Call number: LD2668 .T4 1963 K36 / Master of Science

Florists in today’s industry are competing against mass-markets that are able to buy and sell fresh-cut flowers at low prices in bulk. Mass-markets offer little or no design or other services. Consumers find it convenient to order flowers online through wire services, paying large fees to order flowers. Order gatherers pose as local floral shops taking consumers orders online or by phone then call the local florist to fill orders. Packaged flowers became popular in the early 2000’s ordering flowers directly from the farm to the consumer. Rural and metropolitan areas of Central Kentucky and North Central Tennessee were surveyed. Florists were selected within a 160 – mile driving distance of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Florists were identified through an Internet search for florists in each county and also the Teleflora database. Survey data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System 9.3. Ordinal data were analyzed using PROC NPAR1WAY, and Kruskal –Wallis Analysis. Wilcoxon analysis was used for individual treatment separation. This study results had 103 florists’ surveys and 321 of their returning consumer surveys. This study examined correlations in the florist’s survey studying the relationships between marketing effects verses repeat consumers. The consumer survey examined the relationships between when and what consumers purchased arrangements for and the average price per arrangement. Florists using websites as their main form of marketing increased their number of return consumers. Florists targeting consumers 30 years old and younger had more repeat consumers. Consumers whose main method of purchasing was telephone increased their price per arrangement. Walk-in consumers spent less money per purchase. Florists who contributed to this study will receive summary of the results, permitting them to benefit from their contribution

From an international perspective the South African flower industry is marginal. When comparing South Africa’s domestic demand to that of 24 countries, South Africa is ranked last with an annual per capita consumption of approximately R3,04 per capita. In contrast Switzerland is ranked number 1 with a per capita consumption of R385,00. In terms of cut flower exports, South Africa is also performing marginally. Out of 20 countries, South Africa performed at number 17. Countries such as Israel – number 1; Chili – number 5; Zimbabwe – number 6; Equador –number 8 and New Zealand – number 9 outperformed South Africa by far. The high demand for South Africa flowers experienced in many international markets provide a sound basis for expanding international trade. Important reasons for this high markets in the Northern Hemisphere and South Africa’s unique floricultural bio-diversity. The competitiveness of Kenya and Zimbabwe in the international arena is also an indication that African countries have the ability and potential to compete in Europe. Compared to it’s infrastructure, the largest and most developed domestic flower industry and a highly developed domestic market with a growth rate of approximately19% per annum over the past 5 years. However, the South African grower face numerous disadvantages such as high import tariffs in to the European Union, less favourable climatic conditions for flower production, higher labour costs, labour unrest, difficulty organizing growers scattered over such a large geographic area, a lack of motivation to export and a good local market, but one with low standards that does not prepare growers to compete overseas. Two major forces will have to be dealt with to fulfill the South African flower industry’s full potential. These are related to the increasing globalization and opening up of markets in the international trade. South African flower producers therefore expect to face increasing competition from producers elsewhere in the world. An example of a force that the South African flower industry have to contend with is the Australian flower industry. The Australian flower industry has made substantial progress in recent years. Competition especially with respect to the marketing of unique indigenous flowers to similar target markets in Europe and Japan are intensifying between those two countries. Australia is also one of South Africa’s fastest growing export markets and South Africa has grown to the second largest importer of flowers to Australia which is a further implication of the significance of the relationship between South Africa and Australia. The competitiveness of the South African flower industry should thus receive attention from policy and industry level to promote the viability in the industry. Policies should focus on leveling playing fields, especially in view of the subsidization and preference trade agreements which often favour competitors, especially countries in Sub-Sahara Africa. Policies should also facilitate the promotion of technology to enable South African producers to compete cost effectively in international markets. At industry level the challenge should focus on the creation of “time, place and form” utility to provide markets with the required product at the required time and place. / Dissertation (MCom (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Kimberly A. Williams / Liquid organic fertilizers and microbial inoculants of beneficial microorganisms are garnering interest from commercial greenhouse growers who seek to produce crops more sustainably, but research about their efficacy is limited and results are