No description available.

Flower forcing to meet holiday market can increase the value of potted flowering plants. This study was to investigate the effects of chilling and post-chilling photoperiod treatments on flowering of banana shrub and the effects of water stress, daminozide, chlormequat, and ethephon on flowering of bougainvillea. Experiments were conducted at R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center and MSU Dorman Greenhouse at Mississippi State University (MSU), Mississippi State, MS. Results from banana shrub experiment indicated that 8-week chilling at 8 ºC was necessary for banana shrub to break bud dormancy and a tank mix of daminozide and chlormequat was able to increase the number of flower buds on banana shrub. Results from bougainvillea experiment indicated that water stress, daminozide, and chlormequat enhanced flowering. In conclusion, this study provided fundamental information to future research on flower forcing of banana shrub and bougainvillea.

No description available.

No description available.

Initial soil survey efforts in the George Washington National Forest reveal woodland site quality of timber stands to be higher than expected for the soils traditionally mapped in the area. Assessment of soil temperature data indicates the mesic-frigid boundary occurs at approximately 1200 m. This boundary is not absolute, and allows for adjustments as appropriate. Available climatic data shows precipitation generally increases with increased elevation. This coupled with lower mean monthly air temperatures and decreasing evapotranspiration allows for greater amounts of plant available moisture during the growing season at higher elevations. In some locations at lower elevations, there may be a potential for growth limiting conditions controlled by plant available moisture during the later part of the growing season. Approximately one-third of the soils sampled are classified as Loamy-skeletal, siliceous, mesic Typic Dystrochrepts. This soil typifies the soils found on summit, shoulder, and side slope landscape positions. The highest elevations have Typic frigid Dystrochrepts representing the predominance of soils. Frigid soils have higher organic matter content, greater sand content, higher cation exchange properties, and less siliceous minerals in comparison to the mesic soils. Comparison of the soils above to those occurring below selected elevations revealed an average 5 m greater site index for sites above 1100 m in comparison to all sites below. There are several soil properties that differ between these two groups of comparison. Total soil depth is greater and slope percent is less for soils above 1100 m. Soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity are higher on the sites with higher elevation, while base saturation and pH are lower. From analysis conducted on the data, aspect may warrant separate map unit phases in mapping. Two properties between the east and west aspect are significantly different; organic matter and soil hydrogen are greater on the east aspect. Increased site index values of between 5 to 10 m on the east aspect, over the west aspect, are apparent for the high elevation sites. Awareness of differences in productivity of this magnitude is important for management of the forest resource. A difference of 5 to 10 m in site index between two sites may have profound differences in the volume of timber, and, therefore, value of the site. The areas of best productivity need to be separated from those areas of normal productivity. In areas where the sites are accessible, and are under management for timber production, delineation of sites with high woodland site quality is essential since the primary land use is timber production. / Master of Science

Effects of media, soil moisture, fertility rate, and plant growth regulators on plant growth were investigated for 13 taxa of succulents. Media: Liners were grown in five common greenhouse substrates: 80% peat, 60% bark + 30% peat moss, 80% pine bark/20% Permatil (v/v), 100% composted pine bark, or whole tree substrate until market ready. Overall, higher percentage bark mixes yielded smaller plants, with lower shoot dry weights, shoot heights and widths. Soil Moisture: Liners were potted into a 60% bark/30% peat soilless potting mix. In group 1 , irrigation to container capacity occurred when volumetric soil moisture content fell below 30%, 20%, or 10%,. Group two (seven species) irrigation thresholds were shifted to 35%, 25%, and 15%. Effects of irrigation rate were significant in three of the 13 species studied, and those effects were species-specific. Fertility Rate: Liners were potted into60% bark/30% peat substrate. Fertility reatments in group were 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg.L-1 nitrogen. Group 2 plants received treatments of 50, 150, 250, or 350 mg.L-1 nitrogen. Four of the 11 species studied were affected by nitrogen rate, with rates up to 200 mg.L-1 generally producing the largest plants. PGRs: Seven species were potted into a 60% bark/30% peat substrate. Group one plants were treated with a foliar application of benzyladenine (Configure) at rates of 0, 400, 800, or 1600 mg.L-1. Group 2 plants were treated either BA at 0, 250, 500, or 1000 mg.L-1, dikegulac sodium (Augeo) at 400, 800, or 1600 mg.L-1, or a tank mix of 500 mg.L-1 Configure and 800 mg.L-1 Augeo. BA caused an increase in branches leaders or offsets in two species. / Master of Science

Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) are common perennials used both in gardens and the landscape as well as for cut flowers. Peonies require a chilling period to break dormancy but not for flower bud differentiation. For all studies discussed in this dissertation, two peony cultivars, Sarah Bernhardt and Inspecteur Lavergne, small (3–5 eye) crowns from Holland were potted in 3.8-L pots in mid-November of 2017 and 2018. Our overall objective was to determine if we could manipulate chilling time, along with application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and growth retardants, to produce marketable containerized peonies from a small crown in a single season (November to May). We evaluated chilling, GA3 and a growth retardant (uniconazole; UNZ) under controlled chilling and greenhouse forcing conditions. All potted plants were held outdoors at Battlefield Farms (Rapidan, VA, 38˚ N) for 4 weeks [in 2017, 400 chilling units (CU) according to Fulton Chilling Model] or in a 10°C cooler for 5.5 weeks (in 2018, 400 CU) to root, then placed in a 5°C cooler for 3, 4 or 5 weeks (total 752, 869 or 986 CU). GA3 was applied as a 0 or 100 mg·L-1 drench at 250 ml/pot after the plants were moved into the Virginia Tech greenhouse (Blacksburg, VA, 37˚ N) for forcing. Uniconazole drenches were applied to each cultivar under each chilling treatment at 355 ml/pot at 0, 15, or 20 mg·L-1 at 7 days after the GA3 drench applications. Three weeks chilling at 5°C (752 CU total) provided sufficient chilling for 'Sarah Bernhardt' and 'Inspecteur Lavergne'. Application of GA3 reduced production time and resulted in a greater number of shoots, and, in three of the four studies, increased the number of flowering shoots in three of the four studies. Substrate drench application of 15 mg·L-1 UNZ prior to spring emergence reduced plant width moderately resulting in improved compactness of both cultivars. We evaluated the effects of plant growth retardants applied with different methods at different stages of production on the growth and development of containerized peony under nursery conditions. All potted plants were placed in an unheated coldframe at the Virginia Tech Urban Horticulture Center (Blacksburg, VA, 37˚ N) for one month after potting to promote rooting and then were moved outdoors to a gravel pad to receive natural chilling from November to February. In 2017–18, substrate drenches of UNZ at 0, 15, 30 or 45 mg·L-1 or paclobutrazol (PBZ) at 0, 30, 60 or 90 mg·L-1 at 237 mL/pot were applied about 4 weeks after potting for both cultivars in mid-December 2017. In 2018–19, fall drenches of uniconazole at 0, 15, 30 or 45 mg·L-1 at 237 mL/pot were applied about 4 weeks after potting in mid-December 2018, or spring sprenches of uniconazole were applied at 0, 15, 30 or 45 mg·L-1 at 840 mL·m-2 in March 2019 after 50% shoot emergence for each cultivar. Plant growth retardant applications had little effect on plant growth of either cultivar, but treated plants were of a darker green color compared to the control plants. In addition, higher rates of uniconazole applied as a fall drench increased the number of flowering shoots of both cultivars and the percentage of plants flowering for 'Sarah Bernhardt' in the second season of the study where plants were more protected from spring freezes. Fall paclobutrazol drenches or spring uniconazole sprenches had little effect on flowering. To determine the best timing for spring GA3 applications under nursery conditions, we applied three models based on natural chilling accumulation. The models were a modified Fulton Chilling Model (FCM) for herbaceous peonies, Blackberry Chilling Model 5 (BCM5) for blackberry, or a visual development model (VDM) which was 10% of plants showing shoot emergence in the spring. We choose 1,000 CU for the first two chilling models as the chilling required to break dormancy and promote normal plant growth and flowering. All plants were held in an unheated coldframe at the Virginia Tech Urban Horticulture Center for one month after potting to promote rooting, then were moved outdoors to a gravel pad to receive natural chilling over the winter months. Drenches of 0 or 100 mg·L-1 GA3 were applied at 250 mL/pot to each cultivar under each chilling model when the specific conditions were met. Due to greater winter injury in the 2017–18 season, results varied by year. In the 2017–18 season, GA3 applied according to BCM5 reduce days to emergence for both cultivars and reduce the plant width of 'Inspecteur Lavergne', and later application according to BCM5 and VDM reduced plant length and diameter of 'Sarah Bernhardt'. Reductions in plant size may have been due to greater winter injury due to the earlier