scholarly journals The East Texas Bedding Plant Pack and Garden Performance Trials

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-396
Author(s):  
H. Brent Pemberton ◽  
William E. Roberson
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
East Texas ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Bedding Plant ◽  
Extension Center

The East Texas Bedding Plant Pack and Garden Performance Trials began several years ago at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton (Overton Center) with the goal of providing information on greenhouse and field performance of bedding plant varieties to the local bedding plant industry and consumers of these products. The program began with local trials that have now expanded in scope with the Smith County Master Gardeners Association playing an integral role in performing the trials. Entries are received from most of the major ornamental seed companies doing business in the United States giving the regional industry access to the only comprehensive greenhouse performance trials in this part of the country. Performance evaluation data is important to this industry since it has a wholesale value of over $500 million in the northeast Texas region, of which over $100 million is bedding plant production. The field performance trials are now replicated at the Overton Center, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (Dallas Arboretum) and the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Dallas (Dallas Center), giving over 5 million consumers in the northeast Texas region the opportunity to see how promising new plants from all over the world perform in the local climate. Plants that grow well in this climate have the potential to reduce inputs needed for production and use in the home or commercial landscape. Many of the top performing varieties from the bedding plant trials are also chosen to be part of the Coordinated Education and Marketing Assistance Program (CEMAP), a statewide testing program headquartered at the Dallas Center in which entries vie for designation as Texas Superstar plants. The comprehensive benefit of the East Texas Bedding Plant Pack and Garden Performance Trials is the link between the rural bedding plant producers and the urban consumers which serves as a basis for improving the quality of life for the citizens of Texas.

scholarly journals East Texas Bedding Plant Pack and Garden Performance Trials: Master Gardeners, A Web-site and Publishable Data

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 566E-567
Author(s):  
H. Brent Pemberton ◽  
William E. Roberson
Keyword(s):  
Web Site ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
East Texas ◽  
Master Gardener ◽  
Material Source ◽  
Bedding Plant

The East Texas Bedding Plant Pack and Garden Performance Trials are performed as an interaction between the plant material source companies, the plant producer companies, volunteers, and retail consumers. The Overton Trial Site is located near a concentration of bedding plant growers ($80 million annual wholesale value) which is part of the close to $500 million in ornamental plant production in northeast and north central Texas, about half of the state industry value. The spring and fall trials consist of two phases. The greenhouse phase consists of assessing production performance for use by the crop production industry. Crops are usually finished in packs (36 cells per flat), but larger size containers are used as needed according to species. Height control is a major issue and specific issues have been addressed. This is one way that publishable data can be generated by these trials. The garden phase consists of assessing garden performance in a replicated field setting at the Overton site. Garden performance is also assessed for many of the entries at sites at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the Texas A&M Univ. Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Dallas. An integral part of the trials are the volunteers who, as members of the Smith County Master Gardener Association, donate hundreds of hours of labor to the seeding, transplanting, and garden establishment phases of the trials. In addition, a web site has been initiated as the only practical way to share the data and hundreds of images that are generated each trial season.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Viola Cultivars as Bedding Plants and Establishment of the Best-of-Class

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-171
Author(s):  
Richard O. Kelly ◽  
Zhanao Deng ◽  
Brent K. Harbaugh
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Flower Color ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Lemon Yellow ◽  
Bedding Plants ◽  
Bedding Plant ◽  
White Face ◽  
Dark Blue

