Wilting during shelf life is a major cause of postharvest shrink for bedding plants shipped long distances from production greenhouses to retail outlets. The objective of this research was to determine if irrigation at lower, constant substrate moisture content (SMC) during greenhouse production would be a feasible way to acclimate plants for reduced shrinkage during shelf life, while potentially conserving irrigation water. Rooted plugs of Angelonia angustifolia 'Angelface Blue' were grown in greenhouse production until a marketable stage in substrates irrigated at SMC levels of 10, 20, 30, and 40% using a controlled irrigation system. At the end of the greenhouse production stage, plants were irrigated to container capacity and subjected to a simulated shipping environment, in shipping boxes in the dark for two days. After shipping, plants were placed back in the greenhouse and watered minimally to simulate a retail environment. Data was taken at the end of each stage i.e. greenhouse production, simulated shipping, and simulated retail. Parameters measured at the end of the production stage were fresh and senesced flower number, stem number, pre-dawn and mid-day water potential, SPAD meter readings (Experiment 2), and plant height and node number segmented into vegetative, flowering, and bud area. Plant quality was observed and rated. At the end of the simulated retail stage, the same data was taken, along with fresh and dry shoot and root weight. Results indicated that as SMC decreased from 40 to 10%, plants were shorter in height, but had proportional flowering sections (Experiment 1) or more compact flowering sections (Experiment 2). The volume of water received by the 40% SMC plants was three times greater (Experiment 1) and 12 times greater (Experiment 2) than the 20% SMC plants during greenhouse production, and two times greater (Experiment 1) and nine time greater (Experiment 2) during simulated retail. Additionally, the 40% SMC plants used 15 liters (Experiment 1) and 38 liters (Experiment 2) of water during greenhouse production compared to the 20% SMC plants using only three liters in both experiments. During simulated retail the 40% SMC plants used six liters (Experiment 1) and nine liters (Experiment 2) of water while the 20% SMC plants used five liters (Experiment 1) and three liters (Experiment 2) of water. During production, mid-day water potentials decreased as the SMC levels decreased, but at the end of the simulated retail (Experiment 1), the mid-day water potentials were all the same, suggesting plants that were drought stressed during production area were acclimated to lower water levels experienced in retail settings. Overall, the 20% SMC treatment produced the best postharvest quality plant due to reduced plant height without detrimental effects on flowering. The results demonstrate that while conserving water, controlled irrigation at a medium-low SMC can produce high quality plants that have equal shelf life to those that are irrigated at high levels.

Calendula officinalis is a useful model crop because calendula flowers are used both ornamentally and medicinally. Organic production systems have many challenges; among these is the synchrony of nitrogen mineralization with the requirements of the crop. Organic greenhouse substrates have significantly different initial nitrogen levels which influence the performance of calendula, the highest initial N and plant performance was found in the organic compost peat substrate (OCP). The addition of supplemental nitrogen improved performance, but only OCP performed as well as the conventionally fertilized peat-based substrate. The nitrogen mineralization patterns in a soil-based greenhouse pot experiment showed that highly processed amendments supplied the highest levels of nitrogen, and that these amendments showed greater vegetative growth when soil was amended with a high-input amendment, but flower production was reduced. There was no observed influence of water stress on nitrogen mineralization, but flowers from water stressed plants had approximately 50% higher concentrations of secondary compounds than non-stressed flowers. Nitrogen mineralization in organic production systems is difficult to predict, but highly influences plant productivity and performance.

