The number of crops grown in Norway is, however, very limited. The northern border for many of the most important horti-cultural crops lies somewhere in southern Norway. This is the case for top fruits like apple, pears, plums and cherries.
Small fruits, like red and black currants, are, on the other hand, grown successfully in the north and strawberry production has gained importance both in the south and in the north. In the north, harvesting the wild cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is in some areas and important source of income. Attempts are being made to increase yield by means of plant improvement and bog cultivation. Elsewhere, lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and the small, blue whineberry (V. myrtillus L.), called blåbær (blueberry) in Norway, is harvested in large quantities.
Vegetables, primarely cabbage, swede, carrot and caubles, primarely cabbage, swede, carrot and cauliflower, are grown commercially even in the northern part of Norway. However, both in the north and in the south, raising the plants under protection and the use of plastic covers for early production is common practice and often a prerequisite.
Greenhouse crop production constitutes a major part of commercial horticulture in Norway. The total greenhouse area is close to 200 hectars. Tomato, cucumber and lettuce production occupies about one half of the area. The rest is mainly used for the production of pot plants, bedding plants and cut flowers. Pot plant production has increased markedly in later years mainly due to increased winter production based on extensive use of high intensity supplementary irradiation. On the other hand, the production of some cut flowers, especially of carnations, has declined sharply. The cut rose production has, however, increased markedly in later years, again due to use of supplementary irradiation in the winter months.
The monetary value of the greenhouse ornamental plant production is relatively high and amounts to about 60 % of the total income of horticultural production in Norway. However, the horticultural industry, which traditionally has benefited from relatively restrictive import regulations, is now faced with a more liberal import of horticultural products as a consequence of new trade agreements. The industry is, therefore, in a process of adindustry is, therefore, in a process of adjustment, attempting to find areas in which Norwegian products may be competitive.
According to recent data from the Norwegian Bureau of Statistics and other official sources, the acreage of horticultural crops in Norway were as follows:
Top fruit and small fruit, acreage in hectars, yield in tons
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
1989
|
1995
|
1989
|
1995
|
| Apples |
2258
|
2121
|
26,360
|
22,595
|
| Pears, plums, cherries |
1009
|
937
|
5,149
|
4,885
|
| Black currant, raspberries |
466
|
475
|
2,922 | |
| Black currant, raspberries |
466
|
475
|
2,922
|
3,223
|
| Strawberries |
1377
|
1839
|
10,854
|
15,473
|
|
|
|||
| Tomatoes |
34
|
||
| Cucumber (salad) |
24
|
||
| Lettuce |
8
|
||
|
|
|||
| Carrots |
1204
|
||
| Peas (mainly for canning) |
832
|
||
| Celery |
750
|
||
| Head cabbage |
744
|
||
| Cauliflower |
658
|
||
| Onions |
500
|
||
| Swede |
499
| TR>
Cauliflower |
658
|
| Onions |
500
|
||
| Swede |
499
|
||
| Chinese cabbage |
325
|
||
| Cucumbers, red beets, beans, leek, br. sprouts |
538
|
||
| Greenhouse Number of plants produced | |
| Flowering potted plants | 34 million |
| Foliage plants | 7 million |
| Bedding plants | 25 million |
| Acreage of cut flowers, protected and field production | 35 hectars |
| Acreage in the production of perennials and woody ornamentals | about 310 hectars |
Medicinal and aromatic plants are grown on a small scale, but attempts are being made to create interest in this production. Trials in different parts of the country with a number of species have given promising results.
There is a growing interest in maintaining horticultural production in Norway. It is, however, realized that the Norwegian products should be of high quality in order to compete with imported products. Much of the research efforts are, therefore, concerned with quality problems. Due to a cooler climate, less chemical pesed products. Much of the research efforts are, therefore, concerned with quality problems. Due to a cooler climate, less chemical pest control is required in Norway than in countries further south.
Also in Norway there is a growing feeling that crops should be produced
with lesser use of pesticides and commercial fertilizers than traditionally.
The environmental aspect of plant production is very much in focus both
in practice and research. Research in integrated pest control is given
high priority. In addition, the government supports the development of
"ecological" growing methods and research related to the prevention of
environmental pollution in agriculture. .
