The effects of compost based substrates on growth and nutrition of geranium (Pelargonium zonale cv Lucky Break F2) were investigated. Substrates of manure compost, cotton gin trash compost, municipal solid waste compost and pine bark utilized as potting media for domestic use, produced an underdevelopment of geranium plants with respect to the control. This behaviour is related to the inferior ...

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is valuable in terms of production and exports in the world. Increased vase life of cut flowers is an important factor for their market acceptability. For this purpose this study was carried out to examine the effect of plant essential oils as compared to 8-hydroxy-quinoline sulfate on the control of bacteria population and the longevity of carnation cut flo...

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 39 genera of Thysanoptera--Phlaeothripinae with species that live in association with dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia and are considered to be fungus-feeding. Seven of these genera are not previously recorded from this continent, including un-named species of Deplorothrips, Malacothrips, Mystrothrips, Preeriella and Tylothrips,...

Chloroplast (trnL–F and rbcL) sequences were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of Geraniaceae and Hypseocharitaceae. According to these data Hypseocharitaceae and Geraniaceae are monophyletic. Pelargonium and Monsonia are sisters to the largest clade of Geraniaceae, formed by Geranium, Erodium and California. According to molecular dating and dispersal-vicariance analysis, the split of the stem...

Development of biologically inspired experimental processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is an important branch of nanotechnology. In this paper, we report on the use of geranium leaves (Pelargonium graveolens) and its endophytic fungus in the extra-cellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Sterilized geranium leaves and an endophytic fungus (Colletotrichum sp.) growing in the leaves were...

The selective maintenance of gynodioecy depends on the relative fitness of the male-sterile (female) and hermaphroditic morphs. Females may compensate for their loss of male fitness by reallocating resources from male function (pollen production and pollinator attraction) to female function (seeds and fruits), thus increasing seed production. Females may also benefit from their inability to sel...