Work

Reducing Substrate Moisture Content (SMC) during Greenhouse Production and Postproduction of Angelonia and Heliotrope Improves Crop Quality and Economic Value

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Retail environments are rarely optimal for ornamental plants, and wilting caused by water stress is a major cause of postproduction shrinkage. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two levels of substrate moisture content (SMC) applied during greenhouse production on angelonia ( Angelonia angustifolia ) ‘Angelface Blue’ and heliotrope ( Heliotropium arborescens ) ‘Simply Scentsational’ growth and physiological parameters and subsequent postproduction quality during simulated retail conditions. At the end of production, angelonia total plant shoot dry weight (DW) was reduced with 20% SMC compared with 40% SMC, and plants grown with 20% SMC had higher shoot coloring percentage, reduced internode length, and required less irrigation labor–related costs compared with 40% SMC. Heliotrope grown at 20% SMC produced the same size plant as 40% SMC, but had a higher shoot coloring percentage at the end of production and postproduction, indicating lower SMC resulted in higher visual quality compared with 40% SMC. For both species, 20% SMC increased plant visual quality compared with 40% SMC and reduced irrigation water input throughout production, resulting in reduced production costs and increased floral crop economic value.

Source: HortScience

DOI: 10.21273/hortsci12910-18

Authors: Yanjun Guo, Terri Starman, Charles Hall

Institution: Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Flowering Plant Growth and Cultivation

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,000