Biostimulants offer an innovative approach to potentially improve crop yield and quality under abiotic stresses. Particularly, plant-derived protein hydrolysates (PH), a mixture of amino acids and soluble peptides from enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of agricultural waste, are gaining global interest due to their sustainability and positive effects on crops. However, a functional role of the PH in crop yield and quality remains uncertain and is proposed to be associated with its phytohormone-like activities or serve as an additional nitrogen (N) source. Besides, the effects of PH on crop yield and quality are limited in intensive production systems such as greenhouse facilities. The purposes of this research are to examine the effects and mechanisms of PH on crops and to assess the potential of PH application to reduce fertilizer use in crop production. The specific objectives were to; 1) elucidate the hormone-like activities of PH in the adventitious rooting formation of cuttings, 2) evaluate the effects of different PH application methods on greenhouse crop yield and quality under different N levels when plants are grown with a commercial growing medium, and 3) examine the effects of PH application methods on yield and quality of hydroponically grown lettuce under different N levels and forms. Three conclusions were that 1) <a>the hormonal effects of PH are attributed to brassinosteroid-mediated processes, and PH has overlapping functions with auxin during adventitious rooting of cuttings in a plant species-specific manner</a>, 2) root application of PH (PH-R) effectively improves nutrient uptake compared to foliar spray of PH (PH-F), subsequently, increases the lettuce and tomato yield and quality regardless of N levels while PH-R did not change the chemical properties of growing media, and 3) PH-R effectively increases root growth, and subsequently, improving shoot yield and quality with significant PH × N levels and PH × NO₃:NH₄ratios interactions. Also, PH-R counteracted the negative effects of low NO₃:NH₄ratios on lettuce yield. The outcomes provide the optimization of PH and N fertilization in modern sustainable greenhouse production and the development of a new strategy for producing high-quality greenhouse crops with improved nutrient use efficiency.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Chad T. Miller / Kimberly A. Williams / Intumescences are a physiological disorder characterized by hypertrophy and possibly hyperplasia of plant cells. Many plant species are susceptible to intumescence development, but the specific causative factors remain uncertain. Ultimately, this disorder results in the death of the affected cells. Previous observations and research suggest that the quality and quantity of light to which plants are exposed may be a factor in development of the disorder. The purpose of the first study was to assess the preventive effect of UVB radiation on intumescence development in ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Two sweet potato cultivars, ‘Sidekick Black’ and ‘Ace of Spades,’ were grown under four light treatments of 1) Normal; 2) UVB; 3) UVB-Blocked; 4) Full-Spectrum. The ‘Ace of Spades’ cultivar was highly susceptible to intumescence development, while ‘Sidekick Black’ was much less susceptible to the disorder. For ‘Ace of Spades,’ the addition of UVB radiation significantly reduced the number of leaves affected with intumescences when compared to plants grown under the other light treatments. This study indicates a cultivar-specific effect of UVB light in minimizing intumescence development on ornamental sweet potato, therefore suggesting a potential genetic component in intumescence susceptibility. Many plant species are prone to similar physiological disorders in which lesions develop on the leaf tissue. Nomenclature for such lesions has varied significantly in the literature. Interchangeably using these terms causes confusion as to whether these names refer to the same or different disorders. The objective of the second study was to characterize the development of lesions on ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Maxifort’) and interspecific geranium (Pelargonium בCaliente Coral’). Light microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and digital photography were used to observe lesion development on each species. Lesions on ornamental sweet potato predominately involved the hypertrophy of the palisade parenchyma through the upper epidermis, while geranium lesions involved the hypertrophy of spongy parenchyma cells restricted by the lower epidermis. Tomato lesions involved both the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the lower epidermis and spongy parenchyma. Thus, different species possess varied cellular responses when developing lesions due to physiological causes.

