Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Flower plants'

Ethylene (C2H4) is a very simple molecule, a gas, and has numerous effects on the growth, development and storage life of many fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops. In higher plants, ethylene is produced from L-methionine in essentially all tissues and ACC Synthase and ACC Oxidase are the two key enzymes in the biosynthesis of ethylene. The objective of the present study was to transform tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) plant with partial sequence of torenia acc oxidase gene in antisense and sense orientations via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system, and to analyze its effect on ethylene production in transgenic plants. Six antisense and seven sense T0 putative transgenic lines were obtained and were further analyzed with several assays. Leaf disc assay and chlorophenol red assay under selection (75 mg/L kanamycin) revealed positive results compared to the non-transformed plant. T1 generations were obtained from all putative transgenic lines. PCR analysis and Northern Blot Hybridization results confirmed the transgenic nature of T1 progeny. Furthermore, ethylene amount produced by flowers were measured with gas chromatography, which resulted in an average of 77% reduction in S7 line and 72% reduction in A1 line compared with the control flowers. These results indicated that, transgenic tobacco plants carrying torenia acc oxidase transgene both in antisense and sense orientations showed reduced ethylene production thus a possibility of flower life extension.

Effects of exogenously applied GA₄₊₇ on floral and vegetative development of Streptocarpus x hybridus were investigated. S. x hybridus 'Hybrid Delta' petiolode tissue from plants treated with 25 μg GA₄₊₇ were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Plants treated at 1 cm leaf lengths appeared unaffected by GA₄₊₇ one week after treatment while 2 and 3 cm GAâ treated samples showed enhanced floral initiation.

Master of Science

Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(人間・環境学)
甲第21176号
人博第848号
新制||人||203(附属図書館)
29||人博||848(吉田南総合図書館)
京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻
(主査)教授 加藤 眞, 教授 市岡 孝朗, 教授 瀬戸口 浩彰
学位規則第4条第1項該当

Orientadores: Marlies Sazima, Jeff Ollerton
Texto em português e inglês
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia
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Resumo: Os padrões encontrados em ecologia são resultado de processos contemporâneos interagindo com uma longa história de contingência. No entanto, poucos estudos têm buscado entender o papel relativo de fatores contemporâneos e pretéritos sobre padrões reprodutivos de plantas. No decorrer dessa tese foram consideradas essas duas dimensões (temporal e espacial) em estudos sobre polinização. A amplitude do estudo em relação ao tempo foi de horas até milênios, da mesma forma que para o espaço, para o qual se considerou desde metros até variações entre diferentes continentes na escala planetária. Os capítulos estão organizados em uma escala crescente de tempo e espaço. No primeiro capítulo foi considerada a variação fina de horas e metros no estudo sobre a polinização de algumas espécies de Davilla; nesse capítulo também são apresentados outros aspectos da história natural na família Dilleniaceae e uma abordagem filogenética para a evolução de algumas características florais. No capítulo 2, ao longo de vários anos, foi verificada a habilidade de visitantes florais depositar pólen, sua frequência e a importância de cada grupo de visitante nas flores de Knautia arvensis nesse período. O capítulo 3 demonstra variações no espaço tanto na morfologia floral e foliar como no crescimento do tubo polínico em diferentes testes de polinização, utilizando Curatella americana com populações distribuídas no Cerrado Brasileiro. No capítulo 4 é apresentada a variação espacial no sistema reprodutivo e a relação dos polinizadores com o nível de polinização cruzada e do passado climático com o nível de autopolinização espontânea, também tratando de C. americana. Para finalizar o capítulo 5 considera 50 inventários distribuidos ao redor do planeta categorizando as plantas em anemófilas ou zoófilas e demonstra o papel da precipitação (presente e passada) e da riqueza de espécies vegetais na prevalência de cada um dos modos de polinização. Como conclusão geral, fica clara a importância de se considerar as dimensões temporal e espacial nas interações entre plantas e polinizadores, a fim de entender como essas evoluem e como impactam na evolução da morfologia floral e nos sistemas de polinização
Abstract: Patterns in ecology are the products of current factors interacting with a longstanding history of contingency. Nevertheless, few studies have attempted to disentangle the contribution of past and current factors on plant reproduction patterns. Here we studied pollination considering both, spatial and temporal dimensions. Time variation goes from hours to millennia as well as space, whose importance was considered from meters to the whole planet. The chapter¿s sequence within the thesis is planned to go from the small to the large scale. We show the importance of fine grained variations such as hours and meters in the flower differentiation and pollination of two Davilla species in the chapter 1. In the chapter 2 we studied pollen deposition and visitation frequency in Knautia arvensis considering a year scale and showed the most important pollinator changing every year. In the Chapters 3 we used Curatella americana with populations studied across Brazilian Cerrado and show spatial variation in flower and leaf morphology and pollen tube growth. Chapter 4 also using C. americana shows the variation on the reproductive system across space, with cross-pollination related to pollinator availability and the level of autogamy underpinned by past climate. To finish, Chapter 5 deal with 50 community-based assessments of wind and animal pollination over the world and show the importance of precipitation (current and past) and plant species richness as major drivers of these proportion. As a general conclusion, it is clear that temporal and spatial factors cannot be ignored in spite to understand floral evolution and the interactions between plant and pollinators
Doutorado
Ecologia
Doutor em Ecologia

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive alien plants threaten natural and agricultural pollination systems as they integrate into and disrupt flower visitation networks. Mango (Mangifera indica) production on commercial mango farms in Hoedspruit, South Africa, is an important part of the local economy. Mangoes require pollination for fruiting success, and depend on the native insect community, facilitated by managed bee colonies (Apis mellifera), to pollinate flowers. Managed honeybees and wild insect flower visitors to mango have previously been observed visiting other flowering plants in surrounding natural vegetation, including the alien invasive plant Lantana camara. Lantana camara and mango share similar floral characteristics and co-occur in close proximity, so they may share pollinators/flower visitors. Here, I determined L. camara’s influence on mango flower visitation networks, specifically whether it facilitates visitation, through greater abundance and diversity of insect flower visitors (facilitation), or competes for flower visitors (competition), and whether it supports mango flower visitors when mango trees are not in flower. This study was conducted on the margins of three mango farms and bordering natural vegetation. Firstly, L. camara’s effect on mango flower visitation was investigated by comparing flower visitation to mango in plots with and without L. camara nearby. The presence of L. camara was associated with greater mango flower visitation, with increases in both flower visitor species abundance and richness. Secondly, the composition of flower visitor communities of mango orchard boundaries and bordering natural vegetation were evaluated. Although some flower visitors were shared between mango and naturally occurring plants, flower visitor community assemblages were significantly different between natural vegetation and mango orchard boundaries. In natural vegetation, flies, butterflies, wasps, wild bees and ants played a primary role in the visitation networks, whereas honeybees, wild bees and flies were the main visitors in mango orchards. The presence of L. camara significantly influenced community structure in both natural vegetation and orchards. Natural vegetation with L. camara had a more diverse flower visitor community than natural vegetation without L. camara. Lantana camara seems to facilitate mango flower visitation during mango flowering, attracting a larger visitor abundance and species richness where it occurs in bordering natural vegetation and nearby mango orchard boundaries. However, L. camara was seen to be visited by few species known to visit mango outside of mango flowering, suggesting that L. camara may benefit more from facilitation than mango. Given its extreme invasive nature and threat to local plants which sustain native pollinators, L. camara should be removed from mango orchards and bordering natural vegetation. Furthermore, farm managers are encouraged to plant and maintain indigenous flowering plants, especially plants with a facilitative value to mango, in land surrounding mango orchards to sustain native wild pollinators beneficial to mango pollination.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Indringerplante bedreig natuurlike- en landboubestuiwingsisteme deur blombesoekingsnetwerke binne te dring en te ontwrig. Mango (Mangifera indica) produksie op kommersiële plase in Hoedspruit, Suid-Afrika, speel 'n belangrike rol in die plaaslike ekonomie. Suksesvolle mangovrugproduksie is afhanklik van bestuiwing deur inheemse insekte, gefasiliteer deur bestuurde heuningbykolonies (Apis mellifera). Dit is vantevore waargeneem dat hierdie heuningbye en inheemse insekblombesoekers ook ander blomme besoek in die omliggende natuurlike plantegroei, veral Lantana camara wat in hierdie areas ook voorkom. Lantana camara en mango deel soortgelyke blomeienskappe en groei baie na aan mekaar op die buitenste rande van mango boorde. In hierdie studie bepaal ek L. camara se invloed op mangoblominsekbesoekers, en kyk spesifiek of dit mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer, deur om die aantal blombesoekers en blombesoekerspesies te verhoog (fasilitering), of mee kompeteer vir blombesoekers (kompetisie), en of dit mangoblombesoekers onderhou wanneer mango bome nie blom nie. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer op die grensgebied tussen die mangoboorde en natuurlike plantegroei van drie mangoplase. Eerstens is L. camara se effek op mango ondersoek deur mangoblombesoeking te vergelyk tussen plotte met en sonder L. camara. Daar is gevind dat L. camara mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer deur om die aantal blombesoekers en besoekerspesies te verhoog. Tweedens is die gemeenskapsamestelling van blombesoekers in mangoboordrande en aangrensende plantegroei geëvalueer. Alhoewel sommige blombesoekers by mango én ander plante gevind word, is hul gemeenskapsamestelling aansienlik verskillend tussen die mangoboordrande en aangrensende plantegroei. Vlieë, skoenlappers, wespe, bye en miere speel 'n primêre rol in die blombesoekingsnetwerke van natuurlike plantegroei, waar hierdie rol in mangoboord-besoekingsnetwerke vervul word deur heuningbye, wilde bye en vlieë. Die teenwoordigheid van L. camara het die gemeenskapstruktuur in beide gebiede beduidend beïnvloed. Die aangrensende natuurlike plantegroei, waar L. camara voorkom, het ‘n meer diverse blombesoekersgemeenskap as dié sonder L. camara. Mangoboorde wat grens aan plantegroei, wat L. camara insluit, het soortgelyk 'n groter blombesoekerspesierykheid en aantal blombesoekers gehad. Dit blyk dat, waar hierdie plant voorkom, Lantana camara mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer tydens mangoblomtyd sowel as om 'n groter aantal blombesoekersinsekte met ‘n groter spesierykheid te lok in beide die mangoboorde en aangrensende natuurlike plantegroei. Daar is egter geen bewyse gevind wat voorstel dat L. camara mangoblombesoekers ondersteun buite mangoblomtyd nie, wat aandui dat L. camara voordeel trek uit die fasiliterende verband met mango. Gegewe L. camara se uiterse indringende geaardheid en bedreiging aan die plaaslike inheemse plantgemeenskap wat inheemse bestuiwers onderhou, word L. camara se verwydering vanuit die aangrensende plantegroei aanbeveel. Dit word aanbeveel om L. camara se fasiliterende rol te vervang deur inheemse blomplante in dié areas aan te plant en natuurlike blomplantegroei te bewaar en te onderhou.

