Ornamental Crops Research Articles

Touches on the history of agrarian science in Siberia

A review of the origin, development, current state and scientific achievements of agrarian science in Siberia is given. Historical information about the development of agriculture during the period of resettlement of millions of peasants from the European part of the Russian Empire is given. The beginning of the first systematic scientific research in Siberia is described. The history of the creation of the Siberian Branch of the V.I. Lenin All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VASKhNIL), to coordinate and strengthen scientific research on agricultural topics in the vast eastern part of the country is presented. The research institutes that were part of the Siberian Branch are given. The stages of reforming the SB VASKhNIL are described: Siberian Branch of Rosselkhozakademy (the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences), Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (FASO), Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SFSCA RAS). Information is given about the scientific achievements of Siberian scientists: more than one and a half thousand new varieties have been created and widely developed, hundreds of highly effective agro-technologies of cultivation of grain, fodder, fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops have been developed, dozens of productive breeds, types and lines of animals have been obtained, new agricultural machines and tools, preparations, test-systems and vaccines have been developed. Agricultural scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the development of agriculture are named.

Evaluation of Greywater as a Sustainable Source of Irrigation for Ornamental Crops in Green Walls—A Study of Plant and Soil Using Ruellia tuberosa

Green walls and roofs are sustainable building systems with several benefits. However, the irrigation requirements of these building systems conflict with water sustainability goals in water-scarce places. This study investigates using greywater directly to irrigate ornamental species for such situations by examining the effects of freshwater and greywater irrigation on Ruellia tuberosa growth, plant health and soil characteristics. Five replicates for each condition were grown for 91 days. Greywater irrigation led to a 15% higher plant growth height, a 31% higher plant biomass (p = 0.065), and a 71% increase in stem biomass (p < 0.001) compared to freshwater irrigation. However, greywater-irrigated plants had reduced chlorophyll content (10.7%, p < 0.001), and increased leaf chlorosis (p = 0.003), likely caused by stress from laundry and detergent chemicals. Greywater irrigation led to greater mineral content in greywater-irrigated plant biomass and soil for all minerals tested, most notably boron, which was deficient in the soil. Greywater-irrigated soil also had a higher organic content according to FTIR and electron dispersive spectroscopy. Greywater irrigation improved nutritional and soil conditions, including phosphate, which helped Ruellia tuberosa flourish. This study suggests raw greywater can replace freshwater in water-scarce climates for green wall irrigation instead of high-energy onsite greywater treatment systems.

Assessing gladiolus varieties for planting time using a phenological model based on agro‐meteorological indices

AbstractPhenological models serve as a potent tool in management practices and determining flowering time in ornamental crops. Schwab's staging system for development of gladiola that relies on easily identifiable visual characteristics was used in the study to describe the detailed developmental stages and requirement of agrometeorological indices for each stage. The study was conducted with five gladiolus varieties planted at four different times to characterize the varieties for planting time. Plants under September and October plantings completed their phenological development in less time and accumulated fewer agrometeorological indices because of favourable temperature and short day conditions. The phenological model revealed that Punjab Lemon Delight and Punjab Glance could be planted in September as their blooming was delayed by 32 and 17 days, respectively and corm harvesting by 48 and 43 days respectively, when planted in December. The delay in blooming was 18 and 15 days respectively for Punjab Glad 3 and CPG and corresponding values for corm harvesting were 30 and 26 days when planting was done in December indicating that these varieties could be suitable for late planting. White Prosperity could be planted in October or November because when comparing planting in these 2 months, the number of days to bloom and the number of days to corm harvesting were similar.