Pouco ainda se sabe das respostas do orégano frente às condições brasileiras de cultivo agrícola. Esta dissertação tem por objetivo verificar as respostas do orégano em produção de biomassa e óleo essencial frente ao déficit hídrico ocasionado por diferentes potenciais matriciais da água no solo. Em casa de vegetação, foram realizados dois experimentos em vasos de 15 L. O primeiro ensaio foi realizado na primavera/verão de 2014/2015 e o segundo ensaio no outono/inverno de 2015, em um delineamento em blocos casualizados em fatorial 4 X 3 + 1 composto por quatro potenciais mátricos da água no solo (-60,8; -91,2; - 121,2 e -152,0 kPa) adotados em três fases do cultivo (ciclo todo, fase vegetativa e fase de pré-florescimento) e o tratamento adicional (-19,7 kPa equivalente a capacidade de campo), com 6 repetições, totalizando 78 parcelas. Aos 96 dias após o transplantio das mudas foram realizadas as colheitas e a avaliação das plantas cultivadas, por meio da determinação da biomassa fresca e seca, teor e rendimento de óleo essencial e produtividade da água em função da biomassa seca e óleo essencial. O potencial mátrico -60,8 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante todo o cultivo do orégano resultou no maior teor e rendimento de óleo essencial, já o potencial mátrico -91,2 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante o préflorescimento do orégano resultou na melhor média de biomassa seca. O potencial mátrico -60,8 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante o pré-florescimento do orégano resultou na melhor média de biomassa fresca. A maior produtividade da água em função do óleo essencial foi alcançada manejando a irrigação do orégano a -60,8 kPa durante todo ciclo de cultivo, a maior produtividade da água em função da biomassa seca foi obtida manejando a irrigação do orégano a -91,2 kPa durante todo ciclo de cultivo. A melhor estação sazonal para cultivo do orégano tendo por foco a extração de óleo essencial foi à primavera/verão e ambas estações sazonais são recomendadas para o cultivo do orégano tendo por foco a produção de biomassa seca e fresca. / Little is known about the responses of oregano against the brazilian conditions of agricultural cultivation. This dissertation aims to verify the oregano responses in biomass and essential oil production against water deficit caused by different matric potentials of water in the soil. At the greenhouse, two experiments were conducted in 15L pots. The first trial was conducted in the spring / summer 2014/2015 and the second during the autumn / winter 2015, in a randomized block design in a factorial 4 x 3 + 1 consisting of four potential matric of water in the soil (-60, 8; -91.2; -121.2 and -152.0 kPa) adopted in three different stages of cultivation (the whole cycle, vegetative phase and pre-flowering) and the additional treatment (- 19.7 kPa equivalent to the field capacity), with 6 repetitions, totaling 78 plots. At 96 days after transplanting the seedlings, plants were harvested and evaluated by determining the weight of fresh and dried biomass, content and yield of essential oil and water productivity according to the dried biomass and essential oil. The matric potential of -60.8 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation throughout the oregano cultivation resulted in higher content and essential oil yield, while the matric potential of -91.2 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation during the preflowering oregano resulted in the best average of dry biomass. The matric potential of -60.8 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation during the oregano pre-flowering resulted in a better fresh biomass average. The highest yield of water in function of essential oil was achieved during oregano irrigation with -60.8 kPa throughout the growing season while the highest water productivity in function of dry biomass was obtained managing oregano irrigation to -91,2 kPa throughout the crop cycle. The best season for seasonal oregano cultivation focusing on essential oil extraction was the spring / summer and both seasonal stations are recommended for oregano cultivation focusing on the production of fresh and dry biomass.

