Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) There are increasingly high costs of compliance with federal, state, and local water quality regulations, and restrictions imposed by local governments that are concerned with the impact of greenhouse crop production on nearby residents. The economic vitality of the floriculture industry depends on the development of practices that reduce the cost of production and minimize the impact of crop production on the environment. Objectives will be to 1) develop improved methods for fertilization and irrigation in greenhouse production, particularly for cut flower production and flowering potted plant production 2) to develop sustainable production systems that optimally produce greenhouse flower crops while reducing the discharge of waste fertilizer and pesticides. Approach (from AD-416) Conduct research in production floriculture to develop information to improve the sustainability of greenhouse operations, with emphasis on fertilization, irrigation and recycling of irrigation water. Using a systems approach, optimize key components of complex, dynamic greenhouse practices to improve production efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. Utilize systems analysis techniques and mathematical crop modeling to quantify the multitude of factors that are of importance, and develop tools to improve management of crop production methods. Understand and optimize the physiology and genetics of floral crops for compatibility with profitable, environmentally-friendly production systems. Develop a multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with the floriculture faculty at UC-Davis, within ARS, and elsewhere as needed. Work with outreach and extension personnel/groups to transfer technology to growers. Accomplishments Silencing of regulatory genes in petunia using Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to enhance the post-harvest vase life and quality of floral crops. The over-riding need of the cut flower industry in the U.S. is to increase consumption of flowers and the key to increasing consumption, as seen in the U.K., is to improve the vase life of cut flowers. In order to increase the longevity of cut flowers in the U.S., our objectives are to develop and evaluate the use of viral mediated gene silencing systems in the modulation of plant senescence and abscission. We are using tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology to down- regulate the expression of some transcription and regulatory factors that have the potential to control floral senescence. This longer-term research will benefit the industry by providing an effective means of increasing the life, especially, of short-lived flowers such as iris. This accomplishment addresses NP 305 Crop Production, Component: Integrated Production Systems. Isolation of tissue- and developmental stage-specific promoters. The over-riding need of the cut flower industry in the U.S. is to increase consumption of flowers and the key to increasing consumption, as seen in the U.K., is to improve the vase life of cut flowers. Tissue- and developmental stage-specific promoters have great utility in the genetic-manipulation of floral traits for improvement of ornamental crops. We have isolated and analyzed a promoter of ubiquitin ligase that is highly expressed during flower senescence. The promoter activity and behavior has been evaluated in petunia as well as other flower systems. We also isolated a promoter of a Mads-box gene that is specifically expressed in flower petals from Snapdragon. This accomplishment addresses NP 305 Crop Production, Component: Integrated Production Systems. Investigate alternative means for controlling botrytis infections. Floral product damages caused by Botrytis infection are one of major quality problems facing U.S. flower growers during transportation and storage. Growers have long relied on synthetic chemical fungicides to reduce Botrytis disease incidence, however, continued use of these fungicides is problematical owing to development of fungal resistance and increasing environmental concerns over fungicidal residues. We are attempting to develop effective and environmentally-sound treatments to protect cut flowers against infection by Botrytis using chemicals that are generally recognized as safe such as benzoic acid, peroxyacetic acid, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium hypochlorite (Clorox). In preliminary studies, dipping cut rose flowers in either 3 mM of benzoic acid or 3% of H2O2 provided high levels of control against botrytis. This accomplishment addresses NP 305 Crop Production, Component: Integrated Production Systems. Preventing leaf yellowing in potted plants using Thidiazuron (TDZ). Leaf yellowing, a symptom of senescence, is a significant quality problem in a wide range of potted plants, and also reduces the quality, value and vase life of cut flowers. Previous studies have shown that TDZ, a compound with potent cytokinin activity, dramatically reduced leaf yellowing in cut flowers such as alstroemeria. By working closely with the floriculture group at UC Davis and with growers in California, we have been extending this TDZ application into potted plants. Our data show that leaves on the TDZ-treated potted plants of tulip, cyclamen, poinsettia and geranium were dark green for more than a month while leaves on the control plants were yellowing, even abscised. The results of this study provide the floriculture industry the needed information to prevent leaf yellowing in cut flowers and potted plants. This accomplishment addresses NP 305 Crop Production, Component: Integrated Production Systems. NOTE: New Project plan outlines and project plans for NP305 are currently being drafted. Once complete sections 1a and 1b will coincide with the accomplishments performed by the scientist supported on this CRIS project. Technology Transfer Number of U.S. Patents granted: 3 Number of Non-Peer Reviewed Presentations and Proceedings: 1 Number of Newspaper Articles,Presentations for NonScience Audiences: 1