Orco mediates olfactory behavior and oviposition in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

Chemical signals play a central role in mediating insect feeding and reproductive behavior, and serve as the primary drivers of the insect-plant interactions. The detection of chemical signals, particularly host plant volatiles, relies heavily on the insect's complex olfactory system. The Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex is a group of globally important whitefly pests of agricultural and ornamental crops that have a wide range of host plants, but the molecular mechanism of their host plant recognition is not yet clear. In this study, the odorant coreceptor gene of the Whitefly MEAM1 cryptic species (BtOrco) was cloned. The coding sequence of BtOrco was 1413 bp in length, with seven transmembrane structural domains, and it was expressed primarily in the heads of both male and female adult whiteflies, rather than in other tissues. Knockdown of BtOrco using transgenic plant-mediated RNAi technology significantly inhibited the foraging behavior of whiteflies. This inhibition was manifested as a reduced percentage of whiteflies responding to the host plant and a prolonged foraging period. Moreover, there was a substantial suppression of egg-laying activity among adult female whiteflies. These results indicate that BtOrco has the potential to be used as a target for the design of novel active compounds for the development of environmentally friendly whitefly control strategies.

Cucumber mosaic virus among ornamental crops in the Russian Far East

Aim. To summarise and analyse scientific data on Cucumber mosaic virus strains (CMV – Cucumber mosaic virus) (Martellivirales: Bromoviridae, Cucumovirus) isolated from ornamental plants in the Far East of the Russian Federation. Discussion. The paper describes the genome structure and tripartite organization of CMV virions. Strains of this virus isolated from ornamental cultures in the south of the Russian Far East are described: Garden balsam, Common snapdragon, Dahlias, Hybrid gladiolus, Hybrid delphinium, Cambria, Indian canna, Cattleya, Tiger lily, Garden petunia, Primula obconica, Moth orchids, Fatshedera from Lize Freres, Weeping fig, Common hollyhock, Purple coneflower. The physicochemical properties (i. e. point of thermal inactivation, period of preservation of infectivity at a temperature of 20 °C, maximum dilution of juice causing disease of healthy plants) and the symptoms of these strains on a wide range of species and varieties of indicator plants are systematised according to the Russian Collection of East Asian Viruses, functioning at the Laboratory of Virology of the Federal Scientific Center for East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Conclusions. The limiting factor in the development of floriculture is infectious diseases, among which viral infections (including CMV) are of the greatest importance, demonstrating a high strain diversity in the south of the Russian Far East. Thus, the study of the biological, physico‐chemical, immunochemical and molecular biological properties of CMV is an urgent task, as it opens up the possibility of studying isolates of this virus and classifying its strains taking into account individual characteristics and kinship relationships.

A comprehensive review of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) and their impact on flowering and ornamental crops with insights into effective application methods

A comprehensive review of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) and their impact on flowering and ornamental crops with insights into effective application methods

Otimização da tecnologia de micropropagação clonal de variedades ornamentais de rosas ‘Dream Come True’ e ‘Full Sail’

Abstract The rose is the most important ornamental and floral crop, as well as a valuable aromatic and medicinal plant. For accelerated production of planting material, clonal micropropagation is used. There are problems in obtaining an aseptic culture and the peculiarities of plant cultivation at different stages, depending on the variety. It is necessary to develop and optimize the technological cycle of cultivation in in vitro culture. The results showed that the highest viability of rose explants obtained from lateral buds was noted by sterilization with 0.2% silver nitrate solution of and 5% Lysoformin 3000 with an exposure of 15 minutes (82%-95%); the highest viability of explants obtained from etiolated shoots was observed when sterilized with 0.2% silver nitrate solution with an exposure of 10 minutes and 5% Lysoformin 3000 with an exposure of 15 min (82%-100%). The maximum length of the micro-shoots was noted in the ‘Dream Come True’ variety on a QL (Quoirin and Lepoivre) nutrient medium (on average 21.2 cm), in the ‘Full Sail’ variety - on a ½ QL medium (on average 24.9 cm). An increase in the concentration of 6-BAP from 0.5 to 1.0 mg L-1 in the nutrient medium contributed to an increase in the number of micro-shoots (by 1.7-1.9 times). The maximum root length was noted on the nutrient medium ½ QL (on average 88.7-95.3 cm). An increase in the concentration of IAA from 0.5 to 1.0 mg L-1 in the nutrient medium contributed to an increase in root length by 1.4-1.8 times. The protocol developed in this study allows to propagate these two varieties in vitro and produce a large number of plants.

