Editorial

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3 pages, 188 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Trends in Ornamental Plant Production

by Piotr Salachna

Horticulturae 2022, 8(5), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050413 - 06 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3115

Abstract

Growing ornamental plants is a dynamically developing and profitable sector of plant production [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

Research

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19 pages, 3199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring the Supply Chain Performance of the Floricultural Sector Using the SCOR Model and a Multicriteria Decision-Making Method

by Luís Oswaldo Rodríguez Mañay, Inmaculada Guaita-Pradas and Inmaculada Marques-Perez

Horticulturae 2022, 8(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8020168 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4114

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the usefulness of studying the performance of supply chains (SC) at the sectoral level in greater detail through the combination of a disaggregated supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model, with a multicriteria decision-making approach, specifically using an AHP, [...] Read more.

This study aims to highlight the usefulness of studying the performance of supply chains (SC) at the sectoral level in greater detail through the combination of a disaggregated supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model, with a multicriteria decision-making approach, specifically using an AHP, to adjust the analysis to the particularities of the sector under study by stakeholders’ judgements. The methodology was applied to the Ecuadorian flower industry, and the data for the analysis was from a survey of a group of companies that represent this sector. In addition, a focus group of SC experts weighted the model constructs as part of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and then the performance level for each construct was determined. According to the results methodologies, this model allows the classification of companies by their performance, as well as the performance of the aggregate sector. The processes that Ecuadorian flower companies need to improve on are planning, procurement, and manufacturing. The study’s main contribution is developing a general framework for measuring the overall performance of SCs and how the results are obtained. This tool could help managers, consultants, industries, and governments to assess the performance of SCs, as well as improving SC management in order to increase the sector’s competitiveness in the international market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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14 pages, 1773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Different Concentrations of NAA on Selected Ornamental Woody Shrubs Cuttings

by Endre Kentelky, Denisa Jucan, Maria Cantor and Zsolt Szekely-Varga

Horticulturae 2021, 7(11), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110464 - 04 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3100

Abstract

Ornamental woody shrubs are used in landscape design worldwide. Their propagation can be made generatively and vegetatively. Vegetative propagation methods are mostly used by nurseries, as such methods are quick and the newly propagated plants inherit the genetics of the mother plant. However, [...] Read more.

Ornamental woody shrubs are used in landscape design worldwide. Their propagation can be made generatively and vegetatively. Vegetative propagation methods are mostly used by nurseries, as such methods are quick and the newly propagated plants inherit the genetics of the mother plant. However, rooting in some woody plants is slow and, unfortunately, sometimes produces only a small number of rooted cuttings. In this study, shoot cuttings from six selected ornamental woody shrubs were subjected to different concentrations of rooting stimulators (0.5 (NAA5) and 0.8 (NAA8) % concentrations of 1-Naphthylacetic acid; cuttings without treatment were considered as control) and propagated in two different periods (spring and summer). Our results show that significant changes were obtained in the plants under the different treatments. Most of the plants showed a positive response to both treatments, expect for Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, which, compared to control, registered decreases in all the tested parameters under NAA5 treatment. Ilex aquifolium was the species that showed increments in all the parameters when NAA treatments were applied. In conclusion, our research suggests that NAA increases rooting in ornamental woody shrubs, although in some cases rooting could be a species-dependent process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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17 pages, 3548 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Foliar Supplied PGRs on Flower Growth and Antioxidant Activity of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

by Sadia Sadique, Muhammad Moaaz Ali, Muhammad Usman, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Ahmed F. Yousef, Muhammad Adnan, Shaista Gull and Silvana Nicola

Horticulturae 2021, 7(10), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100378 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2330

Abstract

Marigold is one of the commercially exploited flowering crops that belongs to the family Asteraceae. The production of economical yield and better quality of marigold flowers requires proper crop management techniques. Crop regulation is an important technique to make the marigold production profitable. [...] Read more.

