Organic food continues to increase in popularity worldwide.Similarly,hydroponic production of leafy greens is expanding globally and is an important component of the world's food supply.The purpose of this study w...Organic food continues to increase in popularity worldwide.Similarly,hydroponic production of leafy greens is expanding globally and is an important component of the world's food supply.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth and quality of lettuce using six nutrient film technique(NFT)hydroponic systems.There were three treatments:organic fertilizer with or without a microbial inoculant and a conventional inorganic fertilizer as a control.The experiment was repeated over time.Results showed that the plants grown with organic fertilizer with additional microbial inoculant achieved similar shoot fresh and dry weight to those of the control,and dry weight was 17%higher than the organic fertilizer without inoculant.Nitrogen content in the shoot tissue of plants treated with organic fertilizer with inoculant was 10%and 24%greater than the control and the organic fertilizer without inoculant,respectively.However,when the organic fertilizer with inoculant was reused in a second experiment,shoot fresh and dry weight of plants in organic fertilizer with inoculant was lower than those in the control but were still higher compared to the organic fertilizer without inoculant.Additionally,electrical conductivity(EC)and pH of the organic fertilizer solutions fluctuated widely.Interestingly,relative chlorophyll content measured as SPAD and anthocyanin content in the leaf tissue increased in plants treated with organic fertilizer,regardless of inoculant,by 19%and 9%,respectively.展开更多
Anthropogenic emissions have greatly influenced UV-B radiation incidence and CO_(2)concentration globally.The interactive effects of projected incidence on crops by the end of the century need to be studied to underst...Anthropogenic emissions have greatly influenced UV-B radiation incidence and CO_(2)concentration globally.The interactive effects of projected incidence on crops by the end of the century need to be studied to understand the implications.The use of sunlit plant growth chambers in combination with UV-B radiation and CO_(2)treatments was used to identify the individual and interactive effects on basil'Genovese'plants.Treatments included 0 and 10 kJ m−2 d−1 UV-B supplementation at ambient(437 ppm)or elevated(725 ppm)CO_(2)concentrations.Effects of UV-B by CO_(2)interactions existed for net photosynthesis,light-adapted maximal quantum efficiency,all plant pigment concentrations,and malondialdehyde.UV-B increased leaf temperature by approximately 1°C while elevated CO_(2)concentrations amplified superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activity in basil leaves.Despite deleterious impacts on plant health,UV-B radiation is essential for stimulating healthful compounds in basil.Understanding the effects when combined with elevated CO_(2)is necessary to improve crop production and future research.展开更多
Crapemyrtle bark scale(CMBS;Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae),an invasive sap-sucking hemipteran,has spread across 16 US states.Infestation of CMBS negatively impacts the flowering and reduces the aesthetic quality of cra...Crapemyrtle bark scale(CMBS;Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae),an invasive sap-sucking hemipteran,has spread across 16 US states.Infestation of CMBS negatively impacts the flowering and reduces the aesthetic quality of crapemyrtles.The widespread use of soil-applied neonicotinoid insecticides to suppress the CMBS infestation may be hazardous to pollinators and other beneficial insects.Natural enemies of CMBS are important agents for developing integrated environmentally friendly management strategies.This study evaluated the performance of larval green lacewing(Chrysoperla rufilabris)as a biocontrol agent of CMBS.Predatory behavior of the larval C.rufilabris upon CMBS was documented under a stereomicroscope using infested crapemyrtle samples collected from different locations in College Station(Texas,USA).Predation potential of C.rufilabris upon CMBS eggs and foraging performance using Y-maze assay were investigated under laboratory conditions.Results confirmed that larval C.rufilabris preyed on CMBS nymphs,eggs,and adult females.The evaluation of predation potential results showed that 3rd instar C.rufilabris consumed significantly more CMBS eggs(176.4±6.9)than 2^(nd)(151.5±6.6)or 1^(st)instar(11.8±1.3)in 24 hours.Results from the Y-maze assay indicated that larval C.rufilabris could target CMBS in the dark,indicating that some cues associated with olfactory response were likely involved when preying on CMBS.This study is the first report that validated C.rufilabris as a natural predator of CMBS and its potential as a biological agent to control CMBS.Future investigation about the olfactory response of larval C.rufilabris to CMBS would benefit the development of environmentally friendly strategies to manage CMBS.展开更多
