Garden Plants Research Articles

Citric acid-assisted phytoextraction of trace elements in composted municipal sludge by garden plants

Sludge landscaping after compost stabilization is a popular recycling process; however, until trace elements (TEs) are extracted by plants and reduced to safe concentrations, they present a potential exposure risk. Three garden plants, Liriope platyphylla Wang et Tang (L. platyphylla), Iris tectorum Maxim (I. tectorum), and Photinia x fraseri Dress (P. x fraseri), were selected for field experiments, and their ability to phytoremediate TEs and the promotion effect of citric acid (CA) were studied over 3 months of observation. Among the three kinds of plants, L. platyphylla had the highest biomass per unit soil area, and the CA treatment further increased the biomass of this plant per unit soil area as well as the uptake of TEs. When treated with 3 mmol kg−1 CA, L. platyphylla showed increases in the bioconcentration factors of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd by 24%, 63%, 27%, and 123%, respectively. Because of the large biomass and high concentrations of TEs, L. platyphylla had high phytoremediation indexes for Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Cd, which reached 18.5, 3.7, 3.2, 2.2, and 0.4 mg m−2, respectively, and were further improved by 60%–187% by the CA treatment. These advantages indicate the potential usefulness of L. platyphylla for phytoremediation. The results provide basic data and technical support for the use of sludge-based compost and phytoremediation by garden plants.

Pollution Prevention and Soil Activation of Garden Plants in Urban Environmental Ecosystem

Cities are currently facing more and more serious environmental pollution problems. Garden plants are alleviating due to their ecological functions such as carbon and oxygen balance, transpiration and heat absorption, pollution and dust retention, bacteria reduction and noise reduction, water conservation, soil activation and nutrient cycling, maintenance of biodiversity, landscape functions, disaster prevention and mitigation, pollution and vice versa. Urban environmental pressure plays a vital role. Aiming at the diversity of urban garden plants, starting from its ecological function on the environment, the thesis focuses on the application of colourful leaf plants, ground cover plants, climbing plants, aquatic plants, bamboo plants and other garden plants in urban greening and pollution prevention. This article provides theoretical basis and practical guidance for the selection and application of urban garden tree species.

Utilization Of House Yard For Horticultural Crops At The Melati Indah Farmer Group Village Sungai Sorik Kuantan Hilir Seberang Kabupaten Kuantan Singingi Provinsi Riau

Horticulture is the study of the cultivation of garden plants. Broadly speaking, it is the study of the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, flowers and ornamental plants. The purpose of this community service is to provide insight and knowledge of farmer groups to use the house yard for planting crops, especially horticulture. The implementation method is carried out by counseling, training and mentoring residents and farmer groups to maximize the results of empowerment. In addition, leaflets as educational tools are given as a guide. The steps were taken: firstly, the lecturers of the agrotechnology study program to residents and farmer groups, secondly, training, starting from the selection of good planting materials. Third, assistance related to the use of household agriculture (home gardens) with horticultural cultivation techniques. The result of this community service program is that the beautiful jasmine farmer group has understood and the benefits of the house yard to be used as a planting area, especially for horticultural crops. From the activities of this community service program, it can be concluded that farmer groups can specifically make use of the empty land and unused land around their homes, especially the existence of empty land.

Pharmaceutical Preparation of Arka Lavan and Assessment for Its Analytical Study

Background: Arka is commonly found plant in India. It is mostly used for religious purpose in India. In Ayurved, it has in used for various medical preparation. One of such preparation is Arka Lavan.
 Aim: Pharmaceutico-analytical study of Arka lavan& evaluation for Antimicrobial study
 Materials: The raw materials Arka patra will be collected from the medicinal plant garden, of Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College , Hospital & research centre, Salod ( H), wardha. The arka patra will be authenticated by Dravyaguna department. The another raw material is Saindhava Lavan will be procured from Dattatraya Ayurved Rasashala and will be authenticated by Rasashastra & Bhaishajya kalpana Department Arka lavan will be prepared as per the reference.The prepared Arka lavan will be analyzed.
 Observation and Results: The Arka patra lavan will be assessed for organoleptic, physicochemical and TLC parameters 
 Conclusion: The pharmaceutical & analytical study of Arka lava will provide the standard parameters.

