Tag: flowers news

Fernwood
announces
a
new
hire
to
the
garden’s
horticulture
team.
Jonathon
Hensley,
Director
of
Horticulture,
joined
the
staff
on
Tuesday,
August
20,
2024.

Hensley
is
from
Indianapolis,
Indiana,
and
has
an
undergraduate
degree
in
philosophy
from
Wabash
College,
where
he
was
assigned
the
opportunity
to
work
at
the
college’s
arboretum.
This
experience
determined
his
career
path.
Hensley
went
on
to
earn
his
Professional
Gardener’s
Training
Program
Diploma
in
Ornamental
Horticulture
from
Longwood
Gardens/Temple
University.
Following
this,
he
went
on
to
pursue
a
Master
of
Science
in
Horticultural
Science/Floriculture
from
the
University
of
Minnesota.
Among
other
areas,
Jonathan
studied
green
roof
technology
at
the
University
of
Minnesota.

Hensley
is
a
horticulture
professional,
with
twenty-three
years
of
horticulture,
greenhouse,
and
landscape
experience
with
crossover
and
supplemental
trade
skill
capacity.
He
has
thirteen
years
of
project
management
and
staff
supervisory
experience.

“We
are
so
excited
to
welcome
Jonathon
Hensley
to
Fernwood
in
this
important
leadership
role.
He
brings
a
broad
range
of
work
experience
to
the
position,
where
he
will
apply
his
knowledge
and
expertise
to
our
gardens,
natural
areas,
and
facilities.
Jonathon
will
follow
in
the
path
of
other
visionary
leaders
in
this
position
and
bring
great
energy
to
the
Fernwood
team,”
said
Carol
Line,
Fernwood
Executive
Director.

Source:

www.publicgardens.org

According
to
Selecta
one,
they
are
satisfied
with
the
first
season
of
its
new
LUCKY
LIPS®
carnation
series,
which
were
presented
at
the
IPM
in
January.

“Now
that
the
retail
sales
season
is
over,
we
are
pleased
to
report
that
the
concept
has
been
very
well
received
across
the
board.
The
qualities
of
the
Lucky
Lips
were
convincing,
the
sales
prices
in
the
shops
were
consistently
higher
than
those
of
Pink
Kisses
and
retailers
are
reporting
good
sales,’
says
Klaus
Gaumann,
Director
of
Marketing
&
PM
at
Selecta.

The
brand
building
of
Lucky
Lips
has
been
realized
on
social
media
channels.
The
marketing
campaign
centered
on
the
themes
of
happiness,
urban
life,
and
sociability
with
the
varieties
Lara,
Lena,
Lisa,
Lola,
and
Luna
hitting
the
target
group
right
in
the
heart.

“Demand
from
European
retailers
far
exceeded
the
naturally
limited
quantities
in
the
first
year,
meaning
that
not
all
requests
could
be
fulfilled.
Consumers
were
able
to
find
Lucky
Lips
in
many
garden
centers,
DIY
stores,
and
food
retailers
in
Germany,
Benelux,
the
UK,
Ireland,
Scandinavia,
and
Poland.
Availability
has
been
significantly
increased
for
the
next
season,
and
the
first
inquiries
and
orders
from
European
retailers
have
already
been
received.
“

The
concept
will
also
be
continued
and
expanded
for
the
2025
sales
season.
IJzelenberg
in
the
Netherlands
will
continue
to
exclusively
produce
10.5
cm
concept
pots
and,
for
the
first
time,
17
cm
pots.
In
addition,
a
limited
number
of
14
cm
pots
will
be
produced
in
Italy.
For
2026,
Selecta
will
decide
on
a
possible
expansion
on
the
producer
side
and
communicate
accordingly.

For
more
information:

Selecta
One

www.selecta-­one.com

Over
the
past
decade
the
invasive
Spotted
Lanternfly,
Lycorma
Delicatula,
has
made
its
way
into
17
states
and
now
several
sightings
have
been
reported
in
the
counties
around
Houston,
according
to
state
agencies.

