Effects of Biochar and Biochar–Compost Mix on Growth, Performance and Physiological Responses of Potted Alpinia zerumbet

Container crop production has become increasingly popular over the last 50 years. A major component of container or potting media is peat. Peatlands are a natural carbon sink, and peat is a nonrenewable natural resource. Peat harvesting has become an important environmental issue. There is a growing effort to explore alternative organic materials to completely or partially replace peat as a medium component. Biochar is a carbon-rich product that has gained increasing interest as a component of growing media. In the present study, biochar was produced from rice straw. Peat/perlite/biochar (PPB; 40/30/30 v/v) and peat/perlite/biochar/vermicompost (PPBC; 30/30/35/5 v/v) were evaluated relative to a basal or control medium of peat/perlite (PP; 70:30 v/v). Alpinia (Alpinia zerumbet ‘Variegata Dwarf’) was used as a test plant. Amending biochar and biochar–compost mix increased the pH of the growing media. Hydrophysical properties including container capacity, bulk density, air space and total porosity were all within or near the standard ranges for soilless growing media. Chlorophyll a and b contents of A. zerumbet plants grown in PPB medium were reduced by more than 20% and 28%, respectively, compared to those grown in PP or PPBC media. The net photosynthetic rate of PPB-grown plants was more than 28% lower than those grown in PP and PPBC media. As a result, shoot and root dry weights of plants produced in PPB medium were more than 42% and 22% less, respectively, than those grown in PP and PPBC media. Although visual quality of PPB-grown plants was lower, they still exhibited marketable quality, which was largely due to the fact that their side shoots, leaf numbers, leaf areas, leaf thickness, and shoot diameters were comparable to those produced in PP and PPBC media. The present study showed that in a peat/perlite basal medium, substitution of peat by biochar derived from rice straw at 30% affected the growth of A. zerumbet plants, mainly in dry matter accumulation, but the plants were still marketable. On the other hand, plants grown in the same basal medium with peat replaced by the biochar at 35% plus an amendment of compost at 5% were comparable to those grown in the control medium. As the value of ornamental plants depends on their aesthetic appearance, a potting medium comprised of peat/perlite/biochar/vermicompost at 30/30/35/5 by volume is recommended for the production of A. zerumbet plants. The substitution of peat at 35% suggests that peat use can be reduced in the formulation of potting media, thus contributing to the conservation of peatlands.

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249 FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE AND DIBUTYRYL cAMP TREATMENTS DURING IN VITRO MATURATION IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE OF MOUSE OOCYTES

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv20n1ab249 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 204

Author(s):

R. Oishi ◽

Y. Isaji ◽

H. Imai ◽

M. Yamada

Keyword(s):

In Vitro Maturation ◽

Basal Medium ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Control Medium ◽

Dibutyryl Camp ◽

Mouse Oocytes ◽

Junctional Communication

The high level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which is provided to the oocytes from cumulus cells via gap junctional complexes in cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEOs), is known to contribute to meiotic arrest at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage of CEOs. However, whether intraoocyte cAMP during the period of in vitro maturation (IVM) affects postfertilization developmental competence of mouse oocytes still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of FSH or dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) treatment during IVM on in vitro development of mouse oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Whether a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte would be essential for a cytoplasmic maturation-promoting effect was also examined. CEOs were isolated from and eCG-primed 3-week-old ICR mouse by rupturing preovulatory follicles with needles in M16 medium with 5% FCS and essential and nonessential amino acids (basal medium). IVM media used were basal medium without (control) or with 100 µm dbcAMP or 1 IU mL–1 FSH. Carbenoxolone (100 µm, CBX), an inhibitor of gap junction, was used to inhibit a junctional association between cumulus cells and the oocyte. Denuded oocytes (DOs) were prepared by repeatedly pipetting in basal medium with 0.2% hyaluronidase. CEOs and DOs were cultured in IVM media at 37�C under 5% CO2 in air for 16.5 h, and then transferred to TYH medium (a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium) containing 0.4% BSA, followed by insemination with capacitated sperm. After 6 h of IVF, inseminated oocytes were cultured in KSOM medium with 0.3% BSA. Development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages was estimated at 24 h and 120 h after IVF, respectively. All experiments were done in 3 replicates, and the statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA and Fisher's protected least-squares difference (PLSD) test. When CEOs were matured in IVM media, the rates of postfertilization development to the 2-cell and blastocyst stages of oocytes matured in the control medium were very low(29% and 13%, respectively), whereas those of oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 61% and 52%, dbcAMP: 63 and 57%, respectively, v. control; P < 0.05). Next, when CEOs were matured in basal medium with 1 IU mL–1 FSH and 100 µm CBX, the developmental rate to the 2-cell stage (56%) was similar to that in medium with FSH alone (61%) but the rate to the blastocyst stage (40%) was little lower compared with that in medium with FSH alone (52%), although not significantly different (P > 0.05). Furthermore, when DOs were matured in IVM media, the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage after IVF of the oocytes matured with FSH or dbcAMP significantly increased (FSH: 25%, dbcAMP: 15%; P < 0.05) compared with those in control medium (7%). Taken together, it is suggested that increasing the concentration of intraoocyte cAMP during the IVM period is important to improve the developmental competence after IVF of mouse oocytes, and that the competence is acquired in part in a cumulus-oocyte junctional communication-independent manner.