Marigold is one of the commercially exploited flowering crops that belongs to the family Asteraceae. The production of economical yield and better quality of marigold flowers requires proper crop management techniques. Crop regulation is an important technique to make the marigold production profitable. This can be done by adopting application of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of PGRs on flowering and antioxidant activity of two cultivars of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) viz. “Pusa Narangi Gainda” (hereinafter referred to as Narangi) and “Pusa Basanthi Gainda” (hereafter referred to as Basanthi). Plants were sprayed with abscisic acid (ABA), N-acetyl thiazolidine (NAD), gibberellic acid (GA₃), salicylic acid (SA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and oxalic acid (OA) at the concentrations of 100, 150, 250, 300 and 800 mg·L⁻¹, each. Results revealed that the plants treated with 500–600 mg·L⁻¹ IBA exhibited maximum increase in floral diameter (34–51%). The use of 500–550 mg·L⁻¹ IBA exhibited maximal enhancement in flower fresh weight (21–92%). The exogenously applied OA significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved flower dry weight, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and reducing power ability of marigold plants. Overall, “Narangi” performed better than “Basanthi”, in terms of flowering and antioxidant activity. Conclusively, the results suggest that foliar application of PGRs favors flowering and antioxidant activity of African marigold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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16 pages, 3741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studies of Vegetative Growth, Inflorescence Development and Eco-Dormancy Formation of Abscission Layers in Streptocarpus formosus (Gesneriaceae)

by Cherise Christina Viljoen, Muhali Olaide Jimoh and Charles Petrus Laubscher

Horticulturae 2021, 7(6), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7060120 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2444

Abstract

Streptocarpus formosus (Hilliard & B.L. Burtt) T.J. Edwards is a flowering herbaceous perennial indigenous to South Africa and is part of the rosulate group of herbaceous acaulescent plants within the Gesneriaceae family. According to the National Assessment database for the Red List of [...] Read more.

Streptocarpus formosus (Hilliard & B.L. Burtt) T.J. Edwards is a flowering herbaceous perennial indigenous to South Africa and is part of the rosulate group of herbaceous acaulescent plants within the Gesneriaceae family. According to the National Assessment database for the Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1., the plant is listed as rare. The ornamental use of S. formosus has untapped commercial potential as a flowering indoor pot plant, an outdoor bedding plant for shade and as a cut flower for the vase, all of which are limited by a five-month eco-dormancy period during the late autumn and all through the cold season in the short-day winter months. Viable commercial production will require cultivation techniques that produce flowering plants all year round. This study investigated the effectiveness of applying root zone heating to S. formosus plants grown in deep water culture hydroponics during the eco-dormancy period in preventing abscission layer formation and in encouraging flowering and assessed the growth activity response of the plants. The experiment was conducted over eight weeks during the winter season in the greenhouse at Kirstenbosch Botanical garden in water reservoirs, each maintained at five different experimental temperature treatments (18, 22, 26—control, 30 and 34 °C) applied to 10 sample replicates. The results showed that the lowest hydroponic root zone temperature of 18 °C had the greatest effect on the vegetative growth of S. formosus, with the highest average increases in fresh weight (1078 g), root length (211 cm), overall leaf length (362 cm) and the number of newly leaves formed (177 = n), all noted as statistically significant when compared with the other water temperature treatments, which yielded negative results from reduced vegetative growth. Findings from the study also revealed that while all heated solutions significantly prevented the formation of abscission layers of S. formosus, they had a less significant effect on inflorescence formation, with only 18 °C having the greatest positive effect on flower development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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9 pages, 1205 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperCommunication

Evaluation of Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum and Depolymerized Chitosan Based Coatings for Pineapple Lily Plant Production

by Piotr Salachna and Anna Pietrak

Horticulturae 2021, 7(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7020019 - 29 Jan 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3372

Abstract

Some natural polysaccharides and their derivatives are used in horticulture to stimulate plant growth. This study investigated the effects of coating bulbs with carrageenan-depolymerized chitosan (C-DCh) or xanthan-depolymerized chitosan (X-DCh) on growth, flowering, and bulb yield as well as physiological and biochemical attributes [...] Read more.