emergence of GA3 treated plants. In the 2018–19 season, earlier GA3 drench applications tended to reduce days to emergence for both cultivars and the FCM application reduced days to bud for 'Inspecteur Lavergne', but GA3 drench applications had no effect on plant size. GA3 can be applied after chilling (1,000 CU) using a suitable chilling model such as FCM for peonies, or BCM5, or VDM, but GA3 had little effect on plant development under nursery conditions. We also evaluated GA3 effects on peony bud differentiation and development during controlled chilling and early forcing, as well as effects on growth and flowering. All potted plants were held in a 10°C cooler for 5.5 weeks (400 CU) to root, then placed in a 5°C cooler for 4 weeks (total 869 CU). GA3 was applied at 0 or 100 mg·L-1 pre-chilling or post-chilling as a 250 ml/pot drench. Bud differentiation and development of excised buds were evaluated using a stereomicroscope at potting, after rooting (before chilling), after 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks of chilling, and at 5, 10 or 15 days after the beginning of forcing. All buds were removed from the sample plants, measured for bud length and diameter, and dissected under a stereomicroscope to assess differentiation stages. Root dry weights and crown dry weights were also determined after rooting, after chilling, and at 15 days of forcing. Ten plants of each treatment were grown in the Virginia Tech greenhouse after chilling until flowering. GA3 applications did not advance the bud development stage because most of buds were already in the reproductive stages before dormancy, but GA3 enhanced bud elongation during chilling and the early forcing period. Our findings suggest that GA3 applications can reduce the time to emergence and flowering, as well as increase the numbers of shoots and flowering shoots. GA3 applied right after rooting in, prior to the chilling period, or before greenhouse forcing, resulted in earlier emergence and flowering with higher quality plants. However, earlier applications, pre-chilling, tended to produce plants with more shoots. Overall, our experiments indicate that three weeks of chilling at 5°C (752 CU total) is a sufficient chilling regime for forcing 'Sarah Bernhardt' and 'Inspecteur Lavergne' peonies, and 1,000 CU of naturally accumulated chilling is sufficient for nursery production. GA3 applications can reduce the time to emergence and flowering, as well as increase the numbers of total shoots and flowering shoots. Timing of GA3 application is flexible; it can be applied right after rooting, before the chilling period, just before greenhouse forcing, or after shoots have begun to emerge. Plant growth retardant applications had a little effect on the growth of tested cultivars, but all plants treated with growth retardants are generally darker green in color. Additionally, growth retardant applications have some positive effects on flowering. / Doctor of Philosophy / Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) are common perennials used both in gardens and the landscape as well as for cut flowers. Peonies require a chilling period to break dormancy but not for flower bud differentiation. For all studies, two peony cultivars, Sarah Bernhardt and Inspecteur Lavergne, 3 to 5 eye small crowns from Holland were potted in 3.8-L pots in mid November of 2017 and 2018. Our overall objective was to determine if we could manipulate chilling time, along with application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and growth retardants, to produce marketable containerized peonies from a small crown in a single season (November to May). We evaluated chilling, GA3 and a growth retardant (uniconazole) under controlled chilling and greenhouse forcing conditions. We evaluated the effects of plant growth retardants (uniconazole or paclobutrazol) applied with different methods (fall drenches or spring sprenches) at different stages of production on the growth and development of containerized peony under nursery conditions. To determine the best timing for spring GA3 applications under nursery conditions, we applied three models based on natural chilling accumulation. We also evaluated GA3 effects on peony bud differentiation and development during controlled chilling and early forcing, as well as growth and flowering. Overall, 3 weeks chilling at 5°C [752 chilling units (CU) total] is a sufficient chilling regime for forcing 'Sarah Bernhardt' and 'Inspecteur Lavergne' peonies, and 1000 CU naturally accumulated chilling is sufficient for nursery production. GA3 applications can reduce the time to emergence and flowering, as well as increase the numbers of shoots and flowering shoots. Timing of GA3 application is flexible, it can be applied right after rooting, after the chilling period, or after shoots have begun to emerge. Plant growth retardant applications had little effect on plant growth of either cultivar, but all plants treated with growth retardants were darker green in color. Additionally, growth retardant applications had some positive effects on flowering.