According
to
the
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture
(USDA),
the
Spotted
Lanternfly
is
an
invasive
planthopper
originally
from
Asia
that
feeds
on
grapevines,
hops,
stone
fruits,
hardwood
trees
and
70
other
known
plants.
The
insect
can
spread
quickly
and
excretes
a
sticky,
sugary
fluid
that
can
lead
to
further
damage
to
crops
and
plants.

Recently,
there
have
been
several
unverified
sightings
of
the
insect
but
the
USDA
said
in
a
statement
Friday
that
it
has
not
received
any
official
reports.
Texas
A&M
AgriLife
also
said
in
a
statement
that
there
are
no
verified
sightings
currently
in
Texas.

“Texas
Department
of
Agriculture
and
USDA’s
Animal
and
Plant
Health
Inspection
Service
work
together
to
investigate
reports
of
suspected
invasive
species
in
Texas,”
the
USDA
said
in
a
statement.
“At
this
time,
we
do
not
have
any
verified
reports
of
the
spotted
lanternfly
in
Texas.”

Read
more
at:

www.houstonpublicmedia.org

The
Ministry
of
Environment,
Water,
and
Agriculture
announced
on
Monday
the
launch
of
four
new
investment
opportunities
aimed
at
establishing
integrated
agricultural
cities
in
the
Makkah
region.
These
projects
include
vegetable
and
crop
production,
fruit
tree
cultivation,
and
the
creation
of
a
specialized
laboratory
for
growing
wild
seedlings.

This
move
aligns
with
the
ministry’s
goals,
plans,
and
strategies,
focusing
on
enhancing
food
security,
supporting
sustainable
development,
and
advancing
the
agricultural
sector.
This
aims
to
contribute
to
economic
diversification,
achieve
self-sufficiency
in
agricultural
products,
and
preserve
natural
resources
for
future
generations.

The
ministry
stated
that
the
first
investment
opportunity
involves
establishing
a
promising
agricultural
city
for
vegetable
and
crop
production
in
the
agricultural
city
of
Al-Kamil
in
the
region,
adjacent
to
the
Wadi
Al-Sabaan
Dam,
on
a
site
measuring
approximately
144,507
square
meters.

The
second
investment
opportunity
involves
establishing
a
promising
agricultural
city
for
vegetable
and
crop
production
in
the
agricultural
city
of
Al-Kamil,
near
the
Wadi
Al-Shawan
Dam,
on
a
site
measuring
approximately
287,082
square
meters.

Read
more
here:

spa.gov.sa

The
USDA
National
Institute
of
Food
and
Agriculture
has
awarded
a
$650,000
grant
to
a
UF/IFAS
researcher
to
study
a
plant
that
could
help
mitigate
the
opioid
epidemic,
a
national
health
crisis
responsible
for
more
than
130
deaths
each
day.

Mitragyna
speciosa,
or
kratom,
is
a
tree
belonging
to
the
coffee
family.
The
tree’s
leaves
produce
unique
compounds
called
monoterpene
indole
alkaloids,
which
are
known
for
various
beneficial
pharmaceutical
uses.
Mitragynine,
for
example,
has
shown
promise
for
treating
pain,
opioid
use
disorder,
and
opioid
withdrawal,
and
it
does
so
without
demonstrating
addiction
potential.
Spirooxindole
mitraphylline,
another
kratom
alkaloid,
is
known
for
promoting
anti-tumor
activity.

But
how
kratom
produces
these
alkaloids
is
unknown.
Satya
Swathi
Nadakuduti,
an
assistant
professor
of
plant
biotechnology
and
biochemistry
in
the
UF/IFAS
environmental
horticulture
department,
will
lead
a
team
of
interdisciplinary
researchers
seeking
to
identify
the
genes
involved
and
to
decipher
the
multi-step
process
through
which
the
plant
produces
the
alkaloids.
The
team
will
do
so
by
studying
the
kratom
plant’s
genome,
gene
expression,
and
metabolites.

