Bedding Plants Research Articles

Effects of Trichoderma viride and copper hydroxide on rhizome rot of ginger

To assess the impact of rhizome rot disease management on growth and yield of ginger a study was carried out. Rhizome treatment with copper hydroxide resulted 86% ginger germination followed by Trichoderma viride which was 81% over local check. The results further revealed that rhizome treatment by copper hydroxide and its soil drenching effectively controlled rhizome rot disease (67%) with reduced disease incidence (4.6%) followed by Trichoderma viride which controlled the disease by 53.5% and reduced the disease incidence to 6.8% over local check. Extension and technology gap was recorded 2.5 and 3.8 t/ha. Raised bed planting, use of Trichoderma viride, disease free seed and rhizome treatment were adopted by 53.3, 26.6, 29.3 and 24% respondents.

Distribution pattern of weed seedbank in strip and bed planted sandy clay loam soil after five years of cropping in Bangladesh

Tillage practices can alter the distribution of weed seedbank and might be a useful tool for integrated weed management. The objective of this shade house experiment was to study the effects of strip planting (SP) and bed planting (BP) relative to conventional tillage (CT) with increased residue mulching (20 vs. 50%) of previous crops on the floristic composition of weeds in the field. A five-years longer conservation agriculture experiment was sampled from the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. The weed seedbank in 0-15 cm soil was quantified by assessing weeds emergence during January-December 2016. The year-round count of emerged weeds revealed the fewest number of weed species (especially broadleaf weeds) and lowest weed density in SP, followed by CT and BP with 50% mulches. The SP and BP produced a higher number of perennials weeds than annual weeds, which was the opposite of CT. Therefore, it could be concluded that continuous practice of SP and increased crop residue retention for five years decreased the weed seedbank size. Still, they increased the relative proliferation of perennial weeds compared to CT. Weed seedbank size in SP was even smaller than BP.

Wind turbine blade recycling: An evaluation of the European market potential for recycled composite materials

The limited literature on the cost of various recycling methodologies for thermoset composites sets the background of this work, focusing mainly on the identification of an upper and lower economic value of glass fibre recovered from wind turbine blades recycling. The study briefly reviews the materials used by various original equipment manufacturers (OEM) for wind turbine blades. Successively, it provides an overview of the various recycling methods with interest in recovered materials, mechanical and physical properties, which are used, for estimating a maximum expected value. All recycling processes show a negative effect on mechanical properties with strength loss between 30% and 60%. Process energy demands are reviewed, and considerations are set forward to estimate the minimum cost of operating mechanical, pyrolysis and fluidized bed plants in Germany. Ultimately, current applications of recovered material and related markets are explored. Through interviews and secondary data, it is highlighted that despite the lower mechanical properties, grinded material finds applications in traditional processes, cement kilns and new products. It is also found that pyrolysed fibres can be used as insulation material and oils can be easy to distil. Pyrolysis is a relatively expensive process, thereby, distillation of the oils and energy recovery are necessary enablers towards commercial viability. Mechanically grinded material presents the lowest process cost with ca. €90/tonne, thus, below landfilling and incineration and falling within the attention of private businesses. Numerous markets are available for recovered materials from wind turbine blades, primarily for grinded products and secondly for pyrolysed glass fibre.

Complete Genome Sequence Resource for the Necrotrophic Plant-Pathogenic Bacterium Dickeya dianthicola 67-19 Isolated From New Guinea Impatiens.

New Guinea impatiens (NGI, Impatiens hawkeri) are popular bedding plants that can be affected by a number of pathogens. Using 16S rDNA sequencing and genus-specific PCR, we identified the first Dickeya dianthicola strain isolated from NGI presented with blackleg symptoms, herein designated as D. dianthicola 67-19. Here, we report a high-quality complete and annotated genome sequence of D. dianthicola 67-19. The 4,851,809 bp genome was assembled with Nanopore reads and polished with Illumina reads, yielding 422× and 105× coverage, respectively. This closed genome provides a resource for future research on comparative genomics and biology of D. dianthicola, which could translate to improved detection and disease management.

Raised bed planting reduces waterlogging and increases yield in wheat following rice

Waterlogging stress is a major problem for wheat production in rice-wheat double cropping systems on the Yangtze River Plain in China and might become more frequent and intense due to global warming. To alleviate the profound impacts of waterlogging stress on wheat production, a raised bed planting (RBP) pattern was developed. The results showed that RBP significantly increased soil water drainage and reduced the soil water content. The reduced waterlogging stress promoted wheat seedling establishment and root growth, accelerated stem and tiller development, and delayed late-season root and leaf senescence, resulting in 11.3 % and 14.1 % higher grain yields in Fengtai and Guohe, respectively. Furthermore, RBP required fewer inputs and produced more outputs, generating 63.1 % and 59.6 % more net income in Fengtai and Guohe, respectively. Based on this study, RBP can be considered an effective, sustainable soil tillage practice to reduce waterlogging stress and thereby increase wheat productivity and profitability under future waterlogging conditions.

