Imposing lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected flower cultivation and their trades. Flower plants are very sensitive to the harvesting, and any unexpected delay may cause great loss (~ 50-60%) to the farmers. In 2018-2019, the worth of total production of floriculture products was ~ Rs 571.38 crore. During lockdown, the availability of human laborers and restricted transport has disrupted the supply of flowers to the market. Hence, some alternative options are suggested here for the farmers, for example, conversion of decorative flowers (e.g., anthurium, China aster, globe amaranthus, sweet-william, anemone, sea lavender, etc.) and inflorescence (e.g., Michaelmas daisy, zinnia, statice, ferns, aspidistra, eucalyptus, magnolia, etc.) can also be into value-added products through drying and dehydration technologies. Many dehydration methods such as hot air oven, solar drying, press drying, freeze-drying, embedded drying, glycerine drying, and microwave oven drying polyester drying can be used for flower drying at room temperature (~ 25 °C). These floral and foliage dehydration techniques are quite simple, which can also be operated by unskilled persons. Moreover, it will generate self-employment for the youth and women along with increased revenue than selling fresh flowers. In this review, different techniques of flower drying have been discussed in detail along with the influencing factors, efficiency, economic feasibility, flower waste management and sustainability. Further, it has also been suggested how these techniques could be useful for farmers, researchers, and traders to create value-added products? Hence, the present paper could be very interesting for the flower growers, retailers, students, as well as floricultural scientists who are involved in flower production worldwide. Graphical abstract

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To produce consistent and high-quality specialty cut flowers throughout the year, growers in temperate climates must utilize controlled environment greenhouses. Research-based information on photoperiod management and supplemental lighting for specialty cut flowers is limiting. Therefore, our objectives were (1) to determine the effect of photoperiod during the young-plant and finishing stages on floral initiation and morphology of witchgrass 'Frosted Explosion' ( Panicum capillare ) and marigold 'Xochi' ( Tagetes erecta ) and (2) to quantify the effect of daily light integral (DLI) on floral initiation and morphology of witchgrass during the finishing stage. Seeds of marigold and multi-seed pellets of witchgrass were sown and placed under 9-, 11- (marigold only), 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-, 16-, 18-, or 24-h photoperiods or a 9-h short day with a 4-h night interruption (NI) from 2200 to 0200 h. Plugs were distributed among 10-, 11-, 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-, or 16-h photoperiods or a 4-h NI, for finishing. Witchgrass was finished under a very low or moderate DLI of ≈3 or 10 mol ⋅ m -2⋅ d -1 , respectively, while marigold was finished under a DLI of ≈10 mol ⋅ m -2⋅ d -1 . Marigold grown under a photoperiod ≥ 11 h or a 4-h NI during the young-plant stage and finished under an 11- or 12-h photoperiod had thick stems and consistently met the marketable stem length of ≥ 65 cm. Up to 29% and 107% more stems were harvestable under 11- and 12-h finishing photoperiods, respectively, compared to a 10-h finishing photoperiod. Marigold visible buds were delayed, and stems were not harvestable under photoperiods ≥ 13 h or a 4-h NI after 8 weeks. Young witchgrass plants grown under a photoperiod between 14- and 24-h or a 4-h NI and finished under photoperiods ≥ 14 h or a 4-h NI, and at least a moderate DLI, were reliably harvestable (≥ 50 cm long with a fully developed panicle). Witchgrass finished under day lengths ⋅ m -2⋅ d -1 for consistent production of high-quality stems.

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Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) is native to South America but has expanded its range and invaded many regions of the world, primarily on flowers and to a lesser extent on horticultural product shipments. As a result of initial invasion into an area, damage caused is usually significant but not necessarily sustained. Currently, it is an economic pest in selected native and invaded regions of the world. Adults cause damage by puncturing abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces for feeding and egg laying sites. Larvae mine the leaf parenchyma tissues which can lead to leaves drying and wilting. We have recorded 365 host plant species from 49 families and more than 106 parasitoid species. In a subset of the Argentinian data, we found that parasitoid community composition attacking L. huidobrensis differs significantly in cultivated and uncultivated plants. No such effect was found at the world level, probably due to differences in collection methods in the different references. We review the existing knowledge as a means of setting the context for new and unpublished data. The main objective is to provide an update of widely dispersed and until now unpublished data, evaluate dispersion of the leafminer and management strategies in different regions of the world, and highlight the need to consider the possible effects of climate change on further regional invasions or expansions.

