The shape and, therefore, the architecture of the plant are dependent on genetic and environmental factors such as water supply. The architecture determines the visual quality, a key criterion underlying the decision to purchase an ornamental potted plant. The aim of this study was to analyze genotypic responses of eight rose bush cultivars to alternation of water restriction and re-watering pe...

Invasive plants can negatively affect belowground processes and alter soil microbial communities. For native plants that depend on soil resources from root fungal symbionts (RFS), invasion could compromise their resource status and subsequent ability to manufacture and store carbohydrates. Herbaceous perennials that depend on RFS-derived resources dominate eastern North American forest understo...

Materials and methods Samples of A. pisum were collected from natural populations on vetch or white clover, preserved in acetone, and subjected to DNA extraction individually. At each locality, 20 aphids were subjected to specific PCR detection of the endosymbionts as described (S1). The aphid strain TUt, naturally infected with PAUS, was derived from a parthenogenetic female collected on white...

While effects of urbanization on species assemblages are receiving increasing attention, effects on ecological interactions remain largely unexplored. We investigated how urbanization influences the strength of direct and indirect trophic interactions in a tri- trophic system. In a field experiment including five cities and nearby farmed areas, we used potted Vicia faba plants and manipulated t...

The relatively brief postharvest life of most cut flowers and potted flowering plants can be extended by a range of technologies. Studies have shown that vase life is negatively correlated with respiration after harvest, so prompt cooling to the lowest safe storage temperature is a key to long-distance transport of these perishable crops. Forced air cooling is the method of choice for cut flowe...

This paper presents a short review of the history surrounding the development of haptic feedback systems, from early manipulators and telerobots, used in the nuclear and subsea industries, to today’s impressive desktop devices, used to support real-time interaction with 3D visual simulations, or Virtual Reality. Four examples of recent VR projects are described, illustrating the use of haptic f...

plants and field-grown aspen trees (Populus tremuloides Michx.) exposed to ambient or twice-ambient ozone. Root dry weight of potted plants decreased up to 45% after 12 weeks of ozone treatment, and root system respiration decreased by 27%. The ozone-induced decrease in root system respiration of potted plants was more closely correlated with decreased root dry weight than with specific root re...

Soils of the tropics and sub-tropics are typically acid and depleted of soluble sources of silicon (Si) due to weathering and leaching associated with high rainfall and temperatures. Together with intensive cropping, this leads to marginal or deficient plant Si levels in Si-accumulating crops such as rice and sugarcane. Although such deficiencies can be corrected with exogenous application of S...

Abstract At room temperature, we studied the delayed luminescence characteristic curves of leaves Scindapsus in darkroom and continuously irradiate at different wavelengths. The results show that decay stimulated emission photons induced by pulsed laser has a typical hyperbolic trend with delay time, goodness fitted curve can reach 99.9%. initial photon intensity I (0) time τ are closely relate...

Phytophthora cinnamomi is an important soil borne plant pathogen, associated to decline of cork and holm oak stands in Iberian Peninsula. This results from a complex biotic abiotic interactions culminating root infection. Field observations sites suggested enhancement moisture texture processes. Greenhouse assays were developed evaluate the impact on severity infection both species. Seedlings p...