Tuberose Plants Research Articles

Investigating the Incidence and Severity of Field Diseases Impacting Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) Cultivation: A Case Study in the Jashore District, Bangladesh

A research investigation was conducted in the Jashore district of Bangladesh to examine diseases affecting tuberose plants. The laboratory analysis was performed at the plant disease study facility at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study encompassed eighteen villages across four unions within the Jhikargacha upazila of the Jashore district. The primary objective was to document the occurrence and severity of diseases in tuberose fields under natural conditions. Seven fungal diseases were detected in the natural field setting and were subjected to further scrutiny in the research facility. The pathogens responsible for these diseases were isolated and identified, revealing botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea), blossom blight (Fusarium equiseti), alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria polyanthi), leaf tip blight (Phoma sp.), peduncle blight (Lasidiplodia theobromae), stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii), and tuber rot (Fusarium oxysporum). Disease incidence ranged from 0% to 64.33%, and severity ranged from 0% to 24.00%. Stem rot, botrytis blight, alternaria leaf spot, and leaf tip blight were identified as significant challenges in tuberose cultivation in the Jashore district. This study represents the first documentation of tuberose pathogen prevalence in Bangladesh, providing valuable insights for disease identification and contributing to the improvement of tuberose cultivation practices in the region.

Influence of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus Fertilizers with Foliar Application of Micronutrient of Iron, Zinc and Manganese on Bulb Characteristics of Single Flower Tuberose Plants (Polianthes Tuberosa, L.)

The global market for flowers and ornamental plants is expected to expand at a rate of approximately 6.3% over the next five years, reaching an estimated value of $57.4 billion USD by 2024. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.), a summer flower cultivated by small-scale growers primarily for export. The study was aimed to cultivate tuberose plants in Al-Jabal Al-Khader region, introducing them as a new cut flower crop, as a source for tuberose, and leveraging their economic potential. A field experiment was conducted over two summer growing seasons to investigate the impact of different levels of compound fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, NPK 4:4:4) in application rates (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 kg.ha-1) and foliar sprays of micronutrients iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and a )mixture of these three elements) on tuberose bulbs. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design split-plot with three replications. The NPK fertilizer levels were randomly assigned to the main plots, while the micronutrient treatments were allocated to the subplots. The study found that varying rates of NPK fertilization did not significantly affect the number of bulbs per plant over the two growing seasons. In contrast, the application of micronutrient foliar sprays had a notable impact, with the mixture of Fe, Zn, and Mn yielding the highest significant increase in bulb number per plant in both seasons. It is recommended to apply a mixture of the three micronutrients (Fe, Zn, and Mn) as fertilizer to produce high-quality Tuberose plants for various decorative purposes in landscaping.

Pathogenicity of Root-knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.)

A pot experiment was carried out in the net house of Department of Nematology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, to study the pathogenicity of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on tuberose. The study found that as the inoculum level of M. incognita increased from 10 to 10,000 second-stage juveniles (J2) per pot (containing 1 kg of sterilized soil), all plant growth parameters of tuberose decreased progressively. At the highest inoculum level, the plants became severely stunted, chlorotic, and produced very few bulblets. It was noted that at the highest inoculum level, the root systems were significantly reduced, with larger and mostly coalescent galls. The treatments with no nematode (check and associated check) were free from galls and eggmasses. An initial inoculum level of 100 J2 of M.incognita per kg of soil caused significant reduction in all growth parameters and proved to be pathogenic to the tuberose plants. The number of galls and eggmasses increased gradually in the plants with an initial inoculum level of 10 to 1000 J2 of M.incognita per kg of soil, but it declined at highest inoculum level of 10,000 J2 per kg of soil. The experiment also recorded the variation in nematode population in the soil as well as their reproductive rates. These findings can be used to develop effective, targeted methods for minimizing the damage caused by root-knot nematode in tuberose crops.

