The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
François Carré, sales manager at plant nursery La Foret modelling Ilex paraguariensis Garden2Cup ® – Maté.
Entries came in thick and fast for the 2024 Innovert New Plants and Products Awards, widely regarded as the Césars of the French horticultural industry. The award winners were announced on the opening day of the Salon du Végétal with two new plants ending ‘ex-aequo’ in the ornamental plant category and a tool to properly sex-identify Gingko biloba winning gold in the Tech and R&D category.
The Innovert Awards include four award categories: Best Novelty Plant, Best Marketing Concept, Best Tech&Services and Best Green Tool.
In the Best Novelty Plant category, the white-flowered dwarf Agapanthus africanus Nina White ‘Monsapho’ (flowering between May and September), submitted by breeder’s agent Sapho, and the artisan Passiflora Cooltropics Snowstar from Pépinières Travers ended ‘ex-aequo’ taking home the Gold Medal. These unique plants, each with its own distinct features, made a lasting impression on the judges and the audience. Passiflora Cooltropics Snowstar, with its thread-like florets, gives the climbing plant a loose and open appearance, a sight to behold.
Gold award-winning Agapanthus africanus Nina White ‘Monsapho’.
In the Best Tech&Services category, research centre Vegepolys Valley accepted the Gold Medal for a tool to determine the sex of Gingko biloba by using DNA analysis.
The maidenhair tree – featuring fan-shaped leaves which turn golden yellow in autumn – is often referred to as living fossils as they have been around for millions of years. Yet, beyond the compelling storytelling lies one downside: female Gingkos are notoriously known for producing stinky fruit, often described as a mix of rancid butter and vomit. A female tree shedding its fruits on the ground causes pavements to become messy and slippery. No wonder that for many years, the industry has tried to properly sex-identify the trees.
Vegepolys Valley has developed a groundbreaking tool for nursery growers, landscapers, green space managers, and plant sellers. This tool, based on DNA analysis, provides a practical solution to a long-standing problem in the industry, making it easier to identify the sex of Gingko biloba trees.
Since sex is controlled genetically, sex identification by DNA analysis is possible using molecular markers (“PCR tests”). This method, applicable regardless of the age of the tree, the season, etc., makes the process of sex identification more efficient and economical.
Several techniques are used for propagating Ginkgo; in these different cases, sexing can be interesting:
Grafting of grafts from male trees onto rootstocks grown from seedlings. Sex determination allows to certify the male sex of the trees for marketing,
Vegetative multiplication of a male clone variety. Sex determination allows the certification of the male sex of a variety, of each of the mother trees, or even of each tree if necessary, for marketing,
Planting of fertilised ovules. Sex determination makes it possible to determine the sex of each seedling at a very early stage and thus to select males and counter-select females for urban area projects.
Artisan Passiflora Cooltropics Snowstar from Pépinières Travers.
How does it work? The Vegepolys Valley laboratory sends a sampling kit (including instructions for use plus an explanatory video). Then, the customer takes small leaf samples from each tree using a puncher tool kit, places them in the different wells of a plate, and sends the kit back. Subsequently, researchers extract the DNA, analyse it and send the results to the client.
