1,721,031 research outputs found
Estimation of cut butcher's broom (Danae racemosa (L.) Moench) foliage vase life through the measurement of leaf functionality
No full textCut foliages are ornamental items with a vase life longer compared to cut flowers and a storage period that can be extended for up to two months. The aim of this work was to develop a model of prediction for the estimation of butcher's broom (Danae racemosa (L.) Moench) foliage vase life based on chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement. After harvest, the cut foliage was first stored at 4 or 10°C for 28 days and after storage, it was transferred to 20°C in a controlled environment for vase life evaluation. The chlorophyll a fluorescence was monitored during vase life and the induction curve was used for performing the JIP test. The average vase life of cut butcher's broom at room temperature was 34 days and declined to 27-28 days without differences between 4 and 10°C after two weeks of storage. The JIP test derived indexed were correlated with the vase life of cut butcher's broom branches and were used for estimating the vase life. Among the chlorophyll a fluorescence-based indexes evaluated, the performance index (PI) was selected, as it showed a progressive decrement which was the positively correlated with the vase life of cut foliage. The PI gives an indication on the vitality of the leaf and its functionality. Generally, leaf senescence or stressful conditions can induce a reduction of the PI. The linear regression coefficient between PI and vase life was 0.75 for cut branches stored. For these reasons, PI could be used as a tool for quality evaluation and vase life estimation in the cut foliage industry and distribution chain
Valutazione dello stress post-produzione delle piante fiorite in vaso attraverso la misura della fluorescenza della clorofilla a.
No full textThe Role of Blue and Red Light in the Orchestration of Secondary Metabolites, Nutrient Transport and Plant Quality
No full textLight is a fundamental environmental parameter for plant growth and development because it provides an energy source for carbon fixation during photosynthesis and regulates many other physiological processes through its signaling. In indoor horticultural cultivation systems, sole-source light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown great potential for optimizing growth and producing high-quality products. Light is also a regulator of flowering, acting on phytochromes and inducing or inhibiting photoperiodic plants. Plants respond to light quality through several light receptors that can absorb light at different wavelengths. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the role of blue and red light in the modulation of important plant quality traits, nutrient absorption and assimilation, as well as secondary metabolites, and includes the dynamic signaling networks that are orchestrated by blue and red wavelengths with a focus on transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming, plant productivity, and the nutritional quality of products. Moreover, it highlights future lines of research that should increase our knowledge to develop tailored light recipes to shape the plant characteristics and the nutritional and nutraceutical value of horticultural products
The Inclusion of Green Light in a Red and Blue Light Background Impact the Growth and Functional Quality of Vegetable and Flower Microgreen Species
Full text linkMicrogreens are edible seedlings of vegetables and flowers species which are currently considered among the five most profitable crops globally. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown great potential for plant growth, development, and synthesis of health-promoting phytochemicals with a more flexible and feasible spectral manipulation for microgreen production in indoor farms. However, research on LED lighting spectral manipulation specific to microgreen production, has shown high variability in how these edible seedlings behave regarding their light environmental conditions. Hence, developing species-specific LED light recipes for enhancement of growth and valuable functional compounds is fundamental to improve their production system. In this study, various irradiance levels and wavelengths of light spectrum produced by LEDs were investigated for their effect on growth, yield, and nutritional quality in four vegetables (chicory, green mizuna, china rose radish, and alfalfa) and two flowers (french marigold and celosia) of microgreens species. Microgreens were grown in a controlled environment using sole-source light with different photosynthetic photon flux density (110, 220, 340 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) and two different spectra (RB: 65% red, 35% blue; RGB: 47% red, 19% green, 34% blue). At harvest, the lowest level of photosynthetically active photon flux (110 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) reduced growth and decreased the phenolic contents in almost all species. The inclusion of green wavelengths under the highest intensity showed positive effects on phenolic accumulation. Total carotenoid content and antioxidant capacity were in general enhanced by the middle intensity, regardless of spectral combination. Thus, this study indicates that the inclusion of green light at an irradiance level of 340 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) in the RB light environment promotes the growth (dry weight biomass) and the accumulation of bioactive phytochemicals in the majority of the microgreen species tested
Effects of abscisic acid on ethylene biosynthesis and perception in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. flower
No full textPulse-treatments with thidiazuron and melatonin improve quality and prolong vase-life of Ranunculus asiaticus L. cut flowers
