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`Hamlin' orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) was grown on 15 rootstocks: four citrumelos [C. paradisi Macf. × Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], five mandarin × trifoliate orange hybrids (C. reticulata Blanco × P. trifoliata), two pummelo × trifoliate orange hybrids [C. grandis (L.) × P. trifoliata], Vangasay lemon (C. limon Burm. f.), Norton citrange (C. sinensis × P. trifoliata), and two Smooth Flat Seville (C. aurantium L. hybrid?) hybrids. These scion–rootstock combinations were compared to trees on Swingle citrumelo, the most widely used citrus rootstock in Florida. One Smooth Flat Seville hybrid was eliminated early because of poor growth and variability in size, and the Vangasay lemon rootstock was eliminated because of severe freeze damage. At age 5, the trees on Norton citrange developed citrus blight and were eliminated. Remaining in the experiment for 7 years, `Hamlin' trees on six of the 13 rootstocks produced more fruit than trees on Swingle citrumelo. Of these six, HRS 852 (Changsha mandarin × English large-flowered trifoliate orange) was the best overall rootstock, with trees on it producing large quantities of high-quality fruit on medium-sized canopies.
Abstract
A method was developed to allow nondestructive growth measurements of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.). The technique, consisting of 2 basic components, is simple and effective for observing tuber growth from initiation through maturity. The first component is a “double-pot”, which facilitates washing the growth medium from the tubers. The other component filters the growth medium from the wash water for retrieval and reuse of the medium. Any number of double pots can be used, but only one filtering system is necessary. After observations and measurements have been made, the growth medium can be replaced with little disturbance to the tubers. We generally take tuber growth measurements at 2-week intervals, but we have uncovered tubers at less than one-week intervals without any visible damage.
Abstract
Root and plant growth and tuber development of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were considerably better in arcillite than in white quartz sand. Arcillite has several advantages for root and tuber studies requiring minimal damage to the tissue and/or adherence of the media to the root System. Mineral element analysis indicated that various nutrients including boron in arcillite became slowly available for plant growth.
Growth chamber studies were conducted to determine if inverse day/night temperature could control canopy height of sweetpotato without adversely affecting storage root yield. Four 15-cm-long vine cuttings of TU-82-155 sweetpotato were grown in rectangular nutrient film technique hydroponic troughs for 120 days. Two troughs were placed into each of six reach-in growth chambers and subjected to 24/18, 26/20, 28/22, 18/24, 20/26, and 22/28 °C, respectively. Growth chamber conditions included a 12/12-h photoperiod, 70% RH, and photosynthetic photon flux of 1000 μmol·m-2·s-1 at canopy level. Total and edible storage root yields were reduced by 50% among plants grown under cool days/warm nights regimes. Harvest index was similar among treatments except for the low value obtained at 22/28 °C. Canopy height was positively correlated with the change in temperature, and for every 2 °C decrease there was a 3.1 centimeter decrease in canopy height. Inverse day/night temperature effectively controlled canopy height but at the expense of storage root production.
Abstract
A soil cooling system was developed using a chest-type freezer as a central cold air reservoir. Thermostatically controlled fans circulate cold air from the freezer into smaller air chambers containing large plastic pots. The system is inexpensive, easily constructed, and provides good soil temperature control.
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine if subjecting potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) to cool growing temperatures during and shortly after tuber formation would induce the development of brown center or hollow heart. Plants were moved at weekly intervals following tuber initiation from warm growing conditions into a 3-week cool environment (10° nights/18°C days). Plants were then returned to warm conditions (18° nights/23° days) for a period of several weeks and harvested. Those plants given the 3-week cool treatment or grown continuously in the cool after tuber initiation showed a significantly higher incidence of brown center.
The effects of within-channel spacings (WCS; 13, 18, 25 cm) and between-channel spacings (BCS; 13, 25,38 cm) on yield and linear growth rate of sweetpotatoes [Ipomoea batalas (L.) Lam.] grown by use of the nutrient film technique (NFT) were evaluated. Storage root count, fresh and dry weights, and linear growth rate, expressed as root area, declined linearly in response to decreased BCS, while fresh and dry foliage weight decreased linearly and quadratically as spacing was reduced within the growth channels. Neither linear growth rate on a canopy area basis nor the edible biomass index was significantly affected by WCS or BCS.
`Georgia Red' peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was grown hydroponically at 20/16 °C, 24/20 °C, 28/24 °C, and 32/28 °C, day/night air temperatures to evaluate effects on pod and seed yield, flowering, harvest index, and oil content. Ten-day-old peanut seedlings were transplanted into rectangular nutrient film technique troughs (0.15 × 0.15 × 1.2 m) and grown for 110 days. Growth chamber conditions were as follows: photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) mean of 436 μmol·m-2·s-1, 12 h light/12 h dark cycle, and 70% ± 5% relative humidity. The nutrient solution used was a modified half-Hoagland with pH and electrical conductivity maintained between 6.5 to 6.7, and 1000 to 1300 μS·cm-1, respectively, and was replenished weekly. Vegetative growth (foliage, stem growth, total leaf area, and leaf number) was substantially greater at increasingly warmer temperatures. Reproductive growth was significantly influenced by temperature. Flowering was extremely sensitive to temperature as the process was delayed or severely restricted at 20/16 °C. The number of gynophores decreased with temperature and was virtually nonexistent at the lowest temperature. Pod yield increased with temperatures up to 28/24 °C but declined by 15% at the highest temperature (32/28 °C). Seed yield, maturity, and harvest index were highest at 28/24 °C. Oil content (percent crude fat) increased an average of 23% and was highest at the warmest temperature (32/28 °C). These results clearly suggest that vegetative and reproductive growth, as well as oil content of peanut in controlled environments, are best at warmer temperatures of 28/24 °C to 32/28 °C than at cooler temperatures of 20/16 °C to 24/20 °C.
A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the influence of harvest intervals on biomass yield and omega fatty acids of ‘Golden purslane’ (Portulaca oleracea). Nutrients were supplied as a modified full-strength Hoagland solution two to three times weekly. Plants were harvested sequentially at 20, 40, and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) corresponding to 42, 63, and 84 days after sowing. Fatty acids were determined using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Harvest intervals significantly influenced foliage fresh and dry weight, leaf number and plant height, and root length and fresh weight and were greatest at 60 DAT. Fatty acid analysis verified the presence of myristate, palmitate, linoleate, and linolenate at 20 DAT and in all three harvests, whereas stearate and oleate were detected only in the last two harvests (40 and 60 DAT). Linoleate, palminate, and linolenate were the most abundant fatty acids in purslane with levels in excess of 300 mg·kg−1. Those for myristate, stearate, and oleate were in excess of 200 mg·kg−1. The ratio of omega-6/omega-3 ranged from 0.44 for Harvest 1 to 1.1 for Harvest 3, whereas ratios for harvest intervals two and three were equal to or greater than the recommended daily human requirement. Results showed qualitative and quantitative differences of harvest intervals of purslane, suggesting that an optimal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids can be achieved ≈20 DAT.
Growth chamber experiments were conducted to study the physiological and growth response of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] to either 50% or 85 % relative humidity (RH). Vine cuttings of T1-155 were grown using the nutrient film technique in a randomized complete-block design with two replications. Temperature regimes of 28/22C were maintained during the light/dark periods with irradiance at canopy level of 600 μmol·m-2·s-1 and a 14/10-hour photoperiod. High RH (85%) increased the number of storage roots per plant and significantly increased storage root fresh and dry weight, but produced lower foliage fresh and dry weight than plants grown at 50% RH. Edible biomass index and linear growth rate (in grams per square meter per day) were significantly higher for plants grown at 85 % than at 50% RH. Leaf photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were higher for plants at 85 % than at 50% RH. Thus, the principal effect of high RH on sweetpotato growth was the production of higher storage root yield, edible biomass, growth rate, and increased photosynthetic and stomatal activity.