Geranium Seedlings Research Articles

Geranium seedlings: bud positions in the stake and substrates

Geranium ( Pelargonium graveolens ) has several potential substances as bioactive agents, sought by both the food industry, such as cosmetics. It is known that the form of the stake extraction and the substrate used impacts in the formation and quality of seedlings. In this sense, we aimed to evaluate geranium seedlings due to position of the bud’s cutting and substrates. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, in factorial 3 x 3: types of substrate (sand, soil and 50% sand added to 50% of soil) and bud positions at stake (apex, middle and base), with four replications. Geranium plants should be grown preferentially in substrate to allow a better development of the root system and the sand mixed with soil is a good option. Only the cutting from apex bud’s gives plants the condition of this study, therefore, for use in other segments it is necessary to improve management with the use of plant inducers.

Bacillus pumilus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as two potentially causative agents involved in Persian oak decline in Zagros forests (Iran)

AbstractThe oak decline is known as one of the most destructive complex diseases causing high economic losses around the world, especially in Iran. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the possible role of bacteria as causative agents of oak decline in the Zagros forests of Iran. To do this, stem, root and leaf samples were taken from symptomatic Persian oak trees (Quercus brantii) in different zones of Zagros forests (Ilam Province, Iran). From 150 bacterial isolates, 20 showed pathogenicity against Geranium seedlings. Among 20 hypersensitivity test positive strains, four strains showed pathogenicity against oak saplings. Based on morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, three strains were identified as Bacillus pumilus and one strain as non‐sporulating Gram‐negative Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Pathogenicity studies of different B. pumilus and S. maltophilia strains revealed that they have potential to cause the disease in oak saplings and symptoms of disorder in Persian oak trees. To our knowledge, there are no previous records of B. pumilus and S. maltophilia causing decline on Fagaceous trees like Q. brantii. More detailed field and molecular studies are required to confirm the absolute role of such bacteria in occurrence of oak decline in Zagros forests.

First Report of Pythium cylindrosporum Causing Black Leg on Geraniums in China

Geranium has been widely used in garden landscaping for its rich colors, long florescence, and easy reproduction. During the fall season of 2014 and 2015, the geranium seedlings in a nursery garden in the northern suburbs of Kunming City, Yunnan Province, showed symptoms of black leg. Five cultivars of geranium（Pelargonium×hortorum）, including ‘Horizon’ and ‘Divas’ suffered, showing a maximum morbidity rate of 50%. The basal stems of the plant turned black and were water-soaked, and its leaves turned yellow from the bottom up. As the disease progressed, the affected plants wilted and collapsed. The diseased basal stem tissue was rinsed under running water, blotted dry, and cut into 0.5-cm pieces. The pieces were plated on the semiselective medium for oomycetes (17 g/liter corn meal agar amended with nystatin 15 mg/liter, ampicillin 250 mg/liter, rifampicin 10 mg/liter, and miconazole 1 mg/liter) (Morita and Tojo, 2007) and incubated at 25 °C for 3 days. Colonies resembling Pythium sp. were transferred to ...

Evaluation of morphological and chemical composition of seed geranium ‘Florever Deep Red’ F1grown in substrate containing municipal sewage sludge and potato pulp

Development of various types of agronomic, industrial or municipal waste as components of horticultural substrates can be an alternative to other commonly used substrates in the production of ornamental plants. These studies were conducted to provide data on the possible usage of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) compost for the cultivation of 'Florever Deep Red' geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum) propagated from seeds. Substrates were prepared from sphagnum peat (SP) and four composts containing MSS, potato pulp (PP), rye straw (RS) or sawdust of coniferous trees (SD). The composts RSQUO (C) composition was as follows: CI - MSS 70%, RS 30%; CII - MSS 70%, SD 30%; CIII - MSS 35%, PP 35%, RS 30%; CIV - MSS 35%, PP 35%, SD 30%. Composts were amended to peat at 25, 50 and 75% (by volume). Geranium seedlings were planted in pots and grown on tables in a plastic tunnel without top dressing. The results of the study indicate that it is possible to grow seed geranium in peat-based substrates amended with the different composts without the use of top fertilization. The quality and abundance of geranium flowering varied according to the substrate, which largely depended on the composition of the compost and compost rate in the mixture. The substrate containing MSS and RS compost at the highest rate had a positive impact on the abundance of flowering, inflorescence size and decorative value of the plants. The content of macro nutrients and heavy metals in the leaves of geranium depended on the composition of the substrate and increased with the rate of compost.

