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Various cultivars of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) were stored for 42 h under an atmosphere of 15% CO2 to determine whether their firmness would be enhanced. Compared to initial samples and stored control samples, enhanced firmness was found in 21 of the 25 cultivars evaluated. The CO2 had no effect on color, as measured by Hunter `L', `a' and `b', or on soluble solids concentration (SSC) or pH. There were significant differences among cultivars in firmness; Hunter color `L', `a', and `b'; SSC; and pH.
Abstract
The relationship between net CO2 assimilation rate (A) and nitrogen (N) content during leaf senescence was determined on field grown Vitis vinifera L. ‘Thompson Seedless’ leaves. Measurements commenced subsequent to fruit harvest and were made at weekly intervals until leaf fall. Maximum A was greater than 2.0 nmoles CO2 cm-2s-1 when leaf N content was greater than 3.0%. There was a linear relationship between A and percent N content regardless of whether A was expressed on an area or dry weight basis. However, the correlation between A on a dry weight basis and percent leaf N was greater than that between A on an area basis and percent leaf N. The percent N content and net CO2 assimilation rate decreased as weight per unit leaf area (W) increased. There was no effect on leaf N content on stomatal conductance (gs) when N content was greater than 2%. The results suggest that leaf N content could be used an as indicator of a grapevine's leaf photosynthetic capacity subsequent to fruit harvest.
Thirty-three accessions of Fragaria virginiana collected from Mississippi in 1995 were evaluated for horticultural traits and leaf disease resistance at Reidsville, N.C., and strawberry anthracnose resistance (Colletotrichum acutatum and C. fragariae) at Poplarville, Miss., in 1997. The range of variability in berry shape, fruit flesh color, fruit skin toughness, and degree of sunkenness of seeds among accessions indicated probable introgression with F. xananassa in most all accessions. Seventeen of 29 accessions screened for resistance to C. acutatum were resistant, and an additional 10 were tolerant. Overall, these accessions appear to be good additional sources of resistance to this, the prevalent species of anthracnose in the southeastern United States. In addition, the majority of accessions appear to be tolerant-resistant to leaf scorch, leaf blight, and/or powdery mildew. Nine accessions were resistant to all three leaf diseases, and four were resistant to C. acutatum as well as the three foliar diseases. No accessions were resistant to C. fragariae and only five were tolerant. All five accessions tolerant to C. fragariae were also either resistant or tolerant to C. acutatum but the converse was not true.
Petunia × hybrida Vilm. cvs. `Purple Wave', `Celebrity Burgundy', `Fantasy Pink Morn', and `Dreams Red' were treated with temperature and photoperiod treatments for different lengths of time at different stages of development during the first 6 weeks after germination. Plants were grown with ambient light (≈8–9 hr) at 16°C before and after treatments. Flowering was earliest and leaf number below the first flower was lowest when plants were grown under daylight plus 100 μmol·m–2·s–1 continuous light (high-pressure sodium lamps). Flowering did not occur when plants were grown under short-day treatment (8-hr daylight). Plants grown with night interruption lighting from 2200–0200 HR (2 μmol·m–2·s–1 from incandescent lamps) flowered earlier, and with a reduced leaf number compared to plants grown with daylight + a 3-hr day extension from 1700–2000 HR (100 μmol·m–2·s–1 using high-pressure sodium lamps). Plant height and internode elongation were greatest and least in night interruption and continuous light treatments, respectively. `Fantasy Pink Morn' and `Purple Wave' were the earliest and latest cultivars to flower, respectively. Flowering was hastened as temperature increased from 12 to 20°C, but not as temperature was further increased from 20 to 24°C. Branching increased as temperature decreased from 24 to 12°C. Implications of data with respect to classification of petunia flower induction and pre-fi nishing seedlings are discussed.
Viola × wittrockiana Gams. cvs `Delta Pure Rose' and `Sorbet Yellow Frost' were grown under different photoperiod and temperature treatments (12–24 ± 2°C) for different lengths of time at different stages of development during the first 6 weeks after germination. Plants were grown with ambient light (≈9 hr) at 16°C before and after treatments. Days to anthesis and leaf number were lowest when plants were grown under night interruption from 2200–0200 hr (2 μmol·m–2·s–1 from incandescent lamps) and daylight plus continuous light (100 μmol·m–2·s–1 from high-pressure sodium lamps) for `Sorbet Yellow Frost' and `Delta Pure Rose', respectively. Days to anthesis decreased as temperature increased from 12 to 24°C. Plant height and internode elongation were greatest and least in the night interruption and continuous light treatments, respectively. Branching decreased as temperature increased from 12 to 24°C. Implications of these data with respect to classification of Viola × wittrockiana flower induction and development of prefinished seedlings is discussed.
Weeds are found throughout the orchard or vineyard floor. They are controlled mostly in a band down the tree or vine row with cultivation, or more frequently with one or more applications of one or more herbicides. Instead of resident vegetation, planted cover crops of choice are being planted to “control” the vegetation. Two aspects of cover crops for weed control have been studied. First, the selective herbicides, sethoxydim, fluazifop, 2,4-D and combinations have been applied to selectively shift plant species within the vineyard to more desirable cover crops. Secondly, cover crops have been planted into prepared soil, grown for biomass, chopped and transferred as a mulch to the tree or vine row. A mixture of cultivated oat, purple and common vetch grown between the rows, chopped and blown into clean soil under trees or vines has effectively controlled annual weeds. The quantity of cover crop biomass produced is critical for adequate weed control.
Abstract
Nitrogen zinc nitrate solution was applied to 18 species of container-grown woody ornamentals to determine if Zn levels could be increased and related to increased growth and plant quality. In 13 species there was an increase in Zn concentration as compared to untreated plants. Quality was improved in 3 species without a related increase in Zn content. Fe and Mn concentrations were unaffected in most species and no phytotoxicity was observed.
Previous research indicated that Raphanus sativus L. `Chinese Radish Jumbo Scarlet' (CJRS) has an obligate vernalization requirement for flowering and can be vernalized as an imbibed seed in less than 10 days at 6 °C. For these reasons, it serves as an excellent model system for vernalization studies. This study was initiated to gain an understanding of the interaction between cold duration, exogenously applied GA3, and photoperiod on R. sativus CJRS flowering. R. sativus CJRS seeds were sown in 90-mm petri plates on Whatman no. 1 filter paper saturated with plain water or a solution containing 10-5 M or 10-3 M GA3. After germination (i.e., when the radicle was visible), seedlings were either directly transplanted into 10-cm pots and placed in a greenhouse, or transferred to another petri plate onto filter paper saturated with water only and placed in a growth chamber at 6 °C (75 μmol•m-2•s-1 for 8 h) for 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 days. Greenhouse conditions were: 20 °C, ambient light (December to January, St. Paul, Minn.) plus 70 μmol•m-2•s-1 supplemental light (high-pressure sodium lamps, 0830-1630 hr), under either an 8-h photoperiod (covered with opaque cloth from 1630-0830 hr), or ambient photoperiod plus night-interruption lighting (2 μmol•m-2•s-1, using incandescent lamps, 2200-0200 HR). Results will be presented.
Two studies were conducted to evaluate recycled newspaper mulch for landscape plantings. In the first study, two paper products (pellets and crumble) were tested at three depths. Application of either 25 or 50 mm provided excellent control of prostrate spurge. Of the four annuals grown, ageratum exhibited severe stunting of roots and shoots. In the second study, three annual species were mulched with the two recycled paper products applied at 25 mm each and adjusted with P at 0, 3.75, or 7.5 ppm to bind excess Al. When no P was added, ageratum growth was about half that of the control plants. Addition of P at either rate resulted in similar growth compared to control plants. Marigold and geranium were less affected by recycled paper mulch; however, when P was added growth was always similar to nonmulched control plants.
High temperature and humidity during summer months in the southeastern U.S., in addition to crop nutritional status, are suggested to be the primary reasons for tipburn incidence in collards (Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) adversely affecting their marketability. A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of grower's standard practice (GSP), GSP + gypsum, and a programmed-release fertilizer (PRF) under conventional and deep tillage on collard yield and tipburn incidence. Subsoiling significantly increased yield over conventional tillage. Nutrient supply through PRF did not increase the yields; however, it resulted in either similar or higher levels of macro- and micronutrient levels both in soils and collard tissue compared to GSP and GSP + gypsum treatments. The occurrence of tipburn in collards is dependent on several factors, including nutritional, physiological, and environmental stresses. Regression analyses of tipburn ratings at harvest time and the soil and tissue nutrient content suggested that 47% of the variation could be attributed to soil and tissue levels of sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and phosphorus (P). It is important, therefore, to ensure an optimum supply of nutrients to the plants to maintain the quality of the yields. The advantage of PRF in sandy soils, and identification of other factors affecting the tipburn in collards should be further investigated.