PKM Desa Doplang Kecamatan Bawen Kabupaten Semarang

The Community Service activities that have been carried out aim to improve the welfare of the people of Doplang Village by optimizing all potential, both natural resources and human resources, to be integrated into the Edupark Agricultural Plantation Tourism Object. This term was chosen because the tourist village that will be created will not only rely on natural potential but also has educational value for tourists who visit this tourist village. There are 3 solutions offered by PGRI University Semarang in the framework of overcoming the problems faced by the Doplang village community, including training in making processed tuberose flowers into healthy preservative-free food, training in MSME financial management and training in Organizational Management, Tourism Management, Tourism Management SOPs , Layout (Master Plan) of Tourist Villages. The results of this program are providing theoretical provisions related to the cultivation of tuberose plants, providing theoretical and practical provisions related to food processing from tuberose plants, providing materials and workshops related to strategies for making tourism products along with tips for their development, and providing theoretical provisions related to Tourism Law.

EFFECT OF SOAKING WITH ATONIC, WATER HYACINTHS COMPOST AND BIOFERTILIZERS ON VEGETATIVE AND FLOWERING GROWTH OF TUBEROSE

This study was aimed to investigate effect of soaking Polianthes tuberosa L. bulbs in Atonic solution and inoculation with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Glomus mosseae, and fertilizing with two levels (3% and 4%) of water hyacinths Compost on some vegetative and floral growth characters of the Peral variety of tuberose plants in a Factorial experiment during spring season of 2022 using a randomized completely block design with three replicates. Tuberose bulbs were planted in black plastic bags containing 6 kg of a sandy loam soil. The results of the three-way interaction showed that the treatment of soaking with Atonic, inoculation with the combination of the biofertilizer, and fertilization with 4% level of water hyacinths Compost significantly outperformed other treatments in plant height, number of inflorescences, dry weight of flowers, vase life, and aromatic oil concentration with values of 47.33 cm, 55.33 inflorescences plant-1, 5.78 grams, 16 days,and 0.71% respectively, compared to the control treatment which resulted in values of 21.67 cm, 5.67 inflorescences plant-1, 1.81 grams, 8 days,and 0.42% respectively.

Preharvest melatonin application mitigates arsenic-induced oxidative stress and improves vase life of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cut flowers

Arsenic (As) stress severely hinders the growth of ornamental cut flowers. Melatonin (MLT) as a biostimulant protects plants from various abiotic stresses including As stress. However, its protective roles are not well understood in ornamental cut flowers especially tuberose. This research investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin supplementation on alleviating As stress damage in tuberose plants. In As-treated plants, growth traits and leaf chlorophyll contents markedly decreased, while application of MLT, alleviated the inhibitory effect of As on plant growth and chlorophyll content in As-treated plants. Melatonin application considerably increased the vase life of cut tuberose flowers and also improved the protein as well as proline contents in leaf tissues. Level of oxidative markers including electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) increased in As-treated plants. Upon application of MLT, this trend was alleviated; however, the activities of enzymatic antioxidants increased when plants were subjected to As stress in combination with MLT. Results obtained in the present study suggest that exogenous MLT could alleviate negative effects of As stress on tuberose plants stimulating of oxidative defense related antioxidants. These results are beneficial to improve ornamental tuberose cut flowers production in heavy metal polluted soils or irrigation water.

Comparative transcriptome profiling of Polianthes tuberosa during a compatible interaction with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.

The root-knot nematode (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) is the most destructive plant parasitic nematode known to date. RKN infections, especially those caused by Meloidogyne incognita, are one of the most serious diseases of tuberose. To investigate the molecular mechanism in the host-pathogen interactions, the Illumina sequencing platform was employed to generate comparative transcriptome profiles of uninfected and Meloidogyne incognita-infected tuberose plants, during early, mid, and late infection stage. A total of 7.5 GB (49million reads) and 9.3 GB (61million reads) of high-quality data was generated for the control and infected samples, respectively. These reads were combined and assembled using the Trinity assembly program which clustered them into 1,25,060 unigenes. A total of 85,360 validated CDS were obtained from the combined transcriptome whereas 6,795 CDS and 7,778 CDS were found in the data for the control and infected samples, respectively. Gene ontology terms were assigned to 958 and 1,310 CDSs from the control and infected data, respectively. The KAAS pathway analysis revealed that 1,248 CDS in the control sample and 1,482 CDS in the infected sample were enriched with KEGG pathways. The major proportions of CDS were annotated for carbohydrate metabolism, signal transduction and translation related pathways in control and infected samples. Of the 8,289 CDS commonly expressed between the control and infected plants, 256 were significantly upregulated and 129 were significantly downregulated in the infected plants. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive gene expression changes in tuberose during its association with RKNs and point to candidate genes that are involved in nematode stress signaling for further investigation. This is the first report addressing genes associated with M. incognita-tuberose interaction and the results have important implications for further characterization of RKN resistance genes in tuberose.