New hybrid Echinacea cultivars, based on crosses of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench with several other Echinacea species, have generated interest and excitement in the marketplace due to novel flower colors and forms. However, these cultivars vary significantly in their growth habits and requirements from the species. We examined factors in the production of Echinacea hybrid cultivars to provide guidance to growers. Foliar sprays 600 mg·L⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) increased numbers of branches between 19% and 83% in Echinacea cultivars while 400 mg·L⁻¹ dikegulac sodium or 500 mg·L⁻¹ ethephon did not improve branching. Of several height control PGRs applied to E. ‘Marmalade,’ only plants treated with two applications of 5000 mg·L⁻¹ daminozide were shorter (24%) compared to untreated controls although flowering was also reduced by 70%. Echinacea ‘Harvest Moon’ plants were shorter in response to all of the PGRs applied, with the best results seen in plants treated with foliar sprays of uniconazole (one application of 30 mg·L⁻¹ or two applications of 15 mg·L⁻¹ ), two applications of 5000 mg·L⁻¹ daminozide, or 4 mg·L⁻¹ paclobutrazol applied once as a drench. Supplying N at 150 mg·L -1 during the growing season provided Echinacea cultivars adequate nutrition and maximized numbers of branches and flowers and shoot dry weight. In overwintering, fertilization treatments that resulted in low substrate electrical conductivity going into dormancy, 5.0 kg·m controlled release fertilizer 15N-3.9P-10K or 150 mg·L⁻¹ N using 15N-2.2P-12.5K applied using constant liquid feed, resulted in the highest survival rates of Echinacea cultivars. As a monitoring tool, SPAD measurements were not successful in predicting tissue N levels in Echinacea hybrids. Twenty-one hybrid cultivars acquired as stage 3 tissue culture plantlets were grown under one of three photoperiods (10-hour, 16-hour, or 24-hour) for 10 weeks before being transplanted to larger containers and grown under natural daylength until flowering. Providing Echinacea hybrid cultivars with a 16-hour photoperiod during liner production resulted in plants which flowered soonest without negative effects on growth. The need for height control PGRs varied by cultivar; however, overall height control PGRs controlled flower stalk height and increased market rating. / Ph. D. / New hybrid <i>Echinacea</i> cultivars, based on crosses of <i>Echinacea purpurea</i> (L.) Moench with several other <i>Echinacea</i> species, have generated interest and excitement in the marketplace due to novel flower colors and forms. However, these cultivars vary significantly in their growth habits and requirements from the species. We examined factors in the production of <i>Echinacea</i> hybrid cultivars to provide guidance to growers. Foliar sprays 600 mg·L-1 benzyladenine (BA) increased numbers of branches between 19% and 83% in <i>Echinacea</i> cultivars while 400 mg·L-1 dikegulac sodium or 500 mg·L-1 ethephon did not improve branching. Of several height control PGRs applied to E. ‘Marmalade,’ only plants treated with two applications of 5000 mg·L-1 daminozide were shorter (24%) compared to untreated controls although flowering was also reduced by 70%. <i>Echinacea</i> ‘Harvest Moon’ plants were shorter in response to all of the PGRs applied, with the best results seen in plants treated with foliar sprays of uniconazole (one application of 30 mg·L-1 or two applications of 15 mg·L-1 ), two applications of 5000 mg·L-1 daminozide, or 4 mg·L-1 paclobutrazol applied once as a drench. Supplying N at 150 mg·L -1 during the growing season provided <i>Echinacea</i> cultivars adequate nutrition and maximized numbers of branches and flowers and shoot dry weight. In overwintering, fertilization treatments that resulted in low substrate electrical conductivity going into dormancy, 5.0 kg·m controlled release fertilizer 15N-3.9P-10K or 150 mg·l-1 N using 15N-2.2P-12.5K applied using constant liquid feed, resulted in the highest survival rates of <i>Echinacea</i> cultivars. As a monitoring tool, SPAD measurements were