Ornamental Value Of Plants Research Articles

Ornamental Flowers Induce Psychological Well-Being of University Public

Ornamental plants provide several advantages to individuals, including emotional and mental wellbeing, physiological health, social relationships, and economic and financial circumstances. The correlation between flowers and aesthetically pleasing plants has been widely acknowledged as having a favorable influence on psychological wellbeing throughout the history of humanity. This study investigates the role of ornamental flowers in the psychological wellbeing of students and staff. This descriptive study used a quantitative approach. The study sample was 350 (male =212, female=138), including students and employees at the University of Okara. The study revealed that Ornamental flowers in universities are linked to significantly reduced stress levels and enhanced mood in the university community. The benefits of this beautiful campus environment with ornamental flowers are a reduction in stress levels, improved mood, and a peaceful aesthetic appreciation for residents. More psychological wellbeing and economic benefits were discovered with the presence of flowers in males compared to females. Staff well-being, meanwhile, was perceived as higher than for students impeding the perception that ornamental plants may be generally more beneficial to professional roles within a setting. Their findings indicate that we need to integrate natural elements in our environments, specifically at the university level, to create an enriched learning experience and environment perfect for creating general wellbeing. Such research also can shed light on the value of ornamental plants and their ability to generate a sense of wellbeing and encouragement in campus ambience.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of flavonoid biosynthesis provides novel insights into petals coloration in Asian cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.)

BackgroundAsian cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.), as a precious germplasm resource of cotton with insect resistance and stress tolerance, possesses a broad spectrum of phenotypic variation related to pigmentation. Flower color affects insect pollination and the ornamental value of plants. Studying flower color of Asian cotton varieties improves the rate of hybridization and thus enriches the diversity of germplasm resources. Meanwhile, it also impacts the development of the horticultural industry. Unfortunately, there is a clear lack of studies concerning intricate mechanisms of cotton flower-color differentiation. Hereby, we report an integrative approach utilizing transcriptome and metabolome concerning flower color variation in three Gossypium arboreum cultivars.ResultsA total of 215 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified, including 83 differentially accumulated flavonoids (DAFs). Colorless kaempferol was more abundant in white flowers, while gossypetin-fer showed specificity in white flowers. Quercetin and gossypetin were the main contributors to yellow petal formation. Pelargonidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-(6''-Malonylglucoside) showed high accumulation levels in purple petals. Quercetin and gossypetin pigments also promoted purple flower coloration. Moreover, 8178 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by RNA sequencing. The correlation results between total anthocyanins and DEGs were explored, indicating that 10 key structural genes and 29 transcription factors promoted anthocyanin biosynthesis and could be candidates for anthocyanin accumulation. Ultimately, we constructed co-expression networks of key DAFs and DEGs and demonstrated the interactions between specific metabolites and transcripts in different color flowers.ConclusionThis study provides new insights into elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of cotton flower color and lays a potential foundation for generate cotton varieties with highly attractive flowers for pollinators.

Molecular Basis of Unique Branching Phenotypes in Salvia splendens and the Role of PSY

The branching system of higher plants plays a very important role in plant morphogenesis, and the number of branches can directly affect crop yield and the ornamental value of plants. It is a complicated development process involving complex molecular mechanisms. The ‘Cailinghong’ variety of Salvia splendens is characterized by its great branching ability with the ability to grow into a spherical form naturally, without pinching. To gain insight into the molecular events during the branching development of S. splendens, suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) technology was used to screen differentially expressed genes between the erect plant type (strain 35) and the spherical plant type (‘Cailinghong’). In total, 96 and 116 unigenes were annotated. Four and eight unigenes up-regulated in ‘Cailinghong’ and strain 35, respectively, were associated with plant hormone anabolism and signal transduction, suggesting that they participate in the branching process. One of these genes, phytoene synthase (PSY), is a precursor of the new plant hormone group strigolactones. Using the PSY fragment (192 bp) as a template, the cDNA sequence of PSY in S. splendens was cloned and named SsPSY. A relative expression analysis and transgenic test results indicated that SsPSY plays an important role in lateral branch development in ‘Cailinghong’. These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying branching in S. splendens.

