Performance of some apple cultivars under tropical Zambian conditions

Summary

Ten apple cultivars (Malus domestica Bork) Ein Shemer, Anna, Rome Beauty, Tropical Beauty, Alexander, Orleans, Winter Banana, Black John, Starking Delicious and Red Delicious were evaluated for their suitability for tropical Zambian conditions. Winter Banana, Black John, Starking Delicious and Red Delicious, which were mostly high-chill cultivars, showed poor vegetative development: delayed budbreak, shoot growth and progressive loss of vigour and most of the trees died before maturity. Of the remaining low-chill cultivars, ‘Ein Shemer’ had the highest fruit yield at 49 6 2.3 kg tree²¹ and ‘Alexander’ the lowest (5.3 6 1.0 kg tree²¹). This response was due to the high number of fruits per tree, ‘Ein Shemer’ had up to 907 6 83.7 per tree whereas low yielding cultivars like ‘Rome Beauty’ and ‘Tropical Beauty’ had fewer than 106 6 25.3 fruits per tree. The individual fruit weight was inversely related to the total number of fruits per tree. It ranged from 58 6 5.1 g in Ein Shemer to 191 6 24.8 g in ‘Rome Beauty’.     

The effect of temperature on growth and development of cultivars of radish under winter conditions

Leaf and root growth and development of 7 early radish cultivars and strains were studied at a series of constant temperatures varying from 10°C to 26°C under winter conditions. Maximum leaf growth was observed at 23°C, maximum root growth initially at 14°C and later on at 10°C. Total dry matter production was highest at 23°C. Between the cultivars/strains distinct differences in rate of leaf and root growth were noted, but no clear interactions of temperature X cultivar/strain were found. The prospects of shortening the growing-period in winter of early radish by means of regulating environmental factors and plant breeding are discussed.     

Flowering of cacao under controlled temperature conditions

The relationship between flowering and day and night temperatures in cacao has been studied over a period of nine months in controlled environment rooms, with clonal trees which were 13 months old at the start of the experiment.

All the plants started to flower at the same time, but thereafter there was a marked response to temperature. Flowering was greater at day temperatures of 80° and 86° F. (26 .7°, 30° C.) than at day temperatures of 74° F. (23–3° C.) and, at each level of day temperature, flowering was greater at a night temperature of 80° F. than at one of 74° or 86° F. The relative effects of temperature were similar on numbers of flowering cushions per plant and of flowers per cushion.

There was no apparent relationship bfetween the amount of flowering and new leaves (flushes) produced, either at the time of flowering or at any period before. Neither was there a quantitative relationship between flowering and leaf area of the plants, though, in general, the treatments that resulted in the greatest leaf areas also resulted in the greatest numbers of flowers. A possible relationship was suggested between the number of flowering cushions and the total extension growth of the branches.     

Effect of photoperiod and light integral on flowering and growth of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn.

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of different photoperiod and light integral on floral initiation, development and subsequent growth of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn. Six-weeks-old seedlings of ‘Echo Blue’ and ‘Fuji Deep Blue’ were placed under short day (SD, 10 h) and were transferred to long days (LD, 20 h) at 2-week intervals from 6 to 14 weeks after seeding. Plants initiated flower buds regardless of light regimes. Flower bud initiation was delayed by SD compared to LD; plants transferred after 6 weeks from seeding initiated flower buds at least 21 and 10 days earlier at LD at high (HL) and low (LL) daily light integral, respectively, compared to those at SD. Light regimes had little or no effect on time to flower bud development after initiation. Thus, it seems likely that LD and HL affected the initiation rather than development. Both the photoperiod and light integral strongly influenced the subsequent growth after initiation. SD delayed the time to visible bud (VB), increased the number of nodes to first open flower, number of branches, stem diameter and shoot dry weight compared to LD. HL promoted flowering and increased several shoot characteristics and flowering compared to LL.The results indicate that Eustoma is a quantitative long-day plant. LD, and more specifically HL, enhanced flower bud initiation, development and subsequent growth. An initial SD period is preferred to increase the number of branches, number of flowering buds and flowers, stem diameter and shoot dry weight.     

