Complete Flower Research Articles

Morphological identification and characterization of the formation of floral primordium in Vanilla planifolia (Orchidaceae)

Objective: To morphologically identify and characterize the formation of floral primordium and the individual flower development in Vanilla planifolia Jacks Ex. Andrews. Design/Methodology/Approach: Inflorescence primordia and young inflorescences in different development stages were sampled from the stem internodes of the following positions: basal (11-15), middle (6-10), and distal (1-5). Four samples were taken from each stem position from February to May, with five repetitions per sampling date. Observations and characterization were made with a stereo microscope. The study site was located at Rancho Xanathtlan, in Barriles, municipality of Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz. Results: The development of the V. planifolia raceme is described in seven phases: (I) differentiated meristem of the floral inflorescence; (II) appearance of the third bract; (III) initiation of the racemes formation; (IV) elongation of the floral primordium; (V) development and growth of the individual floral primordium in the acropetal direction, (VI) anthesis of the inflorescence in the acropetal direction; and (VII) complete flowering of the raceme. The development of the buds in the raceme is described in five stages from the appearance of the third bract in the acropetal direction. Study Limitations/Implications: The biochemical processes and the interaction of environmental aspects on the floral development of V. planifolia pose questions that remain unanswered. Findings/Conclusions: The first aspects of floral formation within the inflorescence of Vanilla planifolia were determined, along with its floral phenology.

Variation in Chongqing finger citron components and antioxidant activity from essential oils in several organs

The finger citron (Citrus medica L.var. sarcodactylis Swingle) is a both medicinal and edible species specified by the China Ministry of Health, It is also a regional medicinal plant grown in Chinaʼs Chongqing Municipality. We explored the utilization value of flower, leaf, and branch resources of non-medicinal sections of finger citron of Chongqing origin and identified variations in its yield, content, and antioxidant activity in essential oils in several organs. From several finger citron organs, essential oils were extracted using ultrasonic-assisted steam distillation, and their essential components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). To assess antioxidant properties of various finger citron organs, DPPH free radical scavenging rate, ABTS free radical scavenging rate, and total reducing power of essential oils were determined. A total of 71 chemical components were discovered, and a cluster heat map revealed that d-limonene, Citral, (Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal, γ-Terpinene, OCymene, and Ocimene were the most significant components and that their composition and concentration in essential oils of different organs varied substantially, with the average total amount in the four major organs in descending order: branches (79.34 %), leaves (73.40 %), flowers (68.85 %), and dried fruits (55.69 %). Finger citron's non-medicinal sections and organs' essential oils exhibited some level of antioxidant activity. The maximal clearance rate of the final flower group was 19.26 % when the essential oil concentration of each group was 4.0 mg·mL−1 for the assessment of DPPH free radical scavenging activity. DPPH free radical clearance rates of the bud group, initial flower group, full flower group, final flower group, branch group, and young leaf group were significantly different from the medicinal parts dried fruits group (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the old leaf group (P > 0.05). When the essential oil concentration of each group was 0.10 mg·mL−1 for the ABTS radical scavenging ability measurement, the bud group had the highest scavenging rate of 32.24 %, and significant differences in the ABTS radical scavenging rates of the bud group, primary flower group, full flower group, final flower group, and branch group were observed when compared to the dried fruits group (P < 0.05). Between the young leaf and old leaf groups, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). When the essential oil concentration was 3.0 mg·mL−1 for the measurement of overall reduction capacity, the old leaf group's highest absorbance value was 0.310. and the total reduction capacity of the bud group, first flower group, complete flower group, last flower group, branch group, young leaf group, and old leaf group substantially differed from the dried fruits (P < 0.05). This study provides a reference for the formation of “green” concurrent consumption and development of medicinal and non-medicinal elements of Chinese medicinal materials as well as theoretical support for the diverse utilization of finger citron resources.

