Polar Diameter Research Articles

Ploidy and Genome Size in Lilac Species, Cultivars, and Interploid Hybrids

Genome size variation can be used to investigate biodiversity, genome evolution, and taxonomic relationships among related taxa. Plant breeders use genome size variation to identify parents useful for breeding sterile or improved ornamentals. Lilacs (Syringa) are deciduous trees and shrubs valued for their fragrant spring and summer flowers. The genus is divided into six series: Syringa (Vulgares), Pinnatifoliae, Ligustrae, Ligustrina, Pubescentes, and Villosae. Reports conflict on genome evolution, base chromosome number, and polyploidy in lilac. The purpose of this study was to investigate genome size and ploidy variation across a diverse collection. Flow cytometry was used to estimate monoploid (1Cx) and holoploid (2C) genome sizes in series, species, cultivars, and seedlings from parents with three ploidy combinations: 2x x 2x, 2x x 3x, and 3x x 2x. Pollen diameter was measured to investigate the frequency of unreduced gametes in diploid and triploid Syringa vulgaris cultivars. Three triploids of S. vulgaris were observed: ‘Aucubaefolia’, ‘Agincourt Beauty’, and ‘President Grévy’. Across taxa, significant variations in 1Cx genome size were discovered. The smallest and largest values were found in the interspecific hybrids S. ×laciniata (1.32 ± 0.04 pg) and S. ×hyacinthiflora ‘Old Glory’ (1.78 ± 0.05), both of which are in series Syringa. Series Syringa (1.68 ± 0.02 pg) had a significantly larger 1Cx genome size than the other series. No significant differences were found within series Pubescentes (1.47 ± 0.01 pg), Villosae (1.55 ± 0.02 pg), Ligustrina (1.49 ± 0.05 pg), and Pinnatifoliae (1.52 ± 0.02 pg). For S. vulgaris crosses, no significant variation in 2C genome size was discovered in 2x x 2x crosses. Interploid crosses between ‘Blue Skies’ (2x) and ‘President Grévy’ (3x) produced an aneuploid population with variable 2C genome sizes ranging from 3.41 ± 0.03 to 4.35 ± 0.03 pg. Only one viable seedling was recovered from a cross combination between ‘President Grévy’ (3x) and ‘Sensation’ (2x). This seedling had a larger 2C genome size (5.65 ± 0.02 pg) than either parent and the largest 2C genome size currently reported in lilac. ‘Sensation’ produced 8.5% unreduced pollen, which we inferred was responsible for the increased genome size. No unreduced pollen was discovered in the other diploids examined. Increased ploidy may provide a mechanism for recovering progeny from incompatible taxa in lilac breeding.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Talaja Red Onion Cultivar

The physical and mechanical properties of the onion crop were determined for the Talaja Red variety. The linear relationship was observed between polar diameter and equatorial diameter and also weight of the bulbs. The shape of the onion crop may be considered oval to spherical. The mean bulk density onion was observed 548 kg/m 3 . The coefficient of friction for galvanized iron, mild steel, aluminum and plywood was found 0.42, 0.39, 0.45 and 0.32 respectively. Also, the angle of repose for galvanized iron, mild steel, aluminum and plywood was found 23, 21, 24 and 17 respectively.

Effectiveness of seven commercial rootstocks against verticillium wilt and their effects on growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomato

The susceptible to Verticillium dahliae Kleb. tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. ‘Early Pack’ was evaluated in 2004 and 2005, for tolerance to verticillium wilt, after grafted on the commercial rootstocks ‘He-man’, ‘Eldorado’ (48-S-548), ‘Beaufort’, ‘Primavera’, ‘Nova’, ‘Packmore’ and ‘Vigomax’. Self-grafted cv. ‘Early Pack’ was used as a control. The grafted plants, after artificial inoculation with a virulent isolate of V. dahliae during transplanting, were grown in a greenhouse and evaluated for disease tolerance, plant growth, yield, and fruit quality characteristics. In artificially inoculated plants, grafting on all rootstocks reduced disease severity significantly, in comparison to self-grafted cv. ‘Early Pack’, but effectiveness was repeated in both years only in ‘Beaufort’. In addition, in 2004, under high disease pressure, grafting on ‘Vigomax’, ‘Beaufort’, ‘Nova’, and ‘He-man’ increased root weight, while grafting on the first three increased also above ground fresh weight of tomato. In 2005, grafting on ‘Nova’, ‘Beaufort’ and ‘Vigomax’ increased total marketable yield, while ‘Beaufort’ increased early marketable yield also. Grafting on ‘Beaufort’, ‘Nova’, and ‘Vigomax’ decreased total soluble solids (oBrix) and dry matter of tomato fruits, in both years, as compared to self-grafted cv. ‘Early Pack’, however, values recorded are acceptable for tomato. None of the rootstocks had any significant effect on flesh firmness, pericarp thickness, number of locules, equatorial diameter, and polar diameter. These results strongly support that grafting on commercial rootstocks increases tomato tolerance to verticillium wilt, plant growth and productivity, without affecting any fruit quality characteristics.

Effects of Low Temperature Stress on Spikelet-Related Parameters during Anthesis in Indica-Japonica Hybrid Rice.

Poor spikelet fertility under low temperature (LT) stress during anthesis limits the possibility of high yield potential in indica–japonica hybrid rice, leading to reduced stability of grain yield. However, the cause for it is still unclear. In this study, three indica–japonica hybrid rice cultivars, Yongyou9, Yongyou17 (both cold sensitive), and Yongyou538, and one japonica inbred rice cultivar, Zhejing88 (cold tolerant), were grown under LT (17°C) and ambient temperature (AT) (25°C) during anthesis to test for their response with respect to spikelet fertility, pollen germination, and spikelet flowering. The results indicated that LT resulted in lower spikelet fertility in cold-sensitive cultivars than in cold-tolerant cultivars. Spikelet fertility was highly correlated with pollen germination on the stigma. The number of pollen grains and germinated pollen were higher in cold-tolerant cultivars than in cold-sensitive cultivars. Pollen fertility and pollen diameter were also higher in cold-tolerant cultivars, although the latter could achieve a high number of spikelets at anthesis in flowering patterns throughout the duration of LT stress. There were significant differences in anther width and volume between genotypes and treatments according to microscopic analyses, but no differences were observed in anther dehiscence. Moreover, variation in the number of pollen grains on stigmas and in spikelet fertility was not related to either the number of spikelets reaching anthesis or anther dehiscence. Overall, improved anther size, better pollen function, and higher spikelet fertility under LT stress were observed in cold-tolerant cultivars than in cold-sensitive cultivars. The results suggest that the increase in spikelet fertility is due to enhanced pollen germination rather than the number of spikelets reaching anthesis.

Study of morphological and molecular characterization of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Genotypic and phenotypic co-efficients of variation were high for average weight of clove, yield per plant, cloves per bulb and plant height. Width of clove, plant height and length of leaves, yield per plant, cloves per bulb, average weight of clove exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean. These characters are governed by additive gene effects. It was also concluded that selection on the basis of these characters will be more useful for the improvement of this crop towards attaining higher yield. Correlation co-efficient studies showed that phenotypic correlation co-efficients are higher than genotypic correlation which indicates the inherent association among the characters dependent of environment influence. Yield per plant had a positive and highly significant correlation with plant height, length of leaves, average weight of clove, equatorial diameter, polar diameter and clove/bulb which implies that these characters were contributing to bulb weight and bulb yield/plant. All the combination of traits should be considered while selecting for high yielding genotypes. Improvement of bulb weight per plant may be achieved by exercising direct selection of plant height, length of leaves, weight of cloves, equatorial diameter of bulb, clove weight, number of cloves per bulb, polar diameter of bulb and clove length as these exhibited significant positive direct effect on bulb weight per plant coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance as per cent of mean. Characters had correlation co-efficient value at par with their direct effect on bulb yield per hectare. In Mahalanobis D 2 analysis, On the basis of Mahalanobis D 2 values, all the 27 genotypes were grouped under study were grouped into six clusters. Cluster III (8), cluster V (6) and cluster VI (6) contained maximum number of genotypes and cluster I (4) and cluster II (2) comprising minimum number of genotypes and cluster IV contained single genotype.