Flower bud abortion, or "blasting" was shown to be at least partially caused by treating plants with ethephon, a chemical that releases ethylene. In floricultural greenhouses, ethylene could accumulate to levels that could induce commercially significant levels of flower bud injury. Silver thiosulfate (STS) was shown to be a potent inhibitor of ethephon injury. STS at (1 to 2 mM) could be applied as early as the visible bud stage (approximately 5 to 6 weeks before flowering) without phytotoxic effects. Using current silver prices, the material cost for our treatment is less than 0.4 cents per plant. Based on these results, a preventative STS application could potentially reduce much of the flower bud abortion seen in commercial greenhouses.

Reproductive endpoints are generally not considered in regulatory risk assessments used to inform registration decisions for pesticides, and relatively few studies have examined effects of herbicides on reproduction in non-target plants. In two sets of greenhouse experiments using three wild species (Rudbeckia hirta L., Centaurea cyanus L. and Trifolium pratense L), effects on flowering phenology and inflorescence characteristics were investigated following low, drift-equivalent glyphosate exposure at an early bud stage. Weekly post-spray observations included the number of inflorescences, aborted buds and malformed inflorescences. In the experiment focusing on inflorescence characteristics (C. cyanus and T. pratense only), inflorescences and pollen were collected at five weeks post-spray to measure inflorescence dry weight, count the number of reproductive florets, estimate the amount of pollen per floret, and assess pollen germination in vitro. Flower production was adversely affected in all three species, including delays in flowering, significant increases in the number of aborted buds and malformed inflorescences, an overall reduction in the number of inflorescences produced, as well as a reduction in the duration of individual inflorescence bloom time (R. hirta and T. pratense assessed only). Inflorescence dry weight and in vitro pollen germination were significantly reduced for C. cyanus exposed to glyphosate, but not for T. pratense. However, both species experienced a significant reduction in the number of reproductive florets produced per inflorescence in response to glyphosate exposure. Neither species was observed to have significant reductions in the amount of pollen produced per reproductive floret. These results have important implications for risk assessment, demonstrating that current glyphosate use in Canada and elsewhere could be adversely affecting non-target flowering plants in field margins, as well as other taxa that rely on them, particularly pollinators. Les effets sur la reproduction des plantes ne sont généralement pas pris en ligne de compte dans les évaluations réglementaires sur les risques des pesticides lors de leur homologation. De plus, relativement peu d'études ont examiné les effets des herbicides sur la reproduction des plantes non ciblées. Dans deux séries d'expériences en serres avec trois espèces sauvages (Rudbeckia hirta L., Centaurea cyanus L. et Trifolium pratense L), les effets sur la phénologie florale et les caractéristiques des inflorescences ont été étudiés après une faible exposition au glyphosate équivalente à la dérive durant la pulvérisation lorsque les plantes sont au début des boutons floraux. Des observations hebdomadaires post-pulvérisation ont été effectuées sur le nombre d'inflorescences, de bourgeons avortés et d’inflorescences malformées. Dans l'expérience portant sur les caractéristiques des inflorescences (C. cyanus et T. pratense seulement), les inflorescences et le pollen ont été recueillis cinq semaines après la pulvérisation pour mesurer le poids sec des inflorescences, compter le nombre de fleurons reproducteurs, estimer la quantité de pollen par fleur et évaluer la germination du pollen in vitro. La production de fleurs a été affectée chez les trois espèces, y compris des retards de floraison, des augmentations significatives du nombre de bourgeons avortés et d’inflorescences malformées, une réduction globale du nombre d'inflorescences produites et une diminution de la durée de floraison par inflorescence. (R. hirta et T. pratense évalués seulement). Le poids sec des inflorescences et la germination in vitro du pollen ont été significativement réduits chez C. cyanus exposé au glyphosate, mais pas chez T. pratense. Cependant, les deux espèces ont subi une réduction significative du nombre de fleurons reproducteurs produits par inflorescence en réponse à l'exposition au glyphosate. Aucune des deux espèces n'a montré de réduction significative de la quantité de pollen produit par fleuron. Ces résultats ont des implications importantes pour l'évaluation de risques, démontrant que le glyphosate, tel qu’utilisé présentement au Canada et ailleurs, pourrait nuire aux plantes à fleurs non ciblées retrouvées en bordure de champs, ainsi qu'à d'autres taxons qui en dépendent, particulièrement les pollinisateurs.

Currently the size and frequency of wildfires are increasing at a global scale, including arid ecosystems that exhibit great sensitivity to disturbance. Fire effects on plant pollination and reproductive success in deserts are largely unknown. Plant dependence on animal pollinators for reproduction can increase the risk of reproductive failure if pollination services are hindered or lost. Species that depend on few taxonomically related pollinator species are expected to be most negatively affected by disturbances that disrupt pollination interactions. To assess fire and isolation effects on reproductive success in desert plant communities, and how wildfire influences the pollination success of generalist and specialist pollinated plants, the number of flowers, fruits, and viable seeds produced by plants surviving in burned and unburned desert landscapes were compared. Fire increased flower production for wind and generalist pollinated plants, and did not affect specialist plant flower production. Increases may be associated with positive physiological responses exhibited by plants surviving in burned areas. Fire did not affect pollination services. Wildfire effects on fruit production were neutral or positive, and overall seed:ovule ratios varied by 3% or less in burned and unburned areas for each pollination strategy. Increasing isolation within burned areas did not affect fruit production for generalist or specialist pollinated plants, suggesting that pollination services are functional across expansive burned desert landscapes. Annual reproductive output varied between years in burned and unburned areas, and shifts likely resulted from variation in annual precipitation patterns. Reductions in landscape reproductive output may be partially compensated by increased per plant fruit and seed production and maintaining pollinator services across burned landscapes, providing native shrub communities the possibility to naturally recover from fire disturbances. Habitat disturbances can influence plant interactions with herbivores, in addition to pollinators. To understand how fire and ungulate herbivory affect reproductive success of specialist pollinated desert plants, reproductive effort, floral herbivory, and pollinator visitation and success, were compared for Yucca baccata, and Yucca brevifolia in burned and unburned areas of the Mojave Desert. Fire increased Y. baccata flowering from 12% to 22% of plants in burned areas, but had no effect on the number of flowers or fruits produced per plant. Fruit set and pollinator collection failed at all sampled Y. baccata individuals, while fire and herbivory had no effect on Y. brevifolia flower, fruit, and pollinator collection. Herbivores consumed 50% and 67% of floral stalks produced by Y. baccata in unburned and burned areas. Herbivores pose a clear threat to successful sexual reproduction for Y. baccata. Removal of ungulate herbivores during important flowering periods may still result in failed fruit and seed production if local pollinator reserves have been drastically reduced or lost.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four drip irrigation treatments on five fruiting characteristics of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) using periodic observations to gauge the relative impact of these effects over time. The fruiting characteristics measured were: (1) number of flowers, (2) percent boll set, (3) number of bolls, (4) weight boll-1, and (5) seedcotton production. The irrigation treatments included four levels that in total season applied irrigation equaled 60, 68, 76, and 83 cm of water. Periodic observations included three, 3-week-intervals from the onset of flowering (26 June) to cutout (29 August). Results indicate that irrigation treatments had a significant effect on all characters measured, only in the later stages of development (later in the season) with higher amounts of irrigation applied producing higher levels of each character measured. Significant differences were found among periods of observation for all characters measured.

The reproductive organs of conifers and angiosperms differ in morphology in several fundamental respects. The conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies) form pollen and seed cones from separate meristems whereas angiosperms bear bipartite flowers with sepals and petals surrounding two inner whorls of stamens and carpels. Despite these differences in morphology this thesis present data to suggest that reproductive development in conifers and angiosperms is regulated by a similar molecular mechanism. This implies an evolutionary conservation of the major mechanism for reproductive development since the origin of seed plants.

Flower organ identity in angiosperms is determined by regulatory genes belonging to the MADS-box gene family of transcription factors. This thesis presents the cloning and characterisation of four novel MADS-box genes from Norway spruce. Three of these genes DAL11, DAL12 and DAL13 are most closely related to angiosperm B function genes i.e. genes required for petal and stamen development. DAL11, 12 and 13 all are specifically active in developing pollen cones, with different temporal and spatial expression pattern. Functional analysis in transgenic Arabidopsis and yeast suggest that the reproductive aspect of the B-function is conserved between conifers and angiosperms. The results also suggest that the B-function in conifers is separated into one shoot identity and one organ identity determinant.

A fourth gene presented; DAL10, is specifically expressed in vegetative parts of pollen- and seed cones. Phylogenetically DAL10 is not closely related to any of the known angiosperm clades, but rather forms a separate clade with other gymnosperm genes, suggesting a gymnosperm specific function. We suggest that the DAL10 activity reflects a function in the determination of the reproductive shoot.

Дипломна робота включає у себе пояснювальну записку (50 с., 35 рис., 4 додатки). Напрям цієї роботи був зумовлений постійним удосконаленням нейронних мереж, створенням нових методів та алгоритмів для розпізнавання об’єктів та їх класифікації. Мета дипломної роботи є створення власну програму, яка зможе розпізнавати квіткові рослини на зображені, ознайомитися із теоретичними відомостями про відомі технології розпізнавання об’єктів на зображені. У ході проєкту було розглянуто та досліджено принципи розпізнавання та класифікації квіткових рослин (задачі розпізнавання та класифікації об’єкта на зображені). Зроблено огляд усіх методів для вирішення задачі розпізнавання та класифікації об’єкта на зображені Також, в проєкті наведено переваги та недоліки методу, сформовано висновки, що до отриманої реалізації програмного забезпечення для класифікації квіткових рослин. Програма здатна з точністю обробляти об’єкти квіткових рослин на зображенні різної якості, класифікувати та розпізнавати їх.
Thesis includes an explanatory note (50 p., 35 fig., 4 applications). The direction of this work was due to the constant improvement of neural networks, the creation of new methods and algorithms for object recognition and classification. The purpose of the thesis is to create your own program that can recognize flowering plants in the image, get acquainted with theoretical information about the known technologies for recognizing objects in the image. During the project the principles of recognition and classification of flowering plants were considered and investigated (tasks of recognition and classification of objects in the image). An overview of all methods for solving problems of recognition and classification of objects in the image Also, the project introduces the advantages and disadvantages of the method, formed conclusions that the resulting implementation of the software for classification of flowerss. The program is able to accurately process the objects of flowering plants in the image of different quality, classify and recognize them.The program is able to accurately process objects of flowering plants in the image of different quality, classify and recognize them.