Satya
Swathi
Nadakuduti
studying
her
plants
(Tyler
Jones,
UF/IFAS)

“Monoterpene
indole
alkaloids
serve
as
an
important
source
for
potential
drug
discovery,”
Nadakuduti
said.
“Understanding
their
biosynthesis
makes
it
possible
to
support
drug
development,
and
they
could
meet
emerging
and
future
markets
as
a
solution
to
the
opioid
crisis.”
Currently,
there
are
no
drug
products
containing
kratom
legally
sold
in
the
United
States,
and
the
Federal
Drug
Administration
warns
against
using
products
made
from
the
plant.

Some
“ostensible”
kratom
cultivars
marketed
in
the
country
have
altered
alkaloids,
and
the
biological
effects
of
their
consumption
depend
on
both
the
plant
and
the
leaf
development
stage
at
harvest,
Nadakuduti
said.
The
pharmaceutical
properties
of
these
plants
are
either
unknown
or
not
well
studied.
“Therefore,
reliance
on
kratom
products
of
unknown
alkaloid
content
and
questionable
quality,
in
addition
to
adulteration
with
other
psychoactive
substances,
has
become
a
concern
in
the
United
States,
confounding
adverse
effects
with
a
potential
for
abuse,”
she
said.

Nadakuduti’s
interdisciplinary
team
of
researchers
includes
Christopher
McCurdy,
a
medicinal
chemist
with
the
UF
College
of
Pharmacy;
Kelly
Balmant,
an
assistant
professor
of
bioinformatics
with
the
UF/IFAS
horticultural
sciences
department;
and
Thu-Thuy
Dang,
an
assistant
professor
of
biochemistry,
molecular
biology
and
chemistry
at
the
University
of
British
Columbia.

Source:

ifas.ufl.edu

Low
temperatures
disrupt
cellular
processes
and
require
metabolic
adaptation.
Cold-induced
lipid
remodeling
helps
maintain
membrane
permeability
and
prevents
phase
separations
that
can
lead
to
cellular
damage.
A
review
was
done
to
summarize
mechanisms
by
which
plants
remodel
their
membrane
lipids
to
adapt
to
low
temperatures
and
cold
stress.

They
focus
on
glycerolipids,
sphingolipids,
and
phytosterols.
Additionally,
they
examine
how
cold
stress
affects
membrane
composition
and
functionality
at
the
subcellular
level,
presenting
current
glycerolipidomic
data
from
Arabidopsis
thaliana,
maize,
and
sorghum.
This
data
highlights
the
consistency
as
well
as
the
variability
of
lipid
responses
across
species.

The
authors
delve
into
the
three
main
ways
of
lipid
alteration.
First
is
acyl
editing
and
headgroup
exchange,
where
plants
modify
their
membrane
lipids
to
maintain
membrane
integrity
and
function.
The
second
way
is
regulating
lipase
activity,
which
plays
a
crucial
role
in
lipid
remodeling
during
cold
stress.
The
third
is
changes
in
phytosterol
abundance,
where
altering
phytosterol
levels
helps
to
stabilize
membranes
under
cold
conditions.

The
review
points
out
recent
advances
and
accomplishments
in
the
field
with
an
informative
overview
of
observed
lipid
changes
and
highlights
gaps
in
current
knowledge
and
areas
needing
further
investigation
to
fully
understand
and
manipulate
plant
cold
tolerance.

Source:

plantae.org

Wageningen
University
&
Research
is
organizing
the
ReThink
Food
Challenge
in
2025.
The
aim
of
this
competition
is
to
develop
an
innovative
business
concept
to
grow
food
on
Earth
based
on
lessons
learned
from
growing
food
in
space.
The
WUR
Student
Challenges
team
focuses
on
organizing
competitions
for
students
in
the
field
of
life
sciences.
Marta
Eggers
of
WUR
Student
Challenges:
“Seven
years
ago,
we
started
organizing
Challenges
for
life
sciences
students.
Our
team
has
now
organized
more
than
20
different
Challenges.
The
Challenges
are
very
international
and
reach
many
students
all
over
the
world.”