AVALIAÇÃO FÍSICA E QUÍMICA DE FRUTOS DE CULTIVARES DE PESSEGUEIRO

A avaliação da qualidade física e química de frutos de pessegueiro destinados ao consumo in natura varia entre safras. Essa variação depende, dentre outros fatores, das condições do local de cultivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade física e química de frutos de dezesseis cultivares de pessegueiro durante três safras em Viçosa-MG. As cultivares Aurora 2, Baronesa, Biuti, Colibri, Coral, Cristal, Delicioso Precoce, Flor da Prince, Joia 4, Lake City, Marli, Pérola de Iataquera, Rubimel, Talismã, Tropical e Tropic Beauty foram enxertadas sobre o porta-enxerto Okinawa no pomar experimental da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em Viçosa-MG, no ano de 2008, e avaliadas quanto às características cor da casca (b* e h°), cor da polpa (b* e h°), massa do fruto (g), diâmetro polar (mm), diâmetro equatorial (mm), diâmetro sutural (mm), frmeza da polpa (N), teor de sólidos solúveis (oBrix), vitamina C (mg/100g), acidez titulável (% de ácido málico), carotenoides (mg/100g) e ratio (relação teor de sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável) durante as safras de 2011, 2012 e 2013. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente causalizado, com dezesseis tratamentos, três repetições e 10 frutos por parcela. Houve diferenças entre as características avaliadas nas três safras, sendo que a cultivar Floridaprince apresentou coloração mais intensa da epiderme bem como maiores teores de vitamina C.

Pollen Grain Preservation and Fertility in Valuable Commercial Rose Cultivars.

In the cut flower market, traditional breeding is still the best way to achieve new rose cultivars. The geographical delocalization of cultivar constitution (generally made in Europe and North America) and plant cultivation (large areas in Africa and South America) represents a limit point for crossing and selection. Rose breeders often need to overcome geographical distances, resulting in asynchrony in flowering among crossing parents, by storing and sending pollen. Hence, a key aspect in breeding programs is linked to pollen availability and conservation, jointly with the identification of parameters related to pollen fertility. In this study we present the results of three different trials. In the first, pollen diameter and pollen viability were chosen as fertility predictors of 10 Rosa hybrida commercial cultivars. In the second trial, aliquots of dried pollen grains of six R. hybrida cultivar were stored under two different temperatures (freezer at T = −20 °C and deep freezer at T = −80 °C) and after a wide range of conservation period, their viability was measured. In the third trial, the effective fertilization capacity of frozen pollen of 19 pollen donor cultivars was evaluated during 2015 crossing breeding plan, performing 44 hybridizations and correlating the number of seeds and the ratio seeds/crossing, obtained by each cultivar, with in vitro pollen germination ability.

Moisture Dependent Physical Properties of Multiplier Onion (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum)

The physical properties of multiplier onion (CO-4) were studied as a function of moisture content in the range of 80.87 % to 88.84 % (w.b.). The geometrical, physical and frictional properties, namely size, true density, bulk density and coefficient of friction increased with increase in moisture content. The average equatorial diameter, polar diameter and thickness of onion ranged from 30.8 to 34.0 mm, 24.2 to 25.9 mm, 18.6 to 21.0 mm, respectively at a moisture range of 80.87 % to 88.84 % (w.b.). The true density ranged from 887.0 to 933.0 kg.m-3, whereas the bulk density of onion bulbs varied from 397.54 to 462.63 kg.m-3 at the above moisture range. The highest friction was offered by rubber, followed by cardboard, mild steel, galvanised iron and stainless steel. The porosity of onion decreased from 55.13 % to 50.39 % with increase in moisture content. Linear equations comprising the thickness, polar and equatorial diameter predicted the mass of onion bulbs with highest R2 value of 0.998.