The department defines the object of the research as follows: To improve the plant material, to develop more efficient, economic, and sustainable methods of production, and to improve product quality, partly by plant improvement, and partly by improving storage, handling and marketing methods.
The department maintains a close relationship with the horticultural industry as a whole, and the research projects are to large extent based on needs expressed by the horticultural industry.
According to the report for 1996 some of the current problems under investigation were in short:
Section fruit and vegetables
To study factors affecting bud set and bud development in fruit trees,
to establish highbush blueberry as a crop in Norway, cultivar trials, growing
methods, postharvest problems etc., to improve storage methods for fruit,
berries, and vegetables by means of CA technique and proper handling of
the products, to develop drying techniques to improve the quality of fruit
and berries for use in breakfast cereals etc., to develop growing methods
to reduce the incidence of tipburn in chinese cabbage, including proper
timing of Ca-application, to find meassures of prolonging dormancy and
to predict storage ability of garden onions, and to obtain increased yield
and impen onions, and to obtain increased yield
and improved storage ability in open air vegetable production without increased
use of resources.
Section Floriculture and Environmental Horticulture
To study the influence of climatic factors (light, light quality, daylength,
temperature (including day/night temperature alterations) on growth, morphogenesis,
flowering, and on keepability of cut flowers and potted plants, to study
the effect of temperature alterations on gibberellin metabolism in plants,
to construct mathematical models for growth and plant development to be
used to optimize the growing conditions in pot plant production, to study
the effect of indoor plantings on health and wellbeing of office employees,
to study microbial activity in peat used as growing medium, to test the
ability of woody ornamentals to withstand environmental stress in urban
situations, particularly that caused by road salting for deicing purposes,
to study factors affecting establishment and maintenance of urban plantings,
and to select plant material, including turf grass, suitable to the climatic
conditions in Norway.
Section Plant Breeding and Applied Biotechnology
To develop cultivars within top and small fruit that combine high fruit
quality with disease resistance, to develop methods of in vitro propagation
of both herbaceous and woody plants, to study the effect of light and light
quality on growth of plants in cell aight
quality on growth of plants in cell and tissue cultures, to study, by means
of bioreactors, factors affecting the production and development of somatic
embryos, to produce doubled haploids by means of gametic embryogenesis
for obtaining pure lines in plant breeding, to improve the keepability
of plants by introducing genes affecting endogenous ethylene synthesis.
For the horticultural sector of the department, the total expenditure in 1995 was about NKR 18 520 000, corresponding
to 2 600 000 US dollars at the present exchange rate. About 65 % was spent on salaries for scientific and technical personnel. Of the 35 %, which is the cost of running the projects, about 2/3 was covered by external sources. The personnel engaged in research and teaching consisted in 1996 of 7 full professors, 12 assistant professors and postgradprofessors, 12 assistant professors and postgraduate researchers, 6 stipendiats (PhD students engaged in projects), and 28 technicians.
Relatively large fields are available for experimental work. In addition
newly constructed greenhouse compartments, some fully air conditioned (phytotrons),
and a series of air conditioned growth rooms and growth chambers are available
for research purposes, together with laboratories for in vitro studies
(containing a series of bioreactors, and facilities for cell and tissue
studies), and, finally, laboratories and storage facilities for post harvest
research.
The Plant Protection Centre constitutes the largest unit within the organization. The centre carries out research within all the major fields of plant protection: Plant pathology (including virology, bacteriology, mycology, resistance biology, and biotechnology), entomology, nematotology, weed control (including weed biology), and within biological effects of pesticide residues. In addition the centre has a unit for prognosis (disease forecasts), and a pestcide laboratory especially equipped for analyzing pesticide residues.
The centre employs about 25 researchers, including graduate students in plant protection. It is located on the campus of the Agricultural University and the two institutions cooperate closely in the teaching of plant protection both at under-graduate and graduate level.
The research at the centre is to a large extent aimed at developing control meassueres for pests, diseases and weeds which are more acceptable from an environmental point of view than traditional control meassures. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a major research strategy. This involves the detection of organisms which might substitute for chemical control of disease organisms. IPM managementl control of disease organisms. IPM management has so far been particularly successful in orchards and in greenhouse vegetable and ornamental plant production.
