Ed Stover*, Yolanda Avila, Zhijian T. Li, and Dennis Gray

Additional index words. citrus breeding, disease resistance, tolerance, huanglongbing

Transgenic strategies offer potential solutions for major problems facing Florida citrus. Intragenics, in which all transgene components are from the target species’ gene pool, may alleviate consumer concerns and might also facilitate deregulation, providing growers with consumer-accepted transgenic solutions more quickly. Resistance to antibiotics is typically used as a selectable marker for plant transformation and this project was initiated as a proof of concept to test a plant gene as a visual screenable marker alternative to antibiotic-resistance. Transformation with Vitis MybA1 has been demonstrated to produce purple shoots in grape and was tested as a surrogate for a citrus Myb that might be used as an intragenic plant-pigmentation marker in citrus transformation. ‘Hamlin’ and Carrizo epicotyls segments were exposed to A. tumefaciens EHA105 containing the DAT or DEAT vector with Vitis MybA1 driven by the D35S promoter and neomycin phosphotransferase II (NptII, conferring kanamycin resistance, originally isolated from E. coli), driven by the Nos promoter. Transformation was compared with and without kanamycin (100 mg·L–1 = 0.00083 lb/gal) in the shoot regeneration medium with the DEAT vector. In sum, over 16 separate experiments, more than 1300 explants each of Carrizo and ‘Hamlin’ were treated. In all cases, 6–20 fold more shoots resulted when kanamycin was excluded from the medium, since there was no negative selection against non-transformed shoots, but no shoots with red pigmentation were recovered. When kanamycin was included, 28% of resulting ‘Hamlin’ shoots (6 out of 21) and 57% of Carrizo shoots (321/405) displayed anthocyanins. Phenotypes recovered included plants with blotchy reddish leaves and plants with cupped leaves. Pigmented ‘Hamlin’ shoots were very weak and subsequently died. Several deep red Carrizo transformants resulted with potential as research tools and ornamentals.

Alan W. Hodges* and Thomas J. Stevens

Additional index words. marketing, market channel, value, household survey

Consumption of local foods has developed rapidly over the past 10 years in response to concerns about food safety and quality; however, consumer behavior for purchasing local foods has not been widely studied. In a 2012 survey of 7,500 Florida households, a majority of respondents defined “local” foods as originating within a radius of 100 miles of home or within the state of Florida, while a minority defined it as within my county, city, or town. A majority of respondents purchased local foods at retail grocery stores or farmers’ markets. The total value of all foods purchased annually through local market channels in Florida was estimated at $8.314 billion, averaging $1,114 per household, or 20.1% of total food purchases for at-home consumption. Fruits and vegetables were the most commonly purchased types of local foods. These values are much higher than has been reported previously in the literature, and suggest that local food systems in Florida are better developed than most other areas of the United States. The total economic impacts of local food purchases in Florida, including indirect multiplier effects calculated with a regional economic model, were estimated at 183,625 jobs and $10.47 billion in GDP.

Ania Pinares, Wagner A. Vendrame*, and Alba Myers

Additional index words. jatropha, gene expression, space biology

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) has been identified as a suitable species for biofuel production. However, breeding and genetic improvement programs are necessary. Microgravity is a unique environment for the assessment of genetic variation aiming at genetic improvement. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differential gene expression in in vitro jatropha cultures exposed to microgravity. Specific objectives included the evaluation and ranking of RNA isolation methods according to RNA quality and quantity for microarray analysis. In vitro cultures of two jatropha accessions (Brazil and India) were initiated from cotyledon (CO), leaf (L), and stem (ST) sections. Groups of eight petri dishes containing treatments (accession × explant tissue) were arranged in flight hardware and exposed to microgravity for periods varying from 14 to 111 d. Once returned, cultures were processed for RNA isolation and microarray analysis. Gene expression comparisons were performed between ground and orbit samples for the effects of medium and microgravity exposure time. The Plant Reagent protocol gave the highest mean yield in micrograms of RNA and it was almost 30 times greater than the mean concentration given from RNeasy mini kit protocol. The A260/280 ratio mean for the Plant Reagent protocol was higher than 2.0, which is a ratio generally accepted as “pure” for RNA. For all comparisons performed, between 9 and 522 genes were differentially expressed. Over 20% of those genes were expressed at higher levels by more than 2-fold. Differential gene expression was affected by culture medium, with higher levels of expression observed in orbit. Gene expression was also affected by exposure time to microgravity, with periods of 111 d showing higher expression levels. There were 29 genes with high expression levels that were expressed in at least two comparisons. Those genes showing differential gene expression and their importance are discussed. Differential gene expression in microgravity may assist in future jatropha genetic improvement programs.

Hayk Khachatryan*

Additional index words. purchase decisions, plant benefits, information effects

The effects of plant benefits information on consumer preferences and demand is investigated using data from an Internet survey conducted in the U.S. (N=1151). A number of recent research efforts identified consumer profiles based on socio-demographic measures such as income, education, gender, race, and preferences for product-specific characteristics and attributes such as new colors, scents, and vase life guarantees, to name a few. Further, research literature supports claims that being around plants contributes to concentration, boosts creativity, and accelerates the healing process. Other benefits that were discussed in recent studies include household energy savings through reduced solar radiation effects and potential increase in property values. However, the effects of environmental and economic benefits related information, on consumer preferences and demand for ornamental plants remains less investigated. The present study addresses this research gap by investigating the influence of environmental and economic benefits related information on consumer willingness to purchase more plants. The results showed that environmental benefits related information (relative to economic benefits) has a higher impact on purchase intentions and may offer a greater potential to increase consumers’ likelihood of purchasing more plants in the future.