Foliar application of micronutrients enhances growth, flowering, minerals absorption and postharvest life of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) in calcareous soil

Micronutrients applications are effective for better crop production in calcareous soils because these soils are usually deficit in iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and boron (B). In Pakistan, most of soils are calcareous in nature. When tuberose is grown in such soils as a cut flower, its production is negatively affected. Therefore, a study was aimed to evaluate the effects of micronutrients as foliar sprays on cut tuberose production in calcareous soil. Micronutrients (Fe, Zn and B) alone and in combinations were sprayed on the plants after 60, 90 and 120 days of planting. The mixture of all these three micronutrients increased the plant height (95.77 cm), chlorophyll content (38.13 SPAD), number of leaves (79.63), leaf length (44.73 cm), fresh (111.64 g) and dry (16.16 g) plant weights, root length (15.13 cm), number of stalks (3.73), stalk length (79.03 cm), spike length (22 cm), number of florets (51.67), floret fresh weight (11.85 g), leaf Zn concentration (53.6 mg/g) and vase life (8.4 days). Fe + Zn enhanced the number of leaves (76.60), leaf length (45.83 cm), root length (15.05 cm), spike length (22.33 cm), and leaf Fe (128.18 mg/g) and Zn concentrations (55.02 mg/g). The Fe spray increased the leaf length (44.10 cm), days to flower initiation (142.47 days) and leaf Fe concentration (130.75 mg/g) in tuberose plants. Application of Zn improved the leaf length (45.87 cm) and diameter (1.32 cm), root (15.03 cm), spike (21.77 cm) and floret lengths (4.74 cm), floret dry weight (1.49 g) and leaf Zn concentration (57.5 mg/g). Foliar spray of B increased the B concentration (21.1 mg/g) in tuberose leaves. It is concluded that foliar application of micronutrients alone and in combinations improved the plant growth, flowering, leaf minerals concentrations and vase life of tuberose spikes. However, mixture of Fe, Zn and B was more effective as compared to other treatments. Moreover, current study encourages the foliar application of micronutrients in tuberose when grown in calcareous soils.

Effect of Foliar Applied Tryptophan on Tuberose Plants for Decreasing the Harmful Effect of Some Heavy Metals Pollution in the Irrigation Water (B) Effect of Lead Treatments

The present study was carried-out at Antoniadis Research Branch, Horticultural Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Alexandria, Egypt during two successive seasons of 2018 and 2019. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of irrigation water contaminated with lead on the growth of Polianthes tuberosaplants and the possibility of using tryptophan spray treatments to overcome the effects of lead pollution. Corms of Polianthes tuberosawere planted individually in plastic pots (20 cm diameter) filled with 5 kg of sandy soil. The lead-contaminated irrigation water treatments were 0,100, 200 and 300 mg/L were applied. The plants were also monthly sprayed with tryptophan at concentrations of 0, 250 and 500 mg/L. The results showed that for vegetative growth parameters there was no significant difference in the interaction between lead polluted water of irrigation and foliar spray by tryptophan, while a significant reduction was observed in all parameters after irrigation with lead polluted water and a significant increase in vegetative growth parameters was observed after 500 mg/L tryptophan application. For chlorophyll and carbohydrate content, the highest significant value was obtained in plants irrigated with tap water and sprayed with 250 mg/L tryptophan while the highest significant level of lead content in leaves and corms was obtained due to treatment by 300 mg/L lead without application of tryptophan.

