Horticultural Reviews, Volume 40

Jules Janick is the James Troop Distinguished Professor of Horticulture at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, USA.

• Contributors ixDedication: John Reuben Clark xiiiChad E. Finn1. Postharvest Biology and Technology of Cut Flowers and Potted Plants 1Michael S. Reid and Cai-Zhong JiangI. Introduction 3II. The Ornamental Industry 4III. Factors Affecting the Postharvest Life of Ornamentals 5IV. Biology of Flower Senescence 29V. Transgenic Strategies for Extending Floral Life 36VI. Future Prospects 42Literature Cited 442. Water Relations of Cut Flowers: An Update 55Wouter G. van DoornI. Introduction 57II. Water Supply to Flowers 57III. Water Loss: Influence of Stomata 58IV. Water Uptake: Xylem Blockage 63V. Small and Coalescing Air Bubbles Form in Cut Stems, in the Absence of Cavitation 88VI. Water Flow Rate in the Xylem as Affected by Ions in the Water 89VII. Use of An Artificial Tap Water as a Standard Vase Solution? 90VIII. Water Stress and Ethylene 93IX. Conclusions 96Acknowledgments 97Literature Cited 973. Factors Involved in Fruit Calcium Deficiency Disorders 107Sergio Tonetto de Freitas and Elizabeth J. MitchamI. Introduction 109II. Physiology of Calcium Deficiency in Fruit Tissue 109III. Calcium Translocation at the Whole Plant Level 111IV. Calcium at the Fruit Level 116V. Calcium at the Cellular Level 118VI. Role of Abiotic Stress in Calcium Deficiency Disorders 125VII. Role of Growth Regulators in Calcium Deficiency Disorders 127VIII. Proposed Mechanisms Controlling Fruit Susceptibility to Calcium Deficiency Disorders 135Literature Cited 1374. Rhubarb: Botany, Horticulture, and Genetic Resources 147Danny L. Barney and Kim E. HummerI. Introduction 148II. Historical 149III. Botany 156IV. Horticulture 164V. World Genetic Resources 170VI. The Future 178Acknowledgments 178Literature Cited 179Manuscripts 1825. Ancient Dates and their Potential Use in Breeding 183Shimshon Ben-Yehoshua and Liat Josefsberg Ben-YehoshuaI. Introduction 184II. Dates and Health 189III. Historical Review 190IV. Remnants of Dates and Their Potential Uses 203V. Conclusions 210Acknowledgments 210Literature Cited 2106. The Cucurbits and Nightshades of Renaissance England: John Gerard and William Shakespeare 215Jules Janick, Harry S. Paris, and Marie-Christine DaunayI. Introduction 216II. John Gerard 217III. William Shakespeare 246IV. The Connection Between Gerard and Shakespeare 251V. Conclusion 252Literature Cited 2557. Greenhouse Cover Technology 259Johannes F. J. Max, Ulrich Schurr, Hans-Jürgen Tantau, Urbanus N. Mutwiwa, Thomas Hofmann, and Andreas UlbrichI. Introduction 263II. Greenhouse Superstructures 267III. Materials Used for Covering Greenhouses 286IV. Material Combinations 346V. Plant Response to Greenhouse Covers 350VI. Comparison and Economic Assessment 368VII. Conclusions and Prospects 378Acknowledgments 381Literature Cited 381Subject Index 397Cumulative Subject Index 399Cumulative Contributor Index 427