GA application induces alteration in sex ratio and cell death in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis>

Jatropha curcas L. is a commercially important plant with biodiesel and medicinal potential. It is a monoecious plant with staminate and pistillate flowers in same inflorescence with number of staminate flowers being higher than pistillate ones resulting in very low fruit yield. Altering sex ratio to increase the number of female flowers would lead to better yield. Phytohormones are most important factors known to alter sex ratio in plants. The mechanism by which phytohormones alter sex ratio differs in different plant species. Among phytohormones, GA plays an important role in sex alteration. In this study, we report the effect of exogenous application of GA on sex modification in J. curcas. There was considerable increase in number of female flowers by application of GA. At lower concentrations (10 and 100 ppm), increase in number of female flowers and fruit yield was proportionate to the concentration of hormone used but at higher concentration (1,000 ppm) though there was an increase in number of female flowers, fruit yield decreased. This was due to an increased peduncle length and enhanced cell death as a consequence of endogenous release of hydrogen peroxide in response to increased GA, resulting in withering of fruits.     

Effects of 2-Chloroethylphosphonic Acid and Gibberellic Acid on Sex Expression and Growth of Pumpkins

Treatment of pumpkin plants with 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPHA) induced a greater production of female flowers, shorter internodes and earlier fruit set while treatment with gibberellic acid (GA) induced a greater production of male flowers, longer internodes and later fruit set. Although CEPHA induced the production of a greater number of female flowers, the bulk of the flowers aborted and only a slight increase in the number of fruits per pumpkin plant occurred. The addition of equal concentrations of CEPHA and GA resulted in pumpkin plants with longer internodes and a greater number of female flowers than the untreated plants, although GA partially overcame the effect of CEPHA. The mode of action of CEPHA and GA on sex expression is discussed.     

Effect of nitrogen application on flowering and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Effect of nitrogen application on number of flowers per plant, number of different types of flowers per plant, length of style, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield/ha of eggplant was investigated under controlled greenhouse conditions. Nitrogen was supplied at 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 kg N/ha with one control (no nitrogen) treatment. Nitrogen supplied at 200 kg N/ha gave best results and significantly produced the highest number of flowers per plant, fruits per plant and yield (32.24 ton/ha) over control plants. Nitrogen failed to influence style length and type of flowers i.e. long, medium, pseudo-short and short styled flowers. Nitrogen application at 150 and 175 kg N/ha showed comparable results with nitrogen applied at 200 kg N/ha.     

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF GIBBERELLIN AND INDOLE COMPOUNDS ON THE INDUCTION OF PARTHENOCARPY IN SEXUALLY INCOMPATIBLE PERESKIA ACULEATA

Sachar , R. C. (U. Delhi, India.) Comparative effects of gibberellin and indole compounds on the induction of parthenocarpy in sexually incompatible Pereskia aculeata. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(9): 913–917. Illus. 1962.—The effects of indoleacetic acid (IAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA), gibberellin (G) and gibberellic acid (GA) were studied on the fruit growth of the sexually incompatible Pereskia. Under natural conditions, this plant did not produce any fruits and seeds, and the flowers abscised a week after anthesis. IAA (50–500 ppm) delayed the formation of an abscission layer by another 2 weeks, but it was ineffective in inducing parthenocarpy. IBA (50–500 ppm) induced fruit-set in only 15% of the flowers. Best response was achieved by G (100–500 ppm), or GA (100–500 ppm), which gave 100% fruit-set. The effect of GA in inducing parthenocarpy was not inhibited when used in conjunction with IAA. Maximum size of the fruits was obtained with 2 sprayings of GA, and subsequent sprays were of no consequence. Further, fruit size was the largest when GA or G was sprayed at anthesis, or on old flower buds, but it was much less when the chemicals were sprayed on young flower buds. There was no stimulation of the growth of ovules; instead, a translucent mucilaginous placental tissue developed within the cavity of the fruit wall. Attempts were made to culture ovules and the placental tissue on artificial nutrient medium, but without success.     

