Ornamental Plant and Green System Management Research Group

Last modified: 28. October 2022

Research activity

We introduce ourselves

Dr. László Orlóci – Research group leader, Senior Research Fellow

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​After completing the certified horticultural engineer training, I started working in the profession as head gardener at the ELTE Botanical Garden. I have been working in this institution ever since, in the position of director since 2004. Between 2008 and 2012, I organized and managed the complete reconstruction of the Botanical Garden, in recognition of which ELTE awarded me the Pro Universitas award. My experience of gene preservation and the practical maintenance of collection gardens goes back to 38 years. I founded my own nursery in 1986, where I put into practice the propagation and growing technology theories of evergreens and deciduous plants. I lead MATE's Research Group on Ornamental Plant Growing and Green Area Management in the capacity of senior scientific employee. My main research areas: breeding of woody ornamental plants, morphological, physiological and stress physiology research, research into ornamental plant cultivation and green space management technologies. First of all, I focus on breeding cypresses, hybrid cypresses, ginkos, and the increasingly popular Chinese silk myrtles, and perfecting their cultivation technology. The result of my plant breeding activities are 16 domestic state-certified varieties, 4 EU-certified varieties, 4 patented domestic plant varieties, and 3 varieties patented by the CPVO. In recognition of my work, I was awarded the Fleischmann Rudolf award. I am also active as a mentor of the research group. As the professional leader of the Pannon Breeding research program, which I created, the aim is to improve the agricultural usability of domestic ecologically sensitive areas, as well as the practical application of the research results achieved in this field. Since I was young, I have taken on many professional tasks, getting to know the Hungarian horticulture industry, and based on my results and activities, I myself have gained national and international recognition. In addition to being a member of numerous committees and experts, I am currently the president of the Interprofessional Organization of Hungarian Ornamental Gardeners, as well as a member of the management of several civil interest organizations. In 2021, I was awarded the "Agricultural Person of the Year" and the Knight's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit.

Publication activity: https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=10073545​​​​​​​

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Dr. András Neményi - Senior Research Fellow
​​​​​​​Domestication, examination and breeding of woody ornamental plants

Since February 1, 2021, I have been a member of the Ornamental Plant Cultivation and Green Area Management Research Group, and since then I have been participating in the performance of the University's basic tasks, variety maintenance, gene preservation and variety breeding for the domestic ornamental plant sector and green area management. In accordance with the group's goals, I participate in the production and maintenance of ornamental plants that are well adapted to climate change and comply with the most modern gardening technology. I carry out the related physiological, experimental and technological research with my colleagues. Since the task of the research group is to provide the appropriate research background for the university education as well, my colleagues and I also participate in the Horticultural Engineering BSc education at the educational location in Gödöllő (MATE Szent István Campus, Gödöllő). My main field of research is research related to woody ornamental plants, with particular regard to woody monocot exotic taxa.

Publication activity: https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=10013515

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Dr. Szilvia Kisvarga – Senior Research Fellow

I started my work in the life of the research group in 2017. My main field of research is the breeding of annual and perennial ornamental plants. In the course of this, we carry out the maintenance of Hungarian varieties (about 80 varieties) in the state gene bank, in addition we carry out breeding work, as well as participate in the development of greenhouse seedling strengthening technologies, during which we carry out measurements related to mechanical stress, biostimulators and retardants. We have started breeding tasks, during which we breed Rudbeckia hirta and Ricinus communis varieties. We use both cross-breeding and mutation breeding. In addition, we also carry out research in the field of sustainable agriculture - we examine the harmful effects of herbicides. I participate in the writing and evaluation of publications. I also take part in maintaining contact with our foreign and domestic partners. In addition to research work, I participate in the writing and proofreading of vocational training documents for the agriculture and forestry sector, helping the work of the National Chamber of Agriculture and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Publication activity: https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/author/10075994

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Dr. Gábor Boronkay - Senior Research Fellow

As a horticultural engineer, I joined the legal predecessor of the research group in 1991. I started my work at the Ornamental Breeding Department, where I participated in the breeding of annuals.
During the reorganization of the research institute in 1995, I gradually took over the management of the rose collection and restarted the scientific variety evaluation work. My first publication on rose variety research was published in 1999. In 2017, I participated as an invited speaker at the Eastern European regional convention of the WFRS (International Federation of Rose Societies) in Ljubljana. I defended my PhD degree in 2012. The title of the dissertation: "Evaluation of Hungarian bedding (floribunda and polyantha) rose cultivars".
In 2015, I received a Ministerial Appreciative Certificate from the Minister of Agriculture.
My field of research is the evaluation of the rose collection of Budatétény Rose Garden. I evaluate the ornamental value, climate tolerance and marketability of the rose cultivars, especially Hungarian bred varieties. The main direction of my research is creating mathematical-colorimetric models for estimating the ornamental value of the varieties as objectively as possible.
I began to evaluate the rose varieties in 2000. So far, I have been able to examine about 2,000 rose varieties. With the help of colorimetry and mathematical statistics, I have developed a complex system of weighted indices, and a colorimetry based data recording method for evaluating the ornamental values of foliage and flowering process and rose hip (fruit). To measure the flowering dynamics and blooming intensity of rose varieties I created an analysis based on 12 indices, for describing the flowering pattern of the Hungarian bred rose varieties. In addition, I created a method based on colorimetry for the numerical evaluation of the flowering process of rose varieties.
As part of my research, I designed a new flower and inflorescence typology system in order to check variety identity under field conditions. Although the system serves practical purposes, it is based on mathematical statistics and colorimetry.

Publication activity: https://m2.mtmt.hu/frontend/#view/Publication/SmartQuery/1127/

 

Mrs. Dóra Hamar-Farkas – scientific assistant, PhD student

​​​​​​​I have been a member of the research group since September 2020. Mainly, the research I carried out in my doctoral school topic is based on the analysis of different Festuca taxa under roof garden conditions. I am investigating the effects of stress caused by changed conditions, the effects of the environment, including climate change, the differences of a basic species and two commercial varieties, as well as a still-abandoned candidate variety. Within the framework of the group's joint work, I participate in the breeding, gene preservation and development works, the breeding of the Rudbeckia hirta and Ricinus communis varieties is currently an important task. In addition to writing my own publications, I actively participate in writing and formatting the team's articles, recording, processing and analyzing data. With my work in the laboratory, we can publish even higher-quality research results, try new methods, and analyze plants in an innovative way during breeding. In addition to my individual and group tasks, I also perform teaching duties within the MATE Doctoral School of Horticulture, as a doctoral student of the Department of Ornamental Plant Growing and Dendrology.

Publication activity: ​​​​​​​https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=10077782​​​​​​​

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