Mature Flowers Research Articles

Assessing the invasive risk of two non-native Agrostis species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

Two small swards of two grass species (Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis capillaris) previously unrecorded on Macquarie Island (54°30′S, 158°56′E) were found during the 2013–2014 austral summer. Their discovery leads to an assessment of their introduction status and invasive risk. Several evaluations were conducted on the plants regarding their extent, taxonomy, reproductive status and invasive potential. It is possible that the two species were accidentally introduced by human activities due to their proximity to human-frequented sites. No further occurrences were found, indicating that although the species were established, they were, respectively, restricted to two small swards of less than 1 m2 each. Observations of floral development in the field at the end of summer suggested that no sexually reproductive material was produced. Indoor cultivation of sampled specimens at the island station showed a faster development with mature flowers at the end of the summer but still no seeds. The bioclimatic niches of the two species were modeled with MaxEnt software. Biomodeling results indicate that reasonably favorable habitat is available on Macquarie Island for the successful colonization of both species. Agrostis stolonifera showed a higher invasion risk than A. capillaris. Our observations indicate that the two species are strong candidates for invading the island despite having phenological constraints. As a result, the two swards were removed by the island’s management authority. Further introductions and establishment of non-native plant species are expected to occur on sub-Antarctic islands under current global change scenarios.

Ontogenetic integration in two species of Schizanthus (Solanaceae): A comparison with static integration patterns

Floral integration refers to the patterns of co-variation among floral traits and can result from genetic correlations, developmental constraints and the function of traits in pollination and reproduction. Most studies have examined variation of mature flowers within populations or species (static integration) with contrasting pollination systems in order to test the role of pollinator-mediated selection in floral integration. But little is known about the ontogenetic pattern of floral integration and how it is related to floral morphology and floral integration patterns. Here we examined floral variation across ontogeny (ontogenetic integration) in two related Schizanthus species with contrasting floral morphology, pollination syndromes and static integration patterns. We also estimated ontogenetic integration in early and late phases of ontogeny. We found that ontogenetic integration varies among species and during ontogeny in accordance with the function of traits in pollination and static integration patterns of mature flowers. Our results suggest that both ontogenetic and static integration patterns are showing functional relationship related to the pollination process.

Impact of the defoliating moth Hypena opulenta on invasive swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum species) under different light environments

Black and pale swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum and Vincetoxicum rossicum, Apocynaceae) are twining vines from Europe that have become invasive in eastern North America. Hypena opulenta (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), a defoliating moth from the Ukraine, has recently been released in Canada and a request for release in the United States is under review. Its potential multivoltinism, and hence repeated defoliation of swallow-worts, combined with low-light levels in an understory environment may be promising for controlling forest infestations of swallow-worts. We conducted a greenhouse study of the impact of larval defoliation on seedlings and mature (flowering) plants of black and pale swallow-wort at different frequencies (once or twice) and degrees of defoliation (50 or 100%-seedlings; three or six larvae per stem-mature plants). Defoliation occurred under two forest light-regimes: low-light conditions typical of deeply-shaded forest habitats and higher light levels representative of a more open canopy or forest edge. Plants grown under higher light conditions were generally larger and produced many more seeds than heavily-shaded plants. One round of complete defoliation by H. opulenta, but not necessarily two, generally reduced biomass and seed production for both species and life stages, except for root mass of mature plants. No mature plants died and little seedling mortality occurred apart from black swallow-wort that had been completely defoliated twice under low light. Pale and black swallow-wort seedlings and mature plants appear to be tolerant of moderate defoliation damage. Complete defoliation repeated within and across years may be needed for suppression of forest infestations of swallow-wort.