Morpho-anatomy and habitat characteristics of Xanthostemon verdugonianus Náves ex Fern.-Vill. (Myrtaceae), a threatened and endemic species in the Philippines

A study provided insights on morphoanatomy of Xanthostemon verdugonianus, an endemic and vulnerable species in the Philippines. Sampling was conducted in its natural habitat with presence of dominant vegetation and rehabilitated sites of the species. In a purposive manner, quadrats were established to collect samples and describe the morpho-anatomy, associated species, and soil particle characteristics. The leaf is opposite with a distinct reddish color when young in shoot terminal. The leaf cuticle is distinctly thick, hypostomatic with presence of paracytic stomata, and the compact spongy layer could be an adaptation to xeric conditions. The stem and roots contain tissues manifesting secondary growth having secondary xylem and formation of outer bark. Inflorescence is corymb, complete flower is bright red, with prominent cup-shaped hypanthium, persistent lobe-shaped calyx, and inferior ovary. Fruit is globular capsule round-ovoid in shape with a woody texture. Placental seeds are visible upon splitting of matured fruits which are flattened and deltoid to semicircular shape. A total of 31 species under 18 flora families are associated with X. verdugonianus with the mean abundance of 8 species per plot. Ultramafic substrate was dominantly composed of medium sand particles, and the reddish color indicating oxidation of metallic elements in the soil. Analyzing the morpho-anatomical features can help to explain its endemicity, survival in the wild, and adaptation to climate change.

Morphological and phenological characteristics of petunia (Petunia hybrida Vilm.) flowering

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Petunia hybrid&lt;/em&gt; Vilm. is an ornamental plant that has the potential to be developed because its flowering period does not know the season and comes with various motifs and flower colors that can add cultivation and commercial value. Information on the morphological characteristics of flowers and flowering phenology is the basis for their development. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological structure of flowers and observe a series of phases in flower development stages associated with environmental factors. This research was conducted in the sustainable twin housing complex in the city of Jambi on March 25–May 27, 2022, and the data obtained was analyzed descriptively, qualitatively, and quantitatively. The results of flowering phenology observations showed that petunia flower development occurred over an average period of 37 days. Based on the characterization of the morphological structure of the flower, the average length is 72 mm and the diameter is 42 mm. It is categorized as a complete flower because it has a main organ consisting of five petals with an average diameter of 42 mm, five petals with an average length of 14 mm, and an average diameter of 16 mm. Furthermore, the genitals of the flower, namely the stamens, are five in number, and there is one pistil in each flower.&lt;/p&gt;

A study on the effect of silver nitrate and 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate pulsing solutions on Lilium cut flowers

Lilium is one of the most important cut flowers in commercial markets, giving customers ornamental value. Fresh flowers, a highly perishable item, need more care and proper treatment for their longer post-harvest life and due to this, the end users face the post-harvest losses of cut flowers. Such losses can be minimized by using preservative chemical, which plays an important role in increasing the vase life of flowers. To increase the post-harvest life of lilium cut flowers cv. ‘Pavia’, the present investigation was aimed to study the effect of different combinations and concentrations of silver nitrate at 50, 75 and 100 ppm and 8-hydroquinoline citrate at 100, 150 and 200 ppm pulsing solutions with 20 % sucrose. Three replications were completely randomised with 16 treatments and one control. Silver nitrate showed better results in flower bud opening, flower bud opening to complete flowering, flower size, bloom life, dry weight and dry matter percentage. Among the treatment concentrations, AgNO3 at 50 ppm with 20% sucrose showed the most effective result on enhancing the selected parameters and improved flower quality during post-harvest life. Among the treatment combinations, 8-HQC at 100 ppm + AgNO3 at 75 ppm with 20 % sucrose showed better results. These findings will be useful to researchers, farmers, and end users to retain the ornamental value of lilium cut flowers for longer than usual.

First Report of Rose Bent Neck Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on Commercial Cut Roses (Rosa hybrida L.)

Cut roses are highly valuable ornamentals and their profitability depends on the flower postharvest performance. Bent neck symptoms in roses make them unmarketable and are typically related to physiological disorders, bacteria accumulation in the vase solution, and Botrytis cinerea infection. Unusual bent neck symptoms were observed in 4.7% of ‘Orange Crush’ roses from two commercial shipments, resulting in complete flower collapse. This research was aimed to determine the causal agent of the bent neck symptoms. Following incubation in a humid chamber, symptomatic roses evolved in water-soaked lesions with the presence of white mycelium and sclerotia development. Fungal isolations and molecular characterization were performed and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was identified as the causal agent of rose bent neck. Therefore, when bent neck symptoms are observed, S. sclerotiorum incidence should be considered to avoid possible outbreaks.