Conservation implications of the reproductive ecology of Agalinis acuta (Scrophulariaceae)

Reproductive ecology of Agalinis acuta was investigated by examining potential for self-fertilization before and at anthesis, reproductive output from outcrossed vs. selfed matings, and effects of browsing, plant size, and conspecific plant density on seed and fruit production. These features of a plant species can provide indirect information pertinent to conservation such as patterns and maintenance of genetic diversity, risk associated with inbreeding depression, and changes in pollinator abundance or effectiveness. The species is self-compatible, with 97% of selfed flowers setting fruit; pollinators were not required for reproduction. However, seed set in self-pollinated fruits averaged 17-20% less than that in open-pollinated fruits. Geitonogamous and facilitated selfing are possible throughout anthesis and autonomous selfing is possible late in anthesis as corollas abscise. Delaying self-pollination until after outcrossing opportunities likely limits selfing rates and thus reduces risks associated with inbreeding but allows reproduction in absence of pollinators. Supplementing pollen on open-pollinated flowers yielded no additional seed set over controls. Neither early-season browsing of primary stems nor conspecific plant density had significant effects on number of fruits per plant, on fruit size, or on number of seeds from open-pollinated flowers. Currently, reproduction appears to be high (about 2400 seeds/plant), and future risks due to lack of genetic diversity are likely low.     

Effect of melatonin and gibberellic acid foliar application on the yield and quality of Jumbo blackberry species

Not many chemical hormone studies does exist in our country especially in berry fruits. Foliar application of melatonin and gibberellic acid hormones was performed in 2016 and 2017 in order to analyze the effects of different doses of hormone applications on fruit quality and yield. Pheonologic, pomological and some bioactive content analyses of these hormones were studied. According to the research results, while M?+?GA10 ppm (240.50; 3.9) and M?+?GA 5?ppm (226.50; 3.6) applications have the highest fruit number and weight (g), the highest fruit size was obtained from GA 5?ppm (21.21?mm fruit length, 16.56?mm fruit width) and M 10?ppm (21.10?mm fruit length, 16.20?mm fruit width) chemical applications in Jumbo blackberry species. The highest values in Ph, soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity averages were obtained from GA 5?ppm (3.69; 10.80; 2.42) and GA 10?ppm (3.68; 10.70; 2.40) applications; the highest total antioxidant activity in bioactive characteristics averages was found in G 10?ppm 143.21?mg/g, the highest total phenolics was identified in G 5?ppm 72.68?ppm/GAE and the highest total flavonoids was determined in G 10?ppm 4925.75?ppm/QE.     

FACTORS LIMITING FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION OF A TEMPERATE SHRUB,STAPHYLEA TRIFOLIA L. (STAPHYLEACEAE)

Staphylea trifolia L., the bladdernut, is a self-incompatible temperate woodland shrub that flowers in May in Illinois. Factors limiting reproduction were studied at four levels: 1) Seeds/fruit. Seed production in open-pollinated fruit was frequently limited by too few fertilized ovules. Seed production in hand-cross-pollinated fruit was limited by resources or dispersal constraints: seed abortion rates were higher in hand-cross-pollinated fruits than in open-pollinated fruits. 2) Fruits/flower and 3) fruits/inflorescence. The number of fruits set and matured per flower and per infloresence in the open-pollinated treatment was limited by the number of flowers naturally cross-pollinated. In hand-cross-pollinated inflorescences, fruit set was not limited by resources even though fruit set was ten times greater than in the open-pollinated treatment. Evidence that resources limited fruit maturation in the hand-cross-pollinated inflorescences was equivocal. In hand-cross-pollinated flowers, fruit set was lowest when cold nights followed pollination, suggesting that cool temperatures limited postpollination physiological processes. 4) Fruits/individual. Early-flowering individuals matured fewer fruits than later-flowering individuals. Within the latter group, fruit production increased with plant size, although a relatively small individual matured the maximum number of fruits. Flowering phenologies and size of individuals varied among patches, resulting in differential reproductive success of patches.     