Patterns of flower development in Apiaceae–Apioideae

Apiaceae is a large family characterized by uniform flowers. However, early ontogenetic studies revealed unexpected diversity in flower development. In the present paper, we investigate eight species representing six tribes of subfamily Apioideae to address diversity in developmental patterns. One focus is on the developmental divergence of sex morphs in andromonoecious species. Scanning electron microscopic studies were conducted on six herbaceous species: Chaerophyllum bulbosum, Daucus carota, Dorema aucheri, Ferula hezarlalehzarica, Orlaya grandiflora, Pastinaca sativa, and two woody species, i.e., Bupleurum fruticosum and Seseli ghafoorianum. Our results confirm the existence of at least three different flower developmental patterns in Apioideae. Main differences among species concern: (i) centripetal vs. divergent initiation of floral organs, (ii) subsequent vs. simultaneous timing of primordium formation, (iii) single primordium vs. primordium group appearance, and (iv) presence vs. absence of a calyx. As the mature flowers look almost the same, we conclude that spatial constraints and developmental acceleration may trigger differences in flower development. Functionally male flowers show the same development pattern as hermaphroditic flowers except for the gynoecium, which gets inhibited at a late stage of development. This late suppression in development is in line with the plastic response in sex ratio in andromonoecious species.

Floral reversion of mature inflorescence of date palm in vitro

Regeneration plants of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar Siwi (semi-dry cv.) via reversion of mature female flower were studied. Mature female flowers were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and abscisic acid (ABA) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mgl−1). Callus induction was achieved by all treatments from 8 to 16 weeks of culture. The highest formation of callus performed on MS medium containing 2.0mgl−1 PBZ, which also gave the highest values of total soluble sugars and their fractions. This callus was initiated from different zones: the basal part of the flower, the surface of the perianth segments, carpels and the receptacle. Meanwhile, direct shoot and somatic embryos were only obtained by cultured explants on different concentrations of ABA which contained the highest concentration of total soluble sugars and their fractions. Shoots initiated from some meristematic cells occurred between the basal part of the petal and carpel. This protocol provides a simple and rapid way to regenerate date palm through reversion the mature female flower to the vegetative growth.

Transcriptome Analysis of Flower Sex Differentiation in Jatropha curcas L. Using RNA Sequencing.

BackgroundJatropha curcas is thought to be a promising biofuel material, but its yield is restricted by a low ratio of instaminate / staminate flowers (1/10-1/30). Furthermore, valuable information about flower sex differentiation in this plant is scarce. To explore the mechanism of this process in J. curcas, transcriptome profiling of flower development was carried out, and certain genes related with sex differentiation were obtained through digital gene expression analysis of flower buds from different phases of floral development.ResultsAfter Illumina sequencing and clustering, 57,962 unigenes were identified. A total of 47,423 unigenes were annotated, with 85 being related to carpel and stamen differentiation, 126 involved in carpel and stamen development, and 592 functioning in the later development stage for the maturation of staminate or instaminate flowers. Annotation of these genes provided comprehensive information regarding the sex differentiation of flowers, including the signaling system, hormone biosynthesis and regulation, transcription regulation and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. A further expression pattern analysis of 15 sex-related genes using quantitative real-time PCR revealed that gibberellin-regulated protein 4-like protein and AMP-activated protein kinase are associated with stamen differentiation, whereas auxin response factor 6-like protein, AGAMOUS-like 20 protein, CLAVATA1, RING-H2 finger protein ATL3J, auxin-induced protein 22D, and r2r3-myb transcription factor contribute to embryo sac development in the instaminate flower. Cytokinin oxidase, Unigene28, auxin repressed-like protein ARP1, gibberellin receptor protein GID1 and auxin-induced protein X10A are involved in both stages mentioned above. In addition to its function in the differentiation and development of the stamens, the gibberellin signaling pathway also functions in embryo sac development for the instaminate flower. The auxin signaling pathway also participates in both stamen development and embryo sac development.ConclusionsOur transcriptome data provide a comprehensive gene expression profile for flower sex differentiation in Jatropha curcas, as well as new clues and information for further study in this field.