The feasibility of using combined soils in greenhouse conditions for growing Osteospermum

Periodically recurring droughts, unstable atmospheric moisture, and elevated air temperatures in summer are characteristic of the Orenburg region, which is part of the South Ural region. Of great scientific and practical importance at the present stage is the creation of soils that are optimal in terms of physical and chemical composition, giving high production results. The article presents the results of experimental data on the use of combined soils in greenhouse conditions in the Orenburg region when growing ornamental plants Osteospermum, for the purpose of decorative landscaping in urban areas, as one of the promising flower crops. In laboratory conditions, when constructing the soil, its chemical composition was carried out before sowing ornamental crops and after transplanting plants into open ground, in order to analyze the needs of plants for the mineral component of the soil and the possibilities of its reuse (secondary) for enriching the open soil of flower beds in urban conditions.

Silicon nanoparticles and indole butyric acid positively regulate the growth performance of Freesia refracta by ameliorating oxidative stress under chromium toxicity.

Chromium (Cr) toxicity hampers ornamental crops' growth and post-harvest quality, especially in cut flower plants. Nano-enabled approaches have been developing with phenomenal potential towards improving floricultural crop production under heavy metal-stressed conditions. The current pot experiment aims to explore the ameliorative impact of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs; 10 mM) and indole butyric acid (IBA; 20 mM) against Cr stress (0.8 mM) in Freesia refracta. The results showed that Cr stress significantly reduced morphological traits, decreased roots-stems biomass, abridged chlorophyll (14.7%) and carotenoid contents (27.2%), limited gas exchange attributes (intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) 24.8%, stomatal conductance (gs) 19.3% and photosynthetic rate (A) 28.8%), condensed proline (39.2%) and total protein (40%) contents and reduced vase life (15.3%) of freesia plants by increasing oxidative stress. Contrarily, antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA and H2O2 levels, and Cr concentrations in plant parts were remarkably enhanced in Cr-stressed plants than in the control. However, foliar supplementation of Si-NPs + IBA (combined form) to Cr-stressed plants increased defense mechanism and tolerance as revealed by improved vegetative and reproductive traits, increased biomass, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll 30.3%, carotenoid 57.2%) and gaseous exchange attributes (Ci 33.3%, gs 25.6%, A 31.1%), proline (54.5%), total protein (55.1%), and vase life (34.9%) of metal contaminated plants. Similarly, the improvement in the activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase was recorded by 30.8%, 52.4%, and 60.8%, respectively, compared with Cr-stressed plants. Meanwhile, MDA (54.3%), H2O2 (32.7%) contents, and Cr levels in roots (43.3), in stems (44%), in leaves (52.8%), and in flowers (78.5%), were remarkably reduced due to combine application of Si-NPs + IBA as compared with Cr-stressed nontreated freesia plants. Thus, the hypothesis that the synergistic application of Si-NPs + IBA will be an effective approach in ameliorating Cr stress is authenticated from the results of this experiment. Furthermore, the study will be significant since it will demonstrate how Si-NPs and IBA can work synergistically to combat Cr toxicity, and even when added separately, they can improve growth characteristics both under stressed and un-stressed conditions.

Hemiptera pest species identified on woody ornamental crops in Galicia Northwest Spain

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Sucrose-delaying flower color fading associated with delaying anthocyanin accumulation decrease in cut chrysanthemum

