Florists’ Crops: Global Trends and Disease Impact

Abstract

The production of cut-flowers, potted flowering plants, and related propagative material is a dynamic, fast-growing, and highly lucrative global industry. In the past, flower production sites were primarily located in or near the major markets – developed countries in North America and Europe. However, because of lower production costs, including labor inputs, more favorable climatic conditions, and the development of efficient transportation methods, there has been a shift in production to exporting countries closer to the equator such as those in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. The direct effects of pathogens on florists’ crops are the extensive losses that can occur in their production and postharvest handling. Furthermore, the dissemination of pathogens and their vectors on cut-flowers and potted flowering plants and propagative material may also damage unrelated crops. Management of pathogens of florists’ crops is very challenging and costly because these crops have an essentially zero pest damage threshold, and because of the increasing demand by the public and government agencies that all of agriculture, including floriculture, should adopt a sustainable approach which minimizes/eliminates its nontarget effects.