Wilting during shelf life is a major cause of postharvest shrink for bedding plants shipped long distances from production greenhouses to retail outlets. The objective of this research was to determine if irrigation at lower, constant substrate moisture content (SMC) during greenhouse production would be a feasible way to acclimate plants for reduced shrinkage during shelf life, while potentially conserving irrigation water. Rooted plugs of Angelonia angustifolia 'Angelface Blue' were grown in greenhouse production until a marketable stage in substrates irrigated at SMC levels of 10, 20, 30, and 40% using a controlled irrigation system. At the end of the greenhouse production stage, plants were irrigated to container capacity and subjected to a simulated shipping environment, in shipping boxes in the dark for two days. After shipping, plants were placed back in the greenhouse and watered minimally to simulate a retail environment. Data was taken at the end of each stage i.e. greenhouse production, simulated shipping, and simulated retail. Parameters measured at the end of the production stage were fresh and senesced flower number, stem number, pre-dawn and mid-day water potential, SPAD meter readings (Experiment 2), and plant height and node number segmented into vegetative, flowering, and bud area. Plant quality was observed and rated. At the end of the simulated retail stage, the same data was taken, along with fresh and dry shoot and root weight. Results indicated that as SMC decreased from 40 to 10%, plants were shorter in height, but had proportional flowering sections (Experiment 1) or more compact flowering sections (Experiment 2). The volume of water received by the 40% SMC plants was three times greater (Experiment 1) and 12 times greater (Experiment 2) than the 20% SMC plants during greenhouse production, and two times greater (Experiment 1) and nine time greater (Experiment 2) during simulated retail. Additionally, the 40% SMC plants used 15 liters (Experiment 1) and 38 liters (Experiment 2) of water during greenhouse production compared to the 20% SMC plants using only three liters in both experiments. During simulated retail the 40% SMC plants used six liters (Experiment 1) and nine liters (Experiment 2) of water while the 20% SMC plants used five liters (Experiment 1) and three liters (Experiment 2) of water. During production, mid-day water potentials decreased as the SMC levels decreased, but at the end of the simulated retail (Experiment 1), the mid-day water potentials were all the same, suggesting plants that were drought stressed during production area were acclimated to lower water levels experienced in retail settings. Overall, the 20% SMC treatment produced the best postharvest quality plant due to reduced plant height without detrimental effects on flowering. The results demonstrate that while conserving water, controlled irrigation at a medium-low SMC can produce high quality plants that have equal shelf life to those that are irrigated at high levels.

Os óleos florais são os recursos alternativos ao pólen e néctar oferecidos por onze famílias de angiospermas às abelhas coletoras de óleo. A produção deste recurso surgiu ao menos 28 vezes e a coleta destes, em cinco linhagens distintas entre as abelhas. Na região Neotropical, Malpighiaceae é a família mais diversa e melhor conhecida em termos de seu sistema de polinização e relação com abelhas coletoras de óleo. Plantaginaceae é conhecida por alguns trabalhos, focados principalmente em Angelonia e Monttea. No presente estudo, são apresentadas as relações entre abelhas coletoras de óleo e flores de Plantaginaceae (cinco espécies de Angelonia e uma de Basistemon), com especial atenção aos aspectos morfológicos de ambos, aspectos comportamentais das abelhas durante a coleta e a sobreposição geográfica entre os parceiros deste mutualismo. Este trabalho apresenta pela primeira vez dados dos visitantes de três espécies: A. eriostachys, A. goyazensis e Basistemon silvaticus; além de dados inéditos sobre espécies já estudadas: A. cornigera, A. integerrima e A. salicariifolia. Foi observado que as estruturas especializadas presentes no labelo de todas as espécies estudadas de Angelonia estão associadas à imposição da postura correta do visitante e sua fixação na flor. As flores de Basistemon são mais simples neste sentido e apresentam apenas um discreto calo mediano. Apesar da morfologia destas estruturas diferirem consideravelmente entre as espécies, é possível estabelecer relações de origem entre elas. A assembléia de visitantes das flores de Angelonia e Basistemon variou entre três a dezoito espécies. Estas espécies foram consideradas polinizadoras ou visitantes ilegítimos. As abelhas do gênero Centris foram consideradas as principais polinizadoras das plantas estudadas, porém, espécies de Tapinotaspidini, em especial o gênero Caenonomada, também detêm esse papel. As abelhas que coletam óleo também coletam pólen, com exceção dos gêneros Centris, Caenonomada e Tapinotaspis, que coletam apenas óleo. O comportamento adequado dos polinizadores de Angelonia e Basistemon, imposto pela morfologia floral, implica na coleta do óleo com as pernas anteriores e o contato com os órgãos férteis na fronte ou mesoscuto em flores com corola mais profunda. Algumas espécies estão morfologicamente adaptadas a coleta nestas flores, como exemplo, as abelhas Centris grupo hyptidis, que