ReThink
Food
Challenge

The
Challenges
deal
with
different
topics
such
as
the
protein
transition,
urban
food
production,
bio-based
economy,
and
food
system
innovation.
The
organization
found
space
farming
a
great
angle
for
the
ReThink
Food
Challenge.
It
also
has
many
applications
on
Earth.
When
going
to
space,
one
has
to
think
carefully
about
resources
and
about
circularity.
In
doing
so,
it
is
important
to
adequately
handle
waste.
Marta:
“We
also
want
to
do
this
on
Earth.
We
want
to
produce
more
sustainably.
This
challenge
encourages
people
to
think
out
of
the
box.”

Learning
journey
The
Challenge
lasts
four
months,
and
is
all
about
developing
innovative
ideas
into
elaborate
business
concepts.
With
this
Challenge,
the
WUR
aims
to
connect
people
that
are
interested
in
this
topic.
Marta:
“We
want
to
create
awareness
and
enthusiasm.
It
is
not
only
about
the
end
result,
but
also
about
the
road
towards
it.”
The
Challenge
is
meant
to
be
a
‘learning
journey’
where
students
can
gain
new
skills
such
as
entrepreneurial
mindset,
interdisciplinary
teamwork,
project
management,
networking,
leadership
and
problem-solving.

Students
networking
during
the
ReThink
Wast
Challenge

Students
can
work
on
any
idea
that
fits
within
the
theme
of
the
Challenge.
By
the
end
of
the
Challenge,
the
idea
should
be
applicable
in
a
business
setting.
At
the
end
of
the
process,
12
finalists
will
compete
for
the
grand
prize
of
7,000
euros.
Often
the
teams
use
the
money
to
continue
their
idea
after
the
challenge.
There
have
also
been
teams
that
have
used
the
money
for
personal
purposes.
To
students
who
are
still
unsure
whether
to
join,
Marta
has
this
advice:
“Don’t
hesitate,
just
do
it.
If
you
don’t
try,
you
won’t
find
out
if
you
can
succeed.
It’s
not
only
about
the
end
result,
but
also
about
the
road
towards
it.”

The
winners
of
the
previous
challenge

Indoor
farming
track-inspiration
This
Challenge
has
two
different
tracks:
indoor
farming
and
alternative
proteins.
The
indoor
farming
track
allows
students
to
work
on
the
innovation
of
cultivation
techniques.
For
instance,
innovation
in
growing
techniques
(new
cultivation
methods,
innovations
related
to
vertical
farming,
hydroponics
and
aeroculture),
the
sustainable
use
of
resources
(technologies
and
methods
for
the
efficient
use
of
water
and
fertilizers),
crop
resistance
and
robustness
(plants
with
higher
yields
and
resilience
to
climate
change),
innovation
in
autonomous
cropping
systems
or
biodiversity,
and
genetic
improvement
(new
crop
varieties
better
adapted
to
different
environmental
conditions
on
earth).

Marta:
“We
hope
to
inspire
the
sector
with
this
challenge.
For
example,
with
the
answer
to
the
question:
how
to
grow
insects
and
plants
in
one
closed
system?
It
often
happens
that
new
techniques
are
discovered
in
space,
and
that
are
later
applied
on
Earth
(think
of
solar
panels).
During
the
Challenge,
many
students
and
professionals
come
together
and
discuss
new
ideas,
challenges
and
opportunities.
The
students
are
future
professionals.
It
is
a
good
opportunity
to
meet
and
educate
the
changemakers
of
the
future.”

The
Jury
during
one
of
the
previous
editions.