The regional research centres. The activities at the various centres of the Crop Research Institute consist of 8 major fields of research. Those related to horticulture are research in (1) Vegetables (both greenhouse and field) and potatoes, (2) Fruit and berries, and (3) Greenhouse ornamentals (cut flowers and potted plants) and outdoor ornamentals.
The organization defines its main task to develop methods of production which enhance product quality, are competitive and provide basis for a sustainable and an environmentally acceptable agricultural production. Integrated production methods have become an important area for research, and will be even more focused on in the future.
Current research activities are as follows:
Research in crops under protected cultivation is carried out at two of the centres. A main object is to develop methods for year round production of ornamentals based on high intensity supplementary irradiation. In addition, studies are conducted concerning the effect of climatic factors on plant growth and development as basis for defining optimal growing conditions for greenhouse crops. Recently the production of strawberries under protection has received interest and will be subject for intensified research.
Research in ect for intensified research.
Research in vegetables is to a large extent centered around factors which may improve product quality, the development of new products which may present alternatives to traditional products, and the development of methods for integrated production. A major project has recently been to introduce medicinal and aromatic plants as alternative crops in Norway. The development of ecological production methods has become a major part of the vegetable research performed by the institute. The development of fertilization practices with lees environmental implications, is part of this program.
The object of the research in top and small fruit is to develop a sustainable and environmentally sound production which will enhance product quality, productivity, employment and economy in this sector of the horticultural industry. Priority is given to the development of new growing techniques, which implies trials involving intensive planting systems, various treeforms, rootstocks etc. In cherries a special problem is to prevent rain damage. In apples emphasis is placed on methods for extending the marketing period. In pears, which at present are grown to only a small extent in Norway, attempts are being made to find better suited cultivars as basis for increased production.
In small fruits increasing attention is given to the production of healthy
(certified) plant material, to integrated methods of d) plant material, to integrated methods of production, to methods
for preventing winter injuries, and to marketing of berries outside the
ordinary season by means of protected cultivation. Trials have been inititated
in order to study the possibility of highbush blueberry production in Norway.
The fruit sector takes part in the European network for the improvement
and evaluation of rootstocks and interstocks for pome and stone fruit.
The total expenditure for activities within horticulture and plant protection at the institute was in 1996 about NKR 50 million, corresponding to 7 million US dollars. One half of this constitutes the budget for the Plant Protection Centre.
Persons engaged in horticultural and plant protection research are 223, of which about 150 are in scientific positions, the rest being technical and administrativ personnel.
Two of the centres are well equipped with greenhouse facilities and
play a major role in research concerning plant production in controlled
environment. One of the centres, located in an area in which fruit growing
plays a large role, is specialized in research concerning top and smle, is specialized in research concerning top and small
fruit production. All the six centres posess relatively large areas for
field experiments and most of them take part in research concerning vegetable
production.
The organization has, further, a close cooperation with a national organization
consisting of a number of local groups of farmers and growers who support
local experiments and investigation as basis for the local extension service.
The work is mainly financed by membership dues. However, the groups may
obtain state support to hire agricultural graduates to conduct this work.
The person thus engaged may play an important role in the local advisory
service. At preseent some 25 such groups are partly and a few fully concerned
with horticultural crops. The experiments carried out, are often part of
the experimental program of the local centres of the Agricultural Research
Institute.
Plant growth and development. While horticultural researcnt growth and development. While horticultural research in Norway originally dealt primarely with fruit and vegetables, research in ornamental plants under protection (greenhouse production) gained rapidly importance after the last war. Greenhouses, partly fully air conditioned (phytotrons) and growth rooms were built at the Agricultural University (Department of Floriculture) and extensive studies were carried out concerning the influence of climatic factors, especially temperature, light and daylength, and of CO2 on growth and flowering of greenhouse plants, both vegetables and ornamentals. The object was to provide the growers with programs for crop production which might increase productivity and product quality. This type of work led to the more fundamental studies of environmental effects on plant growth and development which characterizes the present type of research at the section for ornamentals at the university.
New facilities for research concerning environmental effects on plant growth have recently been completed. They comprise, in addition to air conditioned grenhouse compartment and grwoth rooms, laboratories for in vitro studies and for post harvest research.