not successful in predicting tissue N levels in <i>Echinacea</i> hybrids. Twenty-one hybrid cultivars acquired as stage 3 tissue culture plantlets were grown under one of three photoperiods (10-hour, 16-hour, or 24-hour) for 10 weeks before being transplanted to larger containers and grown under natural daylength until flowering. Providing <i>Echinacea</i> hybrid cultivars with a 16-hour photoperiod during liner production resulted in plants which flowered soonest without negative effects on growth. The need for height control PGRs varied by cultivar; however, overall height control PGRs controlled flower stalk height and increased market rating.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant growth promoting substances (PGPS) are emerging as useful tools in the investigation of important plant growth traits. Two PGPS, smoke-water derived from burning plant material and a synthetic strigolactone analogue, GR24, have been reported to regulate a wide variety of developmental and growth processes in plants. These PGPS are beginning to receive considerable attention in the area of improving plant biomass yield and production. Variation in growth between plants is a major impediment towards the complete understanding of the intrinsic processes that control biomass production. Callus cultures of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana could overcome some of these hindrances. However, the suitability of these callus cultures as a model system for plant biomass production must be established first. This study aimed at using A. thaliana callus cultures as a platform to study the plant growth promoting activities of smoke-water and GR24. The first part of this study was conducted to develop an optimal protocol for inducing A. thaliana callus formation. Wild-type A. thaliana Col-O, as well as strigolactone deficient and insensitive mutants (max1-1, max2-1, max2-2, max3-9 and max4-1) were cultured for callus induction. Hypocotyl and leaf explants were cultured onto MS media supplemented with different hormone concentrations of 2,4-D and kinetin (2:2 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetin and 0.5:0.05 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetin). Both media proved suitable for callus induction of all genotypes, with max1-1 showing the highest efficiency (83.33% and 92.22%) of callus induction. Calli were then used as a platform for future investigations into the effects of smoke-water and GR24. Secondly, this study examined the effects of smoke-water and GR24 on wild-type A. thaliana Col-O callus. Basic physiological studies were conducted to determine if these two compounds would positively affect callus growth, as was shown in previous studies using whole plants. Calli cultivated on MS media containing the two different hormone concentrations were transferred onto the same fresh MS medium, supplemented with either smoke-water or GR24. Growth promotion by smoke-water and GR24 in calli was characterized by a significantly increased mass (biomass). Calli were additionally transferred onto MS medium containing either auxin only or kinetin only and supplemented with GR24 or smoke-water. In the auxin only system, increased mass was recorded for both GR24 and smoke-water treatments, while these two compounds seemed to reduce growth in the kinetin only system. The positive growth stimulatory effect observed for the auxin only system could be attributed to the synergistic relationship between auxin and strigolactones, whilst the reduced mass in the latter system could be due to the antagonistic interaction between strigolactones and cytokinins. Finally, this study has discovered a dual role of strigolactones in biomass accumulation and adventitious root formation for Arabidopsis thaliana callus. On an auxin- and cytokinin-free MS medium supplemented with GR24, calli of Arabidopsis thaliana strigolactone deficient mutants (max1-1 and max4-1) and the wild-type Col- O, but not the strigolactone response mutant (max2-2), showed enhanced biomass accumulation. In addition to this, the max4-1 mutant and wild-type Col-O demonstrated