Effects of photoperiod,light source and growth regulators on the growth and flowering of Trachelium caeruleum

Summary

Experiments were conducted to determine the appropriate photoperiod, light intensities and sources, and growth regulators, necessary to produce Trachelium caeruleum as a commercially acceptable potted plant. T. caeruleum behaved as an LDP with a critical photoperiod of 14 h necessary for flower initiation but was day neutral for subsequent flower development (from macroscopic bud visibility to anthesis). Providing long days by daylength extension using metal halide (MH) lamps to provide high irradiance resulted in significantly earlier flowering and more flowers than using either MH or incandescent lamps at low irradiance. The use of incandescent lamps to extend the day resulted in slower flowering and fewer flowers than using MH lamps at the same irradiance. Daminozide was effective for controlling plant height but ancymidol and chlormequat were ineffective. Removal of the terminal bud resulted in more compact plants, and more blooms per plant, but delayed flowering by approximately one week.     

Growth of Rhododendron cultivars as affected by temperature and light

Summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation of four Rhododendron cultivars to contrasting light and temperature conditions. Two evergreen rhododendron cultivars and two deciduous azaleas were grown for 112 d under short day (14 h) and long day (20 h) photoperiods combined with temperatures of 15 and 24°C. Additionally, these cultivars were compared for daylength extension at 24°C/long day under two irradiation treatments (incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubular lamps). The number of flushes of growth increased with increasing photoperiod and temperature in both evergreen cultivars and in R. canadense; azalea #89132 made only one flush in all treatments. In the evergreen cultivars the number of leaves per shoot in the first flush did not differ significantly between treatments, indicating that this character was predetermined by conditions during bud development. The number of leaves in later flushes increased with increasing photoperiod and temperature. The elongation growth of most flushes was also enhanced by longer photoperiod and higher temperature. High irradiation during photoperiodic extension further enhanced the growth. Azalea #89132 made more flower buds under high than low irradiation. The two evergreen cultivars differed in their growth habit. ‘Pohjola’s Daughter’ tended to continue growth in long days or at very high temperatures, and is thus predicted to thrive best in a maritime or semi-maritime cool climate. ‘Helsinki University’ responded to short daylength by ceasing growth regardless of temperature, and could be expected to perform successfully also in continental climates at latitudes around 45° N. R. canadense seemed to do best in a cool climate, but azalea #89132 should in time acclimatize in all kinds of climates within the limits of this study.     

Effect of temperature on photosynthesis of lettuce adapted to different light and temperature conditions

Gas exchange of lettuce plants, pre-grown in growth chambers at different irradiances (18, 37, 70 W m^?2) and temperatures (6, 14, 22°C) were measured in the range of 2–22°C. In weak light (18 W m^?2) there was no increase in CO₂ uptake above 2°C, and even in 70 W m^?2 the highest rates were obtained at about 10°C only. The response of net photosynthesis of lettuce to temperature is diminished as a result of morphological plant adaptations, i.e. specific leaf area or top-to-root weight ratio. The temperature optimum for dry-matter production is much higher than that for CO₂ uptake. Therefore, photosynthesis is an unsuitable criterion for temperature control in greenhouses.     

Improving spinach,radish, and lettuce growth under red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with blue light supplementation

Radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherriette), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Waldmann's Green), and spinach (Spinacea oleracea L. cv. Nordic IV) plants were grown under 660-nm red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and were compared at equal photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) with either plants grown under cool-white fluorescent lamps (CWF) or red LEDs supplemented with 10% (30 micromoles m-2 s-1) blue light (400-500 nm) from blue fluorescent (BF) lamps. At 21 days after planting (DAP), leaf photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance were greater for plants grown under CWF light than for those grown under red LEDs, with or without supplemental blue light. At harvest (21 DAP), total dry-weight accumulation was significantly lower for all species tested when grown under red LEDs alone than when grown under CWF light or red LEDs + 10% BF light. Moreover, total dry weight for radish and spinach was significantly lower under red LEDs + 10% BF than under CWF light, suggesting that addition of blue light to the red LEDs was still insufficient for achieving maximal growth for these crops.     