Winter production of greenhouse ornamentals. Due to the long and dark winter in the north, the possibility of extending the growing season with supplementary irradiation has received special attention. It has been demonstrated that comtention. It has been demonstrated that competitive and economically sound winter production of both potted plants and cut flowers may be obtained by high intensity irradition. This has led to a marked increase in winter production of greenhouse ornamentals in Norway.
Thermomorphogenesis. Studies on environmental effects on plant growth led to specific studies concerning the effect of night temperature relative to that of the day temperature on plant growth and development. The observation that the difference between day and night temperature especially affects stem elongation, has provided the growers with a tool, other than growth retardants, to control plant height. The DIF concept (the difference between day and night temperature) plays an important role in the production of potted plants. It has, further, led to studies to reveal the mechanism involved, especially to investigation of how temperature alterations affect gibberellin metabolism. The study of thermo-morphogenesis, has become the subject of cooperation between researchers from several countries.
Indoor plantings, effects on human health. Results of experiments involving a number of persons employed in a modern office building have clearly demonstrated that the presence of plants in the office markedly affects the health and wellbeing of the employees. The score with respect to wellbeing was significantly higher, and to the incidence of skin and thrgher, and to the incidence of skin and throat irritations significantly lower, after a period with plants in the office than after a period without. This study, which used methods commonly used in medicinal research, seems to be the first to demonstrate effects of this kind. The results have created large interest and will undoubtedly inititate further research in this field.
Urban horticulture. A project concerning the effect of road salting (for de-icing), on soil, water and vegetation has shown that harm done to the vegetation is caused both by spurts from the road and by uptake from the soil and that uptake takes place at a relatively long distance from the road. Plants differ with respect to uptake. Pine trees show less damage than spruce, apparently because spruce trees absorb more sodium than pine trees.
Attempts are being made to breed and select out door ornamentals especially suited for the Norwegian climate. In 1996 a new cultivar of Lonicera imvolucrata was officially approved. In addition large efforts are made to find local strains suited for landscape plantings. Thus a large collection of wild sweet cherries and Sorbus is being tested in order to select clones for Norwegian conditions.
Post harvest research. Since quality has become such an important aspect, research concerning storage and handling of horticultural products has received particular attention. Studies on CA storagved particular attention. Studies on CA storage is carried out both with fruit and vegetables. In Chinese cabbage, which has become an important crop in Norway, oomycetes present a problem. However, the composition of the storage atmosphere does not seem to influences the growth of the organims involved.
In fruit (apples) and berries (strawberry) attempts are being made to improve the quality of dried products to be used in the food industry. A drying procedure has been developed which markedly improves the quality of dried fruit to be used in breakfast cereals. The promising results have received considerable attentiom in the industry.
In ornamental plants, studies are carried out to determine the effect of the growing condition on keeping quality. Early desiccation and wilting of leaves is a serious problem in certain rose cultivars. The effect of both nutritional and climatic factors is the subject of present investigations.
Breeding of fruit and berries, cultivar trials. In 1996, promising new cultivars in strawberries, raspberries, black currant, and apples (one scab resistant) were released for certified propagation and further testing. Cultivar trials in top fruit and small fruit is an important part of the fruit research both at the university and the agricultural research institute.
Fruit growing. At the Institute for Agricultural Research special attention has recently been given to the dial attention has recently been given to the development of competitive production in Norway of sweet cherries and plums. This implies development of "intensive" planting systems and to find meassures to protect the crops against rain in the critical stage, and to combat disease problems. Cracking in cherries is a problem. High quality cherries have proved to be a potential export product. In apples, studies have begun to enlarge the marketing season and in stone fruit new efforts are being made to develop new growing techniques and proper methods for handling of products both during the growing period and the marketing period. To obtain a good quality and maintain it during marketing, is a prime object in stone fruit research.
Vegetable growing. The Crop Research Institute is engaged in an international project: " Nitrogen cycling and crop N fertilizer requirements for intensively grown crops". A model for N fertilization is being developed in cooperation with Horticultural Research International, Wellesbourne, UK. In addition, a program has been initiated to develop methods for disease control and the prevention of damage in the production and marketing of carrots and garden onions, and a program to develop new growing techniques in Chinese cabbage, garden asparagus and potatoes.
