Iron Supplement-Enhanced Growth and Development of Hydrangea macrophylla In Vitro under Normal and High pH.

Hydrangea macrophylla is a popular perennial ornamental shrub commercially grown as potted plants, landscape plants, and cut flowers. In the process of reproduction and production of ornamental plants, the absorption of nutrients directly determines the value of the ornamental plants. Hydrangea macrophylla is very sensitive to the content and absorption of the micronutrient iron (Fe) that affects growth of its shoots. However, the physiological activity of Fe as affected by deficiency or supplementation is unknown. This work aimed at preliminary exploring the relationship between Fe and photosynthesis, and also to find the most favorable iron source and level of pH for the growth of H. macrophylla. Two Fe sources, non-chelated iron sulfate (FeSO4) and iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), were supplemented to the multipurpose medium with a final Fe concentration of 2.78 mg·L-1. The medium without any Fe supplementation was used as the control. The pH of the agar-solidified medium was adjusted to either 4.70, 5.70, or 6.70, before autoclaving. The experiment was conducted in a culture room for 60 days with 25/18 °C day and night temperatures, and a 16-hour photoperiod provided at a light intensity of 50 mmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) from white light-emitting diodes. Supplementary Fe increased the tissue Fe content, and leaves were greener with the medium pH of 4.70, regardless of the Fe source. Compared to the control, the number of leaves for plantlets treated with FeSO4 and Fe-EDTA were 2.0 and 1.5 times greater, respectively. The chlorophyll, macronutrient, and micronutrient contents were the greatest with Fe-EDTA at pH 4.70. Furthermore, the Fe in the leaf affected the photosynthesis by regulating stomata development, pigment content, and antioxidant system, and also by adjusting the expression of genes related to Fe absorption, transport, and redistribution. Supplementation of Fe in a form chelated with EDTA along with a medium pH of 4.70 was found to be the best for the growth and development of H. macrophylla plantlets cultured in vitro.

In vitro propagation of Hydrangea spp.

Hydrangea (Hortensia) is a highly popular ornamental plant for garden decoration, and now it is commercially produced for cut flower branches. For in vitro culture, Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with BA (0.25 mg/L) and sucrose (30 g/L) was used. Culture conditions were 23 ± 1°C of temperature, light intensity of 35 µmol/m(2)/s P.P.F.D., and 16/8 h day/night photoperiod. Following shoot proliferation, the in vitro rooting frequency was 100% on a medium containing NAA 0.5 mg/L. However, 95% direct in vivo rooting was achieved by dipping microcuttings in a 5,000 ppm K-IBA solution which were transferred afterward to a glasshouse for acclimatization. After 21 days, fully acclimatized and well-established plants were obtained, suitable for commercialization. Furthermore, leaf fragments derived from in vitro plantlets were cultured for callus induction and adventitious shoot regeneration.

Preventive control of aphids in ornamental plants with complementary parasitoids.

Biological control of aphids can be achieved with parasitoids. A parasitoid is a wasp able to parasitize aphids in a host-specific way. These natural enemies of aphids are used in organic or integrated pest management strategies. In order to apply the matching parasitoid against a given aphid species, the aphid has to be detected in the crop and subsequently identified. By the time the aphids are spotted by the grower and then identified by himself or a specialist, it is usually more difficult to gain control over an increasing aphid population. Viridaxis developed a new concept of aphid control, based not on the species identified but on the crop treated. There was a need for a product controlling the largest possible spectrum of aphid species susceptibly present in ornamental crops. As the first step of development, an inventory of the aphid species attacking ornamental crops was made in various regions. A unique cocktail of parasitoids species (OrnaProtect) controlling all these aphids was then developed. OrnaProtect contains six different species of natural aphid enemies, and is able to control all commonly appearing aphids attacking ornamental crops. The fact of mixing different species not only covers the entire spectrum of aphids, but also contributes to prolonged hatching. To reinforce this long lasting emergence, mummies of different ages are mixed, older mummies (stored at low temperature) emerging earlier after release than young mummies. With that prolonged hatching dynamics, a release every two weeks assures a permanent presence of fresh adult parasitoids in the crop. The ready-to-use units of OrnaProtect contain an integrated feeding point which contributes to longevity and efficiency of the parasitoids. Its application in the crop is much faster than even any chemical treatment. Here, we show the results of trials made with OrnaProtect in 2011 on several crops (Hydrangea macrophylla, Solanum jasminoides, Argyranthemum frutescens and Osteospermum ecklonis). OrnaProtect controlled the aphids in all trials. In one trial, aphids were already present at the time of first release and a localized treatment on about ten plants, compatible with beneficial insects, was applied. After that, an excellent control of the aphids was achieved by the parasitoids. In the other trials, when used in a really preventive way (no aphid at the time of first release, the aphid population was immediately controlled and all plants could be sold as first quality plant without any insecticide treatment.

Changes in carbohydrates, ABA and bark proteins during seasonal cold acclimation and deacclimation in Hydrangea species differing in cold hardiness.

Cold injury is frequently seen in the commercially important shrub Hydrangea macrophylla but not in Hydrangea paniculata. Cold acclimation and deacclimation and associated physiological adaptations were investigated from late September 2006 to early May 2007 in stems of field-grown H. macrophylla ssp. macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. cv. Blaumeise and H. paniculata Sieb. cv. Kyushu. Acclimation and deacclimation appeared approximately synchronized in the two species, but they differed significantly in levels of mid-winter cold hardiness, rates of acclimation and deacclimation and physiological traits conferring tolerance to freezing conditions. Accumulation patterns of sucrose and raffinose in stems paralleled fluctuations in cold hardiness in both species, but H. macrophylla additionally accumulated glucose and fructose during winter, indicating species-specific differences in carbohydrate metabolism. Protein profiles differed between H. macrophylla and H. paniculata, but distinct seasonal patterns associated with winter acclimation were observed in both species. In H. paniculata concurrent increases in xylem sap abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations ([ABA](xylem)) and freezing tolerance suggests an involvement of ABA in cold acclimation. In contrast, ABA from the root system was seemingly not involved in cold acclimation in H. macrophylla, suggesting that species-specific differences in cold hardiness may be related to differences in [ABA](xylem). In both species a significant increase in stem freezing tolerance appeared long after growth ceased, suggesting that cold acclimation is more regulated by temperature than by photoperiod.