Effects of root fragmentation on generative reproduction of Sonchus arvensis

ABSTRACTTo develop better mechanical management strategies, more information on the impact of root partitioning on generative reproduction of Sonchus arvensis L. is needed. Therefore, an outdoor experiment was performed in Sweden in 2008, to evaluate the effect of root fragmentation on generative reproduction of S. arvensis. Two artificial populations of S. arvensis with the same total root length per area but with different initial root lengths and different numbers of root fragments were planted. Cumulative numbers of flower receptacles which had shed mature seeds over the season were assessed. Changes in the number of seeds per flower receptacle and average seed weight were monitored over time during the late season. Plants from long root fragments produced more flower receptacles than plants from short ones. Per area, however, the number of mature flower receptacles did not differ. The number of seeds per flower receptacle and individual seed weight were not affected by initial root length for the first cohort of shoots which sprouted from the initially planted roots. A second cohort, from roots produced during the season, resulted, irrespective of its initial root length, in fewer flower receptacles per plant and per area, with less seeds per receptacle, but with the same average seed weight as the first cohort. The number of seeds per flower receptacle was higher in mid-September than earlier or later. Average seed weight slightly decreased over time. The weight of seeds produced in early September was inversely related to the number of seeds per receptacle, but this trade-off disappeared over time. Root fragmentation alone in pure populations of S. arvensis does not impede generative reproduction, but is likely to decrease input of seeds to the seed bank, when combined with crop competition.

Molecular and regulatory mechanisms controlling floral organ development.

The genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation of angiosperm flowers have been studied extensively for nearly three decades. This work has led to detailed insights into the gene regulatory networks that control this vital developmental process in plants. Here, we review some of the key findings in the field of flower development and discuss open questions that must be addressed in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of flower formation. In particular, we focus on the specification of the different types of floral organs and on how the morphogenesis of these organs is controlled to give rise to mature flowers. Central to this process are the floral organ identity genes, which encode members of the family of MADS-domain transcription factors. We summarize what is currently known about the functions of these master regulators and discuss a working model for the molecular mechanism that may underlie their activities.

Reproductive failure in Arabidopsis thaliana under transient carbohydrate limitation: flowers and very young siliques are jettisoned and the meristem is maintained to allow successful resumption of reproductive growth.

The impact of transient carbon depletion on reproductive growth in Arabidopsis was investigated by transferring long-photoperiod-grown plants to continuous darkness and returning them to a light-dark cycle. After 2 days of darkness, carbon reserves were depleted in reproductive sinks, and RNA in situ hybridization of marker transcripts showed that carbon starvation responses had been initiated in the meristem, anthers and ovules. Dark treatments of 2 or more days resulted in a bare-segment phenotype on the floral stem, with 23-27 aborted siliques. These resulted from impaired growth of immature siliques and abortion of mature and immature flowers. Depolarization of PIN1 protein and increased DII-VENUS expression pointed to rapid collapse of auxin gradients in the meristem and inhibition of primordia initiation. After transfer back to a light-dark cycle, flowers appeared and formed viable siliques and seeds. A similar phenotype was seen after transfer to sub-compensation point irradiance or CO2 . It also appeared in a milder form after a moderate decrease in irradiance and developed spontaneously in short photoperiods. We conclude that Arabidopsis inhibits primordia initiation and aborts flowers and very young siliques in C-limited conditions. This curtails demand, safeguarding meristem function and allowing renewal of reproductive growth when carbon becomes available again.

The Phenotypic and Genetic Underpinnings of Flower Size in Polemoniaceae.

Corolla length is a labile flower feature and has strong implications for pollinator success. However, the phenotypic and genetic bases of corolla elongation are not well known, largely due to a lack of good candidate genes for potential genetic exploration and functional work. We investigate both the cellular phenotypic differences in corolla length, as well as the genetic control of this trait, in Saltugilia (Polemoniaceae). Taxa in this clade exhibit a large range of flower sizes and differ dramatically in pollinator guilds. Flowers of each species were collected from multiple individuals during four stages of flower development to ascertain if cell number or cell size is more important in determining flower size. In Saltugilia, increased flower size during development appears to be driven more by cell size than cell number. Differences in flower size between species are governed by both cell size and cell number, with the large-flowered S. splendens subsp. grantii having nearly twice as many cells as the small-flowered species. Fully mature flowers of all taxa contain jigsaw cells similar to cells seen in sepals and leaves; however, these cells are not typically found in the developing flowers of most species. The proportion of this cell type in mature flowers appears to have substantial implications, comprising 17–68% of the overall flower size. To identify candidate genes responsible for differences in cell area and cell type, transcriptomes were generated for two individuals of the species with the smallest (S. australis) and largest (S. splendens subsp. grantii) flowers across the same four developmental stages visualized with confocal microscopy. Analyses identified genes associated with cell wall formation that are up-regulated in the mature flower stage compared to mid-stage flowers (75% of mature size). This developmental change is associated with the origin of jigsaw cells in the corolla tube of mature flowers. Further comparisons between mature flowers in the two species revealed 354 transcripts that are up-regulated in the large-flowered S. splendens subsp. grantii compared to the small-flowered S. australis. These results are likely broadly applicable to Polemoniaceae, a clade of nearly 400 species, with extensive variation in floral form and shape.