The persimmon,belonging to the genus Diospyros,is one of the most common fruits with high edible and economic value.China has the largest cultivated area and annual production of persimmons in the world.Pollination-co...The persimmon,belonging to the genus Diospyros,is one of the most common fruits with high edible and economic value.China has the largest cultivated area and annual production of persimmons in the world.Pollination-constant nonastringent(PCNA)persimmon,which has great advantages of natural deastringency and direct edibility,has been a key target for industry development and variety selection worldwide.However,there are still many challenges in the development of persimmons in China;for example,the ineffective cost of artificial deastringency treatment of persimmons,laborious breeding of fine varieties of PCNA persimmon,and severe symptoms of delayed graft-incompatibility.This review summarizes the current status and development of persimmons in China.The current progress on the removal of astringency in persimmons,screening of rootstocks with wide compatibility,and the breeding process of PCNA persimmon is highlighted.This review will help promote the breeding of excellent persimmon varieties and the sustainable development of the persimmon industry in China.展开更多
Soilless cultivation has been widely used in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)production.The objectives of this research are to evaluate the impacts of five nutrient solutions under soilless cultivation on plant growth,fru...Soilless cultivation has been widely used in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)production.The objectives of this research are to evaluate the impacts of five nutrient solutions under soilless cultivation on plant growth,fruit yield and fruit quality in tomatoes.Four experiments were conducted with six treatments(five nutrient solutions plus one control)in six-cherry tomato cultivars and two big fruited tomato cultivars and 12 traits were observed and evaluated.The results showed that each of the five solutions increased plant growth and fruit yield,and improved the fruit quality.Compared to the control,the nutrient solution treatments increased 91.3%for number of fruits on base fruit cluster,12.1%for height,and 26.3%for stem diameter in the 2017-experiment;17.1%for vitamin C,13.8%for soluble solids,and 20.8%for total soluble sugar content in 2018-experiment one;28.1%for number of fruit cluster,25.8%for fruit yield,9.4%for number of fruit per cluster,and 13.3%for single fruit weight in 2018-experiment two;and 27.7%for vitamin C,14.0%for soluble solids,18.1%for total soluble sugar content,and 14.6%for fruit yield in the 2019-experiment.The solution decreased the chemical nitrate content 16.2%in the 2018-experiment and 43.7%in the 2019-experiment,and decreased the fruit cracking rate by 87%.Treatment 2 with higher nutrient component content showed the best results of the five treatments.The significant high positive correlation among the beneficial traits,fruit yield,soluble solids,total soluble sugar content,and vitamin C,and high negative correlation between each of the four traits and nitrate content were observed,indicating that soilless cultivation can increase tomato yield with higher nutritional components and decreased nitrate content.This research provides useful information for utilizing nutrient solutions supplied to tomato soilless cultivation.展开更多
Putrescine(Put),melatonin(MT),proline(Pro),and potassium fulvic acid(MFA)are widely used as plant growth regulators to enhance stress tolerance.However,the roles of their mixtures in response to stress are largely unk...Putrescine(Put),melatonin(MT),proline(Pro),and potassium fulvic acid(MFA)are widely used as plant growth regulators to enhance stress tolerance.However,the roles of their mixtures in response to stress are largely unknown.Here,we mixed Put with MT,Pro,and MFA(hereafter referred to as Put mixture)with different concentrations and foliar sprayed at different growth stages(seedling,flowering,and fruiting stage)of cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)to investigate their roles on plant growth,fruit yield,and quality under high temperature stress.The foliar application of the Put mixture promoted cucumber growth,increased chlorophyll and Pro contents and net photosynthesis rate,and reduced the values of relative electrolyte leakage,H_(2)O_(2)and malondialdehyde contents of cucumber leaves,indicating that treatment with Put mixture reduced the oxidative stress caused by high temperature.Furthermore,Put mixture-treated cucumber plants had lower fruit deformity rate and higher fruit yield compared with control.The contents of vitamin C and soluble solids of cucumber fruit significantly increased and the contents of tannin and organic acid decreased.The most profound effects were found in the plants treated with 8 mmol L^(−1)Put,50μmol L^(−1)MT,1.5 mmol L^(−1)Pro and 0.3 g L^(−1)MFA every 7 d,three times at the seedling stage,indicating that cucumber seedlings treated with the mixture of Put,MT,Pro,and MFA significantly alleviated the negative effects of high temperature stress.展开更多
The utilization of native and xeric plants in urban landscapes has gained great interest in recent years due to two pressing issues;climate change effects and water scarcity.These two issues are further exacerbated by...The utilization of native and xeric plants in urban landscapes has gained great interest in recent years due to two pressing issues;climate change effects and water scarcity.These two issues are further exacerbated by Kuwait’s arid desert environment,poor soil and salinity,making it quite challenging for popular ornamental plants to flourish in urban landscapes.Kuwait is currently dominated by a European aesthetic in terms of urban green spaces,which include plants such as Concarpus erectus,Nerium oleander,Vitex purpurea,Vitex trifolia and Bougainvillea glabra,all of which are not compatible with Kuwait's harsh climate and are environmentally unsustainable.This paper discusses climatic conditions,soil characteristics and water resources that are available and includes a plant list that has been created of recommended native and non-native xeric species that are capable of withstanding Kuwait's harsh climatic conditions to create aesthetically pleasing and sustainable green urban landscapes.展开更多
Seven zoysiagrass genotypes were evaluated for salt tolerance in a greenhouse study.The plant materials included Zoysia matrella'Diamond',Z.japonica'Palisades',three Z.matrella×Z.japonica hybrids ...Seven zoysiagrass genotypes were evaluated for salt tolerance in a greenhouse study.The plant materials included Zoysia matrella'Diamond',Z.japonica'Palisades',three Z.matrella×Z.japonica hybrids DALZ 1701,DALZ 1713,and'Innovation',and two Z.minima×Z.matrella hybrids(DALZ 1309 and'Lazer').Treatments included a control(nutrient solution)and two saline treatments representing moderate and high salt levels.The electrical conductivity(EC)was 1.3 dS m−1 for control and moderate(EC5)and high salinity(EC10)were 5.0 and 10.0 dS m−1,respectively.At the end of eight-weeks of treatment,the relative(percent control)shoot dry weight(DW)was greatest in'Diamond'in EC10,and the relative root DW was greatest in DALZ 1309 in EC5.A cluster analysis based on the relative tissue dry weight identified'Diamond',DALZ 1309,and DALZ 1713 as the most salt tolerant genotypes.Additionally,the green leaf area(GLA)index of'Diamond'and DALZ 1713 were 98.8%and 100%,respectively,indicating excellent visual appearance under high salt levels.Bi-weekly clipping DW showed that'Diamond'continued to produce biomass throughout the duration of the study under the EC10 treatment.Sodium(Na^(+))and chloride(Cl−)content in the shoot tissue of the seven turfgrass genotypes indicated that lower concentrations corresponded to greater salt tolerance indicating exclusion of Na+and Cl−from the shoot tissue.Taken together,the genotypes'Diamond'and DALZ 1713 were determined to be the most salt tolerant and recommended for use in areas with high soil or water salinity.展开更多
Applied horticultural sciences and technologies address the most burning issues faced by our generation today.Our efforts to reduce planetary carbon emissions depend upon our ability to not only optimize horticultural...Applied horticultural sciences and technologies address the most burning issues faced by our generation today.Our efforts to reduce planetary carbon emissions depend upon our ability to not only optimize horticultural production yields,but also eliminate the waste of horticultural products and derivatives which,in some cases,surpass half of what is produced.A lower incidence of chronic diseases and an overall higher quality of life have also been associated with the higher consumption of fruits,vegetables,herbs,and access to cut flowers and ornamentals.However,the consumption rate of fresh produce and access to overall horticultural commodities worldwide is unequal and generally deficient.These examples remind us that the production and handling of horticultural crops carry paramount social(health),economic,and environmental impacts.展开更多
As a founder of Maximum Academic Press(www.maxapress.com),I am very excited to launch Technology in Horticulture as the first academic journal in the series with a focus on applied technologies.The original'seeds&...As a founder of Maximum Academic Press(www.maxapress.com),I am very excited to launch Technology in Horticulture as the first academic journal in the series with a focus on applied technologies.The original'seeds'for this journal were sown over 40 years ago.I was raised in a rural area of Jiangsu Province,on the northern side of Shanghai,China.My father was an elementary school teacher,and my mother is a farmer.It is a densely populated area with extremely limited land resources.Almost every piece of available land was used to grow staple crops such as wheat,corn,sweet potato,while every tiny piece of land around houses was cultivated for growing vegetables or for putting up a chicken coop.Due to a very limited cash income,I don’t remember eating an apple or an orange,or a juicy peach until I became a teenager.I went through elementary,middle and high school during the'cultural revolution'when knowledge was little appreciated.As a teenager,I started to help the family to earn'points'in the commune to get more corncobs,etc.After school in the summer,I spent most of the time collecting weeds to feed a couple of our pigs and chickens.Even though I was the best student in middle school in the entire commune,I was not selected for continuing onto high school.It was frustrating that selection for high school was not based on meritocracy,but rather based on local political powers.Finally,my father managed to use some ad hoc'connections'so I was finally accepted and completed high school in 1977.展开更多