Morphological, physiological, cytological and phytochemical studies in diploid and colchicine-induced tetraploid plants of Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn

BackgroundTartary buckwheat are very popular as an important functional food material and its cultivation is very widespread in our whole world, but there obviously lack works in the researches of genetic breeding for agricultural and medicinal utilization. The aim of this study is to obtain good germplasm resources for agricultural and medicinal use of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) by inducing the tetraploid plants.ResultsFour cultivars of F. tataricum, that is, Qianwei 2#, Jinku 2#, Chuanqiao 1#, and Liuqiao 1# were selected to experiment. The tips of seedlings with two true leaves were treated by 0.25% (w/v) colchicine solution for 48, 72, and 96 h, respectively. The chromosome number of treated plants was determined by metaphase chromosome counting of root tip cells and PMCs (pollen mother cells) meiosis observation. Tetraploid induction successfully occurred in all three treatments with an efficiency ranging from 12.13 to 54.55%. The chromosome number of the diploid plants was 2n = 2x = 16, and that of the induced tetraploid plants was 2n = 4x = 32. The typical morphological and physiological qualities were compared between the control diploid and corresponding induced tetraploid plants. Results showed that the induced tetraploid plants had obviously larger leaves, flowers, and seeds. Moreover, the content of seed protein and flavonoid were also increased in the tetraploid plants. The pollen diameter and capsule size of diploid plants were significantly smaller than those of tetraploid plants.ConclusionFagopyrum tataricum can be effectively induced into tetraploids by colchicines. The tetraploid induction can produce valuable germplasm resources for breeding and is a practicable breeding way in F. tataricum.

МІКРОМОРФОЛОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВУЗЬКОЛОКАЛЬНОГО ЕНДЕМА SILENE SYTNIKII (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) ПОРІВНЯНО З БЛИЗЬКИМИ ВИДАМИ

Silene sytnikii Krytzka, Novosad et Protopopova is a local endemic species of the Ukrainian flora, which sometimes is considered as a synonym to the S. frivaldszkyana Hampe from the Balkans and is related to the widespread species S. chlorantha (Willd.) Ehrh. The aim of the present study is to investigate micromorphological features of seeds, pollen grains and leaf surface ultrastructure of foregoing species and make a comparison. Both light and scanning electron microscopy were used in the study. S. sytnikii and S. frivaldszkyana are slightly different in the size of exotesta cells and their anticlinal teeth in distal row of seeds, pollen diameter and microechinate number on the pore, size of leaf spinule, epidermal cells and stomata. S. chlorantha significantly differs from them by smaller seeds and exotesta cells, and also longer leaf spinules. Thus, S. sytnikii and S. frivaldszkyana are quite similar in their micromorphology, while S. chlorantha is clearly distinct from them.

Performance of elite genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum mill) for yield and quality traits under hisar conditions of Haryana

The experiment was carried out at research farm of the department of vegetable science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during spring summer season of 2014–15 to study performance twenty-three tomato genotypes for yield and quality traits. Among all the genotypes, AVT-1-2 had highest plant height (140.33cm) and maximum number of branches per plant was observed in AVT-2-4 (7.60). The highest values for number of flowers per cluster were recorded in genotype AVT-2-2 (6.67). The genotype Hisar Arun had the highest number of fruits per plant (38.33) and AVT-2-7 had maximum number of fruits per truss (4.23). The maximum fruit yield per plant was recorded in genotype DVRT-3 (1540.00 g). The maximum polar and equatorial diameter of fruit was recorded in genotype AVT-2-6 (5.10 cm) and Punjab Kesari (6.24 cm), respectively. The maximum number of locules was registered with genotype DVRT-3 (6.20) and fruit weight with H-86 (64.03 g). The genotype PKM-1 had highest TSS (8.43°Brix) and highest acidity was recorded in H-86 (0.90). The minimum days was taken to ripening in genotypes Hisar Arun (79.00).

Effect of Sulphur and Vermicompost on Growth, Yield and Quality of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2013–14 to find out dose of sulphur and vermicompost to obtain better growth, yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Sixteen treatment combinations of 4 levels of sulphur (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg S/ha) and 4 levels of vermicompost (0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha) were tested. Application of 50 kg sulphur and 4.0t vermicompost/ha individually recorded significantly higher plant height, number of leaves per plant, neck thickness of bulb, polar diameter of bulb, equatorial diameter of bulb, number of cloves per bulb, fresh weight of 20 cloves, fresh weight of bulb, dry weight of bulb, bulb yield, TSS, volatile oil content and sulphur content of bulb. This combination significantly increased the bulb yield by 25.7 and 20.69 per cent over their respective control.