Genome and transcriptome-based characterization of high energy carbon-ion beam irradiation induced delayed flower senescence mutant in Lotus japonicus

BackgroundFlower longevity is closely related to pollen dispersal and reproductive success in all plants, as well as the commercial value of ornamental plants. Mutants that display variation in flower longevity are useful tools for understanding the mechanisms underlying this trait. Heavy-ion beam irradiation has great potential to improve flower shapes and colors; however, few studies are available on the mutation of flower senescence in leguminous plants.ResultsA mutant (C416) exhibiting blossom duration eight times longer than that of the wild type (WT) was isolated in Lotus japonicus derived from carbon ion beam irradiation. Genetic assays supported that the delayed flower senescence of C416 was a dominant trait controlled by a single gene, which was located between 4,616,611 Mb and 5,331,876 Mb on chromosome III. By using a sorting strategy of multi-sample parallel genome sequencing, candidate genes were narrowed to the gene CUFF.40834, which exhibited high identity to ethylene receptor 1 in other model plants. A physiological assay demonstrated that C416 was insensitive to ethylene precursor. Furthermore, the dynamic changes of phytohormone regulatory network in petals at different developmental stages was compared by using RNA-seq. In brief, the ethylene, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathways were negatively regulated in C416, whereas the brassinosteroid (BR) and cytokinin signaling pathways were positively regulated, and auxin exhibited dual effects on flower senescence in Lotus japonicus. The abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway is positively regulated in C416.ConclusionSo far, C416 might be the first reported mutant carrying a mutation in an endogenous ethylene-related gene in Lotus japonicus, rather than through the introduction of exogenous genes by transgenic techniques. A schematic of the flower senescence of Lotus japonicus from the perspective of the phytohormone regulatory network was provided based on transcriptome profiling of petals at different developmental stages. This study is informative for elucidating the molecular mechanism of delayed flower senescence in C416, and lays a foundation for candidate flower senescence gene identification in Lotus japonicus. It also provides another perspective for the improvement of flower longevity in legume plants by heavy-ion beam.

Calcium nitrate on growth and ornamental traits at salt-stressed condition in ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. Acephala)

Abstract Ornamental plants are used to improve the aestheticquality of urban and rural landscapes, recreational areas, interiorscapes and commercial sites. Any negative effects of salts on ornamental plant growth have to be taken into consideration mainly for their negative influences on aesthetic value of ornamental plants. The research was conducted to determine the effects of different concentrations of calcium nitrate on some stress parameters (i.e. leaf relative water content, chlorophyll, stomatal conductance, ion leakage in the leaf tissues) and some plant growth parameters (total leaf number, number of dried leaf, main stem diameter, plant crown diameter, plant height, fresh and dry weight of root) of ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) plant grown under saline conditions. Four doses of NaCl (NaCl1:30, NaCl2:60, NaCl3:90, NaCl4:120 mM), three doses of Ca(NO3)2 (CaN1:5, CaN2:10, CaN3:15 mM), groups combined together in all doses of NaCl and Ca (NO3)2 and control (NaCl0:0 + CaN0:0) were applied into the pots with three replications. Ca (NO3)2 was applied to the leaf surface of the plants in the pots to be applied as Ca (NO3)2 spray. When the plants reached a certain maturity (two weeks after transfer to the pot), salt stress applications were started. Ca (NO3)2 treatments have applied after one week from salt stress applications. Calcium nitrate treatements applied under salt stress conditions had positive effects and increasing in effect on all parameters examined except for chlorophyll and ion leakage in leaf tissues of the plant. With increasing in calcium nitrate concentration, morphological and physiological characteristics of plants were observed increases in general. It was concluded that the increase of the number of leaves by NaCl2+CaN3 application can be minimized with CaN3 (with 15 mM Ca (NO3)2) stress caused by 60 mM salt concentration According to the results of the research, calcium nitrate applications can be recommended for ornamental kale plants grown under salt stress conditions especially limiting the negative effects of stress and to minimize such damage.