Foliar Application of Silicon Enhances Growth, Flower Yield, Quality and Postharvest Life of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) under Saline Conditions by Improving Antioxidant Defense Mechanism

Tuberose is native to Mexico and then reached Europe and spread other parts of the world. In Pakistan, tuberose stalks come in the market during late summer and autumn when only few flowers are available. However, yield and quality of flowers stalks is low. Several abiotic factors are involved in poor production of tuberose. Among abiotic stresses, salt stress greatly hampers growth of plants ultimately affecting flower yield, quality and postharvest life of tuberose. Current study aimed at foliar application of silicon (control, 50, 100 and 150 mg L−1) to mitigate adverse effects of salt stress (control, 50 and 100 mM NaCl) in tuberose plants during the years 2018 & 2019. Salinity level of 100 mM NaCl significantly decreased the plant height, number of leaves per plant, root length, stalk length, spike length, floret number/ spike, floret length, floret fresh weight, bulb fresh weight and vase life and these traits increased under foliar application of silicon (150 mg L−1). SOD, POD, CAT, GR and APX activities increased under salinity (100 mM NaCl) and foliar application of silicon (150 mg L−1) as compared to other studied treatments. The significant increase of total soluble protein and proline content was recorded under 100 mM NaCl than control. Foliar spray of silicon (50, 100 and 150 mg L−1) reduced total soluble protein and proline content. Chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’ and carotenoids were reduced under 50 and 100 mM NaCl. Current study evaluated that silicon had good potential to alleviate salt stress in tuberose by maintaining metabolic capacities and physiological activities.

Morphological and Biochemical Properties, Leaf Nutrient Content, and Vase Life of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) Affected by Root or Foliar Applications of Silicon (Si) and Silicon Nanoparticles (SiNPs)

Although the presence of silicon (Si) as a phyto-beneficial element is not essential in the nutrition of ornamental plants, its application may have many advantageous effects. Therefore, the present research was conducted to investigate the effects of Si and synthesized silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) on the morphological and biochemical properties, leaf nutrient content, and vase life of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.). Si and SiNPs were applied at 200 mg L−1 and 400 mg L−1 via root or foliar application under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the application of two silicon sources by foliar or root, with increasing leaf phosphorus and Si contents, substantially enhanced total soluble carbohydrate and protein. Morphological parameters, including leaf fresh weight, root volume, root and bulblet dry weight, flowering stem length, flowering-stem dry weight, and floret number were improved. The flower vase life in treated plants was longer than non-treated ones and ranged from 32% for 200 mg L−1 SiNPs by root application to 60% for 200 mg L−1 Si and 400 mg L−1 SiNPs by foliar. In most of the evaluated parameters, SiNPs had a relative superiority to Si, particularly when sprayed. A heat-map analysis of traits also revealed that the concentration of conventional Si has great prominence than its application method. In contrast, the method of applying SiNPs is more critical than its concentration. It is concluded that foliar application of SiNPs at 400 mg L−1 can be recommend for improving the growth and flowering of tuberose plants, although the root application of Si at 200 mg L−1 also had relatively acceptable results.

Management of Aphelenchoides besseyi infecting Polianthes tuberosa in West Bengal, India

Aim: The study was conducted for management of foliar nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi through different treatment modules in tuberose, Polianthes tuberose. Methodology: A field experiment was carried out with seven treatment modules with four replications to assess the efficacy of treatment modules to manage the foliar nematode in tuberose variety, Calcutta Double. Observations on germination percentage and spike emergence as well as initial and final nematode population in bulbs and plant growth parameters were analysed.? Results: The experiment was conducted with naturally infected plant of tuberose bearing an initial nematode population per five bulbs. The per cent change over treated bulb was found significantly different from the control. The experiment revealed that the germination percent of tuberose bulbs increased under the treatment modules compared to untreated control. Emergence of 55 per cent and 100 per cent spike in treatment modules was earlier than the untreated check. Plant growth parameters were superior in treatment modules as compared to control. Symptoms like stunted growth of plants prickle like structures on the scape and flower and hardy brown flowers in untreated plants were not found in the treated plots.? Interpretation: Symptom development in different parts of tuberose plants increased with increase in population of foliar nematode rendering to the unmarketable tuberose plants. Therefore, an urgent need of management of foliar nematode is documented with seven treatment modules and the modules were found effective in managing the nematode population in field condition.