Morpho-agronomic assessment of introductions of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) from Central America

A Central American collection of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) was characterized based on a series of morpho-agronomic descriptors and its variability assessed. Floral asynchrony ranging from 10 to 15 days was observed between staminate and pistillate flowers. Differences were also observed among introductions for all quantitative characteristics evaluated (P<0.01). An interaction between introduction and planting cycle (P<0.05) was observed for 50% of the evaluated variables: fruit weight, polar diameter of fruit, wall thickness of fruit, fruit color, days to harvest, and total fruit seed weight. Cluster analysis revealed that groups 3 and 5 gathered introductions presenting high yields and larger, heavier fruits. Group 4 gathered introductions with intermediate yields, high seed production, and thick fruit walls. In all cases, genetic improvement aiming to increase the production of fruit for fresh consumption or agro-industrial purposes as well as the production of oilseed should use introductions from groups 3 and 5 in well-planned crossings with introductions from group 4.

Pollen morphology of Asian Vigna species (genus Vigna; subgenus Ceratotropis)from India and its taxonomic implications

The pollen morphology of 22 Asian Vigna [subgenus Ceratotropis (Piper) Verdc.] species, including wild and cultivated taxa from India, was investigated with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multivariate statistics. The pollen grains are prolate spheroidal in shape with equatorial diameter of 36.06-116.33 μm and polar diameter of 36.31-120.96 μm in equatorial view. The small pollen dimensions were observed in Vigna hainiana, V. trilobata, and V. indica and the largest in V. vexillata. The pollen grains have reticulate-homobrochate and reticulate-heterobrochate types of pollen sculpture. The lumina are psilate or granulate with penta-hexagonal, penta-polygonal, and irregular shape. The muri are sinuous, straight, or narrow-straight. Pair group method using arithmetic averages analysis was used to divide the main pollen taxa into four groups based on pollen morphology. Statistically distinctive taxa were identified using principal component analysis. In the present investigation, the taxa studied demonstrated sufficient pollen polymorphism in their sizes, equatorial views, lumina shapes, and muri widths.

Evaluación de la calidad fisicoquímica de jitomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill), tipo saladette Variedad El Cid F-1

El experimento se realizó con el fin de determinar algunas de las características fisicoquímicas bajo diversos grados de madurez, seleccionándolos de acuerdo con su porcentaje de coloración; peso, dimensiones, pH, °Brix y acidez titulable las cuales son parámetros para decidir si el fruto está comprendido en los estándares de calidad que exige el mercado mayorista, así como relacionar tales características con respecto a la nutrición que se le utilizó. De esta manera se determinaran los cambios en la calidad de las frutas de jitomate en sus diversos estados de madurez en que fueron cosechados. El objetivo del trabajo fue “Evaluar la calidad del cultivo de jitomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) en cada uno de sus seis grados de maduración”. Los resultados nos muestran que los estados más tempranos de maduración presentaron los valores más altos para la variable ancho del fruto. (6.5306, 6.3360 y 6.0162 respectivamente), Con respecto al largo del fruto el análisis estadístico nos muestra que el grado rojo claro presentó el rango más grande de diámetro polar., mientras que el quebrado adquirió el menor valor, aunque no se presentó diferencia significativa entre tratamientos. El color rojo claro fué el de mayor peso con respecto a los demás grados mientras que el color quebrado fue precisamente lo contrario.

