Registration information can be found for all area residents below:
For more information about registration, contact Dave Linville, Chatham County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent at 912 652 7981 or dlinville@uga.ed
Bryan County Extension - http://www.bryanextension.org/ or call (912) 653-2231
Liberty County Extension - 912-876-2133
Effingham County Extension - 912-754-8040
UGA Extension (main site) http://extension.uga.edu/

Graduates may become a member of the Coastal Master Gardeners Association who provide volunteer hours for projects such as Habitat for Humanity landscaping, caring for old camellias at Bonaventure Cemetery, working for the Botanical Garden on Eisenhower Drive, teaching at the “Roots and Shoots” program for area school children at Bamboo Farms, and other gardening venues benefitting the community. The Association meets throughout the year with informative gardening presentations and to socialize and swap plants with other gardeners.

UVIC-LED STUDY REVEALS GENETIC SECRETS OF BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are one of our favourite fruits and no wonder—they’re tasty and they’re good for us. They’re rich in antioxidants, substances that can help reduce the natural cell damage in our aging bodies that can lead to cancer, heart disease and other ailments.

Now, a research team led by UVic plant biologist Dr. Peter Constabel has become the first in the world to reveal—at a molecular genetic level—how blueberries ripen and produce antioxidants known as flavonoids.

“We already knew a lot about the chemical composition of blueberries, but until now very little about how flavonoid antioxidants are formed by the fruit as it ripens,” says Constabel. “This new knowledge has tremendous potential for BC’s blueberry industry and, ultimately, for our health.”

In the study, published recently in the international journal, Plant Physiology, the team used advanced genomics tools to identify a large number of genes in ripening blueberries. In the process, they quadrupled the number of newly discovered blueberry genes—information that is now available in public databases.

For his many contributions that have had unprecedented impact on agriculture, Dr. Ramon C. Barba, now 72, was awarded the 2011 Umali Award by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) last Wednesday in Los Baños. The plant scientist from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is the first Filipino to receive the award and the third recipient in Southeast Asia. The $10,000-award, given to outstanding Southeast Asian scientists, is named after the late National Scientist Dioscoro L. Umali, a founding Director of SEARCA and former Assistant Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Foremost among Barba’s researches was a breakthrough discovery in 1974 of mango flower induction by potassium nitrate, making it possible for fruits to be available all year round.

The use of potassium nitrate is low-cost and benefits both farmers and consumers: flower production is profuse and fruit production can be programmed according to market demands. "Although Dr. Barba holds a patent for this technology, he has foregone royalties due him so that mango farmers can use it without additional cost," the award observed. "Dr. Barba is known to perceive simple solutions to complex problems and produce results with minimum resources," the citation noted. "His research on induced mango flowering was a private initiative that cost less than P500 to complete." His achievements include banana micropropagation and sugarcane and calamansi tissue culture; all have impact on the agribusiness potentials of these crops in the world market.

Read full article at source: FreshPlaza.com

New Orange Resources Published at Pomology org

Pomology is the science and technology of cultivating and producing fruits and within this discipline, Pomology.org provides a wide range of resources related to temperate, subtropical and tropical fruits.

The Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis, Rutaceae) is an ancient hybrid between pomelo (C. maxima) and tangerine (C. reticulata). Orange fruits are widely grown in warm climates worldwide, and commonly eaten fresh, or squeezed for their juice. Orange trees are widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates.

The Orange section is part of the Fruit Crop Category of Pomology.org and currently contains 59 resources. One of the most popular entries is an article on “Partial Purification of a Growth Factor from Orange Juice Which Affects Citrus Tissue Culture and Its Replacement by Citric Acid” which was published in the science journal “Plant Physiology” in 1975.

The authors conclude that citric acid as a natural component of citrus juice is responsible for the growth-promoting activity of orange juice. The growth-promoting activity of juice involves both cell division and cell enlargement. Another popular article from the same journal covers “Endogenous Abscisic Acid in Relation to Bud Growth in Alternate Bearing ‘Valencia’ Orange”.

Photos - Ginger Flowers

Ginger Flowers, a group on Flickr.

Photos of Flowering Ginger from Flickr Photo Pool.

