Journal of Ornamental Plants
Volume:3 Issue: 4, Autumn 2013

A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effect of foliage spraying of silicon (Si) on growth and ornamental characteristics of calendula grown under salt stress and greenhouse conditions. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was conducted with 3 levels of Si (0, 50 and 100 mg/l) and 3 levels of NaCl (0, 100 and 200 mM) with 4 replications. At flowering stage, Si was applied with spraying two times in two week intervals. NaCl was also applied as drench (200 ml per pot) in two days interval. The results showed that salinity decreased the growth, SPAD values, flower number per plant and flower diameter. However, foliar applications of Si resulted in greater root, shoot and total dry weight, plant height and leaf area of calendula plants under salt stress. The highest SPAD values were obtained under 100 mg/l Si application in all NaCl treatments. Salinity decreased number of flower per plant and flower diameter as ornamental characteristics; however Si increased them under salinity stress. Plants treated with 100 mg/l Si had the highest flower diameter at 100 mM of NaCl. Electrolyte leakage increased by salinity, however foliar application of Si significantly reduced electrolyte leakage under salt stress. These results suggest that the negative effects of salinity on the growth and ornamental characteristics of calendula plants can ameliorate by foliar application of Si treatments.

Light intensity is considered a limiting factor in greenhouse rose production. The main aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of shading treatments (0, 25, 50, and 65% shading) on quality and chlorophyll content of cut rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Avalanche), under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was planned in randomized completely block design with four replications. All shoots were bent downwards from above the second bud after removing the young flower bud. Shading significantly affected on bud sprouting, flowering stem fresh and dry weight and flowering stem diameter, so that earliest bud sprouting, highest flowering stem, fresh and dry weight and flowering stem diameter were observed in no shading treatment. However, shading had no significant effect on flowering stem length and leaf area, but specific leaf area increased with shading percentage increment at 65% shade. Results of total chlorophyll content as well as chlorophyll a and b showed a decrement with increasing of shading percentage. In general, shading could be a cause of low-quality in cut roses; therefore greenhouse roses growers should consider greenhouse architecture to maximize light deep penetration.

The dormancy characteristics and optimum conditions for seed germination of Alstroemeria ligtu had not been explained. In vitro and in vivo alstroemeria (A. ligtu hybrid) seed germination tests were conducted in a Randomized Completely Design at two different treatments (gibberellic acid (GA3) 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/l with and without stratification in 5±1°C) in four replications. Seeds were planted in the soil mixture (peat/sand/perlite 1:1:1) or 1/2 MS media (1% sucrose, 0.7% agar and pH to 5.8). After 3-weeks keeping in the stratification conditions, transferred to the growth chamber (21°C and 16h photoperiod). Shoot and root length, number of root and leaf, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, seed germination percentage, germination rate and mean germination time were recorded during experiment. Stratification had a significant effect on seed germination (p

An efficient and cost effective protocol for in vitro propagation of Pineapple (Ananas comosus var. Queen) has been developed. In the proliferation stage, agar based Murashige and Skoog (MS) media was supplemented with 3.0 mg/l benzyleaminopurine (BAP), 0.5 mg/l indole acetic acid (IAA) and 50 mg/l adenine sulphate as RBC design experiment. Two approaches were taken to reduce the chemical cost of micropropagation media. Analytical grade sucrose was successfully replaced by commercial sugar, completely during proliferation stage and up to 66% during rooting stage. Again during the rooting stage, agar based solid media was replaced by liquid media (MSmedia). Bio-degradable Coir and Luffa were used as supporting matrix. As supporting matrix in rooting media, Luffa was found to be more effective. The clonal fidelity of in vitro raised plantlets was confirmed by RAPD technique.

Ten gerbera cultivars(‘Labinel’, ‘Lilla’, ‘Alp’, ‘Alberino’, ‘Bonnie’, ‘Avemaria’, ‘Mammut’, ‘Lexus’, ‘‘Terramixa ’ & ‘Sarolta’) were evaluated for their growth, yield and quality characteristics under protected conditions during 2011. Among the cultivars studied, there were highly significant variations observed for growth, yield and quality parameters. Longest stalk length (60.3 cm) was exhibited by the cultivar ‘Alberino’ followed by ‘Lexus’ (59.0) and ‘Mammut’ (54.0 cm). The same cultivar also produced flowers with maximum diameter. With respect to vegetative parameters like number of leaves per plant and plant spread were also more in the same cultivar. Maximum number of flowers 135 per square meters was recorded in cv. ‘Avemaria’ (135) followed by ‘Alberino’ (125). Maximum vase life was recorded in cultivars ‘Alberino’ and ‘Lexus’ (6.6) followed by ‘Mammut’ (5.6) and ‘‘Sarolta’’ (5.6). Excellent quality flowers were observed in cultivar ‘Alberino’ (4.8) followed by ‘Lexus’ (4.4). Cultivar ‘Alberino’ and ‘Lexus’ were found superior with respect to growth, yield and vase-life characteristics under protected conditions.

In this study, combined effect of two essential oils, Thymol and Carvacrol, with different concentrations in two methods on Gladiolous grandiflorous L. was investigated based on a completely randomized design with 3 replicates and four flower in each replicate. Sansusi variety applied that was red. In short term method, different concentrations of Thymol and Carvacrolin including 25, 50 and 75 ppm with sucrose 6% and distilled water (as control) were evaluated. Red flowers were treated in mentioned solutions for 24 hours and then they were taken to distilled water to the end of evaluation period. In standard method, different concentrations including 12.5.5, 25 and 37.5.5 ppm and sucrose 2% and distilled water as control were used. Flowers were kept in solutions from beginning experiment until the end of vase life. Every 48 hour, once, solutions were made to replace. Preserver solutions can use with wholesalers or retailers to protect flowers in order to sold users. Thymol and carvacrol as the most essential oil of Thymus vulgaris have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. In short term method, combined treatment of thymol and carvacrol with 150 ppm had the most soluble sugar and petal aqueous contents and the least rate of blossoming. In addition, the most vase life in combined treatment of carvacrol and thymol was observed in 100 ppm with mean of 11.57days. Concentration of Anthocyanin was the most in shortterm method in compared to standard in last days of experiment.

Tulip is one of the most important flowers to precocity. Treatment of tulip bulbs with gibberellic acid reduces the forcing period in the greenhouse resulting energy saving and reduces the tulip’s physiological disorders. This study carried out about three tulip cultivars includes ‘Lacourtine’, ‘Yokohama’ and ‘Red Favourite’. The results showed that gibberellic acid reduced significantly stem length, first internode length and duration of precocity period. Based on the results gibberellic acid at 250 and 500 ppm can be effective agent in tulip’s precocity.

Chrysanthemum cut flower is not sensitive to ethylene and its vase life depends on vascular blockage. In order to evaluating of effect of antibiotics and essential oils on the vase life and quality characteristics of chrysanthemum cut flower an experiment carried out based on a RCD with 10 treatments: Artemisia at 3 levels (10, 30 and 50 %), amoxicillin at 3 levels (100, 200 and 300 mg l-1), Rifampin at 3 levels (100, 200 and 300 mg l-1) and the control plants in 3 replications. Analysis of variance showed that effect of treatments on measured traits was significant at p≤0.05 or p≤0.01. Mean comparisons also revealed that 30% of Artemisia oil, 200 mg l-1 amoxicillin and 200 mg l-1 rifampin caused the longest vase life, the highest preservative solution uptake. petal's soluble protein contents, leaf chlorophyll and maximum fresh weight.