News page
Check out the new issue of eJHS online at https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/ (Volume 87, issue 6, December 2022) including the following articles:
Brianna Heilsnis is a Ph.D student in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, under the supervision of Dr. Shawn Mehlenbacher in the Hazelnut Breeding and Genetics lab. Her research is focused on host plant resistance to eastern filbert blight (EFB), which is caused by the ascomycete Anisogramma anomala. Currently, the hazelnut industry in Oregon is protected by a dominant allele on linkage group (LG) 6, originally discovered in the European hazelnut, Corylus avellana ‘Gasaway’. However, when tested against other A.
Tree architecture is important because it influences the light interception in the canopy. It determines where the different organs (e.g., leaves and fruits) are borne and, consequently, the source-sink interactions on the tree. Tree architecture directly affects the yield of filbert (Corylus avellana L.).
Felix Büchele is a PhD candidate from the University of Hohenheim, currently conducting research at the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee in Ravensburg, Germany, studying postharvest physiology of horticultural crops. Although long-term cold storage has become an essential part of the production and marketing strategy of apples worldwide, it remains associated with significant risks, as well as high energy usage, and subsequently high costs.
Australian mangoes (Mangifera indica) enjoy a high reputation owing to their large size, attractive skin blush, and sweet and juicy taste. Increasing demand in overseas markets, particularly Asian, indicates a great potential for export. However, risks during export such as high storage temperature in air freight or long in-transit times of sea shipments can cause loss of fruit quality and shelf life, and consequently disappoint consumers.
Clara Gambart is a PhD student at the Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement at KU Leuven (the University of Leuven, Belgium) and graduate research fellow at the One CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research). In 2019, she obtained her Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (KU Leuven). Triggered by her Master thesis, in which she investigated potential agro-ecological intensification strategies on banana-based farming systems, she started a PhD in 2019.
Leaf fall in the evergreen mango (Mangifera indica L.) is affected by physiological age and light environment. Details of these effects need to be determined. Previous studies have not described the dynamics of annual leaf fall of these trees. Our work aimed to decipher the effects of architectural and environmental factors on leaf fall at the scale of the growth unit (GU) during a year. Our experiment began by describing the initial states of 240 GUs, sampled from five mature ‘Cogshall’ mango trees at three depths, expressed as 1, 2, or 4 GU from the terminal GU along the branch.
Maintaining healthy soil is a major challenge in agriculture. Tree-based intercropping is very promising to ensure high production and conserve soil quality, as shown in agroforestry systems. Trees improve soil fertility through the input of organic matter by litterfall and root turnover, which enhance the soil microbial activity. This study aims to evaluate the effects of apple trees (Malus × domestica Borkh. ‘Golden Delicious’) on soil qualities and their potential to improve the yield of an unfertilized organic radish crop (Raphanus sativus L. ‘Ostergruss’).
To determine strategies to increase plant tolerance to high temperature we must examine plant physiological and metabolic processes. High temperature leads to an alteration in photosynthesis, modification of plant metabolism, plant growth reduction, and overall reduction in the quality of horticultural products. Diplotaxis tenuifolia L., commonly known as wild rocket, is a member of the mustard family, Brassicaceae. This plant is cultivated as a baby-leaf salad. Our goal in this study was to understand the physiological and molecular responses in this plant when subjected to heat stress.
Kenneth Oduor is a Ph.D. Student in the Agronomy Department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), under the supervision of Professor Jose Dubeux. He holds an MSc in Agronomy (2016) and a first-class honors degree in BSc. in Agricultural Education and Extension (2013), from the University of Nairobi (Kenya), where he received a scholarship award for his master’s degree. His research focused on strategies to reduce the spread of the invasive cactus species Opuntia stricta in Kenya.