Can cultural significance in plants be explained by domestication and usage spaces? A study case from a coffee producing community in Huila, Colombia

This study was aimed at delving into the relationship between botanical species with cultural significance and both the managed environments they inhabit (Coffee plantation, Forest, Garden, Orchard, Market) and their origin (Wild, Cultivated), as established by people from vereda Las Delicias, Colombia. We tested the hypothesis that cultivated plants from the coffee plantations would have the highest cultural significance. One hundred and ninety-two plants were recorded by common name, however, upon taxonomic analysis, 238 botanical species were established. The most relevant spaces in terms of diversity were the coffee plantation (91 useful plants) and the garden (81 useful plants). Regarding origin, most of the plants were cultivated (151), with only 50 wild species. Likewise, there is a significantly larger cultural significance of coffee plantantion plants than there is garden plants and forest plants. Furthermore, cultivated plants have a significantly larger cultural significance than do wild plants. In conclusion, there is a diversity of useful plants within coffee plantation systems, which guarantee family livelihoods, diversify income sources, and protect the natural resources of the region. Finally, the importance of coffee (Coffea arabica) comes from its role as a customary heritage for this community, which strengthens agricultural, environmental, and cooperative processes after each generation.

Морфобиология и оценка интродукционных возможностей Leonurus cardiaca L.

The data on the study of morphometric parameters of one of the most valuable medicinal plants – Leonurus cardiaca L., growing in the collection site of medicinal plants of the Botanical garden of the OSU are presented. The parameters of samples, obtained from the cities of Samara and Kazan were compared . All the studied plants have passed the full cycle of their development with the formation of viable seeds. It is established, that the studied species adapts well to new growing conditions, while the morphometric parameters vary within the middle – very high levels of variability. Analysis of seed morphometry showed that the maximum values of the length and width of the seed are typical for samples from Kazan, the weight of 1000 seeds varies from 7.3 g to 9.2 g, depending on the weather conditions of a particular year of research. The assessment of introduction resistance made it possible to classify the species as stable and promising for cultivation.

Engineering facilities for the nursery and mother plant garden of the common hazel (Corylus avellana l.)

The article deals with the issues of engineering arrangement of the territory for the nursery and the mother plant garden of common hazel - the layout of the nursery, the choice of the irrigation method, the calculation of the reservoir volume, irrigation rates, and production efficiency.

The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Syringa reticulata subsp. amurensis (Rupr.) P.S.Green & M.C.Chang from Qinghai Province, China

Syringa reticulata subsp. amurensis (Rupr.) P. S. Green & M. C. Chang (Oleaceae) is a shrub or tree with high medicinal value as well as great ecological significance as an urban garden plant. To better understand the molecular genetics and evolutionary of S. reticulata subsp. amurensis, its complete chloroplast genome was sequenced and annotated. The assembled chloroplast genome is a circular 156,141 bp sequence, consisting of 87,108 bp large single copy (LSC) region and 17,239 bp small single copy (SSC) region, which were flanked by a pair of 25,897 bp inverted repeats (IRs). The GC content of the chloroplast genome is 36.14%. Moreover, a total of 132 functional genes were annotated, including 88 protein-coding, 36 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that S. reticulata subsp. amurensis was most closely related to S. reticulata subsp. Pekinensis and the genus Syringa is paraphyletic group. This study provides important information for further phylogenetic studies on S. reticulata subsp. amurensis and its allies.