Seasonal and diurnal photosynthetic responses of two gerbera cultivars to different substrates and heating systems

The simultaneous, long-term effects of three substrates (zeolite, perlite and their 1:1 mixture) and of two heating systems (lower and upper) upon the diurnal changes in photosynthesis of two gerbera cultivars (Cyprus and Heart Breaker) were investigated at different times of year. ‘Cyprus’ revealed higher net CO₂ assimilation rate and stomatal conductance than ‘Heart Breaker’, while transpiration rate was almost the same. Based on both stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, the zeolite–perlite mixture substrate exerted a more beneficial effect on the soil–plant water system. No change in chlorophyll levels, either time-wise or between gerbera cultivars, was observed in response to different substrates and heating systems. Diurnal net CO₂ assimilation rate, followed only for ‘Cyprus’, was reduced significantly from morning to late afternoon, possibly as a result of stomatal conductance reduction. The practical outcome with respect to the combined effect of different substrates, heating systems and cultivars was that ‘Cyprus’ grown on the mixture medium and subjected to an upper heating system (i.e. with heating pipes installed at the culture bag level) exhibited the best physiological responses.     

Modeling plant morphology and development of petunia in response to temperature and photosynthetic daily light integral

The effects of mean daily temperature (MDT) and mean photosynthetic daily light integral (MDLI) on flowering during the finish stage of two petunia (Petunia × hybrida) cultivars were quantified. Petunia ‘Easy Wave Coral Reef’ and ‘Wave Purple’ were grown in glass-glazed greenhouses at 14–23 °C or 14–26 °C and under 4–19 mol m⁻² d⁻¹ with a 16-h photoperiod. The flower developmental rate was predicted using a model that included a linear MDT function with a base temperature multiplied by an exponential MDLI saturation function. The flower developmental rate increased and time to flower decreased as MDT increased within the temperature range studied. For example, under a MDLI of 12 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, as MDT increased from 14 to 23 °C, time to flower of ‘Easy Wave Coral Reef’ and ‘Wave Purple’ decreased from 51 to 22 d and 62 to 30 d, respectively. Flower developmental rate increased as MDLI increased until saturation at 14.1–14.4 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. Nonlinear models were generated for effects of MDT and MDLI on flower bud number and plant height at flowering. The number of flower buds at flowering increased as MDT decreased and MDLI increased. For example, at an MDT of 14 °C with 18 mol m⁻² d⁻¹, plants had 2.5–2.9 times more flower buds than those grown at 23 °C and 4 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. Models were validated with an independent data set, and the predicted time to flower, flower bud number, and plant height were within ±7 d, ±20 flowers, and ±4 cm, respectively, for 96–100%, 62–87%, and 93–100% of the observations, respectively. The models could be used during greenhouse crop production to improve scheduling and predict plant quality of these petunia cultivars.     

Comparison of the responses to NaCl stress of two pea cultivars using split-root system

Two pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars were compared: cv Lincoln and cv Douce de Provence. Seedlings grown for 14 d on standard medium were challenged for 21 d with salt using a split-root system. This protocol allowed salt-treated plants to absorb nutrients through a part of their root system maintained in control medium (C), the other part of the root system being placed in medium added with 75 mM NaCl (S). Full salt treatment (S/S) resulted in severe but non-lethal growth inhibition, high concentration of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ in leaves, and decrease in leaf K⁺ and chlorophyll contents. The two latter effects were more pronounced in Lincoln than in D. Provence. Growth inhibition was partially (Lincoln) or totally (D. Provence) alleviated in S/C configuration, and K⁺ content was less diminished than in full salt treatment. S/C treatment mitigated Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulation in Lincoln, but not in D. Provence. Thus, in the latter cultivar, growth inhibition by salt in S/S condition likely did not result from excessive Na⁺ and Cl⁻ accumulation in leaves. Increased electrolyte leakage from leaf tissues evidenced damages to leaf cell plasma membrane of both cultivars in S/S condition. However, damages to chloroplasts, as inferred from chlorophyll loss, were much pronounced in Lincoln than in D. Provence. Antioxidant enzymic activities in leaves were measured as proxies for oxidative stress. Catalase activity was stimulated by S/S treatment in both cultivars, but superoxide dismutase (Fe and Cu/Zn isoforms) and gaiacol peroxidase activities were augmented only in Lincoln. The absence of superoxide dismutase activity stimulation by salt in D. Provence could signify either that constitutive activity was sufficient to ensure protection against oxidative stress, or that intrinsic salt tolerance of this cultivar mitigated cellular oxidative stress. Thus, intraspecific variability for salt response exists between pea cultivars presenting similar growth sensitivity to salt.     

