Exploration and morphologic variation of Iris wild species with ornamental potential

Nowadays, the flower industry is growing so fast that its development requires introducing new varieties to the flower market. Iran is the habitat of numerous species of wild plants that are among the valuable genetics in the breeding process. The identification of native Iris species, investigation of morphological diversity, and distribution method have a significant effect on the introduction of this flower as new and superior cultivars cut flower and bedding plant. The documentation of the most important habitats of Iris in Arak province, identification of morphological characteristics and correlation determination of morphological traits are the most important aims of this research. The results showed that there is a correlation between some of the traits. The highest positive correlation was related to the height of flower and length of the leaf, length of the flowering stem and the length of the leaf and the height of the flower and the length of the flowering stem. The ecotypes of Iris sp. were divided into six groups. Based on the results of the cluster diagram, the bulbous species were separated from rhizome species. Generally, due to the color diversity of Iris sp. and unique beauty of the flowers and the resistance of the native species, they can be used as native foundations. Due to the prominent traits such as high durability of Iris meda, odor of I. hymernospatha Subsp. leptoneura and color diversity of I. persica, I. songarica and height of I. spuria, they can be used to introduce new ornamental species. Iris spuria is the most suitable genotype because of the high height, large flower, high durability, and beautiful flower.

Chrysosplenium sangzhiense (Saxifragaceae), a new species from Hunan, China

Chrysosplenium sangzhiense Hong Liu, a new species from Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species belongs to subgen. Chrysosplenium and is closely related to C. grayanum, C. nepalense and C. sinicum. The chromosome number of the new species is 2n = 46, indicating a novel basic number x = 23 in Chrysosplenium that is different from other species. This also suggests that C. sangzhiense is probably an allopolyploid derivative of a species with x = 11 and one with x = 12. Morphologically, C. sangzhiense can be easily distinguished from C. grayanum, C. nepalense, C. sinicum and C. cavaleriei, a species not included in our phylogenetic analysis by a suite of characters relating to the sterile shoots, basal leaves, cauline leaves, flowering stem, sepals, disc, capsule and seed. A global conservation assessment is performed, and classifies C. sangzhiense as Least Concern (LC).

A new species and a new record of Peliosanthes (Asparagaceae) from eastern Thailand

Peliosanthes oksanae is described and illustrated as a new species from eastern Thailand. It is most similar to P. gracilipes known from northern and southwestern Thailand and northwestern Laos, from which it differs mainly by the shorter flowering stem, flowers borne singly or binately in the axils of the bracts and almost free oblong filaments not forming a typical corona. We briefly discuss taxonomic relationships between P. oksanae and two similar species, P. gracilipes and P. caesia. It is notable that especially P. oksanae and P. gracilipes are close in floral characters to Ophiopogon. We also report P. triandra, which was described from southern Cambodia, as new to Thailand. Both P. triandra and P. oksanae occurred in the same habitat.

A new species of Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae) from Shaanxi, north-western China

Chrysosplenium zhouzhiense Hong Liu, a new species from Shaanxi, north-western China, is described and photographed. The new species belongs to Subgen. Gamosplenium Sect. Nephrophylloides Ser. Macrophylla and is most similar to C. macrophyllum and C. zhangjiajieense from which it differs by having a shorter stem, rhizome absent, basal leaf absent, sterile branch arising from the flowering stem and a light yellow flower with longer stamen. A global conservation assessment is performed and classifies C. zhouzhiense as Endangered (EN).

Peliosanthes nagalandensis and P. tobuensis (Asparagaceae: Nolinoideae)—two new species from Northeastern India

Two new species of Asparagaceae (subfamily Nolinoideae), Peliosanthes nagalandensis and P. tobuensis, from the state of Nagaland, Northeastern India, are described and illustrated. P. nagalandensis is most closely related to P. arunachalensis, but differs mainly by the longer leaf blades, distinctly sigmoid flowering stem with a shorter peduncle and longer raceme, more numerous green to purple flowers, distally finely denticulate-erose perianth segments, basally hamately recurved anthers and papillulate pistil with an apically slightly concave ovary and a columnar style. While P. tobuensis is close to P. arunachalensis and P. sinica, but differs mainly by the strongly incurved, entire corona and ovoid pistil with obtusely conical indistinct style.

Rediscovery of Tupistra stoliczkana (Asparagaceae) in northeastern India and the identity of T. ashihoi

Mainland Southeast Asia, particularly southern China and eastern Indochina, is known as an important centre of diversity for Asparagaceae (Averynov & Tanaka 2012). Tupistra Ker Gawler (1814: 1655) belonging to the subfamily Nolinoideae (Chase et al. 2009) comprises a little more than 30 species (Averyanov et al. 2019). They spread across southern and south-eastern Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia (Tanaka 2010a). The genus is characterized usually by the leaves tapering into petiole, a relatively large stigma broader than the style, except for the very uncommon species T. siphonantha Tanaka, Vislobokov & Hannon (2018: 32), a stout terete style almost as thick as the ovary and tuberculate (rarely smooth), globular berry-like fruits (Tanaka 2010a). Eight species of Tupistra have been reported for India: T. ashihoi Roy, Odyuo & Averyanov (2017:52), T. clarkei Hooker (1892: 325), T. khasiana Roy, Mao & Averyanov (2017: 257), T. nagarum Odyuo, Roy & Mao (2018:2), T. nutans Wall. ex Lindley (1839: 1223), T. stoliczkana Kurz (1876: 199), T. tupistroides (Kunth 1848: 12) Dandy (1932: 329), and T. leonidii Roy & Mao (2018: 37). Among them, T. ashihoi and T. stoliczkana have an upright flowering stem, whereas the others have a flowering stem curved downwards.