Wave attenuation by coastal heterospecific vegetation - modeling of synthetic plant meadows by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Knowing the interactions between wave and aquatic vegetation is becoming increasingly important because of the phenomenon of plant-induced wave attenuation for the development of sustainable coastal management systems. Many of the wave-vegetation interaction studies focus on monotypic coastal plant meadows, while coastal plant meadows are typically heterospecific in nature, and the work on heterospecific plant meadows is still very limited. This research aims therefore to explain the heterospecific vegetation-wave interactions using a three-level four-factor surface response methodology (RSM) using controlled laboratory wave flume conditions. Heterospecific seagrass species, Cymodocea serrulata is physically simulated using synthetic plant mimics to establish a relationship between wave attenuation (E%) and four direct control factors, i.e. wave period (T), water depth (h), bed roughness factor (f) and plant density (N), using an empirical model. The model developed was evaluated using the methodology of variance analysis (ANOVA) and analyzed for the key and interaction effects of the parameters studied. The findings showed that both individually and in combination, all the parameters considered are significantly successful on E%. All model-based findings were compared with a new collection of experimental data, and validation tests were carried out.

Cultural practices and microbial inoculants have variable impact on a bedding plant (Lantana camara L.) performance in the landscape

Microbial inoculants are commercially-available products which have been promoted as biofertilizers, biopesticides, and phyto-stimulators. Research efforts have primarily focused on microbial inoculant performance on food crops and there has been limited information regarding their effectiveness on ornamental and bedding plants. We assessed the impact of two microbial inoculants: Companion® Biological Fungicide and Effective Microorganisms-1® on the growth of an annual bedding plant, Lantana camara L. under varying irrigation and fertilizer regimes and with or without presence of organic soil amendment. Both microbial inoculants appeared to positively boost growth index when compared to untreated plants in 2016. However, in 2017, both of these growth parameters were higher in untreated plants and in those treated with Companion® Biological Fungicide. We found that under low supplemental irrigation (2.54 cm water/per week) and low nutrition (1 lb 10N-10P2O5-10K2O per 9.29 m3 applied at transplant) and in a growing season with normal rainfall (approximately 30 cm), microbial inoculants could offer slightly improved growth and number of inflorescences in lantana. However, in the second year of the study, when there was above normal rainfall (over 60 cm June-October), plants receiving no microbial inoculant exhibited highest growth index and number of inflorescences. Our findings suggest that the use of microbial inoculants in a regular maintenance program should be evaluated after determining product and application costs as well as landscape environmental and cultural conditions.

Evaluating red pine tree substrates for phytotoxicity and growth effects on seedlings and bedding plants

Evaluating red pine tree substrates for phytotoxicity and growth effects on seedlings and bedding plants

Identifying coastal saline soil management practices to reduce land degradation and increase crop production in Bangladesh

A consecutive three year duration field experiment was carried out to identify which of a suitable mulch material and a planting bed or their combinations potentially reduce salt accumulation in soil and increase snake gourd yield in coastal saline soils. There were nine treatment combinations having three kinds of mulch materials: no mulch (control), rice straw mulch and plastic mulch, and three kinds of planting beds: convex bed, flat bed and concave bed. Plastic mulch reduced electrical conductivity of soil by 32% and increased soil temperature by 23% and gravimetric soil moisture content by 25% over control treatment. Plastic mulch had a fruit yield of 30.73, 28.06 and 26.32 t ha-1, which was 72, 237 and 268 % higher than control treatment in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The convex bed planting had significantly higher fruit yield than flat bed and concave bed planting. Plastic mulching and convex bed planting may therefore be recommended for reducing soil salinity and improving snake gourd yield in coastal saline regions.
 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 44, No. 2, 145-159, 2020

A novel and economically viable agro-technique for enhancing productivity and resource use efficiency in menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.)

