مجله گل و گیاهان زینتی
سال یکم شماره 1 (بهار و تابستان 1395)

An investigation was desined to study the effect of nutrient spray interval, color of planting container and foliar Calcium spray on vegetative traits of Anthurium plantlets which were cultured in aeroponic system. In this study, nutrient spray interval was considered as the main plot and color of container and foliar spray were as the sub plots. Nutrient spray intervals were at two levels: 1) two minutes spray, 30 minutes none spraying and 2) two minutes spray, 45 minutes none spraying to the plants' roots. Container’s colors were black, blue or red and foliar spray treatments included two values: spray with distilled water (without Calcium) and spray with Calcium Nitrate with the concentration of 10 mM. The results revealed that the effect of the color of the container was significant at 1% level and the blue color resulted in the highest number of plantlets formed on roots. The effect of the color of the container on petiole length, blade length and width and root number was also significant. The highest petiole length and blade length and width were formed in red containers. The maimum numbers of roots were observed in black containers. The longest length of single roots was observed in longer nutrient spray intervals. In conclusion, the maximum number of plantlets was formed in blue color containers but the highest length of petioles and maximum length and width of blades were observed in red containers.

Schefflera arboricola is an evergreen shrub in the family of Araliaceae. The effect of mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis and rooting media on Schefflera cuttings were investigated. Two mycorrhizal fungi species and three types of rooting media were compared. Basic plots were the media: perlite, 50% perlite +50% cocopeat and sand, alternative plots were species of mycorrhizal fungi: 1) Glomus intraradices, 2) G. mossaea, 3) mixture of the two fungi and 4) control treatment (without fungi). The results showed that the effect of different media on all of dependent variables including number of rooted cuttings, number of roots in each cuttings (NREC), root length (RL), fresh and dry weight (FW and DW) of roots were significant. The interactive effect of fungi species and culture media was also significant on the NRC and NREC. The best and worst rooting media were perlite and sand, respectively. The treatment containing G. mosseae promoted rooting at higher rates compared to the control treatment. In conclusion, medium consisting of perlite and G. mosseae fungi had promising effects on rooting of Schefflera arboricola. So greenhouse owners can use the results of this experiment for propagation of Schefflera.

The effects of 1-MCP and ethylene on the display quality and vase life of Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Fortune were investigated. Cut flowers were treated with 1-MCP at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 µl l-1) for 24 h and then exposed to 1 µl l-1 ethylene for 16 h. The results showed that 1-MCP had significant effect on the physiological characteristics such as total postharvest longevity, vase life, uptake of vase solution and relative fresh weight of cut carnation flowers. 1-MCP treatment did not show significant effect on flower diameter, although the effects of treatment over time, was significant (P < 0.01). Maximum postharvest longevity and vase life were observed in samples treated with 1.5 µl l-1 1-MCP. The results showed that treatment by 1.5 µl l-1 1-MCP as a suppression of ethylene action improved physiological characteristics and quality of post-harvest cut flowers of carnation cv. Fortune.

Since conventional propagation methods of Amaryllis are relatively slow and they are not cost effective, therefore the micropropagation of this desirable plant was studied in the current research. Two separate experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, the effect of two media (MS and NL) and different concentrations of 2, 4-D (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg.L-1) were compared. In the second experiment, the effect of media (MS and NL) and different concentrations of BAP (0, 1, 2 mg.L-1) were investigated. Five different explant types (twin scale, single scale with basal plate, single scale without basal plate, scape and basal plate) were used and the rate of bulblet regeneration, the number of regenerated bulblet and diameter of regenerated bulblet were recorrded. Results showed that by increasing the concentration of 2, 4-D, bulblet production was reduced and in some cases it led to the death of explants. However in the second experiment all of explants produced bulblet in the presence of BAP and as the concentrqation of BAP was increased the size of bulblets were also increased. In conclusion, the highest rate of bulblet production were observed in the NL media containing BAP whereas, the highest number of bulblets (4.25) were observed in the NL medium containing 1.0 mg.L-1 of 2,4-D. The largest diameter of bulblets were produced in the first experiment from twin scale and single scale explants in MS medium containing 0.5 mg.L-1 of 2, 4-D. In conclusion, the bulb explants could be used to achieve an optimal micropropagation protocol of Hippeastrum.