Attraction and oviposition responses of the fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens to microbes and microbe‐inoculated seedlings in laboratory bioassays

AbstractLaboratory tests were conducted to examine preferences of Bradysia impatiens Johannsen (Diptera: Sciaridae) larvae and adults for various microbes associated with greenhouse crops. Fungus gnat larvae and adults exhibited a preference for cultures of Pythium spp. over the medium used to grow the pathogens. Larvae also exhibited a preference for geranium seedlings infected with pathogenic Pythium spp. [P. aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz., P. ultimum Trow, and P. irregulare Buis. (Oomycota: Peronosporales)] over non‐inoculated plants. Adult fungus gnats exhibited a strong ovipositional preference for the aforementioned Pythium spp. as well as a variety of other microorganisms, including the pathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. & Br.) (Ascomycota: Microascales), the geranium‐infecting bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii (Brown) Dye (Proteobacteria: Xanthomonadales), the non‐pathogenic species Pythium torulosum Coker & P. Patt. and Pythium graminicola Subramaniam, the pathogen‐suppressive fungus Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Our study is the first to demonstrate that fungus gnats are attracted to and/or stimulated to oviposit by a wide array of living microorganisms both in pure culture and in association with plant seedlings. These findings have important implications with respect to the potential role of fungus gnats in plant pathogen transmission.

LarvalBradysia impatiens(Diptera: Sciaridae) Potential for Vectoring Pythium Root Rot Pathogens

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the capacity of Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen) larvae to ingest propagules from two strains each of Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitzp. and P. ultimum Trow and transmit the pathogens to healthy geranium seedlings on a filter-paper substrate in petri dishes. The capacity of fungus gnat larvae to transmit P. aphanidermatum to seedlings rooted in a commercial peat-based potting mix and germination of Pythium oospores and hyphal swellings before and after passage through the guts of larval fungus gnats were also examined. Assays revealed that Pythium spp. transmission by larval fungus gnats varied greatly with the assay substrate and also with the number and nature of ingested propagules. Transmission was highest (65%) in the petri dish assays testing larvae fed P. aphanidermatum K-13, a strain that produced abundant oospores. Transmission of strain K-13 was much lower (<6%) in plug cells with potting mix. Larvae were less efficient at vectoring P. ultimum strain PSN-1, which produced few oospores, and no transmission was observed with two non-oospore-producing strains: P. aphanidermatum Pa58 and P. ultimum P4. Passage of P. aphanidermatum K-13 through larval guts significantly increased oospore germination. However, decreased germination of hyphal swellings was observed following larval gut passage for strains of P. ultimum. These results expand previous studies suggesting that larval fungus gnats may vector Pythium spp.

Sublethal Doses of Mefenoxam Enhance Pythium Damping-off of Geranium

The effect of sublethal doses of fungicides on fungicide-resistant Pythium isolates is unknown but potentially relevant to disease management. Occasional grower reports of Pythium disease increases after fungicide applications and our observations of greater radial growth in vitro on fungicide-amended media than on nonamended media suggests that Pythium isolates may be stimulated by sublethal doses of fungicides. The objectives of this study were to determine whether Pythium isolates were stimulated by sublethal doses of mefenoxam in vitro and whether this stimulation had any influence on Pythium damping-off of geranium seedlings. A mefenoxam-resistant isolate of Pythium aphanidermatum displayed 10% mean radial growth increase in vitro with mefenoxam at 1 × 10-10 μg/ml compared with growth on nonamended agar (nonsignificant). Geranium seedlings treated with one of eight mefenoxam concentrations were inoculated with 5-mm-diameter colonized agar plugs and evaluated for disease severity every 24 h. The area under the disease progress curve and the survival curve were estimated for each treatment and compared. Significant increases in damping-off were observed with mefenoxam at 1 × 10-6 and 1 × 10-10 μg/ml. Our data indicate that a Pythium isolate with resistance to mefenoxam can be stimulated by sublethal doses of the fungicide, and that this stimulation can result in significantly higher rates of Pythium damping-off of geranium seedlings.

