scholarly journals 469 Some Citrus Flower Characteristics Limit Bee Preference of Hybrids and Their Pollination

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 525D-525
Author(s):  
L.G. Albrigo ◽  
R. Russ ◽  
R. Rouseff ◽  
R.A. Bazemore

Except for `Orlando' and `Minneola' tangelos, most citrus hybrids grown in Florida are small-flowered and produced less than half the nectar of large-flowered cultivars. Sugar contents in large- and small-flowered cultivars were not different in 1997, but the concentration of sugars doubled in 1998 over 1997 for small-flowered hybrids, while nectar volume was about one-half of that in the previous year. Nectar volume of large-flowered cultivars increased slightly in 1998 compared to 1997. Of four aromatic volatiles measured from headspace over flowers, `Robinson' and `Ambersweet' were lowest in total while other cultivars had only some specific differences. Grapefruit flowers produced high limonene levels, while `Sunburst', `Fallglo', and `Valencia' gave off the most myrcene. Bees were tested for flower preference in a round, white screenhouse using a mini-hive and duplicated fresh-cut flower bouquets each day. Bees preferred large-flowered cultivars with more nectar. Some other preferences also were observed. In the field, hedge-rows limited cross movement of bees in mature blocks of hybrids, which limits the number of contiguous rows of the preferred cultivar for good pollinization. Timing of bee hive placement was also critical to get bee movement into the intended block because flowering times differ for some cultivars and bees develop inital preferences.

1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
KV Sharman ◽  
M Sedgley ◽  
D Aspinall

Cut flower production of 2 Australian native daisies, Helipterum roseum and Helichrysum bracteatum, was investigated in the glasshouse and outdoors at 4 planting times. Both species exhibited a long day response with floral initiation occurring in any photoperiod but with peak production following longer days. Peaks in bloom production occurred during the spring and summer regardless of planting time. Floral abnormalities were observed in Helipterum roseum in all environments and planting times with the exception of the outdoor winter planting. There was a tendency for inflorescence diameter of both species and stem length of Helipterum roseum to decline with time from anthesis of the apical inflorescence. Optimum production of top quality blooms of Helipterum roseum extended from October to January following planting between autumn and spring. Peak production of Helichrysum bracteatum between December and March can be expected following planting during winter and spring. It may be possible to extend these seasons by weekly planting from autumn to spring. In addition, the imposition of extended photoperiod or night break treatments following summer or autumn planting may fulfil the photoperiod requirements of the plants and stimulate increased production between March and November. It is proposed that both species be considered for the fresh cut flower market, with Helipterum roseum marketed as single stems and Helichrysum bracteatum as sprays.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 503E-503
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Macnish ◽  
Ria T. Leonard ◽  
Terril A. Nell

The postharvest longevity of fresh-cut flowers is often limited by the accumulation of bacteria in vase water and flower stems. Aqueous chlorine dioxide is a strong biocide with potential application for sanitizing cut flower solutions. We evaluated the potential of chlorine dioxide to prevent the build-up of bacteria in vase water and extend the longevity of cut Matthiola incana `Ruby Red', Gypsophila paniculata `Crystal' and Gerbera jamesonii `Monarch' flowers. Fresh-cut flower stems were placed into sterile vases containing deionized water and either 0.0 or 2 μL·L–1 chlorine dioxide. Flower vase life was then judged at 21 ± 0.5 °C and 40% to 60% relative humidity. Inclusion of 2 μL·L–1 chlorine dioxide in vase water extended the longevity of Matthiola, Gypsophila and Gerbera flowers by 2.2, 3.5, and 3.4 days, respectively, relative to control flowers (i.e., 0 μL·L–1). Treatment with 2 μL·L–1 chlorine dioxide reduced the build-up of aerobic bacteria in vase water for 6 to 9 days of vase life. For example, addition of 2 μL·L–1 chlorine dioxide to Gerbera vase water reduced the number of bacteria that grew by 2.4- to 2.8-fold, as compared to control flower water. These results confirm the practical value of chlorine dioxide treatments to reduce the accumulation of bacteria in vase water and extend the display life of cut flowers.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 903A-903
Author(s):  
Mike Schnelle ◽  
Julia Whitworth

Woody cut-flower plots were planted in Mar 1994 in Lane, Okla. Eight species with 10 replications each were chosen for their potential variety of fresh-cut stems and foliage, fruit, and flowers. Not only were the woody species planted for demonstrative purposes at field days and workshops, but they also were used for harvest and analysis of their vase life. Local florists also were exposed to new potential species and queried for their initial impression of the plants' aesthetic qualities and their likelihood of acceptance by the florists' patrons.


EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaoyuan Lian ◽  
Heqiang Huo ◽  
Sandra B. Wilson ◽  
Jianjun Chen

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) has long been a very popular perennial in the United States due to its unique flower shape with a range of striking colors (Huo and Chen, 2018). Based on their height, snapdragons are typically classified into three categories: dwarf (6-15 inches), medium (1-2 feet), and tall (6-15 feet) . The dwarf variety has a dense, bushy growth pattern, producing numerous flower spikes. They grow on average 6 to 15 inches tall and are ideal plants for use as low borders or in containers. Mid-sized varieties grow 1-2 feet tall and are typically used in borders (either alone or with other bedding plants) and sometimes as cut flowers. Tall varieties range anywhere from 2 to 3 feet in height (Gilman et al. 2018). The magnificent flowers with a wide range of petal colors atop the long green spikes make the tall variety a desirable cut flower for container, bouquets, or gardens. In 2015, fresh-cut snapdragon sales increased 51.7% from 2010 and reached $12.93 million, making it a top ten fresh cut flower in United States(USDA, 2015). With all of their aesthetic attributes and versatility, snapdragons are also an important model system for genetics and molecular studies of various plant processes.   For example, snapdragon pigmentation mutants produced by transposon (a type of mobile DNAs) mutagenesis have provided researchers a good way to study anthocyanin biosynthesis and subsequently aid plant breeders in developing new varieties with novel flower colors (Jackson et al. 1992). Furthermore, snapdragon has a mechanism by which transposable mutations can be regulated into active and inactive states through temperature control (Hashida et al., 2006). Advantages of this elegant transposon mutagenesis system and how it relates to plant breeding are described in this paper.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Kelly ◽  
Terri W. Starman

Physostegia purpurea Blake is a native, herbaceous perennial that has potential as a field-grown cut flower. Physostegia stems were harvested with one third of the florets open and were recut underwater in the laboratory. Fresh cut flowers treated with silver thiosulfate (STS) and held in a 2% preservative solution lasted 14 days, while control stems in deionized water (DI) lasted 6 days. Cut stems placed in darkness at 0C for 1 week had 8 days of vase life after removal from storage and treatment with STS and preservative, while stems held in DI after storage lasted only 4 days. Stems held dry at 22.5C and 43% RH for 8 hours before being placed in preservative had similar vase life as flowers placed in preservative immediately after harvest.


2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1141-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Jin Kim ◽  
Shih-Hui Sun ◽  
Gi-Chang Kim ◽  
Haeng-Ran Kim ◽  
Ki-Sun Yoon

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1357F-1358
Author(s):  
Yiran Yu ◽  
James Harding ◽  
Thomas Byrne

Genetic components of variance and heritability of flowering time were estimated for five generations of the Davis Populationof Gerbera hybrids, Composite, Estimates of narrow-sense heritability averaged 0.50 and broad-sense heritability averaged 0.77 using the NCII design. Narrow-sense heritability was also estimated with two models of parent-offspring regression, resulting in average heritability of 0.49 and 0.51. Estimates of components of variance indicated that the major genetic effect controlling flowering time is additive. However, the dominance component accounted for 28% of the total variance; the environmental component was only 23%. Flowering time is negatively correlated with cut-flower yield. The phenotypic coefficient was –0.34; genetic correlations were –0.47 when estimated from the NCII design, and –0.72 when estimated from the parent-off-spring method. A practical model was constructed to assess the efficiency of indirect selection for cut-flower yield using flowering time as a marker trait. The advantages of indirect selection accruing from increased population size and reduced generation time are discussed.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 508b-508
Author(s):  
Pamela M. Lewis ◽  
Alan M. Armitage ◽  
Jim M. Garner

The effect of vernalization method and duration on off-season cut flower production of Lysimachia clethroides Duby was examined. Rhizomes harvested in October were cooled for 0, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks at 4 ± 1 °C in crates with unmilled sphagnum peat or in 3.75-L pots with potting media prior to forcing in a warm greenhouse. After 6 or more weeks of cooling, shoots emerged from crate-cooled rhizomes in higher percentages than from pot-cooled rhizomes. However, only the duration of cooling, not the method, affected the rate of shoot emergence, visible bud formation and anthesis of the first bud in the raceme. As cooling increased from 0 to 12 weeks, the greenhouse days required for shoot emergence, visible bud formation and anthesis decreased linearly. The number of flowering flushes and flowering stems varied quadratically with cooling duration, and the highest yields occurred when rhizomes received between 4 and 10 weeks of cooling. As the number of successive flowering flushes increased, the stem length increased linearly while the stem diameter decreased linearly. High numbers of flowers were produced rapidly after 10 weeks of cooling.


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