Despite its rapid growth and economic success, the sustainability of the floriculture industry as it is presently conducted is debatable, due to the huge environmental impacts it initiates and incurs. Achieving sustainability requires joint efforts from all stakeholders, a fact that is often neglected in discussions that frequently focus upon economically driven management concerns. This review attempts to raise awareness and collective responsibility among the key practitioners in floriculture by discussing its sustainability in the context of soil health, as soil is the foundation of agriculture systems. Major challenges posed to soil health arise from soil acidification and salinization stimulated by the abusive use of fertilizers. The poisoning of soil biota by pesticide residues and plastic debris due to the excessive application of pesticides and disposal of plastics is another significant issue and concern. The consequence of continuous cropping obstacles are further elucidated by the concept of plant-soil feedback. Based on these challenges, we propose the adoption and implementation of several sustainable practices including breeding stress-resistant and nutrient-efficient cultivars, making sustainable soil management a goal of floriculture production, and the recycling of plastics to overcome and mitigate the decline in soil health. The problems created by flower waste materials are highlighted and efficient treatment by biochar synthesis is suggested. We acknowledge the complexity of developing and implementing the proposed practices in floriculture as there is limited collaboration among the research and operational communities, and the policymakers. Additional research examining the impacts the floriculture industry has upon soils is needed to develop more sustainable production practices that can help resolve the current threats and to bridge the understanding gap between researchers and stakeholders in floriculture.

Gypsophila paniculata is the only species in the genus Gypsophila that has been used as cut flowers, and the sequencing of its genome has just been completed, opening a new chapter in its molecular genetic breeding. The molecular marker system is the basis for genetic molecular research in the era of genomics, whereas it is still a gap for G. paniculata. In this study, we constructed a genome-wide InDel marker system of G. paniculata after genome resequencing of another wild-type accession with white flowers. Consequently, 407 InDel markers at a distance of ~2 Mb were designed for all 17 chromosomes. Later, the validation of these markers by PCR revealed that 289 markers could distinguish alleles of the two wild-type alleles clearly. The predicted polymorphisms of two wild-type alleles were then transferred to the commercial cultivars, which displayed a rich polymorphism among four commercial cultivars. Our research established the first genome-level genetic map in G. paniculata, providing a comprehensive set of marker systems for its molecular research.

The Dendrobium kingianum is a highly valued ornamental plant belonging to the Orchidaceae family whose propagation relies on time-consuming stem cutting and protocorm-like body proliferation. To optimize its propagation system, roots, leaves, and lateral buds of Dendrobium kingianum plants were taken to investigate embryogenic callus induction and somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was induced on MS medium containing 0.2 mg/L NAA, 1.5 mg/L 6-BA, and 10⁻⁷ mol/L PSK when lateral buds served as explants. Many somatic embryos were generated on G4 medium (1.0 g/L Hyponex No.1 + 1.0 g/L Hyponex No.2 + 15 g/L sucrose + 3 g/L Phytagel + 2 mg/L 6-BA + 0.5 mg/L IBA + 10 g/L corn starch + 200 mL/L coconut water), which developed into robust seedlings after rooting. The original embryogenic calluses proliferated continuously for more than half a year, and the newly proliferated ones possessed the capacity to develop into seedlings, indicating an efficient propagation system for Dendrobium kingianum via somatic embryogenesis with potential for scale production.

Gypsophila paniculata is one of the most popular cut flowers in the world whose major cultivars are blooming white. As is well known, blue flowers could be generated via the overexpression of the gene encoding flavonoid 3′5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) in species that naturally lack it. In this study, we established the regeneration and a genetic transformation system for the commercial cultivar ‘YX4’ of G. paniculata and introduced the F3′5′H of Platycodon grandiflorus (PgF3′5′H) successfully into ‘YX4’ using the established protocol. A total of 281 hygromycin (Hyg)-resistant plantlets were obtained, and 38 of them were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive, indicating a 13.5% transformation efficiency. Shoot apex without meristem was more suitable for explant due to its high regeneration capacity, and the supplement of thidiazuron (TDZ) provided the most efficient promotion of adventitious bud induction, whereas the supplement of 6-Benzyladenine (6-BA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) did not affect much. Additionally, the combination of 1 day (d) pre-culture, 5 d co-culture, 10 min infection, 30 mg·L⁻¹ additional acetosyringone (AS) supplement, and 10 mg·L⁻¹ Hyg selection formed the optimized system for ‘YX4’ transformation. This reliable and efficient agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the valuable commercial cultivar ‘YX4’ will contribute not only to the creation and improvement of G. paniculata cultivars, but also to the function research of genes associated with important ornamental traits.