Management of the technological process of irrigation of garden plants

Irrigated agriculture has played a very important role in the history of mankind. In many respects, the irrigation technique was highly dependent on local natural conditions, and its development was the process of adapting local plant and water resources to the needs of farmers. The use of land reclamation in modern conditions must be environmentally and energetically justified. Comparing various irrigation technologies for the cultivation of garden plantings, we proposed the introduction of the agrotechnical technique “slitting” into the irrigation technology of garden plantings. Reclamation reception of soil crevice is carried out with a trailed modified unit of the “Slot cutter 2-140” brand, for cutting narrow slots of 3…4 mm, with a chisel located at the end of the cutting body of the slot, for cutting focal reservoirs, followed by accumulation of irrigation water. The research presents a method of cutting slits directed parallel and perpendicular to the aisles of garden plantings. After cutting the cracks, the soil is formed inside the soil - a natural water-intercepting and transporting network of focal reservoirs stretched along and across the entire perimeter of the garden irrigation module. The proposed cutting unit is mounted on a reinforced slot cutter frame on both sides. The distance between the two cutting tools is exactly 2 meters. Such a distance between the working bodies of the slot is dictated by the scheme for planting garden plantings. Irrigation of the garden is carried out by a surface method, i.e. flooding, an irrigation rate calculated for the complete saturation of the soil of the entire area of the garden plot with the lowest moisture capacity up to 100% of the lowest moisture capacity of the calculated meter layer. The proposed technology for irrigation of garden plantations with the obligatory cutting of over narrow slots with focal reservoirs will allow saving water and energy resources spent on the irrigation rate when growing garden plantings.

The diversity of moss in the Cemoro Kandang hiking trail, Mount Lawu and the Baturraden botanical gardens, Central Java

Moss plants in tropical mountain forest areas play an essential role in water balance and the forest’s nutrient cycle, serving as a substrate, food source, and a place for forest organisms to live. This study aims to analyze the diversity of moss plants in Mount Lawu and Baturraden Botanical Gardens based on the height of the place and substrate type. Moss plants were observed along the Cemoro Kandang hiking trail and around the Baturraden Botanical Garden. A total of 30 species of mosses consisting of 19 species of true mosses, 10 species of liverworts, 1 species of hornworts. The moss plants on the hiking trail are included in 13 orders and 20 families. There are 13 species of mosses found in the Baturraden Botanical Garden, including 7 orders and 10 families, including 8 species of true mosses, 4 species of liverworts, and 1 species hornworts. The highest moss species diversity at the two locations is true mosses (Bryophyta). Most of the mosses are terrestrial mosses. True mosses are evenly distributed in the highlands rather than the lowlands.

Older adults’ domestic green environments: the preference for flowers

ABSTRACT Greenspaces and access to nature are widely accepted as being beneficial to older adult’s health and well-being. Less well known are the natural elements in their domestic outdoor environments that are used and preferred. In this paper, we identify those most preferred by 72 older adults in New Zealand living in family homes, downsized homes and rest homes. Through the use of geographic information system mapping and photos, we assessed how these individual elements relate to residence type, age, frailty and intrinsic interest in nature. The type of residence and innate nature relatedness were strongly reflected in the items selected by participants. The elements most frequently reported across all residence types were primarily non-native flowers/flowering shrubs and trees, sitting places, views, birds, vegetables, fruit and herbs. The findings have implications for landscape garden design and plant selection but also present a challenge for encouraging more native species in domestic environments.

Regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in Dianthus chinensis

Dianthus chinensis is widely used as a landscaping plant in rock gardens and has high commercial value. However, few studies of this plant's regeneration and genetic transformation have been reported. In this study, cotyledons of D. chinensis were used as explants for regeneration and infection with Agrobacterium. The results indicated that the efficiency of regeneration was markedly improved by using 1-naphthylcetic acid (NAA). The cotyledons were cocultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 containing pK7GWIWG2-GFP plasmids for 15–20 min. Transgenic regenerated plants were obtained by kanamycin (80 mg·L−1) screening. qRT-PCR results confirmed the expression of GFP and the DcIPT1 (which is related to cell division) gene in the transgenic DcIPT1 plants of D. chinensis. The results show that the proliferation ability of transgenic DcIPT1 plants is enhanced. Overall, we report the successful establishment of a reliable and efficient method for cotyledon transformation and plant regeneration in D. chinensis based on the combination of infection with Agrobacterium and plant regeneration. This work will contribute to functional gene research and genetic improvement of Dianthus species plants.