RESPONSE OF TUBEROSE (POLIANTHES TUBEROSA L.) PLANTS TO CHITOSAN AND SEAWEED FOLIAR APPLICATION

Chitosan and seaweed extract are natural stimulants that are used to improve plant growth and flowering. Therefore, two pot experiments on tuberose plants were conducted during the two consecutive seasons of 2017 and 2018 at Horticulture Research Station at Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of tuberose plant (single flowers known as Balady variety) to different concentrations of chitosan (CHT) and seaweed extract (SWE) rates on growth, flowering, bulb production and some chemical constituents. Tuberose plant was sprayed six times per season with different concentrations and rates of natural stimulants under study i.e. T1 (control), T2 (20 ppm CHT), T3 (40 ppm CHT), T4 (60 ppm CHT), T5 (0.5 cm3/l SWE), T6 (1.0 cm3/l SWE), T7 (1.5 cm3/l SWE), T8 (20 ppm CHT + 0.5 cm3/l SWE), T9 (40 ppm CHT + 1.0 cm3/l SWE) and T10 (60 ppm CHT + 1.5 cm3/l SWE). These ten treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Generally, chitosan or/and seaweed extract treated tuberose showed significant increase (p<0.05) in plant growth, flowering and bulb production. Chitosan at higher concentration plus the higher rate of seaweed extract T10 (60 ppm CHT + 1.5 cm3/l SWE) increased the plant height, leaf number per plant and leaf width as well as number of florets/spike, spike length, rachis length and spike fresh weight. In confirmation of this, the same treatment (T10) resulted in higher values of bulb diameter and dry weight of bulb compared to the other treatments under study and unsprayed plants. In most cases, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potassium percentages in the leaves and bulbs as well as total chlorophyll in the leaves were significantly increased by using T10 followed by T4 and T9 compared to the other ones under study. Moreover, natural stimulants (chitosan and seaweed extract) should be frequently applied in the farms to get the best growth and flowering of the tuberose plants.

Effect of Foliar Applied Tryptophan on Tuberose Plants for Decreasing the Harmful Effect of Some Heavy Metals Pollution in the Irrigation Water (A) Effect of Cadmium Treatments

The present study was carried-out at Antoniadis Research Branch, Horticultural Research Institute, AgricultureResearch Center (ARC), Alexandria, Egypt during two successive seasons of 2018 and 2019. The aim of this study was toevaluate the effects of irrigation water contaminated with cadmium on the growth of Polianthes tuberosa plants and thepossibility of using tryptophan spray treatments to overcome the effects of cadmium pollution. Corms of Polianthestuberosa were planted individually in plastic pots (20 cm diameter) filled with 5 kg of sandy soil. The Cadmiumcontaminated irrigation water treatments were 0,100, 200 and 300 mg/L were applied. The plants were also monthlysprayed by tryptophan at concentrations of 0, 250 and 500 mg/L.The results showed that for vegetative growth parameters there was no significant difference in the interactionbetween cadmium polluted water of irrigation and foliar spray by tryptophan, while a significant reduction was observedin all parameters after irrigation with cadmium polluted water and a significant increase in vegetative growth parameterswas observed after 500 mg/L tryptophan application. For chlorophyll and carbohydrate content, the highest significantvalue was obtained in plants irrigated with tap water and sprayed with 250 mg/L tryptophan while the highest significantlevel of cadmium content in leaves and corms was obtained due treatment by 300 mg/L cadmium without application oftryptophan.

Gibberellic Acid Usage Relieving Salinity Adverse Effects on Growth, Flowering and Bulb Production of Tuberose Plants (Polianthes tuberosa, L.)

