Horticulture
In the muddy soil of ancient settlements, a decision changed human history. Between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago, people began to domesticate plants for sustenance. This process occurred independently across various civilizations around the globe. Early humans cultivated maize, squash, and sunflower in North America. They grew papaya, avocado, cacao, ceiba, and sapodilla in Central American forests. The first horticulturists in many cultures were mainly or exclusively women. As humanity became increasingly sedentary, plants were grown for their ornamental value rather than just food. Horticulture emerged as a distinct field when humans sought to cultivate plants for pleasure on a smaller scale.
The Aztecs maintained sacred gardens that held deep religious significance. Plants grown in these spaces held metaphorical relations to gods and goddesses. Flowers held symbolic power in religious rites and were offered to deities during ceremonies. Leaders received flowers to demonstrate their connection to the divine. Indigenous peoples of pre-colonized North America used biochar to enhance soil productivity by smoldering plant waste. European settlers called this enriched soil Terra Preta de Indio. Mesoamerican cultures focused on cultivating crops on a small scale within milpa fields. These specialized plots were visited occasionally during migrations from one area to the next. The history of horticulture overlaps with the history of agriculture and botany.
A horticulturist may hold titles such as gardener, grower, farmer, arborist, floriculturist, or landscape architect. They work for botanical gardens, private public gardens, parks, cemeteries, greenhouses, vineyards, estates, landscaping companies, nurseries, educational institutions, or golf courses. Some practitioners are self-employed while others manage nursery operations. Divisions include propagation, arboriculture, landscaping, floriculture, and turf maintenance. Plant selection considers morphology, rarity, utility, mature height, size, color, growth habit, flowering time, and invasive potential. Soil type, temperature, climate, light, moisture, and existing plants determine where material goes. A professional must understand both sexual and asexual methods of increasing individual plants.
Plants require specific temperatures to grow and develop properly in any environment. Covering plants with plastic cones called hot caps helps manipulate surrounding air temperature. Mulching protects outdoor plants from frost during winter months inside greenhouses. Wind machines, heaters, and sprinklers prevent frost damage within enclosed spaces. Fluorescent lights control the amount of light received by indoor crops artificially. Lengthening the day encourages flowering of long-day plants and discourages short-day varieties. Irrigation systems employ surface, sprinkler, sub-irrigation, and trickle methods to manage water volume. Growers may choose aquaponic systems where no soil is used at all. Glass or plastic covers allow sunlight into cold frames while preventing heat loss as long-wave radiation.
Global climate change increases extremes in temperatures and strength of precipitation events worldwide. Flood frequency and drought length are rising alongside other abiotic stressors like salinity and heavy metal toxicity. UV damage and air pollution create stressful environments for crop production globally. Evapotranspiration increases while soils degrade of nutrients and oxygen levels deplete. These factors result in up to 70% loss in crop yield across commercial operations. Living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, insects, weeds, and native plants cause biotic stresses. Plants respond using morphological barriers, chemical compounds, proteins, enzymes, and hormones. Integrated Pest Management practices help prevent impact from these living threats during harvest management.
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats gained recognition as a highly efficient method since 2013. This technology alters genomes of species with precision and low cost compared to older techniques. Crops modified by CRISPR increase resistance to parasites, disease, and drought conditions. Yield, nutrition, and flavor improve through genetic editing without adding alien DNA to plant genes. Potatoes have been edited to reduce browning and production of toxic bitter substances. Low pollination rates and fruit yield issues common in greenhouses find solutions here. Unlike genetically modified organisms, this approach does not introduce foreign genetic material into the genome.
The Ancient Society of York Florists was founded in 1768 and remains the oldest horticultural society globally. It hosts four shows annually in York, England today. The Royal Horticultural Society established in 1804 leads encouragement and improvement of science and art in all branches. The Chartered Institute of Horticulture represents sectors across Great Britain, Ireland, and overseas regions. The Australian Institute of Horticulture and Australian Society of Horticultural Science were established in 1990. The National Junior Horticultural Association started in 1934 as the first organization dedicated solely to youth. GlobalHort fosters partnerships among stakeholders to use horticulture for development and poverty reduction worldwide. This non-profit is registered in Belgium and collaborates on research training activities.
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Common questions
When did people begin to domesticate plants for sustenance?
People began to domesticate plants for sustenance between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. This process occurred independently across various civilizations around the globe.
Who were the first horticulturists in many cultures?
The first horticulturists in many cultures were mainly or exclusively women. Early humans cultivated maize, squash, and sunflower in North America while growing papaya, avocado, cacao, ceiba, and sapodilla in Central American forests.
What is the oldest horticultural society globally?
The Ancient Society of York Florists was founded in 1768 and remains the oldest horticultural society globally. It hosts four shows annually in York, England today.
How does CRISPR technology alter plant genomes compared to older techniques?
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats gained recognition as a highly efficient method since 2013. This technology alters genomes of species with precision and low cost without introducing foreign genetic material into the genome.
Where did Indigenous peoples of pre-colonized North America use biochar to enhance soil productivity?
Indigenous peoples of pre-colonized North America used biochar to enhance soil productivity by smoldering plant waste. European settlers called this enriched soil Terra Preta de Indio.