Study of Flowering Phenology of West Sumatera Local Jamblang (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels)

The flower of the jamblang plant (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) is a type of compound flower. The jamblang flowers have a panicle like shape with branches that are far apart. The phenology study has practical importance for planning the plant breeding program, including if there will be the development of superior jamblang varieties. The purpose of this study was to determine the development and biological characteristics of jamblang flowers. The observation was conducted on the duration of the flower initiation phase, the small bud phase, the large bud phase, and the complete blooming phase (anthesis), and also flower biological characteristics. This research was carried out in Padang City from February to May 2022 using a survey method with purposive sampling. There are three of plant genotypes that were used as object in this study. The development of jamblang flowers in each phase has a different time for each flower genotype. The characteristics of flowers have similarities in each of their genotypes. Jamblang plant is classified as plants that have a complete flower structure and a perfect flower because it has two penitals on one flower.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING CYCLE OF Cinnamomum sintoc Blume IN LOWLAND FOREST OF CIREMAI MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, WEST JAVA AND THE IMPLICATION FOR CONSERVATION

Cinnamomum sintoc Blume is an endangered species experiencing an ongoing decline due to overharvesting; in- and ex-situ conservation efforts are urgently needed to ensure its survival. We performed a detailed assessment of the flowering and fruiting phenology of C. sintoc in a lowland forest in West Java, Indonesia. We aimed to relate the duration of each phenological phase to environmental factors including elevation, humidity, temperature, and slope, as well as the orientation of the flowers. A total of 30 trees were sampled from three elevation ranges (500–700, 700–900, and 900–1,100 m). We found that C. sintoc requires approximately 40 days to complete flowering and an additional 82 days to produce mature fruit. The period from flower initiation to fruit ripening spans 4 months, from late July to early November. Flowers that are east-facing developed mature fruit more rapidly than those facing other directions, and the shortest flowering and fruiting phenological period was observed for east-facing flowers at 700–900 m. These results provide a baseline for studying phenological shifts in C. sintoc, and could inform seed harvesting efforts for conservation projects in the study area of Gunung Cermai National Park. &#x0D; &#x0D; Key words: Bintangkot, declining population, Endangered species, Lauraceae, phenology&#x0D;

Large flowers can be short‐lived: Insights from a high Andean cactus

AbstractLong‐lived and large flowers signify high floral maintenance costs. Species of arid/semiarid climates with large flowers are expected to have short flower life spans and pollination‐induced flower longevity in order to curb high floral water and other maintenance costs. We explored the context‐dependent large flower/short flower longevity hypothesis in Eriosyce curvispina (Cactaceae), a large‐flowered species of the semiarid central Chilean Andes. We determined breeding system, flower visitation rates, and open‐pollination fruit set and quantified floral water content. In a temperature‐controlled field manipulative experiment, we measured potential flower longevity and tested for the presence of pollination‐induced floral senescence. We measured the time span of the complete flower cycle defined as from when the flowers began to open to when they were totally closed, and the time span of fully open flowers defined as from when they were totally open until they began to close. The potential flower life span averaged 2.8 days (complete flower cycle) to 2.3 days (fully open flower). The complete flower cycle lasted 21.5 h, but flowers were fully open for only 10.1 h across days. Flower longevity in days was far shorter than reported for a large sample of species in the area. No evidence was found for pollination‐induced flower senescence as a complementary means for reducing floral maintenance costs. Eriosyce curvispina is self‐incompatible and abundantly pollinated by two megachilid bees. The level of pollen limitation (L = 0.36) was lower than the average reported for self‐incompatible angiosperms. Thus, the short flower life span in E. curvispina is not an impediment for high fruit set. Flowers contain &gt;5 g of water of which &gt;2 reside in &gt;40 petaloid tepals. The amount of water is far higher than in another large‐flowered, non‐cactus species in the area, but only about 15% of that reported in the giant saguaro cactus which has larger flowers than E. curvispina.