Florida is one of the top wholesale producers of bedding plants, and in 2003 was ranked fourth in the United States in annual bedding plant production and fifth in potted pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana) and viola (V. cornuta) production. Evaluation of viola cultivars is vital for continued growth of the industry. We evaluated 66 viola cultivars in replicated class tests at the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Bradenton from 2000-04 and determined the best-of-class for use in future trials to compare against new entries in the same class. In this report, we provide objective plant measurements of vegetative and floral characteristics as well as subjective performance ratings. Viola cultivars were grouped into classes based on growth habit (standard vs. creeping), flower color, and flower color pattern, and the best cultivar in each class was determined. Cultivars with an outstanding overall performance rating (combined foliage, flower, arthropod feeding symptom, and disease symptom ratings ≥5.5 out of a 7 high scale) for best-of-class selections were: (standard black class) `Sorbet Black Delight'; (standard cream class) `Velour Cream Splash'; (standard mix class) `Babyface Mixture'; (standard orange with purple, red-violet cap class) `Penny Orange Jump-Up'; [standard purple (dark), blue-violet with dark eye and light cap class] `Angel Violet Blotch'; (standard white class) `Penny White'; [standard white face with purple (dark), red-violet cap class] `Skippy White With Violet Wing'; (standard yellow class) `Jewel Lemon Yellow'; (standard yellow with blotch class) `Babyface Yellow'; [standard yellow/white face with purple (dark), blue-violet cap class] `Penny Classic Jump-Up'. Solitary cultivar entries (without comparison) with outstanding performance were: `Angel Frosted Yellow Blotch', `Angel Violet Duet', `Babyface White', `Eryln Purple Yellow', `Four Seasons Yellow With Pink Wing', `Gem Antique Apricot', `Gem Antique Pink', `Gem Antique Lavender', `Hobbit Bilbo Baggins', `Jewel Deep Blue', `Penny Azure Twilight', `Penny Beaconsfield', `Penny Cream', `Penny Orange', `Penny Orchid Frost', `Penny Purple', `Penny Yellow Jump-Up', `Princess Lavender and Yellow', `Princess Purple and Gold', `Rebel Yellow', `Sorbet Coconut Swirl', `Sorbet Icy Blue', `Sorbet Lemon Swirl', `Sparkler Purple Orange Face', and `Sparkler Purple Wing'. These cultivars would likely perform well in the southern U.S. or areas of the world with similar heat and cold hardiness zones.

scholarly journals First Report of Rust Caused by Puccinia emaculata on Switchgrass in Arkansas

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Hirsch ◽  
D. O. TeBeest ◽  
B. H. Bluhm ◽  
C. P. West
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Cell Width ◽  
First Report ◽  
Northwest Arkansas ◽  
Extension Center

In May 2007, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cv. Alamo and a breeding line, OSU-NSL 2001-1, were planted at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Fayetteville. In August 2008, a high incidence of dark brown-to-black rectangular foliar lesions delineated by major veins was observed throughout plots of both lines. Lesions covered 25% to nearly 100% of total leaf tissue. Similar symptoms were also observed on unknown switchgrass cultivars in Benton County in northwest Arkansas and in St. Francis County in east-central Arkansas, suggesting that the disease was widely distributed throughout the state. The pathogen produced epiphyllous and adaxial masses of dark brown-to-black telia from erumpent fissures on leaf surfaces. Dark brown teliospores were observed under magnification and were two-celled, oblong to ellipsoid, and 33 ± 3.5 μm long with an apical cell width of 17.5 ± 2.7 μm and basal cell width of 16.2 ± 2.8 μm (reported as mean ± standard deviation, n = 25). Pedicles were colorless to light brown and measured 25.4 ± 9.2 μm (n = 25). In June 2009, at the Fayetteville Research and Extension Center, several second-year stands of switchgrass developed amphigenous and adaxial foliar lesions containing urediniospores. The uredia were globose and finely echinulate, measuring 23.1 ± 2.2 μm (n = 25) with brown cell walls. Teliospore and urediniospore morphology from all collections was consistent with Puccinia emaculata Schw. (2). Genomic DNA was extracted from a representative infected leaf of cv. Alamo, collected in Fayetteville, AR in June 2009, and amplified by PCR with primer sets PRITS1F (3) and ITS4B (1), which amplified an 803-bp fragment of rDNA encoding the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1), 5.8S subunit, and second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2). The fragment was cloned into pGEM T Easy (Promega Corp, Madison, WI) and sequenced. A BLAST search of GenBank revealed that the fragment was most similar to the rDNA of P. emaculata (GenBank Accession No. EU915294.1; 755 of 758 bases matching; 99% identity) previously reported as a pathogen on switchgrass in Tennessee (3). The incidence and severity of rust on the widely planted switchgrass cv. Alamo is considerable cause for concern as efforts are made to increase acreage and production. Climatic conditions in St. Francis County are generally consistent with locations in Tennessee where switchgrass rust was previously reported (3). However, northwest Arkansas represents the eastern edge of the southwestern United States, suggesting that P. emaculata may affect switchgrass in geographically diverse areas of the United States. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of rust on switchgrass in Arkansas. Managing this disease will be an important consideration for large-scale switchgrass cultivation in the state. References: (1) M. Gardes and T. D. Bruns. Mol. Ecol. 2:113, 1993. (2) P. Ramachar and G. Cummins. Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl. 25:7, 1965. (3) J. Zale et al. Plant. Dis. 92:1710, 2008.

