Horticulture is one of the oldest agricultural practices, dating back to the beginning of human civilization when humans collected naturally grown fruits, brought them to their settlements and purposely cultivated them. Horticulture today plays crucial roles in our lives. Fruits, nuts and vegetables are important foods that supplement staples like rice and corn and provide many essential nutrients. Ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers are essential for beautifying our living places. Fresh-cut flowers are associated with public congratulatory events like business openings and personal celebratory occasions like weddings, anniversaries and holidays. Teas, herbs and specialty local fruits are inseparable parts of cultures and religious traditions. Increasingly, horticulture is being used in combatting nutritional imbalance, obesity and mental health issues, providing educational materials for teaching biological sciences, remediating environmental disorders, and conserving biodiversity and environmental integrity.

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