Sandra V. Medina-López is a Ph.D. candidate in the Food Science and Technology Institute at the National University of Colombia, in a joint guardianship with the doctoral Advanced Techniques in Food and Agricultural Research and Development program at the Technical University of Cartagena, under the supervision of her academic advisors, Dr. Maria Soledad Hernández and Dr. Juan Pablo Fernández. Sandra’s research focused on exploring sustainable ways to apply local Colombian plant biodiversity resources.
Sofia Flores is a PhD student in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, under the supervision of Dr. Van Meerbeek. She is conducting her research in her home country at the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Lima, Peru. Her research project explores the natural landscapes near the city of Lima, commonly known as “lomas,” to select native species (e.g. Atriplex rotundifolia, Begonia octopetala, Ismene amancaes, Nolana humifusa, Stenomesson flavum) adapted to these harsh environments and incorporate them into the urban green of the arid city of Lima.
Christophe El-Nakhel is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Naples Federico II, Department of Agricultural Sciences (DIA), Portici, Italy. His research interests include several topics within the field of horticulture, comprising soilless cultivation systems, protected cultivation, space farming, nutrient eustress, biofortification, microgreens, and biostimulant application on horticultural crops. Under the supervision of Prof. Youssef Rouphael, he investigated preharvest factors influencing microgreens quantitative and qualitative traits.
Angela Ricci is a post-doc in the Plant Biotechnology Lab of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bruno Mezzetti and Dr. Silvia Sabbadini. Their work is currently focused on developing efficient and reproducible in vitro protocols for regeneration and genetic transformation suitable for peach with the aim to stably express RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene constructs with the specific goal to induce Plum pox virus (PPV) resistance.
Farzaneh Bekhradi is PhD graduate from the University of Tehran, Iran. After graduation she joined the Sepahan Rooyesh Company in Iran as a Research & Development manager. Her research concerns innovative and environmentally friendly projects such as grafting and vertical farming in addition to the effect of different LEDs lights. She collaborates in many research projects with colleagues at universities in Iran, and has participated in many national and international symposia.
The poor quality of organic seeds due to pathogen contamination is a main challenge for the development of organic farming. In conventional agriculture, chemical seed treatments can effectively manage this issue. In organic agriculture, however, only limited seed treatments are available. The goal of our project was to evaluate seed treatments compatible with organic farming against two bean diseases, anthracnose caused by the fungi Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and halo-blight caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola.
Check out the new issue of eJHS online at https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/ (Volume 87, issue 5) including the following articles:
You are invited to attend the 'I International Symposium on Growing Media, Compost Utilization and Substrate Analysis for Soilless Cultivation' in Quebec City (Canada), June 11-15 2023.
The symposium incorporates the following two ISHS symposium series:
- International Symposium on Growing Media, Composting and Substrate Analysis
- International Symposium on Growing Media, Soilless Cultivation, and Compost Utilization in Horticulture
Check out the current issue of Fruits - The International Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture online at https://www.pubhort.org/fruits/ (Volume 77, issue 5, September-October 2022).
Save the date: 2-4 November 2022
FAO: Global Conference on Sustainable Plant Production - Innovation, Efficiency, Resilience
Hybrid event
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is organizing the Global Conference on Sustainable Plant Production (GPC) with the theme "Innovation, Efficiency and Resilience", on 2-4 November 2022.
Chronica Horticulturae Volume 62 Number 3 (September 2022) is available for download - proceed to https://www.ishs.org/chronica-horticulturae/vol62nr3.
Topics in this number include
News & Views from the Board
On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 15:30-17:15 h CEST, KeyGene organized an international seminar DNA analysis approaches boost breeding in asexually reproduced crops.
The seminar was actively supported by the ISHS Division Ornamental Plants
Lucía Verde is a Ph.D candidate in the Postharvest Programme at the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Lleida (Spain), under the supervision of Dr. Rosario Torres and Dr. Josep Usall. She completed her BSc in Biology in 2017, and her MSc in Agrobiotechnology in 2018. These degrees were obtained from A Coruña (Spain) and Salamanca University (Spain), respectively. Her research studies are focused on the disease caused by the fungus, Monilinia spp., known as brown rot, in stone fruit. The main species responsible for this disease are Monilinia laxa, M. fructicola and M.