Micropropagação e aclimatização de gerânio (Pelargonium graveolens L.)

O gerânio (Pelargonium graveolens L.) é uma planta medicinal e aromática nativa do sul da África, cujo óleo essencial é amplamente empregado nas indústrias de perfumaria e cosmético, além de ser usado como terapêutico. Avaliou-se o efeito da luminosidade e dos reguladores de crescimento BAP e ANA na multiplicação in vitro e o uso de diferentes substratos na aclimatização de mudas micropropagadas. Foram avaliadas as concentrações 0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 mg L-1 de BAP, 0; 0,1 e 0,5 mg L-1 de ANA e duas condições de luminosidade (ausência e presença de luz), em esquema fatorial 4x3x2; para a aclimatização foram utilizados quatro substratos, pó de coco + Biosafra® (3-12-6) (12 g L-1) + calcário (1 g L-1) (PCBC); pó de coco + Biosafra® (3-12-6) (12 g L-1) + calcário (1 g L-1) + vermiculita (1:1) (PCBCV 1:1); pó de coco + Biosafra® (3-12-6) (12 g L-1) + calcário (1 g L-1) + vermiculita (PCBCV 2:1) e vermiculita e adição semanal de sais MS (VS). Para a micropropagação de P. graveolens a utilização de 1,3 mg L-1 de BAP e 0,5 mg L-1 de ANA é eficiente na regeneração direta de plantas de gerânio, sendo a condição de escuro a mais indicada por proporcionar o maior número de brotos por explante. Para a aclimatização das mudas de gerânio, os melhores resultados foram obtidos em mudas aclimatizadas no substrato vermiculita com adição semanal de sais de MS seguido do substrato PCBCV 1:1.

Fungus Gnat Feeding and Mechanical Wounding Inhibit Pythium aphanidermatum Infection of Geranium Seedlings

ABSTRACT A series of laboratory tests were conducted to investigate potential effects of fungus gnat (Bradysia impatiens) feeding damage on susceptibility of geranium seedlings (Pelargonium x hortorum) to infection by the root rot pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. Effects were compared with those from similar tests in which the seedlings were mechanically wounded by severing the root tip with a scalpel. Assays of geranium seedlings in petri dishes revealed a pronounced negative fungus gnat-Pythium interaction, with exposure to fungus gnat larvae 24 h prior to inoculation with P. aphanidermatum zoospores resulting in up to 47% fewer seedling deaths than would have been expected if the two agents had acted independently. Similar results were observed when seedlings were subjected to mechanical wounding 24 h prior to zoospore inoculation. In contrast, no interaction occurred when seedlings were mechanically wounded immediately prior to inoculation. The degree of plant damage inflicted by the feeding activities of the larval fungus gnats had no significant effect on the combined damage from fungus gnats and Pythium in petri dishes. Ancillary studies showed that Pythium development on V8 agar was not inhibited by the presence of fungus gnat-associated microorganisms, nor were seedlings inoculated with these microbes less susceptible to Pythium infection. The precise mechaism or mechanisms underlying the observed interactions were not elucidated; however, the results strongly suggest that both fungus gnat feeding and mechanical wounding activated systemic defenses that made the seedlings more resistant to Pythium infection.

