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The experiment compared productivity and vegetative growth of the Hass avocado on three avocado root rot resistant rootstocks and one susceptible rootstock. Hass trees on Duke 7 reported the largest number of fruit per tree and on G 755c the smallest five years after planting. Trees on Topa Topa and Duke 7 reported the highest average production four years after planting. Trees on G 755c were significantly lower in the amount of leaf N. Trees on Toro Canyon and G 755c showed significantly lower amounts of Na. Trees on Duke 7 showed a significantly higher level of Mn. Trees on G 755c were significantly smaller two years after planting. Trees on Topa Topa and Duke 7 showed a significantly larger canopy diameter than those on G 755c four years after planting. Trees on G 755c showed the smallest mean shoot growth four years after planting. Trees on G 755c had significantly larger trunk circumferences three and four years after planting. No statistical differences were found among rootstocks as to freeze damage to the Hass scions.
Native plant sales have increased steadily during the past decade because of consumer concern with invasive plant sales, water conservation, and land management issues. However, native plants are still under-used mostly because of a small market and the lack of education on the use and care of native plants. For example, native plant sales in Florida accounted for only 11% of the total horticultural market in 2005. Within the Florida native plant industry, a small, but competitive market focuses on native wildflowers, but a paucity of information related to opportunities within this segment exists. We sent surveys to 137 members of the Florida native plant industry to learn about their interests, concerns, and trends in the native wildflower market. Survey respondents identified low demand, seed supply, and availability of desired species, plus insufficient customer and industry education as major factors limiting Florida native wildflower (FNW) sales. An overwhelming majority predicted that sales for locally produced FNWs would increase over the next 5 years. Respondents also stated that seed germination, seed storage, and seed production research are vital for the advancement of the industry. This survey provides an excellent opportunity to analyze the current native wildflower market and identify areas to help increase awareness of FNWs.
Heat stress can limit yield in pepper (Capsicum spp.), generally through flower and fruit abortion. A kaolin-based particle film, originally developed to protect fruit trees from insects, has been found to reduce temperatures in tissues of plants. A kaolin-based particle film was tested to determine if it could be used to improve yields of pepper in Oklahoma and Georgia. In Oklahoma, seedlings of a bell pepper, `Jupiter', and a nonpungent jalapeño, `Pace 103', were transplanted at three progressively warmer planting dates from mid-May to mid-July 2002 and 2003, that would ensure that inflorescences would be subject to high day and night temperatures and treated with the kaolin-based particle film. Applications were begun as the first flowers were set and continued through the settings of the first three flushes of flowers on a three-times a week schedule, or on an as needed basis, to determine if the kaolin-based particle film improved yield. In Georgia, the bell peppers `Camelot' and `Heritage VR' were transplanted on 24 Apr. 2003, and treated with the kaolin-based particle film. In addition to yield, physiological measurements and disease incidences were recorded in Georgia. In both locations treatment with water only served as controls. In Georgia, the kaolin-based particle film had no significant effect on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration or leaf temperature, as measured at midday on clear days. In Oklahoma, planting bell pepper after 15 May is not recommended. Planting the nonpungent jalapeño after mid-June can reduce yields. The kaolin-based particle film did not affect yield at either location and is not recommended for use on peppers.
Abstract
Optimum conditions for in vivo activity of nitrate reductase (NR) from grape leaves (Vitis vinifera L.) were pH 7.5, 100 mm NO3 substrate, and incubation at 40°C. Pretreatment with low concentrations of NO3 (0.05m) at room temperature did not increase activity substantially.
Induction of NR by NO3 substrate was investigated. Enzyme activity was maximum at the highest NO3 levels.
Intact-tissue assay detected NR in mature leaves of grapevines, walnut (Junglans regia L.), plum (Prunus domestica L.), pears (Pyrus communis L.), and sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) grown under field conditions. In addition, a particulate NR was demonstrated in walnuts and grapevine leaves by in vitro assay.
The appearance of blossom-end rot (BER) in tomato is related to a decrease in the absorption and translocation of Ca due to excessive salinity in the soil solution. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of calcium nitrate (NT), EDTA-Ca (ED) and Aminoquelant-Ca (AQ)—a product containing Ca, B and protein hydrolisate—on the yield and incidence of BER when applied to the leaves of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. `Durinta') grown in the open with a drip irrigation using saline water from a well (mean ECw 5.2 dS·m–1). The three calcium treatments and control were replicated four times, with 12 plants per replication, in a completely randomized design. Although yield per plant was higher with AQ, the difference was not statistically significant. Fewer fruit were affected by BER after treatment with ED and AQ than with NT and in the control. Leaf Ca concentration did not differ significantly between treatments. However, leaf B concentration was higher after treatment with AQ. Fruit Ca and B concentrations did not differ significantly in any treatment. The total free amino acids content in leaves was higher after AQ treatment than in the other treatments and control, although no significant difference was observed between the treatments in the fruit.
This work was conducted for evaluate the influence of clear and black polyethylene mulches, used alone or combined with floating rowcover (FRC) and plastic perforated microtunnels, on insect populations, growth and yield of muskmelon. Treatments evaluated were 1) clear plastic + FRC, 2) polyethylene perforated microtunnel, 3) clear plastic + polyethylene not perforated microtunnel, 4) black plastic + FRC, 5) clear plastic, 6) black polyethylene, 7) clear plastic + oil, and 8) bare soil. Aphids and sweetpotato whitefly adults and nymphs were completely excluded by floating rowcovers while the plots covered. The export and national quality fruit yield was major in the mulched beds in relation to control. Clear polyethylene mulch + FRC increased number of fruit and export marketable fruit of cantaloupe (45.2% and 44.8%) with respect to black plastic + FRC, respectively. It is proposed that, under tropical conditions and under high insect stress, mulches combined with floating rowcovers should be selected for their effects on insects in addition to their effects on melon yield. Polyethylene microtunnels were found not economical for cantaloupe production in western Mexico.
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. cv.'Helena') shoots grown on a proliferation medium containing 3% sucrose, 0.4 mg·L–1 benzyladenine (BA), and 0.04 mg·L–1 indolebutyric acid (IBA) and solidified with 0.6% agar were stored at three different temperatures in the dark for up to 24 weeks. All shoots remained viable for 24 weeks when stored at 3 °C, while at 14 °C the percentage of survival decreased quickly after 12 weeks of storage. At 7 °C, percentage of survival started to decline after 18 weeks of storage. Shoots stored at 3 °C had the highest regeneration rates and shoot lengths following transfer to standard proliferation conditions. This temperature also had a beneficial effect on shoot proliferation during the first 12 to 18 weeks of the experiment.
Abstract
Ethylene treatment affected protease activity in ovaries, but not petals, of cut roses (Rosa hybrida L.) ‘Sonia’. Protease activity in ovaries of ethylene-treated flowers decreased within the first 3 days and then remained at the same level until the 12th day. In ovaries from controls, protease activity decreased from day 6 until day 9 and then remained constant until day 12. Protease activity of petals did not differ significantly between the ethylene-treated and control flowers; it was constant until day 6 and then increased steadily until day 12. Differences between ethylene-treated and control flowers were visible immediately after treatment (day 1) and until day 3, as the sepals of the ethylene-treated flowers reflexed. Later (day 6), this difference disappeared as the sepals of the control flowers also reflexed. On day 9 the outer petals of the ethylene-treated flowers were bluish, whereas the controls were not. There were no other differences in development between treated and control flowers.
Bolting causes significant economic losses in sweet onion (Allium cepa L.) production. Although temperature and photoperiod are considered to be the main factors that initiate bolting in onions, preliminary results suggested that low N fertilization rates increased bolting. The objective of our study was to determine the relationships of bolting, yield and bulb decay with N fertilization rates. The N fertilization rates applied ranged from the infraoptimal to the supraoptimal (from 102 to 302 kg·ha-1 N). Shoot and bulb N content increased with increasing N rates, but there were no differences in the respective shoot and bulb N contents among cultivars. Bolting incidence declined steadily with increasing N fertilization rates up to 197 kg·ha-1 N. Bolting incidence was among the highest in the cultivar Pegasus. The percent of decayed bulbs also increased at a steady rate with the rate of N applied. Total (14.7 t·ha-1) and marketable (0.8 t·ha-1) yields at the lowest N rate (102 kg·ha-1 N) were lower (P ≤ 0.01) than those at higher N rates. Rates of N ≥145 kg·ha-1 had no significant effect on either total (mean = 33.6 t·ha-1) or marketable (mean = 21.6 t·ha-1) yields. Losses in marketable yield were primarily a combination of bolting and bulb decay and were minimized at 162 kg·ha-1 N. Yield losses at low N rates were mostly due to bolting while yield losses at high N rates were mostly due to decay. Thus, excess applications of N fertilizer should be avoided since they have little effect on yields or bolting but they increase bulb decay.