conflicting. This research focused on comparing the effect of microbial inoculant addition in two soilless crop production systems under organic versus conventional fertilization. Two experiments were conducted with impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) in a peat-based substrate and four experiments were conducted with butterhead lettuce (Latuca sativa) in nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponics. In the impatiens studies, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were incorporated pre-plant equally across treatments using OsmocoteTM, or organic fertilizers Bloodmeal or Feathermeal. An inorganic constant liquid feed (CLF) was also evaluated. Microbial inoculants that contained a variety of beneficial species, including Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma spp. were drench-applied at the beginning of the cropping cycle. Impatiens growth was comparable between the nutrient regimens in one of the studies. CO2 respiration was measured on substrate samples. At a 5X application rate, inoculants contributed to subtle increases in plant growth in organic treatments, but microbial activity was unaffected as measured by CO2 respiration. However, organic nutrient sources contributed to higher CO2 respiration at day 7 of the production cycle compared to inorganic nutrient sources. The hydroponic trials consisted of inorganic and organic nutrient regimens, evaluated with and without microbial inoculant addition. Nutrient analyses and CO2 respiration of the nutrient solutions were collected. Use of inoculants resulted in increased plant growth when used in organic nutrient regimens in some trials. Plant dry weight and CO2 respiration in the inorganic nutrient regimens were increased in certain instances with inoculant addition. No differences in mycorrhizal root colonization were observed in either nutrient regimen with mycorrhizal inoculant addition. Petiole NO3-N concentration of lettuce plants grown with inorganic nutrient sources was greater than that of plants in organic regimens. Organic fertilizers and inoculant products resulted in comparable or positive impacts on plant growth and food crop quality in some treatment scenarios in these studies. The specific circumstances of crop production systems dictate whether plant growth response may occur from inoculant incorporation.

Th.--Lettres--Strasbourg, 1968. / Bibliogr. p. 485-497.

CAPES / O setor da fruticultura está entre os principais geradores de renda, emprego e desenvolvimento rural do agronegócio nacional. O Brasil é um dos principais centros de diversidade genética de fruteiras silvestres no mundo, das quais várias apresentam potencial de domesticação e uso comercial, como a jabuticabeira, fruteira nativa adaptada às condições edafoclimática brasileiras, que pode ser utilizada pela indústria alimentícia, cosmética e farmacêutica. Dentre as barreiras, que talvez, não tornem ainda essa potencialidade em realidade destaca-se o longo período juvenil, a concentração da produção e, por ser planta de difícil manejo, pelo porte vigoroso que apresenta. Para a implantação de pomares são necessárias pesquisas para ropiciar estratégias de manejo, visando principalmente redução do vigor das plantas, o que permitiria o cultivo adensado e, a maior floração e frutificação, principalmente em épocas de entressafra. Para tal fim podem ser utilizados bioreguladores, que tem ação antagônica aos hormônios do crescimento e podem promover o florescimento, controlando vigor da planta. Os produtos que vêm sendo utilizados com sucesso em outras culturas são o carbureto de cálcio, o etefon e o paclobutrazol (PBZ). Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento vegetativo e reprodutivo da jabuticabeira “híbrida” (Plinia cauliflora) com aplicação de bioreguladores e irrigação. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na UTFPR, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos com plantas acondicionadas em vasos plásticos, mantidas a céu aberto. Foi instalado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial de parcelas subdivididas, para a maioria das variáveis, cujos níveis foram de 5 x n (tratamento x período de avaliação), sendo ‘n’ diferente de acordo com a variável analisada. A parcela foi constituída pelo tratamento indutor, no qual se testaram quatro técnicas indutoras de florescimento juntamente com a testemunha, cujas plantas não tiveram nenhuma forma de manejo aplicada. Foram utilizadas oito repetições, sendo as unidades experimentais constituídas de três plantas. Foram utilizados como tratamentos indutores, a aplicação de carbureto de cálcio, etefon, PBZ e o manejo diário da irrigação (aproximadamente 2 L planta-1 dia), além da testemunha. Os indutores químicos foram aplicados em duas etapas, sendo a primeira no final do mês de janeiro e a segunda no final do mês de março de 2014. As avaliações realizadas foram altura das plantas, diâmetro do caule, porcentagem de crescimento da parte aérea e do diâmetro do caule, número total de brotações, comprimento das brotações, número de folhas, presença de distúrbios fisiológicos nas folhas, desprendimento da epiderme em ramos e/ou caule, estádio de desenvolvimento dos ramos, área foliar, comprimento e largura da folha, porcentagem de plantas com estruturas reprodutivas e número de estruturas reprodutivas por planta. Com os resultados obtidos, podese concluir que o manejo das plantas com irrigação diária não propiciou efeito para indução de florescimento, a aplicação de etefon induziu maior crescimento das brotações, o PBZ apresentou deformidades no