Influence of paclobutrazol and substrate on daily evapotranspiration of potted geranium

The application of plant growth regulators and the use of different culture media are common practices in potted ornamental crops. We report the results of a study to evaluate the effect of two substrates (peat moss or coconut fiber) and spraying 30 ppm paclobutrazol (PAC) on water resource management of zonal geranium ( Pelargonium × hortorum L.H. Bailey) seedlings growing in a greenhouse during spring–summer. Growth, water consumption, leaching, evapotranspiration rate (ET), water use efficiency (WUE) and leaf water potential were determined. Plant growth was greater in peat moss (peat) than in coconut fiber (coconut), while the use of PAC decreased plant growth in both substrates, although more markedly in peat. Coconut produced a higher leaching fraction than peat in both PAC-treated plants and non-treated plants, although PAC application increased the leaching fraction in both substrates. Water consumption was lower in coconut than in peat and decreased in response to PAC. Peat was more effective at improving the water-use efficiency and increased the electrical conductivity in the leachate, while PAC decreased the latter in this same substrate. Daily ET showed a maximum of 200 mL/pot in peat and a minimum of 60 mL/pot in the coconut-PAC treatment. During the experimental period, accumulated ET values were higher in peat than in coconut, while the application of PAC reduced the value in peat but increased it in coconut. The evolution of ET per hour during the day showed that the highest rate (23 mL/h) was registered at midday in peat, while about 90% of ET occurred between 10 and 18 h in all treatments. When a cycle of water stress and recovery was applied, the peat induced the highest ET values of all treatments during the first days of drought, but the lowest ET after a week of drought. PAC modified this response, favoring a more balanced behavior of ET, although after the second cycle of drought this effect disappeared. Based on these results, the best strategy in normal irrigation conditions would be to use coconut fiber and not apply PAC, because this provides plants of excellent commercial quality with low water consumption. In plants at moderate water deficit PAC played a more important role than the substrate, improving the water status of plants with both substrates used. However, in the face of severe water stress the effect of PAC disappeared and peat acted as a better substrate than coconut fiber.

Changes in leaf water relations, gas exchange, growth and flowering quality in potted geranium plants irrigated with different water regimes

Geranium plants are an important part of urban green areas but suffer from drought, especially when grown in containers with a limited volume of medium. In this experiment, we examined the response of potted geraniums to different irrigation levels. Geranium (Pelargoniumxhortorum L.) seedlings were grown in a growth chamber and exposed to three irrigation treatments, whereby the plants were irrigated to container capacity (control), 60% of the control (moderate deficit irrigation, MDI), or 40% of the control (severe deficit irrigation, SDI). Deficit irrigation was maintained for 2 months, and then all the plants were exposed to a recovery period of 112 month. Exposure to drought induced a decrease in shoot dry weight and leaf area and an increase in the root/shoot ratio. Height and plant width were significantly inhibited by the SDI, while flower color parameters were not affected by deficit treatment. The number of wilting and yellow leaves increased, coinciding with the increase in the number of inflorescences and open flowers. Deficit irrigation led to a leaf water potential of about -0.8MPa at midday, which could have caused an important decrease in stomatal conductance, affecting the photosynthetic rate (Pn). Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fvm) values of 0.80 in all treatments throughout the experiment demonstrate the lack of drought-induced damage to PSII photochemistry. Pressure-volume analysis revealed low osmotic adjustment values of 0.2MPa in the SDI treatment, accompanied by increases in the bulk tissue elastic modulus (epsilon, wall rigidity) and resulting in turgor loss at lower leaf water potential values (-1.38MPa compared with -1.0MPa for the control). Leaf water potential values throughout the experiment below those for Psitlp were not found at any sampling time. By the end of the recovery period, the leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis had recovered. We infer from these results that moderate deficit irrigation in geranium reduced the consumption of water, while maintaining the good overall quality of plants. However, when SDI was applied, a reduction in the number of flowers per plant was observed.

Effects of Propamocarb Hydrochloride on Mycelial Growth, Sporulation, and Infection by Phytophthora nicotianae Isolates from Virginia Nurseries.