Temperature and photoperiod control of morphology and flowering time in two greenhouse grown Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars

Knowledge of the factors involved, and tools to control morphology and flowering are important in intensive and cost-efficient greenhouse production. Hydrangea macrophylla is an important flowering pot plant in Norway and is produced year-around in greenhouses. Due to problems in scheduling, a study was conducted to compare floral transition and morphology of two commercially important cultivars of Hydrangea (‘Early Blue’ and ‘Schneeball’) under different flower initiating treatments in growth chambers. Plants were grown with high pressure sodium lamps (HPS) at moderate temperature (17 °C) (MT) and high (24 °C) temperature. At high temperature, the effect of (1) irradiance under long day conditions (16 h lighting with 70 or 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and (2) short day (8 h lighting) was investigated. The short day treatment had similar light integral as the low irradiance long day treatment (SD: 8 h × 140 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and LD: 16 h × 70 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ = 4.0 mol m⁻² d⁻¹). The intention was to test the effect of irradiance and SD on flower transition and morphology under high temperatures. The results clearly showed that MT is the strongest signal for floral transition. MT resulted in a rapid floral transition of the terminal buds and lateral flower buds. A short forcing period was required and the plants became short and compact without any use of chemical growth retardants. At high temperatures only SD had a promotive effect on flower transition and the response was found to be stronger in ‘Schneeball’ than ‘Early Blue’. In general, all the treatments under high temperatures required a long forcing time and the plants tended to be very tall with a low number of lateral flower buds.     

Flowering of Primula malacoides in response to photoperiod and temperature

Primula malacoides Franch. ‘Prima Lilac’ was grown at 16 or 20 °C in combination with short days (SD, 8 h) or long days (LD, 16 h). In addition to uninterrupted growing conditions, plants within each temperature were moved at weekly intervals to the other photoperiod and left until termination. Temperature, but not photoperiod, significantly affected the rate of development from start of treatments (51 days from seeding) to 2 mm visible flower bud (VB). At 16 °C, VB averaged 30 days and at 20 °C, 48 days. Time to flower (first horizontal petals) at 16 °C increased from 56 to 64 days as SD increased from 1 week to continuous conditions while LD decreased time to flower from 64 to 56 days. Time to flower at 20 °C varied from 73 to 87 days with additional SD exposure resulting in slower and LD in faster flowering. These observations of the flowering response in ‘Prima’ are contrary to the photoperiodic classification of P. malacoides as a SD plant.     

The effect of hydrogen cyanamide (Dormex) on flowering and cropping of different apple cultivars under tropical conditions of sub-optimal winter chilling

The effects of pre-bud-break application of 1.5% hydrogen cyanamide (3% Dormex) on the flowering and cropping of 12 apple cultivars were determined over the years 1988/89 to 1991/92 in tropical Zimbabwe, at a site with less than 300 h of winter chilling below 7.2 °C per year. Control trees, other than those of ‘Mutsu’ and ‘Goldjon’ which were indistinguishable from the treated trees, showed varying degrees of delayed flowering and low yield in comparison with the cyanamide-treated trees. The latter, irrespective of cultivar, attained full bloom within 4–5 weeks of the common date of treatment, so that blossoming of the different cultivars, as well as that of the different trees of each cultivar, was synchronized, and all cropped heavily in relation to tree size. Very satisfactory yields of ‘Mollies Delicious’, ‘Canvada’, ‘Drakenstein’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘NJ46’, ‘Marjorie Pye’, ‘Spartan’, ‘Starking’, ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Ohinemuri’ were thus obtained by the use of cyanamide in an environment otherwise unsuitable for them, especially for the later cultivars on this list.     