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Progress 09/01/02 to 08/31/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) There are increasingly high costs of compliance with federal, state, and local water quality regulations, and restrictions imposed by local governments that are concerned with the impact of greenhouse crop production on nearby residents. The economic vitality of the floriculture industry depends on the development of practices that reduce the cost of production and minimize the impact of crop production on the environment. Objectives will be to 1) develop improved methods for fertilization and irrigation in greenhouse production, particularly for cut flower production and flowering potted plant production 2) to develop sustainable production systems that optimally produce greenhouse flower crops while reducing the discharge of waste fertilizer and pesticides. Approach (from AD-416) Conduct research in production floriculture to develop information to improve the sustainability of greenhouse operations, with emphasis on fertilization, irrigation and recycling of irrigation water. Using a systems approach, optimize key components of complex, dynamic greenhouse practices to improve production efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. Utilize systems analysis techniques and mathematical crop modeling to quantify the multitude of factors that are of importance, and develop tools to improve management of crop production methods. Understand and optimize the physiology and genetics of floral crops for compatibility with profitable, environmentally-friendly production systems. Develop a multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with the floriculture faculty at UC-Davis, within ARS, and elsewhere as needed. Work with outreach and extension personnel/groups to transfer technology to growers. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Postharvest losses, and poor vase life for floricultural crops usually results from the combination of poor temperature management in the supply chain, infection by Botrytis and germplasm that lacks desirable postharvest qualities. This project is intended to address these important issues with a continuum of studies, ranging from the immediately-applicable technological approaches, through the more fundamental molecular biotechnological means. This past year we continued to investigate, develop and implement strategies for improving postharvest performance for floriculture crops. Specific areas advanced included following: 1). we are continuing to investigate a large numbers of so-called �transcription factors� to identify a �master switch� protein that may be the key to regulate floral longevity. Silencing of number of transcription factor genes using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology resulted in delayed and/or accelerated flower senescence. These results suggest the possibility that, as in leaf senescence, floral senescence is the result of a regulatory network. 2). A project has been initiated to develop a molecular freshness indicator for the flower industry. We have been trying to identify a common set of genes that are up-regulated during floral senescence in a broad range of cut flower species. We isolated several such genes including those encoding for aspartic and cysteine proteinases, metallothionein-like protein, �-galactosidase and a putative nuclease from seven different species. Expression of a gene encoding for a putative nuclease increased greatly during the final stages of flower development and aging in all the species tested. These results suggest that this particular gene may have potential use as a universal marker to predict flower freshness. 3). Developed an alternative postharvest handling strategy for cut flowers � dry handling after harvest. This study is being done in conjunction with researchers at UC Davis in the department of Plant Sciences and rose growers in Colombia and Ecuador. 4). Developed a postharvest control method for Botrytis cinerea infection of rose varieties using low concentrations of pesticide �Switch�. This study has been done in conjunction with plant scientists at UC Davis in the department of Plant Sciences, a chemical company and a local rose grower. 5). Developed a post-production strategy of temperature management and ethylene-caused product losses for improving the quality of potted plants. This study has been done in collaboration with one of the largest producers of potted plants in the country and with plant scientists at UC Davis in the department of Plant Sciences. 6). A new 5-year project plan has been submitted to OSQR and currently been going through review processes. 7). Established a collaboration with China Agricultural University. PI was invited to visit a China Agricultural University horticulture research lab and to give a lecture on postharvest biology and technology of ornamental plants. This research addresses National Program 305, Component 1.