A floricultura é uma atividade altamente rentável e exerce um papel importante no agronegócio brasileiro, se destacando cada vez mais em relação ao seu faturamento anual. Dentre as flores mais cultivadas e comercializadas, as gérberas (Gerbera jamesonii) são conhecidas pela grande quantidade de cores de suas inflorescências. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a produtividade da cultura da gérbera em ambiente protegido associado a malhas vermelha, azul e preta de sombreamentos e fertirrigadas com cinco soluções nutritivas de fertirrigação, elaboradas a partir da diluição (25%, 50%, 75%) e concentração (125%) da solução proposta por Hoagland e Arnon (1950) (solução padrão, 100%), sobre as características que conferem a qualidade da planta para comercialização em vasos. A malha azul associada à fertirrigação com concentração de 25% dos nutrientes da solução padrão proporcionaram maior massa fresca e seca de capítulos florais, hastes e total das gérberas e, ainda, maior massa seca das folhas. Os tratamentos aplicados não ifluenciaram o número de capítulos e de folhas e a classificação segundo os padrões qualidade. O diâmetro do capítulo floral não foi afetado pelos tratamentos de fertirrigação e sombreamento; entretanto, o diâmetro e a altura das hastes das gérberas foram reduzidos com a apliacação da solução mais concentrada (125%). Oíndice de estresse hídrico (CWSI) da cultura foi mais próximo de 1, nas três malhas coloridas, nos horários próximos ao meio do dia e aos 58 DAT foi verificado maior estresse das plantas sombreadas pelas malhas vermelhas. O índice de clorofila total (índice Falker) aos 59 e 99 DAT foi menor na malha vermelha, o que pode indicar maior eficiência das plantas sob esta malha, uma vez que não houve redução da produtividade das gérberas neste ambiente. Os teores de antocianina foram muito semelhantes nas folhas das gérberas cultivadas sob as malhas coloridas, sendo observada uma maior média do pigmento nas gérberas cultivadas sob a malha azul.
The flower culture is a highly profitable activity and plays a major role in agribusiness, increasingly standing out in terms of annual sales. One of the most cultivated and marketed flowers, gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii), is known for its abundance of colors of its inflorescences. This work aimed to evaluate development and productivity of gerbera culture in protected environment associated to shading meshes of red, blue and black under fertirrigation with five nutritional solutions elaborated from the dilution ( 25%, 50%, 75%) and concentration (125%) of the solution proposed by Hoagland and Arnon (1950) (standard solution, 100%) on the characteristics that confer quality to the plant for marketing in pots. The blue mesh associated with fertigation of 25% of nutrient concentration of the standard solution provided fresh and dry mass of inflorescence, stems and total of gerbera, as well as greater dry mass of leaves. The treatments applied did not influence the number of inflorescences and leaves, as well as the classification of quality standards. The diameter of inflorescences was not affected by fertigation and shading; however, stem diameter of gerbera was reduced with the application of concentrated solution (125%). The crop water stress index (CWSI) was closer to 1, in the three colored meshes, at times near the middle of the day, and at 58 DAT, greater stress was verified in plants shaded by red meshes. The index of total chlorophyll (Falker index) at 59 and 99 DAT was smaller in red fabric, which may indicate greater efficiency of plants under this mesh, since there was no reduction in the productivity of gerbera in this environment. The contents of anthocyanin were very similar in leaves of gerbera grown under colored meshes, being observed a grater average of the pigment in gerbera grown under the blue fabric.

[eng] Plant reproductive success depends on the effectiveness of the mutualistic interaction and the context in which it occurs. This thesis investigates and quantifies plant fitness with a particular group of animal mutualists, opportunistic vertebrates, in the context of oceanic islands. Compared to mainland systems, oceanic islands are generally characterized by simpler mutualistic networks, largely as a result of depauperate animal faunas. Because of this, plant species are likely to include new, even novel flower–pollinator and fruit-dispersal interactions after island colonization. In the Canary Islands, passerine birds and lacertid lizards are frequent floral visitors and fruit consumers of native flora, but their effectiveness and relative importance in reproductive success has remained almost unknown. In addition, islands are particularly vulnerable to alien species like rats, honeybees, and goats, which are all successful invaders in the Canary Islands. These interact with native plant species and their potential detrimental effects on plant fitness deserve our attention, in order to preserve this endemic flora. Our main goal was to gain further insights into the role of vertebrates in plant reproductive success in the archipelago, and the evolution of the bird pollination syndrome in the Macaronesian islands in general. For this, we selected the endemic plant species Echium simplex and Canarina canariensis, both interacting with native mutualists and alien antagonists. Chapters 1 and 2 assess the breeding system, identify nocturnal and diurnal flower visitors and compare the pollination effectiveness of different animal guilds (vertebrates vs. insects, and diurnal vs. nocturnal insects) along different inflorescence sections in Echium simplex. It is a self-compatible species, but its reproductive success is enhanced by animal pollinators. Bees and beetles were the most common insect visitors, while the African blue tit and the Canarian chiffchaff were the most prevalent vertebrates visiting flowers. Flying diurnal insects increased fruit set whereas small flower dwellers (mostly beetles) decreased both fruit and seed set; by contrast, vertebrates had a negligible effect on reproductive success. We additionally found that plant reproductive structures are heavily damaged by feral goats, which threaten the conservation of this Canarian endemic species. Chapter 3 studies the pollination of Canarina canariensis in remnants of the former thermosclerophyllous woodland, evaluating how two widespread alien invasive species, the honeybee and the black rat, affect its reproductive success. The Canarian chiffchaff was the most frequent visitor in the early flowering season, whereas the honeybee predominated in the flowers during mid and late flowering periods. Birds increased fruit set, whilst insects had a negligible effect. Besides contributing little to plant reproduction, honeybees might interfere with bird pollination by depleting flowers of nectar. Rats consumed about 10% of the flowers and reduced fruit set to one third. Both alien species can threaten C. canariensis reproduction and hence population sustainability in the thermosclerophyllous vegetation. Chapter 4 investigates the relative effectiveness of two vertebrate groups (birds and lizards) at different stages (pollination and seed dispersal) of the reproductive cycle of Canarina canariensis in the thermosclerophyllous habitat. We built three stochastic models (namely ‘pollination’, ‘dispersal’ and ‘pollination + dispersal’) that simulated seedling recruitment. The dispersal stage contributed more than the pollination stage through the recruitment process. Moreover, birds and lizards exhibited a functional complementarity, with birds contributing most in the pollination model and lizards in the dispersal model.
[spa] El éxito reproductivo de las plantas depende de la eficacia de la interacción mutualista y del contexto en el que ocurre. Esta tesis investiga y cuantifica el “fitness” (éxito biológico) de la planta con un grupo particular de animales mutualistas, los vertebrados oportunistas, en un contexto particular, en islas oceánicas. Comparadas con los sistemas continentales, las islas oceánicas generalmente se caracterizan por redes mutualistas más simples, en gran medida como resultado de su fauna depauperada. A consecuencia de esto, las especies de plantas son proclives a incluir nuevas interacciones de flor-polinizador y fruto-dispersor después de su colonización. En las Islas Canarias, las aves paseriformes y los lagartos (F. Lacertidae) son visitantes florales y consumidores de frutos frecuentes de la flora nativa, pero su eficacia e importancia relativa en el éxito reproductivo es casi desconocida. Por otro lado, las islas son particularmente vulnerables a las especies exóticas. Ratas, abejas de la miel y cabras son invasores exitosos en las Canarias que interaccionan con especies nativas de plantas, muchas de ellas endémicas, y cuyos potenciales efectos perjudiciales en el “fitness” de las plantas merece nuestra atención con el fin de preservar esta flora endémica. Con el principal objetivo de aportar más conocimiento en el papel de los vertebrados en el éxito reproductivo de las plantas en el archipiélago canario, y en la evolución del síndrome de polinización por aves en las islas Macaronésicas, seleccionamos los endemismos Echium simplex y Canarina canariensis, ambos interaccionando con mutualistas nativos, y también con antagonistas exóticos. Los capítulos 1 y 2 evalúan el sistema reproductivo, identifican los visitantes florales diurnos y nocturnos, y comparan la eficacia de polinización de diferentes gremios de animales (vertebrados vs insectos, insectos diurnos vs insectos nocturnos) a lo largo de diferentes secciones de la inflorescencia de E. simplex. La planta es auto-compatible, pero su éxito reproductivo es claramente favorecido por animales polinizadores. Las abejas y los escarabajos fueron los insectos visitantes más comunes, mientras que el herrerillo y el mosquitero canarios fueron los vertebrados predominantes. Los insectos voladores diurnos aumentaron el cuajado de frutos, mientras que los pequeños habitantes de las flores (en su mayoría escarabajos) disminuyeron tanto el cuajado de frutos como de semillas; en cambio, los vertebrados tuvieron un efecto insignificante en el éxito reproductivo. Adicionalmente, encontramos que las estructuras reproductivas son considerablemente dañadas por cabras asilvestradas, lo cual amenaza la supervivencia de esta especie endémica canaria El capítulo 3 estudia la polinización de C. canariensis en fragmentos del antiguo bosque termoesclerófilo, evaluando cómo dos especies exóticas invasoras ampliamente distribuidas, la abeja de la miel y la rata, afectan a su éxito reproductivo. El mosquitero canario fue el visitante más frecuente al principio de la temporada de floración, mientras que la abeja de la miel predominó a mitad y al final de la misma. Las aves aumentaron el cuajado de frutos, mientras que los insectos tuvieron un efecto insignificante. Además de contribuir poco a la reproducción de la planta, la abeja de la miel podría interferir con la polinización por las aves al agotar el néctar de las flores. Las ratas consumieron alrededor del 10% de las flores y redujeron el cuajado de frutos a un tercio. Ambas especies exóticas pueden amenazar la reproducción de C. canariensis y, por tanto, el futuro de la sostenibilidad de la población en la vegetación termoesclerófila. El capítulo 4 investiga la eficacia relativa de diferentes gremios de vertebrados (aves vs lagartos) en dos etapas diferentes (polinización y dispersión de semillas) del ciclo reproductivo de C. canariensis en el hábitat termoesclerófilo. Construimos tres modelos estocásticos (específicamente, 'polinización', 'dispersión', y 'polinización + dispersión') que simulaban el reclutamiento de plántulas. La etapa de la dispersión contribuyó en mayor medida que la etapa de la polinización a lo largo del proceso de reclutamiento. Además, aves y lagartos mostraron una complementariedad funcional, contribuyendo más las aves en el modelo de polinización, mientras que los lagartos influyeron más en el modelo de dispersión.
[cat] L'èxit reproductiu de les plantes depèn de l'efectivitat de la interacció mutualista i del context d'aquesta. Aquesta tesi investiga i quantifica la fitness de les plantes amb un determinat grup de mutualistes animals, els vertebrats oportunistes, dins d'un context en particular, les illes oceàniques. En comparació amb els sistemes peninsulars, les illes oceàniques generalment es caracteritzen per xarxes mutualistes més simples, degut en gran mesura a una fauna animal empobrida. Degut a això, és més probable que les espècies de plantes presentin noves interaccions flor–pol·linitzador i dispersió de fruits després de la colonització de l'illa. A les Illes Canàries, els aucells passeriformes i els sargantanes de la familia dels lacèrtids són visitants freqüents de les flors i consumidors de fruits de la flora nativa, però la seva efectivitat i la importància relativa del seu èxit reproductiu són encara desconeguts. D'altra banda, les illes són particularment vulnerables a les espècies alienes. A les Illes Canàries les rates, les abelles de la mel i les cabres són invasors d'èxit que interactuen amb les espècies natives de plantes i els seus efectes detrimentals a la fitness de les plantes mereix la nostra atenció per a preservar aquesta flora endèmica. Amb l'objectiu principal d'aportar una visió més profunda del paper dels vertebrats en l'èxit reproductiu de les plantes de l'arxipèlag, i de l'evolució del síndrome de l'aucell pol·linitzador a les illes Macaronèsiques, hem seleccionat les endèmiques Echium simplex i Canarina canariensis, de cara a la interacció d'ambdues amb els mutualistes natius i els antagonistes aliens. Els capítols 1 i 2 avaluen el sistema reproductiu d’Echium simplex, identificant els visitants nocturns i diürns de les flors i comparen l'efectivitat de la pol·linització dels diferents gremis d'animals (vertebrats vs insectes, i insectes diürns vs nocturns) juntament amb seccions d'inflorescència de la planta. Aquesta espècie és auto- compatible però el seu èxit reproductiu millora amb els pol·linitzadors animals. Les abelles i escarabats varen ser els visitants insectes més comuns, mentre que la mallerenga africana i el mosquiter canari foren els visitants de flors vertebrats més prevalents. Els insectes voladors diürns incrementaren el quallat del fruit, mentre que els habitants de les flors més petites (principalment escarabats) reduïren el quallat del fruit i de les llavors; en contraposició, els vertebrats tingueren un efecte negligible en l'èxit reproductiu. A més, es va confirmar que les cabres ferals fereixen les estructures reproductives de les plantes, la qual cosa amenaça el manteniment d'aquesta espècie endèmica canària El capítol 3 estudia la pol·linització de Canarina canariensis als vestigis del bosc termescleròfil, avaluant com dues espècies invasores alienes esteses, l'abella de mel i la rata negra, afecta al seu èxit reproductiu. El mosquiter canari va ser el visitant més freqüent al inici de l'estació de floració mentre que l'abella de mel va ser predominant durant els mitjans i darrers períodes de floració. Els aucells incrementaren el quallat del fruit mentre que els insectes tingueren un efecte negligible. A més de contribuir poc a la reproducció de les plantes, les abelles de la mel podrien interferir en la pol·linització dels aucells, buidant les flors del seu nèctar. Les rates consumiren devers el 10% de les flores i reduïren el quallat del fruit a una tercera part. Ambdues espècies alienes poden amenaçar la reproducció de C. canariensis i per tant el sosteniment de la població a la vegetació termoescleròfila. El capítol 4 investiga l'efectivitat relativa de grups vertebrats diferents (aucells and sargantanes) a dos nivells diferents (és a dir, pol·linització i dispersió de llavors) del cicle reproductiu de Canarina canariensis a l'hàbitat termoescleròfil. Hem construït tres models estocàstics (principalment els models de 'pol·linització', 'dispersió' i 'pol·linització + dispersió') que simularen el reclutament de plàntules. L'etapa de dispersió va contribuir més que l'etapa de pol·linització en el procés de reclutament. A més, els aucells i les sargantanes exhibiren una complementarietat funcional, amb els aucells contribuint més al model de pol·linització i les sargantanes al de dispersió.

