Category: Vegetable Physiology, Production and Quality

In conjunction with breeders, projects are focused on high-value vegetables such as fresh-market tomato and specialty melons rich in nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants, compounds important for human health. We are integrating production strategies with new soil, and canopy sensing methods to screen and select superior germplasm with potential for abiotic/biotic stress tolerance, high nutrition and…

Understanding growth, water use, N-nutrient uptake, and utilization is a prerequisite to effectively managing irrigation and fertilization programs in any cropping system including leafy vegetables in hydroponic systems. Earlier studies demonstrated the significant water savings (up to 90%) of lettuce cultivars grown in hydroponics versus open field cultivation under drip or center pivot systems. In…

Soil amendments using organic fertilizers are widely used to dispose of animal waste, reduce environmental pollution and improve soil and fruit quality. A new study assessed the influence of plant- and animal-based soil amendments on soil nutrient availability, CO2 respiration (soil health indicator), yield and phytochemicals of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. 179) heads. After two years of organic…

Successful integration of tomato grafting with high tunnels (HT) could open new opportunities for the Texas tomato industry by using vigorous rootstocks for effectively managing soil diseases, abiotic stresses, and improve fruit quality and yield. Multilocation trials were conducted to evaluate the yield performance of grafted tomatoes in HT and open-field (OF) environments. Overall the…

Organic matter-derived soil amendments containing humic substances (HS) have a functional role in improving plant growth and soil quality. A recent study assessed the impact of lignite-derived HS on biota growth and evaluated their potential mitigative effects under water deficit stress in bell pepper plants grown in sandy and clay soil previously mixed with HS.…

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) can positively regulate seed germination and/or root growth and development. Research in onion seeds showed the PGR ethephon, to be beneficial in increasing seedling root surface area but reduced root length. Hydro-priming was shown to be a simple and viable method to enhance onion germination and root traits. A follow-up study…