The current research was carried out during two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018 at the Nursery of Ornamental plants, Fac. of Agric., Minia University, to explore alleviating side effects of soil salinity on growth, flowering and bulb production of tuberose plants by usage of gibberellic acid (GA3). Different vegetative growth traits, flowering parameters and bulb production aspects were greatly and gradually reduced parallel to the increase in soil salinity level with the least values being given due to highest salinity level. In addition, flowering date was delayed due to salinity treatments. By contrast, all these traits were enhanced upward according to the increase in GA3 (50 or 100 ppm) concentration including earlier flowering. It could be concluded that, the counteraction between GA3 and salinity, for bulb production traits was significant in both seasons. The combined treatment of high salinized/high GA3 was capable of giving similar to those given by the un-salinized/un-gibberellin treatment. The role of GA3, when applied at 100 ppm to highly salinized soils (1.2%), in enhancing number, fresh weight and dry weight of daughter bulbs give rise to increases of 71.3, 40.8 and 37.8% in the first season and 66.7, 48.7 and 56.0%, in the second season, respectively. Therefore, tuberose plants could be produced, under salt affected soils, by the use of GA3 which counteracted hindered effects of salinity on plant growth and flowering. The application of such growth regulator resulted in growth, flowering and bulb productivity values nearly equalized those given by control treatments.

Effects of Some Mineral Substrates on Qualitative and Quantitative Traits of Tuberose (Plianthes tuberosa L.)

Tuberose is one of the most important aromatic cut flower among ornamental plants that its growth and quality is influenced by the type and percentage of mineral compounds in the substrate. This study was carried out on the basis of a randomized complete design to explore the impact of feldspar, talc, dolomite and tuff minerals at the rate of 10, 20 and 40% incorporated with garden soil and manure on some quantitative and qualitative traits of Tuberose plants. The results showed that the highest stem diameter, floret number, root fresh and dry weight were obtained from plants grown in garden soil + dolomite + manure at the ratios of 40:40:20% and 60:20:20%. The highest stem length, floret fresh weight, content of chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were detected in the plants treated with garden soil + talc and manure (40:40:20%). Highest daughter bulb perimeter, total bulb weight, and floret dry weight were obtained from plants treated with garden soil + feldspar + manure (40:40:20%). Highest floret length and width were seen in plants grown in garden soil + tuff + manure (70:10:20%) and garden soil + talc + manure (60:20:20%). Plants that were grown in garden soil + feldspar + manure at the ratios of 70:10:20% and 60:20:20% had the highest chlorophyll a content and the lowest daughter bulb perimeter, stem length and width, floret dry weight, width and number of floret, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content respectively. Highest root dry weight was measured in control (garden soil + manure 80:20%) and the lowest root fresh and dry weights and volume were recorded for plants grown in garden soil + tuff mineral soil + manure (40:40:20%). Overall, the use of talc, dolomite, and feldspar at the ratio of 40% as Mg and K supplying minerals can improve growth and biochemical parameters of the Tuberose plant.

First report of Colletotrichum truncatum associated with anthracnose disease on tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) in India

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is an important commercial flower crop grown in Karnataka for its beautiful and fragrant cut flowers. Recently, an association of anthracnose disease (incidence ranged from 18 to 27%) characterized by the dark concentric sunken necrotic lesions with spore mass in the acervuli on leaves and peduncles of Tuberose was observed in a field survey conducted during October 2015 to March 2016. The pathogen was isolated on PDA medium. The fungal colony on PDA was grayish to dark gray. Conidia were falcate, one-celled, hyaline. Based on the micro-morphological, and cultural characteristics the pathogen was identified as Colletotrichum truncatum. The ITS-rDNA, GAPDH and ß-tubulin sequences of the pathogen were sequenced using ITS1/ITS4, GDF1/GDR1, T1/Bt2b primer pairs. nBLAST search and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the pathogen was C. truncatum. Koch's postulates were conducted on 45-day-old tuberose plants by foliar application of conidial suspension of C. truncatum. Development of typical anthracnose disease was recorded after 18 days of post-inoculation and the pathogen's identity was confirmed by re-isolation and identification. The anthracnose disease associated with Tuberose is a major constraint for the production of quality cut flowers. This is the first report of C. truncatum causing anthracnose on Tuberose in India.