Sunflower, Helianthus annus L., native of North America, is widely grown for oil, bird feed, and human snacks. More recently, sunflower is gaining acceptance as an ornamental potted plant and as a cut flower in the florist industry. The objectives of the present study were: 1. To evaluate diverse cultivars of sunflower for their performance under field and greenhouse conditions. 2. To explore the potential of sunflower in the local florist industry. 3. To exhibit the diversity of sunflower characteristics to the public. In 2004, studies were conducted during the spring and summer in the field and during fall and winter in the greenhouse. Commercial seed catalogs were used to obtain diverse cultivars. In the field study seeds were sown according to the prescribed spacing and depth in a randomized complete block design. Severe soil crusting necessitated replanting. Plants were observed from emergence to maturity for horticultural traits such as days to first leaf emergence, height of the plant, days to bloom, number of heads, and branching characters. When observed performance was compared with the catalog description, similarities were found for flower color and head diameter; however, differences were found for plant height and days to bloom. Aesthetic characteristics were evaluated in the field and in the laboratory as cut flowers. Preliminary results indicated that ornamental sunflower cultivars performed well in Kentucky even in an unusually wet, cool growing season. Inconsistency between catalog descriptions and observed performance indicates the need for growers to test promising varieties on a small scale before making large investments. In the greenhouse study cultivars produced fewer branches and heads compared to their field performance. Some cultivars failed to produce flowers under greenhouse conditions. Sunflower heads were found to be attractive and pleasing to a wide range of individuals. These preliminary results indicate that ornamental sunflower could become a niche crop in Kentucky agriculture. Sunflower as an ornamental crop could be productive and profitable, provided that market infrastructures are developed.

Floriculture, a flourishing industry since the end of 1990s, is a source of livelihood for thousands of people in Ethiopia. Investment into the sector has been promoted with the objective of creating employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings and links to the international market. Flowers are now among major export commodities along-side other agricultural products such as coffee and oil seeds. The sector’s contribution as a source of employment is considerable in terms of poverty reduction as poverty is a deep rooted problem in Ethiopia. However, there are challenges related to employment conditions and environmental externalities. This thesis examines into the problems of environmental protection and regulatory frameworks regarding the floriculture industry. It provides analysis on factors that affect the effective implementation of regulatory frameworks. The thesis addresses the main environmental challenges associated with flower production. The main analysis is that in Ethiopia the problem basically lies with excessive application of pesticides and fertilisers; the impact eventually extends to affecting water and soil quality. Concerns about excessive utilization of surface and ground water are also addressed. With case studies of two freshwater lakes, the thesis demonstrates how establishment of floriculture companies adjacent to lakes compromise water quality and quantity, and affects aquatic life. Focusing on each environmental problem, the thesis provides analysis on existing regulatory frameworks and identifies lack of effective implementation as the root of the problem leading to environmental degradation. The country’s level of development has been a restricting factor to channel resources necessary to employ expertise and infrastructure. At the same time, there are tendencies of prioritizing economic development, through attracting investment, than environmental protection driven by the belief that strict regulation obstructs investment. The thesis also highlights that absence of effective and adequate regulatory framework has been a challenge to the objectives of investment promotion in Ethiopia and the right to improved living standard and to sustainable development guaranteed in the Constitution. The thesis suggests that strict monitoring and inspection of flower production process is needed, and the primary response to regulate environmental impacts must rest on the government. It identifies a number of intervention areas, including strengthening pesticide registration and control system, putting in place water use and discharge permit systems, requiring Environmental Impact Assessment reports and supporting companies to implement sustainable flower production methods. Promoting good agricultural production methods, private environmental standards and certification schemes can play role in improving environmental standards. However, compliance expenses can restrict industry wide implementation of the standards. The analysis offered in the thesis provides an evaluation of the main challenges facing the Ethiopian flower industry at a time of increasing volatility in the market. This is the first legal analysis of the environmental impact of flower industry in Ethiopia.

Flower initiation and development to anthesis in Dutch iris were investigated using three cultivars, 'Wedgwood', 'Ideal' and 'Professor Blaauw'. In particular, environmental effects on flower initiation and on flower abortion were studied. With the aid of a thermal-time model, the rate of initiation (the reciprocal of time to initiation) was shown to be linearly related to the temperature used to store dry bulbs, provided that this was constant. When bulbs were transferred from one temperature to another, however, the rates of initiation differed from those expected. It was concluded that the sequence of temperatures was important and a possible mechanism for flower induction was discussed. Following the start of flower initiation per se, a different optimum temperature for flower-organ differentiation was observed. The effect of both pre-planting and post-planting temperatures on the growth and development of the flower were investigated. The proportion of bulbs with successful flower development to anthesis increased with mean flower and stem dry weight. The heaviest flower and stems were produced by those bulbs with the greatest leaf weight. This was attributed to the increased availability of current photosynthates in plants with the largest foliage frames. Flower development was affected by an interaction between time of planting, bulb size and glasshouse temperature for a given light integral. With later bulb plantings, between January and March, higher light integrals were required for the same flower development at moderately high temperatures (16-18°C). This higher light requirement was detected with the largest bulbs first and not until the last planting date with smaller bulbs. At higher temperatures (20°C) flower development was poor regardless of the light integral. At lower temperatures (14°C) the same flower development achieved regardless of the light integral within the range tested. Further investigation in controlled environments enabled the detection of a photoperiodic effect at the moderately high temperatures. Daughter-bulb growth was promoted by long photoperiods and high temperatures increasing sink strength there for assimilates with a corresponding decrease in flower development. The partitioning of assimilates under high and low light was examined by determining the distribution of 14C-labelled assimilates during growth in the glasshouse. Daughter bulbs under low light had a higher relative specific activity than those under high light, at the time when the flower was most prone to abortion. Application of cytokinin to the flower bud resulted in a reduced daughter bulb weight, but heavier flower buds. It was concluded that flower development was affected by the total current assimilate available and the partitioning of these assimilates between daughter bulbs and flower bud.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1992.
Title from title page screen, viewed January 31, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Joseph E. Armstrong (chair), Mathew M. Nadakavukaren, Tsan Iuan Chuang, Roger C. Anderson, Jerome R. Cain. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-101) and abstract. Also available in print.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that studies the intelligent behavior of living beings, and mimics this intelligence by deploying it in computer programs, machines and systems in order to solve problems related to searching, optimization, planning, control, automation, etc. One of the areas of artificial intelligence is evolutionary computation, which is inspired by the principle of natural evolution of species. Within the evolutionary computation several methods based on the intelligence of plants have been recently proposed. How the plants survive and adapt in harsh environments has aroused great interest of researchers in AI. It is remarkable that the life cycle of a plant is extremely intriguing. The way the plants reproduce, propagate, disperse their seeds and select the most resistant is undoubtedly an evidence of intelligence of plants when optimize their existence. In this sense, several computer algorithms based on the intelligent lifecycle of plants have been proposed recently, these algorithms are in many cases, simple to implement, and very efficient in solving complex problems. In this work, the performance of some algorithms, the flower pollination algorithm, strawberry plant algorithm, invasive weed optimization and plant life cycle algorithm, all of them based on the intelligent behavior of plants, are analyzed when applied to optimization of test functions, and they are also compared with classical genetic algorithms.
A inteligência artificial (IA) é um ramo da ciência da computação que estuda o comportamento inteligente dos seres vivos e imita essa inteligência implantando-a em programas de computador, máquinas e sistemas para resolver problemas relacionados à busca, otimização, planejamento, controle, automação, etc. Uma das áreas da inteligência artificial é a computação evolutiva, que é inspirada pelo princípio da evolução natural das espécies. Dentro da computação evolutiva vários métodos baseados na informação de plantas têm sido recentemente proposto. Como as plantas sobrevivem e se adaptam em ambientes agressivos tem despertado grande interesse dos pesquisadores em IA. O ciclo de vida de uma planta é extremamente intrigante. A maneira como as plantas se reproduzem, propagam, dispersam suas sementes e selecionam as mais resistentes é, sem dúvida, uma evidência de inteligência das plantas quando otimizam sua existência. Nesse sentido, diversos algoritmos computacionais baseados no ciclo de vida inteligente das plantas têm sido propostos nos anos recentes, esses algoritmos são, em muitos casos, simples de implementar e muito eficientes na solução de problemas complexos. Neste trabalho é analisado o desempenho de alguns desses algoritmos, o algoritmo de polinização de flores, o algoritmo de planta de morango, otimização invasiva de ervas daninhas e algoritmo do ciclo de vida da planta, todos baseados no comportamento inteligente das plantas, quando aplicados à otimização de funções teste e também comparados com algoritmos genéticos clássicos.

