The research conducted by MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Horticulture, covers all the principal sectors of the horticultural industry in Finland. Research on the year-round greenhouse production was intensive in the period of 2003-2005, resulting in potential new methods for commercial application. The inventive use of interlighting was shown to improve the production efficiency of greenhouse vegetables. A novel direct air-water heat exchanger cooling system increased yields, and several different peat-based growing media were tested and proved to be suitable in greenhouse environment. Research on outdoor vegetable and berry species facilitated the determination of irrigation and fertilization regimes feasible in Finnish growing conditions. In consumer-oriented studies, a number of varieties of outdoor vegetables were tested, aiming at enhanced quality of products. One new strawberry variety bred by MTT was released for cultivation, and certain varieties were tested for extended-season strawberry production. A bacterial endophyte inoculated in strawberry plants was shown to play a role in the resistance to fungal pathogens. To improve plant development, a peat-based mycorrhizal product, Myko-Ymppi, was devised. The production of own-rooted apple trees was initiated. An extensive series of experiments upon woody perennials was completed, resulting in the introduction of several FinE® registered varieties. The research on woody ground-covering plants, tested in different areas in Finland, resulted in recommendations for plant types and most suitable species for different environments. Perennial flower research was initiated to respond to the demands of public landscaping. A novel method, cryopreservation, was introduced for long-term preservation of genetic resources of horticultural plants.
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