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Background Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (Kali musli; Family: Hypoxidaceae) is an endangered medicinal plant used for many medicinal purposes such as impotency, aphrodisiac, tonic, jaundice, and skin ailments. Its hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-cancerous potential have also been evaluated by many scientists. Objective The objective of this study is to enhance the curculigoside content in tissue culture of C. orchioides. Materials and methods The present study deals with the enhancement of an active compound of C. orchioides by incorporating various concentration of phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine, (20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/100 ml), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ppm) into Zenk media in controlled and aseptic conditions. Results Plant secondary metabolites are unique sources for pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavors, and industrially important biochemicals. Accumulation of such metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. A significantly remarkable enhancement in all induced samples was noted. Curculigoside content was maximum in the 6-week-old tissue induced with 3 ppm of Cr (7.63%) followed by 4 weeks tissue of tissue fed with 4 ppm of Ni (5.66%) and 4-week-old tissue fed with tyrosine 7.5 mg/100 ml (2.38%) among all samples used. These results suggest that tyrosine is better enhancer than Phe in the biosynthetic pathway of curculigoside. The presence of curculigoside in all extracts was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance thin layer chromatography analysis with standard compound of curculigoside and histology of treated samples. Conclusion This investigation was carried out for the 1(st) time, and it is a significant step in understanding the biochemistry of curculigoside. The developed protocol will be beneficial for marketing in pharmaceutical industries. Summary Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (Kali musli; Family: Hypoxidaceae) is an endangered medicinal plant used for many medicinal purposes such as impotency, aphrodisiac, tonic, jaundice, and skin ailments.It was observed that dry matter % was maximum in 6-week-old tissue fed with 2.5 mg/100 ml of tyrosine and diminished beyond this concentration among all samples usedThe nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) stress has enhanced the curculigoside in considerable amount in nontoxic range, in tissue culture of C. orchioides.Curculigoside content was maximum in 6-week-old tissue induced with 3 ppm of Cr (7.63%; 11-fold enhancement) followed by 4 weeks tissue of tissue fed with 4 ppm of Ni (5.66%) and 4-week-old tissue fed with tyrosine 7.5 mg/100 ml (2.38%) among all samples used. Histological studies confirmed the enhanced production of curculigoside. Abbreviations Used: Phe: Phenylalanine, PAL: Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, mM: mille Molar, Cr: Chromium, Ni: Nickel, HPTLC: High-performance thin layer chromatography.

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Cut flower production of 2 Australian native daisies, Helipterum roseum and Helichrysum bracteatum, was investigated in the glasshouse and outdoors at 4 planting times. Both species exhibited a long day response with floral initiation occurring in any photoperiod but with peak production following longer days. Peaks in bloom production occurred during the spring and summer regardless of planting time. Floral abnormalities were observed in Helipterum roseum in all environments and planting times with the exception of the outdoor winter planting. There was a tendency for inflorescence diameter of both species and stem length of Helipterum roseum to decline with time from anthesis of the apical inflorescence. Optimum production of top quality blooms of Helipterum roseum extended from October to January following planting between autumn and spring. Peak production of Helichrysum bracteatum between December and March can be expected following planting during winter and spring. It may be possible to extend these seasons by weekly planting from autumn to spring. In addition, the imposition of extended photoperiod or night break treatments following summer or autumn planting may fulfil the photoperiod requirements of the plants and stimulate increased production between March and November. It is proposed that both species be considered for the fresh cut flower market, with Helipterum roseum marketed as single stems and Helichrysum bracteatum as sprays.

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