Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Science Drives Horticulture's Progress
and Profit
Geoffrey R. Dixon, Ian J. Warrington, R. Drew and G. Buck-Sorlin
Abstract
Horticultural science linked with basic studies in biology, chemistry,
physics and engineering has laid the foundation for advances in applied knowl-
edge which are at the heart of commercial, environmental and social horticulture.
In few disciplines is science more rapidly translated into applicable technologies
than in the huge range of man's activities embraced within horticulture which are
discussed in this Trilogy. This chapter surveys the origins of horticultural science
developing as an integral part of the sixteenth century “Scientific Revolution”. It
identifies early discoveries during the latter part of the nineteenth and early twenti-
eth centuries which rationalized the control of plant growth, flowering and fruiting
and the media in which crops could be cultivated. The products of these discoveries
formed the basis on which huge current industries of worldwide significance are
founded in fruit, vegetable and ornamental production. More recent examples of the
application of horticultural science are used in an explanation of how the integra-
tion of plant breeding, crop selection and astute marketing highlighted by the New
Zealand industry have retained and expanded the viability of production which sup-
plies huge volumes of fruit into the world's markets. This is followed by an exami-
nation of science applied to tissue and cell culture as an example of technologies
which have already produced massive industrial applications but hold the prospect
for generating even greater advances in the future. Finally, examples are given of