crescimento das folhas que não afetaram a frutificação efetiva, sendo que ele ainda induziu maior produção e floração antecipada, a aplicação de etefon apresentou maior desprendimento da epiderme m jabuticabeiras “híbridas”, mas não teve o mesmo efeito de superioridade para o florescimento. Com isso, recomendou-se a utilização do PBZ para indução de florescimento em jabuticabeira “híbrida”. / The fruit production sector is one of the major generate income, employment and rural development of national agribusiness. Brazil is one of the main native fruits genetic diversity centers all over the world, which several present domestication potential to commercial use, like jabuticaba fruit tree, that it is specie adapted to several Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions, which can be used by food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Among the ifficulties, that still it doesn’t become this potentiality in reality is the long juvenile period, the yield time concentration and the difficult culture, because of vigorous growing. In the implantation of commercial orchards is necessary research to provide culture strategies for reduction of plant vigor, to use in density crop, flowering and yield higher, especially in offseason. Then, it can to use regulators that have antagonism action against growth hormones and it can promote flowering and growth plant control. The products used with successfully in other crops were calcium carbide, ethephon and paclobutrazol (PBZ). Therefore, the aim of this work was evaluate the vegetative and reproductive behavior in the jabuticaba fruit tree (Plinia cauliflora) with regulator application and irrigation. The study was carried out at UTFPR - Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, Paraná State (Brazil), with plants in plastic ots cultivated in open sky conditions. The experiment was random block design with split-plot for almost all over the variables, that levels were of 5 x n (treatment x evaluation time), it being ‘n’ different according with variable evaluated. The plot was each treatment inductor. It was tested four technical flower inductor and the control. The plants control did not had management technique. It was used eight replications of three plants by experimental unit. It was used as inducer treatment, the calcium carbide, ethephon and PBZ applications, irrigation daily (approximately 2 L plant-1 day), and the control. The chemical inducers were applied two times (2014, January and March). The plant height, trunk diameter, shoot and trunk diameter growth percentage, shoots number, shoots length, leaves number, leaves physiological disturb, epidermal detachment on trunk or branches, shoots development stage, leaves area, length and width of leaves, percentage of plants with reproductive structure and its number per tree were evaluated. The results obtained showed that the plant management by daily irrigation did ot provided effect to flowering induction. The ethephon application induced greater growth of shoot, the PBZ showed leaf growth deformities that it did not affected the fruit set and still it induced better yield as well as early flowering. The ethephon treatment showed greater epidermal detachment in jaboticaba fruit tree, but did not have similar effect on the flowering. It possible recommended the use of PBZ to floral induction in jaboticaba fruit tree.

M.Sc. / The commercial value of cut flowers, whether for ornamental use or as an export product, has increased significantly over the years. Much attention is given to flower quality and flower longevity. These two factors are influenced by preharvest and postharvest treatments. The major postharvest loss reduction techniques in carnation flowers include regulation of preharvest growing, use of improved harvesting techniques, use of various storage techniques, use of growth regulators and use of floral preservatives. Senescence of carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. White Candy), is accompanied by a climacteric rise in ethylene synthesis and an increased sensitivity of the flowers to ethylene. A pulse treatment with sucrose caused a delay and suppression of the climacteric rise in ethylene synthesis. The action of sucrose, with reference to ethylene, was similar to that of cytolcinins. Dry storage also caused an increase in flower longevity. This is due to the flower's ability to maintain water balance by lowering the cells osmotic potential. Dry storage is of importance, as transportation of the flowers occurs under these conditions. Although sucrose increased the longevity of freshly cut carnations, it caused a decrease in longevity of flowers that were subjected to water stress. With the lowering of the tissue water potential through treatment with sucrose and thereafter by dry storage, the flowers are subjected to stress, and are not able to recover even after rehydration. Applied sucrose increased the carbohydrate pool, thereby resulting in a gradual decline of starch. Administering both sucrose and water stress to the carnation flowers resulted in an early peak in the sugar content, as well as an early depletion of sugar in the flower petals. Cytokinin activity in untreated carnation flowers appeared to be higher compared to flowers treated with sucrose. Water stress have the effect of decreasing cytokinin levels and activity. It is thus clear from the results of this study, that carnations subjected to water stress through dry storage, should not be pretreated with any preservative containing sucrose, as it leads to a reduction in vase life.

