No abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Baramoon Experimental Research Farm, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during 2015 and 2016 seasons. The aim of this research was to study the effect of potassium sulfate and calcium borate as soil and foliar fertilization on improving the quality and flower production of Dahlia pinnata, L. plants. Different levels of potassium sulfate at 10 and 20 g/plant as soil fertilizer and calcium borate at 5 and 10 cm/L as foliar fertilizer and companions between them were used. The soil and foliar fertilizers were applied 3 times during the growing period. The results indicated that the combined treatment of 20 g/plant potassium sulfate + 10 cm/L calcium borate significantly increased vegetative growth parameters i.e plant height, number of leaves, number of shoots, stem diameter and dry weight % of plants. It also induced an increment in flowers and tubers parameters (No. of flowers, flower diameter, flower stem length and diameter and flower adherence strength, vase life, No. of tubers/plant and tuber diameter compared with the other treatments used. Total carbohydrates and lignin (%) in flower stem were significantly increased as a result of different fertilization treatments compared to the control treatment. Application of potassium sulfate at 20 g/plant + calcium borate at 10 cm/L was superior to other treatments under this study.

The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of cycocel (CCC) and paclobutrazol (PBZ) on Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, L. to produce plants more compact, shorter, with a plurality of branches and inflorescences, flowering earlier, and to be more suitable as a pot plant. Different concentrations of CCC at 1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm and PBZ 50, 100, and 150 ppm were applied as foliar spray for once (after 45 days) or twice (after 45 and 60 days from planting). All treated plants were shorter with profuse branches specially the ones which have been treated with PBZ at 150 ppm twice (6.00 branches/ plant), and by the same treatment achieved the maximum number of inflorescences as it recorded 5.00 inflorescences/ plant. Sprayed plants with PBZ at 150 ppm twice gave the minimum number (125.33) of days to flowering. The total chlorophyll and carbohydrates content were increased in all sprayed plants, as it was 0.679 mg/ g FW for chlorophyll (PBZ 100 ppm twice) and 207.07 mg/ g DW for carbohydrates (PBZ 150 ppm twice). For compressed Kalanchoe plants with dark green leaves, abundant branches, abundant blooms and early blooms, paclobutrazol may be recommended at 150 ppm twice.

The aim of this study is to improve the propagation of Impatiens balsamina, L by an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation was successfully established through tissue culture technique. Cotyledonary node with sections of cotyledon, section of cotyledons and hypocotyls were derived from 21 days in vitro germinating seeds after surface sterilization. They were cultured for shoot multiplication and callus induction on MS medium fortified with various concentrations of BAP, TDZ or combination between BAP and NAA. It was determined that cotyledonary node with sections of cotyledon on MS medium supplemented with 4.5 mg/L BAP for maximum shoots number (4.33shoots) and callus induction 3.78. The best shoot length (3.08 cm) within 8 weeks from regeneration was achieved on MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA. The number of shoots formed per explants increased by re-culturing for six weeks on the same medium (4.5 mg/L BAP alone), since it produced (9 shoots). While the best shoot length (4cm) was obtained by sub culturing the explants on MS medium received 1.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA to MS without growth regulators after six weeks. The best callus fresh weight (9.32 g) and callus volume (7.76 cm 3) were recorded with using TDZ at 3.0 mg/L that sub cultured on medium fortified with 4.5 mg/L BAP. In addition the highest dry weight (0.81 g) was obtained by re-culturing on the same medium that contained with 4.5 mg/L BAP.

his study was conducted at Sahl El-Husseinieh Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt at 2016 and 2017 seasons. This study conducted to evaluate the effect of different Ag+ sources i.e silver nanoparticles, silver nitrate and silver thiosulphate and some essential oils i.e. thyme, rosemary and lavender on postharvest quality of the cut Gerbera jamesonii cv. " Julia" flowers. The holding solutions containing thyme or rosemary or lavender + sucrose as antimicrobial agents were more effective than 8-HQS + sucrose. The maximum solution uptake and vase-life were recorded by holding solution of SNP at 9 mg-1 + 30 g-1 sucrose compared to essential oils or 8-HQS + sucrose solutions. SNP concentrations were used as pulsing solutions surpassed significantly in most postharvest parameters compared to all AgNO3 treatments. All SNP treatments had a sharp increase in fresh weight on the 2 nd day and they reached their maximum fresh weight on the 4 th days than other treatments. There were no differences between AgNO3 and STS as dipping solution in prolonged vase life, enhancing water relation and fresh weight. AgNO3 treatments were significantly reduced bacteria growth in vase solutions more than STS treatments. However, the stem flowers dipped in STS for 20 min then held in 8-HQS + sucrose proved more effective an increasing the level of lignin and anthocyanin. It was noted that, the increase of anthocyanin in radial flowers was accompanied with increased life span of flowers in the façade. Microscopic viewing of vessels showed that SNP prevented the growth of bacteria at the end of the stem flower resulting that an improved water absorption and flower vase extended life.