Propamocarb hydrochloride is a systemic fungicide commonly used for control of Phytophthora diseases of nursery crops. Here we report on the effect of this compound on different growth stages of Phytophthora nicotianae, a major pathogen of numerous herbaceous and some woody ornamental plants. A total of 71 isolates were assayed for sensitivity to propamocarb at two concentrations of 1.8 mg/ml (label rate) and 10 mg/ml using clarified V8 agar as a base medium. All isolates grew at 10 mg/ml with the most sensitive isolate having 34.8% relative growth compared with growth on nonamended medium. Nine isolates were selected and further tested for mycelial growth at 0, 1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml, and for sporangium production, zoospore motility, and germination at 0, 5, 50, 500, 5,000, and 50,000 μg/ml. EC50 values ranged from 2.2 to 90.1 mg/ml for mycelial growth, 133.8 to 481.3 μg/ml for sporangium production, 88.1 to 249.8 μg/ml for zoospore motility, and 1.9 to 184.6 μg/ml for zoospore germination, respectively. In addition, 17 selected isolates were evaluated for propamocarb sensitivity on Pelargonium × hortorum cv. White Orbit. Two days after seedlings were treated with propamocarb at 3.6 mg/ml, they were inoculated by either inverting one 5-mm-diameter plug of a 3-day-old culture or applying a 10-μl drop containing 20 zoospores onto each cotyledon. Propamocarb hydrochloride provided good protection of geranium seedlings from zoospore infections but not from mycelial infections. These results suggest that this fungicide must be used preventively for Phytophthora disease management and that mycelial growth may not be the most reliable measurement to determine the development of fungicide resistance to this compound in Phytophthora species at production facilities and in the landscape.

Effect of Pathogen Aggressiveness and Vinclozolin on Efficacy of Rhodotorula glutinis PM4 Against Botrytis cinerea on Geranium Leaf Disks and Seedlings

Efficacy of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis isolate PM4 as a biological control agent against 29 isolates of Botrytis cinerea obtained from greenhouse-grown ornamentals was assessed in vitro on geranium leaf disks. Isolates of B. cinerea varied in aggressiveness in the absence of either biological or chemical controls; diameters of lesions produced on leaf disks ranged from 0.8 to 12.3 mm. Efficacy of R. glutinis PM4 against the different isolates of B. cinerea varied greatly; lesion diameters ranged from 0.2 to 10.3 mm when the yeast was present. The yeast significantly reduced lesion development by 16 B. cinerea isolates in each of two replicate trials and by 9 isolates in one of the trials; however, 3 isolates were not inhibited by the yeast on geranium leaf disks. The yeast significantly reduced lesion development by B. cinerea isolate 01, used as a standard for comparison, in four of six trials. Fourteen of the B. cinerea isolates were inoculated onto geranium seedlings and produced a range of lesion sizes (2.9 to 16.4 mm), similar to that produced on leaf disks. Efficacy of the yeast in combination with a reduced rate (0.1×) of the fungicide vinclozolin (50 μg of active ingredient ml-1) was evaluated on geranium seedlings against 10 isolates of B. cinerea that were resistant to vinclozolin. Addition of vinclozolin to the yeast significantly reduced lesion diameter by five of the isolates compared with diameters of lesions produced in the presence of the yeast alone. Lesions produced by nine of the resistant isolates were 2.6 mm or smaller in both trials on plants treated with the mixture of yeast and vinclozolin. The effect of vinclozolin concentration (0 to 500 μg a.i. ml-1) on biocontrol efficacy of R. glutinis PM4 was evaluated using three resistant isolates of B. cinerea and geranium seedlings. Disease control was significantly better at higher concentrations of fungicide for two of the isolates. Linear regression of lesion diameter against vinclozolin concentration showed a significant effect on yeast biocontrol efficacy with B. cinerea isolate FL-2-b (y = 6.20 - 0.63x; r2= 0.74) and isolate BR-1 (y = 4.10 - 0.32x; r2 =0.28) but there was no significant effect with isolate GG-2-b. Overall, PM4 exhibited biocontrol activity on both geranium leaf disks and seedlings against a number of isolates of B. cinerea that varied in aggressiveness. Variability in biocontrol efficacy against isolates resistant to vinclozolin usually was reduced by the addition of vinclozolin.

