Ornamental

Six identical bioreactors were constructed and built at the Agricultural University of Norway to provide optimal conditions for plant cell regeneration from cells into somatic embryos (“clonal or somatic seeds”). This was made possible through cooperation in COST87 by a European network in a working group on regeneration from plant cell cultures. The bioreactor design provides gentle stirring through a slow-speed stirrer that regularly changes direction of rotation to prevent “quiet” zones in the suspension in which cells can ssettle and grow. In addition, the oxygen is provided, bubble-free, through thin silicone tubing loops that are hanging loose, moving with the liquid to prevent cell growth on these tubes. We used off-the-shelf components whenever possible, to reduce the costs to a minimum, which was another aim of the construction. The result was a suite of relatively inexpensive computer-controlled bioreactors that could control temperature, oxygen, pH, stirrer speed and stirrer direction. In addition, we have provided different light spectral qualities by simple means of filtering the light. Using the present software, the parameters can be set up to alter every hour during the 24 h day/night cycle. All our cultures have improved growth in the bioreactors compared to identical cultures in Erlenmeyer flasks. The cultures used are: embryogenic cultures of carrot (Daucus carota), Norway spruce (Picea abies), birch (Betula pendula), cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) and shoot cultures of Christmas begonia (Begonia x cheimantha). The paper also discusses recommendations for improvements of the current system for future revisions.

Ficus benjaminais a very popular and resistant indoor plant in temperate areas. Cutting is the easiest propagation method of this plant and it requires special treatments such as auxin and appropriate rooting medium. In order to test the suitable auxin (IBA) concentration and rooting media, a factorial experiment carried out based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental two factors were different concentrations of IBA (0, 2000, 4000 and 6000 ppm) and rooting media (sand, perlite and sand+perlite mixture). Rooting percentage, root number and longest root length was evaluated. Based on the results both rooting percent and longest root length were gained under 4000 ppm IBA. Rooting percent was maximized in combined treatment of "4000 ppm IBA+perlite" and "6000 ppm IBA+ sand". The high number of roots was gained in "6000 ppm IBA+sand".

An effort carried out to find out the smaller size of cuttings for propagation of Morus alba in Experimental area, Department of Forestry, Range Management and Wildlife, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 2005. Different size of cuttings ie 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm ...

Pucciniastrum myosotidii sp. nov. is described from plants of the Chatham Island forget-me-not (Myosotidium hortensium), a host plant that has a conservation status of “nationally endangered”. The rust has been found only on cultivated plants and not on wild plants. Although no teliospores were found, LSU and SSU sequence analysis showed that the new rust is closely related to some species of Pucciniastrum and Thekopsora forming a weakly supported clade together with P. boehmeriae, P. epilobii, P. circaeae, P. goeppertianum, P. guttatum, P. pustulatum, T. minima and Melampsorella symphyti. If this rust is endemic to Chatham Islands, then it must be accepted as a species of conservation value since the host plant is under threat from grazing animals and habitat loss.

Vase solution containing aluminium sulphate (200 ppm) improved vase life of cut carnation (Dianthes caryophyllus Linn.) flowers and sucrose synergized the effect of aluminium sulphate. Vase life of cut flowers was maximum (11.45 day) in solution containing sucrose (5%) + aluminium sulphate (200 ppm). Among different combinations comprising of sucrose, biocides and ethylene antagonists, the maximum vase life (13.44 day) was observed when the stems were pre-treated with STS, ImM under cool conditions (at 4±0.5°C) for 24 h followed by placing the stems in vase solution containing sucrose (5%) + aluminium sulphate (200 ppm). This was closely followed (13.00 day) by STS (4mM) pre-treatment for 15 min (at 23±2°C) and subsequently placing the stems in vase solution mentioned above. Among the pulsing treatments, maximum vase life (11.89 day) was obtained with solution containing sucrose (10%)+ aluminium sulphate (200 ppm)+ STS (0.2 mM). Exposure of flowering stems to 1-MCP, 100 ppb (for 30 ...