No full textThe buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.), belonging to Ranunculaceae family, is a popular ornamental plant in the Mediterranean area, cultivated and sold as cut flower and potted plant. Loss of postharvest ornamental value in R. asiaticus L. commodities/ product is mainly related to senescence process which appear first in the leaves (yellowing) and subsequently affects the flower (wilting and abscission). Its vase life is quite short and ranges from 9 to 11 days, depending on postharvest conditions. In these experiments, the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ), a synthetic cytokinin-like activity and melatonin (MEL), a recently discovered phytohormone was investigated on postharvest longevity of cut buttercup flowers. Cut flowers were pulse treated with water (control), 10 μM TDZ, 100 μM MEL, 2.5 or 5 mg L‐1 Se (sodium selenate). All treatments were applied for 24 h (pulse). The effect of treatments was then evaluated by water balance relations, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a fluorescence, vase life and ethylene production. The water balance relations showed the highest values in TDZ and MEL-treated cut flowers. The photosynthetic performance in the control cut flowers exhibited a strong downregulation, whereas the TDZ and MEL treated ones maintained the leaves vitality throughout the experimental timing. The leaf chlorophyll content and ethylene production were both higher in TDZ and MEL treated plant compared to non-treated plant. Both TDZ and MEL treatments showed an improvement of cut flower vase-life. These results suggested that a single 24-h pulse treatment with 10 μM TDZ or 100 μM MEL significantly delayed the progression of senescence process in cut buttercup flowers for more than 18 days
LED Lighting to Produce High-Quality Ornamental Plants
No full textThe flexibility of LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, compactness, long lifetime, and low heat emission, as well as its applications as a sole source or supplemental lighting system, offers interesting potential, giving the ornamental industry an edge over traditional production practices. Light is a fundamental environmental factor that provides energy for plants through photosynthesis, but it also acts as a signal and coordinates multifaceted plant-growth and development processes. With manipulations of light quality affecting specific plant traits such as flowering, plant architecture, and pigmentation, the focus has been placed on the ability to precisely manage the light growing environment, proving to be an effective tool to produce tailored plants according to market request. Applying lighting technology grants growers several productive advantages, such as planned production (early flowering, continuous production, and predictable yield), improved plant habitus (rooting and height), regulated leaf and flower color, and overall improved quality attributes of commodities. Potential LED benefits to the floriculture industry are not limited to the aesthetic and economic value of the product obtained; LED technology also represents a solid, sustainable option for reducing agrochemical (plant-growth regulators and pesticides) and energy inputs (power energy)
Molecular and physiological responses to salt stress in salinity-sensitive and tolerant Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivars
No full textOrnamental plants are used to decorate urban and peri-urban areas, and during their cultivation or utilisation, they can be exposed to abiotic stress. Salinity is an abiotic stress factor that limits plant growth and reduces the ornamental value of sensitive species. In this study, transcriptomic analysis was conducted to identify genes associated with tolerance or sensitivity to salinity in two hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) cultivars, ‘Porto’ and ‘Sunny wind’. The physiological and biochemical parameters of plants exposed to 50, 100, or 200 mM NaCl and water (control) were monitored. Salinity treatments were applied for six weeks. After four weeks, differences between cultivars were clearly evident and ‘Porto’ was more tolerant than ‘Sunny wind’. The tolerant cultivar showed lower electrolyte leakage and ABA concentrations, and higher proline content in the leaves. Accumulation of Na in different organs was lower in the flower organs of ‘Porto’. At the molecular level, several differential expressed genes were observed between the cultivars and flower organs. Among the highly expressed DEGs, coat protein, alcohol dehydrogenase, and AP2/EREBP transcription factor ERF-1. Among the downregulated genes, GH3 and NCED were the most interesting. The differential expression of these genes may explain the salt stress tolerance of ‘Porto’. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
Effects of postharvest application of salicylic acid and benzothiadiazole on cut rose (Rosa hybrida)
No full textRose (Rosa hybrida) is among the most important species sold as cut flower. Its vase life is quite short and ranges from 6 to 10 days, depending on postharvest conditions. Flower and leaf senescence is the main responsible for quality losses and strongly affects the marketability of this ornamental item. Salicylic acid is a plant hormone playing a key role in flowers senescence acting at different levels. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of postharvest treatments on the quality and on the vase life of cut-rose flowers. Cut roses (flowers and leaves) were treated for 24 h with salicylic acid – SA and with a commercial formulation containing benzothiadiazole – BTH, which is a functional analogue of the hormone. During vase life, chlorophyll a fluorescence was monitored non-destructively in leaves. Samples (leaves and petals) were collected at the beginning of the trial (T0) and after 4 (T4) and 7 (T7) days at 20°C and destructive determination of phenolic index was conducted. Results showed that SA treatment was effective in extending the vase life of roses but did not affect the phenolic content. On the other hand, BTH significantly increased the levels of phenols, especially in leaves, but, at the same time, it negatively affected the quality of stems, probably due to an impairment of water uptake
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