GROWTH RESPONSE OF INDOOR ORNAMENTAL PLANT SPECIES TO VARIOUS ARTIFICIAL LIGHT INTENSITIES (LED) IN AN INDOOR VERTICAL GARDEN

Urban population spends most of their time indoors leading to multiple problems. Making an indoor vertical garden and associating people to this new concept will help build the indoor environment with improved energy efficiency, indoor air quality, their improved health and well-being. Of all of the factors affecting plant growth in interiors, adequate light is by far the most important. LED is an efficient, energy-saving light source widely used in artificial light plant production systems. Lack of scientific information regarding the light intensity requirement for optimum growth of the indoor ornamental plant species under Indian conditions makes the study of utmost importance. Five indoor ornamental plant species namely, Schefflera arboricola, Dracaena godseffiana, Philodendron salloum, Syngonium podophyllum and Scindapsis aureus were planted in pots (5”) with soil less media arranged as vertical structures (6?11”x4?3”) aligned to interiors walls of a room. Four such structures/frames were fabricated, fertigated with 100 % of the Hoagland solution and artificially illuminated using LED lighting system (PWM controlled) with different light intensities i.e. 700-1100 lux (LI I), 1100-1500 lux (LI II), 1500- 1900 lux (LI III) and LI IV had no artificial light illumination (control). From the most effective positive response of plant species under study on the basis of their growth response towards different light intensities, it was concluded that Philodendron salloum responded best to LI I (700-1100 lux), Scindapsis aureus to LI II (1100-1500 lux), Dracaena godseffiana, Schefflera arboricola and Syngonium podophyllum to LI III (1500-1900 lux).

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Managing pH of Organic Matrices and New Commercial Substrates for Ornamental Plant Production: A Methodological Approach

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050851 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 851

Author(s):

Sonia Cacini ◽

Sara Di Lonardo ◽

Simone Orsenigo ◽

Daniele Massa

Keyword(s):

Methodological Approach ◽

Buffering Capacity ◽

Ornamental Plant ◽

Plant Production ◽

Climatic Chamber ◽

Step Procedure ◽

Coir Dust ◽

Organic Matrices ◽

Substrate Mixtures

Professional peat-free substrates for ornamental plant production are increasingly required by nursery growers. Most promising materials are green compost, coconut coir dust, and woody fibre, used alone or in mixtures. One of the major concerns is pH, usually higher than optimal. In this work, a method based on a three-step procedure was adopted to acidify three organic matrices alone or in mixtures and to individuate the most suitable product, between iron(II) sulphate 7-hydrate and elemental sulphur chips. Firstly, the determination of the buffering capacity by dilution with sulphuric acid was carried out to determine dosages. Afterwards, an incubation trial of 84 (iron(II) sulphate) or 120 days (sulphur chips) was conducted on matrices and substrate mixtures with calculated doses in a climatic chamber maintained at 21 °C. Iron(II) sulphate resulted not suitable because it caused a rapid, but not lasting, pH lowering and an excessive electrical conductivity (EC) increase. Sulphur chips could instead guarantee an adequate and lasting pH lowering. These results were then validated in the open field trial on matrices and substrates. The proposed acidification methodology could be considered in developing new substrates, but the rapidity of pH acidification and EC increase on plant and mineral nutrition should be further investigated.

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Effect of host plant on the life history of the carnation tortrix moth Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485321000493 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Marcin W. Zielonka ◽

Tom W. Pope ◽

Simon R. Leather

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Plant Production ◽

Pupal Weight ◽

Production Environment ◽

Host Plant Species ◽

The Uk

Abstract The carnation tortrix moth, Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, [1799]) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the most economically important insect species affecting the horticultural industry in the UK. The larvae consume foliage, flowers or fruits, and/or rolls leaves together with silken threads, negatively affecting the growth and/or aesthetics of the crop. In order to understand the polyphagous behaviour of this species within an ornamental crop habitat, we hypothesized that different host plant species affect its life history traits differently. This study investigated the effects of the host plant species on larval and pupal durations and sizes, and fecundity (the number of eggs and the number and size of egg clutches). At 20°C, 60% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod larvae developed 10, 14, 20 and 36 days faster when reared on Christmas berry, Photinia (Rosaceae), than on cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus (Rosaceae), New Zealand broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (Griseliniaceae), Mexican orange, Choisya ternata (Rutaceae), and firethorn, Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae), respectively. Female pupae were 23.8 mg heavier than male pupae, and pupal weight was significantly correlated with the duration of larval development. The lowest and the highest mean numbers of eggs were produced by females reared on Pyracantha (41) and Photinia (202), respectively. Clutch size differed significantly among moths reared on different host plants, although the total number of eggs did not differ. This study showed that different ornamental host plants affect the development of C. pronubana differently. Improved understanding of the influence of host plant on the moth's life history parameters measured here will help in determining the economic impact that this species may have within the ornamental plant production environment, and may be used in developing more accurate crop protection methodologies within integrated pest management of this insect.