University of Minnesota Grapes Help Wine Industry Grow

In the past 30 years, the University of Minnesota has developed climate-enduring wine grapes that are now made into the four most widely produced wines in Minnesota.

A full crop of "cold hardy grapes" can withstand temperatures of up to 33 below zero.

Now, a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow researchers from the University and scientists from 11 other institutions to research more climate-resistant wine grapes, the acidity and taste within wine grapes and how best to market the wine to consumers.

Professor James Luby of the Department of Horticultural Sciences said the wine industry has been progressively growing in Minnesota for the last 15 years.

Read full article: The Washington Examiner

Lesson: Gravitropism

Tropism is a growth response between a plant and an external stimulus. The stimulus could be weather, touch, time, gravity or light. A positive response is indicated by growth toward a stimulus and a negative response is indicated by growth away from the stimulus.

Gravitropism is a plant's growth response to gravity. Typically roots grow down into the ground, and stems and leaves grow up above the ground. If one were to place a plant on its side, it would begin to bend in an upright position. This occurs because of the plant hormone also called auxin that plays a part in gravitropism. When the plant is laid on its side, the auxin concentration increases along the lower sides of the roots and stems of the plant. The auxin stimulates cell elongation on the stem which makes the stem bend up toward the sky. The auxin prohibits cell elongation in the roots which causes the roots to bend down into the soil. Gravitropism allows the plant to respond to gravity no matter what position the plant is in.

Sources:
Plants for Kids

Biology of Plants, 6th ed. Raven, Peter H., Everert, Ray F., Eichhorn, Susan E. Worth Publishing 1999.

Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology. Mauseth, James D. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Sudbury, Massachusetts 1998.

NDSU Names Plant Sciences Department Chair

Richard Horsley -
NDSU Plant Sciences Dept. Chair

Richard Horsley has been appointed chair of North Dakota State University’s Plant Sciences Department.

Horsley has been the NDSU six-rowed barley breeder in the Plant Sciences Department since July 1988. He also took over the two-rowed barley breeding program in 2006 after the retirement of Jerry Franckowiak.

“Dr. Horsley’s breadth of experiences at NDSU, stellar performance as a scientist and mentor to students and his knowledge of North Dakota agriculture will serve the university well as he leads the Plant Sciences Department,” says Ken Grafton, NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources dean and director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. “We are very pleased that Dr. Horsley has agreed to serve in this capacity at this time.”

Horsley will serve as chair of the Plant Sciences Department for a term of 12 to 18 months.

Horsley earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the University of Minnesota in 1983. He received a master's degree in agronomy from NDSU in 1985 and a doctorate in crop and weed sciences (plant breeding) from NDSU in 1988.

His research has concentrated on the release and development of six-rowed and two-rowed malting barley cultivars acceptable to barley producers in North Dakota and the malting and brewing industries. Additionally, Horsley’s research works to identify genes affecting economically important traits by using molecular mapping techniques.

Horsley will continue to oversee the barley breeding program during his term as chair of the department.

Source: NDSU Agriculture Communications

The Hindu : Cities / Madurai : Stress on increasing horticulture produce

The Department of Horticulture will take up many projects including development of various farms like mango, coco, chillies and pepper in 3,715 acres, at a total estimated cost of Rs.7.48 crore this year, said Collector K. Nagarajan.

He was presiding over the agriculturists' grievances day meeting held here on Friday.

Main aim of these programmes was to increase production of horticulture produces, including vegetables, spices and flowers. These projects will be implemented with the participation of farmers.

Farm equipment will be given to farmers at a subsidized rate, financial assistance for setting up of vermi-compost unit and seeds and saplings at 50 per cent subsidy would also be provided.

Total rain fall received in the district was slightly higher than the average rainfall in November. The district had received 806.51 mm rain against the average rain of 771 mm. Sufficient stock of agriculture inputs and fertilisers were kept ready for distribution. “At present, we have 2,316 tonnes of urea, 223 tonnes of DAP, 72 tonnes of potash and 1,834 tonnes of complex fertilisers. Farmers should check the price printed on the bag before buying it. Officials should identify beneficiaries and take all schemes to farmers quickly”, he advised.