Species of Pythium from Greenhouses in Pennsylvania Exhibit Resistance to Propamocarb and Mefenoxam.

Pythium isolates from commercial greenhouses in Pennsylvania were tested in vitro and in vivo for sensitivity to propamocarb. Isolates of Pythium aphanidermatum, P. irregulare, and P. ultimum consistently infected geranium seedlings that had been treated with propamocarb. P. ultimum and P. irregulare isolates exhibited dual fungicide resistance by overcoming propamocarb, mefenoxam, and a mixture of propamocarb and mefenoxam to infect seedlings. The sensitivity of isolates to propamocarb in vitro was not a good predictor of in vivo sensitivity. This is the first report of Pythium spp. resistance to propamocarb and dual resistance to propamocarb and mefenoxam.

Combinations of Fungicides with Phylloplane Yeasts for Improved Control of Botrytis cinerea on Geranium Seedlings

ABSTRACT Control of Botrytis cinerea on geranium seedlings was evaluated in treatments with phylloplane yeasts in combination with 10 fungicides used to manage Botrytis blight of ornamental plants. Rhodotorula glutinis PM4 significantly reduced the development of lesions caused by B. cinerea on geranium cotyledons; however, yeast biocontrol efficacy was highly variable between trials. Treatment with the yeast in combination with azoxystrobin or trifloxystrobin at one tenth the labeled rate (7.5 mug a.i. ml(-1)) or the full labeled rate (7.5 mug a.i. ml(-1)) reduced lesion development, compared to treatment with the yeast or the fungicide alone. Vinclozolin at half the labeled rate or the full labeled rate (250 or 500 mug a.i. ml(-1)), in combination with R. glutinis PM4, significantly reduced the development of lesions caused by an isolate of B. cinerea resistant to vinclozolin. Copper hydroxide and iprodione at one-tenth the labeled rates, with or without yeast, were highly effective in limiting lesion development. Mancozeb did not increase the biocontrol efficacy of the yeast, and thiophanate-methyl negatively affected the yeast efficacy. Improved disease control was observed in treatments with vinclozolin at the labeled rate and R. glutinis PM4 at cell densities of 5 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) cells ml(-1), but not 1 x 10(5) cells ml(-1), on seedlings co-inoculated with B. cinerea in a suspension containing 1 x 10(5) conidia ml(-1). Disease control improved in treatments with combinations of vinclozolin and eight other isolates of R. glutinis, two isolates of R. graminis, and two isolates of R. mucilaginosa. Biocontrol was not observed in treatments with two isolates of R. minuta. The combination of yeast and vinclozolin significantly reduced the germination of conidia of B. cinerea and the growth of R. glutinis PM4 in vitro. All combinations of R. glutinis PM4 with azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, or vinclozolin provided highly effective and consistent disease control not observed in treatments with the fungicides alone or the yeast alone.

Fertilizer Source Affects Iron, Manganese, and Zinc Leaching, Nutrient Distribution, and Geranium Growth#

The effect of various sources of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) on growth and visual quality of geranium (Pelargonium X hortorum L. “Orbit Red”) seedlings, nutrient leaching, and nutrient distribution in the growing medium was determined in two experiments. In the first experiment, Fe, Mn, and Zn were applied as a commercially formulated water‐soluble fertilizer (WSF), granular incorporated fertilizer (GIF), or no micronutrient (NOM) fertilizer was applied. In the second experiment, the commercially formulated GIF was applied, but WSF was specially formulated to apply the same amount of each element from the same chemical sources as the GIF. Also a 50% GIF and 50% WSF (50 GIF/50 WSF) treatment was included. In both experiments, shoot relative growth rate (RGR) tended to be greater when WSF was applied than when GIF was used. Plant visual quality did not differ regardless of fertilizer used in either experiment, but plants receiving NOM fertilizer were of lower quality than plants receiving any micronutrient fertilizer. The amount of Fe, Mn, and Zn leached from the medium was greater with GIF than with WSF or 50 GIF/50 WSF when the same amount of each element was applied regardless of fertilizer source. Analysis of the growing medium at the end of each experiment revealed higher amounts of Fe, Mn, and Zn in the upper portion than in the middle or lower portions of the medium with WSF. The micronutrients studied were evenly distributed throughout the medium when applied as a GIF. #Approved for publication by the Director, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. This research was supported by project H‐2324.