Medicinal and aromatic crops. A program for developing commercial production of plants for medicinal purposes has been carried ou in coopernal purposes has been carried ou in cooperation with the Pharmaceutical Institute, Oslo University, and Norwegian products are no on the market. The quality seems to be superior to that of imported products and the demand is increasing rapidly.
At the same time the production of spices and essential oils has recently been initiated and the products are well received by the food industry.
Biotechnology, the regulation of embryogenesis. Brassica oleracea is the subject of studies concerning the use of microspore culture for producing new genotypes. An important finding is that the genotypes differ in their requirement for heat treatment the first 48 hours and that the microspores are the most embryogenetic when harvested at the beginning of the flowering period. A method which implies drying and ABA treatment of the embryo has been developed. This has removed the problem of obtaining germiation of embryos from microspores in this plant. Expression of the GUS gene in microspores of Brassica oleracea has been obtained by transfer by means of Agrobacterium.
When growing Cyclamen microspores in bioreactors, marked effect of light quality has been observed. The most important findings are that red light enhances cell division, and that blue light improves embryo development. So does also a high CO2 level.
In Begonia x cheimantha (Christmas begonia) it was observed that plantI>(Christmas begonia) it was observed that plants produced by means of bioreactor did not differ in their behaviour, indicating that mass production by means of bioreactors may be used for this plant.
Attempts are being made to improve the keeping quality in plants by introducing genes affecting endogenous ethylene synthesis. Working with Christmas begonia (Begonia x cheimantha) plants have been obtained that keep 2-3 weeks longer than ordinary plants. This is almost the same as that obtained by STS (silver thiosulphate) treatment.
Agroecology. Both at the Agricultural University and at the Norwegian
Institute for Agricultural Research the development of growing systems
and the introduction of meassures to protect the environment and to reduce
the use of chemicals in plant production is receiving growing attention.
Research related to "ecological" crop production does also receive an increasing
amount of support from the government.
2. Horticultural research is mainly carried out at the following two institutions:
A. The Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences at the Agricultural University of Norway.
B. The Norwegian Crop Research Institute.
A. The horticulture part of the department has a staff of 7 professors, some 12 assistant professors and postgradutae researchers, some 5-6 stipendiats (PhD students) in horticulture and about 28 technicians. Teaching and research is carried out in the following fields:
Fruit and vegetable production
Floriculture and environmental horticulture
Plant breeding and applied biotecnology
In 1995 - 96 the total expenditure on horticultural teaching and research was 2,7 million dollars, which means 60 % of the total expenditure at the department. A major part, 1,9 million dollars, was salaries.
Research in fruit and vegetables is mainly concerned with breeding, cultural problems and postharvest physiology with emphasis on CA storage. In floriculture and environmental horticulture emphasis is placed on the study of environmental factors on growth and development of greenhouse crops, especially that of day/temperature alterations on shoot growth and gibberellin metabolism. Further, emphasis is placed on selection of plants for urban situations, and to study factors affecting the establishment of outdoor orno study factors affecting the establishment of outdoor ornamentals. In applied biotechnology, the objects is to develop methods for in vitro propagation, to develop methods for producing and studying somatic embryos in bioreactors, and to produce doubled haploids by means of gametic embryogenesis.
B. The Crop Research Institute comprises a network of six regional agricultural experiment stations, or centres, one of which is the former State Plant Protection Institute located on the campus of the Agricultural University. This calls for a close cooperation in research and teaching in plant protection between the two organizations.
The staff occupied with horticultural research and with research in plant protection in horticultural crops, consists of 88 perosn in scientific positions, 22 technicians and 21 administrativ personnel. The plant protection centre, which is the largest of the six centresd, employs about 25 persons in scientific positions.
In 1995-96 the total expenditure on horticultural research amounted to about 7,3 million US dollars. About 5,1 million dollars was spent on salaries.
The plant protection centre carries out research within all the major fields of plant protection. Emphasis is increasingly placed on developing methods to control pests an diseases which are environmentally more acceptable than the tradi-tional methods. Integrated pest management is a major research strategy. The horticultural activmajor research strategy. The horticultural activities at the local research centres are mainly concerned with vegetable crops (including greenhouse vegetables) and with top and small fruit production. About 1/3 of the total expenditure is related to research in top and small fruit production. Research in greenhouse ornamental crops, and outdoor ornamentals is carried out to a lesser extent.