Path analysis of genotype × environment interactions in rainfed durum wheat

This study was investigated to analyze genotype × environment (GE) interactions for grain yield and its components and to investigate the mechanism by which the stability of grain yield is achieved in rainfed durum wheat. Twenty-four durum wheat genotypes (breeding lines, old, and new varieties) along with one old bread wheat cultivar were tested in 21 diversified rainfed environments during 2010–2013 cropping seasons. The data were analyzed by path analysis model which is composed of a main effect and four multiplicative effects. The flowering time (X1), maturity time (X2), plant height (X3), and 1000-kernel weight (X4) were assumed to be sequential characters for the development of grain yield productivity (Y) in rainfed durum wheat. A high relationship (p < .01) between observed and expected yields of genotypes in different environments confirmed the validity of the causal scheme adopted in the analysis. Comparison the estimates of components provided information on the degree of response of each genotype to the environmental stresses. The results indicated that higher grain yields are associated with higher kernel weight (v4), which resulted from early flowering (v1), and so more emphasis should be given to these traits for the improvement of yield potential in durum wheat under highland rainfed conditions of Iran. Positive correlation of stability variance (σ2) with v4 component indicated that the kernel weight is the main contributor towards GE interaction for grain yield in rainfed durum wheat.

Seed Potato Growth, Harvest Index and Net Economic Benefit Improvement through Irrigation Water, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management

A study was conducted in a Rainshelter (RTrial) at Egerton University to determine the correlation between irrigation water, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application on seed potato growth, harvest index (HI) and net economic benefit (NEB). The Rainshelter was to separate the effects of rainfall from those of irrigation water treatments. The treatments arranged in a split-split plot layout in a completely randomized block design, consisted of irrigation water (40%, 65% and 100% field capacity), N (0, 75, 112.5 and 150 kg N/ha) and P (0, 50.6, 75.9, 101.2 kg P/ha), replicated three times and repeated once. During growth plant height, days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity were determined and at harvest seed potato tuber yield and total biomass were determined to estimate HI and NEB. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significantly different means separated using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test at P≤0.05. 100% irrigation water yielded plant heights of 98.3 and 103.3 cm for RTrials (Rainshelter Trials) I and II compared to 76.2 and 80.4cm for the 40% treatment, while days to 50% flowering were 53.5 and 54.7 days compared to 68.3 and 69.8 days, and delayed days to physiological maturity were 109.8 and 108.7 days compared to 89.6 and 88.3 days. High N and P application significantly increased plant height and delayed days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity. 100% compared to 65% irrigation rate reduced HI by 5.3% and 4.9%, seed potato NEB by 2,852 US $ (Ksh. 288,991) and 2712 US $ (Ksh 274,792) in RTrials I and II, respectively. The N and P rates improved potato growth and development, HI and NEB. Combined application of N and P at 112.5 kg N/ha and 75.9 kg P/ha, compared to 0 kg N/ha and 0 kg P/ha increased seed potato HI by 8.5%, and NEB by 4,837 and 6,115 US $, in RTrials I and II, respectively. Integration of 65% irrigation rate, 112.5 kg N/ha and 75.9 kg P/ha rates optimized potato growth characteristics, and net economic benefit.

