Articles
BIOLOGY AND PRODUCTION OF HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL CROPS IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE
Article number
1002_17
Pages
147 – 151
Language
English
Abstract
The dynamic floriculture industry is constantly looking for new products, technologies and market niches.
This process is largely based on research and development, and requires strong collaboration between many of the links in the production chain.
This paper demonstrates how the principles of a market oriented supply chain provide a strategic framework for new research projects, focused collaboratively on plant biology, production technologies and cross-border value chains.
Our research aims at the development of propagation material for early flowering perennials PotennialsTM for special markets niches in North America and Europe.
The new production technologies are based on the comparative advantages of horticulture under Mediterranean climatic conditions: (1) rapid plant growth under the favorable conditions of the Mediterranean winter relatively warm temperatures and high light intensity; (2) environmentally friendly and sustainable production in screen-houses using natural energy resources, as an alternative to production in heated greenhouses in northern regions; (3) disease-, pest-free non-dormant propagation material; (4) sea transportation of the propagation units and half-finished products at the stage of growth arrest to markets.
The research is focused on about 50 different crops, while the most promising candidates are Aquilegia, Delphinium, Digitalis, Gaura, Dicentra and Hellebores. The new technology is highly knowledge-intensive, and the project team includes experts in plant physiology, growth technologies, postharvest and storage, transportation, greenhouse forcing, and marketing.
This process is largely based on research and development, and requires strong collaboration between many of the links in the production chain.
This paper demonstrates how the principles of a market oriented supply chain provide a strategic framework for new research projects, focused collaboratively on plant biology, production technologies and cross-border value chains.
Our research aims at the development of propagation material for early flowering perennials PotennialsTM for special markets niches in North America and Europe.
The new production technologies are based on the comparative advantages of horticulture under Mediterranean climatic conditions: (1) rapid plant growth under the favorable conditions of the Mediterranean winter relatively warm temperatures and high light intensity; (2) environmentally friendly and sustainable production in screen-houses using natural energy resources, as an alternative to production in heated greenhouses in northern regions; (3) disease-, pest-free non-dormant propagation material; (4) sea transportation of the propagation units and half-finished products at the stage of growth arrest to markets.
The research is focused on about 50 different crops, while the most promising candidates are Aquilegia, Delphinium, Digitalis, Gaura, Dicentra and Hellebores. The new technology is highly knowledge-intensive, and the project team includes experts in plant physiology, growth technologies, postharvest and storage, transportation, greenhouse forcing, and marketing.
Authors
R. Kamenetsky
Keywords
bare-root, dormancy, growth arrest, new products, propagation
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