As fresh ornamental crops, vase life and post-harvested quality of cut flowers have attracted much attention. Flower color fading is the prominent defect in red and purple cut flowers, especially in cut chrysanthemum which have a relative long vase life. Here, the effect of sucrose on change in anthocyanin contents during the vase life of ‘Dante Purple’ cut chrysanthemum was studied. Results showed that 500 mM sucrose as holding solution could significantly delay the decrease in anthocyanin content and maintain the ornamental value for as long as 38 vase days. Moreover, the sucrose also increased the flower diameter, soluble sugar contents and total antioxidant capacity, while decreasing the malondialdehyde contents. Further studies suggested that the transcript levels of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and transcription factors, CmMYB6 and CmMYB#7, had continuously decreased during the vase life. The changes in these genes expression patterns was retarded by the sucrose treatment, except for CmMYB#7 which is a repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis gene expression. The decline in relative expression of CmMYB#7 was accelerated by sucrose. These results have supplied clues to study the mechanism whereby sucrose serves as a signal molecule to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis.

The influence of the weather conditions on the flowering time of crocuses from the collection of the Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Iridaceae is a large family of herbaceous plants with numerous species and cultivars, diverse in the habitus and structure of aboveground and underground organs, colour and shape of the flower, as well as in terms and duration of phenological phases. The earliest flowering is specific for representatives of the genus Crocus. The purposeful formation and study of genetic collections of ornamental crops, including Crocus, was started by Federal Research Centre the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the 1960s. A large number of cultivars have been introduced and studied. The aim of the work is to study the influence of the weather conditions on the flowering terms of crocuses in the humid Russian subtropics on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Territory. This unique region belongs to a Mediterranean-type climate with relatively warm winters. The work was carried out in 2021-2023 according to the methods generally accepted in the introduction, as well as those being finalized by the Centre. Mathematical processing was performed in the Microsoft Office Excel 2007 program. The objects of research are 19 crocus cultivars from the bioresource collection (FRC SSC of RAS), including Crocus vernus - 7; C. chrysanthus - 4; C. tommasinianus - 4, 1 each C. flavus, C. biflorus, C. sublimis, C. olivieri. In the course of the work carried out, it has been found that climatic conditions of the humid Russian subtropics make it possible to successfully implement introduction studies on Crocus cultivars.

The strategy of knock-in with homology-directed genome editing in the model ornamental plant Petunia using CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated system 9 (Cas9) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex offers numerous advantages, including increased genome editing efficiency, reduced off-target effects, minimized risk of genomic integration, expanded applicability, and the ability to address specific ethical concerns. These benefits establish the CRISPR/Cas9 RNP complex as a valuable technique for precise genome editing in plant research and applications. Nevertheless, achieving precise knock-in using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated precision knock-in of genes by homology-directed repair (HDR) remains challenging due to the infrequent occurrence of HDR and the limited availability of DNA repair templates near double-strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we presented the efficient utilization strategy of HDR-mediated gene knock-in through co-infection of the CRISPR/Cas9 RNP complex and donor plasmid in Petunia protoplast. We accomplish this by designing a donor plasmid targeting the chalcone synthase (CHS) in Petunia, consisting of a CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-PAM sequences flanked by a donor DNA cassette with homology arms. These findings offer insights into the application of these techniques in ornamental crops to enhance CRISPR/Cas9 RNA complex-mediated gene knock-in strategies.

Introduction and breeding of shadbush in Russia and abroad

Shadbush is one of the underutilized berry crops. Originally, it was an ornamental crop, but now it is increasingly used as a food crop. Numerous species of shadbush belong to the genus Amelanchier Medik.; wild species grow in North America, Europe, as well as in Western and Eastern Asia, and each region has different species composition. The year of 1590 marked the beginning of introduction of wild shadbush species with the most valuable features to other countries. In the 19th century, the introduction of shadbush became most popular. In 1800, shadbush breeding was launched in Canada, and then in the USA. In 1937, the production of commercial varieties was established. At present, in Russia, the most productive work on introduction and breeding of shadbush is carried out in Michurinsk (All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture named after I.V. Michurin), Novosibirsk (Central Siberian Botanical Garden of SB RAS), and Moscow (N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden). Unfortunately, the assortment of shadbush varieties in Russia is still quite limited and is represented by only two varieties. In recent years, the development of methods of shadbush clonal micropropagation has been underway, which makes it possible to obtain planting material on an industrial scale and accelerate the reproduction of rare varieties.

