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The survival of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) after complete Submergence in water decreased with increased duration of submergence; with increased depth, temperature, and turbidity of water; and with increased rates of N fertilization. Survival increased with high light intensity and plant carbohydrate content. Factors that influence the survival of submerged plants also determine the amounts of N and carbohydrate in the plant.

The 1990 census of the United States revealed a substantial increase in the ethnic diversity of the American population. Federal dietary guidelines recommend that American consumers double their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. For quite some time, the ethnic diversity of the population and the associated food patterns have been exposing Americans to a panorama of exotic produce from overseas as well as from selected domestic sources (Greene, 1992). The specialty produce industry in the United States is hardly more than 30 years old, but the niche market for these fresh food items is the fastest growing segment of the produce industry (Vietmyer, 1984). Over the last decade, the consumption of produce has increased steadily, whereas the demand for exotic specialties grew exponentially. Consumer awareness of the nutritional value and health benefits of exotics and adventurism to try fascinating and unusual produce and other edibles raise the demand for exotic fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural commodities (Ritchy, 1978). Displays of exotic horticultural special-ties are now becoming a mainstay in supermarkets, with specialty themes ranging from the islands of Asia, Latin America, and the tropics, among others. Shipments of tropical produce and goods rose from 2000 t in 1980 to 70,000 t in 1990, and to 680,000 t in 1991, while more than 1,000,000 t of specialty crops were shipped during 1992 and after (Greene, 1992).Americans not only are more health-conscious but also demand more diverse and ethnically flavored foods. With population shifts, changes in diet, and the persistent fascination of Americans with novelty items, the demand for specialty fruits and vegetables likely will continue to rise through the 1990s and beyond. Domestic production to satisfy ethnic demands for exotic or nontraditional horticultural commodities necessitates developing the technologies to grow these crops locally. To accomplish this objective, there is a definite need for systematic horticultural research to generate the required information for cultivation and management of these crops. Ongoing small-or large-scale research projects at several institutions indicate ample enthusiasm among the horticultural community. These trends demonstrate that an overview of current research efforts on these commodities is appropriate at this time. This workshop precisely served that purpose through a structured open forum for researchers in various

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Four tropical leaf vegetables commonly used as pot herbs for “kallaloo,” a local West Indian dish, were grown in replicated plots during the fall season of 1996 to determine growth and productivity. Leaf vegetables included green malabar spinach (Basella alba L.), red malabar spinach (Basella rubra L.), sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.), and bush okra or jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.). Plants were harvested periodically and data on number of stems or vines, fresh weight of stems and leaves, leaf area, and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded. Except for leaf fresh weight, cultivars or species did not differ significantly in all parameters measured. Leaf fresh weight ranged from 27 g for jute mallow to 198 g for red malabar spinach. LAI was highest for sweetpotato (2.90) and lowest for jute mallow (0.86). Among the species, productivity (fresh weight) was highest (6.78 g/m2 per day) for green malabar spinach and lowest (3.22 g/m2 per day) for jute mallow.