RESUMO
Most cultivated orchids, contributing to a worldwide highly profitable industry, are originated from tropic regions. Conversely, a considerable number of spontaneous orchids, belonging to the terrestrial orchids and widely diffused throughout the European continent, are not considered for trading due to their less gorgeous appearance and for technical difficulties in seed propagation. However, a breeding programme was undertaken aimed at developing a new hybrid between Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann and H. robertianum (Loisel.) P. Delforge [syn. Barlia robertiana (Loisel.) Greuter] by applying techniques of anther conservation, manual pollination and in vitro asymbiotic germination of the obtained seeds. The plantlets that originated from the protocorms after seed germination were successfully acclimatised after potting in a proper medium. The parentage of the progenies of the hybridisation experiment was assessed by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer assembly (ITS) and plastid barcoding markers of the parental lines and of the hybrids. The method proved to be effective in revealing the origin of the hybrids and to validate the maternal inheritance of the plastid DNA.
RESUMO
When canals and harbours are dredged, huge amount of polluted sediments has to be stocked and transported to the landfill with incredibly high costs of management. Among the remediation techniques for the reclamation of polluted sediments and soils, phytoremediation represents a sustainable and effective technique though still not fully promoted or commercialized. In this study we have tested the suitability for plant nursing of a substrate resulting from sediments dredged from a canal and treated with phytoremediation. The experiment was set up in 2014. It aimed to test the physical, chemical and hydrological characteristics of two mixes of remediated sediments and agronomic soil (at 33% and 50% by volume) compared to control soil (100% agronomic soil), and to assess the growth of three ornamental species (Viburnum tinus L., Photinia x fraseri var. red robin, Eleagnus macrophylla Thunb.) together with the suitability for root balling. The mixed substrates produced good results in terms of water drainage, and were similar to the control in terms of soluble nutrients, guaranteeing and enhancing the aboveground and belowground growth of all the three species, especially V. tinus. In contrast, mixed substrates impaired root ball compaction with root ball breakage observed especially in 50% sediment/soil mix. Therefore, the use of remediated sediments in plant nursery can be limited to specific productions or practices.