PSX-11 Effect of Preservation Method on Nutritive Value of Kudzu Forage

Abstract “The vine that ate the South,” also known as kudzu (Pueraria montana [Lour.] Merr.) is a drought-tolerant perennial leguminous vine that was introduced from Asia to the United States as an ornamental crop. It was quickly recognized and favored as a solution to soil erosion during the Dust Bowl. However, due to its ability to quickly overtake existing vegetation, it was ultimately labeled as an invasive species by the USDA. Given current sustainability efforts, interest has renewed in ways to incorporate this invasive species for productive agricultural purposes. The goal of this study was to investigate how preservation (i.e., haying) would affect the nutritive value and digestibility of kudzu forage. Kudzu was harvested from a private property in Auburn, Alabama. Two independent plots on the property were utilized; half of thefresh biomass was immediately removed, and the remaining half was removed at 20% moisturefor the sun-cured sample. Samples were collected from each plot and assayed for NDF, ADF, ADL, and CP. Samples were also assayed for in vitro true and NDF disappearance (IVTD and IVNDFD, respectively) as well as in situ ruminal disappearance. Data were analyzed using SAS v. 9.4. There was no effect of preservation on NDF, ADF, ADL, and CP concentrations (P ≥0.39). However, kudzu samples subjected to sun-curing had greater IVTD (64.3%, P < 0.01) and IVTDOM (63.0%; P < 0.01) and tended to have greater IVNDFD (35.6%; P = 0.06) thanfresh kudzu (59.4, 57.8, and 31.3%, respectively). There was no effect (P ≥ 0.12) of preservation on the potentially degradable fraction, lag time, or rate of digestion of kudzu samples. However, fresh samples had a greater (P < 0.01) undegradable residue than did sun-cured samples (49.3 vs.38.8%). The improvements in digestibility are interpreted to mean that preservation methods, such as sun-curing, may be valuable for increasing the value of kudzu as a roughage source for ruminant livestock production systems.

From wild species to ornamental crops: a never-ending story

From wild species to ornamental crops: a never-ending story

A Comprehensive Review on Role of Plant Tissue Culture in Ornamental Crops: Cultivation Factors, Applications and Future Aspects

Ornamental plants are grown largely for their artistic value, floriculturists must prioritize the proliferation and improvement of quality traits, as well as the production of unique diversity. Micropropagation, clonal reliability and conservation are all crucial factors to consider. Application of in vitro techniques in ornamental plant such as in vitro embryo rescue, somatic hybridization, in vitro pollination and in vitro ploidy manipulation but to enhance, techniques like as embryo rescue and somatic hybridization are commonly employed. The creation of synthetic seed allows for season-independent seed producing and long-term seed preservation. Many factors influence ornamental plant tissue culture, including plant genotype, explants type, and the physical environment (light, temperature, humidity, and CO2), in addition to medium composition and growth regulators. We compiled and reviewed an overall update on cultivation factors, application procedures in ornamental plant tissue culture, in vitro plant enhancement approaches and future prospects in this study.

Implications of weakening of the United States Geological Survey Pesticide National Synthesis Project for Weed Scientists

Abstract Weeds are a significant threat to the production of agronomic, horticultural, and ornamental crops, as direct competition for resources can result in substantial yield shortfalls (WSSA 2023). A review of research data generated across the United States and Canada indicated that unmanaged weeds have the potential to reduce corn and soybean production by approximately 50%, even when other best management practices are applied (Soltani et al. 2016, 2017). The associated economic losses, which were estimated at 26.7 and 17.2 billion USD for corn and soybeans, respectively, would be catastrophic. Weeds can also interfere with crops, indirectly. For example, weeds may impede or delay harvest operations (Smith et al. 2000), reduce crop quality because of contamination (Moore et al. 2004), and serve as alternate hosts for pests and pathogens (Chen et al. 2011; Wisler and Norris 2005). Other habitats, such as rangelands, wetlands, and other natural and urban areas, are also affected by weedy and invasive plant species. Impacts of unwanted vegetation can include damage to infrastructure, damage to recreational space, altered water flow, degraded natural resources, reduced biodiversity and species displacement, and a loss of ecosystem services, among other effects (DiTomaso 2000; Jetter et al. 2021; Neal 2023; Vilà et al. 2011).

