Micropropagation of Aloe polyphylla, an endangered species with a high ornamental and medicinal value, is an important part of its conservation. However, the in vitro culture was hindered by the phenomenon of hyperhydricity. The research reported in this thesis was undertaken for two reasons. Firstly, to understand the role of various culture factors involved in the process of hyperhydricity in A. polyphylla and to identify the in vitro conditions, under which this disorder can be prevented. Secondly, we conducted an investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon by probing if it was mediated through internal cytokinins. Ammonium (NH4 +) ions, applied cytokinins (CKs) and CK concentrations were tested in multifactorial combinations and significantly influenced the regeneration rate and occurrence of hyperhydricity. Shoots were grown on media with different NH4 + concentrations (10.3, 20.6 and 61.8 mM) and supplemented with BA, zeatin or TDZ at 0, 5 or 15 ìM. Elevating the levels of NH4 +, in the absence of CKs, could not induce hyperhydricity. Similarly, very low hyperhydricity was observed when CKs were added to media containing low NH4 + (10.3 mM). However, in the presence of higher NH4 + concentrations, CKs increased hyperhydricity in a concentrationdependant manner, suggesting that they were capable of inducing this syndrome only when other factors in the culture system were not optimised. High numbers of healthy looking shoots were produced on media with low NH4 + and low BA or zeatin (5 ìM). The use of TDZ resulted in the formation of buds, which did not develop into shoots. In view of the fact that NH4 + was supplied in the form of NH4NO3, it was difficult to determine if NH4 + or nitrate (NO3 -) ions were associated with the increase in hyperhydricity. We further examined the role of nitrogen (N) supplied as inorganic NH4 + or NO3 -, or organic glutamine. The omission of total N from the culture medium resulted in low multiplication and hindered shoot growth. Ammonium as the sole source of N depressed shoot regeneration and growth and escalated the frequency of hyperhydricity to ca. 50%. When NO3 - was used as the sole N source, shoots of fine quality were produced and hyperhydricity was completely eliminated. Overall, the MS N mix was superior to any single N source for multiplication and growth of shoots, suggesting a synergistic effect between NH4 + and NO3 - on shoot regeneration. Furthermore, not only the absolute amount of N, but also the relative amounts of NH4 + and NO3 - influenced the multiplication rate, frequency of hyperhydricity and shoot quality. The highest regeneration was obtained with NH4 + : NO3 - ratios (mM) of 20 : 40, 30 : 30 and 40 : 20. Decreasing the ratio of NH4 + : NO3 - lowered the occurrence of hyperhydricity. The potential of glutamine as the sole source of N was also demonstrated, since its application resulted in the production of good quality shoots and almost no hyperhydricity. Shoot explants grown in static liquid media became hyperhydric and lost their ability to regenerate. The type of gelling agent used to solidify the medium affected greatly hyperhydricity and shoot multiplication. Gelrite resulted in a significantly lower multiplication rate and four times higher hyperhydricity (64.7%) compared to when agar was used. Gelrite was further selected to test the hypothesis if hyperhydricity can be overcome by decreasing the relative matric potential of the media, and respectively the availability of water, as represented by increasing gelrite concentrations. Satisfactory reduction in hyperhydricity was achieved only at 16 g l-1 gelrite, however the regeneration also decreased. The nature of the gelling agent is therefore essential for the successful control of this phenomenon. It appears that a crucial prerequisite for the reduction of hyperhydricity in tissue cultures of A. polyphylla is the gaseous exchange between the in vitro atmosphere and the outside environment. In ventilated cultures, achieved by using a modified lid with a hole (d = 7 mm) covered with polyester or cotton mesh, hyperhydricity was completely eliminated, irrespectively of the type of gelling agent. Ventilation was further advantageous for the in vitro regenerants by increasing their leaf chlorophyll content as well as epicuticular wax deposition, the last one being indicative of the development of the water loss regulation mechanisms of explants. The increased culture ventilation, however, was negatively correlated with the regeneration rate and shoot growth. Endogenous CKs were measured in in vitro regenerants after an eight-week cycle to examine whether the hyperhydricity-inducing effect of exogenous CKs and gelling agents is associated with changes in the endogenous CK content. The content of endogenous CKs, determined by HPLC-mass