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Application of Biogas Digestate with Rice Straw Mitigates Nitrate Leaching Potential and Suppresses Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9050227 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 227 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yuexi Wang ◽

Seiya Chikamatsu ◽

Tuya Gegen ◽

Kozue Sawada ◽

Koki Toyota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rice Straw ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Meloidogyne Incognita ◽

Application Rate ◽

Pig Manure ◽

Test Plant ◽

Root Knot Nematode ◽

Root Knot Nematodes ◽

Leaching Potential ◽

Biogas Digestate

This study investigated the effects of biogas digestate application to soil with rice straw on nitrate leaching potential and nematicidal activity toward root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita. The following seven treatments were set up: (i) control (CONT); (ii) chemical fertilizer (CF); (iii) wet biogas digestate derived from pig manure (WBD); (iv) and (v) dry biogas digestate derived from a mixture of pig manure and rice straw at an initial C/N ratio of 20 and 30 (DBD20 and DBD30); (vi) and (vii) DBD20 mixed with rice straw to adjust the C/N ratio to 16 (Mix1) and 30 (Mix2), respectively. The application rate of CF and digestates was adjusted to 200 mg N kg−1 soil based on the inorganic ammonium nitrogen contents. Nitrate contents readily increased in all the treatments with incubation, except for Mix2, and those at day 90 were decreased with increasing initial labile C contents. Garden balsam was grown as a test plant for root-knot nematodes using the soils at day 90 and the results showed that the gall index was significantly lower in Mix2 and Mix1 than in CF. These results suggest that dry digestate mixed with rice straw might have potential for lower nitrate leaching and nematicidal properties.

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Rice straw as renewable components of horticultural growing media for purple cabbage

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141274 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 747 ◽

pp. 141274 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jie Feng ◽

Yuee Zhi ◽

Dan Zhang ◽

Chih Ping Chi ◽

Shaohua Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rice Straw ◽

Growing Media

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Field Pea Seed Residue: a Potential Alternative Weed Control Agent

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-10-00015.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 433-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Susan M. Marles ◽

Thomas D. Warkentin ◽

Frederick A. Holm

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Growth Suppression ◽

Field Pea ◽

Test Plant ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Weed Species ◽

Test Species ◽

Soil P ◽

Pea Seed

Field pea seed from bin cleaning operations stored overwinter on nearby cropland was observed to correlate with weed and crop growth suppression for up to three subsequent years. To explore the phenomenon more explicitly, plant growth suppression trials were undertaken with soil sampled 18 mo apart from two locations that had contained field pea seed residues. Test plant species grown in the residue-affected and nearby residue-free soils were compared in greenhouse experiments. Germination was either fully inhibited or emergence was delayed by more than one week. Dry matter accumulation of test species grown in residue-affected soil was significantly reduced compared to dry matter of these test species grown in residue-free soil (P < 0.0001). Canola and field pea were inhibited more than wheat and green foxtail over both years. Greenhouse trials also revealed that germination of wild oat was inhibited in the residue-affected soils, although wheat and grassy weeds were less suppressed than dicots overall. Significant reductions of weed species diversity and abundance were correlated to residue-affected soils (P < 0.0001) when compared to residue-free soils using multi-response permutations procedures. Germination of wheat and canola seed was inhibited, using aqueous extracts of weathered pea seeds or extracts of the residue-affected soil in bioassays in sterile media. An allelopathic response was proposed to explain the above results, indicating a need for further research on this system. Weed management strategies could be developed with field pea seed residues to provide innovative weed control techniques.