Pouco ainda se sabe das respostas do orégano frente às condições brasileiras de cultivo agrícola. Esta dissertação tem por objetivo verificar as respostas do orégano em produção de biomassa e óleo essencial frente ao déficit hídrico ocasionado por diferentes potenciais matriciais da água no solo. Em casa de vegetação, foram realizados dois experimentos em vasos de 15 L. O primeiro ensaio foi realizado na primavera/verão de 2014/2015 e o segundo ensaio no outono/inverno de 2015, em um delineamento em blocos casualizados em fatorial 4 X 3 + 1 composto por quatro potenciais mátricos da água no solo (-60,8; -91,2; - 121,2 e -152,0 kPa) adotados em três fases do cultivo (ciclo todo, fase vegetativa e fase de pré-florescimento) e o tratamento adicional (-19,7 kPa equivalente a capacidade de campo), com 6 repetições, totalizando 78 parcelas. Aos 96 dias após o transplantio das mudas foram realizadas as colheitas e a avaliação das plantas cultivadas, por meio da determinação da biomassa fresca e seca, teor e rendimento de óleo essencial e produtividade da água em função da biomassa seca e óleo essencial. O potencial mátrico -60,8 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante todo o cultivo do orégano resultou no maior teor e rendimento de óleo essencial, já o potencial mátrico -91,2 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante o préflorescimento do orégano resultou na melhor média de biomassa seca. O potencial mátrico -60,8 kPa adotado no manejo da irrigação durante o pré-florescimento do orégano resultou na melhor média de biomassa fresca. A maior produtividade da água em função do óleo essencial foi alcançada manejando a irrigação do orégano a -60,8 kPa durante todo ciclo de cultivo, a maior produtividade da água em função da biomassa seca foi obtida manejando a irrigação do orégano a -91,2 kPa durante todo ciclo de cultivo. A melhor estação sazonal para cultivo do orégano tendo por foco a extração de óleo essencial foi à primavera/verão e ambas estações sazonais são recomendadas para o cultivo do orégano tendo por foco a produção de biomassa seca e fresca. / Little is known about the responses of oregano against the brazilian conditions of agricultural cultivation. This dissertation aims to verify the oregano responses in biomass and essential oil production against water deficit caused by different matric potentials of water in the soil. At the greenhouse, two experiments were conducted in 15L pots. The first trial was conducted in the spring / summer 2014/2015 and the second during the autumn / winter 2015, in a randomized block design in a factorial 4 x 3 + 1 consisting of four potential matric of water in the soil (-60, 8; -91.2; -121.2 and -152.0 kPa) adopted in three different stages of cultivation (the whole cycle, vegetative phase and pre-flowering) and the additional treatment (- 19.7 kPa equivalent to the field capacity), with 6 repetitions, totaling 78 plots. At 96 days after transplanting the seedlings, plants were harvested and evaluated by determining the weight of fresh and dried biomass, content and yield of essential oil and water productivity according to the dried biomass and essential oil. The matric potential of -60.8 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation throughout the oregano cultivation resulted in higher content and essential oil yield, while the matric potential of -91.2 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation during the preflowering oregano resulted in the best average of dry biomass. The matric potential of -60.8 kPa adopted in the management of irrigation during the oregano pre-flowering resulted in a better fresh biomass average. The highest yield of water in function of essential oil was achieved during oregano irrigation with -60.8 kPa throughout the growing season while the highest water productivity in function of dry biomass was obtained managing oregano irrigation to -91,2 kPa throughout the crop cycle. The best season for seasonal oregano cultivation focusing on essential oil extraction was the spring / summer and both seasonal stations are recommended for oregano cultivation focusing on the production of fresh and dry biomass.

Ett av Sveriges 16 miljömål är ”Giftfri miljö”, vars målsättning är att förhindra att den biologiska mångfalden och människors hälsa hotas eller skadas genom utsläpp av kemiska ämnen i miljön. En aspekt som gör det svårt att uppnå detta miljömål är att utsläpp av potentiellt giftiga kemiska ämnen sker kontinuerligt. Lantbrukssektorn använder potentiellt giftiga ämnen för att skydda grödor och det har påvisats att flera växtskyddsmedel orsakar skador hos vattenorganismer. En källa till utsläpp inom lantbruket som inte fått stor uppmärksamhet är användning växtskyddsmedel, och sedermera hanteringen av det organiska avfallet, i växthusproduktion. Idag läggs avfallet i högar utomhus i direkt anslutning till växthusen där växtskyddsmedel riskerar att lakas ut vid regn. Mätningar gjorda i dessa högar visade att nedbrytning av de aktiva substanserna var mycket långsam, eller obefintlig.Olika behandlingsystem för bättre hantering av dessa restströmmar utvärderas och ett möjligt hanteringssystem är fluglarvskompostering. Fluglarvskompostering som avfallshanterings-system för växtrester från växthus har ännu inte utvärderats. Syftet med denna studie var att följa tio växtskyddsmedels öden vid fluglarverkompostering av växtrester från gurkproduktion, för att utröna om de aktiva substanserna återfanns i behandlingsresten (frasset), i fluglarverna eller om de