Collaboration
with
business
partners
The
Challenge
consists
of
three
rounds.
In
the
first
round,
students
have
to
come
up
with
a
good
idea
in
cooperation
with
the
participating
companies.
In
the
second
round,
the
idea
is
developed
and
validated
in
collaboration
with
the
partners.
In
the
third
round,
students
learn
to
sell
their
idea.
Among
others,
Bayer,
GEA
and
GreenTech
are
partners
of
this
Challenge.

The
Challenge
starts
on
17
January
with
a
kick-off
event.
During
this
event,
ESA
(European
Space
Agency)
engineer
Christel
Paille
will
present
the
MELiSSA
program.
The
aim
of
this
program
is
to
recycle
products
such
as
carbon
dioxide,
urine,
and
other
organic
substances
into
vital
resources
such
as
oxygen,
water,
and
food.
In
the
first
round,
students
have
a
month
and
a
half
to
work
on
the
report.
May
27
is
the
selection
moment.

Companies
interested
in
participating
in
the
Challenge
can
still
contact
Rio
Pals
([email protected]).
It
is
a
good
opportunity
to
recruit
new
talent.
Meanwhile,
more
than
30
universities
worldwide
that
offer
top
courses
for
future
controlled
environment
agriculture
specialists
have
expressed
interest
in
this
Challenge.
Companies
can
also
learn
from
the
Challenge.

A
WUR
mascot
during
one
of
the
previous
challenges.

Interested
parties
can
view
the
slides
of
the
ReThink
Food
Challenge

here.

For
more
information:
Marta
Eggers



WUR
Student
Challenges


[email protected]

www.wur.nl//student-challenge

When
visitors
to
the
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo
aim
their
cell
phone
cameras
at
blooms
instead
of
baboons,
Leigh
Anne
Lomax
is
thrilled.

The
eye-catching
flowers,
trees
and
hanging
baskets
that
bring
color
and
texture
to
every
corner
of
the
zoo,
are
the
handiwork
of
Lomax,
Cleveland
Metroparks
Zoo
horticulture
and
grounds
manager,
and
her
team.

“One
million
visitors
a
year
see
our
work
—
that’s
exciting,”
Lomax
said.
“It
definitely
keeps
us
motivated
to
do
good
work.”
Lomax’s
job
is
figuring
out
how
the
zoo’s
plants,
people
and
animals
all
work
together.

That
means
overseeing
plantings
to
beautify
the
grounds,
feed
animals
and
make
enclosures
look
realistic.
Lomax
oversees
a
team
of
eight
full-time
horticulturalists,
five
ground
crew
and
10
seasonal
staff,
all
experts
in
trees,
native
plans,
seasonal
color
and
other
topics.
They
also
water
flowers
using
a
tank
truck
in
areas
of
the
zoo
that
lack
automatic
irrigation.

Read
more
at

cleveland.com

“In
winter,
condensation
can
reduce
light
transmission
and
harm
plants.
Our
special
coating
ensures
condensation
forms
a
thin
water
layer
instead
of
droplets,
which
runs
off
safely
into
the
gutters.
This
prevents
diseases
and
maintains
high
light
transmission,”
says
Seiji
Matsuda,
Head
of
global
sales
at
AGC
Green-Tech
as
he
talks
about
the
company’s
Anti-Drip
coating
of
F-CLEAN™.

This
well-established
technology,
developed
over
30
years
ago,
continues
to
be
essential
as
greenhouse
condensation
can
severely
impact
plant
health
by
causing
diseases
if
droplets
fall
onto
the
crops
and
the
floor.
AGC
Inc.,
the
parent
company
of
AGC
Green-Tech,
has
a
global
footprint
in
Japan,
Asia,
Europe,
and
the
Americas,
especially
in
the
glass
and
chemical
sectors,
but
also
in
advanced
ceramics
and
life
sciences.