Impacts
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Publications
- Jiang, C., Feng, L., Imsabai, W., Meir, S., Reid, M.S. 2008. Silencing polygalacturonase expression inhibits tomato petiole abscission. Journal of Experimental Botany. Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 973-979.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? Sales of floral crops comprise one of the fastest growing industries in the US agriculture, valued $5.07 billion in 2003. Nevertheless, the floral industry is facing a considerable reduction in total sales of cut flowers. The low sales of cut flowers in the United States may be largely explained by customer dissatisfaction with quality, particularly vase life, of flowers. Poor vase life is usually the product of long distance transportation, poor temperature management in the supply chain, and lack of genetic resources that enhance post harvest performance. U.S. flower growers suffer significant losses due to post harvest disease, vase longevity and postharvest quality issues. An array of research approaches will be used to develop sustainable production systems that enhance
productivity while reducing loses due to post harvest disease, longevity and quality issues. Our research programs is the exploits virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to identify which transcription and regulatory factors that control floral senescence and abscission (may act as main switchers in the pathways). This research may result in the development and commercialization of flowering plants with enhanced flower colors, improved disease, and stress tolerance and longer flower life time. Such plants are of great interest to the horticulture industry and its consumers. This research addresses NP305 Crop Production. 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) This project has not gone through OSQR review yet, so does not have approved milestones. The NP305 review is scheduled to begin April 2007. 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. We have established a research lab, growth facilities, acquired
equipment, and identified a biological science technician who will be on board in early August, 2006. By working closely with the floriculture group at the University of California, Davis and with growers in California, we are making important progresses in enhancing of post-harvest performance of floral crops. We have identified a key gene that controls leaf (perhaps flower as well) abscission, and a new type of sleeve materials coated with a chlorine-based N-Halamine technology was tested to reduce the botrytis infection during transportation and storage, thus, both findings could lead potentially to new technology that reduces the use of chemicals and pesticide in the future. (NP305, Component 2) 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Abscission of leaf and flower is one of major post harvest problems in floral crops. How this process is regulated is not well understood. Using virus-inducing gene silence technology, we attempt to
down-regulate the expression of some abscission-related genes in tomato, a model system in the study of abscission. Preliminary results shown that down- regulation of expression of TAPG (encoding polygalacturonase) significantly delayed leaf abscission. Floral product damage caused by Botrytis infection are perhaps one of major quality problems facing U.S. flower growers during transportation and storage. To reduce or prevent the botrytis infection, this project is testing a new type of sleeve materials coated with a chlorine-based N- Halamine technology (invented by University of California-Davis professor Dr. Sun). The results from these first test show promise, as flowers of Lisianthus treated with this new type of sleeves show much less botrytis damages. Further testing on different flowers under a variety of conditions is planned. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-
user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Development of a cost effective antifungal plant sleeve woudl be of tremendous benefit to the end user. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Reid, M., Jiang, C.-Z., Chen, J.-C., Xu, X., de Theije, A., Lu, F., and S. Meir. Postharvest biology and technology of ornamentals. Second Floral and Nursery Crops Researchers Workshop. Portland, Oregon, June 12-15, 2006. Poster Abstract. Lu, F., Jiang, C.-Z., Meir, S., and M. Reid. Silencing a polygalacturonase inhibits tomato leaf abscission. Gordon Research Conference on Postharvest Physiology. New London, CT, July 9-14, 2006. Poster Abstract.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? U.S. flower growers must reduce labor and energy costs, find effective alternatives to current pesticides, and comply with water quality regulations and local government restrictions on production activities in a cost-effective manner. In addition to these production constraints growers suffer significant losses due to post harvest disease, vase longevity and postharvest quality issues. An array of research approaches will be used to develop sustainable production systems that enhance productivity while reducing loses due to post harvest disease, longevity and quality issues. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. The U.S. floriculture and nursery industry is a multibillion dollar business; however, profitability is declining due to high production costs and
competition from foreign imports, resulting in may growers being forced out. The economic viability of the industry depends on the development of practices that reduce the costs of production, enhance postharvest longevity and quality, while minimizing environmental impact. Milestone 1: readvertise vacancy announcement for a Research Horticulturist. Milestone 2: conduct interviews of qualified candidates. Milestone 3: Make a selection and offer before the end of FY2005. 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Re-advertise vacancy announcement for a Research Horticulturist. Milestone Fully Met 2. Conduct interviews of qualified candidates. The CPGRU just finished conducting interviews for the Research Horticulturist position. Milestone Fully Met 3. Make a selection and offer before the end of FY05. A selection has been made and it is anticipated
that the new scientist will be on board by September 2005. Milestone Fully Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? In September-October 2005, a research scientist will be hired to lead this project and research lab and greenhouse facilities will be established through the acquisition of equipment and hiring of support personnel. Currently we are in the process of purchasing the required laboratory start-up equipment and we have secured both laboratory and office space in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of California, Davis. In FY06, a detailed project plan will be established and implemented. In FY07 and FY08, research activities will continue to be carried out. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? This is a new project. The CPGRU has just finished conducting interviews for this
position. A selection has been made and it is anticipated that the new scientist will be on board by September, 2005. The research scientist hired in this position will work closely with the floriculture group at the University of California, Davis and with growers and other members of the U.S. floriculture industry in California and other states to increase productivity, enhance postharvest longevity and quality while reducing costs to growers.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
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