Gardens’ contribution to people and urban green space

Cities are experiencing numerous challenges, adversely affecting human health and wellbeing. Urban green space provides ecosystem services that are important to meet urban challenges. One type of urban green space is private gardens (yards) that make up an essential part of many urban areas. Gardens can support urban biodiversity and provide cultural ecosystem services (CES) to its owner. However, the provision of garden benefits depends on garden size, design and management. This study aims to explore private gardens contribution to urban biodiversity and garden owners’ wellbeing (in terms of CES), and to understand the influence of urban planning and garden design and management. We use a conceptual framework to illustrate complexities and interlinkages: the garden ‘human-nature’ nexus. The study is based on a garden land-use inventory and interviews with 35 garden owners in Lund, Sweden. Results show that urban development influence garden’s biodiversity potential by limiting available space or garden vegetation. New properties were mainly covered by buildings and paved surfaces and their small gardens contained few biodiversity features and large trees. Garden owners used multiple information channels to gain inspiration and knowledge, and aesthetic and edibility are important plant qualities governing garden plant choice. Many garden owners experienced gardens problems that influence design and management. The most important garden CES were social bonds, recreation, nature experiences and relaxation. Age and gender influence both garden CES and garden design and management. We conclude that private gardens have a potential to function as multifunctional spaces, but to harness their full potential there is a need to transform how we plan, develop, manage and not at least recognize private green space. We argue that the garden ‘human-nature’ nexus can help to illustrate the important interlinkages existing between e.g. urban planning, biodiversity and garden ES, and to foster sustainable urban green space governance.

Phylogenomics and biogeography of Wisteria: Implications on plastome evolution among inverted repeat‐lacking clade (IRLC) legumes

AbstractThe genus Wisteria (Fabaceae) is disjunctly distributed in eastern Asian and eastern North American temperate deciduous forests, and it is widely cultivated around the world as spectacular garden plants. It is a member of inverted repeat‐lacking clade (IRLC). The IRLC Species are characterized by the loss of an IR region in their plastomes, which has long been of great interest. In this research, we report whole plastome sequences from all four Wisteria species and a Wisteriopsis japonica, combining these with existing data to explore phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Wisteria, as well as plastome evolution of IRLC species. Phylogenetic analyses recognized a clade containing Glycyrrhiza–Wisteriopsis–Wisteria as sister to the remaining genera of IRLC. North American Wisteria frutescens and the three Asian species formed reciprocal clades, and Wisteria brachybotrys was sister to Wisteria floribunda and Wisteria sinensis. Wisteria may have originated in Japan near the boundary of the Oligocene and Miocene. The disappearance of Bering Land Bridge in the late Miocene might lead to the Eastern Asian–Eastern North American disjunction of Wisteria. Allopatric speciation of Wisteria between the Japanese archipelago and the Asian continent in the Quaternary increased the species richness of eastern Asia in comparison with eastern North America. Synonymous substitution rates (dS) of protein‐coding genes in the IRLC species were around 2‐fold (SC genes) or 11‐fold (IR genes) higher than those of non‐IRLC species. For both SC and IR genes, herbaceous legumes have around 3‐fold higher dS than woody ones. Both loss of one IR region and herbaceous habit elevated substitution rates of the plastomes.

