Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition on the growth of asparagus seedlings

N was applied at 50, 100 or 150 mg l^?1 in factorial combination with P at 7.5, 15 or 22.5 mg l^?1 to asparagus seedlings. There were 6 successional harvests. N and P increased shoot dry weight by increasing mean dry weight and number of shoots. Increasing P had no effect on shoot growth at 50 mg l^?1 N. N increased root dry weight (crown and roots) by increasing root number, whereas P decreased root dry weight due to a decrease in mean root dry weight. N increased total plant dry weight, but P had no effect. N and P increased the partitioning of dry weight to the shoots, while partitioning to the roots increased with time. Plant analysis revealed that 2.6–2.7% N and 0.29–0.36% P, on a dry-weight basis, were present in the shoots at the later harvests with the higher concentrations of N and P. 100–150 mg 1^?1 N in combination with 15 mg l^?1 P produced a seedling suitable for transplanting into commercial fields at 6 weeks from emergence.     

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.     

Nitrogen and calcium nutrition of Petunia × hybrida ‘Coral Sea’

The effects of N and Ca nutrition on plant growth and shoot elemental content of Petunia × hybrida Hort. Vilm. - Andr. ‘Coral Sea’ were evaluated. Nitrogen and Ca were applied separately or in combination in three experiments: (1) N at 0, 100, 200 or 400 mg l^?1; (2) Ca at 0, 75, 150 or 300 mg l^?1; (3) N at 0 or 100 mg l^?1 and Ca at 0 or 150 mg l^?1 combined factorially. Shoot and root dry weights, branch length and flower number were highest when plants received 100 mg l^?1 N. Plants treated with 150 mg l^?1 Ca had the highest shoot and root dry weights. Branch length was maximal at 300 mg l^?1 Ca.Nitrogen and Ca interacted to increase shoot dry weights, branch number and length, leaf area and flower number. Increasing N concentrations increased N and decreased P, Mn and Zn shoot contents. Calcium content of shoots increased while N, P and Mg decreased in response to increasing applications of Ca to petunia plants. Minimal N and Ca tissue concentrations for optimal P. × hybrida growth were 3.3 and 0.67%, respectively.     

Effects of growth regulators on growth and flowering in Hippeastrum hybridum hort

Soaking of bulbs in 3 concentrations of indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), 2-chloroethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (cycocel) or 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethrel) showed various responses on growth and flowering. IAA increased the weight and number of bulblets, GA₃ increased bulb weight. Cycocel (1000 mg l^?1) increased the number of flowers, while GA₃ increased the diameter of the flowers.Application of IAA at 100 mg l^?1 and GA₃ at 10, 100 or 1000 mg l^?1 twice as foliar spray at an interval of 30 days promoted the number of bulblets on the treated plants, while high concentrations of cycocel and ethrel (1000 mg l^?1) increased the weight of bulblets. All concentrations of IAA, GA₃ and 1000 mg l^?1 cycocel increased the number and size of the flowers.     

Micropropagation of red raspberry and the influence of phloroglucinol

Micropropagation of 12 raspberry seedling selections and the cultivar ‘Malling Jewel’ has been achieved. A basic culture medium (Linsmaier and Skoog, 1965) supplemented with benzylaminopurine (BAP), 1.0 mg l^?1, and indol-3-yl butyric acid (IBA), 0.1 mg l^?1, was optimal for shoot proliferation. The presence of phloroglucinol (PG) at a concentration of 162 mg l^?1 significantly increased shoot number at all auxin: cytokinin concentrations. Removal of the cytokinin and increasing the concentration of IBA to 1.0 mg l^?1 resulted in adventitious root formation. PG synergistically promoted the number of roots per rooted culture but did not significantly increase the percentage rooting. Viable plants were produced from all genotypes when transplanted to soil.     

Effects of Denapon and Ethrel on thinning grapes

The effectiveness of Denapon and Ethrel as a thinning chemical for ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ grape was examined from 1980 to 1982 with various timings and concentrations of application. Ethrel applied at 50 mg l^?1 by cluster-dipping or shoot-spraying at full bloom, or 6 days after full bloom, resulted in over-thinning and chemical injury, and no thinning effect was found when Ethrel was applied at 10 or 5 mg l^?1 on the same dates. The only treatment which exhibited a desirable thinning effect was shoot-spraying at 50 mg l^?1 12 days after full bloom, but this markedly inhibited berry growth. Denapon applied at 1667 mg l^?1 by shoot-spraying at full bloom, or 6 days after full bloom, reduced the number of berries per cluster almost adequately and consistently without any unfavorable side effects. This chemical applied at 834 mg l^?1 was nearly as effective as when applied at 1667 mg l^?1, but the effectiveness of the former was less consistent than that of the latter. From these results, Denapon is thought to be a promising thinning chemical for ‘Muscat of Alexandria’.     

The effect of nitrogen,volume of media,plant density and module shape on the growth of asparagus seedlings

There were three experiments in which the seedlings were raised in media contained in plastic cells. In Experiment 1, 150 or 200 mg l^?1 N were applied in factorial combination with cell volumes of 20, 32 or 50 cm³, There were 6 successional harvests. All cells were 7.5 cm deep and cylindrical in shape. Experiment 2 compared these 3 cell volumes at densities of 983, 1532 or 2440 plants per m². Cell diameters restricted the 50-cm³ cell to the 983, and the 32-cm³ cell to the 983 and 1532 plants per m² densities. 200 mg l^?1 N increased shoot growth, but not root growth. This increase in shoot growth was not considered advantageous. Seedling growth increased with increases in cell volume, but there were no responses to changes in plant density. Experiment 3 compared a cell having an inverted pyramid shape with a cylinder. The cylinder, despite holding 20% less media, produced the larger seedlings.     

Effect of sowing date on ethephon-caused feminization in muskmelon

Summary

Seeds of an andromonoecious muskmelon, cv. Piel de Sapo, were sown between the 5th and the 10th days of each month of 1986 and plants were kept in a glasshouse in Zaragoza (Spain). Plants were treated with 0, 150, 250 and 500 mgl^?1 ethephon solutions at three stages of development: two leaves, anthesis of the first male flower and anthesis of the first pistillate flower respectively. Plants sown in January, February, March and April achieved higher feminization rates than plants sown in May, June and July. Plants sown in September, October and November did not produce any pistillate flowers. When the plants were sown in December, the feminization rate was intermediate. When control plants had high feminization rates, treatments with 150 mg l^?1 ethephon solutions produced maximum feminization, while when these plants had low feminization rates, higher ethephon concentrations (250 or 500 mg l^?) were needed.     

Effects of ethephon,GA3 and nutrient elements on sex expression of Chinese chestnut

The effects of ethephon or GA₃ on sex expression of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima BL.) were opposite to the effects of these plant growth regulators on cucumber, pumpkin and Chinese white-flowered gourd. Ethephon at 100–500 mg 1^?1 inhibited the development of female flowers and promoted that of male flowers. GA₃ at 50–500 mg 1^?1 caused a significantly lower number of male inflorescences, but increased the number of female flowers. Urea applications decreased the number of male inflorescences and increased the number of female flowers. For plants grown on phosphorous-deficient soils, fertilizing with superphosphate also increased the number of female flowers. Spraying trees with GA₃, urea or a mixture of both increased the number of female flowers. Therefore, it is proposed that such applications should be employed at the onset of differentiation of flower primordia of Chinese chestnut to increase the ratio of female to male flowers.     

The influence of transplant age and nutrient feeding regime on cauliflower growth and maturity

Summary

Similar experiments in 1984 and 1985 examined the effects of cauliflower transplant age and ‘high’ or ‘low’ nutrient feeding regimes during plant.raising on the numbers of leaves formed, the timing of curd initiation, maturity and other maturity characters. ‘High’ nutrient feed contained 104 mgl^?1N and 290 mgl^?1K whereas ‘low’ nutrient feed contained 52 mg l^?1 N and 145 mg l^?1 K. In addition, in 1985 the growth of other ‘low-feed’ plants was boosted by giving them ‘high feed’ during the last four days before transplanting. The raising treatments produced transplants which differed in dry weight, in the numbers of leaves formed and especially in dry-matter percentage. In both years the oldest ‘low-feed’ plants had the highest dry-matter percentage at transplanting (mean 22.2%) whereas the youngest ‘high-feed’ plants had the lowest dry-matter percentage (mean 12.9%). After transplanting, differences between treatments rapidly disappeared and there were few significant effects of treatments on the time of curd initiation, the final number of leaves formed, the time of 50% curd maturity and marketable curd yield. It is concluded that when planning cauliflower continuity schedules the time of transplanting is important but the precise age of plants at transplanting and the feeding regime prior to this need not be taken into account provided plant size is kept within normal limits.     

Responses of day-neutral,June-bearing and everbearing strawberry cultiv ars to gibberellic acid and phthalimide treatments

Field grown day-neutral, June-bearing and everbearing strawberry cultivars responded similarly to GA₃ in most cases. GA₃ stimulated daughter-plant production in ‘Hecker’ (DN) and suppressed it in ‘Guardian’ (June). Fifty mg l^?1 GA₃ increased initial runner production of all cultivars, while both 50 and 100 mg l^?1 GA₃ increased fruit yield the year following treatment. In greenhouse studies, GA₃ initially increased leaf number, petiole length and runner production, but the effects diminished with time. Phthalimide at 1000 mg l^?1 was most effective in increasing leaf number.     

The effect of sucrose,silver thiosulphate and 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate on the quality of Lilium inflorescences cut at the bud stage and stored at low temperature

A continuous supply of sucrose together with 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate to cut Lilium Asiatic hybrid ‘Prima’ inflorescences resulted in buds opening satisfactorily and increased their longevity. The best results were obtained using 30 g l^?1 sucrose. Cut Lilium inflorescences could be stored at 1°C for 4 weeks without a great loss in potential vase-life and decorative value when the inflorescences were pre-treated with silver thiosulphate + 100 g l^?1 sucrose for 24 h before cold storage, kept in a cold room in a solution containing 50 mg l^?1 silver nitrate, and after cold storage kept in a solution containing 30 g l^?1 sucrose and 200 mg l^?1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate. Such treatment greatly improved bud opening, increased the diameters of individual flowers and prolonged their life.     

Regulation of postharvest flower senescence in Zinnia elegans Jacq.

Postharvest decorative life of Zinnia elegans flowers was prolonged by holding-solutions containing 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) and sucrose. Flowers lasted longest in a solution of 200 mg l^?1 8-HQC and 1% sucrose. Flowers held in 2 or 3% sucrose and 200 mg l^?1 8-HQC developed necrotic lesions on ray florets and foliage. The decorative life of flowers held in 0.25 or 0.5% sucrose and 200 mg l^?1 8-HQC was extended beyond those in de-ionized water, but this extension was less than, or equal to, the postharvest life of those in 1% sucrose and 8-HQC (200 mg l^?1), depending on the cultivar. Postharvest life of flowers produced in May — June under natural photoperiod was significantly longer than that of flowers produced during February to April under a 14-h day provided by incandescent light.     

Carnation yield patterns: The effects of plant density and planting-date

Carnations, cultivar ‘White Sim’, were planted on 17 January, 12 March, 11 July, 12 September and 7 November, at densities of 12.9, 25.8, 51.7 and 103.3 plants m^?2. For each planting-date, yields within a year from planting were asymptotically related to plant density. The mid-winter plantings gave the highest yields and the July planting the lowest.Yield patterns, derived from a weighted moving average, were affected by both the date and the density of planting. At high density, a major part of the year's yield came from the first flush, accounting for 48% of the total yield in the September planting and 75% in the March planting. At the low density, the first flush was only 26–31% of the year's yield. After the first flush, crop yields were suppressed more at higher densities, especially in the November, January and March plantings. Densities of 25.8 and 51.7 plants m^?2 gave the best continuity of production per unit area, whilst the lowest density gave the best continuity of production per plant.The suppression of flower initiation was related to the amount of light; in November less than 20% of the incident light penetrated the canopy of a high-density September planting. Continuous light did not materially increase the number of shoots per plant that initiated flowers, its greatest effect being to produce earlier initiation.     

Water relations and microbial proliferation in vase solutions of Narcissus tazetta L. cv. ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’ as affected by biocide compounds

Summary

Disruption of cut flower water relations due to the growth and proliferation of microorganisms in the vase solution is one of the most important factors causing reduced vase-life and deterioration in cut flowers. These experiments were conducted to study the effects of some biocides in controlling microbial proliferation in vase solutions and on water relations in cut Narcissus tazetta L. cv. ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’, a native bulbous cut flower of Iran. The stems of ‘Shahla-e-Shiraz’ Narcissus cut flowers were exposed to 17 treatments: aluminium sulphate (at 100, 200 or 300 mg l^–1), citric acid (at 150, 300 or 450 mg l^–1), 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (at 200, 300 or 400 mg l^–1), sodium hypochlorite (at 400, 600 or 800 mg l^–1), calcium hypochlorite (at 400, 600 or 800 mg l^–1), sterilised distilled water, or tap water (control). Generally, the least effective compounds in controlling microbial proliferation were low concentrations of aluminium sulphate or citric acid. 8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate treatments were most effective, and the vase solution did not contain any microbes until day-6. Vase solution contaminants were yeasts, Bacillus ssp., Staphylococcus ssp., Actinomycetes and Aspergillus ssp. Yeasts and bacilli were the most common microorganisms. Severe symptoms of phytotoxicity such as bud abortion and yellowing in aluminium sulphate-treated flowers, stem proximal-end browning and shrinking in 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate-treated flowers, and bleaching of soaked parts in sodium hypochlorite treatments, were seen. Most solution was taken up in 150 mg l^–1 citric acid, while the reduction in fresh weight was least in 200 mg l^–1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate. The correlation between microbial counts and growth rate with solution uptake was slightly negative, but their correlation with fresh weight loss was slightly positive.     

Longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense flowers as affected by pre-loading treatments and vase solution

Summary

Post-harvest longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense cut flowers was maximum when treated for 6 h with 1 g m^–3 Ethylbloc^® [0.14% 1-methylcyclopropene; 1-MCP] followed, or not, by pulsing with 200 g l^–1 sucrose for 12 h. This extended the vase-life from 5.5 d to at least 11 d. Cut inflorescences pulsed with 2.0 mM silver thiosulphate (STS) had reduced abscission of flowers, similar to the effect of 1-MCP. When inflorescences were pulsed with 200 g l^–1 sucrose alone for 12 h, no effect was observed on the vase-life of the flowers. Flowers kept in a vase solution containing 20 g l^–1 sucrose, 150 mg l^–1 citric acid, and 200 mg l^–1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate did not influence the longevity of 1-MCP or STS pre-treated flowers, but the vase solution had a small influence on retarding abscission compared with flowers kept in distilled water. Adding 0.2 mM STS to the vase solution improved vase-life 1.74- and 1.45-fold compared with the longevity of flowers kept in distilled water or in vase solution alone, respectively. The presence of 0.3 mM AgNO₃ alone, or mixed into the vase solution, had no affect on the vase-life of the flowers.     

Vegetative growth and nutritional status as influenced by auxins and gibberellic acid,and their effect on fruit yield in lemon

Application of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 mg l^?1 to 5-year-old ‘Pant Lemon-1’ (Citrus limon Burm) trees reduced the vegetative growth in terms of height, spread, shoot length, number and size of the leaves in the autumn flush. Various NAA treatments (5–20 mg l^?1), however, enhanced growth, but not to the extent that was observed after GA₃ treatments. Application of GA₃ at 10–40 mg l^?1 significantly enhanced all aspects of growth, and the effects were most pronounced at 20 and 40 mg l^?1. Nutritional status of the leaves showed a slight variation in relation to vegetative growth under various treatments.Some 2,4-D- and 2,4,5-T-treatments increased the fruit yield over the control, which could suggest mobilization of foods even at the expense of reduced vegetative growth. On the other hand, NAA, particularly at 10 mg l^?1, increased both vegetative growth and yield, suggesting that the transport of the photosynthates from the leaves to the fruits was not at the expense of new growth extension. Due to excessive growth enhancement under higher concentrations of GA₃ (20 and 40 mg l^?1), comparatively fewer nutrients were translocated to the fruit “sinks”, thereby resulting in a non-significant decrease in yield.     

Ethephon as a fruit thinning agent for ‘Murcott’ mandarins

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) was tested as a fruit thinning agent in an experiment on the mandarin cultivar ‘Murcott’.Ethephon was effective at 150 and 300 mg l^?1, but 300 mg l^?1 gave the higher yield and larger fruit sizes over a 2-year period, following a single spray application during natural fruit fall in November. The thinning percentage was also higher when ethephon was applied to trees with a heavy crop density than when applied to trees with a light crop density.     

Effect of ethephon on bulbing,bull-necking,yield and sprouting during storage of two onion cultivars (Allium cepa L.)

Ethephon at 1 000 and 3 000 mg l^?1 applied either on one occasion or three times at weekly intervals to two onion cultivars reduced average bulb weight and total yield by 14% to 67%. In cv Hygro the percentage of bull-neck bulbs was reduced by ethephon but cv Cepavon was unaffected. The number of bulbs sprouting in store was reduced in both cultivars by all ethephon treatments except the single 1000 mg l^?1 application.     

Meristem culture and micropropagation of a variety of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) with a high yield of oleoresin

Summary

Meristems of ginger with or without leaf primordia were induced to form shoots on three-quarter strength Murashige-Skoog’s (MS) medium containing sucrose 6%, coconut milk (CM) 20%, ascorbic acid (AA) 100 mg l^?1, glutamine (GL) 400 mg l^?1, activated charcoal (AC) 250 mg l^?1, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) 0.5 mg l^?1, indolebutyric acid (IBA) 0.4 mg l^?1 and agar 0.8%. Meristem-derived shoots exhibited consistent multiplication on three-quarter strength MS medium containing sucrose (3%), AA (100 mg l^?1), AC (100 mg l^?1), BAP (4–5 mg l^?1) and agar (0.8%). Liquid media (agitated or static) were less effective than a solid (agar-gelled) medium for micropropagation. Kinetin and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) incorporated at various levels (0.01–0.8 mg l^?1) with or without added BAP and IBA neither improved plantlet formation nor enhanced shoot multiplication. The in vitro plants were successfully established in vivo and the rhizome yield was comparable with that of plants grown by conventional methods.