Cut Flowers and Foliages (Crop Production Science in Horticulture)

The cut flower and foliage industry is a global business with major production locations in North America, South America, Central America, East Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Few other horticulture crops are as ubiquitous, yet the production techniques and challenges are universal.This book describes the main international production locations and markets, including current trends and directions. The focus is on production in protected cultivation. The major species - including rose, chrysanthemum, carnation, orchid and gerbera - dominate the global market and these are individually explored in detail. Specialty species and cut foliages are also addressed, as well as significant details of production, including irrigation and fertilization, disease and disease management, and biological control of pests. Finally, the postharvest chapter covers details of harvesting, transporting and delivering high quality flowers that provide an excellent vase life.Highly illustrated with color photos throughout, this is an essential resource for students and researchers in horticulture, growers and producers, and those in the floriculture industry.

James E. Faust has worked at Clemson since 1999 and has a research and teaching appointment with responsibilities in floriculture and greenhouse crop physiology. His current research emphasis includes the production and postharvest physiology of unrooted cuttings, cut flowers and bedding plants. His overall program goal is to develop practical strategies for improving crop production and postharvest methods.

John Dole joined North Carolina State's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2000 as professor, and went on to serve as department head of horticultural science. He is now the associate dean of academic programs. His work garners an international reputation in floricultural crop production and handling and use of cut flowers. Further, Professor Dole has world-famous research on postharvest handling of cut flowers, cuttings and poinsettias.