文摘Organic food continues to increase in popularity worldwide.Similarly,hydroponic production of leafy greens is expanding globally and is an important component of the world's food supply.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth and quality of lettuce using six nutrient film technique(NFT)hydroponic systems.There were three treatments:organic fertilizer with or without a microbial inoculant and a conventional inorganic fertilizer as a control.The experiment was repeated over time.Results showed that the plants grown with organic fertilizer with additional microbial inoculant achieved similar shoot fresh and dry weight to those of the control,and dry weight was 17%higher than the organic fertilizer without inoculant.Nitrogen content in the shoot tissue of plants treated with organic fertilizer with inoculant was 10%and 24%greater than the control and the organic fertilizer without inoculant,respectively.However,when the organic fertilizer with inoculant was reused in a second experiment,shoot fresh and dry weight of plants in organic fertilizer with inoculant was lower than those in the control but were still higher compared to the organic fertilizer without inoculant.Additionally,electrical conductivity(EC)and pH of the organic fertilizer solutions fluctuated widely.Interestingly,relative chlorophyll content measured as SPAD and anthocyanin content in the leaf tissue increased in plants treated with organic fertilizer,regardless of inoculant,by 19%and 9%,respectively.
文摘Anthropogenic emissions have greatly influenced UV-B radiation incidence and CO_(2)concentration globally.The interactive effects of projected incidence on crops by the end of the century need to be studied to understand the implications.The use of sunlit plant growth chambers in combination with UV-B radiation and CO_(2)treatments was used to identify the individual and interactive effects on basil'Genovese'plants.Treatments included 0 and 10 kJ m−2 d−1 UV-B supplementation at ambient(437 ppm)or elevated(725 ppm)CO_(2)concentrations.Effects of UV-B by CO_(2)interactions existed for net photosynthesis,light-adapted maximal quantum efficiency,all plant pigment concentrations,and malondialdehyde.UV-B increased leaf temperature by approximately 1°C while elevated CO_(2)concentrations amplified superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activity in basil leaves.Despite deleterious impacts on plant health,UV-B radiation is essential for stimulating healthful compounds in basil.Understanding the effects when combined with elevated CO_(2)is necessary to improve crop production and future research.
基金supported by TAMU T3246495-2019,Crop Protection and Pest Management project‘Integrated pest management strategies for crape myrtle bark scale,a new exotic pest’(No.2014-70006-22632)Specialty Crop Research Initiative project'Systematic Strategies to Manage Crapemyrtle Bark Scale,An Emerging Exotic Pest'(grant no.2017-51181-26831)from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.Any opinions,findings,conclusions,or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S.Department of Agriculture.
文摘Crapemyrtle bark scale(CMBS;Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae),an invasive sap-sucking hemipteran,has spread across 16 US states.Infestation of CMBS negatively impacts the flowering and reduces the aesthetic quality of crapemyrtles.The widespread use of soil-applied neonicotinoid insecticides to suppress the CMBS infestation may be hazardous to pollinators and other beneficial insects.Natural enemies of CMBS are important agents for developing integrated environmentally friendly management strategies.This study evaluated the performance of larval green lacewing(Chrysoperla rufilabris)as a biocontrol agent of CMBS.Predatory behavior of the larval C.rufilabris upon CMBS was documented under a stereomicroscope using infested crapemyrtle samples collected from different locations in College Station(Texas,USA).Predation potential of C.rufilabris upon CMBS eggs and foraging performance using Y-maze assay were investigated under laboratory conditions.Results confirmed that larval C.rufilabris preyed on CMBS nymphs,eggs,and adult females.The evaluation of predation potential results showed that 3rd instar C.rufilabris consumed significantly more CMBS eggs(176.4±6.9)than 2^(nd)(151.5±6.6)or 1^(st)instar(11.8±1.3)in 24 hours.Results from the Y-maze assay indicated that larval C.rufilabris could target CMBS in the dark,indicating that some cues associated with olfactory response were likely involved when preying on CMBS.This study is the first report that validated C.rufilabris as a natural predator of CMBS and its potential as a biological agent to control CMBS.Future investigation about the olfactory response of larval C.rufilabris to CMBS would benefit the development of environmentally friendly strategies to manage CMBS.