possuem aparatos coletores divergentes de todo o padrão apresentado pelo gênero. Quanto à distribuição destas plantas e de seus potenciais polinizadores, em alguns casos, há grande sobreposição e os potenciais polinizadores podem ou não ser especialistas nestas fontes de óleo. Os casos de baixa congruência geográfica mostram que muitos destes potenciais polinizadores não dependem das fontes de óleo de Angelonia e Basistemon. / Floral oils are alternative flower reward to pollen and nectar that are offered by eleven families of angiosperms to oil-collecting bees. The production of this resource appeared at least 28 times, and its collection has been observed in five different lineages of bees. In the Neotropical Region, Malpighiaceae is the most diverse and best known family concerning to the pollination system and the interactions with oil-collecting bees. Plantaginaceae is well known due to some studies mostly on Angelonia and Monttea. In this study, the relationship between the oil-collecting bees and the Plantaginaceae flowers (five species of Angelonia and one of Basistemon) is presented, being given special attention to the morphological aspects of both, the bees behavior during the oil collection and the geographical overlap between the partners of this mutualism. This work presents for the first time the visitors of three species (A. eriostachys, A. goyazensis and Basistemon silvaticus), as well as new data on already studied species (A. cornigera, A. integerrima and A. salicariifolia). It was recorded that the specialized structures that are found on the lip (labellum) of all the known species of Angelonia are associated to the imposition of the correct posture of the visitor and their fixation on the flower. The Basistemon flowers are, in this way, less complex and they present only a discrete median callus. Although the morphology of these structures differ considerably among species, it is possible to establish relationships between their origins. The assemblage of visitors of the flowers of Angelonia and Basistemon varied from three to eighteen species. These species were considered pollinators or illegitimate visitors of the studied species. The bees of the genus Centris were considered the main pollinators of these plants; however species of Tapinotaspidini also play this role. These bees collect oil and pollen, in most species, having as exceptions the genera Centris, Caenonomada e Tapinotaspis that collect only oil. The correct behavior of the visitors of Angelonia and Basistemon flowers, imposed by the floral morphology, results the collection of oil with the forelegs and the contact of their fertile organs with their anterior head or dorsal thorax (in flowers with deep corolla). Some species are morphologically adapted to sample in these flowers, for example, the Centris bees group hyptidis, that have collecting apparatus that diverge from the pattern found in the genera. In respect to the distribution of these plants and their potential pollinators, in some cases, there is a large overlap and the potential pollinators may or may not be specialists in these oil sources. The cases of low geographical congruency show that many of these potential pollinators do not depend only on the oil sources of Angelonia and Basistemon.

Os óleos florais são os recursos alternativos ao pólen e néctar oferecidos por onze famílias de angiospermas às abelhas coletoras de óleo. A produção deste recurso surgiu ao menos 28 vezes e a coleta destes, em cinco linhagens distintas entre as abelhas. Na região Neotropical, Malpighiaceae é a família mais diversa e melhor conhecida em termos de seu sistema de polinização e relação com abelhas coletoras de óleo. Plantaginaceae é conhecida por alguns trabalhos, focados principalmente em Angelonia e Monttea. No presente estudo, são apresentadas as relações entre abelhas coletoras de óleo e flores de Plantaginaceae (cinco espécies de Angelonia e uma de Basistemon), com especial atenção aos aspectos morfológicos de ambos, aspectos comportamentais das abelhas durante a coleta e a sobreposição geográfica entre os parceiros deste mutualismo. Este trabalho apresenta pela primeira vez dados dos visitantes de três espécies: A. eriostachys, A. goyazensis e Basistemon silvaticus; além de dados inéditos sobre espécies já estudadas: A. cornigera, A. integerrima e A. salicariifolia. Foi observado que as estruturas especializadas presentes no labelo de todas as espécies estudadas de Angelonia estão associadas à imposição da postura correta do visitante e sua fixação na flor. As flores de Basistemon são mais simples neste sentido e apresentam apenas um discreto calo mediano. Apesar da morfologia destas estruturas diferirem consideravelmente entre as espécies, é possível estabelecer relações de origem entre elas. A assembléia de visitantes das flores de Angelonia e Basistemon variou entre três a dezoito espécies. Estas espécies foram consideradas polinizadoras ou visitantes ilegítimos. As abelhas do gênero Centris foram consideradas as principais polinizadoras das plantas estudadas, porém, espécies de Tapinotaspidini, em especial o gênero Caenonomada, também detêm esse papel. As abelhas que coletam óleo também coletam pólen, com exceção dos gêneros Centris, Caenonomada e Tapinotaspis, que coletam apenas óleo. O comportamento adequado dos polinizadores de Angelonia e Basistemon, imposto pela morfologia floral, implica