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The reuse of organic wastes in agriculture is an appropriate method for environment management and providing nutrients to the plants. The objective of this study is to utilize possibility of agricu...

Tagetes erecta L., Gaillardia grandiflora Hort. e×Van Houtte. and Dahlia pinnata Cav. belong to the family Asteraceae, Matthiola incana (L.) R.Br. and Erysimum cheiri (L.) Crantz. are in the family...

To evaluate the effects of nutrient solution concentration on growth of alyssum [Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. ‘New Carpet of Snow’], celosia (Celosia argentea L. ‘Gloria Scarlet’), dianthus (Dianthus chinensis L. ‘Telstar Crimson’), gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa L. ‘Gnome White’), stock [Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br ‘Special Mix’], and zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq. ‘Dreamland Mix’), we grew plants with five different concentrations of Hoagland nutrient solution [0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0×full strength; electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.4, 0.7, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.7 dS m−1, respectively]. Plant growth of alyssum was maximized when plants were fertilized with 1.0×concentration of Hoagland solution, resulting in a final growing medium EC of 2.1 dS m−1 (as determined by the pour-through method). Maximum shoot dry mass of celosia was obtained when plants were fertilized with 0.5 to 1.0×concentration of Hoagland solution, resulting in a growing medium EC of 1.1–2.5 dS m−1. Growth of dianthus was best with a 1.0×...

SummaryEffects of light and temperature on stem extension and flowering of M. incana were investigated. Stem extension was markedly suppressed by red (R)-rich spectrum treatment until the flower buds became visible, whereas it was slightly promoted or was not affected by the far-red (FR)-rich spectrum treatment. The R-rich spectrum treatment markedly suppressed the response to gibberellin A4 (GA4) by stem extension and the FR-rich spectrum treatment occasionally increased it. The FR-rich spectrum treatment accelerated flowering and the R-rich spectrum treatment delayed flowering under weakly flower-inducing temperatures. However, these phenomena were eliminated under strong flower-inducing temperatures. Dark treated plants did not initiate flower buds in spite of cold treatment. These results indicate that light quality is involved in regulation of stem extension and flowering but temperature is more responsible than light quality in the flowering of M. incana.

Agrostis capillaris ’Parys’, Beta vulgaris cicla ’Fordhook Giant’ (Swiss chard), Brassica oleracea ’Lion Heart’ (cabbage), Cineraria ’Miranda White’, Festiica rubra litoralis ‘Merlin’, Matthiola incana ‘Austral Apricot’ (stock), Phaseolus vulgaris ’Hawksbury Wonder’ (bean), and Polycarpaea spirosrylis (Copper Weed) were grown in pine bark‐based soilless media of pH 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 amended with copper or zinc sulfate or composts containing high concentrations of either copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn). Growth responses ranged from none, through iron (Fe) deficiency, to symptoms of severe Cu or Zn toxicity. Correlations between growth and shoot Cu or Zn concentration on the one hand and total metal content of the medium and several measures of extractable metal content on the other were obtained. Medium pH had to be included in regressions to obtain high correlation coefficients. Total metal content and DTPA‐ and NH4OAc‐extractable metals were about equally well correlated with growth response in these e...

Downy mildew (Peronospora matthiolae (Roumeguerre) Gaumann) of stock, which was first found in New Zealand in 1958, became a serious and widespread disease within a year. Life history studies of the fungus indicated that it produced only asexual conidia, and that it was not systemic in the plant. Amongst the Cruciferae the fungus infected only species of M. atthiola, both M. incana and M. bicornis being susceptible. All varieties of stock tested were susceptible, but there was evidence that intensity of sporulation varied between varieties. Under optimum conditions the incubation period of the fungus was 5–6 days. It required high humidities for sporulation, and the optimum temperature for infection and sporulation was 15.5°–21°c. Streptospray (500 p.p.m. + glycerol, 1 per cent) protected plants from infection, and also acted as an eradicant. Sprays containing ferbam, cuprous oxide emulsion, Phaltan, dichlone, U.C.P. 21, Trioneb, and zineb gave protection but were not eradicant. Best control of n...