Introduction of didactic principles in the “Floriculture and ornamental gardening” academic subject

The urgency of the topic is due to the search for new didactic principles and their introduction into the teaching of the discipline “Floriculture and ornamental gardening” at the Department of Plant Breeding PSAU. The study was conducted in 2019–2021 by the method of included observation and formative experiment among applicants for higher education 2nd year of the Faculty of Agrotechnology and Ecology, specialty 201 Agronomy. The introduction of four didactic principles, namely responsibility, patriotism, environmental and aesthetic principles, in the teaching of the discipline “Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture” promotes the education of spiritually mature, intelligent and hard-working professionals in the agricultural sector of Ukraine.

Development of ornamental horticulture for residential areas

Aim. Show the ecological significance of ornamental gardening in human life and identify problems of its effective management. Methods. The methods of dialectical cognition of processes and phenomena, monographic empirical and abstract-logical, are used. Results. The issues of the development of domestic ornamental horticulture and floriculture are discussed. A historical overview of landscaping is provided. The researches of domestic and foreign scientists on the toxic effect of pollutants on plant organisms, on the prooxidant-antioxidant balance, and its shift towards the intensification of lipid cross-oxidation in plant tissues, are analyzed. The relevance of research on air transport of harmful substances of human activity in residential areas and the importance of plants in protecting them and residents from the harmful effects of pollutants are shown. Conclusions. Ornamental gardening, floriculture, and landscaping are a promising way to improve the living conditions of the population and neutralize harmful industrial emissions.

Pest Management Practices in the US Ornamental Horticulture Industry: Use of Neonicotinoid and Non-Neonicotinoid Insecticides

This article summarizes ornamental plant producers’ current production practices with a specific emphasis on their use of neonicotinoid and non-neonicotinoid insecticides. Written by Hayk Khachatryan, Xuan Wei, and Alicia Rihn, and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, July 2021.

Ornamental potential of Schomburkgia crispa Lindl.

Orchids are one of the groups of plants with the greatest commercialization potential. They have floral characteristics highly valued in the sector of flowers and ornamental plants. However, exotics species are the most commercialized. The native species are still little explored for their ornamental potential. Thus, this work describes the vegetative and floral morphological characteristics of Schomburgkia crispa Lindl. aiming at evaluating its ornamental potential. For such, seven individuals were chosen. The quantitative characters were evaluated in all plants, totaling fifty pseudobulbs and eighty-eight flowers. During flowering, the most representative plant was chosen for the visual evaluation of its morphological features through photographs. A floral diagnosis sheet based on photos of fresh flowers was prepared by keeping the maximum level of morphological details. At the end of the experimental period, averages and standard deviations were calculated for each character evaluated. The species S. crispa presented, on average, plants 46.17 cm long, 31.50 cm wide, and with 88 cm of diameter. For flowering characters, the species presented in general 16.50 flowers per plant, 14.67 per flower stem, and 4.66 flowers opened per day, with an average durability of 32 days. Thus, we conclude that the species S. crispa has a great ornamental potential for use in ornamental horticulture.

Niedzwetzky’s apple (Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck): evaluation and breeding prospects

Background. Niedzwetzky’s apple (Malus niedzwetzkyana Dieck), native to Central Asia, has excellent prospects in the development of new cultivars with high anthocyanin content and hybrids that could be widely used in ornamental horticulture.Materials and methods. The collection maintained at Maikop Experiment Station of VIR currently contains 17 different forms of Niedzwetzky’s apple. Most of them were introduced in 1968 from the pomological garden in Talgar, Kazakhstan. Evaluation of their phenological patterns, yield, precocity of bearing, disease resistance, fruit quality, ornamentality, etc. was based on the guidelines developed at VIR.Results and conclusion. Characteristics and specific features for all accessions of Niedzwetzky’s apple are formatted into a table. As a result of testing, the following accessions were identified: k-2389, k-29429, k-29428, k-29430 and k-29422 for their high yield; k-29429 and k-29426 for a large fruit size; k-29429, k-29430 and k-29422 for fruiting precocity; k-29431, k-29423, k-29427 and k-2389 for a pleasant sour-sweet fruit flavor, and a number of forms with medium resistance to apple leaf and fruit scab. Of special interest are the accessions with red and dark red fruit flesh color (k-14948, k-2389 and k-13279): they are most impressive in their flowering and fruiting phases. Niedzwetzky’s apple accessions with red pigmentation are promising for the development of cultivars with higher anthocyanin content in fruit. Besides, M. niedzwetzkyana and its hybrids have good prospects as ornamental plants.

Consumer Knowledge about Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Pollinator Friendly Plants

What does the general public know about neonicotinoids used in ornamental horticulture and their effects on pollinators? The question is an important one given that home landscapes serve as pollinator habitat and can impact pollinator health. This 5-page fact sheet written by Hayk Khachatryan, Xuan Wei, and Alicia Rihn and published by the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department summarizes a survey addressing consumer knowledge about neonicotinoids and pollinator plants, as well as their interest in enhancing pollinator health. The survey is part of a larger research project aimed at incorporating pollinator conservation into the ornamental horticulture industry's sustainability initiatives. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe1081