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The general objective of this project was to study the impact of preharvest growth conditions [supplementary lighting as high-pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) lights, and fertilization] on the postharvest quality of greenhouse roses. On 25 Jan. 1991, 288 plants (Rosa × hybrida `Royalty', `After-Glow', and `Obsession') of 3× caliber were planted in pots. A split-split plot experimental design made up of four blocks was used. Light treatments (three) were main plots while fertilization (two) and cultivars (three cultivars; four plants per cultivar) were subplots and sub-sub-plots, respectively. The two fertilization regimes used had respective N: K (in ppm) ratios of 150 N: 300 K (F1) and 300 N: 300 K (F2). Three light treatments [ambient light conditions (control) and ambient light conditions + PPF of 100 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 supplied by 400-W HPS or MH lamps] were compared. Yields were significantly affected by supplemental light treatments, fertilization, or both regardless of cultivars. Results indicate that stems harvested from HPS and MH light treatments combined with fertilization F1 had a longer vase life than those grown with F2. HPS lamps significantly increased vase life compared to MH. The level of abscisic acid (ABA) was higher under MH than under HPS lamps at time zero (T₀), and this was similar for all cultivars. Furthermore, when supplemental light was combined with the F1 fertilization, a lower ABA level was obtained. Low ABA levels were correlated to longer vase life expectancy.

Organically grown greenhouse sweet pepper crops, as is the case with most year-around greenhouse crops, rely on pre-grown transplants. Production of adequately balanced (source and sink strength potential) healthy organic sweet pepper transplants is a challenge and is often related to early and total harvested yields. Liquid and/or solid organic fertilizers for greenhouse sweet pepper transplants were compared with a conventional liquid fertilizer. Transplants were grown under greenhouse conditions and inoculated, or not, with a beneficial microbial agent, Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, strain KRL-AG2 (Rootshield®). Medium respiration (CO₂ efflux) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis analysis showed a higher microbial activity in the liquid organic fertilizer treatment. Higher microbial activity was observed after 10 weeks than at 5 weeks after transplanting. Transplant development was greater in the liquid conventional fertilizer treatment compared with the two organic treatments. Transplants that received liquid organic fertilizer had greater development compared with transplants that only received water in addition to the initial solid fertilizer. Organic amendment mineralization did not completely fulfill transplant nutrient requirement compared with conventional transplants. Solid fertilization in the growing medium affected plant growth during the first 5 weeks but not after 10 weeks after transplanting. Solid and liquid organic fertilizers at a higher concentration should be provided to reach a similar transplant development because conventional seedlings or other slow-release sources of solid amendments should be added to the growing medium to keep an adequate and constant nutrient release. Providing a beneficial agent to the organic growing medium increased its biological activity but had no effect on seedling growth during this study. Solid organic fertilization (1600 mL·m⁻³ of shrimp meal with 50 mL·m⁻³ of kelp meal) combined with an organic liquid fertilization should be used in combination with inoculation with T. harzianum to obtain high-quality organic sweet pepper transplants.

The general objective of this project is to study the impact of pre-harvest growth conditions (supplementary lighting; HPS, MH: fertilization on the biochemistry and post-harvest quality of greenhouse roses. On January 25, 1991, 288 plants (Rosa × hybrida: `Royalty', `After Glow' and `Obsession') 3X caliber were planted in pots. A split-split plot experimental design made up of four blocks was used. Light treatments (3) were in main plot while fertilization (2) and cultivars (3 cultivars; 4 plants per cultivar) were in sub-plots and sub-sub-plots respectively. The two fertilization regimes used had respectively a nitrogen potassium ratio of 150N:300K ppm (F1) and 300N:300K ppm (F2). Three light treatments (ambient light conditions (control), and ambient light conditions + PPF of 100 μmolm<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> supplied by 400 W HPS and MH lamps) were compared. Since the beginning of this experiment 14 431 flowering stems have been harvested. Only the results obtained with `Royalty' and `After Glow' will be presented for the following harvest periods; (1) October 6 to December 6, 1991; (2) January 30 to April 22, 1992. Yields were significantly affected by light and/or fertilization regardless of cultivar. Preliminary results indicate that stems harvested from HPS and MH light treatments combined to fertilization regime F1 had a longer vase life than those grown with F2. Preliminary results indicate that HPS lamps significantly increased vase life compared to MH. The level of ABA was higher under MH then under HPS lamps at to and this was similar for all cultivars. Furthermore, when supplemental light was combined to the F1 fertilization a lower level of ABA was obtained. Low levels of ABA are correlated to longer vase life expectancy.

Pythium root rot, caused by Pythium ultimum, is responsible for important losses in geranium plant production, mainly as a result of the decrease in the plant overall quality. An organic production system for geranium plants based on fertilization using a filtered suspension of dehydrated hen manure was compared with a conventional fertilization system to evaluate their tolerance to root disease. Under typical greenhouse conditions, geranium plants were inoculated with a suspension of Pseudomonas putida, Trichoderma atroviride, a mixture of both or with Trichoderma harzianum, and a commercially available product, Rootshield®, 1 and 4 weeks after planting. Four weeks after the first inoculation, Pseudomonas putida and Trichoderma atroviride stimulated plant growth (shoot and root dry weight) compared with the control regardless of the fertilization. The results also showed that the colonization of geranium roots by Pythium spp. was significantly lower for organically grown plants for all treatments compared with the inoculated control under conventional fertilization. Inoculation with T. atroviride under conventional fertilization was the only treatment that did not significantly reduce root colonization by Pythium spp. compared with the conventional control. For both organically and conventionally grown plants, the coinoculation with both P. putida and T. atroviride resulted in the weakest colonization of roots by the pathogen. The inoculation of P. putida, T. atroviride, and the mixture of the bacterium and the fungus also significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of roots regardless of the fertilization used. All microorganism treatments in conventionally grown plants significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of the shoot compared with the control.