The demand for local sustainably grown produce and flowers has increased (Low et al., 2015), and stimulated a growing interest in high tunnel production. The goal of this research project was to evaluate the production of cut flowers in high tunnel structures and in the field in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) region. The NGP offers unique climatic and environmental challenges based on its continental climate. Specialty cut flower cultivars Karma Irene and Chocolate dahlia (Dahlia x hybrida), Potomac White and Rocket Mix snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and Mariachi Misty Blue, Echo Blue and ABC2 lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) were planted in both field and high tunnel environments at two soil temperature setpoints in the NGP to determine which of the selected crops are best suited for cut flower production. Our results indicate higher yields and more consistent quality in the high tunnel; however, the field was suitable for all species investigated.

The Plant Breeder’s Right (PBR), also known as Plant Variety Protection (PVP), is a form of intellectual property afforded to breeders of newly bred plant varieties. In South Africa, intellectual protection of new plant varieties is afforded through the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, 1976 (Act No. 15 of 1976) as amended in 1996. / The writer has been Registrar: Plant Breeders’ Rights since November 2007. Over the years the writer has interacted with several stakeholders with interest in plant breeders’ rights, including breeders, farmers, patent attorneys, growers, plant breeders’ rights administrators from other countries and civil society organisations. Although South Africa has had Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation since 1976, it has been observed that this piece of legislation is relatively unknown and often misunderstood even by the users of the system. In engagements with various stakeholders, it has been established that there are conflicting views amongst the stakeholders on pertinent issues related to the plant breeders’ rights system. There are views, among others, include: that the plant breeders’ rights system is only relevant and benefits breeders from big multinational companies such as Monsanto and farmers can never benefit in such a system; that the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act is synonymous with genetically modified organisms; that indigenous plants are neglected, and that the system only promotes protection of foreign varieties. The most contentious issue is however around the impact of plant breeders’ rights on the tradition of farmers to save, sell and exchange seed. / Very little is documented on the South Africa plant breeders’ rights system, more so from the administrator’s perspective. This study explored some aspects of the plant breeders’ rights system that may need policy interventions and legislation amendments, such as matters around the plant breeders’ rights system in relation to farmers’ rights, possible dual protection of Genetically Modified varieties in terms of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 1976 and the Patents Act 1978, as well as the participation of indigenous ornamental crops in the plant breeders’ rights system. / On the issue of the farmers’ rights: results of this work show that the current provision in the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act deals with Farmers’ Rights in a narrow sense, i.e. with the rights of farmers to save seed. It was established that this provision is inadequate for both the breeders and the farmers. A survey was also conducted among smallholder farmers from four provinces, namely Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, and Western Cape. The interesting finding was that although there is so much debate around the impact of the plant breeders’ rights system on farmers’ rights, the majority of the farmers from this study group have never heard of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act. There are farmers who are continuing with the practice of seed saving; however some farmers have indicated that they do not save seed they believe that this practice lowers yield. Those who do save seed mostly save their traditional seed, i.e. locally adapted seed lacking formal crop improvement as opposed to modern commercial seed. Some farmers have indicated that they do develop varieties through their own selections and believe that their varieties could qualify for protection in terms of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act. It is evident that both government and the civil society organisations need to do more to educate smallholder farmers about laws and policies that impact their livelihood. Based on this study, a proposal was made to have the farmers’ privilege provisions in the current Plant Breeders’ Right Act amended to allow the Minister responsible for Agriculture to prescribe among others: the crops in which this provision will apply; the category or categories of farmers that would benefit; the circumstances under which royalties should be paid. This proposal was welcomed by most stakeholders and has since been incorporated in the draft Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill. It is envisaged that specific details around these factors will be included in the Regulations to the Act after extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders. / There is a gap in policy and legislation with regard to the recognition of Farmers’ Rights as envisaged in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). As such there are calls from some stakeholders including the civil society organisations that legislation on plant breeders’ rights must address these gaps and/or an alternative sui generis (of its own kind) system should be explored as the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV) system is not tailored for developing © University of Pretoria vii countries. In South Africa, legislation dealing with some aspects pertaining to Farmers’ Rights is spread over different government departments, e.g. Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries dealing with intellectual property protection only in as far as plant breeders’ rights; Department of Trade & Industry being custodians of intellectual property laws in South Africa and administrators of, among others the Patents Act; Department of Environmental Affairs dealing with Access and Benefit Sharing matters; Department of Science and Technology dealing with Indigenous Knowledge Systems and intellectual property protection emanating from publicly funded research institutions. More discussions are needed on South Africa becoming a member of the ITPGRFA as these will pave the way for further discussions and policy interventions addressing Farmers’ Rights in a broad sense. / As far as the Genetically Modified Organisms are concerned, South Africa has approved only three Genetically Modified (GM) crops for commercialization in terms of the GMO Act, 1997, namely cotton, maize, and soybean. This is contrary to some statements made by members of the public that much more crops, including pumpkin, potato, banana and tomato are genetically modified. In terms of intellectual property protection, of the total number of GM varieties protected by plant breeders’ rights per crop: 60% of varieties are GM for cotton, 61% for yellow maize, 34% for white maize and 63% for soybean. Currently there are no GM events used in these crops protected in terms of the Patents Act 1978, which effectively means that there is currently no dual protection for these crops. Dual protection is however one of the most hotly debated issues because of the impact it might have on the rights of farmers to save seed. It has been argued that in South Africa dual protection is possible. Scrutiny of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 1976, the Patents Act 1978 and the draft National Policy on Intellectual Property shows that all are silent on the issue of dual protection of plant varieties. The Departments of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries together with the Department of Trade and Industry need to initiate discussions around dual protection as well the use of Technology Agreements, between technology holders and technology users, in protecting GM varieties and the impact thereof for all role players in the value-chain in order to come up with the country position in this regard. / This study showed that ornamental plants attract the highest number of plant breeders’ rights applications. Of the applications received between 2000 and 2010 about 20% are of varieties developed from indigenous plants. Of plant breeders’ rights in ornamental plants, 84% are owned by foreign entities. Of the 16% owned by local entities, 12% are privately owned and 4% are owned by public research institutions. Some of the challenges facing this industry include the fact that there is inadequate turnover to allow for breeding programs and research initiatives; this is exacerbated by plant breeder’s rights infringements which lead to further revenue losses. Other challenges the industry face include high labor costs and lack of market information. The national Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries together with the other relevant departments, e.g. the Department of Labour and the Department of Trade and Industry need to engage more with the floricultural industry stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing the industry and come up with policies that would be conducive for the further development of the industry in order for South Africa to benefit from its unique biodiversity. Literature study has also established that breeders are keen on developing varieties of medicinal plants that are uniform and stable. This would call for domestic legislation on intellectual property protection that is aligned with legislation on Biodiversity and Access and Benefit-Sharing. / This study highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders from both the formal and informal sector and brings attention to gaps in our policies and legislation. This study has already made a major contribution in the draft Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill through the inclusion of the revised provision on farmers’ privilege. This revision is aimed at ensuring that the legitimate interests of the breeder are protected whilst the rights of the farmers are recognized. It is hoped that this study will make a positive contribution to future policy developments and will lay a foundation for future studies pertaining to the plant breeders’ rights system and its impact in the agricultural sector. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries / Paraclinical Sciences / PhD / Unrestricted

<i>Abutilon</i> x <i>hybridum</i>, flowering maple has the potential to become a profitable floriculture crop. However, growing guidelines need to be developed in order to produce a proportional, well-branched, and uniform-flowering pot plant. The objective of this research project was to form a foundation on which a commercial growing program could be developed. Growing flowering maple under short-day conditions (SD) significantly reduced plant height. Plants grown under SD were nearly half as tall as those plants grown under long-day conditions (LD). Also, plants grown under SD flowered an average of 5 days earlier than those plants grown under LD. Ancymidol at 50 ppm was successful in the reducing the height of nonpinched plants. Chemical pinching agents, including mefluidide and Atrinal, induced more lateral branch development and increased flower production of both seed-grown and cutting-grown plants. As the concentration of mefluidide and Atrinal increased, so did the number of flowers that were produced. Atrinal at 1000 ppm appeared to be the treatment of choice for producing the most aesthetic and marketable flowering maple plant. A foliar application of GA₄₊₇ at 100 ppm was successful in elongating peduncles without producing a disproportional increase in plant height. The peduncles of both seed-grown and cutting-grown plants receiving 100 ppm GA₄₊₇ were nearly twice as long as the controls. Thus, GA could be used to improve the flower display of <i>Abutilon</i>. / M.S.