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is an important essential oil-bearing plant of the family Lamiaceae. Essential oil obtained from the leaves used in aromatherapy, flavour, and pharmaceutical industries. Producing the maximum essential oil yield with minimum use of resources to minimise the cost of cultivation and cropping period is need of the hour. Hence, the field experiment on menthol mint crop was carried out in two consecutive years (2015–2016) at the research farm of CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow. This research aimed to optimize the planting method, planting time, and plant density to enhance productivity and resource use efficiency. The experiment consisted of three planting methods, three time of planting, and four plant densities was conducted in split plot design with three replicates. Maximum essential oil yield of 209.8 kg ha−1, the minimum crop maturity period of 131 days, and lower water requirement of 86 cm was found under ridge bed planting method from two harvest. The crop planted in the month of February gave maximum net profits of $ 2669 ha−1 as compared with the crop planted in March and April months. Crop planted on ridges grown in the month of February with plant density of 166,666 plants ha−1 was found best combination for obtaining maximum essential oil yield, bringing about 30 days earliness in crop maturity and reduction in water requirement. The crop planted on ridges yields maximum essential oil per unit area and time, and this led to enhancement in resource use efficiency with significant improvement in net profits. Further, it provides an opportunity to have two harvests with minimum damage to the crop by excessive moisture availability during the early onset of monsoon.

Potential of conservation tillage and altered land configuration to improve soil properties, carbon sequestration and productivity of maize based cropping system in eastern Himalayas, India

Poor soil properties especially low soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient and water retention capacities are major concern for sustainable agriculture in Himalayas. Field experiments were conducted to assess the effects of six combinations of tillage [conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT)] and land configurations [flat bed planting (FB), ridge and furrow planting (RF), and raised bed planting (RB)] on productivity and carbon (C)-sequestration potential of maize [(Zea mays L.) for green-cob in summer]-maize (for grains in rainy season)-field pea [(Pisum sativum L. in winter] cropping system under humid mild-tropical climate of Tripura, India. The maize under NT-FB in 2012 and NT-RF in 2013 produced significantly higher green cob yield than that under CT-RF. However, in rainy season, CT produced higher maize grain yield than NT systems. Field pea seed yield was significantly the highest under NT-RB. After two cropping cycles, NT systems had higher available N, P, K and 18.6–31.4% higher soil moisture content after rainy season maize than CT system. The highest SOC-stock (0–30 cm) was observed under NT-FB, whereas, SOC-sequestration rate was maximum under NT-RB (0.85 Mg ha−1 year−1). Therefore, NT based systems can enhance the productivity and improve SOC-sequestration in cultivated soils of eastern Himalayas. Hence, study recommended adoption of NT-RB/NT-FB to raise maize-maize-field pea system for improving productivity, improving C- sequestration and soil properties in the eastern Himalayas and similar eco-regions elsewhere.

Effect of planting methods and plant population on productivity of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and soil physical properties

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is largely used in diversifed forms as a condiment, favouring and colouring agent and as a principal ingredient in Indian culinary as curry powder. For the higher productivity, identifcation of location specific production technologies is of prime importance. A study was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab for three consecutive years during kharif seasons of 2013–2015 to appraise the effect of planting methods and plant population on growth and yield of turmeric, and physical properties of the soil. The experiment was arranged in split plot design with four planting methods viz., fatbed, ridge spaced at 45 cm, ridge spaced at 60 cm and bed of 67.5 cm (2 rows per bed) in main plots and three plant populations viz., 1, 33, 334; 1, 66, 667 and 2, 00, 000 plants ha−1 in sub plots with four replications. The results revealed that bed (67.5 cm) planting method registered signifcantly better growth and yield attributes like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, number of rhizomes per plant and consequently fresh and dry rhizome yields than other planting methods except than fatbed during frst year. Plant height and leaf area index were signifcantly improved while dry matter accumulation and number of rhizomes per plant were signifcantly less with higher plant population than lower plant population. Fresh and dry rhizome yield were signifcantly higher with plant population of 2, 00, 000 and 1, 66, 667 plants ha−1 than plant population of 1, 33, 334 plants ha−1 due to more plants per unit area under higher plant population. Soil bulk density was signifcantly lowered under ridge and bed planting methods than fatbed planting method at shallow (0–15 and 15–30 cm) soil layers, however, no signifcant effect was observed at deeper soil layers of 30–45 and 45–60 cm. Water infltration rate was recorded in the lessening order of ridge spaced at 60 and 45 cm, bed 67.5 cm and fatbed planting methods, respectively.

A New Type of Ecological Floating Bed Based on Ornamental Plants Experimented in an Artificially Made Eutrophic Water Body in the Laboratory for Nutrient Removal.

