Investigation of Bunch Cut at Different Times After Pollination and Flower Position in the Spikelet in Date Palm ‘Sukkary’ Variety

As many studies on other crops showed an acropetal decline of fruit-set and fruit size in the inflorescence, this paper investigates the effect of flower position in spikelets in the ‘Sukkary’ variety of date palm on fruit-set and final fruit weight. Also studied was the best time to apply strand-cut (bunch cut) as an alternative to hand thinning, to increase final fruit weight. Hand thinning is a labor cost operation and worker productivity operation is one adult tree per day maximum. To study fruit-set in relation to fruit position, three types of pollen were used to pollinate female trees: new pollen harvested in March 2018, pollen stored for one year at room temperature (25-35° C), and pollen stored for two years at room temperature. Four weeks after pollination, fruits aborted and those non-aborted in every bunch were counted. Recording was done in every spikelet from proximal to distal. To study the effect of fruit position in spikelet on fruit weight, fresh pollen was used to pollinate ‘Sukkary’ females. Every two days, fruit weight was measured from pollination to harvest, and fruit growth pattern was drawn. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out for the final fruit weight in every spikelet part. This investigation showed no pattern in fruit-set or in final fruit weight when using new pollen. When pollinated with old pollen that was one and two years old, the proximal ‘Sukkary’ flowers of the spikelets showed less fruit-set compared to those of the middle and distal part. This basipetal decline is explained by low viability of old pollen, combined with the basipetal opening of the spathes in date palm...

MORPHOTAXONOMIC RE-CLASSIFICATION OF C. ANNUUM VAR. ACCUMINATUM FINGERH AS C. FRUTESCENS VAR. ACCUMINATUM

The taxonomic identities of some Capsicum varieties are somewhat controversial. This study is aimed at using morphological characters to ascertain the Capsicum species to which variety accuminatum belongs. The study was conducted at the Experimental Plot of the Department of Pure and Applied Botany, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude: 7.214952; Longitude: 3.437090) using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in 10 replicates. Quantitative and qualitative characters were evaluated through measurements and visual observation respectively. Data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Systems version 9.2 and Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to separate means at p ˂ 0.05. The reults revealed erect growth habit, lanceolate leaf shape, pendant flower position, white corolla colour, obtuse fruit shape at pedicel, elongated fruit shape, and pointed fruit shape at blossom end on variety accuminatum as characteristic features of C. frutescens. Plant canopy width 103.41±(4.30) cm, number of branches per plant 24.70±(0.15), days to flowering 73±(0.21), fruit length 11.69±(0.07) cm and fruit width 5.78±(0.05) cm in variety accuminatum are closer to mean values in C. frutescens. This study showed that variety accuminatum is morphologically and evolutionary related to C. frutescens. Therefore, re-naming of C. annuum var. accuminatum is hereby suggested and proposed to be C. frutescens var. accuminatum.

Determination of the relatedness, ease of hybridization and gene exchange among members of the genus Capsicum in Nigeria

The fruit of Capsicum plants have a variety of names depending on place and type. This research was focused at studying the exchange of genes amongst members of the genus Capsicum in Nigeria. The process of interspecific and intervarietal hybridization of two (2) species of the genus Capsicum; C. annuum and C. frutasense were carried out and the results show that most of the studied attributes like arrangement of leaves, shape of leaves, leaf density were undetermined while majority with distinct changes follow maternal inheritance. There were less successes among the interspecific crosses and high successes between varietal crosses ranging from 19.5% to 2.4% for the inter-varietal cross and 9.3% to 2.4% for interspecific crosses. This indicates that there are more hybridization barriers among interspecific hybridization than inter-varietal hybridization. The closely related species and varieties had higher percentage success of hybridization and vice versa. Characters such as Hypocotyl colour had partial dominance. Erect flower position is dominant in W and hybrid T*W while pendant is recessive. Red fruit colour at maturity, green fruit stalk colour was dominant while yellow was recessive. A good knowledge of how related species of the genus Capsicum are, the easier it will enable researchers to hybridize and improve the genus.

Genomic region associated with pod color variation in pea (Pisum sativum)

SUMMARYPea (Pisum sativum) was chosen as the research material by Gregor Mendel to discover the laws of inheritance. Out of seven traits studied by Mendel, genes controlling three traits including pod shape, pod color, and flower position have not been identified to date. With the aim to identify the genomic region controlling pod color, we determined the genome sequence of a pea line with yellow pods. Genome sequence reads obtained using a nanopore sequencing technology were assembled into 117,981 contigs that spanned 3.3 Gb in length and showed an N50 value of 51.2 kb. Using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in a pea mapping population, these contigs were genetically anchored to the publicly available pseudomolecule sequences of the pea genome. Subsequent genetic and association analyses identified a genomic region responsible for pea pod color. At this genomic location, genes encoding 3’ exoribonucleases were selected as potential candidates controlling pod color, based on DNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis of green and yellow pod lines. The results presented in this study are expected to accelerate pan-genome studies in pea and facilitate the identification of the gene controlling one of the traits studied by Mendel.