Effect of Humic Acids on Growth of Annual Ornamental Seedling Plugs

The annual bedding plants `Dazzler Rose Star' impatiens (Impatiens wallerana), `Cooler Blush' vinca (Catharanthus roseus), `Orbit Cardinal' geranium (Pelargonium × hotorum), `Janie Bright Yellow' marigold (Tagetes patula) and `Bingo Azure' pansy (Viola tricolor) were grown on germination papers treated with deionized water (DI), 2500 or 5000 mg·L-1 (ppm) humic acid (HA) or nutrient control (NC) solutions. Seedlings grown on HA-treated germination papers had higher dry root weights than those grown on DI or NC-treated germination papers. Except for impatiens, seedlings germinated on HA-treated germination papers had higher lateral root numbers and higher total lateral root lengths than those grown on DI and NC-treated germination papers. Impatiens grown on NC-treated germination papers had higher lateral root numbers than those grown on DI or HA-treated germination papers. Overall, lateral root numbers for impatiens were higher for seedlings germinated on HA-treated papers than DI or NC-treated papers and highest lateral root numbers occurred on those impatiens germinated on papers treated with 5000 mg·L-1 HA. Except for geranium, seedlings grown in HA-amended sphagnum-peat-based substrates had similar dry root and dry shoot weights as those grown in unamended substrates. Geranium seedlings grown in HA-amended sphagnum peat-based substrates had significantly higher dry root weights than those grown in unamended substrates. However, dry shoot weights of geranium grown in HA-amended sphagnum peat-based substrates were similar to those grown in unamended substrates.

Effects of Na 2SO 3 on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in geranium seedlings

This study investigated the effects of Na 2SO 3, which releases SO 2 in apoplastic water, on the growth of geranium seedlings and on the activities of various antioxidant enzymes including peroxidase. Sodium sulfite (Na 2SO 3) addition both inhibited primary root growth and stimulated lateral root growth of the seedlings respectively. In addition, the contents of chlorophyll and Rubisco protein of the seedlings were greatly reduced with Na 2SO 3 treatment. Total peroxidase activities of the seedlings also increased proportionally with the amount of Na 2SO 3 , this presumably correlating with oxidative stress levels. Notably, about an 8-fold enhancement of total peroxidase activity occurred in seedlings treated with 60 nM Na 2SO 3 at pH 4.0. This enhancement of total peroxidase activity was mainly due to the increase of a strong cationic isoperoxidase, strong anionic isoperoxidase and neutral isoperoxidase activities. The strong cationic isoperoxidase from geranium seedlings was found to be the same enzyme as PC3 from geranium callus in terms of its physicochemical and catalytic properties. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were greatly enhanced with Na 2SO 3 treatments at pH 4.0 without significant alteration of catalase activity. These results suggest that Na 2SO 3 exposure, activities the plants defense mechanism against the reactive oxygen species generated.

Phenotype Instability in Botrytis cinerea in the Absence of Benzimidazole and Dicarboximide Fungicides