José María Vadillo received his BS degree in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Extremadura, Spain, in 2017. After graduation, he began his master’s studies in Agronomic Engineering and Agri-food Chain Management Engineering at the University of Cordoba, Spain, finishing in 2020. He is currently a student of the Food Science PhD programme at the Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX), Spain, under the supervision of Dr. Henar Prieto and Dr. Carmen Giménez.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a widely cultivated agricultural crop in most Arab countries. ‘Barhi’ is very popular among the date palm cultivars grown in the United Arab Emirates and is often consumed at the Bisr stage (crunchy apple-like texture fruit). After harvest and during marketing, the major challenge of this fruit (Bisr stage) is to retain its long-term quality. Several studies have reported different spray treatments with elicitors or edible coating to improve the marketability of fresh fruit.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important fruit trees grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite the immense capabilities of date palm, maintaining the fruit’s quality, marketability, and shelf life remains a challenge. Chemical treatments control some diseases but they can be harmful for the environment. Our goal was to find a safe, natural, effective, economical disease treatment.
Check out the new issue of eJHS online at https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/ (Volume 87, issue 4, August 2022) including the following articles:
Check out the current issue of Fruits - The International Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture online at https://www.pubhort.org/fruits/ (Volume 77, issue 4, July-August 2022).
Angers, France, August 2022
IHC2022 Workshop 03: How to make the transition to sustainable postharvest quality management of ornamental products?
Moderators : Çelikel Fisun, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey and Ernst Woltering, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
FAO-ISHS Fruit and Vegetable Small-Scale Farming Webinar Series:
Innovative Technologies for Small-Scale Farmers
Tuesday, 21 June 2022 | 14:00 –15:30 CEST
Sustainable optimization of agricultural production is a priority to address today's social, economic and environmental challenges.
Innovation based on new technologies that are adapted for use by small-scale farmers can facilitate improved livelihoods based on sound ecological interactions.
Chronica Horticulturae Volume 62 Number 2 (June 2022) is available for download - proceed to https://www.ishs.org/chronica-horticulturae/vol62nr2.
Topics in this number include
News & Views from the Board
Over the past decade, South Africa has seen an increase in the plantings of Protea cynaroides as an export cut flower. Producers rely on superior cultivars, such as P. cynaroides (L.) ‘Arctic Ice’, to secure the desired returns. The production volumes of ‘Arctic Ice’ have more than tripled over the past three years. Current cropping distribution for ‘Arctic Ice’ is restricted to two peak periods in the southern hemisphere; April-May and October-November, with low productivity outside these main harvesting seasons.
Paz E. Zuñiga is a candidate for Dr.Sc. in Plant Biology and Biotechnology in the Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology (LFMV) of the Institute of Biological Sciences at the University of Talca, Chile, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Carlos R. Figueroa. They are currently interested in studying the transcriptional regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit. Strawberries are a great source of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, which can protect plants against stress due to their antioxidant properties.
Tomatoes are a popular horticultural commodity prone to quick postharvest deterioration. In the absence of cold storage and postharvest fungicides to prevent spoilage, other means to preserve the shelf life of fresh tomatoes is sought. Reducing decay and extending the shelf life of such a popular and easily accessible food crop will decrease food waste.
Sulphur (S) is a widely used plant protection agent (mainly against apple scab) in organic apple production in temperate regions. Current attempts of reducing the use of copper (Cu) to avoid heavy metal accumulation in the soil lead to an increased application of S. In Germany, the amounts of S range from 30 to 90 kg ha-1 year-1 in intensive, organic apple production systems.
Vegetables require high amounts of nitrogen (N) and rather low amounts of phosphorus (P). Therefore, fertilization with farmyard manure often results in nutrient imbalances, commonly seen in P oversupply. Leguminous green manures increase the nutrient supply of the successive vegetable crop by the mineralization of residues and the exclusive N input into the soil by biological N2 fixation. This may reduce the need for organic fertilizers in vegetable production and contribute to more balanced nutrient flows.
