\u201cThe floriculture industry faces complex challenges that AFE-funded research helps address,\u201d said Terril Nell, Ph.D., AFE\u00a0Research Coordinator.
\u201cThese projects will directly benefit the industry by providing useful information to help solve critical issues, which will escalate the productivity and profitability of businesses.\u201d
The funding will support four new projects and seven continuing projects. The goal of all AFE\u00a0research is to provide knowledge that helps the industry grow stronger.
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PLANT BREEDING AND GENETIC ENGINEERING<\/strong>- Objective: Key enzyme and protein groups are being classified in Lily as a means of using this information in traditional breeding programs to create plants with favorable traits such as: stronger stems, pests\/disease resistance, more colorful flowers and just the right amount of fragrance.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0
- Understanding How Temperature Influences Crop Production Time to Facilitate Selection and Breeding of Cool-Tolerant Bedding Plants<\/strong>: Dr. Ryan Warner, Michigan State University, $30,827
- Objective: Establish the temperature sensitivity for cropping time of current petunia and calibrachoa cultivars leading to an understanding of the genetic relationship of temperature and flowering. These results will provide commercial breeders with information to develop cultivars that will flower in the same time as plants grown at warmer production temperatures.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>Manejo de enfermedades<\/strong>
- Engineering Impatiens for Resistance to the Devastating Disease Downy Mildew<\/strong>: Dr. Zhanao Deng, University of Florida, $31,500
- Objective: Develop plants with a modified plant defense gene (NPR1) that will result in plants with resistance to downy mildew during production and in the landscape.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0
- Finding Solutions to Pre-Harvest Botrytis Infection of Cut Roses<\/strong>: Dr. James Faust, Clemson University, $39,767
- Objective: Develop and understand the relationships between the greenhouse environment, such as temperature, humidity, leaf wetness and cultural practices on Botrytis <\/em>spore populations in cut roses.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0<\/p>
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Thrips<\/p>
CONTROL DE INSECTOS<\/strong>
- Un enfoque novedoso para el control de los trips mediante hongos, con plantas protectoras de cal\u00e9ndula<\/strong>: Dr. Margaret Skinner, University of Vermont, $24,815
- Objective: Evaluate the persistence of Beauveria bassiana, <\/em>an insect-killing fungus, that when combined with a solid nutritional substrate (millet) in the potting mix will provide control of western flower thrips for longer periods.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0
- Successful IPM of Western Flower Thrips Starts with Clean Cuttings:<\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, $45,000 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Objective: Investigate the use of cutting dips containing reduced-risk materials (insecticidal soap, mineral oil) and biopesticides (Beauveria bassiana<\/em>) as a means of reducing thrips infestations on propagative materials to levels where they can be easily managed thereafter using biocontrol.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>POST PRODUCTION<\/strong>
- Economic and Postharvest Quality Analysis of Floriculture Crops Produced at Substrate Moisture Content:<\/strong> Dr. Terri Starman, Texas A&M University, $13,500 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Objective: Demonstrate that use of lower volumes of water applied during irrigation can produce high-quality bedding plants with improved shelf life at retail while conserving water during production.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0<\/p>
![](\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/imported-files\/Rose-with-Botrytis-300x225.jpg\")
Cut rose with Botrytis<\/p>
- Inhibitors of Ethylene Action for Improving Cut Flower Longevity: <\/strong>Dr. Rasika Dias, University of Texas at Arlington, $21,050 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Objective: Improve our fundamental understanding of ethylene chemistry in plants, offer new and better ethylene antagonists for wider use, and provide ways of managing post-harvest quality of flowers and shelf life.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0
- Manejo postcosecha de Botrytis durante el env\u00edo y almacenamiento<\/strong>: Dr. John Dole, North Carolina State University, $34,000
- Objective: Identify the relationship between ethylene sensitivity and Botrytis<\/em> susceptibility of cut roses and whether use of anti-ethylene agents reduce Botrytis<\/em> development. Also, the relationship of temperature and relative humidity conditions inside shipping boxes will be related to incidence of Botrytis<\/em> relative to packing materials and pre-cooling methods.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>TECNOLOG\u00cdA DE PRODUCCI\u00d3N\/PROTOCOLOS<\/strong>
- Making LED Lighting More Cost-Effective<\/strong>: Dr. Marc van Iersel, University of Georgia, $20,000
- Objective: Identify the relationship between ethylene sensitivity and Botrytis<\/em> susceptibility of cut roses and whether use of anti-ethylene agents reduce Botrytis<\/em> development. Also, the relationship of temperature and relative humidity conditions inside shipping boxes will be related to incidence of Botrytis<\/em> relative to packing materials and pre-cooling methods.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>TECNOLOG\u00cdA DE PRODUCCI\u00d3N\/PROTOCOLOS<\/strong>
- Inhibitors of Ethylene Action for Improving Cut Flower Longevity: <\/strong>Dr. Rasika Dias, University of Texas at Arlington, $21,050 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Economic and Postharvest Quality Analysis of Floriculture Crops Produced at Substrate Moisture Content:<\/strong> Dr. Terri Starman, Texas A&M University, $13,500 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Successful IPM of Western Flower Thrips Starts with Clean Cuttings:<\/strong>\u00a0Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, $45,000 (NEW!)<\/strong><\/strong><\/span>
- Un enfoque novedoso para el control de los trips mediante hongos, con plantas protectoras de cal\u00e9ndula<\/strong>: Dr. Margaret Skinner, University of Vermont, $24,815
- Objective: Develop and understand the relationships between the greenhouse environment, such as temperature, humidity, leaf wetness and cultural practices on Botrytis <\/em>spore populations in cut roses.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>\u00a0<\/p>
- Engineering Impatiens for Resistance to the Devastating Disease Downy Mildew<\/strong>: Dr. Zhanao Deng, University of Florida, $31,500
- Objective: Establish the temperature sensitivity for cropping time of current petunia and calibrachoa cultivars leading to an understanding of the genetic relationship of temperature and flowering. These results will provide commercial breeders with information to develop cultivars that will flower in the same time as plants grown at warmer production temperatures.<\/li><\/ul><\/li>Manejo de enfermedades<\/strong>