enhanced adventitious rooting, which was not apparent in max2-2. Together these data suggested that the biomass accumulation and the adventitious rooting activities of GR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana calli are controlled in a MAX2- dependent manner. The interaction between strigolactone, auxin and cytokinin signalling pathways in regulating these responses appears to be complex. Gene expression profiling showed regulation of stress-related genes such as B-box transcription factors, CALCINEURIN B-LIKE and RAP4.2 Genes encoding hormones associated with stress (ABA, ethylene) and defence mechanisms (JA) were upregulated. Expression of stress related genes indicated clues on some kind of stress mediation that might be involved during the regulation of the rhizogenic response. Conversely, smoke-water treatment could not enhance the biomass of the calli and nor could it induce adventitious rooting in the absence of auxin and cytokinin. This observation strongly emphasized the distinct roles of these two compounds, as well as the importance of the interaction and ratio of auxin and cytokinin in callus growth. This study has demonstrated a novel role of strigolactones in plant growth and development, i.e. enhancement of biomass production in callus cultures. Secondly the enhanced adventitious rooting ability is in agreement with recently published literature on the role of strigolactones in regulating root architecture. In vitro callus production is advantageous to plant sciences. It creates an opportunity for increasing plant material for cultivation and offers the use of cell cultures that accurately mimic specific growth responses. It could greatly contribute to the study of intricate regulatory and signalling pathways responsible for growth and development in plants. Because the regulation of plant biomass production is very complex and the molecular mechanisms underlying the process remain elusive, it is of paramount importance that further work be done in order to gain more in-depth insights and understanding of this aspect and subsequently improve efficiency and returns when applying biotechnology tools on commercially important crop plants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verbindings wat plantgroei bevorder (PGBV) het as nuttige alternatief ontstaan om plant groei te ondersoek. Rook-water, afkomstig van verbrande plant material, en ‘n sintetiese strigolaktoon analoog, GR24, wat ‘n α, β-onversadigde furanoon funksionele groep in gemeen het, is vir die regulering van ‘n wye verskeidenheid ontwikkelings- en groei prosesse in plante verantwoordelik. Tans ontvang hierdie PGBVs aansienlik aandag in die area van die verbetering van plant biomassa opbrengs en -produksie. Die variasie in groei tussen plante is ‘n groot hindernis om die intrinsieke prosesse wat biomass produksie beheer, volledige te verstaan. Deur gebruik te maak van kallus kulture van die model plant Arabidopsis thaliana kan van hierdie hindernisse oorkom word. Tog moet die geskiktheid van kallus kulture as ‘n model sisteem vir plant groei biomass produksie eers gevestig word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om A. thaliana kallus kulture as ‘n platform vir die studie van die plantgroei bevorderingsaktiwiteite van rook-water en GR24 te gebruik. Die eerste deel van die studie is uitgevoer ten einde ‘n optimale protokol vir die induksie van A. thaliana kallus produksie te ontwikkel. Wilde tipe Col-0, asook strigolaktoon afwesige en onsensitiewe mutante (max1-1, max2-1, max2-2, max3-9 en max4-1) is vir kallus induksie gekultiveer. Hipokotiel en blaar eksplante is op MS medium wat verskillende hormoon konsentrasies van 2,4-D en kinetien (2:2 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetien en 0.5:0.05 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetien) bevat, oorgedra. Beide media was geskik vir kallus induksie van al die genotipes, met max1-1 wat die hoogste effektiwiteit (83.33% en 92.22%) van kallus induksie getoon het. Kalli is daarna as ‘n platform vir toekomstige navorsing i.v.m die effek van rook-water en GR24 gebruik. Tweedens