To study the effect of vermicompost and humic acid on the vase life and physiological characteristics of the cut flowers of Rosa hybrida cv. Polar star, two separate experiments were carried out. Treatments included five levels of vermicompost (0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 percent) and three levels of humic acid (0, 500 and 1000 mg/ l) which were added to the pots every two weeks. The studied characteristics included vase life, stem length and diameter, flower bud diameter, fresh and dry weight of leaves and stems. Results showed that the longest vase life (11.2 day), highest stem length (61.6 cm) ), stem and diameter (0.64 cm), flower bud diameter (3.11_cm), stem fresh weight (11.8gr), stem dry weight (5.8gr), leaf fresh weight (7.3 gr) and leaf dry weight (3.96 gr) were obtained when 10% of vermicompost was used. There was a negative effect on the mentioned characteristics with increasing the application of vermicompost from 10 to 80%. Flower physiological characteristics improved with increasing the concentrations of humic acid from 0 to 1000 mg/l, but had no effect on vase life. Longest stem length (61.54 cm) and stem diameter (0.64cm), flower bud diameter (2.98cm), stem fresh weight (11.02gr) and dry weight (5.14gr), leaf fresh weight (7.47 gr) and leaf dry weight (3.84 gr) were obtained when 1000 mg/l of Humic acid was used. In conclusion the results showed that morphological characteristics of cut flowers of Polar Star were significantly affected by different treatments of vermicompost and humic acid.

In the modern world, unbridled urbanization, industrialization, increased use of motor vehicles and a lack of cultural development in line with those changes are eroding air quality in major population centers. By developing modern industrialization and urbanization, nowadays using the modern equipment is increasing and indoor air quality is affected by chemicals which applied in such equipment. Scientists found that indoor air could be 5 to 7 times more polluted than outside. As people spend more and more time in the homes or in offices quality improvement of indoor air became one of the most important concerns of modern societies. Here, the main question is that how can we make indoor air healthier for people? According to many studies, one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways is taking advantage of ornamental plants for absorbing and removing air pollutants. Overall, for reduction of indoor air pollution using at least one ornamental plants such as Acer campestre, Cymbidium sinense, Spathiphyllum wallisii, Rhododendron simsii, Aloe barbadensis, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Hedera helix, Epipremnum aureum, Chrysanthemum spp, Dracaena fragrans, Pachiraaquatica, Gerbera daisy, Hemer ocallisfulva, Nephrolepis exaltatabostoniensis. Schefflera arboricola, Ficus elastic, Ficus benjamina Codiaeum variegatum Chlorophytum comosum, Chamaedora seifizii, Howea forsteriana, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Phoenix roebelenii and Syngonium podophyllum per 9 m2 at home or offices are strongly recommended.

Plant pigments are chemical compounds that absorb or reflect light in visible spectrum. Four important plant pigments include chlorophylls, anthocyanins, carotenoids and betalains. Leaf color change is an amazing phenomenon on the earth which is spectacular especially during autumn in cool and temperate zones. Leaf color change is not merely restricted to deciduous species but also it occurs in evergreen species and new emerging shoots of both deciduous and evergreen ones. These changes are the consequence of very complex, harmonious and dynamic occurrences which are triggered by perception of some signals such as short days, low temperature and the increment of blue and violet wavelengths in autumn followed by extensive changes at cellular, molecular and ultimately gene expression. The interaction of some factors such as genetic base, growth and developmental stage, leaf life, day length, temperature, light intensity, UV, relative humidity, elevation, plant hormones, carbohydrates, minerals, pigment combination, co-pigments, metal ions, pH determine leaf color change. Reduction in auxin synthesis, the increase of ethylene and abscisic acid and the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus are among internal changes occurring during leaf color change especially in autumn. Although, leaf color change in deciduous species is associated with senescence but this process is not necessarily related to senescence. It is generally accepted that leaf color change is closely linked with adaptation mechanisms against various stresses including light stress, UV, low and high temperature, herbivory. Color is an important element in landscape design. Therefore, plant species particularly trees and shrubs with colored leaves or elegant autumn are very important from aesthetic perspective and are extensively used for landscape purposes worldwide. Furthermore, leaf color change is significant from economic viewpoint and in some regions of temperate zones, a considerable income is obtained due to tourism importance of deciduous forests.

For climate conditions and unstable status of different resources, urban managers will be compelled to use native species in landscape design and green space. Native plants because high compatibility with climate conditions in the region and resulting in low costs of maintenance and keeping, are considered as a suitable choice in creating a sustainable green space. Using native plants in the urban landscape, the use of appropriate planting design and observe of landscape design principles to create a beautiful green space and pleasant for citizens is very important. In this paper, the advantages and limitations of native plants cultivation in urban green space and also effective factors in the suitable design of these species with an emphasis on dry lands have been studied.