The melliferous flora of Veracruz, Mexico

Objective: To contribute to the knowledge of the situation of the melliferous flora in Veracruz for pollinators and to communicate it for the benefit of beekeepers and stingless beekeepers, as well as to develop comprehensive strategies with these activities. Design/Methodology/Approach: The information was obtained through a bibliographic review in reference databases such as Scopus, Web of Science Group, Academic Google, Elsevier and Springer Link, using the following keywords: flora, bees, pollinators, honey, pollen. Results: 63 families were recorded, with 176 genera and 216 species of melliferous flora, finding that the largest number of species are found in the Fabaceae family (20%) and Asteraceae (16.55%). There were also 44 crops with 22 families. Study Limitations/Implications: There were no limitations in conducting this study. Findings/Conclusions: The greatest diversity of melliferous flora species is seen in wild plants, and strategies need to be implemented for their protection and multiplication. For these actions, various actors must be involved at different levels of government, educational and private institutions, civil society, farmers, beekeepers, and stingless beekeeping. Conservation actions include the use of melliferous plants in gardens and their protection in crops, sites surrounding crops and on edges. It is necessary to preserve natural landscapes and restore damaged ones, as well as to lead favorable practices in pollinator-dependent crops.

Deep complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Clematis hexapetala Pall. (Ranunculaceae)

Seed germination and dormancy are crucial to the regeneration strategy of plants. Clematis hexapetala Pall. is a perennial herb growing in temperate deciduous forest and grass areas in northeast China, it has great potential as a garden and landscape plant. However, the dormancy characteristics of the seeds and the regeneration strategies of this species that help it adapt to its natural habitat heretofore have not been investigated. The primary aim of this study was to determine the requirements for breaking seed dormancy in Clematis hexapetala and characterize the type of seed dormancy in this species. The phenology of seed germination and growth of the embryo of this species was determined by periodically retrieving seeds sown in the field. The effects of light, temperature, warm/cold stratification, and dry storage on breaking dormancy and germination were analyzed by incubating seeds in the laboratory. In addition, the effects of GA3 on germination were used to determine the specific type of seed dormancy present. The results showed that seeds of C. hexapetala had underdeveloped (small) embryos with physiological dormancy in autumn at maturity. Embryo growth begins in early winter under natural conditions. Before the radical emerges, the ratio of embryo/seed length increased from 0.127 to 0.839. In laboratory experiments, embryo growth occurred in a long incubation period at 4°C. After cold stratification at 4°C, seeds were able germinate over a wide range of temperatures. However, GA3 was not a substitute for cold stratification. We conclude that freshly matured seeds of C. hexapetala have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. In winter, dormancy was broken by natural cold stratification which allowed the seeds to germinate and produce seedlings at the start of the next growing season.

Garden plants for wild bees – Laypersons’ assessment of their suitability and opinions on gardening approaches

Gardens can support wild bees in otherwise resource-poor environments if they provide suitable food plants and nesting sites. Public attitudes towards planting for pollinators are currently not well understood and little information is available about what laypersons know about bee-friendly plants. The present study aimed to fill this knowledge gap with the help of photographs of 30 garden plants. Half of these plants were suitable food sources (nectar and/or pollen) for wild bees, the other half were not. Laypersons’ perceptions of the 30 plants and their attitudes towards certain types of garden management (bee-friendly or not) were investigated. The plants were assigned to five picture sets (each set included three suitable and three unsuitable plants), and for each set data from 40 persons were collected (n = 200, all adults, 63 % women). Participants considered plants that are suitable for wild bees as more suitable than plants that are not. However, an overall mean suitability score of 4.9 on the 7-step assessment scale even for the unsuitable plants indicated that respondents were not able to clearly differentiate between the two types. Most plants were perceived as beautiful and desirable, which correlated with attributed bee suitability. For this reason, a number of attractive plants that do not produce pollen such as Forsythia x intermedia were considered suitable for wild bees, while common ivy (Hedera helix), a good provider of nectar, but one of the least attractive plants, was not. Participants placed importance on bee-friendly, ecological gardening. The support for bee-friendly gardening was linked to the number of plants participants could correctly identify and to their ecological knowledge. The results suggest that while many people would like to improve the suitability of their gardens for bees, there is a lack of knowledge about bee-friendly species and a need for improved information and communication.