bröts ned, samt om något av dessa ämnen bioackumulerades i fluglarverna. En behandling och två kontrollbehandlingar utvärderades: 1) med larver, enzymer och frass; 2) med enzymer och frass; 3) utan larver, enzymer och frass. I samtliga behandlingar analyserades koncentrationen av de aktiva substanserna innan och efter behandlingarna, samt i fluglarverna.För två växtskyddsmedel, Admiral 10 EC och Topas 100 EC, var nivåerna av de aktiva substanserna under detektionsnivån i de obehandlade växtresterna, medan den aktiva substansen i Diabolo inte bröts ner i någon av behandlingarna.De aktiva substanserna i sex växtskyddsmedel (Flexity, Floramite 240 SC, Nissorun SC, Prokinazid, Conserve och SWITCH 62,5 WG) bröts ner snabbare i fluglarvskomposteringen än i de två kontrollerna, där ingen nedbrytning skedde. De aktiva substanserna i Previcur Energy och Teppeki bröts ner i samtliga behandlingar, men nedbrytningen var något snabbare i fluglarvskomposteringen och kontroll 2, jämfört med kontroll 3.Ingen bioackumulation skedde i larverna, dock var koncentrationen av vissa aktiva substanser något högre i larvbiomassan än satt gränsvärde för nötkött, vilket skulle kunna försvåra användning av larver i djurfoder.Då de aktiva substanserna i de utvärderade växtskyddsmedlen bröts ner i högre utsträckning i fluglarvskompostering än i kontrollerna kan fluglarvskompostering anses vara en bättre hanteringsstrategi än nuvarande. Dock finns det andra försvårande omständigheter med fluglarvsbehandling av växtrester (låg effektivitet, svårt att sköra larver) som påvisar att detta inte är den mest lämpade behandlingen för denna restström. / One of Sweden's 16 environmental goals is a "Non-toxic environment” which aims at preventing biodiversity and human health from being threatened or harmed by chemical substances released into the environment. One aspect that makes it difficult to achieve this goal is that these potentially toxic substances are continuously released into the environment. Potentially toxic substances are used in agriculture to protect crops and various plant protection agents has been shown to cause damage to aquatic organisms if released into the water bodies. The use of plant protection agents in greenhouse production, as well as their handling the organic waste, has reached limited attention. Today, the waste is placed in piles outside the greenhouses, risking leaching of the plant protection agents during rainfall. Measurements in the piles showed that the degradation of plant protection agents in the piles was very slow or non-existing.To find a better solution to this problem, alternative management systems for this organic waste are being investigated. A management system being investigated is fly larvae composting, but the implementation of this treatment on plant residue from greenhouse production has to date not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of the active substances of ten plant protection agents during fly larvae composting, by verifying whether they would be found in the treatment residues (frass), in the fly larvae or if they would degrade. In addition, bioaccumulation of the plant protection agents in the fly larvae was investigated. One treatment and two control treatments were explored: 1) with larvae, enzymes, and frass; 2) with enzymes and frass; 3) without larvae, enzymes, and frass. The active substances in the plant protection agents were analysed before and after the treatments and in the fly larvae.For two plant protection agents, Admiral 10 EC and Topas 100 EC, the levels of the active substances were below the detection limit in the untreated plant residues, while the active substance in Diabolo was not broken down in any of the treatments.The active substances in six plant protection products (Flexity, Floramite 240 SC, Nissorun SC, Prokinazid, Conserve, and SWITCH 62.5 WG) were degraded faster in fly larva composting than in the two controls, where no degradation occurred. The active substances in Previcur Energy and Teppeki were degraded in all treatments, but the degradation was somewhat greater in the fly larvae composting and control 2, compared to control 3.No bioaccumulation occurred in the larvae, although the concentration in the larval biomass for some plant protection agents was slightly higher than the limits set for beef, which could hinder the use of larvae in animal feed.Since many plant protection agents were degraded to a greater extent in fly larva composting than in the controls, fly larva composting can be considered a better management strategy than the current one. However, other compromising factors are associated with the treatment of plant residues using fly larvae (low efficiency, difficulty in harvesting larvae) that indicate that this is not the most suitable treatment for these waste streams.

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