AlbaMyers, Wagner A. Vendrame*, and AniaPinares 

 Additional index words. Jatropha curcas, micropropagation, space biology

Jatropha is a species identified for biofuel production. Microgravity offers a unique environment for genetic variation studies and in vitro cell cultures are suitable for space-based experiments. The main objective of this study was to compare the in vitro growth of jatropha cell cultures between orbit and ground. The effects of genotype, culture medium, and explant type were evaluated. In vitro cultures were initiated from three jatropha accessions: Brazil, India, and Mexico. Cotyledon, leaf, and stem sections were utilized as explants. A basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was used, modified with either 4.5 μM TDZ (MS1) or 0.75 μM IBA + 3.6 μM 6-BA (MS2). Cultures were maintained in petri dishes, in the dark, at 25 ± 2 °C, arranged in Group Activation Packs (petriGAPs) flight hardware. Control petriGAPs were maintained on the ground. Spaceflight experiments were conducted in the International Space Station for 111 d (STS-133) and in the mid-deck of the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-135) for 14 d. In vitro jatropha cultures showed normal growth in microgravity. The MS1 medium produced structures similar to globular stage somatic embryos, while the MS2 medium produced mostly callus. The genotype had an effect on somatic embryo formation and subsequent shoot regeneration, and cultures from Brazil had the best regeneration capability. Stem sections showed the best capability to form somatic embryos in vitro. Cultures exposed to microgravity showed efficient development of embryogenic cultures. Future efforts should focus on improved root formation and plantlet regeneration.

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John Rife* East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

Additional index words. source identified, localized, food system

This paper provides a survey of organizations, businesses, and initiatives engaged in building capacity for Central Florida’s localized food system by developing regional food hubs. Regional food hubs aggregate food system services like procurement, processing, distribution, warehousing, marketing, and retailing of localized and source-identified food products. The results of the survey show that, while no single entity vertically integrates all of these services, the handful of existing initiatives in Central Florida are nonetheless building noticeable capacity for the region’s source-identified food products.

Henry Mayer1* and Jennifer Rodero, University of Florida, IFAS, Miami Dade County Extension, 18710 SW 288 Street, Homestead, FL 33030 2Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2929, Miami, FL 33131

Additional index words. planting, pruning plants

The city of Miami has one of the highest poverty rates and one of the lowest median incomes among large U.S. cities, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey ( http://www.census.gov/acs/www/). This survey places Miami’s poverty rate at 26.9%, well above the state average of 12.6%, Miami–Dade County’s 18%, and the national average of 13.3%. During 2012, at a request from the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Commercial Urban Horticultural Agent put together 3-h training workshops to teach entry-level employees from the Downtown Enhancement Team (DET) some techniques to plant and maintain trees in downtown Miami. The Miami DDA, in partnership with Camillus House, assists formerly homeless persons to give back to the community and reenter the workforce through employment with the DET. The tree management training programs are an important resource for the DET program. According to the DET supervisors, as a consequence of the workshops the participants are more confident in performing landscape maintenance, planting trees, and planting shrubs. They also take initiative and assist/correct others who have not been trained and show them how to do the planting or pruning. The workshops have also increased the survival rate of the trees and shrubs being planted in the downtown area. Due to the success of the program, these workshops will continue in 2013.

Davie M. Kadyampakeni1*, Kelly T. Morgan, and Arnold W. Schumann

Additional index words. Citrus sinensis, fertigation, open hydroponics

A novel practice called advanced citrus production systems (ACPS) using high tree density, dwarfing rootstocks, and a modified intensively managed open hydroponics system (OHS) were developed to accelerate tree growth and bring young trees into production so growers can break even economically as soon as possible after establishing a grove. Several experiments were conducted to compare the performance of the intensively managed drip and microsprinkler irrigation and fertigation systems with conventional grower practices on the Florida Flatwoods and central Ridge soils. The field studies revealed non-significantly different water uptake of ACPS/OHS compared with current grower practices. However, nutrient accumulation, particularly N, was greater for ACPS/OHS than the grower practices. Overall, the results underscore the importance of using innovative and carefully managed intensive fertigation practices for increasing nutrient and water uptake efficiency while conserving environmental quality and sustaining high citrus yields on Florida’s sandy soils.

Frank D. Scott*, Rebecca S. Ryan, and Haley M. Veilleux, Long & Scott Farms, P.O. Box 1228, Zellwood, FL 32798

Additional index words. community supported agriculture, corn maze

Long & Scott Farms, a 1200-acre vegetable farm in central Florida, celebrated its 50th anniversary in Feb. 2012. Its longevity is due in part to the innovative choices made over the last 10 years to diversify operations from a strictly wholesale producer of Zellwood sweet corn, cabbage, and pickling cucumbers to also include a local foods and agri-tourism oriented marketing strategy. The most successful of these alternative farm concepts is Scott’s Maze Adventures, an annual fall corn maze that has an attendance of nearly 30,000 annually in recent years. A seasonal retail farm market and café have also been established, which is a hub for the consumer supported Produce Club, providing 55 members weekly baskets of freshly harvested local produce. Other additions to the farm operations have been a catch-and-release fishing pond, and holiday and special events that include hayride tours of the farm. The farm also has a web-based presence, www.longandscottfarms.com, and social media Facebook and Twitter, as well as an online monthly newsletter that allows them to market to new audiences.