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Production of Flavonoids in Organogenic Cultures of Alpinia Zerumbet

Natural Product Communications ◽

10.1177/1934578x1000500815 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (8) ◽

pp. 1934578X1000500 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cristiane P. Victório ◽

Rosani do Carmo de O. Arruda ◽

Celso Luiz S. Lage ◽

Ricardo M. Kuster

Keyword(s):

Growth Regulators ◽

High Performance ◽

Relative Concentration ◽

In Vitro Cultivation ◽

Ms Medium ◽

Control Medium ◽

Direct Relation ◽

Alpinia Zerumbet ◽

Phenolic And Flavonoid

Alpinia zerumbet plantlets were cultured in vitro in MS medium supplemented with growth regulators, including IAA, TDZ and BAP. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the production of rutin, kaempferol-3- O-glucuronide, and kaempferol-3 -O-rutinoside was evaluated, based on leaf hydroalcoholic extracts of three-month-old plantlets. The relative concentration of phenolics from the hydroalcoholic extracts of plantlets cultured in control medium reached 100% compared with plantlets treated with growth regulators and donor plants (80%). The in vitro rutin production was more pronounced than the other flavonoids. While no direct relation between the content of phenolic compounds and increased flavonoid production was observed, the combination of IAA + TDZ enhanced the production of rutin (83.2 μg/g dried leaves) and kaempferol-3- O-glucuronide (29 μg/g dried leaves), compared with growth regulators used alone. Overall, these findings suggest the value of in vitro cultivation as a means of enriching phenolic and flavonoid production in medicinal plants.

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EVALUATION OF HORIBA CARDY COMPACT METERS FOR MONITORING GROWING MEDIA EXTRACT AND CELL SAP pH, E. C., NO3, NA AND K CONCENTRATION

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.670a ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 670a-670

Author(s):

Jill Larimer ◽

John C. Peterson

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Standard Deviation ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Excellent Agreement ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Growing Media ◽

Good Relationship ◽

Potting Media ◽

K Concentration ◽

Saturated Extract

Horiba Cardy compact pH, Electrical Conductivity (E.C.), Nitrate (NO3), Sodium (Na), and Potassium (K) meters were used to monitor the nutrient content of solutions extracted from five organic potting media. Solution extracts were collected using the Saturated Extract Method (SEM). Duplicate samples were sent to three analytical labs for comparative purposes. The meters proved to be quick and easy to use and there was good to excellent agreement with lab value for pH, E.C., Na and K. The NO3 meter did not provide good values below 80 ppm. For higher values there was a good relationship to lab values. The standard deviation for meter values was low, as were lab values for all parameter. Results of cell sap measurements as a method for evaluating the nutritional status of plants will be presented.

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New Basal Media for Protocorm-Like Body and Callus Induction of Hybrid Cymbidium

Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research ◽

10.2478/v10290-012-0022-8 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 127-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Callus Induction ◽

High Frequency ◽

Callus Formation ◽

Basal Medium ◽

Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽

Control Medium ◽

Industry Standard ◽

Basal Media ◽

Bacto Agar

Abstract High frequency protocorm-like body (PLB) production from hybrid Cymbidium Twilight Moon ‘Day Light’ has been developed through a new medium, Teixeira Cymbidium (TC) medium. Two new TC media containing variable amounts of macroand micronutrients and other additives, inspired by Winarto and Teixeira (WT) medium for Anthurium and Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium were used to induce PLBs and callus. Control medium was research- and industry-standard Vacin and Went (VW) medium. The first TC medium, TCPLB, could induce significantly more PLBs than on VW while high levels of macronutrients in the second TC medium, TCCALLUS, and MS were required to induce callus. All PLB induction media contained 0.1 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.1 mg/l kinetin (KIN), 2 g/l tryptone and 20 g/l sucrose, and solidified with 8 g/l Bacto agar while callusinduction media were identical, except that KIN was substituted by thidiazuron (TDZ). Basal medium had a significant effect on PLB and callus formation. This protocol could be used to induce PLBs and callus from other Cymbidium species or cultivars.