The
AGC
Green
Tech
/
F-CLEAN
team
pictured
at
the
GPEC

On
the
horticulture
end,
AGC
Green-Tech
offers
a
range
of
F-CLEAN
film
designed
to
meet
different
greenhouse
needs.
Whether
it’s
a
clear
film
for
maximum
light
transmission
or
a
diffused
film
that
scatters
light
evenly,
there’s
a
solution
for
every
type
of
crop
and
growing
condition.
“Light
coming
into
the
greenhouse
is
always
shifting,
from
morning
to
sunset,
summer
to
winter.
We
offer
films
that
can
adapt
to
these
changes,
ensuring
optimal
light
transmission
throughout
the
day
and
year,”
Seiji
explains.

The
benefits
of
diffused
light
are
particularly
noteworthy.
“For
trellis
plants
like
tomatoes
and
capsicum,
our
diffused
films
can
increase
the
yield
of
the
crop
production,
for
example,
cucumber
production
in
kilograms
increased
by
4.3%
and
the
number
of
cucumbers
increased
by
7.8%
compared
to
clear
greenhouses.
These
results
are
based
on
trials
conducted
at
Wageningen
University.
The
light
is
scattered
in
different
angles,
ensuring
that
the
entire
plant,
not
just
the
top,
receives
enough
light,”
Seiji
notes.
However,
he
adds
that
for
shorter
crops
like
lettuce,
the
benefits
of
diffused
light
are
less
significant.

A
Korean
greenhouse
operator
using
a
multi-tier
system

Robustness
and
longevity
At
the
core
of
AGC
Green-Tech’s
innovation
is
its
F-CLEAN
greenhouse
film,
made
from
ETFE
(Ethylene
Tetrafluoroethylene),
a
highly
durable
and
versatile
fluoropolymer.
“ETFE
is
a
unique
material
thanks
to
its
molecular
structure,
which
combines
fluorine
and
carbon
atoms
to
form
one
of
the
strongest
chemical
bonds
possible.
This
structure
endows
ETFE
with
exceptional
durability,
potentially
lasting
for
many
decades.

While
the
material
hasn’t
yet
reached
its
full
potential
lifespan
in
practical
use,
it
has
already
been
in
service
for
35
years
and
continues
to
perform
as
if
it
were
new.
Given
its
long
life
expectancy,
ETFE
film
presents
a
highly
viable
alternative
to
poly
film
commonly
used
in
the
horticultural
industry,
which
requires
frequent
replacement,”
Seiji
explains.

ETFE’s
journey
begins
with
fluorite,
a
mineral
sourced
from
select
regions
around
the
world.
AGC
then
transforms
it
into
ETFE
resin
and
finally
into
the
ETFE
film,
all
within
its
facilities.
“We
do
everything
from
material
production
to
creating
the
film
itself.
This
gives
us
complete
control
over
quality,
allowing
us
to
offer
a
range
of
solutions,
including
Anti-Drip
coatings,
UV
transmission
control,
surface
structural
treatments,
and
advanced
color
technology.”
We
build
the
entire
film
from
A
to
Z,
ensuring
that
every
aspect
meets
our
high
standards,”
Seiji
emphasizes.

A
German
lettuce
greenhouse
operator

The
non-stick
properties
of
ETFE
are
another
critical
advantage.
“ETFE
is
inherently
non-stick,
meaning
very
few
substances
adhere
to
its
surface.
If
anything
does
stick,
it
doesn’t
last
long.
This
property,
combined
with
its
durability,
means
our
film
stays
clear
and
efficient
over
time,”
Seiji
points
out.
This
non-stick
characteristic
makes
F-CLEAN
film
ideal
for
environments
where
safety
and
hygiene
are
paramount,
such
as
hospitals
and
sports
arenas.
“Our
film
has
never
caught
fire.
It
might
melt,
but
it
won’t
ignite,
making
it
a
safer
choice
for
many
applications,”
Seiji
adds.

