Shoot position, cutting types and auxin treatments influence rooting response on Tecoma stans

This study investiges the rooting ability and the growth performance of lower and upper shoot positions and type of the cuttings, i.e. soft and hard wood and leafy and non leafy, of Tecoma stans (L.) Kunth. The cuttings were collected from 4-year old plants growing in the Chauras Campus of H.N.B. Garhwal University Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The rooting ability of cuttings was studied under the treatments of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Indole 3-acidic acid (IAA) under 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5% concentration in both hormones. The rooting response was significantly (p < 0.05) better in 0.4% IBA compared to other treatments and control (0% IBA and IAA). The ratio of number of roots to rooted cuttings and length of root to rooted cuttings in the different treatments showed significant differences (p < 0.05). The rooted cuttings were further transferred, into the polythene bags and shifted to open nursery conditions. Under such conditions, the rooted cuttings treated with 0.4% and 0.5% IBA demonstrated the highest (90% to 100%) survival capacity in the lower portion soft wood and leafy stem cuttings. Plantable plant and plant height was greater in the 0.4% IBA concentration treatment. The results of the study suggest that rooting of soft wood stem cuttings having lower position and leaves could be an effective mean of regenerating to T. stans. Furthermore, the application of 0.4% IBA concentration treatment is appropriate for rooting of juvenile leafy stem cuttings in a mist chamber.

The mobile grape trellises

The amount of the work in the vineyard, its yield greatly depends on what type of grape trellis is used in the vineyard.The most common is the Vertical Shoot Position. The advantages of the Vertical Shoot Position is the simplicity of the device and the use of inexpensive building materials. It is less time consuming and easily accessible for vineyard care.The disadvantages are that the maximum area of the green mass and the maximum yield cannot be obtained. The horizontal grape trellis system - pergola - allows to get the maximum area of green mass, the maximum assimilation of solar energy takes place, that increase yields by 2-3 times and provide the best quality of grapes.The disadvantages is that the care of vines grown on horizontal trellis is very time-consuming. Because the vintner is forced to work with his head constantly pulled back and his arms raised high.The authors have developed a new type of grape trellis - a mobile pergola - which during the vegetation - during the development of green mass and fruit ripening are placed horizontally, and during the green operations - pruning, spraying, harvesting - in a vertical position. As a result, we get a high yield typical for the pergola, which is 2-3 times higher than the yield obtained on the vertical grape trellis, and its maintenance is just as convenient and simplified as that of the vertical grape trellis.

Agronomic performance of ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ variety trained in Y-trellis and vertical shoot position trellis in a high-altitude region of southern Brazil

The objective of the present work was to compare the effect of the training systems Y-trellis (Y) and Vertical Shoot Position trellis (VSP) on the production efficiency and chemical characteristics of grapes and wine from ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ cultivated in high altitude regions of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The study was carried out in 2013, 2014 and 2015 harvests in a commercial vineyard located in the municipality of São Joaquim - SC (28º 17 ’38 ”S and 49º 55’54” O, altitude 1350 m). The obtained data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with F Test (p ≤ 0.05). The relationship between the vegetative growth and the yield was influenced by the training system. For the ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ cultivar, the yield was 93% higher in the Y-trellis training system, resulting in better vegetative-productive balance. The technological and phenolic maturation of the grapes were similar in both training systems. The results of this study show that the Y-trellis training system is an alternative to use in Santa Catarina altitude regions because it provides an increased productivity on the ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ variety without compromising the composition of grapes, when comparing to the VSP training system.

Distribusi Enzim Nitrat Reduktase pada Cabai Merah (Capsicum annum) dalam Rangka Mendukung Sistem Agroforestry Berkelanjutan

Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui distribusi enzim nitrat reduktase pada tanaman cabai merah (C. annum) yang dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor fisiologis. Percobaan ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap dengan banyak faktor diantaranya: Faktor organ tanaman, umur tanaman, posisi daun dan pemupukan dengan nitrat. Berbagai organ tanaman cabai direndam dalam buffer fosfat pH 7,5 selama 20 menit. Setelah itu dilakukan penambahan susbtrat berupa 0,1M NaNO3 dan diinkubasi selama 60 menit. Sampel selanjutnya direndam dalam larutan Napthylediamine dan Sulfanilamide 1:1. Absorbansi sampel diukur dengan spektrofotometer pada panjang gelombang 540nm. Berdasarkan pengukuran absorbansi diperoleh hasil bahwa tanaman cabai usia dewasa memiliki aktivitas nitrat reduktse lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan usia muda dan tua. Aktivitas nitrat reduktase pada organ daun lebih tinggi dibandingkan organ akar, batang dan buah. Sementara itu daun pada posisi pucuk memiliki aktivitas nitrat reduktase lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan daun di posisi pangkal dan tengah. Pemupukan nitrat tidak memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap aktivitas nitrat reduktse pada tanaman cabai. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Capsicum annum usia dewasa memiliki aktivitas nitrat reduktase tertinggi dengan kecenderungan organ daun memiliki aktivitas nitrat reduktase terbesar dibandingkan organ lainnya terutama daun pada posisi pucuk. Penambahan susbtrat NaNO3 tidak memberikan pengaruh secara signifikan terhadap aktivitas nitrat reduktase. Distribution of Nitrate Reductase Enzymes in Red Chili (Capsicum annum) in Order to Support Sustainable Agroforestry Systems Abstract. This study aims to determine the distribution of the enzyme nitrate reductase in red chili plants (C. annum) which are influenced by various physiological factors. This experiment uses a completely randomized design with many factors including: Plant organ factors, plant age, leaf position and fertilization with nitrates. Various organs of chili plants are immersed in phosphate buffer pH 7.5 for 20 minutes. After that the addition of susbtrat in the form of 0.1 M NaNO3 and incubated for 60 minutes. The samples were then immersed in Napthylediamine and Sulfanilamide 1: 1 solutions. Sample absorbance was measured by a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 540 nm. Based on absorbance measurements, the results showed that adult chili plants had higher nitrate reductase activity compared to young and old age. The activity of nitrate reductase in leaf organs is higher than that of root, stem and fruit organs. Meanwhile the leaves in the shoot position have higher nitrate reductase activity compared to the leaves in the base and middle positions. Nitrate fertilization did not have a significant effect on nitrate reductase activity in chili plants. Based on this, it can be concluded that the adult age Capsicum annum has the highest nitrate reductase activity with the tendency of leaf organs to have the greatest nitrate reductase activity compared to other organs, especially leaves in the shoot position. The addition of NaClO3 does not significantly influence the activity of nitrate reductase.