Efficacy-based and normative interventions for facilitating the diffusion of conservation behavior through social networks.

Research suggests that encouraging motivated residents to reach out to others in their social network is an effective strategy for increasing the scale and speed of conservation action adoption. However, little is known about how to effectively encourage large numbers of residents to reach out to others about conservation causes. We examined the influence of normative and efficacy‐based messaging at motivating residents to engage in and to encourage others to participate in native plant gardening in their community. To do so, we conducted a field experiment with messages on mailings and tracked native plant vouchers used. Efficacy messages tended to be more effective than normative messages at increasing residents’ willingness to reach out to others to encourage conservation action, as indicated by a several percentage point increase in native plant voucher use by residents’ friends and neighbors. Messages sometimes had different impacts on residents based on past behaviors and perceptions related to native plant gardening. Among these subgroups, efficacy and combined efficacy and norm messages most effectively encouraged individual and collective actions, as indicated by increased voucher usage. Our findings suggest that interventions that build residents’ efficacy for engaging in a conservation behavior and for reaching out to others may be a promising path forward for outreach. However, given our results were significant at a false discovery rate cutoff of 0.25 but not 0.05, more experimental trials are needed to determine the robustness of these trends.

A qualitative exploration of interactions with natural environments among immigrant women in Norway

ABSTRACT The role of nature in potentially improving people’s health – including immigrant women, who are particularly prone to health challenges – has been highlighted. Success in this public health arena requires an adequate understanding of the target group’s current practices and preferences. However, knowledge in this field is lacking, and is nearly non-existent in the Norwegian context. The present study therefore aims to explore practices regarding interactions with nature among immigrant women in Norway. Data were gathered through individual interviews with 14 immigrant women from Iran (2), Poland (2), Palestine, Afghanistan, Congo, Kenya, Thailand, Russia, Portugal, Latvia, Colombia, and Bulgaria. The qualitative content analysis revealed a relatively comprehensive and mixed use of natural environments, which took place in three distinct types of locales: 1) local natural environments, e.g. neighboring wooded areas, sites by the water, playing fields, and school yards; 2) domestic natural environments, e.g. indoor and garden plants; and 3) distant natural environments, e.g. mountains and fjords requiring driving and often overnight visit. Nature outings often included passive recreational pursuits, such as eating a meal and enjoying the scenery, with a few close friends or family members. Walking emerged as a common local nature-based physical activity. Study findings also portray a complex ‘image of nature’ among the women, reflecting their valuing of both more managed and more pristine nature. Findings therefore suggest that future public health practices targeting immigrant women may apply a broad definition of ‘interaction with nature’, incorporating various geographical locales as well as types of nature.

Growing Methods

AbstractA methodology for plant qualitative research is at an early stage of development. While conducting a multispecies ethnography of gardeners and the plants they grow for food in a neighborhood in transition from social housing to a mixed-income community in Toronto, the author wondered, How to account for plants and their agency? What is evidence of vegetal politics? What is a multispecies ethnographer doing when decentering the human in relation to garden plants, beyond what is un-done ontologically? This article situates itself in the plant turn and proposes a methodology to account for plant agency in gardens and to identify vegetal politics. The author builds on the methodological work of other scholars of human-plant relations and posthumanist notions of relational agency to develop a three-step method: (1) recognize plant time, (2) participate with plants, and (3) scale up. Central to the methodology—and a key contribution the author puts forward—is a shift away from the researcher considering plants as individuals and instead understanding plant communities as the unit of analysis. This shift in scale, while recognizing plant time and the relational agency of plants, permits the identification of vegetal politics and has allowed the author to theorize plants as political actors in cities that support health.