ondersoek die studie die effek van rook-water en GR24 op wilde tipe Col-0 kallus. Basiese fisiologiese studies is uitgevoer om te bepaal of die twee verbindings ‘n positiewe effek op kallus groei toon soos aangedui in vorige studies waar intakte plante gebruik is. Kallus wat op MS medium wat die twee verskillende hormoon konsentrasies bevat gekultiveer was, is op dieselfde vars MS medium, wat addisioneel óf rook-water óf GR24 bevat, oorgedra. Die stimulering van groei van kalli deur rook-water en GR24 is deur ‘n merkwaardige toename in massa (biomassa) gekenmerk. Kallus is additioneel op MS medium wat slegs óf ouksien óf kinetin bevat (gekombineer met GR24 of rook-water behandeling), oorgedra. In die sisteem waar slegs ouksien toegedien is, is ‘n toename in massa waargeneem vir beide GR24 en rook-water behandelinge. In teenstelling hiermee, het die twee verbindings in die sisteem waar slegs kinetin toegedien is, ‘n vermindering in groei meegebring. Die positiewe groei stimulerende effek wat waargeneem is vir die sisteem waar slegs ouksien toegedien is, kan toegedra word aan die sinergistiese verhouding tussen die ouksien en strigolaktone; terwyl die verlaagde massa in die laasgenoemde sisteem aan die antagonistiese interaksie tussen strigolaktone en sitokiniene toegedra kan word. Laastens het hierdie studie het ‘n gelyktydige rol van strigolaktone vir biomassa akkumulasie en bywortelvorming in Arabidopsis thaliana kallus ontdek. Kallus van A. thaliana strigolaktoon afwesige mutante (max1-1 en max4-1) en die wilde tipe Col-0 (maar nie die strigolaktoon reagerende mutant (max2-2) het op ‘n ouksien en sitokinien vrye MS medium wat GR24 bevat ‘n verhoogde biomassa akkumulasie getoon. Die max4-1 mutant en wilde tipe Col-0 het verhoogde bywortelvorming getoon, wat nie so opmerklik by max2-2 was nie. Hierdie data het tesame voorgestel dat die biomassa akkumulasie en die bywortelvormingsaktiwiteite van GR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana kallus op ‘n MAX2-afhanklike wyse beheer word. Die interaksie tussen strigolaktoon, ouksien en sitokinien sein transduksie paaie vir die regulering van hierdie reaksies blyk kompleks te wees. Die geen uitdrukkingsprofiel het die regulering van stres verwante gene soos B-boks transkripsie faktore, CALCINEURIN B-LIKE en RAP4.2, getoon. Gene wat vir hormone wat aan stres (ABA, etileen) en verdedigingsmeganismes (JA) verwant is, is opgereguleer. Die uitdrukking van stress verwante gene dui op tekens van ‘n ander tipe stres bemiddeling wat dalk by die regulering van die risogeniese reaksie betrokke kan wees. In teenstelling, rook water behandeling kon nie die kallus biomassa verhoog nie en dit kon ook nie die bywortelingvorming in die afwesigheid van ouksien en sitokiniene induseer nie. Hierdie waarneming is ‘n sterk bevestiging vir die uitsonderlike rol van die twee verbindings, asook die belang van die interaksie en verhouding van ouksien en sitokinine vir die groei van kallus. Hierdie studie toon op ‘n nuwe rol van strigolaktoon in plant groei en ontwikkeling, d.w.s die verhoogde biomassa produksie in kallus kulture. Tweedens, die verhoogde bywortelvormingsvermoë is in ooreenstemming met literatuur wat onlangs gepubliseer is i.v.m die rol van strigolaktone in die regulering van wortel argitektuur. Die in vitro produksie van kallus is voordelig in plant wetenskappe. Dit skep ‘n geleentheid vir die vermeerdering van plant materiaal vir kultivering en bied die gebruik van selkulture wat spesifieke groei reaksies op ‘n merkwaardige wyse akkuraat namaak. Dit kan grootliks bydra tot die studie van die delikate regulatoriese en sein transduksie paaie wat vir groei en ontwikkeling van plante verantwoordelik is. Aangesien die regulering van plant biomassa produksie baie kompleks is en die molekulêre meganismes vir die proses onbekend bly is dit van grootskaalse belang dat meer werk gedoen word om ‘n meer in diepte insig en kennis van die aspekte en gevolglike verbetering van effektiwiteit en wins te kry deur die toepassing van biotegnologiese metodes op die gewas plante wat van kommersiêle belang is.

No description available.