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Growth of Poinsettia in Potting Media Amended with Ground Kenaf Stem Core

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.3.483f ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 483F-484

Author(s):

Harvey J. Lang

Keyword(s):

Gulf Coast ◽

Crop Growth ◽

Water Holding Capacity ◽

Hibiscus Cannabinus ◽

Tropical Species ◽

Euphorbia Pulcherrima ◽

Control Medium ◽

Potting Media ◽

Water Holding

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. `V-14 Glory Red', `V-17 Marble', and `Jingle Bells 3' were grown in various peat-based potting media amended with ground, non-composted woody stem core of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) and fertilized at every irrigation with a 17N–2.2P–13.8K fertilizer at 300 ppm N. Kenaf is an annual tropical species grown in several Gulf Coast states as a fiber crop. Growth and overall quality of all cultivars was best in media containing 50% to 70% coarse grind of kenaf (by volume) and was similar to a commercial soilless control medium (Sunshine #1, SunGro Horticulture, Inc.). Media containing greater than 70% fine grind kenaf resulted in significantly smaller plants with chlorosis of both lower and upper leaves, and also resulted in undesirable shrinkage of media in the containers. Addition of 19N–2.6P–10K Osmocote to kenaf-amended media at a rate of 3.5 kg·m–3 resulted in significantly better plants with less chlorosis than similar media without Osmocote. Media containing kenaf also resulted in significantly less water-holding capacity than Sunshine #1 and required morefrequent irrigation to sustain the growth of plants.

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247 Early Growth and Development of Container-grown Pawpaw Seedlings in Various Potting Media and Nutrient Regimes

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.433e ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 433E-433

Author(s):

Kirk W. Pomper ◽

Snake C. Jones ◽

Eddie B. Reed

Keyword(s):

Native American ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Pine Bark ◽

Leaf Number ◽

Control Medium ◽

Sphagnum Peat ◽

Asimina Triloba ◽

Potting Medium ◽

Potting Media ◽

Main Plot

The pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a native American tree fruit with potential in edible landscapes and as a new fruit crop. A split-plot experiment (main plot: fertilizer level and subplot potting medium) was conducted in the greenhouse to identify the best growing medium for production of pawpaw seedlings. Seeds were sown in rootrainers containing one of the following media: 1) Promix (control); 2) 6 pine bark:1 mason sand (v/v); 3) 1 mason sand: 1 sphagnum peat; and 4) 4 pine bark:1 mason sand:1 sphagnum peat. When seedlings had at least two to three leaves, weekly fertigation of seedlings began, using 0, 250, or 500 ppm Peters 20N-20P-20K. Germination rate at 10 weeks was similar in all media, at about 80%. The plants were destructively harvested 10 weeks after imposition of fertigation treatments. Both potting media and fertigation influenced leaf number and height; however, there was a significant interaction between these main effects. Leaf number and height for plants in medium 3 were similar to those of the control (medium 1), at about 11 leaves and 18-cm plant height, respectively, at 500 ppm fertigation. Plants in media 2 and 4 were about half as tall and had about half as many leaves as control medium plants at 500 ppm fertigation. Plant leaf area and biomass data will be discussed.

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Effects of cytokinins on antioxidant enzymes in in vitro grown shoots of Pelargonium hortorum L. H. Bayley

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2014.042 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 33-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Agnieszka Wojtania ◽

Edyta Skrzypek

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Enzymes ◽

Basal Medium ◽

Shoot Formation ◽

Control Medium ◽

Enzymes Activities ◽

Aromatic Cytokinin ◽

Leaf Yellowing ◽

Subculture Period ◽

Antioxidant Enzymes Activities

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of meta-topolin (mT) and 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP) on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level and antioxidant enzymes activities in relation to the shoot formation and senescence process in Pelargonium hortorum cultivars, which differ in their susceptibility to leaf yellowing under in vitro conditions.In an early senescing cultivar ‘Grand Prix’, the addition of an aromatic cytokinin mT to abscisic acid (ABA)-enriched Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium more efficiently inhibited leaf yellowing than BAP. In both genotypes, meta-topolin was also the most effective in shoot formation. It was found that Pelargonium species varying in their susceptibility to senescence differ in H2O2 production and antioxidant enzymes activities. Generally, meta-topolin more effectively enhanced H2O2 production and POD activity than BAP and control medium, but its effect depended on genotype. The highest H2O2 production stimulated by mT was observed on day 5 of subculture in late senescing cv. ‘Bergpalais’. In both geranium genotypes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were highest at the beginning of the subculture period, during the initiation of shoot formation. SOD showed the highest activity on day 5 of subculture on the medium without cytokinin and generally being higher in cv. ‘Bergpalais’ than in cv. ‘Grand Prix’. CAT activity was positively regulated by both cytokinins. POD activity was most effectively enhanced by mT, but on different days of subculture - on the 2nd day of subculture in cv. ‘Bergpalais’ and on the 22nd day of subculture in cv. ‘Grand Prix’. The enhanced activity of POD in the presence of mT, 4-fold higher than on control medium, at the end of subculture in P. hortorum ‘Grand Prix’ coincided with the inhibition of leaf senescence.

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