A ZnO nanocatalyst with a high percentage exposure of (0001) facets embedded on a hierarchical flower-like matrix has been prepared by an in situ topotactic transformation of a layered double hydroxide precursor, and exhibits significantly higher visible light photocatalytic performance than other ZnO nanomaterials with fewer exposed (0001) facets.

Volatiles from flowers at three blooming stages of nine citrus cultivars were analyzed by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME)-GC-MS. Up to 110 volatiles were detected, with 42 tentatively identified from citrus flowers for the first time. Highest amounts of volatiles were present in fully opened flowers of most citrus, except for pomelos. All cultivars were characterized by a high p...

Many woody perennials, such as poplar (Populus deltoides), are not able to form flower buds during the first several years of their life cycle. They must undergo a transition from the juvenile phase to the reproductive phase to be competent to produce flower buds. After this transition, trees begin to form flower buds in the spring of each growing season. The genetic factors that control flower...

Mammalian nucleostemin (NS) is preferentially expressed in stem cells and acts to promote cell cycle progression. In plants, stem cell activities have to be terminated during flower development, and this process requires the activation of AGAMOUS (AG) gene expression. Here, a nucleostemin-like 1 gene, NSN1, is shown to be required for flower development in Arabidopsis. The NSN1 mRNA was found i...

The pigmented cells in defined region of a petal constitute the petal spots. Petal spots attract pollinators and are found in many angiosperm families. Several cultivars of tree peony contain a single red or purple spot at the base of petal that makes the flower more attractive for the ornamental market. So far, the understanding of the molecular mechanism of spot formation is inadequate. In th...

In the floriculture industry, the need for heat tolerant bedding plant cultivars is increasing because of the rising temperature around the world. A pot experiment was carried out to examine the impacts of four heat stress durations (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) on growth and ornamental traits to determine the relative heat tolerance of four cultivars of calendula (Calendula officinalis). Growth and d...

Over the past three decades, Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has become a major worldwide pest of many agricultural and horticultural crops. In response, much time, money, and effort have been put into pure and applied research focusing on the biology and control of this pest. Western flower thrips is native to Western North America and wi...