Joint Effects of Developmental Stage and Water Deficit on Essential Oil Traits (Content, Yield, Composition) and Related Gene Expression: A Case Study in Two Thymus Species

In this study, the joint effects of developmental stage and soil water availability on biomass accumulation, harvest index, as well as essential oil content, yield and composition were investigated in Thymus armeniacus. For comparison purposes, Thymus kotschyanus was also considered. Plants were irrigated to either 75 or 50% of field capacity, and were sampled at 50 or 100% blooming. In both species, water deficit exerted limited effect on the time required to initiate or complete flowering. In most critical aspects of yield (harvestable organs dry weight, essential oil yield), T. armeniacus was found to be superior than T. kotschyanus. In these traits, however, T. armeniacus underwent a more drastic water deficit-induced decrease. Across treatments, metabolite levels fairly correlated to transcript accumulation profiles of terpene synthases and cytochrome P450 genes. Indices affiliated with reactive oxygen species were inter-correlated with the activity of five major antioxidant enzymes, while the same was noted between leaf water status and pigment content. Taken together, these results indicate that when water availability can be achieved, higher yields will be obtained by cultivation of T. armeniacus. Under water deficit conditions, instead, the more drought tolerant T. kotschyanus stands out as the primary choice.

Design of Experiments-Based Optimization of Flavonoids Extraction from Daphne genkwa Flower Buds and Flavonoids Contents at Different Blooming Stages.

The flower buds of Daphne genkwa have been reported as a potent resource associated with anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor, anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities, as well as immunoregulation. This paper aimed to establish an optimal extraction method for flavonoids, as active phytochemicals, and to conduct a comparative analysis by profiling the different blooming stages. Optimized shaking extraction conditions from the design of experiments (DoE), such as minutely mixture design, 23 full factorial design, and polynomial regression analysis, involved an agitation speed of 150 rpm and temperature of 65 °C for 12 h in 56% (v/v) acetone solvent. After, a comparative analysis was performed on three blooming stages, juvenile bud, mature purple bud, and complete flowering, by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). Most flavonoids increased during bud growth and then decreased when the bud opened for blooming. In particular, apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, genkwanin 5-O-primeveroside, and genkwanin strikingly showcased this pattern. Furthermore, the raw spectrometric dataset was subjected to orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to find significant differences in the flavonoids from the juvenile bud, mature purple bud, and complete flowering. In conclusion, the present study facilitates an understanding of flavonoid change at different blooming stages and provides a momentous reference in the research of D. genkwa.

Evaluation of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) germplasm for quality, yield traits and effects of flowering on cane traits

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important commercial crop grown globally for its sugar-rich stalk.Low genetic variations and unwanted flowering in modern sugarcane varieties affect sugarcane quality and production. Therefore, a panel of 628 genetically diverse sugarcane clones were evaluated under field conditions at the Regional Research Station, Kapurthala, Punjab Agricultural University during 2019–20, for quality, yield and yield traits. The effect of flowering on quality and yield traits on a sub-set of 34 flowering sugarcane clones was also studied. A panel of 628 sugarcane clones showed greater genetic diversity for all the traits. HR brix per cent varied from 14–24%, number of millable cane (NMC) varied from 13–80 and single cane weight varied from 0.4–2.6 kg in 628 clones under field conditions. Non-flowering sugarcane clones’ mean performance was greater than flowering clones for most of the traits. However, no significant differences in quality traits among the clones at different flowering stages (flag leaf, tip emergence and complete flowering) were observed. Therefore, there is a huge genetic diversity in sugarcane germplasm for quality and yield traits and it should be exploited by breeding community for the development of sugarcane varieties with improved yield and better quality.

Chemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils Extracted from Three Different Varieties (Moldoveanca 4, Vis Magic 10, and Alba 7) of Lavandula angustifolia.

Chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of lavender essential oils (LEOs) extracted from three different varieties of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (1-Moldoveanca 4, 2-Vis magic 10, and 3-Alba 7) have been determined. These plants previously patented in the Republic of Moldova were cultivated in an organic agriculture system in the northeastern part of Romania and then harvested in 3 consecutive years (2017–2019) to obtain the essential oils. From the inflorescences in the complete flowering stage, the LEOs were extracted by hydrodistillation. Then, their composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and by Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The major identified constituents are as follows: linalool (1: 32.19–46.83%; 2: 29.93–30.97%; 3: 31.97–33.77%), linalyl acetate (1: 17.70–35.18%; 2: 27.55–37.13%; 3: 28.03–35.32%), and terpinen-4-ol (1: 3.63–7.70%; 2: 3.06–7.16%; 3: 3.10–6.53%). The antioxidant capacity as determined by ABTS and DPPH assays indicates inhibition, with the highest activity obtained for LEO var. Alba 7 from 2019. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the LEOs and combinations were investigated as well, by using the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the Gram-positive bacterial strain Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27858), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), the yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), and clinical isolates. Our results have shown that LEOs obtained from the three studied varieties of L. angustifolia manifest significant bactericidal effects against tested microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), and antifungal effects against Candida albicans. The mixture of LEOs (Var. Alba 7) and geranium, respectively, in tea tree EOs, in different ratios, showed a significant enhancement of the antibacterial effect against all the studied strains, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