Nectar secretion and pollen production in Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Sky Jacket’ (Asparagaceae)

Flowering, nectar secretion, and pollen production in <em>Hyacinthus orientalis</em> ‘Sky Jacket’ (Asparagaceae) were studied between 2013 and 2015 in Lublin, SE Poland (51°16' N, 22°30' E). The flowering was weather-dependent. It started at the beginning of April or at the end of the month and lasted 14–24 days. The mass of nectar, sugar concentration in the nectar, nectar sugar mass, anther size, and pollen mass in flowers all depended on the flower position in the inflorescence and differed significantly between the years of study. The greatest mass of sugars and pollen was recorded in low-positioned flowers. On average, <em>H. orientalis</em> ‘Sky Jacket’ produced 1.63 mg of sugars and 3.51 mg of pollen per flower. The floral reward was attractive for <em>Apis mellifera</em> and <em>Bombus</em> spp., which indicate that the species should be propagated not only for its decorative value but also for supporting pollinators in early spring.

Genetic Diversity of Jatropha spp. Germplasm Based on Morphological and Molecular Markers

<p>Germplasm of Jatropha spp. with high genetic diversity is needed to develop a new superior variety of Jatropha spp. Morphological and molecular characterizations are important to support development of their superior hybrid varieties. The aims of this study were to identify Jatropha spp. accesion potential for genetic improvement using morphological characters<br />and analyze their genetic diversity using SSR markers. A total of eight genotypes of Jatropha spp. originated from several localities in Indonesia and Thailand was observed. Results showed that accessions of Jatropha spp. were varied in morphological and molecular characters. Based on principle component analysis, characters of stem color, leaf veins, leaf shapes, flower position, total branch number, productive branch number, petiole color, and petal color contributed most to the total diversity. Based on oil seed content, potential accessions identified for further genetic improvement were J. podagrica (34.63%) and J. curcas (29.64%). The results of molecular analysis showed that high allele variation (3–7 alleles) was observed<br />among Jatropha spp. accessions with an average allele number of 4.12 and the average Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value was 0.57 (0.46–0.77). Three SSR markers showed PIC value &gt;0.5 indicating that these markers were informative for genetic diversity detection of Jatropha spp. The phylogenetic analysis showed that seven accessions of Jatropha spp. could<br />be divided in two groups at similarity coefficent of 0.53. Results of genetic diversity analysis in this study should be useful for proper identification and selection for appropriate parents to assist in breeding of Jatropha spp. in Indonesia.</p>

Rasio N-NO3-:P dan Pengaturan Kepekatan Larutan Nutrisi Untuk Pembungaan Waluh Berbasis Hidroponik Substrat

<p>Pumpkin is a promising commodity to be developed as food substitute for flour-based flour. Pumpkin cultivation is currently cultivated by farmers on dry land as secondary crop. Pumpkin cultivation constraints as requires a large area and long time. Pumpkin commodities development can be done by hydroponic substrates cultivation that have advantages to accelerate the plant growth, can be cultivated on limited area, and increase the quality of plant yields. The hydroponic substrate cultivation depends on the quality of nutrients as well as the availability of the nutrients. The aim of this research is to study the response of plant flowering to the composition of nutrients (modification of the balance of Nitrogen and Phosphor) and concentration of hydroponic substrate nutrition solution and interaction between treatments. This research used Completely Randomized Design which consists of 2 factors, nutritional composition and concentration of solution with 3 replications and each treatment consist of 6 plants. Observation variables included flower age, flower position, and number of flowers. The results showed that there were interactions between the treatment of nutrient composition and adjustment concentration on the observing variables flower age appear, and flower position. Nutritional composition with the balance of elements of Phosphorus and Nitrogen shows the higher balance of Phosphorus elements followed by lower Nitrogen elements tend to give a lower response to flowering pumpkin on hydroponic substrate. Adjustment lower concentration of application solutions (20 ml concentrated in 1 L solution) or equivalent to EC 3.8-4.0 mS/cm gives a better response to flowering pumpkin on hydroponic substrate.</p>

Flower growth position determines with formation of fruit-set on citrus siam plants

The purpose of this study was to find out the position of the emergence of flowers associated with the formation of fruit-set as a potential fruit on the citrus Siam plant. This study used a randomized block design with two factors observed that is flower position on the branch and flowering period. The results of the statistic data tabulation show that. The interaction between the positions of the flowering period on citrus Siam plants is not significantly different. The position of the emergence of the flower determines many fruit-set are formed. Top branch. The position of the top branch shows the percentage of fruit-set is formed more that is 97,95 % and the lowest in rootstock, that is 91,30. This incident was supported by more interest formed when the top branch that’s is 224,95 florets more 53,65 % if it is stretched in the lower stem position 104,27 florets. This is supported by relative water content, chlorophyll, N, P, K and sucrose leaves i.e. 46,78 %, 28,82 %, 1,40 %, 0,74 %, 3,42 % and 3,42 % bigger than the lower stem i.e. 41,36 %, 18,64 %, 1,16 %, 0,19 %, and 2,17 %.