Selected pomegranate germplasm from Afghanistan: morphological variability and relationship among collected accessions

During the period 2008-09 and in the frame of PHDP 58 Afghan and 18 foreign pomegranate accessions have been collected and grown under homogeneous environmental and cultivation practice conditions in ex situ collections. Standardized procedures were adopted to describe mature trees, leaves, flowers and fruits for a total of 30 phenotypic traits. Within the National Collection of Pomegranate of Afghanistan, coefficients of variability ranged from 8.8 to 31.7% for fruit diameter and weight of non edible part, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed the absence of correlated variables among different organs. The whole set of accessions resulted discriminated on the basis of the studied morphological parameters and all the accessions were grouped into 3 sub-sets by hierarchical cluster analysis. Local accessions resulted distributed in the 3 clusters, nevertheless the largest one held all the foreign varieties while the second one included all the accessions collected under the putative name of ‘Bedana’. The adopted morphological studies allowed to identify one true-to-type ‘Bedana’ accession, considered the best Afghan variety for fresh consume due to its very soft seed, and to solve the cases of homonymy. Analogously, various accessions originally collected from different regions of Afghanistan under the name of ‘Kandahari’ were identified and renamed.

Transformation of the CmACS-7 gene into melon (Cucumis melo L.) using the pollen-tube pathway.

The aim of the present study was to develop a transformation system that may be useful for introducing agronomically and biotechnologically relevant traits into melon. The production of transplanted melon with maternal inheritance of the transgene could solve problems related to outcrossing between genetically modified crops and conventional crops or their wild relatives. By analyzing the main influencing factors systematically, the pollination time was ascertained and the pollen-tube pathway genetic transformation system was optimized. A screening system for resistant seeds from the T1 generation was established. The transformed seedlings were grown under standard field conditions and selected using a polymerase chain reaction-based analysis. The resistant plants were detected at a rate of 5%. These results indicate that enhanced production hastens the initiation of bisexual flowers, development of mature bisexual flowers, and fruit set in melon. We have established a melon transformation system based on the pollen-tube method.

Effects of Tianda 2116 Plant Growth Regulator on Growth and Yield of Winter Wheat (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Triticum aestivum&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.)

To achieve optimum yield of wheat, supplementation of soil and foliar applied fertilizers with plant growth regulators is vital to assure effective assimilation of nutrients by plants. A trial was conducted at Gwebi Agricultural College Farm in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe, during the 2012 winter wheat season (May to August), to evaluate the effects of differing times of application of Tianda 2116 plant growth regulator on the growth and yield of wheat (variety SC Sekuru). The trial was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments were: Tianda 2116 applied at the following weeks after planting (WAP): 2 WAP, 3 WAP, 4 WAP, 5 WAP, 6 WAP, 14 WAP and no Tianda 2116 applied (control). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were noted among treatments for mean number of tillers per plant and mean number of spikes per plant. Application of Tianda 2116 at 2 and 3 WAP delayed flowering and physiological maturity. Early application of Tianda 2116 increased the number of spikelets per spike, thousand grain weight and grain yield. Conclusively, Tianda 2116 applied 2 or 3 WAP is effective in reducing growth while enhancing yield parameters in wheat production.

Negative Effects of Pollution on English Daisy (Bellis perennis) Height and Flower Number

River pollution is an increasingly serious issue that can lead to an imbalance in an ecosystem. Chemicals found in fertilizers and pesticides, such as phosphate and nitrogen, often end up in nearby water and can have a negative effect on surrounding plant life. In this experiment, we assessed the effect of water containing different nitrogen levels on the height and number of mature flowers of the English daisy (Bellis perennis). We compared English daisy plants exposed to water with high levels of added nitrogen (representing high pollution), low levels of added nitrogen (representing low pollution), and tap water. The high pollution treatment caused plants to decrease in height over three weeks. Plants in the low pollution treatment increased in height the first week, but then decreased during weeks two and three. The plants treated with tap water stayed fairly constant in height during the experiment. There was a small increase in the number of mature flowers in the low pollution treatment, while the plants exposed to the high pollution treatment and tap water treatment both lost similar numbers of flowers. This indicates that there is a negative effect of pollution on plant height and an inconclusive effect on number of mature flowers. Further studies, including beginning plants from seedlings and investigating the effects of different chemical pollutants, are needed to determine the full effect of water pollution on the English daisy.

Assessment of variability in water lily (Nymphaea spp.)

