International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Vol. 2 (4), pp. 082-088, May, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Vegetative and Rooting growth response to different stem cutting types and soilless media

kwame V. mijad, Owusu Tyson and Mpiani kubi Young

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 29 April, 2014

Abstract 

Studies were carried out at the Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, to determine the rooting and vegetative growth responses of different stem cutting types (heel and straight) of Ixora coccinea and Ficus benjamina cv. „Starlight‟ to different soilless media formulations over a 10-week period. Two experiments of a 2 × 6 factorial in randomised complete block design, replicated three times, were used. The different media formulated were 100% topsoil (control), 100% palmix (palm waste that is, bunch, fibre and mill mud), 50% teak sawdust + 50% coconut coir, 50% palmix + 50% coconut coir, 50% palmix + 50% teak sawdust and 50% palmix + 25% teak sawdust + 25% coconut coir. The study revealed that 50% teak sawdust + 50% coconut coir was the best soilless medium, in terms of physical and chemical properties, and produced the highest number of leaves (2.59) in I. coccinea. Also, 50% palmix + 25% teak sawdust + 25% coconut coir medium had more survived cuttings (1.13) and produced the longest root (1.05 cm) per cutting in F. benjamina cv. „Starlight‟. The heel stem cutting produced higher number of leaves (2.32), eight weeks after planting, in Ixora coccinea while straight stem cuttings produced more leaves (2.49) in F. benjamina cv. „Starlight‟ four weeks after planting.

Keys words: Ixora coccinea, Ficus benjamina cv. „Starlight‟, media effect, stem cutting types.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Vol. 2 (4), pp. 079-081, May, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effects of high phosphorous application on explants growth: In vitro multiplication of Protea cynaroides L. microshoots

Onami Steyn, Keabetsoe T. and Thabo Moreki

Floriculture Unit, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. Email:[email protected]

Accepted 18 April, 2012

Abstract 

Protea cynaroides L. is a slow-growing, difficult-to-propagate plant. Due to problems such as phenolic browning and their sensitivity to the phosphorous nutrient, in vitro multiplication of P. cynaroides explants have not been successful. The present study was conducted to induce shoot proliferation of established P. cynaroides microshoots, and investigate the effects of high phosphorous concentration during explant multiplication. Microshoots with either one or two nodes were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing modified macronutrients and full strength micronutrients. Two concentrations of NH₄H₂PO₄ were tested: 0 mg L^-1 NH₄H₂PO₄, and a high P concentration of 1400 mg L^-1 NH₄H₂PO₄. Both growth media were also supplemented with gibberellic acid (GA₃) (30 mg L^-1), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (2 mg L^-1), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (50 mg L ^{- 1}) and indole-butyric acid (IBA) (0.5 mg L^-1). Results show that, contrary to what is often reported, the presence of a high phosphorous concentration in the growth media did not adversely affect P. cynaroides explants. The survival rate and mean axillary shoot length of explants cultured on growth media containing 1400 mg L^-1 NH₄H ₂PO₄ were not significantly different from those grown on 0 mg L^-1 NH₄H₂PO₄. No phosphorous toxicity symptoms were observed in explants cultured on media with high phosphorous levels. Results also show that explants with two nodes had a higher survival rate and produced significantly longer axillary shoots than those with one node, irrespective of phosphorous concentration. Multiplication of P. cynaroides microshoots was successfully achieved for the first time.

Key words: King Protea, micropropagation, Proteaceae, shoot proliferation.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Vol. 2 (4), pp. 077-078, April, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Social and Economic Importance of species: Strelitzia

Januarius Rafael, Antonio V. and Denilson  Lamaris

Department of Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture and Garden design, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Estadual de Santa Catarina, Lages, Santa Catarina,  Brazil. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 31 March, 2014

Abstract 

This review aimed to show the importance of Strelitzia in Floriculture. The genus named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, birthplace of Queen Charlotte of United Kingdom. A commom name of the genus is bird of paradise flower, because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the bird of paradise. In this context, it is currently a growing interest in exotic cultures, with tropical characteristics, such as species of the family Strelitziaceae. Thus, it was observed that the production of agricultural activity, Strelitzia is one of increasing social and economic importance in the world.

Key words: Zingiberales, Strelitziaceae, cut flower, inflorescence.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Vol. 2 (4), pp. 070-077, April, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hereditary multiplicity in (Anthurium andraeanum) cultivars in Mauritius

Onami Steyn, Keabetsoe T. and Thabo Moreki

Floriculture Unit, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 06 March, 2014

Abstract 

Anthurium andraeanum is an important ornamental in the flower industry in Mauritius. Classical phenotype methods of identification, although still very useful, are difficult to use between very closely related Anthurium cultivars. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic diversity of 12 A. andraeanum cultivars in Mauritius using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and identify cultivar specific markers for the genetic profiling of A. andraeanum cultivars. Polymorphism among the 12 cultivars was assessed using RAPD and ISSR primers. Reproducible results were used for statistical analysis. The presence and absence of bands were scored as 1 and 0, respectively to form a matrix from which a dendrogram was obtained using NTSYS. Dendrograms were obtained from matrices derived from RAPD and ISSR analyses to give an estimate of the genetic distance between the tested cultivars. Both ISSR and RAPD were found to be useful tools in differentiating locally grown A. andraeanum.

Key words: Anthurium andraeanum, RAPD, ISSR, genetic diversity, cluster analysis.

International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture Vol. 2 (3), pp. 061-065, March, 2014.© International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Stimulation of mutation in (Browallia speciosa) using sodium azide and classification of the genetic variation by peroxidase isozyme

Mostafa Hatlaa, Younas Hazar and Magdi O. Ayman

Department of Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture and Garden design, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 12 February, 2014

Abstract 

Plants of Browallia speciosa were treated with different concentrations of sodium azide (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 ppm) as a soil drench. The concentration of 800 ppm had simulative effect on the most studied traits. It increased the number of branches and leaves, chlorophyll content, fresh weights of vegetative growth and roots, dry weights of vegetative growth and roots and root length in the M₁ (2011/ 2012) and M₂ (2012/ 2013). All the concentrations of sodium azide produced changes in the flower colour, flower shape and leaf form in both generations. Peroxidase isozyme pattern indicated that seven loci produced of peroxidase are shown in B. speciosa. In addition, different peroxidase profiles among mutants were found. The phylogenetic tree indicated that mutant 4 was the most genetically distinct mutant from the control followed by mutant 3.

Key words: Browallia speciosa, mutation, sodium azide, isozyme.