Journal of Ornamental Plants
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Spring 2012

In vitro multiple shoot regeneration of Solanum nigrum L., an Indian medicinal plant was accomplished on MS medium utilizing shoot tip and nodal explants. Direct multiple shoots differentiated within 6 weeks when explants were cultured on MS medium containing BAP (1.0-5.0 mg/l) and KIN (1.0-5.0 mg/l) individually. Among various concentrations of cytokinins tested, maximum number of multiple shoots was obtained on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.0 mg/l) from shoot tip (20.4±0.22) and MS medium supplemented with BAP (3.0 mg/l) from nodal explants (8.4±0.22). The in vitro regenerated shoots were rooted (8.4±0.16 roots per shoot) on MS medium supplemented with NAA (1.0 mg/l) within 2-3 weeks of culture and the regenerated plantlets could be successfully established in soil where they grow normally.

Decline in postharvest losses of kiwifruit depended to maintain of quality characteristics during storage and transportation. Storage losses caused serious economic losses in kiwifruit. This study was conducted to inhibition of pathogen infection and increasing fruit quality of Kiwifruit. Hayward kiwifruits inoculated by B.cinerea conidia through pore wounds which formed by removal of the pedicels. Fruits treated through immersion in hot water (45, 50 and 55oC) for 2, 4 and 8 minutes after 3 weeks. All fruits stored at 0.5oC and 85-90 RH for 18 weeks. The samples had taken at 6th, 12th and 18th weeks and measured some characters including weight loss, peel and pulp color indices (L* and chroma), decay numbers, firmness, decay depth, SSC, TA, SSC/TA, pH, EC, Ascorbic acid, compared with the control. Results showed that weight loss rate increased about 2 fold of control but decay depth and losses prevented at 6th and 12th weeks of storage period significantly. Firmness was higher than control at 12th storage week in hot water treatments but had not significant differences with control until end of storage period. Generally, L* parameter had a positive relationship with firmness. Ascorbic acid increased specially in control treatment during cool storage period. EC, pH, and TA parameters had constant changes during of storage.

Apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) is the fourth fruit in importance and Iran ranks fifth in apple production in the world. Longevity of juvenility in apple extends breeding cycles and makes its breeding a tough job. To alleviate this barrier via genetic engineering, the genes involved in flowering and floral development of apple and their function must be identified and characterized. Most of these genes fall in a class of transcription factors named MADS-box genes. In the present research, we cloned and analysed the sequences and features of two of these genes, MdMADS1 and MdMADS3, from apple ‘Golden Delicious’ for a deeper functional analysis in the near future. They were found to be homologs of SEP genes belonging to the class E genes involved in flower development and lied in the AGL2 clade of MADS-box genes in the phylogenetic tree made for apple and Arabidopsis MADS-box proteins. In silicostudies exemplified that both genes had eight exons and seven introns with a long first intron of about 4 Kb and 3 Kb forMdMADS1 and MdMADS3, respectively. The results showed that the structure of both genes has noticeably differed from other SEP-like genes in evolution.

Copper is an essential micronutrient for plant growth which is involved in many metabolic processes. However excessive amounts of copper may cause environmental pollution. With an increase in the contamination of urban areas with heavy metals, more attention should be paid to the role of ornamental plants in removing pollutants from the soils. The effects of heavy metals on the growth parameters of plants also should be determined. In this research the effects of four levels of Cu (CuSO4.5 H2O) including 0, 20, 40 and 80 mg Cu kg soil on growth parameters of hollyhock plants were investigated. Results showed that in treated plants root and shoot elongation, root dry weight and shoot fresh weight were not significantly differentiate from control. However, a significant decrease in Chl.a, Chl.b and total chlorophyll content was observed by increasing the cu level in the soil. Proline content in the leaf tissues reached to the highest values when plants were treated with 80 mg Cu kg soil. Electrolyte leakage of treated plant with 20 mg Cu kg soil was not significant differentiate from control. The concentration of Cu in the shoots and roots significantly increased with increasing the Cu level in the soil. Translocation factor at all Cu concentrations significantly decreased in compared to the control. Generally, results showed that A.rosea is a suitable alternative for phytoremediation of copper contaminated area.

Chlormequat (cycocel or CCC), the plant growth retardant, was evaluated for its ability to control plant height in Brassica oleracea cultivar ‘Kamome White’ and ‘Nagoya Red’. Different concentrations of CCC (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/L) were sprayed and drenched on plants 40 days after transplanting. Data were recorded the 60 and 90 days after transplanting. The 1500 mg/L of CCC resulted in about 50 and 20% shorter plants than the control plants, 60 and 90 days after transplant, respectively. The growth of Brassica oleracea cultivar ‘Kamome White’ and ‘Nagoya Red’ decreased with increasing the concentration of CCC. Foliar sprays of CCC controlled plant height of both cultivars. The least record of plant height was obtained by application of 1500 mg/L CCC via spraying method in cultivar ‘Kamome White’ after 60 and 90 days (9.94 and 11.59 cm, respectively). The effect of cultivar type has been significant at p£0.01 level on all measured traits.

Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are one of the important plant parasitic nematodes of tomato in the world. The most suitable control method of plant parasitic nematodes is the use of resistance sources and tolerant cultivars. In the earlier studies, the results showed thatonly 2% (19 out of 537 varieties) were resistant and tolerant to the root knot nematodes. In the supplementary studies, the susceptibility of these 19 tomato cultivars were reassessed again, against M. javanica, in the two completely randomized design experiments in the greenhouse and field conditions for the two continuous years. The tomato plants were evaluated 70 days after inoculation on the basis of the gall indexes (GI), final populations (Pf), reproduction factors (Rf) and the root and or the stem weights. The results showed that, the cultivars No.136 and 109 with GI=2, Rf=4.68 and GI=2.25, Rf=28.4 are tolerant cultivars to the nematode, M. javanica in the greenhouse respectively. Also, the cultivar No. 100 was considered to be a susceptible one, with GI=3.25 and Rf=0.97. Whereas, in the field conditions, the cultivars 136 and 109 proved to be tolerant with GI, 1.9 and 1.6 respectively.

Nanosilver of nanometer-sized silver (Ag+) particles (2-5 nm diam) are used in various applications as an anti-microbial. Boric acid (H3BO3) is water soluble (pH=7). Boric acid is ethylene synthese inhibitor and reduce ethylene production through reducing the ACC synthase and ACC oxidase delays senescence of flower. In this study of different concentrations of boric acid and nano-silver was evaluated and vase life, fresh weight loss, flower opening index and the number of bacteria in preservative solution were measured. The highest cut rose flower ‘Yellow Island’ longevity was obtained in pulse-treated flowers with 100 mg l-1 boric acid (4 days).

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Pedalium murex (Pedaliaceae) was investigated for antipyretic activity in rats using Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia models. Brewer’s yeast (15%) was used to induce pyrexia in rats. Both the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight p.o produced a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent inhibition of temperature elevation compared with the standard drug Paracetamol (150 mg/kg body weight). At doses of 200 mg/kg b.w, the aqueous extract significantly (P<0.001) decreased yeast induced pyrexia in rats. These results indicate that leaf extracts of Pedalium murex possesses potent antipyretic effects and thus pharmacologically justifying its folkloric use in the management of fever.