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Exotherm characteristics of dormant apple, pear, peach, plum, grape, persimmon, and black walnut buds were investigated from late autumn to early spring. Differential thermal analysis indicated differences in the high-temperature exotherm (HTE) and low-temperature exotherm (LTE) among the fruit species and sampling dates. According to exotherm characteristics and cold hardiness, the species tested could be divided into two groups, those without LTE (apples and pear) and those with LTE (grape, persimmon, black walnut, peach, and plum). The later group with LTE could be further categorized into two sub-groups those possessing three stages of hardiness development (peach and plum group) and those with five stages of hardiness development (grape, persimmon, and black walnut). In peach and plum group HTE and no LTE could be detected in the first and last stages when bud water content was higher than 55%. The second stage both HTE and LTE could be detected when bud water content was between 40% and 50 %. In the grape, persimmon, and black walnut group the first stage with only HTE was from bud formation to deep supercooling initiation when bud water content was higher than 52%. The second stage with both HTE and LTE was when bud water content was between 40% and 48%. The third stage when only LTE could be detected and bud water content was usually lower than 40%. The fourth stage was from HTE reappearance to LTE disappearance before bud swell. The fifth stage was from LTE disappearance to when only HTE could be detected. No detection of LTE in the buds of apple and pear and no detection of HTE in the buds of grape, persimmon and black walnut were both closely associated with water status in the buds.
Exotherm characteristics of dormant apple, pear, peach, plum, grape, persimmon, and black walnut buds were investigated from late autumn to early spring. Differential thermal analysis indicated differences in the high-temperature exotherm (HTE) and low-temperature exotherm (LTE) among the fruit species and sampling dates. According to exotherm characteristics and cold hardiness, the species tested could be divided into two groups, those without LTE (apples and pear) and those with LTE (grape, persimmon, black walnut, peach, and plum). The latter group with LTE could be further categorized into two subgroups, those possessing three stages of hardiness development (peach and plum group) and those with five stages of hardiness development (grape, persimmon, and black walnut). In the peach and plum group, HTE and no LTE could be detected in the first and last stages when bud water content was >55%. In the second stage, both HTE and LTE could be detected when bud water content was between 40% and 50%. In the grape, persimmon, and black walnut group, the first stage with only HTE was from bud formation to deep supercooling initiation when bud water content was >52%. The second stage with both HTE and LTE was when bud water content was between 40% and 48%. The third stage when only LTE could be detected and bud water content was usually <40%. The fourth stage was from HTE reappearance to LTE disappearance before bud swell. The fifth stage was from LTE disappearance to when only HTE could be detected. No detection of LTE in the buds of apple and pear and no detection of HTE in the buds of grape, persimmon, and black walnut were both closely associated with water status in the buds.
“Legend' roses were grown in various potting mixtures of processed fiber (PF, a by-product of anaerobically digested dairy waste), peat moss, pumice, or bark to test the applicability of PF as a substitute of peat moss and bark. A commercial mix (peat moss and bark, 1 to 1 by volume) was used as the control. Plant appearance, growth of leaves, shoots, and flowers were the same in straight PF, commercial mix, and PF mixtures of 50% or less pumice. Plants grown in mixtures of peat moss, pumice, and bark were inferior to those in PF. This study demonstrated that PF media was better than peat moss and bark for rose production.
The effects of shoot positioning, leaf removal, cluster shading, and curtain orientation on fruit composition and primary bud cold hardiness were investigated in mature `Norton/Cynthiana' grapevines (Vitis aestivalis) trained to Geneva double curtain (GDC) trellis system. For four years (1995–1998) juice soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, and pH were not affected shoot positioning. Cluster shading, curtain orientation, and leaf removal affected fruit composition at harvest. Fruit from the south-facing curtain of the GDC trellis system had higher juice soluble solid content, pH, and skin pigmentation than fruit from the north-facing curtain. Cluster shading decreased skin pigmentation while cluster shading at the highest level only (95%) increased pH and decreased total titratable acidity. Leaf removal, which increases light exposure of the fruit, increased juice pH in the 1997 experiment only. Juice potassium level was decreased by shoot positioning, but not cluster shading or curtain orientation. Cold hardiness of primary buds was affected by these treatments early in the winter, but the differences in primary bud cold hardiness among the treatments diminished toward the end of the dormant season.
`Early Girl' tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown in a medium containing peatmoss and perlite (60%:40% by volume). The medium was drenched with 0% or 5% GLK-8924 antitranspirant. Half of the plants were flushed daily with 250 mL water (leaching), and the other half were subirrigated by capillarity. The solution osmotic potential of the medium was reduced significantly by 5% GLK 8924 treatment, then recovered gradually to the control level after 3 days with leaching or 10 days without leaching. Leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and plant growth were depressed by the antitranspirant application, and the depression was alleviated by leaching. Neither antitranspirant GLK-8924 treatment nor leaching influenced leaf abscisic acid (ABA) content. The effect of the antitranspirant on leaf gas exchange and plant growth was highly related to the reduction in the solution osmotic potential of the medium, but not to leaf ABA content. Younger leaves had higher stomatal conductance and transpiration rate but lower ABA content than older leaves in general.
Applicability of processed fiber (methane digested cow manure) as a substitute for peatmoss for production of various containerized perennial woody plant species with various fertilization and fumigation practices was investigated in this study. Liner plants of five species and rooted cuttings of 41 species were potted in various media containing processed fiber as the replacement of peatmoss with or without fertilization and fumigation, with commercial mix as control. Plants varied in their responses to the media, fertilization, and/or fumigation. Most plant species performed well in the media containing processed fiber. The physical and chemical properties of processed fiber, either alone or mixed with other media components, were satisfactory for producing woody perennial species even with less fertilization and no fumigation.
One- and two-year-old `Pinot noir' grapevines were irrigated with Hoagland's nutrient solution and shaded with 60% shade cloth to investigate the effect of shading on inflorescence necrosis (IN), tissue ammonium, and nitrate status. Shading increased IN, tissue ammonium, and nitrate concentrations of laminas, petioles, and rachis in two-year-old vines. IN was positively correlated with tissue ammonium and nitrate levels. In one-year-old vines, tissue ammonium and nitrate concentrations were increased by shading in most tissues except for nitrate in tendrils and old roots. Tissue ammonium correlated with nitrate concentration in various tissues after anthesis in one-year-old vines and in laminas, petioles, fruit, and rachis of two-year-old vines. Elevated tissue ammonium in rachis has been suggested as a possible cause of IN.
Seedling plugs of `Better Boy' tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were potted in 60% processed fiber: 40% perlite (by volume) media amended or nonamended with either crystalline or powdered hydrophilic polymer (2.4 kg·m-3), and treated with one of several concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) of antitranspirant GLK-8924, at the four true-leaf stage. Plants were either well-irrigated or subjected to short-term water stress, withholding water for 3 days, after antitranspirant GLK-8924 application. Leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, whole-plant transpirational water loss, and growth were depressed by short-term water stress and antitranspirant GLK-8924. In contrast, hydrophilic polymer amendment increased plant growth, resulting in higher transpirational water loss. The depression of stomatal conductance and transpiration rate by short-term water stress was reversed completely in 2 days after rewatering while the reduction of plant growth rate diminished immediately. The effects of antitranspirant GLK-8924 were nearly proportional to its concentration and lasted 8 days on stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, 4 days on plant growth rate, and throughout the experimental period on plant height and transpirational water loss. Plant growth was reduced by antitranspirant GLK-8924 possibly by closing leaf stomata. In contrast, hydrophilic polymer amendment resulted in larger plants by factors other than influences attributed to stomatal status. Hydrophilic polymer amendment did not interact with antitranspirant GLK-8924 on all variables measured. The application of antitranspirant GLK-8924 was demonstrated to be useful for regulating plant water status, plant growth, and protecting plants from short-term water stress.
Seedling plugs of `Better Boy' tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were potted in processed fiber:perlite (60:40% by volume) media amended or nonamended with either crystalline or powdered hydrophilic polymer (2.4 kg·m–3), and treated with one of the several concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) of antitranspirant GLK-8924, at the four true-leaf stage. Plants were either well-irrigated or subjected to short-term water stress, water withholding for 3 days, after antitranspirant GLK-8924 application. Leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, whole plant transpirational water loss, and growth were depressed by short-term water stress and antitranspirant GLK-8924. In contrast, hydrophilic polymer amendment increased plant growth, resulting in higher transpirational water loss. The depression of stomatal conductance and transpiration rate by short-term water stress was reversed completely in 2 days after rewatering while the reduction of plant growth rate diminished immediately. The effects of antitranspirant GLK-8924 were nearly proportional to its concentration and lasted 8 days on stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, 4 days on plant growth rate, and throughout the experimental period on plant height and transpirational water loss. Plant growth was reduced by antitranspirant GLK-8924 possibly by closing leaf stomata. In contrast, hydrophilic polymer amendment resulted in larger plants by factors other than influences attributed to stomatal status. Hydrophilic polymer amendment did not interact with antitranspirant GLK-8924 on all variables measured. The application of antitranspirant GLK-8924 was demonstrated to be useful for regulating plant water status, plant growth and protecting plants from short-term water stress.
Effect of media containing processed fiber (methane digested cow manure) as a substitute for peatmoss, micronutrient application, and medium mixing ratios of processed fiber with perlite were investigated in pansy cv. Maxima mix plants (Viola ×wittrockiana). Neither medium components nor micronutrients significantly influenced plant growth and appearance when plants were potted in medium containing either 60% processed fiber and 40% perlite, 100% processed fiber, or 60% peatmoss and 40% perlite and supplemented with either N–P–K or N–P–K with micronutrients. The plant size and biomass production of leaves increased with increasing proportion of perlite in the mixtures containing processed fiber while the number and biomass of flowers were not affected. Water content of leaves or flowers was not influenced by mixes of processed fiber and perlite. The processed fiber, either alone or mixed with other media components, was satisfactory for the production of pansy plants with or without micronutrient application.