In this study, a new type of ecological floating bed (NT-EFB) employing ornamental plants (either Spathiphyllum floribundum, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioids, Chlorophytum comosum or Peperomia obtusifolia) was designed to purify confected eutrophic water for 39days. The growth characteristics of the plants and the effect of water treatment were analyzed and compared. The results showed that: (1) all the four ornamental plants examined survived well in the eutrophic water and an increase of plant biomass was observed; (2) the degradation efficiency of TOC by adding plants was about 85.0%; (3) the removal rate of NH4+-N was about 97.0%; (4) all the four plants can be used as floating bed plants to treat eutrophic water and Hydrocotyle sibthorpioids had the best growth characteristics and treatment efficiency. The study provides an adequate reference for the treatment of eutrophication using ecological floating beds.

Enhancing water use efficiency in vegetable crops

Drip irrigation technique is very useful for the row planted crops like vegetables and irrigating the crops of hill sides and rolling grounds. In vegetables, drip irrigation is known to save 25–70% of water depending on soil, climate, crop and variety. The irrigation efficiency of drip system is very high (85–90%). Experiments conducted at ICAR- IIVR, Varanasi indicated that surface drip irrigation can save about 55–62%, 34%, 31% and 38% water, respectively in tomato, cucumber, okra and broccoli. Drip irrigation, if combined with plastic mulch, can further save 15–35% more water with improved water use efficiency. Mulching experiments revealed that in tomato, about 11% and 15% water savings were achieved with use of black polythene and transparent polythene mulch, but when black polythene mulch was used in combination of raised bed planting or drip irrigation, 46% and 66% water savings, respectively were achieved as compared to absolute control. On the other hand, organic mulches such as straw, dry grass, plant residues, etc are also equally effective to conserve soil moisture thereby saving of water, besides improving physico-chemical properties of soil.

Review on Plants Selection and Application Effects in Ecological Floating Beds based on Water purification

Due to the variety of plants and different types of polluted water quality, there is no unified standard for the application types of floating bed plants. Therefore, this paper summarizes and analyses 815 articles related to "ecological floating bed" and "plant water purification" that have been screened and identified in the search results of CNKI. According to plant types and water quality types, the purification effects of floating bed plants on different pollutants are comprehensively described to comprehensively evaluate the actual effects of plants in floating bed applications, which provides a useful scientific reference for the reader to screen and apply the plant in the floating bed.

A protocol for fast in vitro propagation of Impatiens hawkeri cv. Sweeties Blue Star, an important ornamental-cover species

Abstract Impatiens hawkeri is among the three important bedding plants in the world. There is no efficient protocol for fast micropropagation of Impatiens hawkeri cv. Sweeties Blue Star. Single nodes were germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.00, 0.10 and 0.50 mg l-1), 6-benzyladenine (BA; 0.00, 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00 mg l-1) and kinetin (KIN; 0.00, 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00 mg l-1). The shoot length was highest in medium containing 0.10 mg l-1 NAA and control. The largest number of shoots (14.06 and 14.00 per explant) was produced in media supplemented with 1.00 mg l-1 BA, 0.50 mg l-1 NAA and 1.00 mg l-1 BA, 0.10 mg l-1 NAA, respectively. The 0.10 mg l-1 NAA along with 1.00 mg l-1 BA was found to be superior for production of leaf (57.13). Maximum root length (33.80 mm) and root number (29.13) were obtained on medium supplemented with 0.10 mg l-1 NAA without BA and KIN. Plantlets were transplanted to pots filled with perlite and peat moss (in ratio of 1:1) and transferred to the greenhouse for acclimatization. Regenerated plantlets were morphologically identical with mother plants. Upon ex vitro transfer, 100% of plants survived.

EVALUATION OF SUNFLOWER GENOTYPES (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) AS BEDDING PLANTS IN THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM

The sunflower genotypes were evaluated to check their suitability as bedding plants for use in future trials to standardize their production technology in the coastal ecosystem. Fifty genotypes were evaluated which was laid out in a randomized block design replicated thrice. The experiment was conducted in the Floriculture Unit of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. The vegetative parameters viz., plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, foliage rating and the flowering parameters viz., days to first flowering, flower diameter, ray floret arrangement and flower rating were observed. The cultivar with an outstanding overall performance was ‘Ring of Fire’ which has glowing golden yellow and reddish brown petals forming an indistinct ring around the dark center. This cultivar was found to be suitable as bedding plant in the coastal ecosystem in terms of all the vegetative and flowering parameters

Insight into the petunia Dof transcription factor family reveals a new regulator of male-sterility

