CHARACTERISTICS OF DAHLIA CAV. VARIETIES RESEARCHED UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE EXPOSITION AREA OF VINNYTSIA NATIONAL AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY

The results of studies on the use of decorative ornamental plants of flower and ornamental plants Dahlia Cav. in Vinnytsia Region at their level of adaptation to growing conditions have been presented. The assessment of the collection of the genus Dahlia Cav. at the exposition site of the Vinnitsa National Agrarian University, it has been determined that the collection is dominated by varieties of individual garden groups such as cactus, nymphae and decorative. In order to expand and replenish the collection of the genus Dahlia Cav the exhibition area VNAU conducted a selection of varieties that are representative of a set of indicators such as plant height, shape and size of inflorescences among the dahlia assortment. Dahlias are easy to grow and bring life to your garden with their intense color, strength, and ability to keep flowering until the first frosts. Dahlias like well-balanced and composted soil, and full sun. With 42 different species and thousands of cultivars, dahlias offer plenty of variety. Variations in color, flower form, size, and foliage make it easy to find one you'll love. The rich variety of their flower colors shapes and sizes added to their extensive blooming season, have turned dahlias into popular addition to our landscapes. There are thousands of varieties of dahlias and they are all classified by the shape, size and color of their flowers. Flowers can be very small in diameter. They offer an impressive range of colors such as pink, purple, red, scarlet, orange, yellow, white and can be stripped or tipped with another color. They can be single-flowering (orchid-flowering, anemone and collarettes) or double flowering (cactus, semi-cactus, formal or informal decorative dahlias, ball and pompons). Dahlias have wide height range. There are many different ways to use dahlias in the garden. Shorter dahlias mix well with annuals or shorter perennials, while taller varieties will grow well with perennials and ornamental grasses toward the rear or center of borders. Their lower stems tend to be unattractive and the plants are heavy (especially the large flowered dinnerplate types); so without staking, they tend to flop. Plant the smallest varieties in containers. Dahlia flowers are brightly colored. They can also look surprisingly good with grasses, as the contrast is total-big bright flowers against finely textured grasses. Good cutting dahlias tend to be the larger varieties because of their longer stems. Key words: dahlias, collection, garden group, flowering, container culture.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis between Ornamental Apple Species Provides Insights into Mechanism of Double Flowering

Double-flower ornamental crabapples display eye-catching morphologies in comparison to single flower, but the genetic basis of double-flower development is not yet well known in apples. In order to comprehensively understand the differential expression of genes (DEGs) between single and double flower, the transcriptome of double flower crabapples Malus Kelsey, Malus micromalus, Malus Royalty, and a single flower cultivar Malus Dolgo were compared by RNA-sequencing. The results showed that there were 1854 genes in overlapped DEGs among all sample comparisons in apple single and double flower varieties. A large number of development and hormone related DEGs were also recognized on the basis of GO and KEGG annotations, and most of the genes were found to be down-regulated in double flowers. Particularly, an AGL24-MADS-box gene (MD08G1196900) and an auxin responsive gene (MD13G1137000) were putatively key candidate genes in the development of double flower by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The study provides insights into the complex molecular mechanism underlying the development of the double flower in apple.

Effect of Mulch on the Growth and Yield of Polianthes tuberosa

Tuberose is one of the most important ornamental plants in Indonesia which the demand continuously increases. However, tuberose is commonly cultivated in drained rice fields and this resulted in various problem such us weed and insect infestation especially mealybug in dry season. In this regard a study was conducted in Malang Regency at Karangploso Experimental Station of East Java Assessment Institute for Agriculture Technology from March 2012 to April 2013. The study employed an experimental method using a randomized block design. Two varieties of tuberoses, i.e., Dian Arum (double flowering) and Roro Anteng (semi-double flowering) were planted on a prepared soil bed. Both tuberose varieties were treated by a silvery plastic mulch cover on one bed and none on the other. Results showed significant differences between the mulch and without mulch treatments in terms of plant growth and flower production. Flower production obtained from mulch treatment was 3.8 stalks/clump or 34.22 stalks/m2, whereas that without mulch was 2.47 stalks/clump or 27.44 stalks/m2. Meanwhile the damage intensity caused by mealybug infestation on the mulch treatment was 15.21%, while that without mulch was 22.17%. In fact, the use of mulch could reduce the weeding cost up to 66.67 % and the total production cost up to 20.86%. The result obtained from R/C ratio analysis with mulch treatment was 2.59 whereas that without mulch was 1.71.Keywords: Polianthes tuberosa ; mulch; weed, pest; yield; R/C ratio

Lisianthus 'Double Joy' -- Five Colors of Double-Flowering and Heat-Tolerant Cultivars Released by the University of Florida's Lisianthus Breeding Program

ENH-1067, a 5-page fact sheet by Brent K. Harbaugh and Zhanao Deng, reports the release of these cultivars appropriate for flowering potted plants of intermediate height. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, February 2007.

Polyaxial development in homeotic flowers of three begonia cultivars

Development of staminate flowers in double-flowering Begonia semperflorens-cultorum cultivars 'Cinderella', 'Goldie Locks', and 'Lucy Lockett' was examined using epi-illumination microscopy, focussing on later stages when secondary partial floral buds formed on the floral apex. This process, switching from floral to inflorescence-like development, is an example of homeosis, the expression of inflorescence features on a floral apex. Floral development began as in a normal begonia flower with the formation of a perianth consisting of two sepals and two petals, but sepaloid and (or) petaloid appendages then developed in what corresponded to stamen positions in normal Begonia species. This was usually followed by lateral elongation, distortion of the primary floral apex, and formation of secondary partial floral buds. The pattern of primordial inception on the secondary apices tended to be irregular, but in some cases, appendage primordia formed in groups of twos, threes, and fours, and in a somewhat alternating formation on the apices. Often, primordial initiation seemed to continue on secondary apices even after anthesis of the staminate flower. Appendage primordia that formed on the secondary buds usually were laterally elongate and bifacial, giving them a phyllomic appearance. Others were, on occasion, more hemispherical at inception, but as they developed they became phyllomic. Key words: homeosis, polyaxial, floral development, intermediate inflorescence.