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BREEDERS BRIEFS

“No one thought bi-colored flowers would become popular”

“A couple of years ago, no one would have thought that bi-colored or color changing flowers would become popular. Now, they are hot all over the world”, says Yoav Scholz of GGG Grünewald, a breeder and propagator of bedding and balcony plants.

However, not only is the demand for colors constantly changing, so are the genetics of many traditional varieties. “When breeding new varieties, we need to take into account the entire production chain from the cutting, growing, logistics and the finished product from our customer to the retail. A good example to illustrate this trend is with our Dahlia ‘Starlias’ series. We are always workingto keep this ‘old plant’ attractive by adapting to new trends quickly.”

More open to bi-colors

According to Scholz, people are more open to new colors at the moment. “All over the world, we notice an increase in demand for striking colors and especially the bi-colored varieties. Approximately five years ago, when we just introduced the Dahlia “Starlias’ series, there was no market for bi-colored varieties, but now, our bi-colored dahlias are the top sellers in the ‘Starlias’ series,” says Scholz.

Botrytis is one of the most damaging pathogens with stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and seedlings all being potential victims. Many growers are familiar with the symptoms of Botrytis, but for some, the first encounter with this pathogen results in severe plants losses therefore early detection and control are vital if the disease is to be prevented from rapidly spreading though a crop.

While Botrytis is a formidable pathogen, it is also the same fungi which is employed by some wine makers and was even given the name ‘The Nobel rot’ for its ability to concentrate sugars and impart a particular flavor to late harvest grapes. Wine makers in many areas of the world make use of Botrytis infection of their grapes to produce a sweet, high quality wine, which commands high prices. Despite this beneficial use of Botrytis, it is a disease, which plagues commercial and hobbyist growers alike, and one that affects virtually all of the crops we grow hydroponically.

Botrytis symptoms

Plants can be attacked at any stage of growth, from tiny seedlings to large, mature plants, but new succulent growth, freshly injured tissues and ageing or dead foliage are favored by this disease. Botrytis usually first appears as lesions on leaves and stems which quickly produce a characteristic grey/brown furry spore development which resembles a pile of ash – hence the name ‘grey or ash mould’. As the disease progresses the lesions continue to grow and encircle stems and leaf petioles and will eventually cause plant collapse. Fungal spores can also develop on flower petals, particularly under growing conditions where condensation has been forming and humidity levels are high.

If you ask Bayer East Africa management what is the main difference between their company’s business model and that of most other players in the market for Agrochemicals, they will answer “While the traditional business model in this market is product driven and supply-pushed, ours is the exact opposite: Customer-driven, demand-pulled”. While Bayer East Africa is certainly not the only company to have such business model, it is true that this is their business model, reflected in their strategy and moves in the market. With a focus on emerging countries and niche markets, Bayer East Africa manages a portfolio of many active ingredients.

In well attended seminars on their products, this was well seen. Speaking to the growers, Mr. Leonard Kipchumba, said, “Bayer East Africa is focused on helping its customers cultivate business growth through the development, marketing and distribution of innovative, high quality chemical and nonchemical solutions for today’s dynamic agro science marketplace”.

The start of the seminar focused on two trusted fungal control products that have been in the Kenyan ornamental market for some time. Mr. Kipchumba highlighted that Luna Traguility, whose unparalled efficacy on the most problematic diseases goes beyond the achievements 0f today’s fungicide with improved quality, longer vase life, less waste and increased marketability. “Luna likes to work on a broads spectrum of foliar diseases giving excellent control of the powdery mildew species and botrytis, he added.

Russia with its vast territories and different weather conditions of many regions where the production of their own flowers and ornamental plants is unprofitable is

It is necessary to periodically check the pH, electrical conductivity and individual nutrients in a growing medium to monitor crop status.

To do so, collect a two-cup sample of growing medium taken from several plants of the same cultivar and age and send it to a horticulture testing laboratory. Most labs require 2-3 business days to process the samples. However, some will offer the option of expediting sample analysis in one day for an extra charge. Remember the time it takes to mail the samples to the lab must be added to the processing time to know when the results will be available.

Many growers want to know this information as soon as possible in order to make critical decisions about fertilizer application, leaching or finding corrective measures if the pH is out of desirable range. If you have access to pH and E.C. meters, then these parameters can be tested in-house, at your location. There are a few meters that do test for an individual nutrient, but collectively they can be expensive. Often, in-house testing is generally for testing pH and E.C., which will catch most of the common fertility problems (pH too high or too low, fertility rates too high or too low). To prepare a growing medium sample for in-house testing for pH and E.C., the growing medium sample must be mixed with a specific volume of deionized water and allowed to sit for at least a half hour to a full hour. From this sample, the pH and E.C. can be measured. There are several different methods used to prepare growing medium samples for testing. Keep in mind that the results from one test method, such as E.C., cannot be interpreted using normal ranges from another test method. So whatever the sampling procedure, it is important to use the normal ranges from that test method and not from another.

Flower prices over the last six years have grown at only 7 percent whereas costs of production in Kenya have risen by more than 50 percent. This has impacted on the profits and ability to reinvest and expand. Principal amongst these cost increases are power and labour. In addition, the industry has also sought to absorb cost increases through improved efficiencies. This was said by Mr. Richard Fox, Kenya Flower Council Chairman.

Growth

Admireably, the industry has been growing from 1995 when flower exports amounted to 25,000 tonnes. Mr. Fox added that the industry grew annually at a remarkable 10 percent up to 2008 when it reached 120,000 tonnes and became one of the top forex earners for the economy, contributing 3 percent to GDP and 9 percent of Kenya’s exports. Equally importantly the industry has created more than 50,000 jobs in direct employment and many more in support industries and services.

This remarkable achievement has been achieved through the benefits of our all round climate, the hard work and skill of our employees, and an enabling and favourable business environment pursued by Government that allowed the private sector to do what it does best.

From 2008 to date, growth has continued but at a more modest 2 percent and for 2015.

The horticulture sector stands to lose about Sh4 billion monthly if a key trade deal with the European Union is not signed by October 1. Regional countries that make up the East African Community (EAC) are supposed to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) jointly. The agreement gives the region’s products duty-free export access to European markets. For the EPAs to be valid, the entire region needed to agree to them, but special concessions would remain in place for least developing countries.

Kenya, therefore, stands to lose the most if export subsidies are withdrawn. However, Tanzania and Uganda have been dragging their feet in reaching the deal.

Kenya Flower Council (KFC) Chairman Richard Fox said failure by Kenya to sign the EPA will subject it to export duty of between 8 per cent and 12 per cent, which will amount to 3 million pounds per month (Sh4 billion).

Kenya is the only country in the EAC considered a developing country, while its neighbours are still ranked as least developed countries (LDC), thus allowing them duty free market access. The LDC countries are not required to sign EPAs since their preferences will continue under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme.