Journal articles on the topic 'Flowers and flower culture. Ornamental plants'

Flower color is an important characteristic that determines the commercial value of ornamental plants. The development of modern biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering enables the creation of new flower colors that cannot be achieved with classical methods of hybridization or mutational breeding. This is the first report on the successful Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Viola cornuta L. The hypocotyl explants of cv. “Lutea Splendens” variety with yellow flowers were transformed with A. tumefaciens carrying empty pWBVec10a vector (Llccs−) or pWBVec10a/CaMV 35S::Llccs::TNos vector (Llccs+) for capsanthin/capsorubin synthase gene (Llccs) from tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium). A comparative study of shoot multiplication, rooting ability during culture in vitro, as well as phenotypic characteristics of untransformed (control) and transgenic Llccs− and Llccs+ plants during ex vitro growth and flowering is presented. Successful integration of Llccs transgene allows the synthesis of red pigment capsanthin in petal cells that gives flowers different shades of an orange/reddish color. We demonstrate that the ectopic expression of Llccs gene in ornamental plants, such as V. cornuta “Lutea Splendens” could successfully be used to change flower color from yellow to different shades of orange.

The results of studies on the use of decorative ornamental plants of flower and ornamental plants Dahlia Cav. in Vinnytsia Region at their level of adaptation to growing conditions have been presented. The assessment of the collection of the genus Dahlia Cav. at the exposition site of the Vinnitsa National Agrarian University, it has been determined that the collection is dominated by varieties of individual garden groups such as cactus, nymphae and decorative. In order to expand and replenish the collection of the genus Dahlia Cav the exhibition area VNAU conducted a selection of varieties that are representative of a set of indicators such as plant height, shape and size of inflorescences among the dahlia assortment. Dahlias are easy to grow and bring life to your garden with their intense color, strength, and ability to keep flowering until the first frosts. Dahlias like well-balanced and composted soil, and full sun. With 42 different species and thousands of cultivars, dahlias offer plenty of variety. Variations in color, flower form, size, and foliage make it easy to find one you'll love. The rich variety of their flower colors shapes and sizes added to their extensive blooming season, have turned dahlias into popular addition to our landscapes. There are thousands of varieties of dahlias and they are all classified by the shape, size and color of their flowers. Flowers can be very small in diameter. They offer an impressive range of colors such as pink, purple, red, scarlet, orange, yellow, white and can be stripped or tipped with another color. They can be single-flowering (orchid-flowering, anemone and collarettes) or double flowering (cactus, semi-cactus, formal or informal decorative dahlias, ball and pompons). Dahlias have wide height range. There are many different ways to use dahlias in the garden. Shorter dahlias mix well with annuals or shorter perennials, while taller varieties will grow well with perennials and ornamental grasses toward the rear or center of borders. Their lower stems tend to be unattractive and the plants are heavy (especially the large flowered dinnerplate types); so without staking, they tend to flop. Plant the smallest varieties in containers. Dahlia flowers are brightly colored. They can also look surprisingly good with grasses, as the contrast is total-big bright flowers against finely textured grasses. Good cutting dahlias tend to be the larger varieties because of their longer stems. Key words: dahlias, collection, garden group, flowering, container culture.

The work was carried out in order to identify patterns for the preservation and updating of some images and symbols expressed in the embroidery ornament. The research is based on materials of the Uimon Old-Believers culture, which is represented in the Uimon Valley of the Altai Mountains. We carried out a comprehensive analysis of the author’s field ethnographic materials of different years, unpublished archival folklore records and museum samples. It has been established that using images of Eden-related birds and plants (grapes, roses, and other flowers), folk ideas about Heavenly Eden are expressed in spiritual verses. These ideas correspond to the symbolic meaning of some ornamental patterns in women’s needlework. A composition on a wall towel consisting of grape and flower vine and paradise birds was interpreted as a folk image of Heavenly Eden. The author performs a comparative analysis of images of Heavenly Eden in the culture of the Uimon Old-Believers and materials of the ornament of women’s needlework in Altai Mountains. Based on the materials of women’s needlework in Altai Mountains, the floristic ornament significantly prevailing among all others more often contains motifs with a vine and a rosevine, as well as a flower vine with the images of other flowers. When combining these varieties of ornament into a semantically unified ornamental group “plant vines”, the fact of a significant predominance of this group among other fixed ornamental groups of motifs is obvious. The ideas of the plants as attributes of Heavenly Eden, the semantic correlation of Heavenly Eden and the garden of the earth probably played a special role in the prevalence of images of grapes, roses, and other flowers as well as their stable presence in ornamentation in women’s needlework. Culture bearers could use the motif of the plant vine as an expression of spiritual aspirations, which are also manifested in perception and aesthetic value of the ornament.

The unregulated use and increased demand in face of the demographic and economic growth of society caused reduction in the availability of water resources in quantity and quality. In this context, this work was carried out to verify the possibility of producing ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) fertirrigated with wastewater from fish culture and its mixtures with tap water. Two experiments were conducted in 2017 in a greenhouse at Federal Rural do University of the Semiarid, in Mossoró, RN, Brazil, according to a completely randomized design with 12 replicates. The treatments consisted of dilutions of the fish's wastewater in tap water (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). Determinations of plant biomass and flower characteristics were performed. The statistical analysis of the data consisted of analysis of variance by the F test and regression analysis. The biomass of ornamental sunflower showed significant effect of the fish’s effluent dilutions, but, in general, characteristics of flowers were not influenced. The higher values of the variables of the ornamental sunflower evaluated in the first experiment, which received fertilization, indicate that the effluent did not supply the nutritional needs of the plants. The irrigation of the ornamental sunflower can be carried out with effluent from fish farming when there is another source of nutrients for the crop to produce flowers with satisfactory characteristics.

The ornamental flower sector has growing over the past years worldwide with potential for further expansion. Among the ornamental plants, Passiflora species have been gaining ground in the market, mainly in European and North American countries. However, the market aiming the use of these species in ornamentation is still poorly explored. The inclusion of passion flower in the list of ornamental plants is related to the peculiar characteristics of the flower as it is complex structure, capacity of flowering all year long and also by the abundance and exuberance of the leaves, which in many species adds an ornamental value. Among the biotechnological tools for the production of ornamental plants, tissue culture has been outstanding in the cloning of elite genotypes, with high phytosanitary quality and large scale production. In addition, it offers possibilities of producing new varieties with characteristics peculiar to the market of ornamental plants. The diversity of wild Passiflora opens perspectives to the conservation, market and production of ornamental Passiflora cultivars.

The hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb). Ser.), an ornamental plant, has good marketing potential and is known for its capacity to change the colour of its inflorescence depending on the pH of the cultivation media. The molecular mechanisms causing these changes are still uncertain. In the present study, transcriptome and targeted metabolic profiling were used to identify molecular changes in the RNAome of hydrangea plants cultured at two different pH levels. De novo assembly yielded 186,477 unigenes. Transcriptomic datasets provided a comprehensive and systemic overview of the dynamic networks of the gene expression underlying flower colour formation in hydrangeas. Weighted analyses of gene co-expression network identified candidate genes and hub genes from the modules linked closely to the hyper accumulation of Al3+ during different stages of flower development. F3′5′H, ANS, FLS, CHS, UA3GT, CHI, DFR, and F3H were enhanced significantly in the modules. In addition, MYB, bHLH, PAL6, PAL9, and WD40 were identified as hub genes. Thus, a hypothesis elucidating the colour change in the flowers of Al3+-treated plants was established. This study identified many potential key regulators of flower pigmentation, providing novel insights into the molecular networks in hydrangea flowers.

ABSTRACT Lisianthus is an important ornamental species, whose cultivation in pot still requires studies, mainly regarding the use of alternative management. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of resistance elicitors on the production and post-production quality of potted lisianthus. Plants grown in pots were treated with two elicitors: (E1) phosphorylated mannano-oligosaccharide and (E2) citric bioflavonoids and phytoalexins, in the doses (D) of 1 and 2pL.L-1 (E1D1 1pL.L-1, E1D2 2pL.L-1, E2D1 1pL.L-1, E2D2 2pL.L-1 and control), with 5 replications, in a completely randomized design. After opening the first flower buds, the plants remained in the greenhouse for 15 days, until they reached at least 3 open flowers, when were transferred to the room conditions (24 ± 2 oC and 72 ± 2%) for another 15 days. The application of elicitors did not influence the culture cycle or the size of the stem. There was an increase, however, in the number of viable buds and open flowers, in addition to an increase in flower’s useful life paralleled to the reduction of senescent flowers, in relation to the control. The dose of 2pL.L-1 of the E2 kept the percentage of viable open flowers in relation to the control for at least another 5 days, reducing the percentage of senescent flowers. Together, with the application of the E2 elicitor in potted lisianthus, the viability of the flowers can be prolonged, maintaining quality and delaying senescence, and, in this way, increasing the market period.

ABSTRACT Orchids are an important horticultural culture. Cattleya and its allies are among the most used ornamental group of this plant family. Cattleya hybrids normally are big pot plants with a determined flowering season (spring, summer, autumn or winter), so a small plant with vivid and multi-flowered spikes coloured and non-determined flowering season is desired. The hybrid Cattleya Aurora’s Little Ian is a new small pink-reddish hybrid flower, producing over four small to medium flowers per bunch. For the first time there is a description of a parameter, petal width, with heritability estimation and efficient to select superior clones derived from plants of the Section Cyrtolaelia in the Cattleya hybrid group. It could be easily grown either at shade house or at windowsill emitting shoots and flowering freely in each new shoot, independent of photo or thermoperiod, as long as it is kept in good growing conditions.

Phalaenopsis “Sogo Vivien” is an orchid hybrid with mini size plant body, and exhibits numerous beautiful pink flowers, that is ideal as ornamental pot plant. Some plants of this orchid exhibit variegated leaves that improve the beauty of the plant, not only because of the flower but also as attracted leaves. This orchid has high economical value, but mass propagation of this orchid has not established yet. An effective method to propagate both the normal and variegated plants is worth to be generated. The objective of this research was to produce a large number of P. “Sogo Vivien” plants, including the variegated plants. The method used seeds from self pollinating variegated plant, and flower stalk nodes. The seeds were sown on three various medium: VW, NP and MS, and flower stalk nodes were planted on VW + BA 10 mg l-1 + active carbon. The results showed that the best medium for in vitro culture of P. “Sogo Vivien” was NP medium, in which all seeds could grew into plantlets. Most plantlets emerged from the seeds were non variegated, only one plantlet out of 1344 seeds was variegated (0.007%). Although all emerged plantlets from flower stalk exhibited variegated leaves. Particularly, the plantlets arised from the second and third basal nodes of flower stalk showed the highest growth rate than that from the other nodes. Histological analysis showed that at 11-13 days after shoot segment plantation on NP medium, the shape of apical cells in the nodes was changed, then followed by the change of cell shape in the basal part of the nodes, produced bipolar pattern, then gradually developed into shoot. These results suggest that mass propagation could be achieved using seed culture, but to get the variegated phenotypes, the second and third nodes of flower stalk from variegated plant were the best explants to be used.

The market of flowers and ornamental plants is dependent on the diversification of species and the availability of high quality propagation materials. Actually, in vitro culture techniques performance a prominent role in the multiplication and maintenance of commercially propagated ornamental plant species, and are promising for the production of thousands of high quality plants in relatively short term. In addition, when market demand for a particular species is low or zero in a specific period of the year, in vitro culture techniques allow the conservation of cultures under aseptic conditions, by Slow Growth Storage (SGS), from a few weeks to one year (or more), without affecting their viability and potential regrowth. This can be achieved by modifying the constitution of the culture medium and the maintenance conditions of in vitro cultures. Obviously, the success of the technique depends on greatly on the physiological characteristics of the species to be conserved, as well. Once a SGS protocol is optimized, the expenses labor, the possibility of contamination and the probability of somaclonal variation can be reduced markedly.

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflora Tzvelev) is one of the most important ornamental plants in the world that has the richest mutant varieties with numerous colors. The objective of this study is to determine the effective mutagen dose (EMD50) for creating variations by gamma irradiation. It is aimed to get a mutagenesis protocol that could develop new mutants in pot chrysanthemums. To determine the EMD50, rooted cuttings of brownish-red color ‘Brandevil’ variety were irradiated by gamma radiation at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 Gray (Gy) doses. According to the shoot lengths, EMD50 was calculated as 27 Gy. The mutation frequency was calculated as 4.8%. Some changes were observed for flower numbers per plant, plant heights and widths, shapes and colors of both flowers and leaves. The color changes varied from brownish-red to yellow and orange. Two different colors appeared in the same pot at some genotypes as well as form changes of flowers. The similarity of the mutants was determined by the hierarchical cluster dendrogram involving five groups. Various colors were obtained for leaves and flowers. Remarkable mutations of the selected mutants were multiplied by tissue culture.

THE VICTORIANS' PASSION FORplants has been well established as a defining feature of the period, and scholars from the humanities and the sciences – from literature, history, anthropology, botany, art, and religion – have lavishly documented how this obsession pervaded every aspect of nineteenth-century British life, creating what was truly the golden age for the “Culture of Flowers,” to borrow the title of Jack Goody's ethnobotanical study tracing traditional and ceremonial uses of flowers through history and around the globe. As Brent Elliott argues, improvements in greenhouse design beginning in 1817 and the use of the Wardian case from the 1830s for transporting plants by ship led to an unprecedented number of plant introductions to England, especially those intended for ornamental purposes (8–13). Decorative plants either of the indigenous, old-fashioned varieties or exotic new species were now widely available and visible everywhere – in vast public garden beds or small cottage plots; in pots or cut arrangements in the homes and on the window sills of the middle class and the well-to-do; in theaters, meeting halls, and fashionable shops; in churches for weddings, funerals, and holidays; in the boutonnieres of dandies and at the wrists, bosoms, and in the hair of ladies; for sale on the streets in flower carts and stalls; and in the shops of the burgeoning florist trade.

Caphea glutinosa is a herbaceous, low-growing annual, bearing numerous attractive purple flowers and has potential as an ornamental and as a ground cover. Plants exhibit winter hardiness in USDA plant hardiness zone 8. Tissue culture techniques were developed to obtain large numbers of uniform plants. Whole leaf explants (approximately 1.0 cm2) callused profusely in MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium containing 84 mM sucrose, 1% (w/v) Difco Bacto agar and 8.8 μM N6benzyladenine. Shoot formation from calli was observed in the same medium 4 weeks after explanting. Detached shoots were rooted (100%) in half strength MS medium and rooted shoots were transferred to Promix® in the greenhouse 2 weeks after rooting. Tissue cultured plants flowered after 60 days in the greenhouse and no phenotypic differences were observed in floral or foliar characteristics.

Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) is an important and highly valuable flower of the cut flower industry. The most critical step in its cultivation is to break dormancy in order to initiate the growth, especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Therefore, the current research was conducted to break bulb dormancy and foster the growth of tulip in Potohar region with the help of different primers. The objective of this study was the selection of best primer at appropriate concentration level to enhance growth, yield and vase life of the flower. Tulip bulbs were treated with different primers: T0 (distilled water), T1 (chitosan @ 5 g/L), T2 (gibberellic acid @ 0.15 g/L), T3 (humic acid 160 g/L), T4 (imidacloprid 19 g/L) and T5 (salicylic acid 0.1 g/L) for 24 hours, respectively. The experiment was laid out using Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Statistical results revealed that characteristics including early germination, plant height, number of leaves, stalk length, fresh and dry weight of flower, weight of bulbs, diameter of bulbs and number of daughter bulbs were significantly increased in T2. Whereas, leaf area, diameter of stem and flower was maximum in T0. Plants under T3 showed an increase in chlorophyll content of leaves. While floral characteristics like early formation and opening of flower bud, more number of flowers and vase life were improved in T1. Thus, statistical results showed that priming can effectively help to improve morpho-physiological attributes of tulip.Key wordTulip, primers, dormancy, chitosan, gibberellic acid, humic acid, imidacloprid, salicylic acid.INTRODUCTIONTulip (Tulips gesneriana L.) is the most popular and lucrative spring blooming bulbous plant of Liliacae family. It is famous for its distinctive flower shape; size and vibrant color range that make it stand out aesthetically among other ornamental flowers. There are about 150 to 160 species of tulip that can be grown in gardens. In addition to this, they are also used as cut flowers. In cut flower industry, it is ranked as 3rd most desirable flower after rose and chrysanthemum (Singh, 2006; Ahmad et al., 2014). This flower holds a significant importance on societal events like Valentine’s Day, Easter, New Year and Mother’s Day. Along with ornamental uses, its bulb can be used for cooking purposes in place of onions and petals can be used to treat rough skin. As a result of its immense beauty and multiple uses, it is day by day becoming more eminent and favorite among people globally (Buschman, 2004; Jhon and Neelofar, 2006). The demand for cut flowers in Pakistan is also gaining popularity. In Pakistan, where floriculture industry is still struggling to make its way towards development, the annual production of cut flowers is estimated to be 10,000 to 12,000 tons per annum (Younis et al., 2009). Main cut flower crops produced includes: rose, carnation, gerbera, statice, tuberose, narcissus, gladiolus, freesia and lilies (Ahsan et al., 2012). Despite of tulip’s high demand, it is not among the few cut flowers that are produced at commercial level in Pakistan. However, some of the wild species of tulip (Tulipa stellate) are found in the country, as they wildly grow in West and North West Himalayan region of the world. (Nasir et al., 1987). This perennial plant needs several weeks of low temperature (temperature < 50C) to break its dormancy for producing beautiful flowers, as a result, its cultivation is restricted to temperate areas (Koksal et al., 2011). It is widely grown in areas with 5-100C night and 17-200C day temperature throughout the growing season (Singh, 2006). Although, it has high demand worldwide but there are only 15 tulips producing countries in the world. Among few tulip producing countries, Netherlands tops the list due to her favorable climatic conditions. The total production area of tulips in Netherlands is 10,800 hectares that contributes 60% of the world’s total production. The reason behind its limited production in the world is the inability of tulip bulbs to break dormancy under unfavorable climatic conditions. Dormancy is a state in which flower bulbs do not show any physical growth due to physical and physiological barriers. Therefore, dormancy breaking is the utmost important step while growing tulips anywhere in the world (De Klerk et al., 1992). Thus, aforementioned restrictions and sensitivity of crop towards its growth requirements has also affected its production in Pakistan. Its cultivation is restricted to Murree, Abottabad and Swat only. Some other parts of the country, including the Potohar region have great potential to grow tulip by putting in a little effort to cope with the challenge of dormancy breaking due to relatively high temperature. The winter period in Potohar region is from November to March. Moreover, December, January and February are the coldest months with a mean annual temperature between 100C to 150C. As a result, the time of planting is very critical for dormancy breaking and fast growth in such areas, as late planting would cause an abortion of flowers due to a raised field temperature at the time of flowering. In order to grow tulips in areas with mild winters different techniques are adopted that includes: pre- chilling, seed priming and protected cultivation method to achieve early growth and high yield of flowers before the temperature rises. Out of all additional efforts, seed priming can be an effective method for growing tulips in open fields because it promotes early growth and good yield (Anjum et al., 2010; Benschop et al., 2010; Kumar et al., 2013; Ramzan et al., 2014; Sarfaraz et al., 2014; Khan, 2019). Seed priming is a method of soaking seeds in solution with high osmotic potential which provides optimum level of hydration and aggravates the germination process, but don’t show the radical emergence by prolonging the lag phase. Lag phase makes the seed metabolically active and helps to convert the stored food reserves into the available form to be used during germination (Taylor et al., 1998; Reid et al., 2011; Nawaz et al., 2013). Application of different chemicals as primmer including salts (chitosan), growth regulator (gibberellic acid), plant hormone (salicylic acid), organic compounds (humic acid) and insecticides (imidacloprid) can result in a reduced forcing period, enhanced growth, early flowering and high flower yield. Therefore, careful selection of variety and use of priming as dormancy breaking technique is the essential step of Tulip cultivation in the Potohar area (Horii et al., 2007; Shakarami et al., 2013; Nakasha et al., 2014; Baldotto et al., 2016).OBJECTIVES Keeping in view that tulip is an excellent cut flower and its demand is increasing globally, present study was designed to analyze and study the effects of best concentration of different primers on early growth (vegetative and reproductive), yield and vase life of tulip in the Potohar region of Northern Punjab, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODSExperimental site and planting material: The experiment on Tulipa gesneriana L. was conducted at the experimental area, Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi with longitude 73.070 E and latitude 33.60 N, during the year 2017-2018. Tulipa gesneriana L. was established through bulbs. Tulip bulbs were purchased from reliable sources and were planted by the end of November in pots after priming treatment in open field conditions.Maintenance practice: Regular watering and fortnightly fertilizer application of NPK (Grow more (17:17:17) @ 10g/m2 was done to maintain plant health.Priming treatments: Tulip bulbs were treated with different primers including: T0 (distilled water), T1 (chitosan @ 5 g/L), T2 (gibberellic acid @ 0.15 g/L), T3 (humic acid 160 g/L), T4 (Imidacloprid 19 g/L) and T5 (salicylic acid 0.1 g/L) for 24 hours, respectively.Parameters: Both vegetative and reproductive parameters were analyzed to determine the efficacy of primers including days to sprouting of bulbs (days), plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), number of leaves, diameter of flower stem (mm), days to flower bud formation (days), days to flower opening stage (days), diameter of flower (mm), number of flowers per plant, stalk length (cm), fresh weight of flower (g), dry weight of flower (g), diameter of bulbs (mm), weight of bulbs (g), number of daughter bulbs per plant and vase life (days).Statistical analysis: Experiment was laid out randomly using Complete Randomized Design (CRD).The collected data was analyzed through appropriate statistical package i.e. MSTAT-C. Statistical significance was compared with LSD test at 5% level of significance (Steel et al., 1997).RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONEffect of priming on vegetative growth attributes: Results were exhibiting significant difference among vegetative growth attributes of the treated plants (table 1). The 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid treated plants showed early sprouting (25 days) and maximum increase in plant height (33cm), number of leaves (6), stalk length (29.05cm) and diameter of flower stem (9.66mm), followed by 5 g/L of chitosan, 160g/L of humic acid and 19 g/L of Imidacloprid, respectively. Minimum plant height (15.6cm), number of leaves (4), stalk length (12.33cm) diameter of flower stem (6.04mm) and delayed bulb sprouting (31 days) was observed in 0.1 g/L of salicylic acid. Improvement in vegetative characteristics shown by T2 plants revealed that gibberellic acid helped in dormancy breaking, cell division and elongation in actively growing plant parts (Kumar et al., 2013). As further result confirmed that the maximum leaf area (39.07cm2) was observed in control plants and treated plants didn’t show significant increase in leaf area, because of the use of energy in increasing plant height and number of leaves. Previous studies also showed that plants with more number of leaves had a less leaf area and color of the leaves was also lighter (Khangoli, 2001; Janowska and Jerzy, 2004). Moreover, the maximum amount of chlorophyll content (62) was observed in 160 g/L of humic acid followed by 5 g/L of chitosan, 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid and 19 g/L of Imidacloprid, respectively. Whereas, minimum amount of chlorophyll content was observed in 0.1 g/L of salicylic acid (58). Tulip bulbs treated with Humic acid effectively increased photosynthetic activity of the plant which in result increased the chlorophyll content of the leaves and produced more plant food. Leaf area of the humic acid treated plants was also increased as compared to other treatments that also caused an increase in the chlorophyll content of the leaves (Chanprasert et al., 2012; Salachna and Zawadzińska, 2014). Furthermore, bulb characteristics were also improved under the influence of priming. Maximum diameter (41mm) and weight of bulbs (26g) was observed in 0.15g/L of Gibberellic acid followed by 0.1g/L of salicylic acid, 5 g/L of chitosan, 19 g/L of Imidacloprid and 160 g/L of humic acid respectively. Whereas, minimum diameter (36mm) and weight (21g) of bulbs was observed in control treatment which proved the efficacy of primers in enhancing characteristics of tulip bulbs. Bulb diameter and weight was increased because of the presence of good amount of food in the bulb which helped in its growth (Arteca, 2013). Furthermore the number of daughter bulbs were maximum in 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid (4.22) and 5 g/L of Chitosan (4.22) followed by 0.1 g/L of salicylic acid and 160 g/L of Humic acid respectively. Minimum number of bulb-lets was observed in 19 g/l of Imidacloprid (3.11). Increased rate of cell division and multiplication, plus availability of good nutrition in bulbs helped to increase the number of daughter bulbs in the treated plants (Shakarami et al., 2013). Thus, results confirmed that 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid effectively improved both plant (figure 1) and bulb (figure 2) characteristics. Effect of priming on reproductive growth attributes: Results showed significant differences in plants for reproductive growth attributes in response to priming (table 2). Minimum days of bud formation (122 days) and flower opening stage (124 days) were showed by 5 g/L of chitosan followed by 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid, 160g/L of humic acid and 19 g/L of Imidacloprid, respectively. Whereas, 0.15 g/L of salicylic acid took maximum days in the formation (127 days) and opening (129 days) of flower buds. Chitosan helps plant in maintaining its vegetative and reproductive growth under stress conditions like drought and high temperature. As a result, the plant maintains its growth under stress conditions and give early flowers, because its reproductive growth attributes remain unaffected under any abiotic stress, as previously studied in orchid as well (Saniewska, 2001; Uthairatanakij et al., 2007). Moreover, the number of flowers per plant were maximum in 5 g/L of Chitosan (3.33) and 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid (3.33), followed by 160 g/L of humic acid. Whereas, 19 g/L of Imidacloprid (2.33) and 0.1 g/L of Salicylic acid (1.44) gave minimum flower yield. Along with enhancing the defense mechanism, chitosan also helped in increasing flower number in Freesia and other flowers, previously (Salachna and Zawadzińska, 2014). Furthermore, maximum fresh weight (33g) and dry weight of flower (2g) were observed in 0.15 g/L, of gibberellic acid followed by 5 g/L of chitosan, 160 g/L of humic acid and 19 g/L of imidacloprid, respectively. Minimum fresh weight of flower (12 g) and dry weight of flower (0.98 g) was observed in 0.1 g/L of salicylic acid. Gibberellic acid effectively increases plant height and diameter of stem that caused an increase in fresh and dry weight of flower due to presence of more plant nutrients and maintenance of turgidity. Diameter of the flower was maximum (40mm) in control plants, this showed priming of tulip bulbs didn’t have any effect on increasing flower size due to increase in flower number (Rashad et al., 2009; Hashemabadi, 2010). Thus, the aforementioned results confirmed that 5 g/L chitosan was most effective in improving floral attributes (figure 3) of tulip.Effect of priming on vase life: According to results (table 3), 5 g/L of Chitosan and 0.1 g/L of salicylic acid showed maximum vase life (8 days) followed by 19 g/L of imidacloprid, 0.15 g/L of gibberellic acid and 160 g/L of humic acid, respectively. Flowers under control treatment showed minimum vase life (6) as compared to treated plants. Chitosan improved the quality of flower by maintaining its size, color and freshness, but most importantly, it provided protection against many pathogenic fungi that can attack tulip and cause senescence of the flower. As a result of fungal protection and resistance against abiotic stresses, Tulip flower showed increased post-harvest quality and vase life (Saniewska, 2001). In Lilium flower it helped to decrease the production of ethylene and respiration rate and helped in increasing its vase life (Kim et al., 2004).CONCLUSIONPresent research proved that treatment of tulip bulbs with different primers at their best selected concentration levels was an effective method of enhancing early growth and yield in an area with relatively high temperature as compared to temperate region. The Tulip plants showed improvement in sprouting, plant height, number of leaves, chlorophyll content of leaf, leaf area, early flowering, flower size, number of flowers, stalk length, stem diameter, bulbs weight and diameter, number of bulb-lets and vase life. Thus, this method can be used in future for the production of Tulips under tropical and sub-tropical areas.CONFLICT OF INTERESTAuthors have no conflict of interest.REFERENCESAhmad, A., H. Rashid, R. Sajjad, S. Mubeen, B. Ajmal and M. Khan, 2014. Enhancing the vase life of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) using various pulsing solutions of humic acid and npk. International journal of plant, animal environmental sciences, 4(2): 193-200.Ahsan, M., S. Rehman, A. Younis, A. Riaz, U. Tariq and R. Waqas, 2012. Different strategies to create earliness and enhance quality of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Single. Asian journal of pharmaceutical biological research, 2(1): 84-88.Anjum, S. A., L. Wang, J. Salhab, I. Khan and M. Saleem, 2010. An assessment of drought extent and impacts in agriculture sector in Pakistan. Journal of food, agriculture environment, 8(3/4 part 2): 1359-1363.Arteca, R. N., 2013. Plant growth substances: Principles and applications. Springer Science & Business Media.Baldotto, M. A., J. E. da Rocha, F. D. P. Andrade, M. P. Del Giúdice and L. E. B. Baldotto, 2016. The plant stimulant humic acid extracted from organic waste recycled by composting combined with liming and fertilization. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 37(6): 3955-3963.Benschop, M., R. Kamenetsky, M. Le Nard, H. Okubo and A. De Hertogh, 2010. The global flower bulb industry: Production, utilization, research. Horticultural reviews, 36(1): 1-115.Buschman, J., 2004. Globalisation-flower-flower bulbs-bulb flowers. In: IX International Symposium on Flower Bulbs 673. pp: 27-33.Chanprasert, W., T. Myint, S. Srikul and O. Wongsri, 2012. Effect of thiamethoxam and imidacloprid treatment on germination and seedling vigour of dry-heated seed of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq). African journal of agricultural research, 7(48): 6408-6412.De Klerk, G.-J., I. Delvallée and A. Paffen, 1992. Dormancy release of micropropagated bulblets of lilium speciosum after long culture in soil. HortScience, 27(2): 147-148.Hashemabadi, D., 2010. Yield and quality management of rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Poison) with plant growth regulators. Plant omics, 3(6): 167.Horii, A., P. McCue and K. Shetty, 2007. Enhancement of seed vigour following insecticide and phenolic elicitor treatment. Bioresource technology, 98(3): 623-632.Janowska, B. and M. Jerzy, 2004. Effect of gibberellic acid on the post-harvest flower longevity of Zantedeschia elliottiana (w. Wats) engl. Hortorum cultus, 3(1): 3-9.Jhon, A. and Neelofar, 2006. Tulip in: Bulbous ornamental and aquatic plants, advances in ornamental horticulture. Advances in ornamental horticulture, 3: 1-72.Khan, S., 2019. Climate classification of pakistan. International journal of economic environmental geology, 10(2): 60-71.Khangoli, S., 2001. Potential of growth regulators on control of size and flowering of ornamental plants. In: Proc. First applied Sciiences seminar on flowering and ornamental plants. Mahallat, Iran. pp: 75-76.Kim, J.-H., A.-K. Lee and J.-K. Suh, 2004. Effect of certain pre-treatment substances on vase life and physiological character in Lilium spp. In: IX international symposium on flower bulbs 673. pp: 307-314.Koksal, N., H. Gulen and A. Eris, 2011. Dormancy in tulip (tulipa gesneriana l.) bulbs and freesia (Freesia refracta Klatt.) corms: Changes in soluble proteins and apx activity. Journal of food, agriculture environment, 9(2): 535-539.Kumar, R., N. Ahmed, D. B. Singh, O. C. Sharma, S. Lal and M. M. Salmani, 2013. Enhancing blooming period and propagation coefficient of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) using growth regulators. African journal of biotechnology, 12(2).Nakasha, J. J., U. R. Sinniah, A. Puteh and S. A. Hassan, 2014. Potential regulatory role of gibberellic and humic acids in sprouting of Chlorophytum borivilianum tubers. The scientific world journal, 1: 1-9.Nasir, E., Y. J. Nasir and R. Akhter, 1987. Wild flowers of rawalpindi-islamabd districts, national herbarium, PARC, garden graphics Ltd. Karachi, Pakistan.Nawaz, J., M. Hussain, A. Jabbar, G. A. Nadeem, M. Sajid, M. U. Subtain and I. Shabbir, 2013. International journal of agriculture crop sciences. 6(20): 1373.Ramzan, F., A. Younis, A. Riaz, S. Ali, M. I. Siddique and K.-B. Lim, 2014. Pre-planting exogenous application of gibberellic acid influences sprouting, vegetative growth, flowering, and subsequent bulb characteristics of ‘ad-rem’tulip. Horticulture, environment, biotechnology, 55(6): 479-488.Rashad, E.-S. M., M. S. A. Abd El-Wahed and A. A. Amin, 2009. Effect of-sitosterol and gibberellic acid on leaf angle, growth, flowering and biochemical constituents of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). Medicinal aromatic plant science biotechnology, 3(1): 21-27.Reid, J. B., S. E. Davidson and J. J. Ross, 2011. Auxin acts independently of della proteins in regulating gibberellin levels. Plant signaling behavior, 6(3): 406-408.Salachna, P. and A. Zawadzińska, 2014. Effect of chitosan on plant growth, flowering and corms yield of potted freesia. Journal of ecological engineering, 15(3): 97-102.Saniewska, A., 2001. The effect of chitosan on limitation of growth and development of some pathogenic fungi for ornamental plants. Acta agrobotanica, 54(1): 17-29.Sarfaraz, S., M. H. Arsalan and H. Fatima, 2014. Regionalizing the climate of Pakistan using köppen classification system. Pakistan geographical review, 69: 111-132.Shakarami, K., R. Naderi, M. Babalar and Z. Hamzehei, 2013. The effect of different concentrations of gibberellic acid on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three cultivars lacourtine, yokohama and red favourite tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.). Journal of ornamental plants, 3(4): 251-257.Singh, A., 2006. Flower crops: Cultivation and management. new India publishing.Steel, R. G., J. H. Torrie and D. A. Dickey, 1997. Principles and procedures of statistics: A biological approach. McGraw-Hill.Taylor, A., P. Allen, M. Bennett, K. Bradford, J. Burris and M. Misra, 1998. Seed enhancements. Seed science research, 8(2): 245-256.Uthairatanakij, A., J. Teixeira da Silva and K. Obsuwan, 2007. Chitosan for improving orchid production and quality. Orchid science biotechnology, 1(1): 1-5.Younis, A., A. Riaz, S. Saleem and M. Hameed, 2009. Potential use of wild flowers in urban landscape. In: II International Conference on Landscape and Urban Horticulture 881. pp: 229-233.

Fritillaria imperialis and Fritillaria persica are important medicinal and ornamental plants that are native to Iran. Wild populations of Fritillaria are at risk of extinction. For the first time, capability of developmental stages in respect to induction of different morphogenesis pathways from petal tissue was studied in detail. The developmental stages were green unopened flowers, colored unopened flowers, and open flowers. Direct bulblet regeneration and direct somatic embryogenesis were observed from green unopened flowers in both F. imperialis and F. persica. More bulblet regeneration was produced in F. imperialis in contrast with F. persica in colored unopened flowers. Somatic embryogenesis via callus was established in green unopened flowers of F. persica with cold pretreatment. The effect of light on induction of different morphogenesis pathways was nonsignificant except for green unopened flowers of F. persica with cold treatment. Our results showed that the developmental stages of petal explants play a significant role in micropropagation of Fritillaria and induction of different morphogenesis pathways.

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) is one of the most popular ornamental plants in the world, used as cut or vase flower. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of milk in natura to control powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) on gerbera. The treatments tested were: two concentrations of cow's milk in natura (8 and 16%), with and without adjuvant (vegetal oil), three fungicides (fenarimol -6 g a.i.100 L-1 H2O, chlorothalonil -150 g a.i.100 L-1 H2O and azoxystrobin + mineral oil - 10 g a.i.100 L-1 H2O) and control treatment. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated for each plot based on disease severity. Milk in natura applied with adjuvant controlled the disease and did not allow the infection and development of pathogen. The addition of adjuvant improves the efficiency of milk in natura, but it requires subsequent washing of plants with H2O + detergent. The fungicide fenarimol promoted the best control and also the best gerbera visual aspect. The fungicide azoxystrobin + mineral oil and the chlorothalonil were phytotoxic to gerbera plants, affecting the aspect of leaves and flowers.

Cut flower ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is a biennial cultivar, which completes a sexual reproductive generation in two years. Isolated microspore culture (IMC) can accelerate plant homozygosity instead of self-pollinations. However, the application of IMC in cut flower ornamental kale was rare since its low rate of embryogenesis. It is proved that histone acetylation might affect the gene expression in microspores and led to the transformation of microspores from pollen development pathway to embryogenesis. In this paper, microspores, derived from three varieties of cut flower ornamental kale, Crane Bicolor (CB), Crane Pink (CP) and Crane Feather Queen (CFQ), were treated with histone deacetylation inhibitor (HDACI) trichostatin A (TSA). Results revealed that the appropriate concentration of TSA was 10 nM for CB with obtaining 5.39 embryos per bud, while for CP and CFQ was 5 nM with acquiring 10.89 and 16.99 embryos per bud, respectively. TSA treatment also reduced the embryonic mortality, of which 10 nM TSA treatments CB was the optimal and the embryonic mortality decreased to 25.01%. The double haploid (DH) proportion of regenerated plants reached 37.3%. These results contribute to improving the technology for IMC in cut flower ornamental kale.

Gerbera is used as a cut flower and has gained popularity as ornamental flower and great demand in the world market for ornamental plants. Micropropagation is used to meet the demand for commercial planting material. The objective was to evaluate the BAP and ANA phytoregulators effect gerberas in vitro multiplication. The explants were inoculated in MS culture medium containing different concentrations of BAP (0.0; 2.22; 4.44; 8.88 and 17.76 µmol L-1) and ANA (0.0; 1.34; 2.68 and 5.36 µmol L-1). After eight weeks, the number of shoots formed in each explant and the average length of the shoots were evaluated. Was possible to establish and recommend an ideal concentration of BAP and ANA for each gerbera genotype.

Abstract Bauhinia species (including B. acuminata, B. variegata, B. purpurea, B. monandra, B. galpinii, B. blakeana and B. acuminata) are popular ornamental plants, usually woody ornamentals or herbaceous lianas, with attractive flowers typical of the Leguminosae of arid, temperate, sub-tropical and tropical zones. Bauhinia species also serve as fodder and many have multiple medicinal and biological properties. There is an interest in commerce and amongst collectors to clonally propagate species from this genus. This review highlights protocols that currently exist for the in vitro culture of Bauhinia species as a means to clonally propagate material.

Abstract Indonesia has diverse flora and fauna, and many species remain largely undiscovered. Documentation and identification of threatened wild ornamental species are increasingly difficult due to ongoing exploitation and land conversion. Mount Prau is one of the popular destinations in Central Java, Indonesia for tourism. Understanding plant biodiversity has enormous value for the economy, ecology, culture, science, and recreation. Our study is aimed to record the diversity and identify the flowering plant species in their native habitat at Mount Prau, Central Java, Indonesia. Our field surveys demonstrated that Mount Prau has abundant wild ornamental plants with wide diversity of taxa, growth habits, and forms. A total of 103 species representing 51 families and 95 genera are identified including trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas. We also found that among the plant species found in Mount Prau, 24 have morphological characters suitable to be cultivated as ornamental flowers, and 12 as ornamental foliages, and 63 species are medicinal plants. The ornamental criteria of these species were based on the literature describing the morphological and unique characters of leaves and flowers that made them potential to be developed as ornamental plants. In this paper we have provided the current conservation status of the plant species identified and recommendations on their conservation. This study provides baseline data of species found in the Mount Prau areas, and this information could be helpful for further conservations efforts and initiatives.

Bidens sulphurea (synonym Cosmos sulphureus) (Asteraceae), commonly known as yellow cosmos, is a native herbaceous species from Mexico that is widely used as an ornamental. It has been introduced in Brazil and has escaped from gardens, becoming a minor weed in ruderal, crop and pasture areas (2). In June 2010, groups of B. sulphurea individuals were found in a garden at the locality of Piúna, municipality of Viçosa (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil), that were severely attacked by gray mold. The disease led to flower rot with dieback of infected peduncles and stems. Plant tissues became brown to grayish brown and were covered by extensive fungal sporulation; in addition, seeds were colonized and destroyed by the fungus. A hyphomycete was regularly found associated with the diseased flowers, which was readily recognized as having a morphology typical of Botrytis cinerea: conidiophores solitary, cylindrical, terminally branched, 15 to 20 μm wide, grayish to olivaceous gray, and smooth; conidiogenous cells polyblastic, subcylindrical to ampulliform, and 120 to 230 × (13-) 14 to 16 (-19) μm; conidia ellipsoid to obovoid, 8 to 12 × 6.5 to 8 (-9) μm, with a discrete hilum at the base, 1 to 2 μm, aseptate, and hyaline. The fungus was isolated in pure culture and inoculation of one isolate on healthy B. suphurea individuals was carried out with a 2.14 × 106 conidia/ml suspension, which was sprayed to runoff onto three plants bearing four to six inflorescences. All plants were left in a moist chamber for 48 h and later transferred to a bench in a greenhouse at 21 ± 3°C. Gray mold symptoms appeared after 10 days that led to rapid and complete necrosis of flowers and peduncles. Infection first appeared on the flowers but progressed downward, leading to top dieback and finally plant death (not seen in the field). Only Botrytis cinerea was obtained in isolations from diseased flowers, demonstrating the pathogenicity of the fungus. A representative sample was deposited in the UFV herbarium (VIC 31602). The only other record of Botrytis cinerea causing gray mold of B. sulphurea is from China (1,3). To our knowledge, this is the first record of Botrytis cinerea causing gray mold on B. sulphurea in Brazil. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, ARS, UDSA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , 2011. (2) H. Lorenzi and H. M. Souza. Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil. Plantarum, Nova Odessa, Brazil. 1995. (3) Z. Zhang. Flora Fungorum Sinicorum. Vol. 26. Botrytis, Ramularia. Science Press, Beijing, China. 2006.

Wetland restoration is an important way to improve ecosystem services, but many wetland nurseries lack the facilities that are traditionally used to produce large numbers of native plants used in these projects. Our goal was to evaluate growth and performance of four wetland species in a variety of substrates, fertilizer regimes, and irrigation methods under greenhouse conditions. Plants were grown in pots with drainage holes filled with one of four substrates (potting substrate, topsoil, sand, 50/50 mix of topsoil, and sand) amended with 0, 1, 2, or 4 g of 15N–3.9P–10K controlled-release fertilizer per liter of substrate. Irrigation was supplied via an overhead system or subirrigation. After 16 weeks of production, plants were scored for visual quality and plant height before a destructive harvest. Broadleaf sagittaria (Sagittaria latifolia) was mostly unaffected by substrate type but performed best when subirrigated and fertilized with 4 g·L−1 of fertilizer. Growth of skyflower (Hydrolea corymbosa) and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) was best when fertilized with 2 or 4 g·L−1 of fertilizer and grown using overhead irrigation. String lily (Crinum americanum) was unaffected by substrate type but produced the largest plants when subirrigated. These experiments provide guidance for cultivating these wetland species under greenhouse conditions, which may allow growers to efficiently produce plant material needed for the restoration market.

The gerbera is a prominent culture that has gained in the Brazilian market of flowers and ornamental plants and there is a great demand for adequate substrates for its production. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and distribution of dry mass and nitrogen in potted gerbera, depending on the substrates and cultivars. Experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5x2 factorial arrangement (5 substrates and 2 cultivars). Red and Cherry cultivars were evaluated at 1, 15, 29, 43 and 50 days of acclimation (DAA) to the leaves number, leaf area, dry mass of aerial parts (leaf and flower) and accumulation of nitrogen. From 29 DAA, the inflorescence has established as the drain and has contributed significantly to the total dry mass. The accumulation of nitrogen was similar in vegetative and reproductive periods. The traits evaluated varied depending on the substrate used, influenced by physical and chemical properties of the same. The growth, dry matter and nitrogen distribution potted gerbera cultivars Cherry and Red are influenced by physical and chemical characteristics of substrates, with better results in substrates with bulk density of less than 530 kg m-3 and pH values between 5.5 and 6.8

Three intergeneric hybrids among colchicaceous ornamentals, Gloriosa superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 22), Littonia modesta (2n = 2x = 22), and Sandersonia aurantiaca (2n = 2x = 24), were subjected to morphological characterization and chromosome observation. Hybrid plants produced flowers 2 to 3 years after transplantation of ovule culture-derived plantlets to the greenhouse. All the hybrid plants, L. modesta × S. aurantiaca, L. modesta × G. superba ‘Lutea’, and S. aurantiaca × G. superba ‘Lutea’, showed a climbing habit like those of L. modesta and G. superba ‘Lutea’. Plants of L. modesta × S. aurantiaca and L. modesta × G. superba ‘Lutea’ were taller and shorter than their respective parents, whereas plant height of S. aurantiaca × G. superba ‘Lutea’ was nearly intermediate between the parents. Leaves of all the hybrids had a tendril at the tip like those of L. modesta and G. superba ‘Lutea’. Flower morphologies of all the hybrids were nearly intermediate between the parents. Flower colors of all the hybrids were similar to the seed or pollen parent. Although hybrids of L. modesta × G. superba ‘Lutea’ showed low pollen fertility as assessed with acetocarmine staining, the other two kinds of hybrids had nondehiscent anthers or no fertile pollen grains. Chromosome observation in root tip cells revealed that all the hybrids had a diploid number of chromosomes: L. modesta × S. aurantiaca (2n = 2x = 23), L. modesta × G. superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 22), and S. aurantiaca × G. superba ‘Lutea’ (2n = 2x = 23). Novel morphological characteristics of the hybrids may be valuable for future breeding of colchicaceous ornamentals.

Abstract Ruscus is an evergreen shrub that offers dark-green glossy foliage used as green additions to bouquets and flower arrangements. One of the most significant ways to obtain new varieties of crop and ornamental plants is to induce mutations by radiation. Gamma radiation is most commonly used to obtain mutants in commercial food as well as feed crops and ornamental plants. In this study, we developed tissue culture methods for Ruscus proliferation from rhizomes to obtain rhizomes clusters. These clusters were subsequently irradiated with Gamma rays to obtain unique phenotypes, such as: elongated narrow phylloclades modified stem symmetry and dwarfed growth habit. Such Ruscus types can contribute to the expansion of the floral industry.

In horticulture and floriculture, plants are predominantly propagated vegetatively from stem cuttings. Consequently, the success of propagation depends on a plant’s capacity to form adventitious roots (AR) at the basal part of the cutting, and AR formation depends on the interaction between flavonoids and plant hormones in the basal part. In ornamental plants, flavonoid accumulation is important for flower color and can interact with plant hormone activity. In this study, we used an aeroponic system to culture two Campanula portenschlagiana genotypes contrasting in flower color to estimate cultivar differences in AR formation, flavonoid concentrations, and hormone composition. We found a greater accumulation of flavonols and flavones in petals in a blue-flowered genotype than in a white-flowered genotype. The blue-flowered genotype also accumulated more flavonols and flavones in the basal part of cuttings and showed better AR formation. The better AR formation in the blue-colored genotype was related to a greater accumulation of auxin and a lower accumulation of ABA in the basal part of the cuttings. In conclusion, higher flavonoid levels in the basal part of cuttings may interact with hormone action to affect excision-induced AR formation during the vegetative propagation of Campanula.

Abstract Hybrids among African, Indian, and New Guinea Impatiens were euploids and sterile. All but a few developed into normal mature plants. Classification of certain hybrid traits showed 115 mid-parental, 75 either seed- or pollen-parental, and 17 resembling neither parent. Data from phenotypic analysis of hybrids and parents suggested that the following phylogenetic trends could have been conditioned by dominant or partially dominant genes: from equal to unequal petals, flat to hooded dorsal petal, racemose to epedunculate inflorescence, nearly free to markedly fused lateral petals, and lower sepal and a filiform spur to bucciniform or saccate lower sepal. Spiral phyllotaxy was dominant over whorled. Crosses thought to be useful in ornamental breeding were I. auricoma × I. sultani ‘Elfin White’ or New Guinea species for yellow flowers, I. uguenensis × New Guinea or I. flaccida for drought tolerance, and I. flaccida × I. repens or ‘Elfin White’ for double flowers.

The article presents the results of botanical and geographical analysis of the cultivated flora of the Karshi oasis. It was revealed that the assortment of flower and ornamental plants of the cultivated flora of the Karshi oasis consists of 41 species. The largest number of species comes from the Caribbean (24.3 %), Mediterranean (19.5 %), Brazilian (14.6 %) and Atlantic-North American (14.6 %) floristic regions. It has been established that xerophilic representatives of the arid regions of North America and the Mediterranean region are promising for the Karshi oasis. For a successful culture of representatives of Caribbean and Brazilian origin, it is recommended to use a seedling method of growing and plant them in open ground as early as possible.

Meristem culture and/or thermotherapy were used for virus elimination from ornamental Phlox paniculata L. (`Blue Boy', `Orange perfection' and `Starfire') mother plants. Shoot tip, leaf, node and flower ovary explants collected from greenhouse-maintained virus free plants were cultured in vitro for shoot initiation. Adventitious shoot initiation was observed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing the cytokinin BA with or without the auxin NAA. The addition of 0.4 mg·L-1 thiamine, 0.4 mg·L-1 folic acid, and 40 mg·L-1 adenine sulfate to the MS medium did not improve the regeneration rate. Multiplication and rooting were genotype dependent. Blue Boy and Orange Perfection cultivars regenerated the maximum number of shoots from leaf explants. `Blue Boy' leaf explants from in vitro plants had a lower regeneration rate than explants from greenhouse plants. Cultivar `Starfire' had the highest shoot formation with open flower ovary explants and failed to regenerate from leaf explants. In vitro rooting of adventitious shoots in the presence of auxins (IAA, NAA, or IBA) with or without BA was less effective than ex vitro rooting. Chemical names used: 6-benzyladenine (BA); indole-acetic acid (IAA); indole-3-butyric acid (IBA); α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA).

Sansevieria Thunb. species are traditionally known as succulent ornamental plants worldwide. They are also cultivated for medicinal, fodder, soil conservation and fiber uses, and for their capacity to reduce environmental pollution. Sansevieria sexual propagation is limited by the lack of viable seeds, and reproduction is largely made via vegetative propagation by suckers or cuttings. For these reasons, genetic improvement by conventional breeding is limited. To overcome this problem and to address the increasing demand from customers for novel Sansevieria varieties, many commercial companies regularly use in vitro propagation, as is the case in the breeding process of several ornamental plants. In this paper, for the first time, we report a procedure for in vitro somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration starting from three flower explants for seven different Sansevieria genotypes. Regeneration was attempted using stigmas/styles, anther/filament, and ovary which were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog solidified medium under three different plant growth regulator combinations. A good regeneration rate was obtained with all genotypes used under all culture conditions tested from every explant type, with percentages ranging from 0 to 73.3%. “Genetic stability” assessment of regenerated plants in respect to their mother plants was verified through flow cytometry analysis showing a high degree of uniformity, with only S. parva exhibiting a different level of DNA fluorescence among in vitro regenerated plants. This is an interesting achievement in the aim to produce true-to-type plants and new variants with desirable characteristics, both of which are desired features in ornamentals improvement.

This research was conducted to investigate the potentials of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a Soil-Plant Analyses Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter, and leaf nitrogen (N) concentration [% dry matter (DM)] for rapid determination of N status in potted geraniums (Pelargonium ×hortorum). Two F1 cultivars were chosen to represent a dark-green leaf cultivar, Horizon Deep Red, and a light-green leaf cultivar, Horizon Tangerine, and were grown in a soilless culture system. All standard 6-inch (15.24-cm) pots filled with a medium received an initial top-dress application of 5 g controlled-release fertilizer (15N–9P–12K), then plants were supplemented with additional N in the form of urea at 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg·L−1 N every few days to produce plants ranging from N-deficient to N-sufficient. The NDVI readings of individual plants from a NDVI pocket sensor developed by Oklahoma State University were collected weekly until the flowering stage. Data on flower traits, including number of pedicels (NOP), number of full umbels per pot (NOFU), total number of flowers per pot (TNF), number of flowers per pedicel (NOF), and inflorescences diameter (IFD), were collected 3 months after initial fertilizer treatment. After measuring flower traits, pedicels were removed from each pot, and SPAD value, NDVI, and leaf N concentration (g·kg−1 DM) were measured simultaneously. Cultivar and N rate significantly affected all but two flower and one N status parameters studied. The coefficient of determination R2 showed that NOP, NOFU, and TNF traits were more related to the N rates and the status parameters studied for ‘Horizon Tangerine’ than for ‘Horizon Deep Red’. For the latter cultivar, NOP and TNF traits were highly related to NDVI and SPAD values than N rates and leaf N content parameters. Correlation analysis indicated that the NDVI readings (R2 = 0.848 and 0.917) and SPAD values (R2 = 0.861 and 0.950) were significantly related to leaf N content (g·kg−1 DM) between cultivars. However, sensitivity of the NDVI and chlorophyll values to N application rate in geranium was slightly less than leaf N content. Strong correlations (R2 = 0.974 and 0.979, respectively) between NDVI and SPAD values were found within cultivars. The results demonstrated NDVI and SPAD values can be used to estimate N status in geranium. Because the pocket NDVI sensor will be cheaper than the SPAD unit, it has an advantage in determining N content in potted ornamentals.

According to one of the modern trends, botanical gardens located within the city limits should be their structural part not only in the territorial, but also in the functional aspect. Therefore, the purpose of the work is a scientifically based selection of representatives of the genus Hosta L. from the collection of the laboratory of ornamental plants of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS) — cultivars that are promising for use in urban landscape compositions and the development of various variants of flower compositions. The object of research is a sample of representatives of the genus Hosta from the collection of the laboratory of ornamental plants of the MBG RAS, containing 23 names. The composition of the sample population is formed on the basis of taking into account four criteria: 1) stability in culture; 2) belonging of varieties to different garden groups; 3) sufficient prevalence of the variety; 4) high coefficient of vegetative reproduction. Statistical processing of experimental data was carried out in accordance with classical methods using the program «STATISTICA Base». The development of models of flower beds is based on the methods and techniques generally accepted in the design of landscape compositions using the AutoCAD program. In the course of the conducted research, the selection of promising representatives of the genus Hosta for urban gardening was carried out and eight variants of flower compositions were proposed (rockery, 2 groups and 5 mixborders). It was found that in all the representatives of the genus Hosta recommended for use, the influence of genetic features dominates in the structure of variability of the studied quantitative characteristics, which provides a high probability of preserving the planned structure of flower compositions during the operation of the landscape architecture object.

Bananas are a popular ornamental plant in the southern U.S. However, normally only a few cultivars, such as `Lady Finger' and `Orinoco', are grown in Georgia. Thirty-three primarily commercial cultivars of bananas were grown for two years near Savannah, Georgia to determine their suitability for ornamental and nursery production. Most plants were grown from tissue culture plugs. They where given rates of fertilization used for commercial banana fruit production. Most cultivars produced 10 to 14 leaves and grew to heights of 1.5 to 2.0 m. Some displayed desirable ornamental characteristics such as pink tinted pseudostems, colorful flowers, and large graceful leaves. Many of the cultivars flowered and began producing fruit in late summer, although only `1780', `Raja Puri' and `Sweetheart' produced palatable fruit before frost in November in some years. Cultivars were also rated for their ability to produce suckers that can be used for nursery production. In year two, `1780' and `Manzano' produced the largest number of high quality suckers for nursery production. For the planting as a whole, sales of suckers at a field day averaged $7/per plant in year 2 and $17/per plant in year 3.

Bananas (Musa spp.) are a popular ornamental plant in the southern United States; however, only a few cultivars, such as Lady's Finger and Orinoco, are grown in Georgia. Thirty-three primarily commercial cultivars of bananas were grown for 2 years near Savannah, Georgia, to determine their suitability for ornamental and nursery production, and for 3 years for fruit observations. Most plants were grown from tissue culture plugs. They were given rates of fertilization used for commercial banana fruit production. Most cultivars produced 10 to 14 leaves and grew to heights of 1.5 to 2.0 m. Some displayed desirable ornamental characteristics such as pink-tinted pseudostems, colorful flowers, and large graceful leaves. Some of the most attractive tall-growing cultivars were Belle, Ice Cream, Kandarian, Manzano, Saba, and 1780. Some of the most attractive medium-height cultivars were Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Orinoco, Goldfinger, Raja Puri, and Super Plantain. In the short category, the cultivars Dwarf Nino, Gran Nain, Kru, and Sum X Cross were among the most attractive ornamentals. Many of the cultivars flowered and began producing fruit in late summer, although only ‘Raja Puri’, ‘Sweetheart’, and ‘1780’ produced palatable fruit before frost in November. Cultivars were also rated for their ability to produce suckers that could be used for nursery production. In year 2, ‘Manzano’ and ‘1780’ produced more than six high-quality suckers for nursery propagation. Potential income for these cultivars was over $60 per plant. For the planting as a whole, sales of suckers at a field day averaged $7 per plant in year 2, and $17 per plant in year 3.

Ornamental geophytes comprise a large and diverse group of plants characterized by underground storage organs that serve the obvious function of reserve storage and subsequent supply during early stages of shoot growth. Relative to many agronomic and horticultural crops, the fundamental physiological bases of carbon metabolism, partitioning, and utilization in geophytes are unclear. One reason is diversity in organ morphology (bulb, corm, tuber, root, rhizome, etc.), storage carbohydrate (starch, fructan, glucomannan, etc.), and growth habit (e.g., synanthous vs. hysteranthous flowering). Knowledge of factors that control accumulation and mobilization of carbohydrate reserves may lead to manipulations that considerably improve the quality and culture of these crops. We are utilizing a variety of techniques and experimental systems to study selected internal and external controls or influences on geophyte carbohydrate metabolism and partitioning. Specific examples to be discussed include bulb storage temperature effects on starch and fructan metabolism in Tulipa, effects of carbon source and dormancy breaking treatments on starch and glucomannan metabolism in in vitro-grown Lilium bulblets, photoperiod control of fructan accumulation in Dahlia seedlings, and biochemical and molecular features of soluble and wall-bound invertases in developing Lilium longiflorum flower buds.

CONSUMO DE ÁGUA E PRODUÇÃO DA FLOR DA FORTUNA CV. GOLD JEWEL SOB DIFERENTES LÂMINAS DE IRRIGAÇÃO Marcia Xavier Peiter1; Ana Rita Costenaro Parizi2; Adroaldo Dias Robaina3; Fátima Cibele Soares41Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Santiago,RS, mpeiter@urisantiago.br2Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS3Departamento de Engenharia Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 4Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Santiago, RS 1 RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a lâmina de irrigação, que conduza a flor da fortuna à máxima eficiência técnica para comercialização como espécie ornamental de vaso. O cultivo foi no interior de uma estufa de plástico e o consumo de água da cultura foi determinado por meio da equação do balanço hídrico. As plantas foram submetidas a oito lâminas diárias equivalentes a 100%, 90%, 75%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 25% e 12% da capacidade de vaso. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado. Os caracteres de produção da cultura analisados foram altura de plantas, número total final de folhas, número de inflorescências por planta e número de flores por inflorescência. A componente de consumo de água foi a única avaliada que melhor ajustou-se ao modelo linear. Os caracteres de altura de plantas, número de inflorescências por planta, número total de folhas e número médio de flores por inflorescência e por planta demonstraram melhor ajustamento significativo à função quadrática. As lâminas de irrigação com máxima eficiência técnica variaram de 9 a11 mm.dia-1 para os componentes de rendimento final, com exceção do número total de folhas que apresentou maximização com o nível de 3 mm.dia-1. UNITERMOS: Produção de flor, déficit hídrico, evapotranspiração, ambiente protegido PEITER, M.X.; PARIZI, A. R. C., ROBAINA, A.D.; SOARES, F.C.; WATER CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION OF FLAMING CATHY CV. GOLD JEWEL UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS 2 ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the irrigation level that produces the maximum technical efficiency for commercialization of an ornamental plant pot of Flaming Cathy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln). Water use was determined by water balance and gravimetric lysimeter method. Plants were submitted to eight irrigation levels with daily water depth corresponding to 100%, 90%, 75%, 60%, 50%, 40% e 25% of pot capacity. The experiment used an experimental randomized design with ten replications. The used analysis parameters were plant height, final total number of leaves, number of inflorescences per.plant-1, number of flowers per.inflorescence-1 at each plant. Water use was the only analyzed parameter that showed linear adjustment. Plant height, number of inflorescences.plant-1 and number of flowers. inflorescence–1 were directly proportional to quadratic function, but the number of leaves decreased under higher water depth levels. Water depth levels with maximum technical efficiency varied from 9 to 11 mm.day-1 for all analyzed parameters, except for the final total number of leaves. KEYWORDS: flower yield, water deficit, evapotranspiration, protect environment

Água de REÚSO no cultivo de gladíolo em sistema hidropônico DOUGLAS ROBERTO BIZARI1*; JOÃO VICTOR FRANCO BATTIBUGLI2; JEAN CARLOS CARDOSO3; RODRIGO GAZAFFI3 E CLAUDINEI FONSECA SOUZA1 1Professor, Departamento de Recursos Naturais e Proteção Ambiental, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, C.P. – Araras, SP – Brasil. E-mail: douglasbizari@gmail.com; fonsecasouzac@gmail.com 2Bacharel em Agroecologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, CEP 13600-970 – Araras, SP – Brasil. E-mail: joaofranco23@hotmail.com 3Professor, Departamento de Biotecnologia e Produção Vegetal e Animal, Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCar, CEP 13600-970 – Araras, SP – Brasil. E-mail: jeancardosoctv@gmail.com; rgazaffi@gmail.com 1 RESUMO A utilização de água de reúso tratada é uma alternativa para minimizar o volume de água captada necessário à agricultura irrigada. Ao mesmo tempo, o consumo de alimentos produzidos com efluente doméstico tratado ainda apresenta entrave cultural, sendo então, uma alternativa o cultivo de flores e plantas ornamentais. Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o desenvolvimento de gladíolo em cultivo hidropônico, utilizando-se água residuária tratada no Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com três tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: água de abastecimento + fertilizantes (TAF), água de reúso + fertilizantes (TRF) e apenas água de reúso (TR). Para a avaliação das plantas foram realizadas as medições de altura de planta (AP), número total de folhas por planta (NFP), comprimento da haste floral (CH), número de botões florais por haste (NBF) e diâmetro das pétalas (DP). A água de reúso tratada pode ser uma fonte alternativa para o cultivo hidropônico de gladíolo. Os resultados obtidos no TRF para o desenvolvimento da cultura e qualidade das suas flores foram similares ao TAF. A utilização apenas de TR não é indicada para o cultivo hidropônico de gladíolo, pois não possibilitou que as plantas completassem seu ciclo até o florescimento. Palavras-chave: água de reúso, hidroponia, floricultura, sustentabilidade. BIZARI, D. R,; BATTIBUGLI, J. V. F.; CARDOSO, J. C.; GAZAFFI, R.; SOUZA, C. F. REUSE WATER IN THE GLADIOLUS CULTIVATION IN HYDROPONIC SYSTEM 2 ABSTRACT The use of treated wastewater is an alternative to reduce the amount water needed to irrigate agriculture. At the same time, the consumption of food produced with use of treated effluent is still a cultural obstacle, so, the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants is an alternative. This study aimed at assessing the development of gladiolus in hydroponic system using treated reuse water in the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of São Carlos. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three treatments and four replications: water supply + fertilizers (TAF), reuse water + fertilizers (TRF) and only reuse water (TR). Plant height (AP), number of leaves per plant (NFP), inflorescence stem length (CH), number of flower buds per stem (NBF) and diameter of petals (SD) were evaluated. Reuse water can be used for gladiolus cultivation in hydroponic system. Results obtained in TRF for the development of the culture and quality of flowers were similar to those of TAF. The use of TR alone is not indicated for gladiolus cultivation in hydroponic system, once the plants died before flowering. Keywords: reuse water, hydroponic system, floriculture, sustainability.

Les plantes ornementales peuvent participer à la diversité végétale d’un territoire. En Côte d’Ivoire, la diversité des espèces ornementales entrant dans la production des fleurs et feuillages coupés, n’est pas suffisamment documentée. Cette étude a été entreprise pour identifier les sources principales d’approvisionnement des vendeurs de fleurs et feuillages coupés vendus sur les marchés d’Abidjan et évaluer la diversité de ces plantes ainsi que les pratiques paysannes de production. De Février à Juin 2020, des enquêtes ethnobotaniques ont été réalisées à Abidjan et dans la ville d’Azaguié citée à travers des prospections préliminaires, comme principale zone de production. Un total de 88 espèces de plantes ornementales a été recensé. Elles étaient majoritairement exotiques et 50% se rencontraient sur les marchés locaux ; le reste étant vendu à l’extérieur du pays. Dans la ville d’Azaguié, 86,4% de ces espèces étaient cultivées par des paysans sur des parcelles d’un hectare en moyenne. Ces producteurs utilisaient des intrants chimiques ou organiques et associaient des espèces arborescentes pour la diversification de leur source de revenu, l’autoconsommation et ou l’ombrage. L’étude propose un meilleur encadrement de ces producteurs prenant en compte le développement des techniques de culture d’espèces natives à potentialité décorative. Ornamental plants can contribute to the plant diversity of a territory. In Côte d'Ivoire, the diversity of ornamental species used in the production of cut flowers and foliage is not sufficiently documented. The objectives were to identify the main supply sources of cut flowers and foliage of the sellers and to assess the diversity of these plants and farmers' practices for the production. From February to June 2020, an ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Abidjan and the locality of Azaguié which were cited through preliminary surveys as the main production area. A total of 88 species of ornamental plants were surveyed. Most of these are exotic and 50% are found on local markets; the rest are sold outside the country. In Azaguié, 86.4% of these species are cultivated by farmers on plots of one hectare on average. These producers use chemical or organic inputs and combine some tree species for the diversification of their source of income, the self-consumption or as shade trees. The study proposes better supervision of these producers, taking into account the development of cultivation techniques for native species with decorative potential.

Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), a hardy ornamental plant of the family Paeoniaceae cultivated in gardens and for cut flower production, is frequently infected by Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) in the field. The virus usually induces severe mosaic and chlorotic ringspot symptoms in the leaves, decreasing the commercial value of cut flowers. TRV is routinely detected by mechanical inoculation onto Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi, where it induces typical necrotic local ringspots in 3 to 7 days, followed by a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR test (2). In 2004, Xanthi test plants inoculated with sap extracts from 4 of 36 P. lactiflora cv. Odile plants grown in a field plot in the region of Hyères (southeast France) showed systemic mosaic symptoms in addition to the TRV-typical response. In each case, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was detected by the reactions of a range of inoculated plants (1), the observation of 30 nm isometric particles in crude leaf extracts with the electron microscope, and by positive reactions in double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISAs with specific polyclonal antibodies. In double-immunodiffusion analysis, these isolates were shown to belong to the group II of CMV isolates (3). ELISA of the peony plants confirmed the presence of CMV and revealed two additional infected plants in the spring of 2006. Following isolation from local lesions on Vigna unguiculata and multiplication in Xanthi tobacco plants, one of the isolates was used to inoculate manually or with Myzus persicae aphids 10 CMV-free plants of P. lactiflora cv. Odile obtained from meristem culture. Three months postinoculation, only three of the aphid-inoculated plants were CMV positive by DAS-ELISA. No change was observed at 1 year postinoculation and no symptoms have been observed, even in CMV-infected plants. CMV appears to be latent in P. lactiflora, therefore detection of CMV before vegetative propagation of the plants is advised because of the risks of synergism for symptoms with other viruses such as TRV. To our knowledge this is the first report of CMV in peony. References: (1) L. Cardin et al. Plant Dis. 87:1263, 2003. (2) D. J. Robinson J. Virol. Methods 40:55, 1992. (3) M. J. Roossinck. J. Virol. 76:3382, 2002.

Efforts to obtain edible-fruited passion vines through hybridization of Passiflora edulis and P. incarnata produced a population of tetraploid plants that survive freezing winters in central Georgia belowground, and grow aboveground in warm weather. One selection from this population blooms from late June or early July through October, yielding quantities of flowers from 8.5 to 9.6 cm diameter that have deep blue-colored sepals and petals surmounted by a disc of heavily-crimped filaments that are white at the outer margin. The nectar has proven a good food resource for the ruby-throated hummingbird, which breeds in much of the southeastern U.S. This clone is highly self-incompatible and sets no fruit when grown apart from cross-compatible clones. Its vines are vigorous, growing to 5 meters or more, and have dark green, markedly denticulate trilobed leaves 13 to 24.5 cm long by 15 to 25 cm wide. These afford a nursery habitat for caterpillars of 3 native butterflies, the zebra and the Gulf and variegated fritillaries. Because of its ease of culture and wide adaptation, this vine is recommended to plant in the continental U.S. for environmental enhancement.

The growth of the ornamental plant industry has rapidly increased over the past several years, creating a strong demand for well-trained graduates and industry workers. It is vital for a person entering this industry to have a solid and broad plant material background. The best ways to learn, sell, and teach plants are through visual materials. Currently, there are few cost-effective resources that provide a person with all the visual information needed to learn plants. To better serve the students and industry workers, the Univ. of Connecticut has developed a free multimedia ornamental plant database on the World Wide Web. The plant database focuses on plants for the New England area (USDA zone 6 and lower). This website brings detailed textual information, thousands of pictures, and audio pronunciations together in one complete package. Plant characteristic information (textual and pictorial) consists of habitat, habit and form, summer foliage, autumn foliage, flowers, fruit, bark, culture, landscape uses, liabilities, ID features, propagation, and cultivar/variety. The major factors and decision processes involved in developing an educational Web site, with emphasis on usability and accessibility are considered. The target audience for this Web site is students as well as the nursery and landscape industry workers, agricultural consultants, extension personnel, landscape architects, and the gardening public.

Hybridization at intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric levels is a well-known breeding strategy to create variations with desirable traits for ornamental flowers. A total of 161 crossing combinations were made on three taxonomic levels, including 12 intraspecific crossing combinations within L. chalcedonica and L. ×haageana, 102 interspecific crossing combinations within Lychnis spp., and 47 intergeneric crossing combinations between Lychnis spp. and Silene spp. Intraspecific crosses showed high cross-compatibility, which yielded mature seeds and progeny plants. Most of the interspecific crossings in genus Lychnis produced limited seed set and germination percentages; however, L. cognate, L. ×arkwrightii, and L. ×haageana showed high cross-compatibility and might be more closely related than other species in Lychnis. As a result of cross-incompatibility, crossing combinations between Lychnis spp. and Silene spp. produced few flowers that set seeds. Significant differences occurred in seed set between crossing combinations and their reciprocal crosses for interspecific and intergeneric crosses. For these hybrids with immature seeds, embryo rescue techniques with immature seed culture would be the only way to produce seedlings.

The culture and commercialization of ornamental plants have considerably increased in the last years. To supply the commercial demand, several Hemerocallis and Impatiens varieties have been bred for appreciated qualities such as flowers with a diversity of shapes and colors. With the aim of characterizing the tobamovirus isolated from Hemerocallis sp. (tobamo-H) and Impatiens hawkeri (tobamo-I) from the USA and São Paulo, respectively, as well as to establish phylogenetic relationships between them and other Tobamovirus species, the viruses were submitted to RNA extraction, RT-PCR amplification, coat-protein gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Comparison of tobamovirus homologous sequences yielded values superior to 98.5% of identity with Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) isolates at the nucleotide level. In relation to tobamo-H, 100% of identity with ToMV from tomatoes from Australia and Peru was found. Based on maximum likelihood (ML) analysis it was suggested that tobamo-H and tobamo-I share a common ancestor with ToMV, Tobacco mosaic virus, Odontoglossum ringspot virus and Pepper mild mottle virus. The tree topology reconstructed under ML methodology shows a monophyletic group, supported by 100% of bootstrap, consisting of various ToMV isolates from different hosts, including some ornamentals, from different geographical locations. The results indicate that Hemerocallis sp. and I. hawkeri are infected by ToMV. This is the first report of the occurrence of this virus in ornamental species in Brazil.

The occurrence of somaclonal variation is described in various cultures of agronomic interest. Such variation can be of benefit in the development of new flower varieties. In this study, the occurrence of somaclonal variation in micropropagated changes of Heliconia bihai cv. Lobster Claw I was investigated. Stem apexes were introduced in MS culture media with the addition of 2.5 mg L-1 of benzylaminopure (BAP) and 500 mg L-1 of sodium cefotaxime. After selecting the apex stem, it was sub-cultivated in MS media and supplemented with 4.0 mg L-1 of BAP to induce side buds. To conduct the trial, 2,000 plants were selected and compared with plants originated from rhizomes. To calculate the percentage of the variants, the plant stature, the form and color of leaves and pseudostem were evaluated. The plants with buds presenting the same type of variation were considered as variants. The occurrence of three types of somaclonal variants was observed: Variation of the Chlorophyll in the Leaf, Low Stature Variant and Pseudostem and Petiole Color Variant, the latter with ornamental potential. The somaclonal variation rate for Heliconia bihai cv Lobster Claw I, under the proposed conditions, was 61.40%.

Lagerstroemia is a genus of plants comprised of deciduous shrubs or small trees native to China southward into Southeast Asia. L. indica, the oldest and most widespread species in cultivation in the United States, has been cultivated as an ornamental for centuries and was introduced to the Southeastern U.S. over 175 years ago. Much has been disseminated on the culture and commercial production of crapemyrtle species and cultivars; including plant forms and function, adaptability to macro and micro environment, growth and floral characteristics, and commercial production and landscape culture and maintenance. Since the introduction of L. indica in the United States, L. fauriei, L. subcostata and L. limii have also been introduced. However, since the mid 1970s, interspecific hybrids between L. indica × L. fauriei comprise the majority of new cultivar introductions. Breeding efforts have resulted in 133 commercially available cultivars as of December 2011 that include cultivars with ever improving form and flowering, new flower colors, ornamental bark, ornamental foliage, and disease tolerance. However, there is a wide range among cultivars of tolerance to key pests and diseases such as powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, flea beetle and Japanese beetle. A large number of pests and plant pathogens also negatively affect crapemyrtle health including granulate ambrosia beetle, crapemyrtle aphid, bark scale, bacterial leaf spot, sooty mold and soil-borne root and crown diseases. This review focuses on crapemyrtle culture, in both commercial and landscape settings, with an emphasis on optimizing plant health through the discussion of major abiotic and biotic stressors and cultivar variation in tolerance to these stressors.

Hydrangea macrophylla is a popular perennial ornamental shrub commercially grown as potted plants, landscape plants, and cut flowers. In the process of reproduction and production of ornamental plants, the absorption of nutrients directly determines the value of the ornamental plants. Hydrangea macrophylla is very sensitive to the content and absorption of the micronutrient iron (Fe) that affects growth of its shoots. However, the physiological activity of Fe as affected by deficiency or supplementation is unknown. This work aimed at preliminary exploring the relationship between Fe and photosynthesis, and also to find the most favorable iron source and level of pH for the growth of H. macrophylla. Two Fe sources, non-chelated iron sulfate (FeSO4) and iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), were supplemented to the multipurpose medium with a final Fe concentration of 2.78 mg·L−1. The medium without any Fe supplementation was used as the control. The pH of the agar-solidified medium was adjusted to either 4.70, 5.70, or 6.70, before autoclaving. The experiment was conducted in a culture room for 60 days with 25/18 °C day and night temperatures, and a 16-hour photoperiod provided at a light intensity of 50 mmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from white light-emitting diodes. Supplementary Fe increased the tissue Fe content, and leaves were greener with the medium pH of 4.70, regardless of the Fe source. Compared to the control, the number of leaves for plantlets treated with FeSO4 and Fe-EDTA were 2.0 and 1.5 times greater, respectively. The chlorophyll, macronutrient, and micronutrient contents were the greatest with Fe-EDTA at pH 4.70. Furthermore, the Fe in the leaf affected the photosynthesis by regulating stomata development, pigment content, and antioxidant system, and also by adjusting the expression of genes related to Fe absorption, transport, and redistribution. Supplementation of Fe in a form chelated with EDTA along with a medium pH of 4.70 was found to be the best for the growth and development of H. macrophylla plantlets cultured in vitro.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., commonly known as Chinese hibiscus, is an evergreen flowering shrub belonging to the Malvaceae and is widely cultivated throughout Asia including Korea. In August 2013, blight was observed on Chinese hibiscus in a commercial flower nursery in Seoul, Korea. Initial symptoms began as reddish purple spots at the tip of flowers and expanded to encompass entire flowers. Infected lesions appeared water-soaked, reddish brown, and were followed by rapid rotting of infected tissues. Approximately 50% of the plants surveyed were affected. Monosporous sporangiola formed on infected tissue were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal colonies were obtained that were at first white with abundant aerial mycelium, and then became yellowish with the appearance of sporangiola. Sporangiophores bearing sporangiola were erect to slightly curved, unbranched, and hyaline. Funnel-shaped secondary vesicles formed on the primary vesicles. Sporangiola were indehiscent, ovoid to subglobose, smooth, non-striated, brown to dark brown, 10 to 27.5 × 8.5 to 17 μm, and sometimes germinated in culture. The fungus was identified as Choanephora infundibulifera (Curr.) D.D. Cunn. based on the morphological and cultural characteristics (2). Voucher specimens were housed in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). An isolate obtained from KUS-F27535 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47643) and used for a pathogenicity test and molecular analyses. To confirm identity of the fungus, genomic DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) were amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and NL1/LR3, respectively (3), and sequenced. The resulting 635-bp ITS and 680-bp D1/D2 sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KF486539 and KF486538). A GenBank BLAST search revealed that the ITS sequences showed 100% similarity with that of C. infundibulifera (JN943009) and D1/D2 sequences also showed 100% identity with that of C. infundibulifera (JN939193). A sporangiola suspension (2 × 104 cells/ml) was sprayed over three pots of the shrub, kept in a humid chamber for 2 days, and placed in greenhouse (28°C and 80 to 100% RH). Another three potted plants of the same age were sprayed with sterile water and served as controls. After 4 days, typical blossom blight symptoms, identical to the ones observed in the nursery, developed on the inoculated flowers. No symptoms were observed on controls. C. infundibulifera was re-isolated from inoculated plants. Pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Choanephora blight caused by C. infundibulifera on H. rosa-sinenesis has been reported in Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Guinea, and the United States (1). In Korea, there was one record of this fungus on H. syriacus (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. infundibulifera on H. rosa-sinensis in Korea. This pathogen could be a potential threat to the production of this ornamental shrub over a prolonged period of hot and humid weather. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved February 28, 2014. (2) P. M. Kirk. Mycol. Pap. 152:1, 1984. (3) G. Walther et al. Persoonia 30:11, 2013.

Rhododendron decorum is a woody species with high ornamental and medical value. Herein, we introduce a novel in vitro regeneration method for R. decorum. We used flower buds to develop an efficient and rapid plant regeneration protocol. Sterile flower buds of R. decorum of a 2 cm size were used as explants to study the effects of the culture medium and plant growth regulators on the callus induction and adventitious shoot differentiation, proliferation, and rooting. According to the results, the optimal medium combination for callus induction was WPM + 1 mg/L TDZ + 0.2 mg/L NAA, and its induction rate reached 95.08%. The optimal medium combination for adventitious shoot differentiation from the callus was WPM + 0.5 mg/L TDZ + 0.1 mg/L NAA, and its differentiation rate reached 91.32%. The optimal medium combination for adventitious shoot proliferation was WPM + 2 mg/L ZT + 0.5 mg/L NAA, for which the proliferation rate reached 95.32% and the proliferation coefficient reached 9.45. The optimal medium combination for rooting from adventitious shoots was WPM + 0.1 mg/L NAA + 1 mg/L IBA, and its rooting rate reached 86.90%. The survival rates of the rooted regenerated plantlets exceeded 90% after acclimatization and transplantation. This regeneration system has the advantages of being simple and highly efficient, and it causes little damage to the shoots of the mother plants, laying a foundation for the plantlet propagation, genetic transformation, and new-variety breeding of R. decorum.

Humic-like substances (HLS) are among the most used biostimulants in agriculture as a means for improving plant growth, nutrient uptake, crop yield, and stress tolerance. HLS derived from municipal biowastes were applied as a substrate drench in order to evaluate their biostimulatory effect on the growth and ornamental quality of Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata L. Jacq.) potted plants. Two HLS, derived from the digestion of the organic humic fraction and from composting of a mix of sewage sludge digestate and gardening residues, were compared with a commercial leonardite-based product in the framework of a greenhouse experiment in soilless culture. The application of the two biowaste-derived HLS resulted in plants showing a 39.9%, 87.0%, 111.6%, 35.4%, 37.9%, 35.3%, and 81.3% increase in plant height, number of flowers and fruits, leaf production, total dry biomass, root length, and water use efficiency, respectively, compared to those treated with the commercial product and the untreated (control) plants. The enhanced growth performance of HLS-treated plants was due to the higher chlorophyll relative content (+24.2% on average) and net photosynthesis (+114.7% on average) of their leaves. The positive results obtained from the application of non-commercial HLS suggest that biowaste recycling is a sustainable and environment-friendly source of biostimulants, as an alternative to agrochemicals and existing leonardite-based plant biostimulants.

Gladiolus (Iridaceae) is a popular bulbous plant grown worldwide as an ornamental garden plant or cut flower due to its attractive color, size, and flower shape. In April 2012, leaf spots were observed on plants of Gladiolus grandiflorus varieties T-704 and Amsterdam growing in a production area of cut flowers located in the city of Viçosa, Minas Gerais. The oval to round leaf spots were brown with a dark border surrounded by a halo of yellow tissue. Infected leaf samples were deposited in the herbarium at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (VIC31897). A fungus was isolated from the leaf spots and a single-spore pure culture was initiated and grown on corn meal carrot agar (CCA) medium in petri dishes incubated at 25°C under a 12-h photoperiod for 4 weeks. A sporulating single-spore culture was deposited at the Coleção de Culturas de fungos fitopatogênicos “Prof. Maria Menezes” (UFRPE, Brazil) code CMM 4055. On CCA medium, the fungal isolate initially appeared white, becoming dark after 14 days. Thirty conidia and conidiophores were measured for identification to species. The septate, smooth to pale brown conidiophores were present singly or in groups. The simple, straight or flexuous conidiophores were 42.5 to 82.5 × 3.5 to 7.5 μm and some had a geniculate growth pattern. The majority of conidia were curved at the third (central) cell from the base, which was usually enlarged compared to the end cells. The cells at each end of the 3-distoseptate conidia were pale brown, the intermediate cell brown or dark brown, and the third (central) cell was often the darkest. The basal cell had a protuberant hilum. Conidia were smooth and 20.0 to 33.5 × 10 to 17.5 μm. These characteristics matched well with the description of Curvularia gladioli (1). To confirm this identification, DNA was extracted using a Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of rDNA was amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primers and the partial 28S rDNA region using primers LR0R and LR5. The sequences were deposited in GenBank as accession nos. JX995106 and JX995107, respectively. The ITS sequence matched sequence AF071337, C. gladioli, with 100% identity. This pathogen was first identified as C. lunata, but based on the characteristic of the hilum, spore size, and pathogenicity testing, the fungus was renamed C. trifolii f. sp. gladioli (3). Due to the explicit curvature of the conidia at the third cell and molecular data, the fungus was reclassified as C. gladioli (1,2). To confirm Koch's postulates, 1-month-old healthy plants of G. grandiflorus var. T-704 and Amsterdam (five plants each) were inoculated with a conidial suspension (2 × 104 conidia mL–1) by spraying the foliage and then placed on a growth chamber at 25°C. The control plants were sprayed with distilled water. Symptoms were consistent with those initially observed and all plants developed leaf spots by 4 days post-inoculation. C. gladioli was consistently recovered from the symptomatic tissue and control plants remained symptomless. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. gladioli causing leaf spot on G. grandiflorus in Brazil. Due to a lack of chemical fungicides for management of this pathogen, further studies to evaluate the susceptibility of the main varieties of gladiolus grown in Brazil to C. gladioli may be necessary. References: (1) G. H. Boerema and M. E. C. Hamers. Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 95:1, 1989. (2) D. S. Manamgoda et al. Fungal Divers. 56:131, 2012. (3) J. A. Parmelee. Mycologia 48:558, 1956.