Source: The Hindu : Cities / Madurai : Stress on increasing horticulture produce

Horticulture Professor Bio: Dr. Jim Luby

Dr. Jim Luby
Fruit Breeding
Professor
Department of Horticultural Science

Education:
Ph.D. University of Minnesota, 1982, Plant Breeding and Genetics
B.S. Purdue University, 1978, Agronomy-Crop Science
Research Interests

Dr. Luby teaches courses in viticulture, fruit production and plant breeding. The primary goal of his research is to develop, evaluate, and introduce fruit cultivars with horticultural, disease and pest resistance, and fruit quality characters desired by growers and consumers in Minnesota and surrounding areas. The breeding programs concentrate on apple, grape, blueberry, and strawberry. An accompanying objective is to evaluate and/or develop novel alternative fruit and crops (e.g. blackcurrant and primocane-fruiting blackberry) with potential in Minnesota for commercial production or edible landscapes. In addition to developing new plant material, cultivated and wild germplasm is evaluated for variability for traits that potentially enhance the value of fruit crops for consumers and producers. Research aims to determine the inheritance of these traits and, where appropriate, map important loci using molecular markers for use in marker assisted breeding. Recent or current examples include phenolic content and antioxidant activity in blueberry wild and cultivated blueberry, traits related to fruit texture in progenies of Honeycrisp apple, scab resistance in wild apple (Malus sieversii), photoperiod-induced acclimation in grape derived from wild Vitis riparia, and white pine blister rust resistance in blackcurrant.

Mark Templeton of Crawford Landscaping in Naples, Fla., is a member of a group of professionals who are Certified Horticulture Professionals.

This designation was earned by Templeton after passing an exam that measures horticulture knowledge and professional skills through a 4 part exam covering plant identification, disease and insect control, landscape design/management and proper irrigation.

Established by the Florida Nursery, Growers, & Landscape Association Certified Horticulture Professional program has been administered since the mid-80s. The program was designed to increase professionalism among Florida's growers, landscape professionals and retail employees. This is the industry's only standard for measuring horticultural knowledge and has been recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and all five water management districts. The program builds upon Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices and Florida friendly principles.

NL: Cygnus Greenhouse Control

For more than 30 years Hotraco has been manufacturing and supplying control systems, which provide both reliability and excellent value to their products. The experience gained in combination with the latest technology, provides a guarantee for state-of-the-art Hotraco products.

The CYGNUS-CO2 is a computer which is suitable for greenhouses to control on/off heating and guard temperature, relative air humidity and CO2 level. The computer can be set with day / night time option incase need different settings are required.

If needed, extra CO2 can be produced by the heating unit when CO2 level becomes too low during the day. When CO2 level and / or temperature becomes too high, the windows can be opened or ventilation can be switched on.

Also it is possible to control the humidification when a humidity sensor is connected to the CYGNUS-CO2. At a low relative air humidity, the humidifier can be switched on, or when it gets to high extra ventilation can be applied.

Furthermore, the CYGNUS is provided with an alarm contact which activates an alarm when temperature, CO2 or relative humidity exceeds set values. The control communicates with clear language independent symbols that immediately make sense to the user.

Sources:
FreshPlaza.com
Hotraco Horticulture

AU: Buz Green takes HAL Graham Gregory award

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) announced the winners of the prestigious Graham Gregory and Young Leader awards recently, recognising outstanding contributions to the horticultural industry.

The Graham Gregory award was presented to Buz Green, Executive Chairman of Serve-Ag Pty Ltd, in an elegant awards ceremony held at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney

Read full article: FreshPlaza.com

Jakarta - Govt due to introduce trade system

The government plans within weeks to introduce a new trade system for horticultural products, which will include an import arrangement, in a move to increase protective measures within the domestic market, an official says.

Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krishnamurti said on Friday the new system would ensure the quality and security of imported products for local consumers as well as guarantee the sustainability of local agricultural businesses.

A trade system to protect local products is commonly applied to a country’s essential food commodities, which in Indonesia’s case are rice, salt and sugar.

“We are trying to safeguard the local market from risky products and, for that reason, we will conduct a risk assessment regarding such products with this new system,” Bayu said on Friday.

Read full article: The Jakarta Post