spectrometry, in the shoots grown on CK-free media comprised isopentenyladenine-, trans-zeatin- and cis-zeatin-type CKs. The application of exogenous CKs resulted in an increase in the CK content of the shoots. Following application of zeatin, dihydrozeatin-type CKs were also detected in the newly-formed shoots. Application of BA to the media led to a transition from isoprenoid CKs to aromatic CKs in the shoots. Shoots grown on gelrite media contained higher levels of endogenous CKs compared to those on agar media. Total CK content of hyperhydric shoots was higher than that of normal shoots grown on the same medium. We suggest that the ability of exogenous CKs and gelrite to induce hyperhydricity in shoots of Aloe polyphylla is at least partially due to up-regulation of endogenous CK levels. However, hyperhydricity is a multifactor process in which different factors intervene. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

The objectives of this work were to test different salt and sucrose concentrations in the in vitro medium and acclimatizing systems for production of strawberry stock plants. One experiment was conducted at the Breeding and Plant Propagation Laboratory and two experiments inside a screen house at the Department of Fitotecnia UFSM, from February to October, 2008. In the first experiment, sucrose 15; 30; 45 and 60g/L and salt ½; ¾ and 1 MS concentrations were compared, in a 3x4 factorial randomized experimental design, with five replications of five plantlets. Two evaluations were made, the first after plantlets were extracted from the in vitro medium and the second at the end of the acclimatizing period. In the first evaluation, the rate of survival, shoot height, number of roots, length of the bigger root and number of leaves of plantlets were determined. In the second evaluation, the same evaluations were done and also dry matter. In the second experiment, the effect of sucrose and salt concentrations on initial growth of stock plants was determined. Six plantlets of each in vitro medium of the previous experiment were used. The number of days from planting to the beginning of the stolon emission period, number of leaves and stolons, crown diameter and dry matter were determined 30 days after the acclimatizing period. In the third experiment, the acclimatizing systems made up by 128 cells polystyrene trays using organic substrate, polyethylene trays filled with sand and polyethylene trays filed with nutrient solution upon that plantlets floated were compared. The entirely randomized experimental design was used, with four replications of 10 plantlets. The rate of survival, shoot height, number of roots, length of the bigger root, number of leaves and shoot and root dry mass were determined. At the first evaluation of the first experiment, only number of leaves differed significantly, being higher in the 1 MS concentration. At the second evaluation, shoot height was higher in 1 MS, without difference from ¾ MS concentration. At the second experiment, the length of the bigger root was higher in ¾ MS, which did not differed from ½ MS. Dry mater and number of leaves of stock plants were higher by rooting plantlets in the 45 g/L sucrose and 1 MS salt concentrations. About acclimatizing systems, shoot height and number of leaves were higher in the 128 cells polystyrene trays using organic substrate while shoot and root dry matter were higher in the polyethylene trays filled with sand. It was concluded that for the clone Ivahé, the salt concentration may be reduced from 1 MS to ¾ MS and sucrose may be increased from 30 g/L to 45 g/L. About acclimatizing systems, the 128 cells polystyrene trays using organic substrate and the polyethylene trays filled with sand may be either used for acclimatizing plantlets of the Ivahé strawberry clone. / Este trabalho teve como objetivos testar diferentes concentrações de sais e de sacarose no meio de cultura e sistemas de aclimatização para a produção de mudas matrizes de morangueiro. Foi conduzido um experimento no Laboratório de Melhoramento e Propagação Vegetativa de Plantas e dois em abrigo telado, no Departamento de Fitotecnia da UFSM, entre fevereiro e novembro de 2008. No primeiro experimento, foram comparadas as concentrações de sacarose de 15, 30, 45 e 60g/L e de sais de ½, ¾ e 1 MS, em esquema fatorial 3x4 no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições de cinco plântulas. Foram realizadas duas avaliações, uma na saída das plântulas do laboratório e outra após a aclimatização. Na primeira avaliação foi determinada a sobrevivência de plântulas, altura da parte aérea, número de raízes, comprimento da maior raiz e número de folhas. Na segunda avaliação essas determinações foram repetidas e foi também determinada a matéria seca de planta. No segundo experimento, foi determinado o efeito das concentrações