外源乙烯利施用时期对花生源库形成的调控效应

为了解决源库关系不协调而限制花生产量提高的问题,在大田栽培条件下,以‘山花9号’花生为试验材料,设置花后10、20、30 d 3个喷施时期,以不喷施处理为对照,探讨不同时期喷施乙烯利对花生源库形成的调控效应。结果表明: 花后10和20 d喷施乙烯利可显著减少花生的开花数量、果针数、幼果数,提高秕果数和饱果数,而花后30 d喷施处理对开花数量、果针数和幼果数无抑制作用。喷施乙烯利可以增加花生单株叶面积,开花后10 d喷施处理的单株叶面积增幅最大,随着喷施时期的推迟增幅减小。花后10和20 d喷施乙烯利显著提高了花生叶片的光合速率,但花后30 d喷施处理只能在短期内提高光合速率,对生育后期的叶片光合速率无显著影响。从源库综合性状来看,花后20 d喷施乙烯利的源库关系最协调,有利于促进同化物向荚果的运输,提高有效果比例和荚果充实度,从而提高产量。因此,喷施乙烯利是解决花生“花多不实、果多不饱”源库失衡现象的有效措施,生产中使用乙烯利控花应选择在开花后20 d喷施。     

Effects of Seed Number on Competition and Dominance among Fruits in Capsicum annuum L.

The effects of seed number on set, development and growth ofa fruit, and on inhibition of later-developed fruits were studiedby varying the pollen load on the stigma of sweet pepper flowers(Capsicum annuum L.). Despite much variation, a linear increasein individual fruit weight with seed number could be observed.Seed number affected the growth rate rather than the growingperiod of fruit. When seed numbers were low, the probabilityof fruit setting was positively related to seed number. However,a relatively low seed number (50–100 seeds/fruit: 20–30%of the maximum seed number) was sufficient for maximal fruitset. An increase in seed number increased the inhibitory effect ofa fruit on set and growth of later-developing fruits. As a result,when pollination treatments were applied to all the flowersof a plant, results could be quite different to those obtainedwhen only a limited number of flowers were treated. Fruit setof the second fruit was reduced by the application of a highpollen load to the first flower, even when the first fruit abortedbefore it had accumulated much dry matter. Our results suggestthat growth inhibition of the second fruit by seed number ofthe first fruit is controlled both by competition for limitedassimilates, as well as by dominance due to the production ofplant growth regulators by the developing fruit. Sweet pepper; Capsicum annuum L.; pollination; fruit set; abortion; abscission; fruit growth; first-fruit dominance; sink strength     

Effects of native pollinator communities on the physiological and chemical parameters of loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) under open field condition

Wild and managed pollinators are the key component of biodiversity, contributing to important ecosystem services such as pollination and supporting human food security. Pollination by insects is a crucial component of the food chain that ensures the production of fruits and strongly affects the fruit quality, but the effect of insect pollination on fruit physiological and chemical parameters is largely unknown. The current study was conducted to determine the insect pollinators diversity and their relative abundance in the loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) orchard during 2017–2019. Further, the effect of insect pollinators pollination on the physiological and chemical parameters of fruit quality as compared to control pollinated flowers was investigated. The results revealed that a total of 22 species from 3 families (Apidae, Halictidae, and Syrphidae) were identified during the flowering season. The Apidae and Syrphidae were the most frequently observed families with major groups honey bees (67.89%) and hoverflies (21.57%), respectively. Moreover, results indicated that the fruit yield by the open-pollinated flowers (22.31 ± 0.34 kg/tree) was significantly higher than the control pollinated flowers (14.80 ± 0.25 kg/tree). Physiological and chemical parameters of loquat fruit differed significantly when fruits obtained from open-pollinated flowers as compared to control pollinated flowers. These results suggested that native insect pollinators play important role in the fruit quality of loquat. Hence, maintenance of appropriate habitat of native pollinators near loquat orchards is necessary to ensure good productivity and fruit quality.     