Some natural polysaccharides and their derivatives are used in horticulture to stimulate plant growth. This study investigated the effects of coating bulbs with carrageenan-depolymerized chitosan (C-DCh) or xanthan-depolymerized chitosan (X-DCh) on growth, flowering, and bulb yield as well as physiological and biochemical attributes of pineapple lily (Eucomis autumnalis). The results showed that treatment with C-DCh or X-DCh significantly increased all growth parameters, bulb yield, greenness index, stomatal conductance, total N, total K, and total sugar content of bulbs and accelerated anthesis as compared with untreated bulbs. The positive impact of coatings on plant growth and physiological attributes depended on the type of biopolymer complexes. The X-DCh treatment exhibited the greatest plant height, fresh weight, daughter bulb number, greenness index, stomatal conductance, total N, K, and sugar content. However, this treatment induced a significant decrease in L-ascorbic acid, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. Overall, the results of this study indicated high suitability of C-DCh and X-DCh as bulb coatings for pineapple lily plant production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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14 pages, 1394 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Environmental Analysis of Sustainable Production Practices Applied to Cyclamen and Zonal Geranium

by Jaco Emanuele Bonaguro, Lucia Coletto, Paolo Sambo, Carlo Nicoletto and Giampaolo Zanin

Horticulturae 2021, 7(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7010008 - 15 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3023

Abstract

Italian floriculture is facing structural changes. Possible options to maintain competitiveness of the involved companies include promotion of added values, from local production to environmental sustainability. To quantify value and benefits of cleaner production processes and choices, a holistic view is necessary and [...] Read more.

Italian floriculture is facing structural changes. Possible options to maintain competitiveness of the involved companies include promotion of added values, from local production to environmental sustainability. To quantify value and benefits of cleaner production processes and choices, a holistic view is necessary and could be provided by life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Previous studies on ornamental products generally focused on data from one company or a small sample. The aim of this study was a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment of two ornamental species, cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) and zonal geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum Bailey), using data from a sample of 20 companies belonging to a floriculture district in the Treviso, Veneto region. We also assessed the potential benefits of the environmental impact of alternative management choices regarding plant protection and reuse of composted waste biomass. Life cycle impact assessment showed higher impact scores for the zonal geranium, mainly as a consequence of greenhouse heating with fossil fuels. This factor, along with higher uniformity of production practices and technological levels of equipment, translated to a lower variability in comparison with cyclamen production, which showed a wider results range, in particular for eutrophication, acidification and human toxicity potential. The application of integrated pest management with cyclamen had significant benefits by reducing acidification and human toxicity, while reducing use of mineral nutrients through amending growing media with compost resulted in a reduction in eutrophication potential. Similar achievable benefits for zonal geranium were not observed because of the dominant contribution of energy inputs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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Review

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10 pages, 260 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Overview of the Dynamic Role of Specialty Cut Flowers in the International Cut Flower Market

by Anastasios Darras

Horticulturae 2021, 7(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030051 - 14 Mar 2021

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8505

Abstract

The global cut flower industry has faced serious challenges over the years, but still remains an important sector of agriculture. Floriculture businesses seek new, innovative trends and niches to help increase product sales. Specialty cut flower (SCF) production has increased in the past [...] Read more.

The global cut flower industry has faced serious challenges over the years, but still remains an important sector of agriculture. Floriculture businesses seek new, innovative trends and niches to help increase product sales. Specialty cut flower (SCF) production has increased in the past 20 years in the US, Australia, Africa, and Europe. SCF production and sales could increase further if these new products were supported by dynamic marketing campaigns that focus on their strengths compared to the traditional cut flowers (TCF) such as roses, carnations, gerberas, and chrysanthemums. The major strength of SCF is the eco-friendly profile, which is associated to low CO₂ footprints and environmental outputs. This contrasts TCF cultivation, which is associated to high energy inputs, especially at the traditional production centres (e.g., The Netherlands). It is suggested that environmental legislations, production costs, and customer demand for eco-friendly products will positively affect future SCF cultivation and sale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Ornamental Plant Production)

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