The structural organisation of species-rich plant-pollinator networks is important to understanding their ecology and evolution and is essential for making informed conservation and restoration decisions. This thesis reports on a study located at different altitudes in nine tributary valleys of the Sacred Valley, Vilcanota Highlands, Peru. The assemblages of flower visitors were described and the plant-flower visitor matrices were analysed and compared to those found from other montane systems. Additionally, the thesis also addressed how the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) fits into these communities. Previous studies have predicted that abundance, diversity, and importance of hymenopterans as pollinators decrease with increasing altitude, where they are replaced by Lepidoptera and Diptera. Contrary to other temperate montane areas, Hymenoptera were more diverse at higher elevations. Diptera was the most abundant functional group overall but did not significantly increase in abundance with altitude as predicted. Species richness of visited plants reached a maximum at the highest altitudes. Using ordination analysis, hummingbirds, honeybees, flies and beetles were identified as major functional groups of flower visitors with significantly different visitation profiles. Nestedness analysis revealed that the plant-flower visitor networks had a similar structure to other published networks, consisting of core groups of generalist plants and animals which interacted with one another and with specialised flower visitors and plants, respectively. The core species varied in identity between valleys, but were usually the species in greatest abundance, implying that the networks were abundance structured. In addition, 85% of the interactions were observed only in single valleys. This context specificity may have implications for the conservation of plant-pollinator interactions in the Sacred Valley. Comparisons of the pollinator efficiencies of honeybees, hummingbirds, native bees and moths to Duranta mandonii (Verbenaceae) demonstrated significant variation among flower visitors in rates of visitation, pollen removal ability and contribution to fruit set. This variation was not correlated: hummingbirds were by far the most frequent visitors but removed virtually no pollen and did not contribute to fruit set. Despite the taxonomic diversity of flower visitors, the main pollinators were large native bumblebees and honeybees. Results highlighted the importance of measuring efficiency components when documenting plant-pollinator interactions, and also demonstrated that visitation rates may give little insight into the relative importance of flower visitors. Overall, the study showed that Apis was the most generalist flower visitor and a dominant core species within networks. However, although Apis visited a relatively large proportion of the flora compared to native taxa, they only intensively utilised a small proportion of available plant species. No evidence was found from the surveys to suggest that honeybees used interference competition and displaced other species. It was suggested that because specialised rare species are frequently dependent on a core of generalist taxa honeybees may play an important role for the possibilities of rare species to persist. However, perhaps the greatest threat to biodiversity and the persistence of plant-flower visitor communities in the Sacred Valley is from the destruction and fragmentation of habitats and from facilitative interactions between native and alien plants, mediated through visitation from honeybees

This study was designed to explore correlations between flower and seed characters and the relationship of flower and seed characters to yield. Thirty six lines selected from Composite Cross XXXII material were planted in a randomized block design with four replications. At anthesis, spikes from each plot were collected and fixed in 70% alcohol. At the same time, an equivalent spike was tagged to be harvested at maturity. Measurements of flower characters were made on the preserved spikes and seed. Length, width and weight were obtained on the mature spikes. Flower volume was calculated by multiplying the area of lemma and palea by flower thickness. Correlations indicated that selection for flower characters at anthesis would be an effective selection technique for seed characters.

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is an increasing problem in UK strawberry crops. The use of polythene tunnels has provided a more favourable environment for the pest, and pesticide-resistant strains have resulted in control failure. There is a need for improved knowledge of thrips biology and for additional control methods that can be integrated with natural enemies in order to make thrips management programmes more robust. The distribution of, and damage caused by, F. occidentalis was investigated to improve monitoring and decision-making, and the viability of using traps as a control was tested. Over 74% of adult thrips on plants were in flowers. Twice as many adult thrips were found in mature flowers at the top of the plant compared to those at the side. The distribution of larvae between flower and fruit stages varied with thrips density. All stages of flower and fruit were susceptible to damage but thrips larvae caused more damage than adults per individual, so the distribution and numbers of larvae between fruit stages best predicted the timing of damage. The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans reduced damage by feeding on thrips larvae. Economic crop loss occurred at five adult thrips per flower in the absence of N. cucumeris, but up to about 11 adult thrips per flower with good mite establishment. Adult F. occidentalis females overwintered on strawberry and on weeds, resulting in more thrips in second-year than in first-year crops. Mass trapping using blue sticky roller traps caught sufficient adult thrips to reduce fruit damage by 55-68% and increased grower returns by an estimated £2.2k per hectare. The addition of the F. occidentalis aggregation pheromone, neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, to the traps doubled the trap catch, but a visual stimulus was essential for trapping. (R)-lavandulyl acetate reduced trap catch, suggesting that it is not part of the aggregation pheromone.

The technological progress is changing people minds. We have changed the manner of thinking while science is developing. The exploring of different planetary bodies like the Earth-like planets will be our next step in the nearest future.

Chez les angiospermes, la floraison est un processus qui prend part en plusieurs étapes. Le méristème caulinaire, un réservoir de cellule souche d’où émergent la totalité des organes aériens de la plante, va d’abord se différencier en méristème d’inflorescence. Des méristèmes floraux vont alors émerger des flancs du méristème d’inflorescence pour donner naissance aux différents organes qui composent la fleur : les pétales, les sépales, les étamines et le carpelle. Chacune de ces phases est régulée avec finesse par des facteurs de transcription, une famille de protéines se liant à l’ADN pour induire l’activation ou la répression des gènes. Si cette thèse nous a permis de contribuer à la mise à jour de JASPAR, une base de données qui recense des profils liaison de facteurs de transcription, elle a avant tout pour but d’apporter un regard nouveau sur la compréhension des phénomènes qui contrôlent le développement des fleurs à travers l’étude d’une poignée de facteurs de transcription clé dans ce processus. Nous essayerons au mieux d’expliquer les paramètres qui influent sur la liaison de ces facteurs de transcription en utilisant des modèles bioinformatiques associés à des expériences de génomique.Nous nous pencherons d’abord sur les facteurs de réponse à l’auxine à travers l’étude de deux représentants de cette famille de 23 protéines : ARF2 et ARF5. Si les facteurs de transcription de cette famille sont connus pour se lier en dimères, nous avons montré que ARF2 et ARF5 préféraient des espacements différents entre les sites de liaison monomériques sur l’ADN. Nous avons également montré que certaines configurations semblent favoriser l’activation des gènes liés.Ensuite, nous avons étudié LFY, un facteur de transcription maître du développement floral. Nous avons amélioré un modèle de liaison existant et nous avons pu voir que l’intégration de données génomiques de natures diverse permettait de mieux comprendre la liaison du facteur de transcription in vivo.Enfin, nous avons analysé les préférences des facteurs de transcription à boîte MADS, connus pour lier les mêmes séquences d’ADN et dont le rôle est de déterminer l’identité des organes floraux. À travers l’étude du complexe SEP3/AG, qui contrôle la formation du carpelle, nous avons montré que le domaine de tétramérisation de ces facteurs confère une spécificité de liaison expliquant potentiellement que des groupes de facteurs de transcription à boîte MADS régulent la formation d’organes floraux différents en activant des gènes distincts
In angiosperms, the development of flowers takes place in several stages. The meristem, a stem cell reservoir from which all the plant’s aerial organs emerge, first differentiate into an inflorescence meristem. Floral meristems then emerge from the flanks of the inflorescence meristem to give birth to the different organs that compose the flower : the petals, sepals, stamens and carpel. Each of these phases is finely regulated by transcription factors, a family of proteins that bind to DNA to induce gene activation or repression. If this thesis allowed us to contribute to the JASPAR database, which gather transcription factor binding profiles, its main goal is to provide a new perspective on the understanding of the phenomena that control flower development through the study of a handful of key transcription factors in the regulation of floral development. We have tried to explain the parameters that influence the binding of these transcription factors using bioinformatics models associated with genomics experiments.We have analysed the auxin response factors (ARF) through the study of two representatives of this family of 23 proteins : ARF2 and ARF5. The transcription factors of this family are known to bind in dimers and we have shown that ARF2 and ARF5 prefer different spacings between monomeric binding sites on DNA. We have also shown that some configurations seem to favour the activation of bound genes.Then, we have studied LFY, a master transcription factor of floral development. We have improved an existing binding model and have seen that the integration of genomic data of various kinds provides a better understanding of the binding of the transcription factor in vivo.Finally, we have analyzed the preferences of MADS box transcription factors, known to bind the same DNA sequences and whose role is to determine the identity of floral organs. Through the study of the SEP3/AG complex, which controls the formation of the carpel, we have found that the tetramerization domain of these factors confers binding specificity, potentially explaining that groups of MADS box transcription factors regulate the formation of different floral organs by activating distinct genes

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.

Orientador: Marlies Sazima
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia
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Doutorado
Biologia Vegetal
Doutor em Ciências Biológicas