Novel interactions of non-pollinating ants with pollinators and fruit consumers in a tropical forest

The tropical ants Ectatomma ruidum and E. tuberculatum (Formicidae) regularly patrol leaves, flowers, and fruits of the understory shrub, Psychotria limonensis (Rubiaceae), on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Ant and pollinator exclusion experiments elucidated both positive and negative effects of ant attendance on plant reproductive success, including pollination, fruit set, fruit loss, and fruit removal. Ants did not pollinate flowers but did contribute to higher pollination success, probably by increasing the relocation frequency of winged pollinators and thus the rate of flower visitation. Ants also prevented fruit loss to herbivorous insects which were common during the early stages of fruit development. Thus, ant attendance strongly improved both pollination and fruit set whereby plants with ants set more fruit per flower and also lost fewer fruits during fruit maturation. In contrast, ants had a negative effect on the removal of ripe fruits by avian frugivores. Thus, ant attendance has a non-trivial influence on plant reproduction, this interaction being beneficial at some stages of the plant reproductive cycle and carrying costs at another stage. A tight ecological or co-evolved relationship between these Ectatomma spp. and P. limonensis is unlikely given that ant attendance of plants is detrimental to fruit removal. Received: 18 May 1998 / Accepted: 1 March 1999     

The effect of simulated borer infested shoot pruning on yield parameters of eggplant

Pruning and prompt disposal of pest-damaged eggplant shoots at regular intervals up to the first harvest is an important component in the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) IPM strategy. However, the impact of pruning on yield parameters remains unknown. We conducted field experiments during 2005–2007 to analyze the impact of pruning on the yield of an EFSB-susceptible accession (EG075) and a commercial cultivar (‘Pingtung long’) through simulated studies. Shoot pruning did not have any significant effect on the mean number of fruits per plant in both varieties. However, significant differences in mean fruit length of ‘Pingtung long’ occurred among the treatments; the longest fruit length (25.22 cm) was recorded with 30% shoot pruning. The mean fruit diameter and fruit weight did not differ significantly in ‘Pingtung long’ or EG075, and there was no significant yield reduction due to shoot pruning in either variety.     

Fruit abortion and the regulation of fruit number in Yucca whipplei

Summary Flowering and fruiting patterns of Yucca whipplei (Agavaceae), a monocarpic perennial of the southern California chaparral, were studied to determine the role of fruit abortion in the regulation of seed yield. Data on reproductive expenditure, fruit abortion and fruit maturation were obtained for 108 flowering individuals at two sites. The proportion of flowers maturing fruits was less than 10% at both sites. Inflorescences produced an average of 2,045±111 and 1,743±77 flowers at the two sites, initiated an average of 439±48 and 304±21 fruits, and matured an average of 194±16 and 162±10 fruits, respectively. Overall, 51% of the fruits which initiated development were aborted and abscized in an early stage of development.The hypothesis that fruit abortion serves to regulate seed yeild, matching fruit production to the available resources, yields three predictions which are borne out by our findings: (1) the proportion of initiated fruits which abort is an increasing function of the number of fruits initiated, (2) the number of fruits matured is an increasing function of estimates of the amount of resources available to support fruits, and (3) on any inflorescence, fruits initiated early have a lower probability of aborting than fruits initiated late.These results suggest that low fruit set in Yucca whipplei is caused by shortage of resources to support developing fruits, rather than by a shortage of pollinators. Possible explanations of the adaptive significance of regulating maternal investment via fruit abortion are mentioned, but further experimentation is required before any conclusions can be drawn.     

Plant size influences abundance of floral visitors and biomass allocation for the cushion plant Thylacospermum caespitosum under an extreme alpine environment