RESPONSE OF TUBEROSE PLANTS (POLIANTHES TUBEROSA L.) TO CHEMICAL AND BIO FERTILIZATION AND THEIR EFFECT ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH, FLOWERING AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION UNDER SANDY SOIL CONDITIONS

A field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Farm of El-Kassasin Horticultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of partial substitution of chemical nitrogen fertilizer with biofertilizer containing two strains of nitrogen-fixing (Azospirillum lipoferum, Azotobacter chrococcoum), on vegetative growth, flowering and chemical composition of tuberose plants (Polianthes tuberosa L.) under sandy soil conditions to rationalize the use of mineral fertilizers and reduce pollution of the environment in order to increase the quantity and improvement quality of the product on the tuberose plants during the two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018. This experiment included seven treatments with three replications, which were the combinations between two of mineral nitrogen rates (50% and 75%) and three bio-fertilizers of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azospirillum lipoferum (S), Azotobacter chrococcoum (Z) and Azospirillum lipoferum + Azotobacter chrococcoum (S*Z) treatments in addition to the control which was 100% N. The treatments were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design. The results showed that fertilizing tuberose plants with mineral nitrogen at 100% of the recommended dose recorded the highest values for plant height, number of leaves/plant and number of florets/spike. while fertilization with mineral nitrogen at 75% plus the dual inoculation with Azospirillum + Azotobacter recorded the highest values for fresh and dry weights of leaves (g)/plant, fresh and dry weights of root (g)/plant, fresh and dry weights of spike (g)/plant, floret diameter (cm), spike length (cm), longevity of tuberose cut flower spikes (days), in addition to leaves content of N, P, K, total chlorophyll a, b and carbohydrates %, as well as essential oil percentage in flowers without significant difference between them and control in most cases in both seasons.

Major Bioactive Compounds in Essential Oils Extracted From the Rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L) Smith: A Mini-Review on the Anti-allergic and Immunomodulatory Properties.

Zingiber zerumbet (L) Smith is part of the Zingiberaceae family, one of the largest families of the plant kingdom. Z. zerumbet is a perennial, aromatic and tuberose plant that grows in humid locations where its center of distribution is located in the South-East Asia region. This plant has been traditionally used in foods and beverages and for ornamental purposes. Although many studies have reported on the biomedical applications of Z. zerumbet, the anti-allergic effects of Z. zerumbet and its major bioactive compounds have not yet been summarized in detail. Many major metabolites that have been reported to contain anti-allergic properties are terpene compounds which can be found in the essential oil extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet, such as zerumbone, limonene, and humulene. The rhizome is among the part of Z. zerumbet that has been widely used for many studies due to its exceptional biomedical applications. Most of these studies have shown that the essential oil, which can be obtained through hydro-distillation of the rhizomes from Z. zerumbet, is enriched with various active metabolites. Therefore, this mini-review provides an overview of the main aspects related to the anti-allergic and immunomodulatory properties of the major bioactive compounds found in the essential oils extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet, with the aim of demonstrating the importance of essential oil extracted from the rhizomes of Z. zerumbet and its bioactive compounds in the treatment of allergy and allergy-related diseases, in addition to other widely reported and extensively studied biomedical applications.

First Report of Tuberose mild mottle virus Infecting Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) in the United States

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is a bulbous ornamental plant in the family Agavaceae native to Mexico. In September 2016, five P. tuberosa potted plants, originally from Miami, Florida, were received at the Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville, FL. The leaves of the plants showed mild mottle and mosaic symptoms. Similar symptoms have been described from tuberose plants in New Zealand, China, Taiwan and India and were identified as a viral disease caused by Tuberose mild mottle virus (TuMMoV; family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus) (Lin et al., 2004), Kulsherstha et al. 2005). Initial serological testing for the presence of a potyvirus using broad-spectrum lateral flow immunoassays and antigen-coated plate ELISA (Agdia, Elkhart, IN), both of which are based on a monoclonal antibody (PTY 1) yielded positive results. To further identify the possible potyvirus, total RNA was extracted using an RNeasy® Plant Mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) from one symptomatic leaf and reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR was p...