Impact of Calcium-Silicon nanoparticles on flower quality and biochemical characteristics of Lilium under salt stress

Lilium plants are one of the most important and widely distributed ornamental crops in the world. However, these plants are also susceptible to salinity, an environmental factor that is one of the main ones worldwide. Salinity negatively affects the development and productivity of plants, in addition to the fact that it can affect the quality of flowers in ornamental crops. The use of nanotechnology can be a useful tool to counteract the negative effects of salinity, since the application of nanoparticles can function as a biostimulant and induce positive responses against different types of abiotic stress. In the present study, the foliar application of two types and concentrations of calcium-silicon nanoparticles (Ca-Si NPs) (500 and 750 mg L−1) in lilium plants grown with or without stress and under saline stress (30 mM NaCl) was evaluated. The differences between both nanoparticles were the size and content of inorganic residues, where CaSi-1 had a size of 23.29 nm and a content of inorganic residues of 62.0 %, while CaSi-2 had a size of 15.29 nm and a content of inorganic residues of 87.0 %. The results showed that salinity affected the quality of the flowers, as well as the biochemical parameters of the plants. In contrast, the application of Ca-Si NPs induced positive effects on flower quality, improved flower size and fresh biomass. Under salt stress conditions, the application of Ca-Si NPs in lilium improved the biochemical parameters, increased the content of chlorophylls (up to 38.1 %), vitamin C (9.4 %), and antioxidant capacity (19.2-23.8 %) in the leaves. Regarding the stress indicators in the leaves, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was not affected by salinity or by the Ca-Si NPs, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) increased by the application of the NPs, however, under saline stress there were no differences. In lilium flowers without salt stress, both H2O2 and MDA increased by the application of Ca-Si NPs, while under salt stress only MDA increased. The use of Ca-Si NPs can be an alternative to counteract the harmful effects of salinity stress in plants.

<i>In Silico</i> Analysis of <i>Phalaenopsis Orchid Homeobox1</i> (<i>POH1</i>) Functional Gene for Shoot Development in <i>Phalaenopsis</i> Orchid

The most favorite ornamental crop in Indonesia is orchid which benefited as floriculture. Therefore, the quality of this crop must be improved. Biotechnology is appropriate to be used to improve the quality and quantity of orchid plants. To conduct this method, researchers must know what genes function in plant development. In Phalaenopsis orchids, the gene has been identified as homeobox genes called Phalaenopsis Orchid Homeobox1 (POH1). This research aims to conduct in silico analysis of the gene. The materials were retrieved from mRNA and amino acid databases. Then, the materials are aligned, visualized, motif location analysis, motif function discovery, phylogenetic construction, and protein 3D structural modelling. Based on mRNA and amino acid alignment, there are 4 domain regions that are conserved in POH1 and other homologous genes, such as KNOX1, KNOX2, ELK Domain, and Homeobox KN Domain, which roles as a transcription factor involved in plant development. SWISS-MODEL and ColabFold were used in protein modelling of the protein. By ColabbFold modelling, the modelling prediction uses 325 residues, higher than SWISS-MODEL in 59 residues. ColabFold validation by Ramachandra Plot depicts having the most favourite regions is 68.6%, while SWISS-MODEL is 92.3%. Another validation parameter is overall quality factor and QMEAN Score. Protein modelling by ColabFold has overall quality factor 89.252 and QMEAN Score 0.41 ± 0.05. However, SWISS-MODEL 3D prediction has overall quality factor 98.039 and QMEAN score of 0.71 ± 0.11.