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Acute consumption of p-synephrine does not enhance performance in sprint athletes

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2015-0299 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 63-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín ◽

Juan José Salinero ◽

Javier Abían-Vicen ◽

Francisco Areces ◽

Beatriz Lara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scientific Information ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Well Being ◽

Placebo Control Trial ◽

Placebo Control ◽

Jump Height ◽

Countermovement Jump ◽

Squat Jump ◽

Jump Test ◽

The Hours

P-Synephrine is a protoalkaloid widely used as an ergogenic aid in sports. This substance has been included in the World Anti-Doping Agency monitoring program, although scientific information about its effects on performance and athletes’ well-being is scarce. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of p-synephrine to increase performance in sprint athletes. In a randomized and counterbalanced order, 13 experienced sprinters performed 2 acute experimental trials after the ingestion of p-synephrine (3 mg·kg−1) or after the ingestion of a placebo (control trial). Forty-five minutes after the ingestion of the substances, the sprinters performed a squat jump, a countermovement jump, a 15-s repeated jump test, and subsequently performed 60-m and 100-m simulated sprint competitions. Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess side-effect prevalence. In comparison with the control trial, the ingestion of p-synephrine did not change countermovement jump height (37.4 ± 4.2 vs 36.7 ± 3.3 cm, respectively; P = 0.52), squat jump height (34.4 ± 3.6 vs 33.9 ± 3.7 cm; P = 0.34), or average 15-s repeated jumps height (31.8 ± 4.1 vs 32.2 ± 3.6 cm; P = 0.18). P-Synephrine did not modify maximal running speed during the 60-m (9.0 ± 0.5 vs 9.0 ± 0.4 m·s−1, respectively; P = 0.55) and 100-m sprint competitions (8.8 ± 0.5 vs 8.8 ± 0.5 m·s−1, respectively; P = 0.92). The ingestion of p-synephrine did not alter the prevalence of headache, gastrointestinal discomforts, muscle pain, or insomnia during the hours following the tests. Acute consumption of 3 mg·kg−1 of p-synephrine was ineffective to increase performance in competitive sprint athletes. Moreover, p-synephrine did not increase the occurrence of side effects after the competition.

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Ecosystem services and tradeoffs in the home food gardens of African American, Chinese-origin and Mexican-origin households in Chicago, IL

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s174217051600003x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 69-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

John R. Taylor ◽

Sarah Taylor Lovell ◽

Sam E. Wortman ◽

Michelle Chan

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Plant Species ◽

Food Production ◽

Ornamental Plant ◽

Urban Land Use ◽

Mexican Origin ◽

Chinese Origin ◽

Wide Range ◽

Food Gardens

AbstractWith increasing urbanization and environmental degradation, urban landscapes are increasingly expected to provide a wide range of ecosystem services typically associated with rural areas, including biodiversity conservation and food production. Because residential landscapes constitute the largest single urban land use, domestic gardens have emerged as a topic of research interest and planning concern. The ecosystem services (or disservices) these landscapes provide, however, have not been rigorously measured, nor have tradeoffs between the services they provide been assessed. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 59 African American, Chinese-origin or Mexican-origin households with on-lot or vacant lot food gardens in Chicago. Crop plants and cultivated ornamental plants on the lot were inventoried and mapped at the species level. A total of 123 edible plant taxa from 25 families and 288 ornamental plant species from 85 families were identified, for a combined total of 387 species from 90 families. Cumulatively, the gardens of African American households were relatively rich in ornamental plant species and families, while those of Chinese-origin households had a depauperate flora. Crop plant richness was more even across sample types. Shade trees and a developed shrub layer were absent from most gardens, possibly representing a tradeoff in ecosystem services in favor of food production. The richness of the aggregate 2.1 ha of residential property inventoried in this study was comparable with or exceeded that of a 34 ha prairie remnant west of Chicago. However, only 35 (9.6%) of the inventoried species were native to the Chicago area.

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