基金supported by the Jiangsu Seed Industry Key Research Program(JBGS[2021]019)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(KYZZ2022004)+2 种基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFD1000600)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(KYCX21_0606)the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,and the Jiangsu Belt and Road innovation cooperation project(BZ2019012).
文摘The persimmon,belonging to the genus Diospyros,is one of the most common fruits with high edible and economic value.China has the largest cultivated area and annual production of persimmons in the world.Pollination-constant nonastringent(PCNA)persimmon,which has great advantages of natural deastringency and direct edibility,has been a key target for industry development and variety selection worldwide.However,there are still many challenges in the development of persimmons in China;for example,the ineffective cost of artificial deastringency treatment of persimmons,laborious breeding of fine varieties of PCNA persimmon,and severe symptoms of delayed graft-incompatibility.This review summarizes the current status and development of persimmons in China.The current progress on the removal of astringency in persimmons,screening of rootstocks with wide compatibility,and the breeding process of PCNA persimmon is highlighted.This review will help promote the breeding of excellent persimmon varieties and the sustainable development of the persimmon industry in China.
文摘Soilless cultivation has been widely used in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)production.The objectives of this research are to evaluate the impacts of five nutrient solutions under soilless cultivation on plant growth,fruit yield and fruit quality in tomatoes.Four experiments were conducted with six treatments(five nutrient solutions plus one control)in six-cherry tomato cultivars and two big fruited tomato cultivars and 12 traits were observed and evaluated.The results showed that each of the five solutions increased plant growth and fruit yield,and improved the fruit quality.Compared to the control,the nutrient solution treatments increased 91.3%for number of fruits on base fruit cluster,12.1%for height,and 26.3%for stem diameter in the 2017-experiment;17.1%for vitamin C,13.8%for soluble solids,and 20.8%for total soluble sugar content in 2018-experiment one;28.1%for number of fruit cluster,25.8%for fruit yield,9.4%for number of fruit per cluster,and 13.3%for single fruit weight in 2018-experiment two;and 27.7%for vitamin C,14.0%for soluble solids,18.1%for total soluble sugar content,and 14.6%for fruit yield in the 2019-experiment.The solution decreased the chemical nitrate content 16.2%in the 2018-experiment and 43.7%in the 2019-experiment,and decreased the fruit cracking rate by 87%.Treatment 2 with higher nutrient component content showed the best results of the five treatments.The significant high positive correlation among the beneficial traits,fruit yield,soluble solids,total soluble sugar content,and vitamin C,and high negative correlation between each of the four traits and nitrate content were observed,indicating that soilless cultivation can increase tomato yield with higher nutritional components and decreased nitrate content.This research provides useful information for utilizing nutrient solutions supplied to tomato soilless cultivation.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2019YFD1001902).
文摘Putrescine(Put),melatonin(MT),proline(Pro),and potassium fulvic acid(MFA)are widely used as plant growth regulators to enhance stress tolerance.However,the roles of their mixtures in response to stress are largely unknown.Here,we mixed Put with MT,Pro,and MFA(hereafter referred to as Put mixture)with different concentrations and foliar sprayed at different growth stages(seedling,flowering,and fruiting stage)of cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)to investigate their roles on plant growth,fruit yield,and quality under high temperature stress.The foliar application of the Put mixture promoted cucumber growth,increased chlorophyll and Pro contents and net photosynthesis rate,and reduced the values of relative electrolyte leakage,H_(2)O_(2)and malondialdehyde contents of cucumber leaves,indicating that treatment with Put mixture reduced the oxidative stress caused by high temperature.Furthermore,Put mixture-treated cucumber plants had lower fruit deformity rate and higher fruit yield compared with control.The contents of vitamin C and soluble solids of cucumber fruit significantly increased and the contents of tannin and organic acid decreased.The most profound effects were found in the plants treated with 8 mmol L^(−1)Put,50μmol L^(−1)MT,1.5 mmol L^(−1)Pro and 0.3 g L^(−1)MFA every 7 d,three times at the seedling stage,indicating that cucumber seedlings treated with the mixture of Put,MT,Pro,and MFA significantly alleviated the negative effects of high temperature stress.