de sais e sacarose no crescimento inicial das plantas matrizes. Foram utilizadas seis plântulas de cada concentração de meio empregadas no experimento anterior. Foi determinado o número de dias do transplante ao início do estolonamento, o número de folhas, número de estolões, diâmetro da coroa e matéria seca de plantas 30 dias após a aclimatização. No terceiro experimento, foram comparados os sistemas de aclimatização constituídos por bandejas alveoladas de poliestireno de 128 células com substrato orgânico, bandejas não alveoladas de polietileno com areia e bandejas não alveoladas com uma placa de poliestireno flutuante na solução nutritiva. O delineamento inteiramente casualizado foi empregado, com quatro repetições de 10 plântulas. Foi determinada a sobrevivência de plântulas, altura da parte aérea, número de raízes, comprimento da maior raiz, número de folhas e matéria seca de parte aérea e de raízes. No primeiro experimento, na primeira avaliação somente o número de folhas mostrou diferença significativa, sendo mais elevado na concentração 1 MS. Na segunda avaliação, a altura da parte aérea foi maior na concentração 1 MS, sem diferença de ¾ MS. No segundo experimento, o comprimento da maior raiz foi superior no tratamento ¾ MS, que não diferiu de ½ MS. A matéria seca e o número de folhas das plantas matrizes foram superiores quando as plântulas foram enraizadas na concentração de sacarose de 45gL e 1 MS de sais. Com relação aos sistemas de aclimatização, a altura da parte aérea e o número de folhas foram mais elevados no sistema de aclimatização em bandejas alveoladas com substrato, enquanto a matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes foram superiores no sistema de bandejas não alveoladas com areia. Concluiu-se que para o clone Ivahé, a concentração de sais pode ser reduzida de 1 MS para ¾ MS e que a concentração de sacarose pode ser aumentada de 30 g/L para 45 g/L. Quanto aos sistemas de aclimatização, as bandejas alveoladas de poliestireno com substrato orgânico e as bandejas não alveoladas de polietileno com areia podem ser empregadas para aclimatizar plântulas do clone Ivahé.

One of our greatest threats to surface-water quality is polluted stormwater runoff. In this research, investigated is the use of a green roof irrigated with recycled stormwater runoff to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff leaving developed areas. The green roof properties of interest are the filtration and biological processes as well as the roof's ability to hold water and increase evapotranspiration, reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from the source. Because of the above mentioned reasons the experiment consists of a water quality analysis and a water budget done on several experimental chambers modeled after the green roof on the student union building at the University of Central Florida. The green roof chambers are used to study different types of growing media, different irrigation rates, and the addition of plants and how stormwater runoff quality and quantity is affected. There are also control chambers built to model the conventional roof on the student union building. The purpose of the control is to determine the effectiveness of the different media's filtration/adsorption processes and ability to hold water, in addition to identifying the benefits of adding a green roof to both water quality and the water budget. This research showed that a specifically designed green roof stormwater treatment system with a cistern is an effective way to reduce both the volume of and mass of pollutants of stormwater runoff. The year long water budget showed that this system can reduce the volume of stormwater runoff by almost 90%. The green roof model developed within this work showed similar results for the same conditions. Design curves produced by the model have also been presented for several different geographic regions in Florida. The green roof stormwater treatment system presented within this work was effective at reducing the mass of pollutants. However, the concentration of several of the examined pollutants in the effluent of the cistern was higher or equivalent to that of a control roof. Nitrate and ammonia were two that had a lower concentration than the control roof. The use of a pollution control growing media was also examined. The results of this study show that the Black & GoldTM growing media is effective at removing both ortho-phosphorus and total phosphorus. Isotherm analysis was also preformed to quantify the adsorption potential. Despite the promise of the Black & GoldTM growing media to remove phosphorus the plants did not grow as well as in the expanded clay growing media. It is suggested that the pollution control media be used as a layer under the growing media in order to get the benefits of both media.

The tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in the South African community. Most hydroponic tomato growers in South Africa are using sawdust as a growing medium due to its availability and affordability. However, there is little or no information on how particle sizes of sawdust influence tomato yield and quality. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the particle size of sawdust on plant growth, yield and quality of tomato. Six treatments of different particle sizes of sawdust i.e. fine (F), medium (M), coarse (C) and 50:50 ratio of F: M, C: M, and C: F extracted from pine tree were used for the experiment. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The size of the sawdust particles did not have a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, leaf length and width, shelf-life, marketable yield, total yield and unmarketable yield. A tendency to increase marketable and total yield was observed when tomato plants were grown at a 50:50 C: F ratio. Fruit and leaf mineral content were not affected by sawdust particle size. After completion of the experiment, air- filled porosity was significantly high on particle size C, M, and C: M while the water holding capacity was significantly high on F followed by M. The study showed that the suitable growth medium for production of tomatoes under the hydroponics system used was the CF particle substrate. Generally, the experimental crop performed better under the CF particle substrate in terms of growth parameters, and fruit quality, thus leading to the conclusion that the CF growth medium is ideal for hydroponically grown tomato under a non-environmentally controlled polytunne / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

The main objective of this study is to develop a modeling methodology that facilitates incorporating the plant pathway into environmental contamination models recognizing the fact that plants are dynamic entities that regulate their life cycle according to natural and anthropogenic environmental conditions. A modeling framework that incorporates the plant pathway into an integrated water flow and contaminant transport model in terrestrial systems is developed. The modeling framework is aimed to provide a tool to analyze the plant pathway of exposure to contaminants. The model developed using this framework describes the temporal and spatial variation of the contaminant concentration within the plant as it is interacting with the soil and the atmosphere. The first part of the study focuses on the integration of the dynamics of water and contaminant distribution and plant related processes within the vadose zone. A soil-plant system model is developed by coupling soil-water flow, contaminant transport, plant life-cycle, and plant pathway models. The outcome unifies single media continuous models with multimedia compartmental models in a flexible framework. The coupling of the models was established at multiple interfaces and at different levels of solution steps (i.e. model development phase vs. numerical solution phase). In the second part of the study, the soil-plant system model is extended to cover large spatial areas by describing the environmental system as a collection of soil-plant systems connected through overland flow and transport processes on the ground surface and through lateral interactions in the subsurface. An overland flow model is integrated with the previously coupled model of unsaturated zone soil-water flow and plant life-cycle by solving the flow model equations simultaneously within a single global matrix structure. An overland / subsurface interaction algorithm is developed to handle the ground surface conditions. The simultaneous solution, single-matrix approach is also adopted when integrating the overland transport model with the previously coupled models of vadose zone transport and plant pathway. The model developed is applied to various environmental contamination scenarios where the effect of the presence of plants on the contaminant migration within environmental systems is investigated.

The tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in the South African community. Most hydroponic tomato growers in South Africa are using sawdust as a growing medium due to its availability and affordability. However, there is little or no information on how particle sizes of sawdust influence tomato yield and quality. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the particle size of sawdust on plant growth, yield and quality of tomato. Six treatments of different particle sizes of sawdust i.e. fine (F), medium (M), coarse (C) and 50:50 ratio of F: M, C: M, and C: F extracted from pine tree were used for the experiment. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The size of the sawdust particles did not have a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, leaf length and width, shelf-life, marketable yield, total yield and unmarketable yield. A tendency to increase marketable and total yield was observed when tomato plants were grown at a 50:50 C: F ratio. Fruit and leaf mineral content were not affected by sawdust particle size. After completion of the experiment, air- filled porosity was significantly high on particle size C, M, and C: M while the water holding capacity was significantly high on F followed by M. The study showed that the suitable growth medium for production of tomatoes under the hydroponics system used was the CF particle substrate. Generally, the experimental crop performed better under the CF particle substrate in terms of growth parameters, and fruit quality, thus leading to the conclusion that the CF growth medium is ideal for hydroponically grown tomato under a non-environmentally controlled polytunne / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)