Palynological study of some Iranian species of <i>Scabiosa</i> L. (Caprifoliaceae)

The pollen morphology of six species of Scabiosa L. (Caprifoliaceae) from Iran has been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pollen grains were tricolpate in S. columbaria and triporate in the rest studied species. Two types of exine ornamentation were revealed: spinulate and gemmate. The pollen shape in polar view varied from triangular to circular among investigated taxa. Statistical analysis showed that some quantitative morphological features such as polar axis (P), equatorial axis (E) and aperture diameter were main characters in identification of the taxa studied. These taxa were separated from each other using cluster analysis and placed within two clusters. Our result based on UPGMA analysis is in agreement with morphological classification and recent findings on taxonomic position of the Scabiosa.Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 23(2): 215-222, 2016 (December)

Genetic diversity in peach cultivars

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity among 28 peach cultivars and two nectarine cultivars, describing the most important characters in the diversity evaluation. The study was developed at the Federal University of Viçosa - Brazil, and the following characteristics were evaluated: fruit mass, suture, equatorial and polar diameters, firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA, ascorbic acid and carotenoids contents, skin and flesh color (coordinate b* and hue angle - °h). Genetic diversity in peach and nectarine cultivars enabled the formation of seven, six and six groups in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 crop years, respectively. The features that most contributed to this diversity were fruit mass, skin and flesh °h and firmness. The greatest genetic divergence was observed between ‘Marli’ and ‘Rubrosol’, ‘Josefina’ and ‘Maciel’ and ‘Maciel’ and ‘Rubrosol’ during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 crop years, respectively.

Pollen morphology and its relation with meiotic irregularities in ten species of Campuloclinium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae)

Pollen grains of ten species of Campuloclinium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae) are described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species included in this study are C. burchelli, C. campuloclinioides, C. chlorolepis, C. hirsutum, C. irwinii, C. macrocephalum, C. megacephalum, C. parvulum, C. purpurascens and C. riedelli. Pollen grains of Campuloclinium are typically radially symmetric, echinate, tectate, oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal (P/E ratio: 0.94–1.10). Pollen is mostly triaperturate, but tetraaperturate or biaperturate pollen also occurs in some species. The pollen diameter was highly variable ranging from 10.54 µm to 36.18 μm. The significance of the variation in type and size of pollen is discussed in relation to diverse meiotic abnormalities and possible reproductive apomictic processes within the polyploid species.

Relationship between fruit traits and contents of ascorbic acid and carotenoids in peach

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fruit traits and their direct and indirect effects on the content of ascorbic acid and ca - rotenoids in peaches and nectarines. The traits fruit mass (FM); equatorial diameter (ED); suture diameter (SD); polar diameter (PD); pulp firmness (FIR); soluble solids (SS); titratable acidity (TA); SS/TA ratio; contents of ascorbic acid (AA) and carotenoids (CT); and skin and pulp color were evaluated in 28 peach cultivars, and two nectarine cultivars. The phenotypic correlation coefficients were estimated (rf), and after multicollinearity diagnosis, unfolding was carried out in direct and indirect effects of the explanatory variables in the response variable by using path analysis. The strongest correlations were found between FM, SD, ED, and PD, and between carotenoid content and °h pulp. The traits considered in the path diagrams are not the main determinants of the ascorbic acid content. The yellow color of the pulp has the potential for indirect selection for carotenoid content.

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) on flowering traits of three horticultural plant species

Carbon dioxide (CO) has been increasing homogeneously worldwide since industrial revolution. Current CO concentrations are around 400 ppm, which may increase over this century to 430 ppm (best scenario) to > 1000 ppm (worst scenario) (IPCC, 2013). Species-level responses of plant traits to elevated carbon dioxide (eCO), especially those that affect interactions with pollinators, could potentially have flow-on effects to both ecological communities and horticultural industries. The impacts of eCO on flowering traits in pepper (Capsicum annuum - Giant Bell), tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum- var. Tomato Roma) and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo - Zucchini Blackjack), all economically important horticultural species, were investigated. Twenty plants of each species were grown under two treatments: 1) two glasshouses with ambient CO (400 ppm), and 2) two with eCO (555 ppm). For both treatments, we measured the number of flowers, flower longevity and dry biomass for all species; pollen diameter and number of pollen grains for tomato and zucchini and the sucrose concentration and nectar production in zucchini. Elevated CO had few significant effects on the measured traits, the main exceptions being in zucchini, which produced more male flowers, fewer pollen grains per plant and fewer female flowers under this treatment. Pepper also produced fewer flowers at eCO while tomato was the least sensitive species. Future studies could be aimed at testing sensitivity of different varieties of these important commercial species to eCO.