American Society for Horticultural Science

Abstract Conversion constants and procedures necessary to interconvert photometric, radiometric, and quantum light units are described for sunlight and 9 electrical light sources.

Abstract This column has had articles on many subjects that need to be addressed, e.g., funding research (4), horticultural education (2), professions in horticulture (5), and interdisciplinary research (3). After reading these articles, and I encourage all members to do so, I came to the conclusion that they tend to concentrate on only one point. The question remains: what is the primary mission of horticultural science? I believe that the answer is simple and straightforward: to service production horticulture. This was the original purpose of establishing the land-grant university system and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service. It remains our primary mission and horticultural scientists must not lose sight of it.

Abstract R. Paul Larsen was born December 1, 1926 in Orem, Utah. Paul grew up on a general crop, dairy and fruit farm. He received his BS degree in Horticulture from Utah State University in 1950; MS in Horticulture from Kansas State University in 1951 and PhD in Horticulture from Michigan State University in 1955. He served one year in the Merchant Marines during World War II and served in the armed forces from 1951-1953. Dr. Larsen joined the faculty at Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture in 1955; was promoted to Associate Professor in 1959 and Professor in 1965. In 1968 he accepted the position of Superintendent and Horticulturist at the Tree Fruit Research Center, Washington State University, Wenatchee, Washington and currently serves in that capacity.

Abstract Developmental anatomy of interlocular cavitation (IC), defined as the formation of cavities in soft parenchymatous endocarp cells between seed locules4, was studied in pods of several snap bean cultivars grown under various cultural and environmental conditions during the years 1969–1972. IC occurred in pods from the stages of rapid pod elongation (6–10 days after anthesis) until the time of pod senescence. Unbalanced swelling of endocarp tissues combined with decreased periclinal cell division and rapid cell elongation are concluded to be the causes of IC. In the most commonly observed form, IC also includes the separation of fused endodermal cells. Pod malformation is greater in pods with severe IC and such pods exhibited more quality defects after processing. Sequential development of this developmental and physiological disorder is illustrated.

Established in 1970 by a grant from Longwood Foundation Inc. to the American Horticultural Society (A.H.S.), the Plant Records Center (P.R.C,) has made considerable progress towards the development of a national center for horticultural information. The P.R.C. has developed a standardised system for the recording and reporting of information related to plants cultivated within major North American botanical gardens and arboreta. Utilising modern data-processing techniques, the P.R.C. has developed a system of reports or inventories which provide managers of botanical collections with timely inexpensive reports on their living collections. In addition, the P.R.C. offers to its co-operating institutions other services, including keypunching, programming, and statistical processing.