O agronegócio das Flores e Plantas Ornamentais (FPO) no Brasil movimenta mais de R$ 5 bilhões ao ano com uma taxa de crescimento anual entre o 8% e 16%, gerando mais de 206.000 empregos diretos. Em 2012, a balança comercial da floricultura brasileira mostrou saldo negativo de US$ 13,468 milhões, devido ao incremento em suas importações por parte de seus maiores concorrentes do grupo MERCOSUL, Equador e Colômbia. A falta de implementação de sistemas de informação e as deficiências do controle nos gargalos de todos os processos, fazem que a maioria das perdas que se produz no elo atacadista sejam originadas da falta de cuidados no transporte, a não conservação da cadeia de frio e as demoras logísticas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo lançar um olhar prospectivo nesse complexo. A prospecção do futuro sempre foi e será apreciada pelos tomadores de decisões. Ao longo das últimas décadas, organizações internacionais, governos, empresas e organizações não governamentais têm realizado estudos sobre panoramas futuros, com o objetivo de ganhar tempo em preparar-se para superar seus concorrentes e ser competitivos em cada área de atuação. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica atual, focada na análise de toda a cadeia de suprimento de FPO, somado a uma serie de entrevistas com experts da floricultura nacional e internacional, analisaram-se atividades e ferramentas tecnológicas usadas em cada um dos processos envolvidos no atacado, como as condições do transporte, planejamento das entregas e os registros dos controles que garantem a qualidade do produto final. Com esse aporte construíram-se quatro possíveis cenários futuros para o setor atacadista de FPO brasileiro, baseados na utilização e implementação da Tecnologia de Informação. (1) Cenário Lirio, que apresenta a situação em que as CEASAS serão os maiores aglomerados do negócio de FPO sempre, enquanto eles realizarem uma reestruturação do complexo físico, assim com um plano de capacitação para o pessoal encarregado de manipular e ofertar as FPO. (2) Cenário Tulipa, que propõe um agrupamento por parte dos atacadistas com maior representatividade, com o fim de gerar e compartilhar informações sobre tendências, safras e formação de preços. (3) Cenário Girassol, que sugere que seja analisado o futuro dos métodos de compra de FPO por parte do consumidor final, para assim entender as diferentes ferramentas e estratégias de mercado que devem ser usadas pelas empresas atacadista para conservar e atrair novos clientes. (4) Cenário Agapantho, que mostra como a situação atual em relação a investimento e adoção de Tecnologia (TIC) do setor não muda, o que acarretaria uma série de consequências para o mercado interno e externo, facilitando ainda mais o ingresso de concorrentes internacionais ao Brasil.
Agribusiness of Flowers and Ornamental Plants (FPO) in Brazil handles more than $ 5 billion a year with an annual growth rate between 8% and 16%, generating more than 206,000 direct jobs. In 2012, the trade balance of the Brazilian floriculture showed a deficit of US $ 13.468 million, due to the increase in its imports by their larger competitors MERCOSUR group, Ecuador and Colombia. The lack of implementation of information systems and control deficiencies in bottlenecks of the process, make the most of the loss that occurs in the wholesale link to originate from a lack of care during transport, the failure to keep the cold chain and logistical delays. This paper aims to launch a prospective look at this complex. The prospect of the future has always been and will be greatly appreciated by decision makers. Over the past decades, international organizations, governments, companies and nongovernmental organizations have conducted studies on future panoramas, in order to gain time to prepare to overcome your competitors and be competitive in each area. Through a current literature review focused on the analysis of the entire FPO supply chain, plus a series of interviews with experts of national and international floriculture, analyzed activities and technological tools used in each of the processes involved in wholesale such as transport conditions, planning of deliveries and the records of the controls that guarantee the quality of the final product. With this supply were built four possible future scenarios for the wholesale sector of Brazilian FPO, based on the use and implementation of Information Technology. (1) Lirio Scenario, which shows the situation where the WM will be the largest OPF business of always crowded, as they carry out a restructuring of the physical complex, so with a training plan for staff handling and offer the FPO. (2) Scenario Tulip, which proposes a grouping by wholesalers with greater representation in order to generate and share information on trends, harvests and pricing. (3) Scenario Sunflower, which suggests it is analyzed the future of OPF purchase methods by the final consumer, so as to understand the different tools and market strategies that should be used by wholesale companies to retain and attract new customers. (4) Agapantho scenario that shows how the current situation in relation to investment and adoption of technology (ICT) in full sector does not change, what would entail a number of consequences for the domestic and foreign markets, further facilitating the entry international competitors to Brazil.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
O objetivo do presente trabalho foi por meio de seleção aumentar o número de plantas com maior freqüência de flores femininas na população FCA-UNESP porte baixo visando o aumento na produção de frutos e também melhorar o potencial da referida população como fonte de obtenção de linhas puras pistiladas para a produção de híbridos adaptados à colheita mecanizada, O material utilizado foi constituído de plantas da população FCA-UNESP-PB (porte baixo) de mamona, desenvolvida pelo programa de melhoramento de mamona da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP campus de Botucatu. As seleções e avaliações das plantas selecionadas foram realizadas na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP campus de Botucatu, no município de São Manuel - SP, entre os anos de 2003 e 2006. Para selecionar as plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas, um padrão visual foi determinado de 10 a 100% de flores femininas nas plantas. A população FCA UNESP-PB original foi utilizada como testemunha. Ao fmal do primeiro ciclo de seleção foram selecionadas 39 plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas. Após a avaliação deste material pôde ser observado que houve um aumento na freqüência de plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas de 0,5% para 7,9% de plantas com 100% de flores femininas e de 0,7% para 4,6% de plantas com 90% de flores femininas. Da avaliação do primeiro ciclo foram selecionadas plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas no primeiro racemo que constitufram o Segundo ciclo de seleção. As plantas 100% pistiladas dentro das progênies foram polinizadas com plantas monóicas da mesma progênie (sib-polination) que apresentaram alta porcentagem de flores femininas e as plantas com apenas o primeiro racemo pistilado foram autofecundadas, utilizando seus racemos secundários...
The purpose of the present research was to increase the frequency of pistiliate plants in a castor bean population as a mean to improve yield direetly and its potencial as a source of female imes for hybrid seed production. The original population utilized was FCA-UNESP-PB, with dwarf height, developed by the Castor Bean Improvement Program held in the Agriculture Coilege of So Paulo State University (FCA-UNESP), located in Botucatu, SAo Paulo, BraziL Selections and evaluations of seleeted plants had been made in Sâo Manuel Experimental Farm during years 2003 and 2006. In the first cycle of selection 39 plants with the highest percentage of pistillate flowers were selected. Comparison of the cycle with the original population showed an increase from 0,5 to 7,9% of plants with 100% pistillate flowers and from 0,7 to 4,6% of plants with 90% ofthese flowers type. In the second cycle of selection 42 plants with the highest frequency of pistiliate flowers on the inflorescence were selected. Plants with 100% female flowers were crossed with monoecious plants of the sarne progeny with high percentage of pistiliate ones. Plants with the first inflorescence bearing only pistiliate flowers were selfed on secondary inflorescence. The occurrence of 5% of plants with 100% pistillate flowers and 1,9% with 90% pistiliate ones was observed after this selection cycle, when compared to the original... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal a avaliação do eventual comportamento sazonal dos volumes e preços praticados na floricultura paulista. Para tal, houve a necessidade de seleção dos produtos e entrepostos a serem trabalhados. Os produtos escolhidos foram: rosa, crisântemo e violeta. Dados referentes à década de 90 foram levantados em entrepostos de comercialização selecionados no Estado de São Paulo: CEAGESP-SP (Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo), Veiling Holambra (cooperativa que comercializa produto de produtores via leilão eletrônico) e a CEASA-Campinas (Central de Abastecimento S.A de Campinas). Além desse objetivo principal, realizou-se a identificação dos períodos sazonais existentes, a identificação das características do comportamento sazonal de volumes e preços e a comparação das características de mercado das principais flores e plantas ornamentais comercializadas nos entrepostos selecionados no Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados do trabalho apontaram períodos diferentes para o volume de rosa, crisântemos e violetas. Por outro lado, para cada tipo de flor, observou-se maiores semelhanças para o período de preços praticados nestes entrepostos. Por exemplo, o período 12 foi encontrado para os preços praticados para rosas nos três entrepostos, isto é, existem picos de preços de 12 em 12 meses em cada um deles. Observou-se também grandes ligações entre as datas festivas e os períodos encontrados, tanto para volumes quanto para preços. Portanto, tal como para a maior parte dos produtos agrícolas, informações a respeito do período sazonal também são de extrema importância ao sistema de comercialização de flores e plantas ornamentais. Tanto produtores como consumidores podem se beneficiar a partir do conhecimento do comportamento mais sistemático que seus produtos de interesse revelam. Conhecendo os picos sazonais de comercialização, o produtor pode organizar sua produção de tal forma que novas oportunidades de negócios sejam configuradas a partir de uma melhor e maior distribuição de picos ao longo do ano. Com um maior número de picos de comercialização durante o ano, a receita anual, além de incrementada, será melhor distribuída ao longo do período.
This dissertation has the main objective to evaluate an eventual seasonal behavior of volumes and price series at floriculture in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. For this reason, a selection of products and trade centers was necessary. The chosen products were: rose, chrysanthemum and violet. Data refering to the decade of 1990 were got from the trade centers selected in the state of São Paulo: CEAGESP-SP -‘ Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo’ - , Veiling Holambra - a cooperative which trades directly from producers through eletronic auction - and CEASA-Campinas - a permanent market of flowers in Campinas. Apart from this principal aim, the identification and characterization of the seasonal period of volumes and prices, and the comparison of market characteristics of main flowers and ornamnetal plants traded in the selected facilities in the state of São Paulo were made. The results of the research pointed distinct periods for the volumes and presented similarity for the price periods. For example, the period of 12 months was found to the price of rose in every trade center. Moreover, it was observed that there are links between comercialdates and the found periods for volumes and prices. Therefore, like for the most agricultural products, it is believed that information about seasonal periods is extremelly important for the trade system of each product. With this knowledge, both, producers and consumers, can benefit themselves. Knowing the seasonal periods, producers can organize their production to make it meet consumers’ demand; consequently, they can create more peaks during the whole year. Increasing the trade peaks, the anual revenue also increases being better distributed during the period.

A Californian population of the Yellow Monkey Flower, Mimulus guttatus Fischer ex D.C., contains a floral fragrance polymorphism such that the plants can be divided into two classes: fragrant and non-fragrant. This thesis has examined the effects of the fragrance polymorphism on the natural pollinators of M. guttatus, with a view to investigating the role and evolutionary significance of floral fragrance in apidophilous plants. Published work by many researchers has suggested that a fragrance polymorphism in an apidophilous chasmogamous plant would lead to reduced inter-phenotype pollinator movements due to the phenomenon of odour-constancy, and hence to genetic divergence and possibly sympatric speciation. Alternatively, if the fragrance phenotypes differed in pollinator attractiveness, the more attractive phenotype would have a selective advantage, and would therefore eventually become fixed. Both of these possible scenarios have been explored in the course of this project, both by investigation of bee foraging behaviour on experimental plots containing fragrant and non-fragrant Mimulus plants, and by investigation of the fitnesses of the two phenotypes in the natural population and under glasshouse conditions. It was found that the two phenotypes did not differ significantly in terms of measured fitness, and that in the natural population there was no evidence of reduced gene-flow between fragrant and non-fragrant plants. Experimental plot results showed no evidence of odour-constancy by bees, but revealed that some bumblebee species discriminated weakly between the two phenotypes. Pollinators were found to be visiting Mimulus flowers for pollen, and variation in plant pollen production had significant effects on within-plant foraging behaviour. However, bees failed to learn to associate fragrance phenotype with pollen production, in contrast to previously published research that has demonstrated that bees readily learn to associate fragrance phenotype with nectar rewards, suggesting that pollen-collecting bees may respond differently to floral cues than nectar-collecting bees. For a variable such as floral fragrance to have evolutionary significance it is essential that the character is heritable, and part of the investigation has concentrated on investigating the heritability and penetrance of the character. It was found that inheritance of fragrance is best explained by a simple additive genetic model, and that fragrance production is dominant to absence of fragrance. The possibility that this fragrance polymorphism has been previously influenced by other pollen vectors and the population's potential for switching from bee-pollination to alternative pollen vectors is discussed.