ABSTRACT Stability of phenotypes of isolates of Botrytis cinerea that were sensitive or resistant to benzimidazole and dicarboximide fungicides was examined in the absence of fungicides in laboratory and growth room experiments. Twelve greenhouse isolates of B. cinerea were subcultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for 20 generations and on geranium seedlings for 15 generations. Three isolates of each of the following four phenotypes were used: sensitive to the fungicides thiophanate-methy1 (a benzimidazole) and vinclozolin (a dicarboximide) (S(T)S(V)), resistant to both fungicides (R(T)R(V)), resistant to thiophanate-methy1 and sensitive to vinclozolin (R(T)S(V)), and sensitive to thiophanate-methy1 and resistant to vinclozolin (S(T)R(V)). In three trials on PDA, 36 populations were subcultured; 8 populations changed phenotypes by the end of 20 generations, as determined by conidium germination on fungicide-amended medium. Five of the eight initially were S(T)R(V); the resulting phenotypes were S(T)S(V), R(T)S(V), and R(T)R(V). Populations from eight other isolates exhibited temporary changes in phenotype during intermediate generations on PDA but reverted to initial phenotypes by the twentieth generation; five of these populations changed to phenotype R(T)R(V). In two geranium seedling trials, each of the 12 greenhouse isolates was inoculated onto a set of three seedlings for each generation, and diseased tissue that developed was used to initiate the next generation. Therefore, a total of 72 populations of B. cinerea were subcultured in the two trials; 5 of these populations changed phenotype at the end of 15 generations. Three of the five initially were S(T)R(V); these changed to phenotypes S(T)S(V) or R(T)R(V). In each of the two trials on geranium seedlings, a population subcultured from one S(T)S(V) isolate changed phenotype one to phenotype R(T)R(V) and one to phenotype R(T)S(V). In all trials, no population resistant to thiophanate-methy1 changed to a thiophanate-methy1-sensitive phenotype, and no population changed to phenotype S(T)R(V). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints were generated with the 12 initial isolates and 49 isolates subcultured on PDA or geranium seedlings. Cluster analyses of RAPD markers showed that subcultured isolates exhibiting the same phenotype clustered together and that subcultured isolates derived from a common greenhouse isolate but with different phenotypes were in different clusters. Some populations that did not change phenotype exhibited considerable differences in RAPD marker patterns. The results of this study indicate that, in the absence of fungicides, sensitive populations of B. cinerea can develop resistance to thiophanate-methy1 and vinclozolin, and this resistance can be maintained in populations through multiple generations. Populations resistant only to vinclozolin (S(T)R(V)) exhibited a high frequency of phenotype change, and populations resistant to both fungicides (R(T)R(V)) were stable.

Humic Acid Seed and Substrate Treatments Promote Seedling Root Development

Seed of Pelargonium ×hortorum L.H. Bailey `Freckles' (geranium) and Tagetes patula L. `Bonanza' (marigold) were soaked for 12, 24, or 48 h in solutions containing 0 (deionized water), 5000, 10,000, or 15,000 mg·L-1 humic acid (HA) or nutrient controls (NC) containing similar levels of nutrients prior to planting. Soaking in deionized water (DI) and NC treatments had no significant effect on root fresh weight. However, several of the HA treatments increased root fresh weight of marigold seedlings, and all increased geranium root fresh weight. Percentage of germination and shoot fresh weight were not significantly affected by treatment. Seed of Cucumis sativus L. `Salad Bush' (cucumber), Cucurbita pepo L. `Golden Summer Crookneck' (squash), `Freckles' geranium and `Bonanza' marigold were sown into 15-cell plug trays (5 mL volume), and the substrate was drenched with DI, 2500 or 5000 mg·L-1 HA, or 2500 or 5000 mg·L-1 NC. DI and NC treatments did not affect root fresh weight. However, cucumber, squash, and marigold seedlings germinated in substrate drenched with 2500 and 5000 mg·L-1 HA and geranium seedlings germinated in substrate drenched with 2500 mg·L-1 HA had significantly higher root fresh weight than did seedlings from all other treatments. Percentage of germination and shoot fresh weight were not significantly affected by treatment. `Salad Bush' cucumber and `Golden Summer Crookneck' squash seedlings germinated on germination towels soaked with 2500 or 5000 mg·L-1 HA, had significantly higher root fresh weight than did seedlings germinated on towels soaked with DI or NC solutions. Treatment with HA did not affect shoot fresh weight or the number of lateral roots. However, HA treatment increased the total length of lateral roots. The increase in lateral root growth occurred primarily in lateral roots developing from the lower hypocotyl.