The research at the institute is aimed at developing methods of production
which enhance product quality, are sustainable and environmentally acceptable.
Research in integrated and agroecological methods of production is receiving
increasing interest.
TABLE 1
Expenditure 1995 - 1996
Total USD
4 600 000
Agric. sector " 1 892 000
Hortic.sector " 2 708 000
Agric. 40 %, Hortic. 60 % of total
Spent on horticulture, teaching and research:
Salaries
Research
Intern. funding - research USD 227 000
TABLE 1' and TABLE 2
TABLE 3
N = number of persons engaged
TABLE 4
TABLE 5
TABLE 6
Total
USD 19 718 310
Funding:
Agric. research received 60 %, hortic. research 40 % of total budget
Personnel in hort. research:
Table 1 B
Table 3
Table 3
Salary N Equipment Operation
Table 4
Table 5
Academic personnel USD 908 000
Academic personnel USD 908 000
Techn. personnel "
784 000
Adm. personnel "
293 000
Sum
USD 1 985 000
equipment etc. "
723 000
Total
USD 2 708 000
External funding "
" 496 000
Int./ext. ca 50 %
Total number of scientific publications in 1996: 43
refereed
12
Extension papers
100
others &nb>others
8
Expenditure 1995 - 1996 on teaching and research in :
N Equipment / Operation
Fruit crops USD 415 829 10
200 000
Vegetable crops " 497 146 10 200 000
Onamentals " 1 000 063
34 350 000
Total
USD 1 913 038 54 750 000
Expenditure 1995 - 96 on:
N Equipment / Operation
A - Plant improvement
(breeding, biotechn.etc) USD; (breeding, biotechn.etc) USD
175 560 9 50 000
B - Prop. nursery prod.
" 351 117 6 150 000
D - Integr. prod. systems,
general cult. techniques,
fertilization research,
climatic factors etc.
" 983 127 28 500 000
E - Post harvest etc.
" 316 005 10 50 000
G - Others
" 87 229 1
Total
USD 1 913 038 54 750 000
Facilities: 3 laboratories, total 700 m2
Greenhouses, total 3500 m2
Post harvest storage rooms - 1850 m3
Others: 25 growth rooms and 2 phytotrons (total 12 fully air conditoned
greenhouse compartments)
Fields: 10 ha
Partnerships:
Complementary research: The Norwegian PlanTT>
Complementary research: The Norwegian Plant Research Institute
Cooperation with institutions in the European Community through COST and
other programs.
The Norwegian Crop Research Institute
Table 1 A
Expenditure 1995 - 96
Agric. research " 12 422 535
Hortic. research " 7 295 775
Internal USD 4 815 211
External " 2 480 563
Int./ext. ca 200 %
Academic 88
Technical 22
Administrativ 21
Total 131
Productivity
Publications 552
Patents 7
Research contracts USD 1 934 839
Consulting
" 545 724
Exbsp; 545 724
Expenditure in USD on
Fruit crops 2 761
748 71 394 535 789 071
Veget. crops 1 753 491
45 250 499 500 997
Ornam. crops
438 373 11 62 625 125 249
Med. arom. plants 153 430 4
21 919 43 837
Total
5 107 042 131 729 578 1 459 154
Expenditure in USD on:
Salary N Equipment Operation
A - Plant improv.
Genetics etc.
236 620 6 33 803 67 606
Breeding &nbbsp; Breeding
307 606 8 43 944 87 887
Biotechnology
49 296 1 7 042 14 085
B - Propagation -
nurseries
29 577 1 4 225 8 451
C - Pests, diseases
plant protection 1 971 831
50 281 690 563 380
D - Integrated prod.
Cultural techn.
985 915 26 140 845 281 690
Envir. implications 94 085
2 9 155 18 310
E - Post harvest
197 183 5 28 169 56 338
F - Economics etc.
29 577 1 4 225 8 451
G - Others
1 205 775 31 172 254 344 507
Total ; 344 507
Total
5 107 465 131 723 352 1 450 705
Facilities
Value in Personnel
USD Senior staff Other
6 Laboratories
1 126 761 3
4
Greenhouses 5 000 m2 2
149 437 5
8
Post harvest 2 100 m3
887 324 2
3
Farms 525 ha
4 225 352 10
15
© WCHR