O mercado de flores e plantas ornamentais segue tendências internacionais de moda e decoração e por isso precisa estar em constante inovação. No Brasil, a inovação em plantas foi influenciada pela Lei de Proteção de Cultivares (LPC) que trata do reconhecimento da propriedade intelectual sobre novas variedades vegetais. A lei brasileira contemplou a prática de uso próprio que tem origem na tradição dos agricultores em guardar grãos de uma safra para serem utilizados como sementes na safra seguinte, com o intuito de garantir a segurança alimentar e a viabilidade econômica dos pequenos produtores. No entanto, a floricultura apresenta uma dinâmica diferente das culturas alimentícias, em que não existe a preocupação com a segurança alimentar. Alega-se que em decorrência da maneira como o dispositivo de uso próprio está estabelecido na lei, ele não assegura a proteção eficaz das espécies de plantas propagadas vegetativamente como é o caso da maioria das flores de corte. Este trabalho analisa o impacto da LPC na cadeia de flores de corte brasileira no sentido de contribuir para o entendimento das relações entre o ambiente institucional no qual esta cadeia se insere e o desenvolvimento da mesma. Tal análise baseia-se na abordagem teórica da Nova Economia Institucional, especialmente na linha que considera o papel dos direitos de propriedade e das instituições na organização e desempenho dos mercados. O método de pesquisa contempla entrevistas semi-estruturadas com melhoristas, produtores e distribuidores de flores e também examina os números da proteção de cultivares de três gêneros de flores de corte: rosa, gérbera e alstroemeria. Constatou-se que a implantação da LPC no Brasil significou o reconhecimento da propriedade intelectual em melhoramento vegetal e por isso foi determinante para a entrada de empresas de melhoramento no país. Por sua vez, a introdução por essas empresas, de novas cultivares de flores está modernizando a floricultura brasileira, em termos de diversidade, qualidade e atualização das variedades. No entanto, o dispositivo de uso próprio conforme sugerido pela hipótese 1 impede a concretização ampla dos benefícios que uma legislação de proteção de cultivares pode promover. Por conta da maneira como tal dispositivo está estabelecido, a alocação dos direitos de propriedade não está claramente definida na LPC. Desta forma, criam-se custos de transação em função da necessidade da concepção de estruturas de monitoramento e de contratos, que possibilitem melhor apropriação dos direitos de propriedade pelos melhoristas. Verificou-se que há casos em que os acordos entre as partes têm papel mais importante do que a legislação no disciplinamento do mercado. Os produtores que não cumprem os contratos celebrados com os melhoristas são excluídos do acesso às variedades modernas. A maneira como o uso próprio está estabelecido pode ainda limitar o nível de investimento dos melhoristas no Brasil bem como o atendimento aos pequenos produtores familiares em função da insegurança que o dispositivo confere aos melhoristas. Observou-se também que a apropriação dos direitos de propriedade por meio de um título de proteção nem sempre é viável, por conta do tamanho do mercado de algumas variedades de certos gêneros de flores. Posto de outra forma, a menor procura pela proteção de certas variedades justifica-se pela baixa demanda por essas flores, ao contrário do que havia sido aventado na hipótese 2, de que o uso próprio afetaria as flores de maneira diferente em função de suas diferentes características biológicas. Ou seja, foi demonstrado que para buscar a apropriação dos direitos, na forma de um título, os melhoristas precisam reconhecer valor neste título. As conclusões expostas ao final do estudo mostram a importância do aperfeiçoamento da legislação no sentido de garantir o nível apropriado de proteção às flores propagadas vegetativamente. Esta pesquisa visa oferecer contribuições empíricas para esse propósito.
The flower market usually follows international fashion and design trends, which brings a need for constant innovation. In Brazil, innovation in plants benefited from the Variety Protection Act (Lei de Proteção de Cultivares, LPC), which recognized intellectual property rights over new plant varieties. The Brazilian act observes the farmers privilege which covers the agricultural tradition of farmers saving part of their harvest for the seeding or propagation of the next crop. This custom arose as a means of ensuring future harvests and thus safeguarding the financial situation of small family farms. However, the flower market has a different dynamic from food crops, where there is no concern about food safety. It is alleged that the manner which the farmers privilege provision is settled in the Act does not ensure true protection for asexually propagated species, as is the case of most cut flowers. This work analyzes the impacts of LPC implementation on the Brazilian cut flower chain with the aim to contribute to the understanding of the relations between the institutional environment in which this chain is inserted and its development thereof. Such analysis is based upon the theoretical approach of the New Institutional Economics; it is focused mainly in the role of property rights and institutions in the markets organization and performance. The research methodology adopts semi-structured interviews with flower breeders, flowers growers and flowers wholesalers and also examines three cut flower genera grants of protection: rose, gerbera (Transvaal daisy) and alstroemeria (Peruvian lily). It was found that the Acts implementation in Brazil meant the recognition of intellectual property in plant breeding and therefore it was crucial to the entrance of breeding companies in the country. In turn, the introduction of new plant varieties by these companies, is modernizing the Brazilian flower market in terms of varieties range, quality and availability of up to date varieties. However, as suggested by hypothesis 1, the farmers privilege provision prevent the widely achievement of the benefits that a plant variety protection regime can promote. According to the way this provision is settled, the property rights allocation is not clearly defined at the LPC, in this way, transaction costs are created due to the need of designing monitoring structures and contracts, which provide breeders better property rights appropriation. It was verified that there are cases where agreements between the parties play a more important role than the law in disciplining the market. The growers who do not fulfill the contracts are excluded from access to modern varieties. Besides, the way the farmers privilege is settled, may also limit the breeders investment level in Brazil as well serving small family farmers due to the lack of credibility caused by this provision .It was also noted that the property rights appropriation by means of a protection title is not always feasible concerning the market size of several varieties from certain flowers genera. In other words, the lower demand for the protection of some varieties is explained by the lower demand of the market, refuting what was supposed in the hypothesis 2 that the farmers privilege would affect the flowers in different manners according to its biological different characters. Thus, it was demonstrated that to use a protection title as a tool to seek property rights appropriation, breeders need to recognize value on it. Conclusions demonstrate the importance of legislation improvement in the sense to guarantee the asexually propagated flowers protection appropriated level. This research aims to provide contributions to this propose.

Orientador: Maurício Dutra Zanotto
Banca: Sílvio José Bicudo
Banca: Juliana Parisotto Poletine
Banca: Geraldo Carvalho Amaral
Banca: João Paulo Teixeira Whitaker
Resumo: O objetivo do presente trabalho foi por meio de seleção aumentar o número de plantas com maior freqüência de flores femininas na população FCA-UNESP porte baixo visando o aumento na produção de frutos e também melhorar o potencial da referida população como fonte de obtenção de linhas puras pistiladas para a produção de híbridos adaptados à colheita mecanizada, O material utilizado foi constituído de plantas da população FCA-UNESP-PB (porte baixo) de mamona, desenvolvida pelo programa de melhoramento de mamona da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas da UNESP campus de Botucatu. As seleções e avaliações das plantas selecionadas foram realizadas na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP campus de Botucatu, no município de São Manuel - SP, entre os anos de 2003 e 2006. Para selecionar as plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas, um padrão visual foi determinado de 10 a 100% de flores femininas nas plantas. A população FCA UNESP-PB original foi utilizada como testemunha. Ao fmal do primeiro ciclo de seleção foram selecionadas 39 plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas. Após a avaliação deste material pôde ser observado que houve um aumento na freqüência de plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas de 0,5% para 7,9% de plantas com 100% de flores femininas e de 0,7% para 4,6% de plantas com 90% de flores femininas. Da avaliação do primeiro ciclo foram selecionadas plantas com alta porcentagem de flores femininas no primeiro racemo que constitufram o Segundo ciclo de seleção. As plantas 100% pistiladas dentro das progênies foram polinizadas com plantas monóicas da mesma progênie (sib-polination) que apresentaram alta porcentagem de flores femininas e as plantas com apenas o primeiro racemo pistilado foram autofecundadas, utilizando seus racemos secundários... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The purpose of the present research was to increase the frequency of pistiliate plants in a castor bean population as a mean to improve yield direetly and its potencial as a source of female imes for hybrid seed production. The original population utilized was FCA-UNESP-PB, with dwarf height, developed by the Castor Bean Improvement Program held in the Agriculture Coilege of So Paulo State University (FCA-UNESP), located in Botucatu, SAo Paulo, BraziL Selections and evaluations of seleeted plants had been made in Sâo Manuel Experimental Farm during years 2003 and 2006. In the first cycle of selection 39 plants with the highest percentage of pistillate flowers were selected. Comparison of the cycle with the original population showed an increase from 0,5 to 7,9% of plants with 100% pistillate flowers and from 0,7 to 4,6% of plants with 90% ofthese flowers type. In the second cycle of selection 42 plants with the highest frequency of pistiliate flowers on the inflorescence were selected. Plants with 100% female flowers were crossed with monoecious plants of the sarne progeny with high percentage of pistiliate ones. Plants with the first inflorescence bearing only pistiliate flowers were selfed on secondary inflorescence. The occurrence of 5% of plants with 100% pistillate flowers and 1,9% with 90% pistiliate ones was observed after this selection cycle, when compared to the original... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Doutor