Phedimus yangshanicus (Crassulaceae), a new species from limestone hills in Guangdong, China

The author describes a new species of Crassulaceae, Phedimus yangshanicus, growing on limestone rocks or hills in Guangdong, China. Morphologically unique in the genus, this plant is distinguished from the other species by its dimorphic leaves. The plant shows obviously pseudopetiolated big basal leaves, which appear nearly opposite due to shortening of the nodes and are persistent at anthesis, and has alternate small leaves on the flowering stem.

Effect of Training Method and Spraying Gibberellic and Salicylic Acid on Some Flowers Characters of Snapdragon Plants Antirrhinum majus L.: تأثير طريقة التربية والمعاملة بحامضي السالسليك والجبرلين في بعض الصفات الزهرية لنباتات حنك السبع Antirrhinum majus L.

The experiment was conducted at research station of the Horticulture and landscape department/ Agriculture college/ Diyala university during 2017- 2018 seasons (8/10/2017- 4/5/2018). The objectives of the experiment were to investigate the effect of training method , training method included four types (single stem, double stems , three stems and four stems). Gibberellic acid sprayed with two concentration (100 , 200 mg.L- 1) also salicylic acid sprayed with two concentration (50, 100 mg.L- 1) and control treatment sprayed two times with distilled water in 15/1/2018 and 15/2/2018. Training methods had significant effects on floral growth characteristics, Single- stem training method had the best regarding days number for inflorescence emergence 131.44days, inflorescence length 44.87cm, inflorescence diameter13.39cm, florets number on inflorescence 46.01 Floret/spike, flowering stem length 86.59cm, flowering stem diameter 10.20mm and petals anthocyanins content 28.30mg/l dry weight. give spraying 100 mg/l of gibberellic acid had best results regarding inflorescence length 44.88cm, inflorescence diameter 13.26cm, florets number on inflorescence 50.47 floret/spike, flowering stem length 81.64cm, flowering stem diameter 10.88mm. give spraying 100 mg/l of Salicylic acid had best results regarding days number for inflorescence emergence 132.66days and petals anthocyanins content 28.65 mg/l dry weight. Interactions between the studied factors had significant effect in all studied characteristics.

Functional divergence between soybean FLOWERING LOCUS T orthologues FT2a and FT5a in post-flowering stem growth

Genes in the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) family integrate external and internal signals to control various aspects of plant development. In soybean (Glycine max), FT2a and FT5a play a major role in floral induction, but their roles in post-flowering reproductive development remain undetermined. Ectopic overexpression analyses revealed that FT2a and FT5a similarly induced flowering, but FT5a was markedly more effective than FT2a for the post-flowering termination of stem growth. The down-regulation of Dt1, a soybean orthologue of Arabidopsis TERMINAL FLOWER1, in shoot apices in early growing stages of FT5a-overexpressing plants was concomitant with highly up-regulated expression of APETALA1 orthologues. The Dt2 gene, a repressor of Dt1, was up-regulated similarly by the overexpression of FT2a and FT5a, suggesting that it was not involved in the control of stem termination by FT5a. In addition to the previously reported interaction with FDL19, a homologue of the Arabidopsis bZIP protein FD, both FT2a and FT5a interacted with FDL12, but only FT5a interacted with FDL06. Our results suggest that FT2a and FT5a have different functions in the control of post-flowering stem growth. A specific interaction of FT5a with FDL06 may play a key role in determining post-flowering stem growth in soybean.

Flowering, Stem Extension Growth, and Cutting Yield of Foliage Annuals in Response to Photoperiod

Foliage annuals are primarily grown for the aesthetic appeal of their brightly colored, variegated, or patterned leaves rather than for their flowers. Once foliage annuals become reproductive, vegetative growth of many species diminishes or completely ceases and plants can become unappealing. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to quantify how growth and development during production and stock plant cutting yield of bloodleaf (Iresine herbstii), Joseph’s coat (Alternanthera sp.) ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ and ‘Red Threads’, Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus), and variegated potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) are influenced by photoperiod and night interruption (NI) lighting with or without far-red (FR) radiation. Photoperiods consisted of a 9-hour short day (SD) or a 9-hour SD extended to 10, 12, 13, 14, or 16 hours with red (R):white (W):FR light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (R:FR = 0.8) providing a total photon flux density (TPFD) of ≈2 µmol·m−2·s–1 of radiation. In addition, two treatments consisted of a 9-hour SD with a 4-hour NI from lamps containing the same R:W:FR or R:W LEDs (R:FR = 37.4). Bloodleaf plant and Joseph’s coat ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ and ‘Red Threads’ developed inflorescences or flowers under photoperiods ≤12 to 13 hours and were classified as obligate SD plants. Under LEDs providing R:W:FR radiation, stem elongation of reproductive bloodleaf and Joseph’s coat ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ and ‘Red Threads’ increased as photoperiod increased from 9 to 12 hours. In addition, stem elongation of bloodleaf, Joseph’s coat ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ and ‘Red Threads’, and Persian shield and growth index (GI = {plant height + [(diameter 1 + diameter 2)/2]}/2) of bloodleaf and Persian shield was significantly greater under NI with FR radiation than without FR radiation. Fewer or no cuttings were harvested from Joseph’s coat ‘Brazilian Red Hots’ and ‘Red Threads’ under photoperiods ≤12 or ≤13 hours, respectively. To prevent unwanted flowering of bloodleaf plant and Joseph’s coat, a photoperiod ≥14 hours or 4-hour NI must be maintained with LEDs providing either R:W or R:W:FR radiation, however; stem elongation is significantly reduced under R:W LEDs.