Elisa Appolloni is a PhD student at the University of Bologna, at the Department of Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies (DISTAL), Italy. Her research interests cover numerous topics in the field of urban agriculture, including soilless cultivation systems, application of artificial LED light for plants cultivation, vertical and indoor farming, building-integrated agriculture, and rooftop agriculture. Under the supervision of Prof.
Increasingly, people want to enjoy the advantages of living in a city with the many cultural offerings and recreational opportunities. In addition, work tends to be close to home, and stores and other activities also remain within a short distance. To enjoy these benefits, people have up until now accepted living in a tiny area. Their houses have been small flats, without a garden, park, or forest nearby for relaxation or exercise. In addition, city dwellers exist in a highly populated environment and need infrastructure, including reasonable living space and transport.
Chian-Chi Lin is an undergraduate student of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan. Her research is addressed to identify a new virus affecting amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybridum Hort.), which is a perennial bulbous plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family very popular as garden flower in Taiwan. The ornamental value of amaryllis plants can be greatly affected by several viruses.
My PhD research work focuses on changes in grape (Vitis vinifera) berries upon fungal infection. Many fungi, such as Botrytis cinerea, Erysiphe necator, and Esca complex trunk disease, cause major economic damage for the viticulture economy and wine production industries. Different species of pathogens utilize diverse approaches for infection, leading to specific alterations in the affected host. In addition, diverse cultivars have different levels of susceptibility to these pathogens.
Zhao Zixuan is a graduate student in fruit tree science at the school of horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, China. Her research provides an effective material database and basis for studying the molecular mechanism of jujube fruit development regulation. She constructed a cDNA library of jujube fruit yeast. Jujube fruit is rich in nutrients and contains a variety of bioactive substances such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), polysaccharide and vitamin C. The construction of a jujube fruit yeast cDNA library is important.
Ozgecan Yalcin is a Master’s student in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, USA, under the supervision of her academic advisors, Dr. Nahla Bassil, and Dr. Claire Luby. She is conducting her studies in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
Yifan Yan is a PhD student in Wine Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and is supervised by Dr. Simone Castellarin. Her research project focuses on blueberry quality, and particularly on aspects related to berry water loss during postharvest and berry pigmentation. North America is the largest producer of blueberries. British Columbia (BC) produces more than 95% of the highbush blueberries in Canada. In the past two decades, the main breeding targets for blueberries have shifted from increasing yield only to both increasing yield and improving quality.
Check out the current issue of Fruits - The International Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture online at https://www.pubhort.org/fruits/ (Volume 77, issue 3, May-June 2022).
Check out the new issue of eJHS online at https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/ (Volume 87, issue 3, June 2022) including the following articles:
FAO-ISHS Fruit and Vegetable Small-Scale Farming Webinar Series: Urban and Peri-urban Production Systems for Improved Livelihoods
Tuesday, 07 June 2022 | 14:00 –15:30 CEST
Rapid urbanization, population growth as well as shocks and stresses such as climate change, pandemics and conflicts are putting increasing pressure on urban food systems.
Check out the new issue of eJHS online at https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/ (Volume 87, issue 2, April 2022) including the following articles:
Check out the current issue of Fruits - The International Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture online at https://www.pubhort.org/fruits/ (Volume 77, issue 2, March-April 2022).
Chronica Horticulturae Volume 62 Number 1 (March 2022) is available for download - proceed to https://www.ishs.org/chronica-horticulturae/vol62nr1.
Topics in this number include
News & Views from the Board
The Protea Working Group would like to congratulate Naomi Hattingh for winning the Young Minds award at the XIV International Protea Research Symposium in March 2022.
Naomi presented a paper on the pruning of Protea cynaroides 'Arctic Ice'. Well done and keep up the protea research!
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