scholarly journals Clean Chip Residual: A Substrate Component for Growing Annuals

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl R. Boyer ◽  
Glenn B. Fain ◽  
Charles H. Gilliam ◽  
Thomas V. Gallagher ◽  
H. Allen Torbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Hammer Mill ◽  
Annual Species ◽  
Alternative Substrate ◽  
Leaf Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Leaf Chlorophyll ◽  
Bedding Plant

A study was conducted at Auburn University in Auburn, AL, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, MS, to evaluate clean chip residual (CCR) as an alternative substrate component for annual bedding plant production. Clean chip residual used in this study was processed through a horizontal grinder with 4-inch screens at the site and was then processed again through a swinging hammer mill to pass a 3/4- or 1/2-inch screen. Two CCR particle sizes were used alone or blended with 10% (9:1) or 20% (4:1) peatmoss (PM) (by volume) and were compared with control treatments, pine bark (PB), and PB blends (10% and 20% PM). Three annual species, ‘Blue Hawaii’ ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), ‘Vista Purple’ salvia (Salvia ×superba), and ‘Coral’ or ‘White’ impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), were transplanted from 36-cell (12.0-inch3) flats into 1-gal containers, placed on elevated benches in a greenhouse, and hand watered as needed. Ageratum plants grown at Auburn had leaf chlorophyll content similar or greater than that of plants grown in PB. There were no differences in salvia; however, impatiens plants grown in PB substrates at Auburn had less leaf chlorophyll content than those grown in CCR. There were no differences in ageratum, salvia, or impatiens leaf chlorophyll content at Poplarville. There were no differences in growth indices (GI) or shoot dry weight (SDW) of ageratum, while the largest salvia was in PB:PM and the largest impatiens were in PB-based substrates at Auburn. The GI of ageratum at Poplarville was similar among treatments, but plants grown in 4:1 1/2-inch CCR:PM were the largest. Salvia was largest in 4:1 CCR:PM and PB:PM, and although there were no differences in GI for impatiens at Poplarville, the greatest SDW occurred with PB:PM. Foliar nutrient content analysis indicated elevated levels of manganese and zinc in treatments containing CCR at Auburn and PB at Poplarville. At the study termination, two of three annual species tested at both locations had very similar growth when compared with standard PB substrates. This study demonstrates that CCR is a viable alternative substrate in greenhouse production of ageratum, salvia, and impatiens in large containers.

scholarly journals First Report on White Smut of Gaillardia × grandiflora Caused by Entyloma polysporum in Virginia

Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. X. Hong ◽  
T. J. Banko
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spore Suspension ◽  
Smut Fungi ◽  
First Report ◽  
Hampton Roads ◽  
The North ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Extension Center