Variation in size may influence the abundance of visitors and reproductive allocation for cushion plants in the extreme alpine environments. To assess effects of plant size on the abundance of main visitors and reproductive allocation in Thylacospermum caespitosum populations at two altitudes, the abundance of the visitors, visiting frequency, total number of flowers, number of fruits, number of unseeded flowers, and reproductive allocation were investigated during the period of reproductive growth. Concurrently, the effects of plant size on the visitors' contributions to fruit setting rate were assessed by a bagging experiment. Our results showed that flies (Musca domestica and Dasyphora asiatica) were the main pollinating insects of T. caespitosum, and they could obvious facilitate (p < 0.05) the fruit setting rate of this cushion plant. Seed set and floral visitation were significantly influenced (p < 0.001) by plant size. Moreover, the reproductive allocation and fruit setting rate of T. caespitosum was influenced (p < 0.001) by plant size. More biomass was allocated to reproduction in plants of greater diameter. There is an increase in reproductive success (increases of fruit number with increase in plant size) in relation to plant size. In conclusion, the extent of M. domestica and D. asiatica to facilitate the fruit setting rate mainly depended on the size of T. caespitosum. Size‐dependent reproductive allocation occurred in T. caespitosum and was the chief factor affecting the contribution of flies to fruit setting rate. These traits reflect reproductive fitness of T. caespitosum related to plant size in extreme alpine environments.     

Effects of floral display and plant abundance on fruit production of Ryncholaelia glauca (Orchidaceae)

Flowering plant density can increase number of visits and fruit set in multi-flowering plants, however this aspect has not been studied on few flower species. We studied the effects of individual floral display and plant density on the fruit production of the epiphytic, moth-pollinated orchid, Ryncholaelia glauca, in an oak forest of Chavarrillo, Veracruz, Mexico. Species is non-autogamous, and produced one flower per flowering shoot each flowering season. We hypothesized that orchids with more flowering shoots and those on trees with clumps of conspecific should develop more fruits than isolated ones. R. glauca population flowers synchronouly, and individual flowers last up to 18 days, with flowers closing rapidly after pollination. Individuals produced few flowers per year, although some plants developed flowers in both seasons and fewer of them developed fruits both years. There was no relationship between flower number per orchid, or per host tree, with the number of fruits developed per plant. Host trees with flowering and fruiting orchids were randomly dispersed and the pattern of distribution of flowering and fruiting plants was not related. Apparently, pollinators visit the flowers randomly, with no evidence of density dependence. The fruit set of R. glauca was as low as fruit set of multi-flowered orchids moth pollinated, suggesting that fruit set on moth pollinated orchids could be independent of the number of flowers displayed.     

Effects of compound growth regulators on the anatomy of Jujube Leaf and Fruit

Effects of three compound growth regulators formulated with hypersensitivity protein, spermidine, salicylic acid and DA-6 (diethyl aminoethanol hexanoate) were tested on Xinjiang Jun Jujube. The doses of compound growth regulators were named as A (Hypersensitivity protein + spermidine + salicylic acid at the rate of 30 mg/L, 0.1 mmol/L and 0.25 mmol/L, respectively), B (Hypersensitive protein + spermidine + DA-6 at the rate of 30 mg/L, 0.1 mmol/L and 30 mg/L, respectively) and C (Spermidine + salicylic acid + DA-6 at the rate of 0.1 mmol/L, 0.25 mmol/L and 30 mg/L, respectively) versus a control group CK (contained only water). Fruit anatomical structures were compared after spraying. The results indicated that after spraying, the thickness of the upper and lower epidermal cells and the stratum corneum were increased. However, the upper epidermal stratum corneum became significantly thicker than the lower epidermis. Spraying with A improved the thickness of upper and lower epidermal cells, stratum corneum, the central vein and mesophyll. The cumulative effects of all these changes in leaf and fruit anatomical structures provided the resistance of the experimental fruit plant to stress. While the B and C regulators had inhibitory effects. So, the results obtained after spraying A category were beneficial to improve the stress resistance of the fruits. The length and cell area of pericarp and sarcocarp cells in the treatment groups were not changed significantly. But the length, number of sarcocarp cells and number of gaps were lower than those in the CK. This study can provide new measures for improving plant resistance in jujube production.     

