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Over the course of nearly 2 decades, the resident or wild-type form of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) and 25 additional selections have been evaluated for landscape performance and invasive potential in various trial locations in Florida. Overall, in northern Florida (Quincy and Citra), 'Royal Princess', 'Umpqua Chief', 'Gulf Stream', 'Monfar' (Sienna SunriseVR), 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray' (SunrayVR), 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki' (Flirt™), 'SEIKA' (Obsession™), and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average ratings between 3.0 and 4.9 (1 to 5 scale). In southern Florida (Balm and Fort Pierce), 'AKA' (Blush Pink™), 'Compacta', 'Emerald Sea', 'Firestorm'™, 'Greray', 'Gulf Stream', 'Harbour Dwarf', 'Jaytee' (Harbor Belle™), 'Lemon-Lime', 'Monum' (Plum PassionVR), 'Murasaki', and 'SEIKA' performed well with average ratings between 3.0 and 5.0. Among selections evaluated, plant sizes were categorized as small, medium, or large, where the final plant height ranged from 20 to 129 cm, and the plant perpendicular width ranged from 15 to 100 cm. Almost three-fourths of the selections evaluated had little to no fruiting when compared with the wild-type form. 'AKA', 'Chime', 'Filamentosa', 'Firehouse', 'Firepower', 'Firestorm', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Moon Bay', and 'SEIKA' did not fruit at any of the trial sites. In northern Florida, small amounts of fruit (94% to 99.9% reduction) were observed for 'Gulf Stream', 'Harbour Dwarf', 'Jaytee', 'Monfar', 'Murasaki', 'Royal Princess', 'Twilight', and the twisted leaf selection. Moderate amounts of fruit (62% to 83% reduction) were observed for 'Alba', 'Emerald Sea', 'Lowboy', 'Moyer's Red', and 'Umpqua Chief'. Heavy fruiting comparable or greater than the wild type was observed for 'Compacta' and 'Monum'. Pregermination seed viability ranged from 67% to 100% among fruiting selections with 5.5% to 32.0% germination in 60 days. Germination was considerably higher (58% to 82%) when the germination time was extended to 168 days. Nuclear DNA content of selections were comparable to the wild type suggesting they are diploid. Thus, ploidy level does not appear to be associated with female infertility of those little-fruiting heavenly bamboo selections. Overall, our findings revealed certain selections of heavenly bamboo that have little potential to present an ecological threat and thus merit consideration for production and use. As a result, the University of Florida(UF)/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' (IFAS) Status Assessment on Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas infraspecific taxon protocol has concluded that 'Firepower' and 'Harbour Dwarf' are noninvasive and can be recommended for production and use in Florida. In addition, due to acceptable plant performance and low to no fruiting capacity, our research supports that 'Firehouse', 'AKA', 'Firestorm', 'Gulfstream', 'Jaytee', 'Monfar', 'Royal Princess', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', and 'SEIKA' be considered for future noninvasive status approval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krantz aloe (Aloe arborescens) is one of two aloe species currently used for the extraction of active ingredients that can be useful in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. However, krantz aloe plants have been frequently collected from the wild, which is threatening wild populations. In vitro tissue culture would allow the growth of krantz aloe under controlled conditions, optimizing the production of active ingredients without risk to wild populations. The establishment of cultures from krantz aloe plant explants has proved difficult as a result of the long response times of the explants and their release of polyphenols. Krantz aloe seeds are not commonly used as a means of propagation because of their low germination percentages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seed imbibition (SI) with water and the addition of smoke-saturated water (SSW) to the culture medium on the in vitro germination and initial seedling development of krantz aloe. Seeds were germinated in vitro in axenic conditions. The treatments used were the addition of 10% SSW to the culture media, SI, and a combination of both (10% SSW DSI). Daily germination was recorded and gross morphology was measured after 1 month of culture establishment. The maximum germination percentage (GP) was achieved when 10% SSW was in the medium (97.2%), followed by the combined application of 10% SSW D SI (96.6%), both of which were almost 30% greater and significantly different from that of the control (69.4%). SI had an 83.3% GP. No significant differences were observed among treatments in any of the observed development parameters (leaf and root length and number). Taken together, these findings show that the use of SSW improves the in vitro germination of krantz aloe without affecting seedling development, indicating preliminarily that SSW represents a useful in vitro germination promoter for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) using six different germination treatments and found the best results with cold (40 °F), dry storage followed by direct seeding into a commercial germination mix placed in a 75 °F glass-glazed greenhouse with intermittent mist (5 seconds of mist every 8 minutes), and 600-W high-pressure sodium lighting with a 16-hour daylength. We found commercial laboratory viability analysis from tetrazolium staining did not correspond to germination results. Cold (34 °F), moist (2.3 g seed moistened with 2.5 mL deionized water) treatment, also known as cold conditioning, produced significantly less germination and fewer transplantable seedlings, and is not recommended for prairie dropseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) and glossy privet (L. lucidum) have been classified as Category I invasives in Florida. The closely related japanese privet (L. japonicum) has escaped cultivation but is not considered a problem species in Florida. Plant growth, visual quality, flowering, and fruiting were assessed for the resident species (wild-type form) and selected cultivars of chinese privet, glossy privet, and japanese privet planted in northern and southern Florida for 132 weeks. Visual quality varied by site, month, and cultivar. With the exception of 'Swift Creek' chinese privet (which did not survive in southern Florida), all cultivars survived the study. All plants fruited in northern Florida. In southern Florida, fruiting was less abundant and not observed for 'Jack Frost' japanese privet, 'Rotundifolium' japanese privet, 'Swift Creek' chinese privet, 'Suwannee River' hybrid privet, and glossy privet within 132 weeks. In northern and southern Florida, the growth index rate was lower for 'Lake Tresca' japanese privet, 'Rotundifolium' japanese privet, and 'Suwannee River' hybrid privet than other cultivars. There was a significant interaction between temperature and species for seed germination. Germination in incubators set with a 12-hour photoperiod ranged from 51% to 78.5% for chinese privet, japanese privet, and glossy privet among temperatures, with the exception of glossy privet at 35/25 °C, where only 2.0% of seeds germinated. Germination in complete darkness ranged from 39.5% t 80.5% for chinese privet and glossy privet among temperatures, with the exception of glossy privet at 35/25 °C, where only 0.5% of seeds germinated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen viability, in-vivo pollen tube growth, fruit ripening, seed germination, seed weight, whole plant vigor, and natural flower senescence were investigated in homozygous and heterozygous transgenic ethylene-insensitive CaMV35S::etrl-1 petunias (Petunia xhybrida 'Mitchell Diploid'). Homozygous or heterozygous plants were used to determine any maternal and/or paternal effects of the CaMV35S::etr1-1 transgene. All experiments except for those used to determine natural flower senescence characteristics were conducted in both high and low temperature greenhouses to determine the effect of temperature stress on transgenic plants when compared to wild-type. Results indicated that ethylene-insensitive plants had a decrease in pollen viability, root dry mass, seed weight, and seed germination. Fruit ripening, seed germination, and seed weight were maternally regulated. In contrast, the CaMV35S::etr1-1 transgene is completely dominant in its effect on natural flower senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]