Inhibition of flowering of Mexican- and Guatemalan-type avocados under tropical conditions

Avocado trees of a range of cultivars growing in Darwin, northern Australia (average yearly maximum 33°C, minimum 23°C), were observed for flower and shoot development. Terminal buds of the cultivars ‘Fuerte’, ‘Rincon’ and ‘Edranol’ sampled in July were not floral. Buds which did not burst were sampled in September and they contained developing flowers with perianth primordia. Vegetative extension growth resulted from laterals proximal to the inhibited terminal buds.Avocado trees of the cultivars ‘Fuerte’ and ‘Hass’ which had initiated floral buds were transferred to controlled environment chambers with 33°C day, 23°C night ($\text{33}\text{23}$) or 25°C day, 15°C night ($\text{25}\text{15}$) with a 12-h photoperiod and photon flux density of 400 μmol m^?2 s^?1 (400–700 nm). At $\text{33}\text{23}$ the trees had fewer flowers and a shorter flowering period than at $\text{25}\text{15}$. Inhibited floral buds and lateral vegetative extension resulted at $\text{33}\text{23}$, as observed in northern Australia. The unburst buds had developing flowers with perianth and stamen primordia.The controlled environment experiments showed that the abnormal flushing behaviour of Mexican- and Guatemalan-type avocados growing in northern Australia was due to high temperature. Floral development was inhibited at the stage of stamen differentiation.     

Effect of set-size and storage temperature on bolting,bulbing and seed yield in two onion cultivars

The effects of three set-sizes (12.5, 17.5 and 22.5 mm in diameter) and seven storage temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) on bolting, bulbing and seed yield in two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars ‘Hygro’ and ‘Delta’ were investigated. The incidence of bolting increased linearly with set-size and curvi-linearly with decreasing storage temperature. Time to inflorescence emergence and floret opening showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the earliest inflorescence emergence and floret opening occurring at 5 °C and the latest at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’. Seed yield per umbel also showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the lowest seed yield occurring at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’ and the highest seed yield at 5 °C. For a seed crop, storage of large sets (22.5 mm) of these cultivars at 5 °C for 120 days appeared to be optimum with 5–12% higher seed yield per umbel than that of 90 days storage. Bulb yield showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the highest bulb yield occurring at 25 °C and the lowest at 5 °C.     

Effect of light wavelength on growth and flowering of narcissi forced under short-day and low quantum irradiance conditions

Summary

Four narcissus cultivars were forced under artificial light using fluorescent lamps which emitted white (307 – 770 nm), blue (393 – 580 nm), red (540 – 760 nm), yellow (450 – 750 nm), or green (387 – 680 nm) light. The photosynthetic photon flux density was 12.5 μmol m^–2 s^–1, with a 6 h photoperiod. Light colour (wavelength) had no significant effect on flowering date, or on the number of flowers collected (P < 0.05). Narcissus bulbs exposed to blue light (393 – 580 nm) formed shorter, more rigid shoots of lower weight with 13 – 40% shorter leaves.     

Influence of growth regulators on setting,retention and weight of fruits in two cultivars of litchi

Investigations were undertaken to explore the possibility of improving setting, retention and weight of fruits in ‘Early Seedless’ and ‘Calcuttia’ cultivars of lichi (Litchi chinensis) by means of growth regulators. Indole acetic acid (IAA) at 20, 40 and 80 mg l^?1, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) at 2,4 and 8 mg l^?1 and gibberellic acid (GA₃) at 50, 100 and 150 mg l^?1 were sprayed on panicles in the first fortnight of April, when 50–100% flowers had opened. All 3 growth regulators caused a favourable effect on fruit setting, fruit retention and weight of individual fruits, but IAA at 20 mg l^?1 proved the best for enhancing setting, GA₃ at 50 mg l^?1 for increasing retention and GA₃ at 100 mg l^?1 for improving fruit weight. IAA and GA₃ should, therefore, be used in combination. Between the 2 cultivars tested, ‘Calcuttia’ proved superior to ‘Early Seedless’ in fruit setting, fruit retention and weight of individual fruits.     

