Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) and caulifl ower (B. oleracea var. botrytis DC) are closely related botanical varieties. The underlying genetic bases of their phenotypic differences from each other are not well understood. A molecular genetic marker enabling B. oleracea germplasm curators and breeders to predict phenotype from seeds or seedlings would be a valuable tool. Mut...

Polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels are commonly employed to ensure soil hydration in horticulture, but studies have shown that they have a minimal effect on crop life and quality. The reasons for this poor performance are not understood since the commercial hydrogels have not been adequately characterized. PAAm hydrogels were synthesized and their properties were measured along with those of comme...

The relations between salinity and mineral nutrition of horticultural crops are extremely complex and a complete understanding of the intricate interactions involved would require the input from a multidisciplinary team of scientists. This review addresses the nutrient elements individually and we emphasise research directed towards the organ, whole-plant and field level. We have attempted to s...

This paper is adapted from the text of a seminar of the same title presented as part of the Workshop on Sustainability of Vegetable Breeders’ Genetic Resources, 26 July 1993, at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. It represents the distillation of a more extensive treatment of genetic markers and germplasm management (Bretting and Widrlechner, 1995). Disci...

Did the banana, yam and taro arrive in Australia at the hands of Europeans or come across the Torres Strait 2000 years before? Reviewing the evidence from herbaria histories and anthropology, the authors propose a ‘hierarchy of hypotheses’ and consider a still earlier option, that these food plants were potentially grown in Australia at least 8000 years ago, while it was still joined to New Gui...

1. This document is HS1067 one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 28, 2006. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. Hector G. Nuñez-Palenius, Graduate Assistant; Daniel J. Cantliffe, Professor and Chair, Horticultural Scienc...