The following news items are reprinted, with occasional editions, by permission of Green-Mail from Branch-Smith Publications.

U.S. trade agreement with Australia pending
Australian cut flower growers are hoping a free trade agreement signed by the U.S. and Australia will enable them to ship more flowers to American markets. The agreement must be approved by Congress and the Australian Cabinet. The agreement would eliminate the 7.5% tariff levied on some Australian cut flowers. It would also remove duties from more than 99% of American manufacturing exports to Australia and 97% of tariffs on Australian products shipped to the U.S. Australian Flower Export Council reported in 2001 that the U.S. cut flower market was estimated to be worth over $55 million annually. This trade agreement is the first between the U.S. and a developed country since it signed one with Canada in 1988.

shane.holborn@dpi.gld.gov.au     http://flowersqueensland.asn.au

Plant could detect land mines
Scientists at Aresa Biodetection, a biotech company in Copenhagen, Denmark, are developing a genetically engineered plant that could detect land mines. Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress), change from bright green to red when the plant encounters even minute levels of nitrogen dioxide leaking from buried land mines. Plants change color within 3-5 weeks of growth. The plant, a member of the mustard family, has been genetically manipulated so that it doesn't spread beyond its target area. It is naturally self-pollinating and male sterile. The plant also has the potential to detect heavy metals in the soil.

info@aresa.dk     http://www.aresa.dk

Plant disease society highlights rose diseases
American Phytopathological Society is using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to draw attention to rose diseases and the scientists who develop treatments for them. Powdery mildew and blackspot are the two diseases highlighted most in the publicity campaign. The effort also promotes the release of the book "Compendium of Rose Diseases," available at APS PRESS.

http://www.apsnet.org/media/press/04Valentines.asp

Knock Out rose wins new ARS award
American Rose Society made Knock Out the first recipient of its Members' Choice award. ARS created the award to inform people about roses that are beautiful and easy to grow. Knock Out was introduced by Conard-Pyle in 2000 and has been highly touted for its vigor and disease resistance. "It stood out heads above the rest in all parts of the country, including hot and cold climates," ARS president Marilyn Wellan said.

http://www.ars.org

Are Roundup-ready ornamentals in our future?
Cotton and soybean varieties genetically engineered for resistance to glyphosate (Roundup herbicide) have become row-crop industry norms. However, the nursery/landscape industries have been slower to incorporate such technology into turf and ornamentals. This is changing, as Monsanto and Scotts Co. have filed a petition to approve a creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) genetically engineered to resist Roundup damage. If this plant is approved, and becomes accepted by the public, one could only guess that genetically engineered ornamentals would follow. [For more items of interest to our worldwide membership, click on the link below and then on the "Hot Issues" button at the top of the page.]

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2004/01/bentgras_brs.html

PPA names Helleborus Plant of the Year
Perennial Plant Assoc. members selected Helleborus x hybridus as the 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year. Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, N.C., said if he could only grow one perennial in his shade garden, this would be it. Plants reach 15 inches tall by 24 inches wide. Glossy, green leaves are evergreen in most climates. It can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. It has one-inch flowers from late winter through spring that range in color from white to red to deep lavender. Avent said it is one of the most deer-resistant perennials.

More SOD host species found
Researchers in Oregon and the United Kingdom have discovered six new host plants for Phytophthora ramorum, the sudden oak death pathogen. Researchers found infected plants in nursery situations, and in an established public garden. The species are Camellia sasanqua, Pieris formosa x japonica, P. floribunda x japonica, P. japonica, Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum, and Hamamelis virginiana. These plants have been added to the federal SOD quarantine.

Researchers find mosquito biocontrol
University of Florida researchers have discovered a tiny mosquito-killing machine. Macrocyclops albidus is a water insect that feeds on young mosquito larvae. Even if they're not hungry, the insects attack and kill the larvae, said Jorge Rey, UF professor of entomology. "We don't know why they behave this way -- it might be a reflex action or they’re just being mean," he said. Mortality rates of 90% are possible. They are common throughout the world and easy to breed, he said.

jrr@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

Children’s garden trying to find alumni
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is trying to find all alumni who participated in its Children’s Garden program. Alumni are invited to a 90th anniversary celebration Sept. 12. To register: 718.623.7370 or:

http://www.bbg.org/cgi/getgreen/alumni.cgi

Live Internet birdfeeder cam program expands
Wildbirds Unlimited and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology joined forces to expand the Bird FeederCam program that Wildbirds launched in 1996. Viewers can choose from four types of feeders and a small pond to indulge in virtual bird-watching. Cameras are on from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

http://www.wbu.com/feedercam_home.htm

Botanic garden pays fine for orchid importation
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Fla., paid a $5,000 fine for a misdemeanor violation of the Endangered Species Act. The gardens imported a new species of lady slipper (Phragmipedium kovachii), which the establishment had originally helped discover in 2002 in Peru. Maximum punishment for the violation was $100,000 fine and jail time. "We didn't think we were doing anything wrong, but it turned out we did, and we're sorry for that," MSBG chair Barbara Hansen told St. Petersburg Times. Months before charges were filed, MSBG announced it would host the 2nd International Orchid Conservation Congress, May 17-21, with a theme of "The Conservation Balance." Sources: U.S. Dept. of Justice, St. Petersburg Times.

Nitrates linger in soil longer than expected
Researchers in Ames, Iowa, stumbled across the effects of a 30-year-old nitrate research project while preparing for a new one. In 1969, scientists researching effects of nitrates in the soil applied three times the usual amount of fertilizer used for farming for a set period and tracked it for a few years. Current researchers, preparing for a similar experiment, found the 30-year-old nitrate layer 60 feet down, almost reaching the 70-foot-deep water table.

Researchers make Bt bioengineering discovery
While plants bioengineered to express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins have potential as insect-resistant varieties, many fear that extensive use of these plants will lead to insect resistance to the toxins. Cornell University researchers found that breeding two strains of Bt into plants, known as gene pyramiding, delays resistance buildup. Bt is effective against caterpillar pests, and 36 million acres of Bt corn and cotton varieties are already planted worldwide.

USDA postpones revamped hardiness map
USDA's Ag. Research Service is postponing release of a new cold hardiness map to combine data from the 1st edition and a revised draft. The revised draft was based on data collected in recent years, when winter weather was at odds with longer-term data. So some areas of the country in the revised draft map were bumped to another zone. The draft version had been circulated in the industry and may be finding its way to the public. It is not official, and should not be treated as such.

U.S. Customs seizes counterfeit roses
More than 30,000 counterfeit roses were intercepted in Florida by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol before Valentine's Day. The roses were illegally grown and shipped to the U.S. in violation of E.G. Hill Co.'s nationally and internationally protected intellectual property rights. The roses originated in Colombia and Ecuador and were shipped into Miami. E.G. Hill Co. and Hills Floral Group in Richmond, Ind., worked with the Dept. of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the seizure. E.G. Hill Co.'s intellectual property rights are administered by Royalty Administration Int'l. Hill and RAI helped discover and identify the illegal flowers so that a case could be made to Customs. Customs officials said that they will step up their efforts during Easter and Mother's Day.

http://www.whitelawfirm.com/hillsrelease.html

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