Methodology of Ornamental Value Evaluation for Landscape Perennial Planting on the Lack of Sunlight Space

With the aim of evaluating the ornamental quality of herbaceous flowering plants planted to improve the landscape in urban areas, this study established evaluation standards based on their growth and ornamental characteristics, measured differences in their growth under different environmental conditions and calculated their score based on the standards. Herbaceous flowering plants were divided, based on their growth characteristics, into four types - vertical, fan-shaped, semi-spherical and covering types. Measurement items that can express the ornamental characteristics of each plant such as shape, density and color were selected and an equation for calculation was obtained. Three species of each type were selected and changes in their ornamental characteristics under different shading conditions were measured for 7 months. The growth status of plants before and after treating shading was measured and their ornamental value was evaluated using the obtained equation. When the score of the ornamental value of Gaura lindheimeri in its natural habitat is 5points, its ornamental value in the 50% shading environment increased by 2.53 points, and that of Physostegia virginiana in the 80% shading environment decreased by 2.46 points. As such, the evaluation of the quality of green spaces based on the quantified ornamental value of plants is expected to be utilized in differentiating the value of green spaces in different urban spaces.

Tolerance of a Strandline Plant, <i>Alternanthera maritima</i> (mart.) A.ST.-HIL to Foliar Salt Spray: Suitable for Beach Landscaping

Salt spray tolerant plants are important to landscapers due to high mortality and low aesthetic value of ornamental plants in coastal communities. Alternanthera maritima (Mart.) A.St.-Hil. a widely distributed strandline plant in West Africa, was treated with salt spray to investigate its response and suitability for seaside landscaping. Plants were sprayed with seawater at: two sprays/week (2SS), four sprays/week (4SS), six sprays/week (6SS) and control (CSS)-sprayed with deionized water. All plants survived, shoot growth and total biomass increased, rootshoot ratio and leaf total chlorophyll decreased, while root growth was unaffected under seawater treatments. Salt spray disrupted water balance through reduced xylem water potential and increased leaf and stem succulence for ion dilution. It also caused nutrient imbalance by accumulating Na + and Cl - in the aerial parts and reduced some essential nutrients. N increased in the aerial parts showing the presence of salt-related nitrogen compounds for osmotic adjustment. Plants had reduced leaf area, stomata density and stomata number/leaf to minimize water loss. Except at 6SS, percentage necrotic leaf area and plant visual ratings did not differ significantly from the control. Alternanthera maritima is a salt spray tolerant, with adaptations for survival in the strandline. It is suitable for sea side landscaping.

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF CHAMAEROPS HUMILIS L. AND WASHINGTONIA ROBUSTA H. WENDL PALM TREES AND THEIR LONG-TERM NUTRITIONAL RESPONSES TO SALINITY

The ornamental value of plants used in semiarid areas can be improved by knowledge of their required nutrients and of their nutritional responses under saline conditions. We present a long-term study concerning the nutritional status in Chamaerops humilis and Washingtonia robusta. Two-year-old plants were grown for two years outdoors in pots using water with electrical conductivity values of 2 (control) or 8 dS m−1 (saline conditions). Nutrient specific absorption rates and leaf nutrient transport rates were estimated by fitting a Richards function regression. We suggest fertilizing C. humilis and W. robusta plants with nitrogen (N): phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5): dipotassium oxide (K2O) ratios of 4:1:5 and 5:1:3, respectively. Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) and Plant Analysis with Standardized Scores (PASS) norms were also evaluated. PASS norms provided better nutritional diagnosis than DRIS norms. In saline conditions, PASS-INI (Independent nutrient index) pointed to a deficiency (<−10) of phosphorus in C. humilis and of nitrogen in W. robusta.