Pollinator Work Continued Last Week

SAF and AmericanHort participated in two important meetings last week focused on the continuing debate about pollinator health.IR-4, the USDA-funded organization which helps provide EPA with data supporting registration of chemicals for horticulture and other specialty crops, worked with the chemical industry to host a conference on research needs.  Attended by several leading horticultural scientists, along with SAF and AmericanHort, the meeting generated productive dialogue around research needed to answer important questions about our industry’s impact on pollinators and how we can be part of the solution.A second, day-long meeting was held in Washington with the industry task force guiding the Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, launched by SAF, AmericanHort, the Horticultural Research Initiative (HRI) and the American Floral Endowment…

AFE Now Accepting Applications for $10,000 2015 Ecke Scholarship

Paul Ecke Jr.Are you a current or future graduate student with the skills and passion to become the next notable floriculture researcher or educator? If so, apply for the Paul Ecke Jr. M.S./Ph.D. Scholarship Program now through Feb. 1, 2015. Applications are available online.The scholarship honors the late Paul Ecke Jr. of Encinitas, Calif., who made significant contributions to the floriculture industry and believed strongly in research and education. Ecke was concerned about the future of floriculture and recognized that innovative researchers and educators are necessary for the continued success of the industry.Joshua CraverPurdue University2014 Ecke RecipientApplicants must be in the process of successfully completing either a B.S. or M.S. degree in horticulture or a related field, (e.g., agricultural engineering,…

New Genetic Engineering Research Aims to Increase Postharvest Life of Cut Flowers

Roses overexpressing MTD. Symptoms are 4 days after spraying Botrytis spores on flowers of a low MTD expressing plant (2-), medium expressing plant (10+), and a high expressing plant (32+).New genetic engineering research from AFE funded researchers at North Carolina State University provides information about how to manage fungal diseases in eco-friendly ways, potentially increasing the postharvest life of cut flowers.Although fungal pathogens, such as Botrytis, cause economically devastating diseases in nursery, field and greenhouse production of important floriculture crops, few genes have been found that are suitable for targeted breeding or engineering specific resistance.This research is focused on expression of a naturally occurring plant resistance gene to produce plants with reduced production costs as well as lower maintenance requirements…

AFE Appoints New Research Coordinator

AFE has appointed Terril A. Nell, Ph.D., as its new research coordinator to oversee the Endowment’s research funding and provide counsel to industry researchers. Nell is professor emeritus in floriculture at the University of Florida (UF) and developed the UF postharvest program in 1983, which he credits AFE funding for making possible. “AFE-supported research has directly benefited the floral industry over the past 53 years,” Nell said. “I share the organization’s quest to provide better scientific information to growers, wholesalers and retailers, and I look forward to working with this organization’s board to advance its goals in the future.” Nell was appointed following the retirement of Gus De Hertogh, Ph.D., AFE research coordinator for the past 15 years. Nell served…

Oct. 1 Deadline for AFE’s Paid Floriculture and Horticulture Internships

The deadline is Oct. 1 for online applications for AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program.Completing one of AFE’s two floriculture and horticulture internship programs allows students to:Train at the industry’s top facilitiesDevelop critical skills, potentially improving employment opportunitiesGet diverse, hands-on paid experienceApply classroom knowledge to real and practical situationsStudents can jump start their careers with a life-changing experience in commercial floriculture production away from home with The Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program, made possible through a generous gift from Vic and Margaret Ball. This program offers paid internships for three, four or six months and provides scholarships of up to $6,000 upon completion.The Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program honors the late…

AFE Awards Nearly $40,000 in Scholarships

Eighteen students have been awarded competitive 2014 scholarships from AFE totaling almost $40,000.“AFE scholarships provide financial assistance to students as they equip themselves with the education and experience that will help them become industry leaders” AFE Education Committee Chairman Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool Inc. said. “Thanks to the generosity of donors, AFE is able to distribute more than 20 scholarships a year to competitive and deserving students.”AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year. The online application was recently redesigned to streamline the process beginning in 2015.American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship – $2,400Recipient: Miwa Ishisaka, California State Polytechnic University-PomonaIshisaka, a sophomore studying plant science, aspires to become a plant breeder who creates…

New Research Offers Cost-Effective Solutions for Ethylene Problems

The tomato plant on the right has been exposed to ethylene.Ethylene is an odorless, colorless gas that plays a role in seed germination, fruit ripening, leaf yellowing, etc., but too much ethylene can lead to product loss via accelerated flower wilting, abnormal growth and other problems. Results from two new research reports by AFE-funded researchers Michelle Jones, Ph.D., and Nichole Edelman of The Ohio State University can help with ethylene concerns.“Ethylene can be very destructive in both production and post-production environments,” Jones said. “Research aimed at understanding plant responses to ethylene and how to prevent damage will benefit producers, wholesalers, shippers, retailers and consumers.”Epinasty in tomato ‘Tumbler’ treated with different concentrations of ethylene for 24 hours.Use of Indicator Plants to…

New Banker Plant Research Identifies Environmentally-Friendly Pest Management Tactics

Parasitoid ‘stinging’ an aphid to insert an egg that will develop into a new parasitoid (left) and a typical banker plant system using biological controls to eliminate pesticide usage at a commercial greenhouse in North Carolina.AFE has new research that proves once again how Murder, Sex and Greed align with floriculture.North Carolina State University (NCSU) researchers describe how aphids can be managed (murder) by releasing the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani in Optimizing Banker Plant Systems for Aphid Biological Control in Floriculture Greenhouses, Research Report #217. This report explains how using banker plants is an environmentally friendly way to sustain the parasitoid with alternative hosts, removing the need to repeatedly purchase new parasitoids.“Aphids can murder profits for growers, wholesalers and retailers…

AFE Announces More Than $280,000 in Floriculture/Horticulture Research Funding

Mary HausbeckMichigan State UniversityAFE has approved more than $280,000 in floriculture/horticulture research project funding for 2014-2015 to support five continuing projects, five new projects and the Gus Poesch Research Fund.“AFE research covers expansive topics that help address and solve critical industry issues,” said Eric Nissen of Sunshine State Carnations, Inc. and AFE Production and Post-Harvest Research Committee Chairman. “These projects will all provide useful information that will enable the entire floral industry to become more productive and profitable.”The goal of all AFE research is to provide knowledge that helps the industry grow stronger and more profitable.Disease ManagementManaging Pythium Species in Floriculture Irrigation Water: Dr. Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University, $40,000 (year one of three)Research significance: While this research is most…

AFE Research Helps Address Common Gerbera Concern

Scape bending of ‘Testarrosa’ was eliminated when stems were supported during hydration (left).For satisfied floral customers, cut flowers need to have high quality and a long vase life, but bending of the scape (stalk) is a major postharvest issue that can leave flowers unmarketable and customers unsatisfied. AFE funded researchers from the University of Florida screened 14 gerbera varieties for scape bending, flower quality and vase life.Reducing Scape Bending in the Gerbera Daisy, Research Report #454 includes the following best practices to eliminate scape bending:Choose varieties that are less susceptible to scape bending or that easily recover. (Most susceptible varieties included Guarda, Fiction, Pink Elegance, Primrose, Sonata, Teresa and Testarrosa)Avoid storing cut gerbera and never store in boxes.Unpack immediately, cut…

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