Twelve accessions of water lily (Nymphaea spp.) differing in flower colour and opening time were selected from diverse locations of the water lily growing tracts of Thrissur district. These accessions were evaluated based on the width as well as length of leaf lamina, length of notch on lamina, length of mature flower bud, circumference of mature flower bud, diameter of fully opened flower, number of petals and number of stigmatic appendages in the flower. The study revealed that there was significant variability among the accessions for all the characters evaluated. DMRT was carried out and the accessions were grouped taking diameter of fully opened flower as well as the size of mature flower bud as the decisive characters for grouping. Significant correlations were observed between flower size and leaf size as well as flower size and length of mature flower bud. Hence, leaf size can be taken as an indicator of the flower size of the accession. Selection programmes based on length of lamina will be effective in improving the population, since PCV, GCV, H2 and GG were the highest for this character.

Effect of potassium and zinc deficiencies on growth parameters of gerbera under polyhouse condition

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE ABSTRACT : The results of the experiment revealed that K and Zn deficient treatments showed significantly inferior results in respect to growth parameters viz., number of suckers per plant, number of leaves per plant, plant height and plant spread. The K and Zn deficient treatments showed significantly inferior results in respect to quality parameters viz., height of flower stalk, flower diameter, green and dry weight of individual flower, vase life of flower, number of flower per plant and more number of days required for flower maturity over all nutrients application treatments. The significant reduction in yield of gerbera, green and dry matter production per plant, nutrient content and nutrient uptake observed due to the K and Zn deficient treatment. The K deficient treatments showed marginal necrosis of leaves and flowers became pale, which are the typical symptoms. The Zn deficient treatments showed formation of smaller sized thicker leaves which caused rosette formation and interveinal chlorosis of leaves with green spots at somewhere which are typical symptoms.

Functional Characterization of Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase during Developmental Stages and under Various Stress Conditions in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

In this study, the entire gene encoding cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase in kenaf (HcCAD2) was cloned and characterized. CAD is a key enzyme in the last step of lignin biosynthesis. The full-length HcCAD ortholog is composed of a 1,074-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 357 amino acids (KM044582). BlastP and a phylogenetic study revealed that the deduced amino acid sequences share the highest similarity with Gossypium hirsutum (ABZ01817) (89%). Upon real-time PCR analysis, HcCAD1 (HM151380) and HcCAD2 were highly up-regulated in 4-week-old stem and mature flower tissues, which was matched with histochemical staining and lignin component analysis. The expression patterns of the two genes differed in response to wound, cold, NaCl, SA, H2O2, ABA, MeJA, and drought. CAD enzyme activity was measured with various aldehydes as substrates to form corresponding alcohols. The results indicated that the preferred substrates were coniferyl and sinapyl aldehydes with high catalytic efficiency.

Host range and impact of the flower-feeding moth, Cochylis campuloclinium – a biological control agent for Campuloclinium macrocephalum, in South Africa

ABSTRACTCampuloclinium macrocephalum (Less.) DC. (Asteraceae) (pompom weed), an invader in South Africa and Swaziland, threatens biodiversity conservation, agriculture and tourism in the region. We report on the host range and impact of the flower-feeding moth, Cochylis campuloclinium Brown (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the second insect biological control agent to be considered for C. macrocephalum in South Africa. Laboratory host-specificity tests were conducted on 31 Asteraceae species. Field host range studies included 17 non-target Asteraceae species. Results of both C. campuloclinium laboratory and field host-range trials indicated that it is suitably host specific. In laboratory host-range trials, only C. macrocephalum and the closely related native, Adenostemma caffrum DC. (Asteraceae), received feeding damage, while in field host-range trials, the moth was only recorded on the target. Laboratory impact studies showed that C. campuloclinium destroyed a significant number of florets in flower buds (76%) and seeds in mature flowers (54%). Based on evidence from the native range, there appears to be no competitive interactions between C. campuloclinium and the already established stem- and leaf-deforming thrips, Liothrips tractabilis Mound & Pereyra (Thysanoptera: Phlaethripinae). The two insect agents should perform a complementary role of reducing flowering (L. tractabilis) and seed production (C. campuloclinium). Based on the above data, permission for the release of the moth was sought in August 2015.