Light acclimation in rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Grand Gala) leaves after pruning: Effects on chlorophyll a fluorescence,nitrate reductase,ammonium and carbohydrates

Changes in light intensity have a particular effect on the photosynthetic apparatus. Most of the studies on light acclimation in higher plants have focused on the effects of fixed light intensity. Few works deal on sudden changes in light intensity due to pruning for long periods of time. Pruning the bent shoots in roses (cv. Grand Gala) can modify the light interception in internal leaves and change their photosynthetic reactions. Before pruning, internal leaves were acclimated to low light intensity and after pruning, internal and external leaves received the same light intensity. The aim of this work was to find out how the photosynthetic light reaction, measured by chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence in internal and external leaves of arched shoot could be modulated by light changes. Other parameters described as light dependent were also measured: nitrate reductase (NR) activity, NH₄⁺, sucrose and starch levels. Internal and external leaves in rose have shown a high plasticity, rapid and dynamical acclimation, in response to changes in incident sunlight produced by pruning, that can be explained by Chl a fluorescence parameters. The modified NR activity, NH₄⁺, sucrose and starch levels were difficult to associated with light intensity changes, and their modulation could be the response to long-time light acclimation.     

Silicon supplementation ameliorated the inhibition of photosynthesis and nitrate metabolism by cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Cucumis sativus L.

The effects of silicon (Si) application on plant growth, pigments, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence parameters and nitrogen metabolism were studied in Cucumis sativus L. under cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Compared with the control, 100 μM CdCl₂ treatment caused dramatic accumulation of Cd in cucumber leaves, greatly induced chlorosis, and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis indicated that Cd treatment cucumber chloroplast showed obvious swollen, thylakoids and chloroplast membrane were seriously damaged, and could not be observed clearly. Application of Si reversed the chlorosis, protected the chloroplast from disorganization, and significantly increased the pigments contents, which might be mainly responsible for the higher photosynthetic rate and accumulation of biomass under Cd stress. Further investigation of chlorophyll a fluorescence indicated that Cd treatment decreasing photosynthesis was not due to stomatal restriction, while was closely related integrity damage or function lost of the photosynthetic machinery which can be concluded from the higher intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) and lower F_v/F_m and ΦPSII. Application of Si alleviated the inhibited level of photosynthesis and F_v/F_m and ΦPSII by Cd, which might imply that Si plays important roles in protecting photosynthetic machinery from damaging. The Cd treatment also greatly inhibited the enzymes of nitrogen metabolism including nitrogen reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and Si supply decreased the inhibiting effects of Cd.     

Effects of sink removal on leaf photosynthetic attributes of rose flower shoots (Rosa hybrida L., cv. Dallas)

Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the effects of sink removal (flower shoot harvest and debudding) on the gas-exchange capacity (i) of leaves left on the parent shoot after flower shoot harvest and (ii) of flower shoot leaves after flower-bud removal. In the first experiment, gas-exchange measurements were performed on three 5-foliate leaves (leaf 1: uppermost parent shoot leaf, and two leaves inserted just below: leaves 2–3). It was found that, after bud sprouting, the leaf nearest to the young growing shoot (leaf 1) experienced a significant reduction in leaf maximum net CO₂ assimilation rate, A_lm, stomatal conductance, g_s, and transpiration rate, E_l, over time in comparison to the corresponding values observed for leaves 2–3. Leaf water use efficiency, WUE, significantly changed over time, while the ratio of leaf internal to ambient CO₂ concentration, C_i/C_a, was rather conservative throughout the entire shoot growing period. In the second experiment, leaf gas-exchange measurements were performed for adult flower shoots that were either debudded or left intact. Both types of shoots exhibited a similar along-shoot distribution pattern of physiological fluxes, g_s, and WUE. Bud removal did not significantly affect the magnitude of gas-exchange, with the exception of E_l. One week after bud removal, only slight differences were observed for A_lm, g_s and E_l between the two types of shoots. These results suggest (i) that the contribution of the uppermost parent shoot leaf to the assimilates demand of newly growing shoot significantly affects its photosynthetic capacity; and (ii) that flower-bud removal does not change the overall photosynthetic capacity of the flower shoot leaves, which divert the surplus of produced assimilates towards alternative sink organs and plant reserve pools.     

樱桃不同节位叶片光合特性与解剖特征比较研究

以3个甜樱桃栽培品种佐藤锦、斯坦勒和那翁为试材,研究了新梢不同节位叶片光合速率(Pn)变化及叶绿素(Chl.)和比叶重(SLW)对其的影响。分析了不同品种叶片解剖结构与Pn的关系。结果表明:樱桃枝条不同叶位叶片的Pn呈单峰曲线变化,枝条中上部的叶片Pn较大,且有较高的稳定性,叶片发育和生理成熟度以及环境因素的影响是Pn出现单峰变化的重要因素;Chl.含量随着叶片的发育而增加,叶片成熟后,叶片Chl.含量与Pn之间不存在相关关系;不同叶位叶片SLW与Pn表现显著正相关;樱桃不同品种间叶片气孔密度、栅栏组织与海绵组织厚度比值与Pn存在极显著正相关。     

Photosynthetic acclimation of apple spur leaves to summer-pruning

A/C_i and photosynthetic light response curves for gas exchange characteristics were measured for spur leaves of 25-year-old ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Granny Smith’ apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) to investigate their acclimation capacity to a shade-to-sun transition in a commercial apple orchard. Spur leaves of both cultivars adapted to summer-pruning within 2 weeks, regardless of the time of the season at which pruning was conducted. There were no significant differences between the spur leaves of later pruned trees and corresponding leaves on trees that were continuously pruned during the summer period in terms of net photosynthetic rate and carboxylation efficiency, for both cultivars. The shape of the photosynthetic light response curves also proved the acclimation potential of both cultivars to shade-to-sun transitions. The rapid increase of the chlorophyll a/b ratio after pruning indicated that the acclimation of the photosynthetic system to avoid over-excitation of the photosynthetic reaction centers occurred within 1 week. Nevertheless, leaf dry mass per leaf area was intermediate between ‘continuous summer-pruning’ and ‘no-pruning’ treatments for leaves on later pruned trees, indicating that the acclimation to shade-to-sun transitions was not perfect in either cultivar. The present data also support the hypothesis that nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium are distributed to leaves growing under the highest photosynthetic photon flux density in order to maximize photosynthesis.     

Effects of pruning intensity on the biochemical status of shoot buds in three mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars planted at high density

Summary

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees grown at high density show a decline in flowering and fruiting after good fruiting years as a result of various factors. Annual pruning can restore production and productivity in such trees. Chlorophyll, total sugars (TS), total phenolics (TP), and proline contents as well as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities, were measured in the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 seasons in shoot buds with a few leaves in three mango cultivars (‘Amrapali’, ‘Mallika’, and ‘Dashehari’). Trees were grown at high density in an orchard and the aforesaid parameters were measured 1 month after different degrees of pruning (Stage I) and after subsequent fruit bud differentiation (FBD; Stage II). Severely-pruned mango trees had the highest contents of chlorophyll a, while chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents were found to be highest in moderately-pruned trees. Lightly-pruned trees had the highest contents of reducing sugars (RS), whereas TS contents were highest in severely-pruned trees. The contents of RS and TS increased in shoot buds during the FBD stage. A moderate intensity of pruning significantly increased TP contents, while the lowest TP contents were recorded in non-pruned trees. ‘Off’-year shoots had higher TP contents than ‘on’-year shoots. Irrespective of pruning intensity, shoot buds of ‘Mallika’ trees had the highest PPO activities, with lower levels in ‘Amrapali’ and ‘Dashehari’ shoot buds. PPO activities were reduced at the FBD stage in ‘on’-year shoots. Severely-pruned trees had the highest PPO activities, while the lowest PPO activities were recorded in lightly-pruned trees. Shoot bud proline contents were found to be highest in non-pruned trees, and decreased with increasing pruning intensity. Thus moderate pruning can be adopted in high density orchards to obtain sustainable production with improved maintenance of canopy architecture.     

Rooting potential in plum hardwood cuttings: II. Relationships between shoot variables and rooting in cuttings from different sources

There was a positive correlation between shoot length and the proximal diameter of the prepared cutting in stockplant sources of Prunus insititia ‘Pixy’ that had different rooting potential. The precise relationship depended on source, with shoots from a severely pruned micropropagated source, and those developing from the trunks of various stock- plants, usually being thinner for any given length than normal distal cuttings from pruned and non-pruned conventional source stockplants. To a large extent rooting percentage, root numbers and root length increased between sources as the overall ratio of proximal stem diameter to shoot length decreased. Cuttings from the relatively thick, short shoots of the unpruned source were among the poorest rooting, while those from the relatively thin, long shoots from the trunk, and from the micropropagated source, rooted best. This between-source effect reflected the fact that within the less ready rooting sources there was also a negative correlation between the proximal diameter of the cutting and its rooting ability. This relationship was lost progressively as the rooting potential of sources increased, thus giving no opportunity for a trend to occur in the trunk-derived cuttings from the micropropagated source where virtually all cuttings rooted.     

Flower production in Gerbera: I. Correlations between shoot,leaf and flower formation in seedlings

Flower production of seedling plants of Gerbera was shown to be positively correlated with the number of lateral shoots and with the number of leaves per flower. The most productive plants were those which formed 2–5 lateral shoots during the first year and had a $\text{leaf}\text{flower}$ ratio of 2–4. The number of lateral shoots at the moment the first flower bud became visible was strongly correlated with the number of lateral shoots after 1 year.There was a positive correlation between the number of lateral shoots and total number of leaves, but hardly at all between total leaf number and flower production, as the $\text{leaf}\text{flower}$ ratio increased with the number of lateral shoots.     

Effects of shoot size,number of continuous-light cycles and solar radiation on flower initiation in the carnation

Carnation plants (Dianthus cary ophyllus L.) cultivar ‘White Sim’, were grown in containers in a glasshouse under short (8 h) days. When the primary shoots had 4, 8 or 12 pairs of visible leaves, the plants were moved to a continuous-light area, lit by tungsten lamps for 5, 10, 15 or 30 days, and then returned to short days. This was repeated with several sets of plants at different times of year to obtain a range of radiation flux densities.The number of continuous-light cycles required to initiate a given proportion of shoots was dependent upon the radiation integral, a generalised linear model gave quantitative relationships between the proportion of responding shoots, the number of cycles of continuous light (CL) and the radiation integral. For shoots with 4 visible leaf pairs the model

$\text{keta;=μ+∝X}{}_1\text{+βX}{}_2$

accounted for 83% of the deviance, where η is the linear predictor, μ, α and β are parameters, X₁ = log_e (number of CLs + 1) and X₂ = log_e mean radiation (calories cm^?2 day^?1). For shoots with 8 visible leaf-pairs, 76% of the deviance was removed.Under low radiation integrals, intra-plant competition resulted in only a small proportion of shoots on a plant initiating flowers; increasing the number of CL cycles only partially mitigated this effect. At low radiation integrals, shoots that failed to initiate flowers in CL were often delayed by this treatment and initiated flowers later than shoots in short days. Both the CL-requirement and the limiting effect of the radiation integral on the proportion of shoots that initiated flowers decreased as shoot size increased.It is concluded that competition for photosynthetic assimilates under low radiation conditions can severely limit flower initiation in the carnation.     

整枝方式对日光温室甜椒（彩色）光合特性及干物质分配的影响

研究了不同整枝方式下（双干整枝、三干整枝、四干整枝）,日光温室彩色甜椒不同叶位叶片光合、蒸腾作用参数的变化及 其植株不同器官干物质的分配规律。结果表明,3种整枝方式下,叶片净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（Gs）、气孔限制值（Ls）、蒸 腾速率（Tr）和单叶水分利用效率（WUE）随叶位的降低而下降,其中Pn的下降是非气孔限制的结果。与双干整枝相应叶位比较,三 干整枝、四干整枝的上位叶、中位叶具有较高的Tr和较低的WUE;三干整枝、四干整枝的下位叶的Tr小于双干整枝下位叶,但WUE高于 双干整枝。3种整枝方式下全株中果实的干物质分配比例均为最高,达50.88 %~60.26 %,其次为茎和叶,向根的分配比例最低。三干 整枝和四干整枝的单株产量和单果质量显著高于双干整枝。     

Vine growth and nitrogen metabolism of ‘Fujiminori’ grapevines in response to root restriction

Two-year-old ‘Fujiminori’ grapevines (Vitis Venifera × V. Labrasca) planted in plastic pots (10 L) were used to evaluate vine growth and nitrogen metabolism in response to root restriction. Results show that root restriction reduced shoot growth and photosynthetic rate, but promoted root growth in vines. NO₃⁻-N concentration in all plant parts, and total N concentrations in brown roots and new leaves were decreased by root restriction, and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations in mature leaves were also reduced. Nitrate and nitrite reductase activities in brown roots and mature leaves were significantly reduced in root-restricted vines. The results suggest that the reduction of nitrate and nitrite reductase activities caused the inhibition of nitrogen assimilation, and this might be an important reason for root restriction inhibiting shoot growth.     

Using Allium alien monosomic addition lines to study chlorophyll degradation in stored Japanese bunching onion

Summary

Chlorophyll (Chl) degradation and the formation of Chl derivatives in stored leaves of Japanese bunching onion (JBO; Allium fistulosum L., genome FF) were determined to elucidate the mechanism of Chl degradation by using alien monosomic addition lines (AMALs; FF+1A to FF+8A) of JBO from shallot (A. cepa L. Aggregatum group, genome AA). Year-round changes in Chl content in JBO and in the AMALs were also detected over 2 years. The Chl content in FF was significantly influenced by the alien chromosomes from shallot. In particular, the Chl contents of FF+4A or FF+5A, were higher in Winter than in FF, which suggests that chromosomes 4A and 5A from shallot had a larger influence on the formation of Chl than the other chromosomes. Chl contents in FF+3A and FF+5A decreased greatly in the leaves of AMALs and JBO during storage at 25°C, whereas in FF+4A the Chl content was the lowest compared to the control, FF. Chlorophyllide (Chlide) a, C13²-hydroxychlorophyll (OHChl) a, pheophorbide a, and pheophytin (Phy) a, as derivatives of Chl a, were present mainly during storage of JBO and the AMALs. Phy alevels increased with Chl degradation, especially in FF+3A, while OHChl alevels in FF and FF+3A showed a decline during storage. In addition, Chlide alevels in all lines diminished during storage.Thus, Chl amay be degraded, in part, through Phy a, as well as Chlide aand OHChl a, in JBO and the AMALs during storage.     

牡丹开花前后碳水化合物的分配与光合速率的关系

以牡丹( Paeonia suffruticosa ) 品种‘肉芙蓉’为材料, 研究其开花过程中碳水化合物的分配及其对有花枝上叶片( FL) 与无花枝上叶片(NFL) 净光合速率( Pn) 的影响。结果表明: 在花衰败前,有花枝Pn明显低于无花枝, 但可溶性糖含量却高于无花枝。与前一天17时相比, 经过一夜消耗后, 早晨8时有花枝可溶性糖含量没有显著差别, 而无花枝的则较低, 说明除光合作用外, 还有其他途径为有花枝提供可溶性糖。花衰败后, 两种枝叶Pn和可溶性糖含量的差异逐渐消失。与花衰败前不同, 经过一夜消耗后, 早晨8时两种枝叶的可溶性糖含量比前一天17时都降低, 表明为有花枝提供可溶性糖的其他途径在花衰败后停止工作, 推测这一途径极可能与花的生长发育有密切联系。     

A whole-plant chamber system for parallel gas exchange measurements of Arabidopsis and other herbaceous species

Background

Photosynthetic assimilation of carbon is a defining feature of the plant kingdom. The fixation of large amounts of carbon dioxide supports the synthesis of carbohydrates, which make up the bulk of plant biomass. Exact measurements of carbon assimilation rates are therefore crucial due to their impact on the plants metabolism, growth and reproductive success. Commercially available single-leaf cuvettes allow the detailed analysis of many photosynthetic parameters, including gas exchange, of a selected leaf area. However, these cuvettes can be difficult to use with small herbaceous plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana or plants having delicate or textured leaves. Furthermore, data from single leaves can be difficult to scale-up for a plant shoot with a complex architecture and tissues in different physiological states. Therefore, we constructed a versatile system—EGES-1—to simultaneously measure gas exchange in the whole shoots of multiple individual plants. Our system was designed to be able record data continuously over several days.

Results

The EGES-1 system yielded comparable measurements for eight plants for up to 6 days in stable, physiologically realistic conditions. The chambers seals have negligible permeability to carbon dioxide and the system is designed so as to detect any bulk-flow air leaks. We show that the system can be used to monitor plant responses to changing environmental conditions, such as changes in illumination or stress treatments, and to compare plants with phenotypically severe mutations. By incorporating interchangeable lids, the system could be used to measure photosynthetic gas exchange in several genera such as Arabidopsis, Nicotiana, Pisum, Lotus and Mesembryanthemum.

Conclusion

EGES-1 can be introduced into a variety of growth facilities and measure gas exchange in the shoots diverse plant species grown in different growth media. It is ideal for comparing photosynthetic carbon assimilation of wild-type and mutant plants and/or plants undergoing selected experimental treatments. The system can deliver valuable data for whole-plant growth studies and help understanding mutant phenotypes. Overall, the EGES-1 is complementary to the readily-available single leaf systems that focus more on the photosynthetic process in within the leaf lamina.

     

Stockplant factors affecting root initiation in cuttings of Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum., an indigenous hardwood of west africa

The ability of auxin-treated T. scleroxylon cuttings to root was affected by the prior management of potted stockplants. In undecapitated single-stem stockplants more cuttings from upper rather than lower mainstem nodes rooted; a difference paralleled by leaf water potential immediately after severance, although there was also a positive relationship with internode length. The rooting percentage of mainstem cuttings from unpruned stockplants ranged from 15% to 43% whereas that of cuttings from the lateral shoots of pruned stockplants ranged from 40% to 83%. Considerably more cuttings rooted from stockplants which were severely pruned than from those where decapitation removed only the top node; there seemed to be an inverse relationship with the number of shoots per plant and the carbohydrate: nitrogen ratio. However, in tall pruned stock- plants, more cuttings from lower lateral (basal) than from upper (apical) shoots rooted, although the differences between cuttings from basal and apical lateral shoots were less when the stockplants’ mainstems were orientated at 45° or kept horizontal, instead of vertically. Adding NPK 16 weeks before harvesting cuttings from 10-node vertical stockplants increased the rooting ability of cuttings from basal shoots without affecting the rooting of those from apical shoots. More lateral shoot cuttings rooted when two, instead of one or four lateral shoots were allowed to develop per stockplant, this being associated with less cutting mortality than occurred in pruned stockplants. In stock- plants with two shoots, cuttings from basal lateral shoots rooted better than those from apical shoots, although without competition from basal shoots. The rooting of apical shoots was enhanced by application of a complete fertilizer. The presence of basal shoots reduced the rooting ability of apical shoots even with the fertilizer application. Many of the effects of lateral branch position on rooting may be related to light intensity, for greater rooting percentages occurred among cuttings from lower, more shaded, than from upper less shaded branches. This positional effect was eliminated when branches were uniformly illuminated.     

Photosynthetic and physiological responses to high temperature in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) leaves during the seedling stage

To study the effects of high temperature (HT) on grape growth, a controlled experiment with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., cv. Hongti) was conducted from July to October, 2015. The HT treatments were 34, 36, 38, and 40°C, with 28°C as control. The changes to photosynthetic pigment characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activities, and relative water content (RWC) under different HTs were investigated. Severe chlorosis was observed during the late stages of HT treatment. Chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), photosynthetic rate at irradiation saturation (P_max), light saturation point (LSP), apparent quantum efficiency (AQE), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity in grape leaves increased at first, and then decreased under high-temperature stress (HTS), but the light compensation point acted contrary to the LSP. The carotenoid, malondialdehyde and relative electrical conductivity (REC) increased under HTS; and the Chl/carotenoid ratio and RWC were contrary to the REC. The results suggested that grapes subjected to 38°C for 4 d decreased their RWC, but Chl a, Chl b, P_max, AQE, LSP, SOD, POD, and CAT reached their maximums. Therefore, the high-temperature limit of Hongti was 38°C and the duration time was 4 d.     

Carbohydrate content of inflorescent buds of defruited and fruiting pistachio (Pistacia vera L) branches in relation to biennial bearing

Summary

Changes in carbohydrate content of inflorescent buds of fruiting and defruited branches of the same tree were measured in 1994 and 1995 in the period before and during bud abscission in pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Aegenes) to investigate its relationship to inflorescent bud abscission. HPLC was used for soluble sugar analysis, while starch was hydrolyzed to glucose enzymatically and the amount of glucose was then determined using the glucose oxidaseperoxidase method. The effect of fruit on leaf net photosynthesis (Pn), chlorophyll a and b (Chl (a+b)) in leaves and specific leaf weight (SLW) was also investigated in 1995. Starch concentration was initially similar in buds of fruiting and defruited branches but became greater in buds of defruited branches from early June 1994 (57 d after full bloom (AFB)) and 20 June 1995 (61 dAFB), resulting in higher starch contents. Glucose and fructose concentrations were similar in flower buds throughout the whole period of measurement; inositol and sucrose (the most abundant sugar in flower buds) both became much lower in fruiting branches from early July 1994 (83 dAFB) and mid July 1995 (88 dAFB). The rapid decrease in sucrose concentration coincided with rapid seed growth and the greatest period of bud abscission in fruiting branches. During the same period, total sugar and total carbohydrate concentrations and contents were greater in buds of defruited branches. The presence of fruit increased Chl (a+b) content in leaves while decreasing SLW between 43 and 61 dAFB. During this same period, leaf Pn rates were greater in fruiting shoots than in defruited ones.     

Effects of shading and NO3:NH4 ratio on the yield,quality and N metabolism in strawberry

The effect of 50% shading and NO₃:NH₄ ratio (0:100, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) in the nutrient solution on growth, yield, quality and N metabolism in hydroponically grown strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa var Camarosa) was evaluated. Both fresh and dry weights of leaves were significantly lower when a high concentration of either NO₃ (100%) or NH₄ (75%) was the sole N source in the nutrient solution. In unshaded plants, increasing of both NH₄ and NO₃ ratio in the nutrient solution reduced photosynthetic (Pn) rate, however in shaded plants the reduction of Pn became more pronounced at a higher ratio of NH₄ in the nutrient solution. The yield in terms of fresh and dry weight of fruit per plant was significantly increased at the 75:25 and 50:50 (NO₃:NH₄) treatments. Fruit size was significantly affected by the treatments, so that the biggest fruits in both shaded and unshaded plants were obtained under the 75:25 and 50:50 (NO₃:NH₄) treatments. Total soluble solid (TSS) in unshaded plants was increased with increasing NH₄ ratio in the nutrient solution, however in shaded plants it was reduced at high NH₄ ratio in the nutrient solution. In both shaded and unshaded plants, higher concentration of NH₄ significantly reduced the post-harvest life of the fruits. The increase of tissue N concentration was nearly proportional to the NH₄ concentration in the nutrient solution. The activity of nitrate reductase (NR) was increased by increasing NH₄ from 0 to 50% and then reduced at a higher ratio of NH₄ in the solution. Shading increased NH₄ concentration so that the shaded plant had nearly twice as high NH₄ concentration in the leaves. The increase of NH₄ concentration induced by shading could be partially the reduction of NH₄ assimilate because of the shortage of carbohydrate.     

Adaptation of the tropical hybrid Euphorbia × lomi Rauh to the exposure to the Mediterranean temperature extremes

Poysean (Euphorbia × lomi Rauh) has been introduced in the Mediterranean countries as an ornamental plant for indoor uses. When used outdoor, few information is available about its ability to withstand the Mediterranean temperature extremes. An experiment in an open stand was performed to evaluate poysean tolerance to the winter and summer temperatures of the thermo Mediterranean climate and its ornamental value for urban greening. Two genotypes of poysean (Nguen Muang, NM; and Soi Budsanin, SB) with similar bracts and flower colours were grown at either 2 or 3 plants per pot during 23 months. Number of flower racemes and leaves per plant and plant height were recorded monthly. Overall ornamental value of each pot was scored by means of a panel test (PT) performed by independent examiners. Score assignment was homogeneous between examiners. On average, NM showed a 36% lower number of flower racemes, but a 30% higher ornamental value than SB. During fall and beginning of the winter, NM showed a higher number of flower racemes per plant than SB. Increasing plant density from 2 to 3 plants per pot did not influence flower racemes and leaves per plant. From March to November of the second year, number of flower racemes in NM was similar to the first year, whereas SB flower production was markedly higher, which can be due to a genotypic difference to Mediterranean temperature tolerance. Correlation between number of flower racemes per pot and ornamental value was higher in SB than NM, which suggest that in NM flower abundance contribute less to the pot ornamental value. The present data suggest that poysean is able to withstand the Mediterranean temperature extremes and still produces flower racemes during winter, which indicate it as a suitable ornamental plant in outdoor applications.