The sawing and polishing process of the ornamental stones generates largeamount of hazardous wastes, which with no doubt pollute the environment. This work aims to characterize and evaluate the possibilities of using both the rejects "Solid" and wet "Sahala" wastes in Shak AI-Thoaban area, Egypt for quicklime production. Both waste samples were characterized for their mineralogical, chemical, thermal and industrial potential applying the XRD, XRF, DTA, TGA and a firing scheme at 1000 ee, respectively. The optimum soaking time for the highest reactive lime is 0.25 and 1 h for the "Solid" and "Sahala", respectively. The reactivity of the resulted lime is changeable along the soaking time because of the microfabric of the lime crystallites. The "Solid" lime is preserving the original microstructure of the limestone wastes before calcination. This attributes in the higher RD1N reactivity values at all soaking times. However, the "Sahala" lime is of lower reactivity than the "Solid" due to the grain growth of the lime crystallites.

Red-clinging crabs Mithraculus forceps are used for their ability to control nuisance algae in marine aquariums. Their larval and juvenile culture protocol has already been successfully developed. The objective of this work is to build a model that integrates the effect of different abiotic and biotic factors (temperature, stocking density, prey density), as well as space (number and volume of tanks) in production and economic parameters (costs of feed, labour and maintenance, market price and profit). The model aimed to be used as a tool to support management decisions. Overall, the model was able to integrate previously collected data and produce expected forecasts of M. forceps larval and juvenile culture reared under different combinations of temperature, stocking density, and prey density. Sensitivity analysis revealed that temperature was the most important factor regulating survival and growth, and consequently profit. According to the model, a batch of 1500 larvae reared in ten 10 L tanks in optimal conditions (10 prey mL− 1 and 28 °C) and then, as juveniles, in a 3 m2 water table at 28 °C, is expected to reach commercial size in 225 days.

Six identical bioreactors were constructed and built at the Agricultural University of Norway to provide optimal conditions for plant cell regeneration from cells into somatic embryos (‘clonal or somatic seeds’). This was made possible through cooperation in COST87 by a European network in a working group on regeneration from plant cell cultures. The bioreactor design provides gentle stirring through a slow-speed stirrer that regularly changes direction of rotation to prevent ‘quiet’ zones in the suspension in which cells can settle and grow. In addition, the oxygen is provided, bubble-free, through thin silicone tubing loops that are hanging loose, moving with the liquid to prevent cell growth on these tubes. We used off-the-shelf components whenever possible, to reduce the costs to a minimum, which was another aim of the construction. The result was a suite of relatively inexpensive computer-controlled bioreactors that could control temperature, oxygen, pH, stirrer speed and stirrer direction. In addition, we have provided different light spectral qualities by simple means of filtering the light. Using the present software, the parameters can be set up to alter every hour during the 24-h day/night cycle. All our cultures have improved growth in the bioreactors compared to identical cultures in Erlenmeyer flasks. The cultures used are: embryogenic cultures of carrot (Daucus carota), Norway spruce (Picea abies), birch (Betula pendula), cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) and shoot cultures of Christmas begonia (Begonia x cheimantha). The paper also discusses recommendations for improvements of the current system for future revisions.

Cut flowers of rose cv. First Red were harvested in October month for two consecutive years. After precooling these at 2° C for an hour, stems were trimmed to 45 cm and one set of flowers were pulsed with various solutions for 12h and another set of flowers for 24 h. The results revealed that pulsing of cut rose cv. First Red stems with 200ppm 8-HQC + 3 per cent sucrose for 24 h resulted in maximum vase life (20.28 day), flower diameter (9.03 cm), volume of solution consumed (55.61 ml) and protein content in petals (18.21 %) whereas, pulsing with 200ppm 8-HQC +4 per cent sucrose for 24 h resulted in improved bloom appearance and maximum reducing sugar content (418.00mg/g).

The present investigation was carried out with fenugreek genotypes obtained from different coordinating centers of AICRP on Spices. Pods per plant (36.5 and 34.61), number of seeds per pod (22.86 and 21.20) and seed yield (22.09 and 17.21) recorded highest coefficients of variation (both phenotypic and genotypic), while it was low for pod length (11.43 and 7.32). Heritability estimates were high for plant height (83.10), pods per plant (89.90) and seeds per pod (86.00). Seed yield (60.70) and branches per plant showed moderate estimates of heritability. The characters viz. plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed yield which recorded high heritability also showed high genetic advance indicating operation of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. These studies indicated that selection may be worthwhile in fenugreek for number of pods per plant, seeds per pod besides plant height for achieving higher yields.

The present studies were carried out during January 2005 to May 2006 at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design ...