International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Aqueous ozone in the root zone: Friend or foe?

Thomas Graham*, Ping Zhang and Michael Dixon

School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.

Accepted 16 March, 2019

Abstract

Aqueous ozone (O_3(aq)) solutions were applied to the rockwool substrate of hydroponically cultured tomato and cucumber plants. Single applications of high concentration solutions (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mg/L), as well as repeated application of lower concentration solutions (0, 2, 4, 6 mg/L), had no impact on leaf area and shoot dry weight accumulation. Repeated O_3(aq) applications were also applied to cucumber plants inoculated with Pythium aphanidermatum. Pathogen levels were significantly reduced in all treatments containing O_3(aq). The reduction in pathogen numbers did not necessarily affect plant productivity.

Key words: Pythium aphanidermatum, irrigation water reuse, oxygenation, tomato, cucumber, rockwool, hydroponics, phytotoxicity.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pollen isolation method affects interspecific hybridization in eucalyptus

Girijashankar V

ITC R&D Centre, Shameerpet, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Corresponding author. E-mail:  [email protected]

Accepted 14 April, 2019

Abstract

The ultimate test for utility of a pollen sample is the seed yield following control pollination (CP). In the present study, two different methods of eucalyptus pollen isolation (PI) namely: wet-lyophylisation (WL) and conventionally dry-sieving (DS) were followed. The pollen thus isolated was used to carry interspecific hybridization in order to evaluate and compared the efficiency the above two methods of PI in eucalyptus. Apart from testing the efficiency of the above two methods of PI, CP was carried to generate new combinations of alleles towards developing hybrid eucalyptus for commercial use. Wide-interspecific hybridization was performed between important eucalyptus species following a partial diallel mating design. Pollen from three paternal species namely E. globulus (5 trees), E. pellita (1 tree) and E. urophylla (1 tree) were used to CP three elite commercial clones of E. camaldulensis. Except in few occasions, the percent capsule set and number of seeds obtained per 10 capsule (≥30 seeds) with the PI through WL method was comparatively high and significantly different from conventional DS method (≤30 seeds) at P<0.01. The results of this experiment prove that the method of PI affects the outcome of wide-interspecific hybridisation in eucalyptus.

Key words: Wet-lyophylisation, pollen isolation, control pollination, interspecific hybridization, eucalyptus.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals 

Review

Conservation and management of genetic resources of horticultural crops in Nigeria: Issues and biotechnological strategies

J. U. Ogbu^{1, 3, 5}*, B. A. Essien², J. B. Essien⁴ and M. U. Anaele⁴

¹Horticulture and Landscape Technology Programme, Federal College of Agriculture [FCA], Ishiagu 491105, Nigeria.

²Crop Production Technology Programme, FCA, Ishiagu, Nigeria.

³National Root Crops Research Institute, Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Umudike, P. M. B. 7006 Umuahia 440001, Nigeria.

⁴Basic Sciences Programme, FCA, Ishiagu, Nigeria.

⁵Umuahia 440003, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 March, 2019

Abstract

Plant genetic resources (PGR) are basic requirements in crop improvement programme and their importance have increased in recent years with the changing scenario of ownership and legal regimes in relation to biodiversity. Horticultural genetic resources (HGR) are subset of agro -biodiversity that is related to garden crop species or their wild genepool, having genetic material of actual or potential value. Horticultural crops comprise diverse economic species ranging from the fruits/nuts, vegetables, spices and condiments, ornamental plants, aromatic and medicinal plants. Besides the tangible materials, HGR also encompass the indigenous knowledge accumulated over ages among gardeners, and which surround the use of such biological resources. The exploration, collection, characterization, evaluation and utilization of HGR are enormous tasks in a country like Nigeria with wide diversity of these vital groups of plants. Yet relatively little effort hitherto has been made to harness these natural resources of great potential values for food and agriculture, health care, national economy, industrial development and environmental protection. This paper therefore, examined the present status of HGR in Nigeria, the scientific management aspects of the HGR including their diversity, conservation and sustainable use. It also addressed crucial concerns regarding conservation biotechnology in Nigeria vis-à-vis management of the HGR.

Key words: Biodiversity, conservation biotechnology, horticultural genetic resources (HGR), Nigeria.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2019. DOI: 10.46882/IJHF/1082.© International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of nitrogen levels on growth and yield of spider plant in Kenya

¹Kenneth Mutoro*, ¹Mwashasha Rashid Mwajita, ²Charles Ndenga and ³Irendale Mabele

¹Department of Horticulture and Food Security, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Agricultural economics, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Department of Extra Mural Studies, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 19 April, 2019

Abstract 

The supply of spider plant (Cleome gynandra) as one of the African leafy vegetables in Kenya is low and this is attributed to poor fertilizer use and limited access by farmers to improved varieties. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different N forms on growth and yield of spider plant. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 in Ruiru and Juja. Objectives were: to determine the plant growth and yield of spider plant cultivars under different nitrogen levels. 8 lines that were developed at the World Vegetable Centre, Arusha, were evaluated alongside the commercial variety (control). All experiments were undertaken for 2 seasons, where both variety and nitrogen factors were investigated under split plot design. Plants were harvested at 7-10-day intervals. Data was analyzed in SAS 9.1.3 software. Accessions were ranked from 1-9 in terms of performance. Results indicated that application of manure resulted in increased yield and other growth parameters compared to other nitrogen fertilizers (P≤0.05). Availability of improved and high yielding cultivars coupled with use of manure will increase supply of spider plant.

Keywords: African leafy vegetables, Cleome gynandra, manure, cultivars,

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-018, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The first cultivar database in Spain

Daniel Guillot Ortiz

Fundación Oroibérico, C/. Great 6,44113 Noguera de Albarracín (Teruel). E-mail: [email protected]. Tel/Fax: 978706003.

Accepted 23 March, 2019

Abstract

During the 2009 - 2010 periods, the “herbarium and horticultural variety database” project has been carried out in the town of Noguera (Teruel, Spain), the first project to dedicate its efforts to the creation of a database of cultivars marketed and/or cultivated in Spain, including 2124 cultivars.

Key words: Cultivar, database, herbarium, Spain.