na coleta do óleo com as pernas anteriores e o contato com os órgãos férteis na fronte ou mesoscuto em flores com corola mais profunda. Algumas espécies estão morfologicamente adaptadas a coleta nestas flores, como exemplo, as abelhas Centris grupo hyptidis, que possuem aparatos coletores divergentes de todo o padrão apresentado pelo gênero. Quanto à distribuição destas plantas e de seus potenciais polinizadores, em alguns casos, há grande sobreposição e os potenciais polinizadores podem ou não ser especialistas nestas fontes de óleo. Os casos de baixa congruência geográfica mostram que muitos destes potenciais polinizadores não dependem das fontes de óleo de Angelonia e Basistemon. / Floral oils are alternative flower reward to pollen and nectar that are offered by eleven families of angiosperms to oil-collecting bees. The production of this resource appeared at least 28 times, and its collection has been observed in five different lineages of bees. In the Neotropical Region, Malpighiaceae is the most diverse and best known family concerning to the pollination system and the interactions with oil-collecting bees. Plantaginaceae is well known due to some studies mostly on Angelonia and Monttea. In this study, the relationship between the oil-collecting bees and the Plantaginaceae flowers (five species of Angelonia and one of Basistemon) is presented, being given special attention to the morphological aspects of both, the bees behavior during the oil collection and the geographical overlap between the partners of this mutualism. This work presents for the first time the visitors of three species (A. eriostachys, A. goyazensis and Basistemon silvaticus), as well as new data on already studied species (A. cornigera, A. integerrima and A. salicariifolia). It was recorded that the specialized structures that are found on the lip (labellum) of all the known species of Angelonia are associated to the imposition of the correct posture of the visitor and their fixation on the flower. The Basistemon flowers are, in this way, less complex and they present only a discrete median callus. Although the morphology of these structures differ considerably among species, it is possible to establish relationships between their origins. The assemblage of visitors of the flowers of Angelonia and Basistemon varied from three to eighteen species. These species were considered pollinators or illegitimate visitors of the studied species. The bees of the genus Centris were considered the main pollinators of these plants; however species of Tapinotaspidini also play this role. These bees collect oil and pollen, in most species, having as exceptions the genera Centris, Caenonomada e Tapinotaspis that collect only oil. The correct behavior of the visitors of Angelonia and Basistemon flowers, imposed by the floral morphology, results the collection of oil with the forelegs and the contact of their fertile organs with their anterior head or dorsal thorax (in flowers with deep corolla). Some species are morphologically adapted to sample in these flowers, for example, the Centris bees group hyptidis, that have collecting apparatus that diverge from the pattern found in the genera. In respect to the distribution of these plants and their potential pollinators, in some cases, there is a large overlap and the potential pollinators may or may not be specialists in these oil sources. The cases of low geographical congruency show that many of these potential pollinators do not depend only on the oil sources of Angelonia and Basistemon.

Vegetative annuals are currently popular in the ornamental horticulture industry. Many crops are newly domesticated species and little is known about how they perform during shipping or in the retail environment. Nine species and 21 cultivars were grown and underwent simulated shipping after harvest or nitrogen toning two weeks before harvest. Shipping was not found to affect the number of flowers on all but two cultivars post ship. Nitrogen toning affected vegetative growth of most Bracteantha bracteata (bracteantha) cultivars at harvest. All species had an effect due to toning postharvest. Bractenatha and Diascia ×hybrida (diascia) were chosen for further study due to their performance during these experiments. The effect of thidiazuron (TDZ) as a foliar spray and nitrogen toning on leaf yellowing and plant growth of bracteantha were evaluated. The two treatments were then combined to see how the two treatments worked together. It was found TDZ decreased leaf yellowing but its effects can be negated if the plants were not toned. Nitrogen toning reduced vegetative growth of the bracteantha without affecting the number of flowers on the plants. Diascia was found to have flower abscission in response to shipping. Further trials were conducted using 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) an ethylene inhibitor. The effects of shipping duration and temperature were investigated. 1-MCP was found to hold flowers on treated plants longer postharvest than those not treated. Plants shipped for one day had no differences from the control but shipping for two days had a negative effect on plant quality. Postharvest shelf life was decreased when diascia was shipped at 24 °C when compared to cooler shipping temperatures. These results indicate shipping for no longer than one day and at less than 24 °C is recommended for diascia.