БЛЕСТЯЩИЙ – ПЕРСПЕКТИВНАЯ ГИБРИДНАЯ ФОРМА СВЕРХРАННЕГО СРОКА СОЗРЕВАНИЯ

In a market-oriented economy, the success of table grape production is demand-driven, with most table grape consumers citing muscat fla-vor as the primary desirable trait. This article presents the ampelographic and agrobiological characteristics of the grape variety Blestyash-chiy breeding from All-Russian Research Insti-tute for Viticulture and Winemaking– Branch of Federal State Budget Scientific Institution «FRARC». It was obtained as a result of crossing the varieties Victoria and Original Be-lyi, allocated in the elite in 2005. Variety’s study was carried out according to generally accepted methods in the conditions of the No-vocherkassk, Rostov region at the experi-mental vineyards, the culture of vine is not ir-rigated, uncovered, grafted, rootstock Ber-landieri × Riparia Kober 5BB, the formation is the standard fan type on trunk. The grape vari-ety for table use, super early ripening period, is characterized by good winter- hardiness, high potential yield, attractive appearance of ber-ries, pronounced muscat aroma of berries. On a single-plane trellis, with a planting pattern of 3 m × 1.5 m, the yield from 1 bush averages 4.3 kg. Grape variety Blestyashchiy has a com-plete flower, large clusters of medium density, ellipse or ovoid berries of white-pink color, on the sunny side - bright red-pink, dense pulp. Differs in high sugar accumulation with mod-erate titrated acidity. Resistance to fungal dis-eases is average. Used for fresh consumption. The tasting rating of fresh grapes averages 8.6 points on a ten-point rating scale. Among the shortcomings, one can single out the tendency to overload the bushes with the harvest and the uneven coloring of the berries, which can be fought with special agrotechnical methods.

Pulsating Air Pollinator for Greenhouse Cultivation

Greenhouses has been accepted worldwide for round the year cultivation of quality produce. Greenhouse provides a desired climatic condition for crops but, at the same time, has obstacles for natural pollination. A pollinator was designed on the principle of pulsating air jet for pollination. The pollinator was developed with 3D printed three pulsation units with a provision for varied air pulsation frequency and angular movement to cover the complete flower bed. This can be easily moved by an operator in the greenhouse alleys. The developed pollinator was compared with hand pollination and pollination by a blower in tomato crops. The effects of Airflow rates, Pulsation frequencies of air and Exposure times on pollination efficiency and yield were studied. Experiments were performed in tomato plants cultivated in greenhouse. The highest pollination efficiency (83.66%) was achieved at 1.99 m 3 /min airflow rate, 23.50 Hz pulsation frequency and exposure time of 19.40 seconds; Average yield of 19.52 kg was observed at 1.99 m 3 /min of airflow rate, 22.25 Hz of pulsation frequency and exposure time of 15.78 seconds in flowers of 5 m length sections. The yield was also higher with developed pollinator compared to pollination by a blower (36.6%) and controlled plot (95.7%).