Date of Shoot Collection, Genotype, and Original Shoot Position Affect Early Rooting of Dormant Hardwood Cuttings of Populus

Identifying superior combinations among date of dormant- season shoot collection, genotype, and original shoot position can increase the rooting potential of Populus cuttings. Thus, the objectives of our study were to: 1) evaluate variation among clones in early rooting from hardwood cuttings processed every three weeks from shoots collected throughout the dormant season and 2) evaluate variation among genomic groups in early rooting of the same cuttings while testing for differences among three parental shoot positions (apical, middle, basal). We tested 22 clones belonging to six genomic groups ([P. trichocarpa Torr. & Gray × P. deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh] × P. deltoides ‘BC’, P. deltoides ‘D’, P. deltoides × P. maximowiczii A. Henry ‘DM’, P. deltoides × P. nigra L. ‘DN’, P. nigra × P. maximowiczii ‘NM’, P. trichocarpa ‘T’). Cuttings, 20 cm long, were processed from shoots collected every three weeks beginning 1 Dec. 2003 until 9 Apr. 2004 from stool beds established at Hugo Sauer Nursery in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, USA (45.6 °N, 89.4°W). We measured number of roots and root dry weight from harvested cuttings after 14 days of growth. The interaction between date of shoot collection and clone governed both traits (P < 0.0001). In general, clones exhibited the best rooting when cuttings were processed from shoots collected on or after 23 Feb. 2004. The interaction between date of shoot collection, genomic group, and shoot position governed number of roots (P = 0.0348) and root dry weight (P = 0.0262). There was broad variation in number of roots and root dry weight of apical, middle, and basal cuttings within and among genomic groups across dates of shoot collection, with 15 Mar. 2004 being an important date because differences among positions began to develop or changed relative to earlier dates. Thus, for increased plantation establishment potential with similar genotypes, we recommend collecting stool shoots no sooner than the end of February and matching cuttings of specific shoot positions to each genomic group.

Clonal Propagation of Quercus Spp. Using a Container Layering Technique

Clonal propagation of two oak species, Quercus macrocarpa Michx. and Quercus bicolor Willd. was accomplished using a modified container layering technique. The effects of gibberellin (GA4+7) application on stock plant budbreak, as well as the effect of shoot position, stock plant age, and the role of indole butyric acid (IBA) solvents on rooting were investigated. Five hundred parts per million of GA4+7 applied once every fourth day increased budbreak in both Q. macrocarpa and Q. bicolor stock plants. Basal shoots of Q. bicolor from ontogenetically juvenile portions of the stock plant stem rooted 35.7% compared with 1.8% for shoots arising in more distal parts of the stock plant stem. In addition, stock plant age (2-6 years) had no effect on rooting. The effect of the various IBA solvents on rooting in Q. bicolor was 84.3% (98% ethanol), 81.3% (50% acetone), 100% (100% acetone), 28.6% (5% dimethyl sulphoxide-DMSO) and 65% in 10% DMSO respectively; all shoots in this experiment were treated with 10,000 ppm IBA in the respective solvents. IBA dissolved in DMSO treatments resulted in severe apical browning of shoots.

Shoot morphology and fate of buds in relation to crown location in young Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima

The relationships between shoot size and morphological patterns and crown location were investigated in 6-year-old green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima (Vahl) Fern.). In general, shoots were shorter in the inner part of the crown compared with either the top or bottom near the periphery. The differences were related to a reduction in both metamer number and length. In some cases the lower crown location was similar to the upper; in other cases it was similar to the inside. The fate of buds along a shoot was generally dependent on shoot position in the crown. A greater proportion of buds became lateral shoots and inflorescences in the top compared with the bottom of the crown, and the fewest developed towards the inside location. As the number of metamers per shoot increased, there was an increase in the proportion of lateral shoots produced and a decrease in the proportion of inflorescences and (or) aborted buds. For shoots with the same number of metamers per shoot, those in the top produced a greater proportion of inflorescences and lateral shoots compared with the bottom or inside. In all crown locations, the highest number of buds aborted near the base, the greatest proportion of inflorescences occurred in mid-shoot regions, and the largest proportion of lateral shoots occurred near the tip. The information presented in this paper will be used as a component in developing a simulation model of crown development.Key words: architecture, shoot, bud fate, green ash, metamer.