Adventitious shoot regeneration in a bioreactor system and EST-PCR based clonal fidelity in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Adventitious shoots were regenerated from leaf explants of three lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) clones: ‘QB1’, ‘QB2’ and ‘PB1’ by culturing on a gelled basal medium (BM) with 2.3–4.5 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) for four weeks followed by in a bioreactor system containing the same liquid medium but with 1.2–2.3 μM TDZ for another four weeks. Young expanding basal leaf segments with the adaxial side touching the culture medium and maintained for two weeks in darkness, produced the best results. Callus development and shoot regeneration were genotype dependent. Adventitious shoots were elongated in the liquid BM with 1 μM zeatin and rooted on a three peat: two perlite (v/v) medium. Acclimatized plantlets were grown actively in the greenhouse with an apparent normal leaf and shoot morphology. Ten random ‘QB1’ regenerated plants were screened using 14 expressed sequence tag-polymerase chain reaction (EST-PCR) markers and showed similar monomorphic amplification profiles confirming clonal fidelity of in vitro-derived ‘QB1’ plants. Results obtained suggested the possibility of adventitious shoot regeneration and true-to-type lowbush blueberry micropropagation using a bioreactor system combined with gelled medium.     

Effects of conventional and organic nitrogen fertilizers on soil microbial activity,mycorrhizal colonization,leaf antioxidant content,and Fusarium wilt in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

A study was conducted in the greenhouse to determine the effects of conventional and organic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium solani, in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Legacy’). Root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi, soil microbial activity, and leaf antioxidants content was also measured the treatments. Plants grown with organic N fertilizer exhibited a lower incidence of Fusarium wilt than those grown with conventional N fertilizer (5% and 30% by the end of the experiment, respectively). Organic fertilizer also increased the soil biota activity, mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf antioxidant content relative to conventional N source. The results suggest that organic N fertilizer may improve the tolerance of blueberry to soil pathogens, such as F. solani.     

Fertilization regulates soil enzymatic activity and fertility dynamics in a cucumber field

Different fertilizers may affect soil enzymatic activity and soil fertility dynamics. These effects were investigated in a field experiment with cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and the relationship with yield and soil nutrient availability was assessed. Soil enzymatic activity, measured as phosphatase, catalase, invertase and urease activities, decreased in the early growth stages of cucumber, but increased in the late ones, when plant were supplied with partially decomposed horse manure. Chemical N fertilizer inhibited soil enzymatic activity but P and K fertilizers enhanced it. Activity of different soil enzymes was positively correlated with soil NH₄⁺–N and available P concentration, but negatively correlated with leaf N and P concentration. Cucumber yield was also positively correlated with the soil enzymatic activity. Our results demonstrate that soil enzymatic activity acted as a useful indicator of soil fertility dynamics.     

Combining cover cropping with deficit irrigation in a Mediterranean low vigor vineyard

The aim of this research was to test the effects of vineyard soil management practices combined with deficit irrigation strategies on the performance of the grapevine (Vitisvinifera L.) red variety Tempranillo. Two soil management practices (soil tillage – ST and permanent resident vegetation – RV) were combined with three deficit irrigation treatments (regulated deficit irrigation – RDI, partial rootzone drying – PRD and conventional sustained deficit irrigation – DI) during two growing cycles. Compared to ST, RV reduced soil water content during spring, inducing a significant reduction in vine vegetative growth, yield and must titratable acidity. The effects of irrigation treatments were not much pronounced. Only in the second season RDI showed a significant reduction on vine vegetative growth, yield and must titratable acidity as compared to PRD and DI whose results were similar to one another.     

Effect of soil amendments and sawdust mulching on growth,yield and leaf nutrient content of highbush blueberry plants

The effects of soil amendments (elemental S, peat, crushed pine bark or crushed pine bark plus elemental S) mixed into the planting hole, with or without a sawdust mulch over the soil surface, on the early growth and yield of highbush blueberry bushes (Vaccinium corymbosum L., ‘Bluecrop’) grown in a mineral soil were investigated in a 3-year field study.Plant growth and yields were increased by additions of all amendments and generally followed the order: bark plus S > bark = peat = elemental S > control. The reasons for the positive growth responses probably differed among the treatments. In the control treatments, growth appeared to be limited by Mn and possibly Fe deficiency. For the S treatment, a decrease in the soil pH with a concomitant increase in levels of Mn and Fe probably stimulated the response. However, concentrations of both leaf Al and Mn were very high in the S treatment, and toxicities of these elements may have been limiting a further growth response. For the peat amendment, the growth response was probably related to both a decrease in soil pH and an improvement in soil physical conditions. For the bark amendment, the growth response is likely to have been pricipally related to improved physical conditions and also to the reasonably high Mn content of the bark itself. For the bark plus S treatment, the additional effect of reduced pH provided for an even greater response than that for bark alone. It was concluded that additions of organic matter and an acidifying agent to the planting hole can greatly increase early growth and yields of blueberries in mineral soil.     

Effects of repeated applications of municipal solid waste compost and fertilizers to three lowbush blueberry fields

Field experiments were initiated in May 1999 and continued through 2002 to investigate the application of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost and fertilizers to lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) fields. Three sites were selected: Debert, N.S. (Truro sandy loam) and two sites near Musquodoboit, N.S. (both Rawdon gravely loamy sands). Treatments at each site were in a randomized complete block design with six treatments (control [no fertilizer], NK fertilizer, NPK fertilizer, and three rates of MSW compost) blocked four times. Compost treatments provided the equivalent of 100, 200 and 400 kg ha⁻¹ of total N. The experimental objectives were to evaluate soil and plant response to the compost and to determine whether it could be used as an alternative to the traditional chemical fertilizers. Yield, soil fertility, and leaf and fruit nutrients were examined following the four years of treatment applications. The MSW compost had a significant effect on pH and soil extractable levels of P, K and Ca, and influenced N and K levels in leaf samples. Fruit yield and nutrient content, except for Mn, were not affected by the treatments. In general, the compost treatments provided equivalent amounts of plant essential nutrients without negatively influencing trace element absorption.     

Evaluation and correction of nutrient availability to Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus in various compost-based growing media

Nutrient deficiencies usually constrain the use of some composted materials as peat-substitute growing media even if some fertilizer is applied to the media. In this work, we assessed the suitability of various composted materials as such or mixed with peat for potted plant production, with special emphasis on their effects on nutrient availability to plants. Further, we examined the effect of vivianite [Fe₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O] as a fertilizer and its mixture with humic substances (HS) on these growing media (particularly their effectiveness in preventing Fe deficiency chlorosis in alkaline substrates). A completely randomized experiment design was developed involving the growth of gerber (Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus) and two factors, namely (i) the growing medium, specifically composted cork residue (C), compost obtained from a mixture of olive husk and cotton gin trash mixed with rice hulls and peat in a 1:1:1 volume proportion (OH), composted grape marc (GM), Sphagnum peat mixed with spent mushroom compost (M), coconut fibre (CF), and Sphagnum peat; and (ii) the Fe source (control without Fe, Fe-EDDHA, vivianite and vivianite + HS in a weight ratio of 10:1).     

Integration of soil solarization and chemical sterilization with beneficial microorganisms for the control of white root rot and growth of nursery apple

White root rot (Dematophora necatrix (Mart.)) is a serious disease of apple (Malus domestica Borkh) in nurseries and orchards in India. In 2002 and 2003, field experiments were conducted to integrate soil solarization with native isolates of Azotobacter chrococcum and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and observe its effect on the incidence of white root rot and growth of the saplings. Apple seeds coated with two native isolates of A. chrococcum (AZUHF₁ and AZUHF₂) were sown in plots inoculated with 4 native isolates of va-mycorrhiza, i.e. AMUHF₁ (Glomus fesiculatum), AMUHF₂ (Glomus macrocarpum), AMUHF₃ (Glomus mosseae) and AMUHF₄ (Gigaspora sp.) in 14 different combinations and these plots were solarized with transparent polyethylene mulch (25 μm thick) for 40 days in summer months. Soil solarization resulted around 9 °C higher temperature with average maximum temperature of 38–39 °C. Inoculation of saplings with AMUHF₁ isolate of va-mycorrhiza and AZUHF₁ isolate of A. chrococcum and then their planting in solarized soil was found most effective with no incidence of white root rot in comparison to 33.6–35.4% in control accompanied with 78–113% increase in shoot length and 81.6–84.3% increase in root length. Shoot and root length of the saplings was 9.6–10.6 and 9.2–16.0% higher, respectively, in solarized plots in comparison to sterilized plots.     

Application of chlorophyll fluorescence for the diagnosis of salt stress in tomato “Solanum lycopersicum (variety Rio Grande)”

To study the response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Rio Grande) to salinity, the effect on plant growth, water relations, stomatal conductance and Chlorophyll fluorescence was investigated. Tomato plants were grown in peat culture under controlled conditions and submitted during 28 days to saline stress ranging from 0 to 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl. At the end of the experiment period, plant growth was significantly decreased with increasing salinity.     

Effect of phosphite fertilization on growth,yield and fruit composition of strawberries

Traditionally, phosphates (Pi, salts of phosphoric acid, H₃PO₄) have been used for plant fertilization, and phosphites (Phi, salts of phosphorous acid, H₃PO₃) have been used as fungicides. Nowadays several Phi fertilizers are available in the EU market despite the fact that in research trials Phi has often had a negative influence on plant growth. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of a Phi fertilizer on plant growth, yield and fruit composition of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Experiments were carried out with ‘Polka’ frigo plants in South Estonia in 2005 and 2006. The number of leaves per plant, total and marketable yields, fruit size, fruit ascorbic acid content (AAC), soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), anthocyanins (ACY) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were recorded.     

Growth and nutrient partitioning of containerized Cercis siliquastrum L. under two fertilizer regimes

Lebanon's native flora is threatened by loss of natural habitat to rural and urban development and the increased demand of plant materials for landscaping. Despite Lebanon's floristic richness, most taxa used for landscaping are non-native. This study was done to determine if Cercis siliquastrum (L.) is amenable to container production. Therefore, six open pollinated seeds sources native to Lebanon were grown under two fertilizer rates to study growth, N, P, K uptake efficiency, and partitioning. Two-year-old seedlings were planted in 11 L containers in a 3:1 pine bark:compost substrate. Seedlings within each seed source or mother tree were grown at either 25 or 100 mg N L⁻¹ from 21N–3.1P–5.9K water-soluble fertilizer. Seedlings of all sources grown under 25 mg N L⁻¹ had greater dry weight than those grown at 100 mg. Nutrient loading occurred in plants under the high fertilizer rate, although total plant N, P, and K content were not affected by fertilizer rate. There were significant differences in mineral nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiencies among the seed sources. The results show that C. siliquastrum is amenable to container production. The great variation in growth rate and nutrient use efficiency among the limited number of seed sources studied suggest that significant improvement can be made through mother tree selection and/or clonal propagation of superior individual plants within a source.     

Influence of harvest time and after-ripening on the seed quality of eggplant

Eggplant cv. Emi and Tsakoniki were cultivated for seed in an unheated greenhouse and fruits were harvested at 25–65 days after anthesis (DAA) in order to determine the optimum harvest time. In addition, the effect of after-ripening on seed quality (i.e. seed size and germination) was examined by storing harvested fruit at 25 °C for 20 days prior to seed extraction. From the results, it was concluded that the optimum time of harvest for seed production is 55 DAA. Seeds extracted from fruits that were harvested at 25–35 DAA did not germinate, but when fruits harvested at the same age were stored for 20 days at 25 °C prior to seed extraction (i.e. seeds were after-ripened) germination was induced. Seeds extracted from fruits harvested at 45 DAA showed a high percent germination, which decreased after storage at 25 °C for 3 months. This decrease, however, was reduced by after-ripening prior to extraction. It is concluded that although eggplant is a non-climacteric species and fruit do not ripen after harvest, nevertheless seeds within the fruit continue to fill and mature after harvest; hence storage of prematurely harvested fruit prior to seed extraction permits the seeds of these fruits to after-ripen in situ and thereby increases seed size and germination. The implication of this result for eggplant seed production is discussed.     

Isotopically-labelled nitrogen uptake and partitioning in sweet cherry as influenced by timing of fertilizer application

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a fruit of increasing economic importance though it is less significant than other stone fruit species such as peach. Cherry has received little attention concerning nitrogen (N) uptake and dynamics in mature trees. The aim of this work was to determine N uptake and partitioning as influenced by the timing of fertilizer application in 7-year-old sweet cherry trees cultivated in a cold region (Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz, Argentina; 71°38′ W, 46°32′ S). Nitrogen (95 kg ha⁻¹) was applied as ammonium nitrate to a soil with ‘Bing’ sweet cherry trees grafted onto Prunusmahaleb rootstocks. Fertilization was split into two equal applications per treatment, involving either the commercial fertilizer ammonium nitrate or the same fertilizer labelled with ¹⁵N isotope (10% atom.). Treatments consisted of one early spring (full bloom, October 2005) or one summer (late January 2006, 15 days after harvest) application of ¹⁵N ammonium nitrate to three replicate trees. Fruit were harvested in early January and leaves were collected at both full canopy and leaf fall. All trees were excavated in winter (August, 2006). Trees were partitioned into their components: trunk, branches (current-season shoots, 1-year-old and over-1-year-old branches), buds of the same age, small roots (less than 1 mm thick), large roots, leaves (sampled in February and April), and fruit (collected at harvest). Those components were dried and analysed for total N and ¹⁵N content. Total N per tree and N content derived from the fertilizer did not differ between treatments. Summer postharvest ¹⁵N application partitioned not only to structural components (trunk and roots) but also to buds and leaves. Uptake efficiency was significantly (p = 0.0113) higher in the spring than in the summer application (65.7% vs. 37.44%). Nevertheless, 52.5% of N applied in spring was lost due to harvest and summer pruning. This emphasizes the importance of the postharvest N fertilization which increases N accumulation in both reserve organs and buds though, according to our data, it is less efficiently used. The extent of nitrogen uptake, efficiency of use and partitioning in the following growing seasons are still open questions that deserve further research.     

越橘品种(系)栽培特性初探

该研究以吉林农业大学越橘园内78个品种(系)为试材,对其果实性状及产量等进行调查研究。结果表明:(1)越橘平均单果重0.49~3.73g,其中高丛越橘为1.13~2.92 g,半高丛越橘为1.01~1.97 g,矮丛越橘为0.49~1.33 g,杂交品系为0.67~3.73 g。越橘最大果重可达4.89 g。(2)果型指数为0.661~0.992,果实均呈扁球形。(3)越橘果实成熟期为6月中旬—9月下旬。其中早熟品种(系):高丛越橘品种有4个,半高丛越橘品种有4个,矮丛越橘品种有8个,杂交品系有8个;中熟品种(系):高丛越橘品种有18个,半高丛越橘品种有7个,矮丛越橘品种有2个,杂交品系有25个;晚熟品种(系):只有高丛越橘品种2个。(4)越橘单株产量为8.23~2632.00g。其中高丛越橘为171.97~2325.00g,产量高于1000.00g的品种有14个;半高丛越橘为553.93~2632.00g,产量均高于500.00g;矮丛越橘为8.23~1278.17g,产量高于500.00g的品种有6个;杂交品系为393.30~2465.03g,产量高于1000.00g的品系有25个,仅1个品系产量低于500.00g。     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of soil-applied plant derivatives of Meliaceae species on nitrogen availability to peach trees

We assessed the effect of soil-applied derivatives of melia (Melia azedarach L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on nitrogen (N) soil availability, root uptake and peach (Prunus persica L.) growth. First we evaluated the effectiveness of experimentally prepared amendments made with fresh ground melia leaves or commercial neem cake incorporated into the soil as nitrification inhibitors, then we evaluated the effect of fresh ground melia fruits and neem cake on growth and N root uptake of potted peach trees, and on soil microbial respiration. Soil-applied fresh ground melia leaves at 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹ of soil as well as commercial neem cake (10 g kg⁻¹) were ineffective in decreasing the level of mineral N after soil application of urea-N as a source of mineral N, rather they increased soil concentration of nitric N and ammonium N. The incorporation into the soil of fresh ground melia fruits (at 20 and 40 g kg⁻¹) and neem cake (at 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹) increased N concentration in leaves of GF677 peach × almond (Prunus amygdalus) hybrid rootstock alone or grafted with one-year-old variety Rome Star peach trees. An increase in microbial respiration, leaf green color and plant biomass compared to the control trees were also observed. The Meliaceae derivatives did not affect, in the short term (7 days), N root uptake efficiency, as demonstrated by the use of stable isotope ¹⁵N, rather they promoted in the long term an increase of soil N availability, N leaf concentration and plant growth.     

越桔对长白山区酸性土壤的适应性

在长白山区３种类型的酸性土壤上栽培越桔，研究结果表明，｀北空＇、｀美登＇、｀斯卫克＇在暗棕色森林土上生长结果较好，树体营养关系合理；在草甸沼泽土上３个种生长结果均较差，｀北空＇在水湿地潜育土上生长旺盛，但产量低，综合分析认为，矮丛越桔类型品种对我国长白山区酸性土壤条件的适应性较强，半高丛越桔则适应性差，针对长白山不同类型的土壤，以美登最为适宜暗棕色森林土栽培，斯卫克次之；水湿地潜育土可栽培美登品种     

Investigation of biological behavior and colonization ability of Iranian indigenous phosphate solubilizing bacteria

Soil phosphorous (P) uptake mechanisms by the interaction of plants and soil microorganisms benefit plant growth with preparing agriculture inoculants. But it is influenced by soil factors. The present study was performed to identify three effective strains of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence in vitro. Bacillus lentus strain PS5, Bacillus licheniformis strain PS7 and Pseudomonas putida strain PS13 were isolated from an alkaline soil in Iran and the rhizosphere of Beta vulgaris and Solanum tuberosom. Their high root colonization ability and P solubilizing activity was detected in relation to soil physical and chemical properties influenced by environmental factors including salinity of 800 mM/L and temperature of 42 °C.     

Vector analysis in the study of the nutritional status of Philodendron cultivated in compost-based media

Compost (CP) made from 70% ligno-cellulosic compounds and 30% sewage sludge was studied as a component of growing media in a 6-month Philodendron cultivation. CP's agronomic viability was evaluated via four plant-growth media containing 25–50–75–100% CP and white sphagnum peat (WP) in comparison to a commercial substrate with white and black peat. Plant nutrition conditions were investigated by determining macro- (TKN, P, K, Ca, Mg and micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Na) and heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb) in roots and shoot tissues. Data were compared by vector analysis against control. Even if no leaf injuries were visible after 6-months’ growth, a CP ratio of up to 50% caused growth depression of canopy tissues, as attested by the 37 and 36% reduction in total leaf dry weight and leaf area, respectively. Root growth decline was also notable at 25% CP, where 38% root dry weight reduction implied a significant increase (46%) in shoot–root dry weight ratio. The investigation on nutrient tissue content showed high accumulation of Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn, Cd, Mn, Mg and P in roots; Mg appeared related to K deficiency. Above-ground nutritional status showed a severe lack of P, Mg and Mn. Vector analysis suggests the sewage sludge CP in Philodendron pot cultivation produces many such effects like direct toxic action and antagonistic action, resulting in a general nutrient imbalance in plants.     

Production protocol development for greenhouse cut Linaria, Lupinus, and Papaver flowers

Linaria maroccana Hook. f. Ann., ‘Lace Violet’, Lupinus hartwegii ssp. cruikshankii Lindl. ‘Sunrise’ and Papaver nudicaule L. ‘Meadow Pastels’ seeds were directly sown into 105 cell plug trays and received either ambient light or supplemental high intensity discharge (HID) lighting. For each species, a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial was used with two light intensities during propagation, three transplant stages, and three night temperatures. Seedlings were transplanted at the appearance of 2–3, 5–6, or 8–9 true leaves. Transplanted Linaria and Papaver seedlings were placed at 5/11, 10/16, or 15/21 ± 1 °C night/day temperatures and Lupinus seedlings were placed at 15/24, 18/25, or 20/26 ± 2 °C night/day temperatures. For this study, the optimum production temperature for Linaria was 10/16 °C as the cut stems produced at 15/21 °C were unmarketable and production time was excessively long at 5/11 °C. At 10/16 °C, Linaria seedlings should be transplanted at the 2–3 leaf stage to maximize stem number, stem length and profitability. For Lupinus the optimum temperature was 15/24 °C due to long stems and high profitability per plant. Lupinus seedlings should be transplanted at the 2–3 leaf stage when grown at 15/24 °C to obtain the longest and thickest stems; however, $/m² week was higher for plants transplanted at the 8–9 leaf stage due to less time in finishing production space. For Papaver, the 15/21 °C temperature was optimal as that temperature produced the longest stems in the shortest duration, resulting in the highest $/m² week. At 15/21 °C Papaver plants should be transplanted at the 2–3 leaf stage. Supplemental HID lighting had no effect on any of the species.