Petunia hybrida is a hybrid ornamental that serves as one of the most popular bedding plants in the world. Numerous petunia seeds are distributed on an annual basis, which requires labor-intensive hybrid-breeding. The Dof (DNA-binding with one finger) transcription factor family is a plant-specific member of the zinc finger superfamily. Dofs play diverse roles in regulating plant developmental processes; however, their functions during flower development are not well characterized, especially in ornamental species. In this study, we used genome-wide analysis to identify 35 Dof genes that are encoded in the P. inflata reference genome. These Petunia Dofs (PiDofs) can be organized into five distinct phylogenetic groups, based on the sequences of their highly conserved Dof domains. Expression analysis using quantitative-RT-PCR identified several PiDofs that exhibit unique expression patterns during reproductive development. Many of these reproductive PiDofs were expressed in all four floral whorls throughout flower development, while other PiDofs exhibited developmental stage and/or organ specific expression patterns. RNAi was used to knock-down the expression level of PiDof14, an anther-specific Dof. Reduced expression of PiDof14 promoted tapetum degradation and depressed meiotic divisions in the microsporocytes, ultimately leading to a male-sterile phenotype. The organ- and stage-specific expression patterns of many of the other PiDof genes indicate that additional members of this family may play specific roles in regulating male and female fertility. This work provides insight into a novel regulator of male-fertility in Petunia, and lays the foundation for targeted genome engineering of the larger Dof family in order to generate an efficient hybrid breeding system for P. hybrida.

Production Potential and Economic Returns of Bed Planted Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as Influenced by Different Intercropping Systems

Background: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third most important pulse crop produced after dry bean and peas in the world. Amongst pulses, chickpea is the major crop in India but for international market the quality of this crop has to be improved which may be possible by evaluation of different planting techniques. No systematic research and adequate technologies have been reported in Punjab on intercropping of different crops in chickpea. The current study aimed to find out the effect of different intercrops on growth and yield of bed planted chickpea based intercropping systems.Methods: A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the productivity and economic viability of bed planted chickpea based intercropping systems.The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design consisting of four replications with thirteen treatments.Result: Results showed that sole chickpea recorded highest seed yield and it was statistically at par with seed yield that obtained under chickpea + oats fodder (2:1), chickpea + oats fodder (4:1) and chickpea + linseed (4:1) intercropping systems. However, oilseed rape and barley as intercrops showed adverse effect on yield and yield attributes of chickpea. Chickpea + oats fodder in 2:1 row ratio recorded highest chickpea equivalent yield of 24.07 and 24.77 q/ha and system productivity of 15.96 and 15.60 kg/ha/day during 2017 and 2018, respectively. Higher net returns (Rs. 63098 and 70924/ha), benefit cost ratio (1.47 and 1.63) and production efficiency (417.9 and 446.1 Rs/ha/day) were also recorded in chickpea + oats fodder (2:1) intercropping system over sole chickpea (Rs. 44862 and 53769/ha and 1.21 and 1.41) during both the years. Chickpea + oats fodder (4:1), chickpea + linseed (2:1) and chickpea + linseed (4:1) also recorded significantly higher chickpea equivalent yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio as compared to sole chickpea.

Nutrient Extraction in Pansy Fertigated with Pure, Diluted, Depurated and Phytodepurated Leachates from Municipal Solid Waste

The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills might result in serious environmental pollution. The goal of the present assay was to assess if MSW wastewater (pure or treated) can be used as a potential source for fertilizers, studying its effects on plant biometric parameters as well as on anion concentrations and anion partitioning of the bedding plant Viola × wittrockiana Gams. (pansy), to detect possible harmful impacts on plants. The treatments tested were: W9.0 (pure wastewater, EC 9.0 dS m−1), W4.5 (diluted wastewater, EC 4.5 dS m−1), DW4.5 (depurated wastewater, EC 4.5 dS m−1), PW4.5 (phytodepurated wastewater, EC 4.5 dS m−1), and T (tap water, the control, EC 1.5 dS m−1). The treatment with pure wastewater negatively affected plant fresh weight, water content (on a fresh weight basis), leaf area, plant height and width, and the number of leaves and flowers due to an accumulation of SO42− in plant tissues. Phytodepurated wastewater improved plant fresh weight, water content, plant height and width, the number of leaves and flowers, and reduced the leaf area because this treatment decreased SO42− concentrations in wastewater by half. Pansy plants also showed high levels of nutrients (N, P, and Mg) when compared with fertigation with pure and diluted landfill leachate. These results show that phytodepurated wastewater from MSW can be used for the fertigation of pansy plants.