O Passion flower little leaf mosaic virus (PLLMV) foi encontrado causando danos severos em plantios de maracujazeiro (Passilora edulis f. flavicarpa) em dois municípios do Estado da Bahia no ano de 2001. Nesses locais foi constatada que a incidência deste begomovirus estava relacionada à colonização das plantas por Bemisia tabaci, cujo biótipo não foi identificado. Até o momento este vírus não parece constituir grave ameaça a cultura do maracujazeiro, o que aparentemente esta relacionado ao fato de P. edulis f. flavicarpa não ser preferida para a alimentação desse aleyrodídeo. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: a) selecionar espécies silvestres de Passiflora resistentes a este begomovirus que possam ser úteis em futuro programa de melhoramento genético; b) identificar possíveis hospedeiros alternativos do patógeno entre algumas espécies da vegetação espontânea e cultivadas e c) avaliar se adultos de B. tabaci biótipo B presentes no Estado de São Paulo são capazes de transmitir esse vírus. A reação de espécies silvestres de Passiflora foi avaliada por enxertia em maracujazeiro amarelo infectado que serviu como de fonte de inóculo. As avaliações foram feitas por meio da expressão de sintomas, análise de PCR e teste de recuperação do vírus para maracujazeiro amarelo. As espécies P. alata, P. quadrangularis, P. morifolia, P. serrato-digitata, P. suberosa e P. foetida foram suscetíveis ao PLLMV, enquanto P. caerulea, P. cincinnata, P nitida, P. mucronata e P. giberti se mostraram resistentes a este vírus. No estudo de hospedeiros alternativos, primeiramente o PLLMV foi inoculado mecanicamente nas seguintes espécies vegetais: Capsicum annuum, Chenopodium quinoa, Solanum lycopersicon, S. tuberosum, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Nicotiana benthamiana e Sida sp.. Somente N. benthamiana foi infectada sistemicamente. Posteriormente foram feitas tentativas de transmissão desse begomovirus por meio de enxertia, usando-se como fonte de inóculo (porta-enxerto), plantas infectadas de N. benthamiana. Foram avaliadas as seguintes espécies vegetais: S. pimpinellifolium, S. lycopersicon, S. tuberosum, N. benthamiana, D. stramonium, C. annuum, N. glutinosa e Sida rhombifolia. O vírus foi transmitido somente para plantas de S. pimpinellifolium. As sucessivas transmissões mecânicas do PLLMV em N. benthamiana permitiram a seleção de uma estirpe fraca e protetora deste begomovirus. B. tabaci biótipo B não foi capaz de transmitir o PLLMV.
The Passion flower little leaf mosaic virus (PLLMV) was found causing severe damage in passion flower (Passilora edulis f. flavicarpa ) orchards in two counties of Bahia state, in 2001. The high incidence of this begomovirus was related to the colonization of plants by Bemisia tabaci, whose biotype was not indentified. To date this virus doesnt seem to be a serious threat to the passion flower cultivation, which apparently is related to the fact that P. edulis f. flavicarpa is not a preferred specie for whitefly feeding. The aim of this work were: a) to select wild species of Passifloraceae resistant to PLLMV, that may be useful in future breeding program; b) to indentify some possible alternative hosts of the pathogen among some weed and cultivaded species and c) to evaluat whether adults of B. tabaci biotype B are capable of transmitting this virus. The reaction of wild species of Passifloracea was evaluated by grafting on infected yellow passion fruit that served as a source of inoculum. The evaluation of these plants were done by means of symptoms, PCR test and biological recovery of the virus to yellow passion fruit. The sepecies P. alata, P. quadrangularis, P. morifolia, P. serrato-digitata, P. suberosa and P. foetida were susceptible to PLLMV, while P. caerulea, P. cincinnata, P nitida, P. mucronata and P. giberti were resistant to this virus. In the study of alternative hosts, at first, PLLMV was mechanically inoculated in the following species: Capsicum annuum, Chenopodium quinoa, Solanum lycopersicon, S. tuberosum, Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Nicotiana benthamiana and Sida sp. Only N. benthamiana was systematically infected. Subsequently, graft transmission of PLLMV was carried out using infected N. benthamiana as source of inoculum (root stock). The following species were evaluated: Solanum pimpinellifolium, S. lycopersicon, S. tuberosum, N. benthamiana, D. stramonium, C. annuum, N. glutinosa and Sida rhombifolia.The virus was transmited only to S. pimpinellifolium. Successive mechanical transmissions of PLLMV in N. benthamiana led to the selection of a mild and protective strain of this begomovirus. B. tabaci biotype B was not able to transmit the PLLMV.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
O substrato para plantas exerce grande influência na produção de flores e plantas ornamentais, em especial as de cultivo em vaso, onde há restrição do volume disponível para o crescimento das raízes. O manuseio de substratos, as proporções e tipos de misturas interferem nas suas características físicas e químicas, devendo o produtor conhecer o material a ser utilizado para evitar perdas. A presente pesquisa foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de substratos com características químicas e físicas diferenciadas, no desenvolvimento, nutrição e produção de cultivares de Gerbera jamesonii produzidas em vaso. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação no DRN/Ciência do Solo da FCA/UNESP no município de Botucatu/SP, de agosto a outubro de 2008. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, empregando o esquema fatorial 5 x 2 (5 substratos e 2 cultivares), em 4 blocos e 12 plantas por parcela. Os substratos foram caracterizados fisicamente quanto à densidade, retenção de água e granulometria, e quimicamente quanto à condutividade elétrica, pH, capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC), macronutrientes e micronutrientes. Foram utilizadas cultivares de gérbera pertencentes a serie ‘Dark eyes’ da empresa Sakata®, sendo Cherry e Red. Efetuou-se o manejo da condutividade elétrica da solução do substrato, mantendo-a em 2,0 dS m-1 no período vegetativo e 2,5 dS m-1 no período reprodutivo, com o uso do método ‘pourthru’. Durante o desenvolvimento da cultura foram avaliados a condutividade elétrica e pH da solução do substrato, o número de folhas, o diâmetro da planta, a área foliar, a fitomassa seca, o teor e acúmulo dos macronutrientes e micronutrientes, o teor de nitrato e potássio na solução do substrato, a razão de área foliar a taxa de crescimento relativo e a taxa de assimilação líquida. Ao final do período vegetativo...
The substrate exerts great influence on the flowers and ornamental plants production, especially those growing in pots, where there is restriction on the volume available for root growth. The handling of substrates, the proportions and types of mixtures interfere in physical and chemical characteristics and the knowledge of the material is important to avoid losses. This research was developed to evaluate the effect of substrates with different chemical and physical characteristics in the development, nutrition and production of Gerbera jamesonii cultivars grown in pots. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse from August to October 2008 at DRN/Soil Science, FCA/UNESP, Botucatu (SP), Brazil. Experimental design was in randomized blocks, in factorial arrangement 5x2 (5 substrates and 2 cultivars), with 4 replicates and 12 plants per plot. The substrates were characterized physically as the bulk density, water retention and granulometry, and chemically on the electrical conductivity, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), macronutrients and micronutrients. Seedling of gerbera cultivars Cherry and Red (Sakata®) of the ‘Dark eyes’ series were used in the experiment. The levels of electrical conductivity of the substrates were monitored in the solution of root zone of the plants through the extraction of the solution by ‘pourthru’ method, keeping it at 2.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative period and 2.5 dS m-1 in the reproductive period. During the development of the culture were assessed: electrical conductivity, pH of substrate solution, leaf number, plant diameter, leaf area, dry matter, content and accumulation of macronutrients and micronutrients, nitrate and potassium in the sap and the substrate solution and green intensity leaf, the ratio of leaf area... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

¿Quién no cae subyugado ante la belleza de la naturaleza, especialmente al ver un jardín de flores, donde sus hermosos colores nos muestran algunas de sus maravillas?Podemos jugar con estos colores haciendo que cambien debido a algunas reacciones químicas que se producen al usar algunos ácidos o bases que van a reaccionar con algunos de los colorantes que contienen algunos pétalos.En este experimento veremos como cambiar el color de los pétalos usando algunas soluciones y anilina de diversos colores.

O crisântemo cultivado em vaso é um dos produtos floríferos mais vendidos na floricultura brasileira, possuindo grande diversidade de cores, formas e tamanhos de inflorescências, além de possuir alta durabilidade após a colheita. Para tanto, é necessário o atendimento das exigências nutricionais da planta para possibilitar expressar seu potencial ornamental. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar o crescimento da planta e caracterizar a marcha de absorção de nutrientes no cultivo em vaso do crisântemo, variedade cultivada ,,Fine Time\". O experimento foi realizado na estufa climatizada do Setor de Floricultura do Colégio Politécnico da UFSM, Santa Maria - RS, no período de setembro a dezembro de 2012. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com oito tratamentos e seis repetições. As plantas foram coletadas e analisadas em intervalos que variaram de 7 a 14 dias dependendo da fase de desenvolvimento da planta. Os parâmetros de crescimento avaliados foram: comprimento das hastes, folhas e de raízes; número de folhas, raízes, brotações, botões florais e de inflorescências; largura e área das folhas; massa de matéria seca das folhas, raízes; botões florais; inflorescências, hastes e das plantas. Em relação aos nutrientes foi analisado teor, acúmulo e marcha de absorção de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn nas raízes, folhas, hastes, botões florais e inflorescências. Os parâmetros comprimento das hastes e raízes, número de folhas e raízes, massa de matéria seca de planta, haste e raiz foram crescentes em função do tempo, tendendo a estabilidade no final do ciclo produtivo. Os parâmetros comprimento e largura das folhas decrescem em função do tempo de cultivo. A ordem decrescente de acúmulo de massa de matéria seca dos órgãos foi: folhas > hastes > raízes > inflorescências > botões florais. A necessidade de N, P, S e Cu é semelhante durante a fase vegetativa e de florescimento. A necessidade de K, Mn e Zn nas plantas é maior na fase de florescimento. A necessidade de Ca, B, Fe e Mg nas plantas é maior na fase vegetativa. A necessidade dos macronutrientes durante a fase vegetativa e de florescimento da planta segue, respectivamente, a seguinte ordem de grandeza: Ca > Mg > N > S > P > K; e K > P > S > N > Mg > Ca. A necessidade dos micronutrientes durante a fase vegetativa e de florescimento da planta segue, respectivamente, a seguinte ordem decrescente de grandeza: B > Fe> Cu > Zn > Mn; e Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe > B. A sequência decrescente do acúmulo de nutrientes nas plantas de crisântemo em função do tempo foi: N > K > P > Ca > S > Mg > Fe > Mn > B > Zn > Cu.
The chrysanthemum cultivated in pot is one of the best seller floristic products in the Brazilian floriculture, having high colors diversity, forms and sizes of inflorescences, besides present high post-harvest durability. Therefore, it is necessary to attend the plant nutrition requirement for enabling to express its ornamental potential. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the plant growth and to characterize the nutrients uptake curve of chrysanthemum, cv. ,,Fine Time\", cultivated on pot. The experiment was carried out at greenhouse of the Floriculture Section, Polytechnic College, Federal University of ,,Santa Maria\" (UFSM), Santa Maria, ,,Rio Grande do Sul\" state, Brazil, from September to December 2012. The statistical design was complete randomized with eight treatments and six replications. The plants were sampled and analyzed in intervals of 7 to 14 days according to the plant development stage. The evaluated growth parameters were: length of stems, leaves and roots; number of leaves, roots, sproutings, buds and inflorescences; width and area of leaves; dry matter of leaves, roots, buds, inflorescences, stems and plants. In relation to the nutrients content, accumulation and uptake curve, the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn on the roots, leaves, stems, buds and inflorescences were evaluated. The parameters stem and root length, number of leaves and roots, dry matter of plant, stems and roots were crescent as function of time, presenting a tendency of stability at end of the crop cycle. The parameters length and width of leaves decrease as function of cultivation time. The decrescente order of organ dry matter accumulation was: leaves > stems > roots > inflorescences > buds. The needs of N, P, S and Cu are equal during the vegetative phase and flowering. The needs of K, Mn and Zn in the plants are higher on the flowering phase. The plant demand of Ca, B, Fe and Mg is higher on the vegetative phase. The needs of macronutrients during vegetative phase and flowering obey, respectively, the following order: Ca > Mg > N > S > P > K and K > P > S > N > Mg > Ca. The needs of micronutrients during vegetative phase and flowering obey, respectively, the following decrescent order: B > Fe> Cu > Zn > Mn and Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe > B. The decrescent sequence of nutrient accumulation on the chrysanthemum plants as function of time was: N > K > P > Ca > S > Mg > Fe > Mn > B > Zn > Cu.

A long standing, dominant paradigm in the biological control of weeds is the independence of insect herbivore guilds' effects on their host plant. Recent work has shown stronger interactions among insect herbivore guilds than was previously expected. My research focuses on damage to apical meristems of tall thistles (Cirsium altissimum) by stem mining insects and the direct effects of this damage on plant architecture as well as the indirect, plant-mediated effects of this damage on flower head feeding insects and the arthropod predator community associated with tall thistle in south-central Kansas. Three questions are addressed; 1) What is the natural history of the predatory arthropod – tall thistle interaction in south-central Kansas? 2) Does apical meristem damage by insect herbivores influence host plant architecture, flower head damage and/or predatory arthropod densities? 3) Does plant architecture affect flower head damage and/or predatory arthropods? Two experiments were used to address those questions. The first experiment compared bolting tall thistles whose apical meristems were protected with insecticide with tall thistles whose apical meristems were not protected and were subject to herbivory. Damage to the apical meristem creates a plant that is shorter and has more flower heads than plants with the apical meristem intact and marginally increases primary branching. The second experiment modified the architecture of a bolting tall thistle with apical meristem damage back to a “pre-damaged” state by clipping lateral branches of the main stem. Neither experiment showed any significant difference in flower head damage severity or frequency, nor any differences in predatory arthropod densities among treatments. Through an overcompensation mechanism in the plant, meristem mining insects indirectly influence flower head feeding insects mediated by tall thistle. My results do not support the importation of multiple biological control agents for weed control.
Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Biological Sciences.