文摘The utilization of native and xeric plants in urban landscapes has gained great interest in recent years due to two pressing issues;climate change effects and water scarcity.These two issues are further exacerbated by Kuwait’s arid desert environment,poor soil and salinity,making it quite challenging for popular ornamental plants to flourish in urban landscapes.Kuwait is currently dominated by a European aesthetic in terms of urban green spaces,which include plants such as Concarpus erectus,Nerium oleander,Vitex purpurea,Vitex trifolia and Bougainvillea glabra,all of which are not compatible with Kuwait's harsh climate and are environmentally unsustainable.This paper discusses climatic conditions,soil characteristics and water resources that are available and includes a plant list that has been created of recommended native and non-native xeric species that are capable of withstanding Kuwait's harsh climatic conditions to create aesthetically pleasing and sustainable green urban landscapes.
基金Funding for this project is provided by USDA NIFA to Project No.2017-68007-26318through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative,Water for Agricultural Challenge Area,and hatch project TEX07726.
文摘Seven zoysiagrass genotypes were evaluated for salt tolerance in a greenhouse study.The plant materials included Zoysia matrella'Diamond',Z.japonica'Palisades',three Z.matrella×Z.japonica hybrids DALZ 1701,DALZ 1713,and'Innovation',and two Z.minima×Z.matrella hybrids(DALZ 1309 and'Lazer').Treatments included a control(nutrient solution)and two saline treatments representing moderate and high salt levels.The electrical conductivity(EC)was 1.3 dS m−1 for control and moderate(EC5)and high salinity(EC10)were 5.0 and 10.0 dS m−1,respectively.At the end of eight-weeks of treatment,the relative(percent control)shoot dry weight(DW)was greatest in'Diamond'in EC10,and the relative root DW was greatest in DALZ 1309 in EC5.A cluster analysis based on the relative tissue dry weight identified'Diamond',DALZ 1309,and DALZ 1713 as the most salt tolerant genotypes.Additionally,the green leaf area(GLA)index of'Diamond'and DALZ 1713 were 98.8%and 100%,respectively,indicating excellent visual appearance under high salt levels.Bi-weekly clipping DW showed that'Diamond'continued to produce biomass throughout the duration of the study under the EC10 treatment.Sodium(Na^(+))and chloride(Cl−)content in the shoot tissue of the seven turfgrass genotypes indicated that lower concentrations corresponded to greater salt tolerance indicating exclusion of Na+and Cl−from the shoot tissue.Taken together,the genotypes'Diamond'and DALZ 1713 were determined to be the most salt tolerant and recommended for use in areas with high soil or water salinity.
文摘Applied horticultural sciences and technologies address the most burning issues faced by our generation today.Our efforts to reduce planetary carbon emissions depend upon our ability to not only optimize horticultural production yields,but also eliminate the waste of horticultural products and derivatives which,in some cases,surpass half of what is produced.A lower incidence of chronic diseases and an overall higher quality of life have also been associated with the higher consumption of fruits,vegetables,herbs,and access to cut flowers and ornamentals.However,the consumption rate of fresh produce and access to overall horticultural commodities worldwide is unequal and generally deficient.These examples remind us that the production and handling of horticultural crops carry paramount social(health),economic,and environmental impacts.
文摘As a founder of Maximum Academic Press(www.maxapress.com),I am very excited to launch Technology in Horticulture as the first academic journal in the series with a focus on applied technologies.The original'seeds'for this journal were sown over 40 years ago.I was raised in a rural area of Jiangsu Province,on the northern side of Shanghai,China.My father was an elementary school teacher,and my mother is a farmer.It is a densely populated area with extremely limited land resources.Almost every piece of available land was used to grow staple crops such as wheat,corn,sweet potato,while every tiny piece of land around houses was cultivated for growing vegetables or for putting up a chicken coop.Due to a very limited cash income,I don’t remember eating an apple or an orange,or a juicy peach until I became a teenager.I went through elementary,middle and high school during the'cultural revolution'when knowledge was little appreciated.As a teenager,I started to help the family to earn'points'in the commune to get more corncobs,etc.After school in the summer,I spent most of the time collecting weeds to feed a couple of our pigs and chickens.Even though I was the best student in middle school in the entire commune,I was not selected for continuing onto high school.It was frustrating that selection for high school was not based on meritocracy,but rather based on local political powers.Finally,my father managed to use some ad hoc'connections'so I was finally accepted and completed high school in 1977.
