University of Hawaii at Manoa
Komohana Extension Center
875 Komohana St
Hilo, HI 96720
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Select
Grower Collaborations
Below are descriptions of select research projects we have with collaborator growers. These growers produce a wide array of ornamental crops including orchids (vanda & dendrobium), anthuriums, and palms (Kentia and Rhapis).
01
Green Point Nurseries Project
Green Point Nursery (GPN) has been a collaborator for several years in projects ranging from chemical efficacy trials, silicon trials and nutrient management trials. They are the largest anthurium producer on Hawaii island. They are a third -generation nursery and survived the anthurium blight epidemic during the 1980's.
02
Puna Flower Power Project
Puna Flower Power is an orchid Co-op that originated from the devastating 2018 Kilauea lave flow that destroyed several orchid farms. We have worked with this Co-op for the past year for a variety of on-farm trial; predominately silicon trials. These trials demonstrated increased root growth and recovery from Fusarium spp. root rot.
03
Hilo Orchid Farm Project
Hilo Orchid Farm is a second generation orchid farm that has it's own breeding program. I've worked closely with farm manager Aubrey Hansen and Breeder Dr. Peter Boches on silicon trials aiming to reduce bacterial pathogens in their juvenile orchids. See preliminary results in the image to the left.
04
Kohala Kentia Project
Kohala Kentia collaborated on a number of projects examining various nutrient management regimes and their impact on fungal root pathogens and coconut scale. The fungal root pathogen created stunted and chlorotic plants. Kentia is a high value palm and is often used in hotel lobby's and rented for film production mainly by California Hollywood film crews. Thus it is vital these plants are pest and disease free prior to export.
