DOST-PNRI Mutant Variety: Dracaena ‘Sun Beam’

Abstract

Dracaena braunii is one of the priority ornamental plants. Dracaena ‘Sun Beam’ (NSIC 2014 Or 85) is a chlorophyll mutant of D. braunii developed by gamma irradiation (Cobalt-60 source) of 15-cm stem cuttings and registered by the DOST-PNRI with the National Seed Industry Council of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture (DA-BPI-NSIC) and to the Mutant Variety Database of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations / International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) Program. In all aspects, D. ‘Sun Beam’ is similar to the parent material except for the shorter leaf and its broad bar. The propagation of the mutant is true-to-type by cutting (top cutting, stem cutting, and nodal cutting) and separation of suckers. D. ‘Sun Beam’ is very attractive and shoots or top cuttings may be used as cut foliage in flower arrangements or grown individually or in a group as containerized plants, materials for terrariums, dish gardens, and landscaping.

Leaf architectural analysis of taxonomically ambiguous Hoya lacunosa Blume and Hoya krohniana Kloppenb. & Siar

“…The name derives from its having leaves that are convex between the secondary veins, which in Latin is lacuna. It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, and is native to Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Kalimantan), the Philippines (Lamb and Rodda 2016), New Guinea and Papua New Guinea (Aurigue 2013). The taxon was first published in 1826 by Carl Ludwig Blume in Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (POWO, 2021).…”

“…The taxon was first published in 1826 by Carl Ludwig Blume in Bijdragen tot de flora van Nederlandsch Indië (POWO, 2021). The species is notably variable (Aurigue 2013), and its flowers are easily confused with Hoya nabawanensis (Lamb and Rodda 2016) and H. krohniana (Kloppenburg 2009); another related species is Hoya mirabilis (Kidyoo 2012).…”

“…Kidyoo (2012), in publishing the related species H. mirabilis, described H. lacunosa from the type and additional spirit material from their own collection. Description from Aurigue (2013)…”