Interaction of photoperiod and temperature in the control of growth and dormancy of Prunus species

Growth and dormancy induction of seedlings or micropropagated plants of three Prunus species were studied under controlled environment conditions. All the species tested, P. cerasus L. and P. insititia L. (two cultivars each), and P. avium L. were insensitive to photoperiod at high temperature and maintained continuous growth in both 10 and 24-h photoperiods at 21 °C. At lower temperatures, however, growth was controlled by the interaction of photoperiod and temperature, the species and cultivars varying somewhat in their responses. At 9 °C growth cessation was induced regardless of day-length conditions in the plum rootstocks ‘St. Julien A’ and ‘Weito’ as well as in the sour cherry rootstock ‘Weiroot’, whereas in the sour cherry rootstock ‘Gisela 5’ growth cessation took place in short day (SD) only. At intermediate temperatures (12 and 15 °C) growth cessation occurred in SD only in both sour cherry cultivars. In P. avium seedlings on the other hand, growth cessation in SD was only induced at 9 °C, continuous but reduced growth taking place also in SD at all higher temperatures. Growth rates increased progressively with increasing temperature under long day (LD) conditions in all species, and this was associated with increased internode length in LD compared with SD conditions. Production of new leaves was unaffected by photoperiod at high temperature, but was higher in LD than in SD at lower temperatures. After growth cessation at low temperature the plants developed winter buds and became dormant also in LD conditions. These results demonstrate that, like several species of the Pomoidae subfamily of the Rosaceae, these Prunus species are insensitive to short photoperiods at relatively high temperatures. However, the photoperiodic response of the Prunus species is highly temperature dependent, and the transition temperatures for shifts in the photoperiodic response mode vary among the species.     

Sana Physiological responses of two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars to CycocelTM treatment during drought

The plant growth regulator Cycocel^TM [(2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride] can be used to produce drought tolerance in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) due to a reduction in the ratio between vegetative growth and fruit production. To evaluate the physiological responses of two grapevine cultivars to drought and Cycocel^TM treatment, a factorial experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. The factors included irrigation frequency (at 5-, 10-, or 15-day intervals corresponding to no, mild, or severe drought stress), Cycocel^TM concentration (0, 500, or 1000 mg l^–1), and cultivar (‘Rasheh’ or ‘Bidane-Sefid’). Stomatal conductance (g_s) the net rate of CO₂ assimilation (A_net), the rate of transpiration (T_r), and chlorophyll a and b concentrations decreased in plants exposed to mild or severe water-deficit stress, whereas carotenoid, proline, and total soluble sugar concentrations increased compared to plants with no drought stress. The relative water content (RWC) of leaves declined only under severe drought stress. A reduction in intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i) occurred under mild drought stress; however, under severe drought stress, C_i values increased. Under mild drought stress, the reduction in the net rate of photosynthesis was related to stomatal closure, whereas under severe drought stress, non-stomatal factors were dominant. Water-use efficiency (WUE) improved under mild drought stress relative to non-stressed plants, but under severe drought, it declined. Foliar applications of Cycocel^TM resulted in increased A_net, g_s, T_r, and WUE values, as well as proline and soluble sugar concentrations. ‘Rasheh’ was more tolerant to drought stress than was ‘Bidane-Sefid’. Foliar applications of Cycocel^TM, particularly at 1000 mg l^–1, mitigated the negative effects of drought stress by increasing A_net, WUE, RWC, compatible solute concentrations, such as proline, soluble sugar, and chlorophyll a and b concentrations.