Economical
solutions
Despite
the
many
advantages
of
F-CLEAN
film,
adoption
has
its
challenges,
particularly
regarding
cost
and
installation.
“Our
film
requires
a
specific
tensioning
system
for
proper
installation,
which
not
all
growers
are
ready
to
modify.
The
process
is
intricate,
and
while
the
end
product
is
superior,
it’s
also
more
expensive
due
to
the
complex
chemical
processes
involved,”
Seiji
admits.

However,
AGC
Green-Tech
is
actively
working
to
overcome
these
challenges
by
collaborating
closely
with
greenhouse
builders
and
offering
campaigns
to
lower
costs.
“We
are
committed
to
collaboration
and
innovation.
By
working
together
with
greenhouse
builders,
we
can
offer
solutions
that
are
not
only
high-quality
but
also
economical,”
Seiji
concludes.

A
Japanese
strawberry
greenhouse
grower

Incorporating
sustainability
Seiji
also
emphasizes
the
importance
of
sustainability
in
AGC’s
operations.
“We
are
focused
on
sustainability
management.
Our
vision
for
2030
is
not
just
about
numbers
but
also
about
social
values.
We’re
committed
to
creating
materials
that
last
longer,
reduce
waste,
and
ultimately
help
our
customers
operate
more
sustainably,”
he
explains.

Aligning
their
new
vision
on
sustainability,
AGC
is
committed
to
exploring
ways
to
enhance
sustainability
in
agriculture
by
leveraging
the
unique
strengths
of
ETFE
film
and
glass.
“While
we
are
not
currently
offering
specific
products
or
services
related
to
the
integration
of
renewable
energy
with
greenhouse
structures,
we
are
actively
investigating
how
our
materials
can
support
sustainable
agricultural
practices,
helping
growers
reduce
their
carbon
footprint
while
maintaining
high
productivity.
We
remain
open
to
suggestions
from
our
customers
and
potential
partners
as
we
continue
to
explore
these
opportunities,”
Seiji
shares.

As
AGC
Inc.
approaches
its
50th
anniversary
of
the
ETFE
film
business,
the
company
is
eager
to
celebrate
its
milestones
with
customers
and
partners.”The
year
2026
marks
the
50th
anniversary
of
our
ETFE
film
business.
We
look
forward
to
carrying
forward
our
spirit
of
innovation
and
excellence.”

For
more
information:

AGC
Green-Tech
Co.,
Ltd.
/
AGC
Inc.
Seiji
Matsuda,
Head
of
global
sales


[email protected]

www.f-clean.net

A
group
of
perennial
dusty
miller
(Centaurea
cineraria)
plants
developed
interveinal
chlorosis
on
the
older
leaves.
The
initial
assessment
suggested
that
magnesium
(Mg)
deficiency
was
the
cause
because
we
don’t
have
naturally
occurring
Mg
in
our
irrigation
water.
Tissue
analysis
proved
otherwise.

Centaurea
cineraria
‘Colchester
White’
is
a
perennial
dusty
miller
that
adds
a
nice
white
textured
leaf
pattern
to
gardens.
While
visiting
a
greenhouse
recently,
the
grower
asked
about
their
crop.
Overall
the
plants
looked
good,
but
the
lower
leaves
had
developed
interveinal
chlorosis.

Because
our
bedrock
is
granite
and
the
surface
water
is
the
main
irrigation
source,
it
lacks
a
nutritional
punch.
If
you
want
to
provide
calcium
(Ca)
or
magnesium
(Mg),
you
have
to
include
it
in
your
fertilization
program.
The
need
to
add
supplemental
Mg
results
in
frequent
instances
of
Mg
deficiency
appearing
late
in
the
production
season
once
the
supply
from
the
dolomitic
limestone
runs
low.
Therefore,
it
is
a
pretty
safe
bet
when
one
observes
lower
leaf
interveinal
chlorosis,
that
it
is
a
Mg
deficiency.

Read
more
at

e-gro.org