A “Flower” to improve the lunch at school

Abstract Background Children consume at least one main meal a day at school so ATS Val Padana (Italy) conceived a project called “Un fiore in mensa” (A flower in canteen) as an acknowledgment of the quality of the school catering service. Objectives The aim of the project is to assign an award - “The Flower” - after an inspection during which the entire lunch (from preparation of meal to the consumption) is examined. It is necessary to reach at least 10 points to have the 'flower ' in all 3 essential sections (the “petals”): Quality of the menu, Organization and cleaning of the kitchen and / or other locals, Collaboration of the teachers. The complete flower (with 6 petals) is reached with 60 points (in the sections: General presentation of the refectory, Collaboration between all the personnel during lunch, Children's behavior). Results In the 2018-19 edition of the project 79 schools were examined: 20 (25.32%) were nurseries; 34 (43.04%) were kindergartens; 25 (31.65%) were elementary school. 36 (45.47%) were private schools. 16 on 79 schools (20.25%) obtained the flower. In particular: 1 school obtained a 3-petals certificate; 6 schools obtained a four-petals certificate; 7 schools obtained a five-petals certificate; 2 schools met all the requirements and obtained the complete six petals certificate. There wasn't a statistically significant difference due to school typology (p = 0.70) or to their management (p = 0.69). There was a statistically significant difference due to the examined year (p &amp;lt; 0.01), with better performances in 2019 compared to 2018. Conclusions The interest demonstrated by some schools that didn't receive the full flower to resolve some critical aspects confirmed the utility of the project. Key messages The project “A flower in canteen” is a way to reward the school catering service. Some schools tried to resolve some critical aspects after the inspection.

Effect of silicon and gibberellic acid on growth and flowering of gladiolus

Effect of silicon and gibberellic acid on growth and flowering of gladiolus

Determination of the most susceptible phenological stage of rice panicles to infection by species of Fusarium graminearum

ABSTRACT Occurrence of rice seeds infected by Fusarium graminearum has shown the importance of identifying the most favorable phenological stage of panicles to grain infection. The experiments were conducted in two crop seasons under greenhouse conditions, using the rice hybrid INOV CL. The phenological stages during inoculation were complete booting, full heading and flowering. All plots were inoculated using two isolates of Fusarium graminearium species complex 15A (F. graminearium - 15-ADON) and FmNiv (F. meridionale - Nivalenol). Disease severity was estimated at weekly intervals and was used to calculate the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), while panicles were collected to determine the percentage of spotted grains and Fusarium incidence. Percentage of spotted grains and incidence of F. graminearum and F. meridionale were greater when inoculation was made during flowering stage, significantly differing from heading and booting stages. Rice flowering stage is more susceptible to infection by F. graminearum and F. meridionale, inducing higher disease severity and incidence of spotted grains, as well as presence of fungi in the grains. Flowering was the most susceptible stage in the two crop seasons for both isolates, and the complete booting stage presented the lowest values of AUDPC.

Improved Propagation and Growing Techniques for Oleander Nursery Production

In the first trial, we examined rooting of stem cuttings in relation to number of nodes and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatment in several Nerium oleander clones grown in Sicily. In a second trial, we tested the effect of different forcing dates and shading on oleander plants for gardens and natural landscapes. Three- and four-node cuttings, ranging in length from 10 to 14 cm, were significantly superior to two-node cuttings (8–10 cm long) in terms of rooting percentage and number of roots per cutting. The application of IBA improved rooting percentage and root number as compared to untreated control. Irrespective of IBA, rooting percentages ranged from 94% in clone 1 to 52% in clone 4. Shaded plants forced in October were significantly higher than those forced in November and in December. Beginning of flowering was delayed in unforced plants. Plants forced in October flowered significantly sooner (first decade of March) than unforced ones (first decade of May) and reached complete flowering almost two months earlier (last week of March).Shading had little effect on plants forced in October and in November as compared to unshaded plants in terms of start of flowering, but it slightly hastened beginning of flowering of December forced plants as compared to their unshaded counterparts.

Auto-Generation System Based on Fractal Geometry for Batik Pattern Design

In order to obtain the automatic simulation generation of traditional handmade batik patterns in a computer, this paper proposes the automatic generation method of batik flower patterns based on fractal geometry. Firstly, we analyze the fractal characteristics of batik flowers and design an automatic flower generation algorithm based on a two-dimensional iterated function system (IFS) and a curve function. The algorithm forms a complete flower pattern. Secondly, a nonlinear function is defined and the flower pattern is introduced into the nonlinear function to iterate and change. On this basis, we present an automatic generation method of different distribution patterns for flower patterns which obtains the most effective range of each parameter value for each function. Finally, in order to verify the feasibility of the automatic generation method of batik flower patterns, we develop an automatic generation experiment system for batik patterns via an interactive way of working. The results show that the user or designer can quickly and automatically simulate a series of flower patterns by changing the relevant parameter values, realizing the digitization and innovative design of the pattern and enriching the batik pattern base.