Scale-specific determinants of a mixed beech and oak seedling–sapling bank under different environmental and biotic conditions

Based on the hypothesis that both plant size and local conspecific density influence allocation to female/male functions, we explored the relationship between plant height, local conspecific density, sexual expression, and fruit production in the andromonoecious shrub Caesalpinia gilliesii. We quantified the total number of perfect and staminate flowers, the pollen received and fruits produced per plant in two populations, and estimated phenotypic gender and fruit set. Local density failed to explain phenotypic gender, nevertheless, plant height and fruit set increased with local density in one population where, in addition, the slopes for the size-dependent sex allocation curve were steeper. As observed for other plant species, this suggests that between population differences in resource availability is the main underlying factor for the observed population differences in the size-dependent allocation pattern to flowers and fruits. On the other hand, the number of staminate and perfect flowers per plant increased with plant height and the fastest increase of staminate flowers resulted in a male-biased size-dependent sex allocation strategy in both populations. Since pollination intensity was not correlated with plant height in any population, the observed allocation strategy cannot be attributed to differences in pollen availability between different sized individuals, but to differences in plant size. Finally, because fruit set and total fruit number increased with plant height in one population, the obtained results provide further evidence that animal-pollinated, andromonoecious species may exhibit a male-biased size-dependent sex allocation strategy, which may favor female fecundity.     

Brassinosteroid analogues effects on the yield and quality parameters of greenhouse-grown pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The effects of spraying two brassinosteroid analogues, DI-31 and DI-100, were evaluated at concentrations of 4, 8 and 12?ppm together with a seaweed extract and amino acid mixture called Tomex Amin (2.5?l/ha) to enhance their activity. These were sprayed ten times to foliage of pepper var. Orlando grown under greenhouse conditions. Treatment with DI-31 at a dose of 12?ppm (30?mg/ha) resulted in the highest production increases, which were 13.55?% relative to the control with Tomex Amin (T02). Correlation between net photosynthesis increase and yield increase due to DI-31 treatment, which produced the maximum yield increase and also the highest net photosynthesis with significant differences with respect to the control, was observed. This increased yield was caused by an increase in pepper/plant number. The physic-chemical variables related to pepper quality, such as fresh weight, h/d ratio, lobe number/fruit, firmness, colour and ripening index, were similar in the control and treated peppers. Total antioxidant activity and phenolic content was higher in pepper treated over T02. The results showed that sprayed DI-31 may play an important role in increasing the yield of field grown pepper due to an increase in fruits number per plant without any undesirable effects on their nutritive and organoleptic properties.     

The effect of gibberellins A4+7 on fruit set and seed set in unpollinated and pollinated ‘Sonia’ roses

The effect of GA₄₊₇ (GA) on fruit and seed set of Sonia roses unpollinated and pollinated with Ilona, was studied. GA at 0, 10, 50, 250 or 1250 ppm in water with 25% iso-propyl alcohol was applied 0, 7 or 14 days after emasculation. In general, GA improved fruit and seed set, and induced heavier, earlier ripening fruits. In the unpollinated and pollinated categories fruit weight and the number of achenes per fruit in comparable treatments were about the same. In the unpollinated category all achenes were parthenocarpic. In the pollinated category, 10 and 50 ppm GA after 14 days more than doubled the number of achenes per pollinated flower. Achenes with or without an embryo are a probable condition for fruit set. Effects of GA are discussed.     

Endophytic fungal community succession in reproductive organs of two olive tree cultivars with contrasting anthracnose susceptibilities

The factors shaping endophytic fungal assemblages in reproductive organs have been less evaluated than in vegetative organs. Here, the temporal dynamics of fungal endophytes in inflorescences and fruits of olive tree cultivars with contrasting anthracnose susceptibilities was assessed, starting before flowers open until fruit ripening. Fungal diversity assessed by rRNA sequencing of cultivable isolates revealed a higher richness and abundance of endophytes in inflorescences than in fruits. Endophytes from Sordariomycetes were dominant in inflorescences, while in fruits they were from Dothideomycetes. The overall assemblages of inflorescences and fruits were shaped mainly by the plant organ, followed by the phenological stage and lastly, by the plant cultivar. The importance of cultivar as a shaping factor varied according to the plant organ, being only significant in inflorescence-associated endophytes. A set of fungal taxa were positively associated with a particular cultivar and phenological stage, likely contributing to the plant anthracnose resistance.