Floriculture research in Pernambuco-Brazil.

Pernambuco, a state at the Northeast region of Brazil, produces tropical climate flowers (Heliconiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Costaceae, Araceae) at coastal land, as well as temperate climate flowers (Rosa × grandiflora, Gladiolus grandiflorus, Dendrathema grandiflorum, Solidago canadensis, Gypsophila sp., Gerbera jamesonii) at uplands. The blooming season, colors, flower size and quality are some of the advantages on growing these crops on these regions. The flower agribusiness in Pernambuco is organized into associations and has been increasing during the past 10 years, due to private and governmental investments. The SEBRAE – PE is supporting promotional material, capacitating producers and also surveying international markets. Institutions such as CNPq, Banco do Nordeste ETENE – FUNDECI and FACEPE are investing on research and developing inter-institutional projects focused on production and quality of cut flowers. The Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco is responsible for some of these projects and is conducting experiments on plant propagation (tissue culture, growth-promotion, rhizome propagation), floral development, molecular markers and plant diseases. With these strategies Pernambuco looks forward to become more competitive in the floriculture sector and an exponent of flower exportation. This work describes aspects of the floriculture segment and characterizes some of the flower species cultivated in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. INTRODUCTION Pernambuco, a state at the Northeastern Brazil, produces tropical flowers in the rainforest zone and temperate climate flowers at the highlands. The blooming season, colors, flower size and quality are some of the advantages on growing these crops in these regions. The flower agribusiness here is organized into associations and has been increasing during the past 10 years. Governmental and private institutions are investing on research and developing inter-institutional projects focused on production and quality of cut flowers. The Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE) is responsible for many of these projects. With these strategies Pernambuco looks forward to become more competitive in the floriculture sector and an exponent of flower exportation. This work describes aspects of the floriculture segment in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Flower Agribusiness There are 71 producers of tropical flowers in Pernambuco state, with a total area of 114 hectares. Of the eight Zingiberales families, five are grown as cut flowers (Table 1). Species of Araceae and Orquidaceae are also produced (Table 1). Aiming to export flowers, trade missions and market prospecting were conducted on the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Argentina and the United States, with export operations actually conducted to United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany and Netherlands. The SEBRAE – PE is supporting promotional material, capacitating producers and also surveying international markets. 345 Proc. V IS on New Flor. Crops Eds.: A.F. C. Tombolato and G.M. Dias-Tagliacozzo Acta Hort. 683, ISHS 2005 Pernambuco state cool climate flower production begun in the 1960s, in the higher altitude area of Garanhuns. After an increase in flower consumption in Recife, and a concomitant increase in the number of producers, production areas moved to Gravata and Caruaru, with a faster development. The species initially most important was Gladiolus grandiflorus, with Italian bulbs multiplied by the farmers themselves. Since then the need to diversify and expand the market was felt, with several species being introduced, such as: Rosa x grandiflora, Dendranthena grandiflorum, Callistephus chinensis, Polianthes tuberosa, Gypsophila elegans, Solidago canadensis, Gerbera jamesonii; and leaves of Nephrolepsis spp. , Asparagus spp. and Murraya exotica. Now, the market increases with more varieties and longer post-harvest lives. Farmers are increasing technology usage, and those that did not make investments in infrastructure and technology are closing businesses. Government and organisations such as SEBRAE, APEX, IBRAFLOR, Agriculture Ministry and Pernambuco State Government are helping to improve the production system. Although flower farming is conducted by a highly heterogeneous group, a strong production and business centre were established, responsible for flower distribution on several cities of Brazil. Both for tropical and cool climate flowers, the main obstacles to commercialisation have been predatory business practices, market sizes and shares, the differences among state tribute systems, the high cost of air transport, marketing costs and development and cost of appropriate packaging. Even with all these constraints, farmers continue to advance and some of the barriers are being removed. The main goal now is to enhance product quality, organise farmers and increase flower exports. Research Projects Institutions such as Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Banco do Nordeste ETENE – FUNDECI and Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa Agropecuaria de Pernambuco (FACEPE) are investing on research and development of inter-institutional projects focused on production and quality of cut flowers. UFRPE is conducting experiments on plant propagation (tissue culture, rhizome propagation, pot plant media), floral development, post-harvest, molecular markers and plant diseases. 1. Tissue Culture, Growth-promotion and Rhizome Propagation. The Tissue Culture Laboratory develops research and propagation of tropical and cool climate flowers, mainly on heliconias, orchids e Anthurium. Work has been conducted adjusting propagation for heliconias. To adjust the protocols different kinds of explants have been used, including rhizomes, embryos, flower buds and ovaries. Rhizomes frequently have endophytic bacteria that commonly develop and inhibit explant growth (Atehortua et al., 1999). To avoid this problem anti-bacterial agents such as essential oils and their components have been studied, as well as antibiotics. Heliconia psittacorum multiplication protocol was adjusted using MS nutritive medium with the addition of 200 mg L of sodium cefotaxima for the first 30 days of inoculation (Santos, 2000). Embryos of H. latispatha, H. bihai and H. rostrata, especially those collected when mature, develop very well on MS culture medium and their multiplication is done on this medium added of 2.5 mg L 6-benzilaminopurina (BAP). Immature embryos develop well when 2.5 mg L of cinetina (KIN) are added, and during multiplication BAP is used as described above. Flower buds, even after sodium hypo chlorite (2.5%) is used for disinfestations have had high necrosis rates. H. chartaceae and H. bihai ovaries have been used for callus formation for somatic embryogenesis (Silva et al., 2002). In vitro orchid seed germination has been obtained with genera as Encyclia, Cattleya and Gongora. Propagation of Gongora quinquenervis (Martini et al., 2001), differently from Encyclia spp. and Cattleya spp. , is more efficient without the addition of BAP to culture media. This research’s goal is to supply the orchid growing market, as well as ecological studies aiming to reintroduce species now in risk of extinction in environment protection areas of the Atlantic Forest.