Disease samples of Gaillardia × grandiflora cvs. Goblin and Baby Cole were received at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach in early April 2002. Samples were from a nursery in eastern Virginia, and most diseased plants had several to more than a dozen, round, flat, white to tan spots with indistinct margins up to 1 cm in diameter on their leaves. The spots later turned brown and necrotic, followed by necrosis of the entire leaf. Leaves of ‘Baby Cole’ were beginning to wilt and were more spotted than those of ‘Goblin’. Fungal fruiting bodies were not observed on the surface of diseased leaves. However, microscopic examination of internal leaf tissues revealed masses of round, double-walled, pale green-to-yellow spores approximately 12 μm in diameter and typical of the ustilospores of Entyloma polysporum (2,3). Inoculum for pathogenicity tests was prepared by blending 10 diseased leaves in 200 ml of sterile distilled water (SDW) for 2 min in a blender at low speed. The spore suspension was adjusted to 5 × 105 spores per ml with SDW. Healthy ‘Goblin’ gaillardia plants were obtained from a nursery where smut symptoms had never been seen. Four plants in one-gallon containers were inoculated by spraying them to runoff with the spore suspension. Four control plants were sprayed with SDW only. All plants were maintained in a greenhouse (15 to 35°C) and covered with a clean polyethylene plastic sheet overnight (14 h) to maintain high humidity and separated to avoid potential cross contamination. Inoculated and uninoculated plants were hand-watered separately, with application of water to the foliage to enhance spread of the disease. Typical white smut symptoms were observed on inoculated plants 2 weeks after inoculation, and numerous spores of E. polysporum were observed in the diseased tissues. No disease symptoms were seen on control plants. White smut has been reported on gaillardia in a few other states (1), but to our knowledge, this is the first report of the disease on gaillardia in Virginia. Growers at the affected nursery reported observing white smut symptoms on gaillardia in previous years, but in the spring of 2002, almost the entire gaillardia crop was destroyed. The disease has not been seen on gaillardia in any other nurseries, but it could have significant impact on production if it spreads. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989. (2) W. Fischer. Manual of the North American Smut Fungi. Ronald Press, New York, 1953. (3) D. B. O. Savile. Can. J. Res. 25(C):109,1947.

scholarly journals Bedding plant production and the challenge of fungal diseases

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimiro Guarnaccia ◽  
Francesca Peduto Hand ◽  
Angelo Garibaldi ◽  
Maria Lodovica GULLINO
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Bedding Plants ◽  
Bedding Plant

Bedding plants are a major group of ornamentals produced in greenhouses or nurseries worldwide and planted outdoors. Their economic importance has increased continuously in the last four decades in both the United States and the European Union. These plants are subject to many diseases that can negatively impact their production and cultivation. The initial steps of production strongly influence the health status of these plants and, consequently, their aesthetic appeal, which is a strong requisite for consumers. Seeds, cuttings, other forms of propagative material, along with production systems and growing media can influence the phytosanitary status of the final product. In this paper, case studies of soil-borne and foliar diseases are presented together with preventive measures to achieve innovative disease management strategies. Quarantine restrictions and eradication measures are also discussed, in consideration of the high likelihood for ornamental plants to be long-distance vectors of new pathogens and pests.

An overview of pathogens associated with biotic stresses in hemp crops in Oregon, 2019-2020

Plant Disease ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M. Rivedal ◽  
Cassandra Funke ◽  
Kenneth Frost
Keyword(s):  
Cannabis Sativa ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
State University ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Beet Leafhopper ◽  
Beet Curly Top Virus ◽  
Extension Center

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) acreage in Oregon has increased by approximately 240 times in the last five years and a greater number of hemp diseases have been observed. This special report documents pathogens, particularly those causing virus and virus-like diseases, that have been detected from field and greenhouse-grown hemp crops in Oregon, based on plant samples submitted to the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center Plant Clinic of Oregon State University in 2019 and 2020. Symptoms and signs were used to evaluate disease types and determine diagnostic assays used on each submission. Plants with signs or symptoms of fungal or oomycete infection were cultured to isolate pathogenic organisms and plants with symptoms suspected to be caused by virus infection were assayed for the presence of Beet curly top virus (BCTV), viroids, and phytoplasmas using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Diseases with fungal or oomycete, and virus causes accounted for 26.5%, and 42.9% of submissions, respectively; co-infection of viral and fungal or oomycete pathogens were detected from 6.1% of submissions between 2019 and 2020. BCTV, a curtovirus, and hop latent viroid (HLVd) were the predominant pathogens detected from field and indoor grown hemp. Worland-like strains of BCTV represented 93% of all curtovirus detections. Eighty percent of HLVd detections occurred from plants that originated from indoor growing facilities. Based on BCTV vector, beet leafhopper, prevalence, field-grown hemp in western production regions may be affected by curly top and increasing hemp acreage in the landscape may have potential implications on other crops affected by curtoviruses. Virus and virus-like diseases could be a limiting factor for hemp production in some regions of the United States.

scholarly journals (242)`Black Pearl':A New OrnamentalCapsicum

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1003C-1003
Author(s):  
John R. Stommel ◽  
Robert J. Griesbach
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Leaf Shape ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Cooperative Research ◽  
Seed Company ◽  
Bedding Plant ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Black Pearl

Considerable diversity exists in Capsicum L. germplasm for fruit and leaf shape, size and color, as well as plant habit. This morphological diversity, together with diverse ripe fruit color and varying hues of green to purple and variegated foliar pigmentation, affords myriad opportunities to develop unique cultivars for ornamental applications. The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture announces the release of a new pepper [Capsicumannuum (L.)] cultivar named `Black Pearl'. `Black Pearl' is intended for ornamental applications and affords growers a new crop to add to their bedding and landscape plant assortment. `Black Pearl' combines black foliage with erect clusters of small round red-pigmented fruit. The vibrant fruit and foliage colors of this new cultivar add interest to the summer and fall garden. Black Pearl' has been trialed extensively for use as a bedding plant where its compact growth habit, black foliage, and brightly colored fruit provide an attractive ornamental display. Limited evaluations suggest that this cultivar is equally well suited for pot culture under high light conditions. `Black Pearl' was designated a 2006 All America Selection award winner after completion of national trials in 2004. `Black Pearl' is a release made available from a cooperative research and development agreement with Pan American Seed Company. Seed of `Black Pearl' is available from Pan American Seed Company, 622 Town Road, West Chicago, IL 60185. Plant Variety Protection for `Black Pearl' is pending.

Phosphorus Fertilization in Ebb and Flow Production of Bedding Plants

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 523b-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin James ◽  
Marc van Iersel
Keyword(s):  
Dry Mass ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilization ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Nutrient Runoff ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Bedding Plants ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Bedding Plant ◽  
Ebb And Flow

The quantity and quality of available water in the Southeastern United States continues to decline as demands on limited resources increase. Growers will soon be forced to comply with legal limitations on water consumption and limits on nutrient runoff from their operations. A lack of information on standard growing practices using alternative irrigation systems such as ebb and flow is hindering their acceptance and implementation. We are currently conducting a series of experiments to establish basic growing guidelines for the use of ebb and flow in the greenhouse in bedding plant production. In the third of these experiments, Petunia × hybrida Hort. Vilm.-Andr. `Blue Frost' and Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch. `Ambassador Scarlet' were grown for 5 weeks on ebb and flow tables with fertigation solutions (225 ppm N) containing three different levels of phosphorus (0, 50, and 100 ppm). Three soilless media were also used, which varied in their percentage content of vermiculite, perlite, pine bark and coconut coir. For both the begonias and petunias dry mass of the shoot was greatest in plants grown with higher levels of phosphorus. In comparison to plants grown with 0 ppm phosphorous, petunias and begonias grown with 50 or 100 ppm P were 44% and 25% greater in mass, respectively. However, begonias had 38% more flowers when fertigated with the higher levels of phosphorous while petunias flowered earlier with 0 ppm P fertigation solution. The electrical conductivity of the media did not change significantly over the course of the growing period, but the pH dropped by an average of 1 over the same time interval.

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