Flattening Functions on Flowers

Let $T$ be an orientation-preserving Lipschitz expanding map of the circle \T. A pre-image selector is a map \tau:\T\to\T with finitely many discontinuities, each of which is a jump discontinuity, and such that $\tau(x)\in T^{-1}(x)$ for all x\in\T. The closure of the image of a pre-image selector is called a flower, and a flower with $p$ connected components is called a $p$-flower. We say that a real-valued Lipschitz function can be Lipschitz flattened on a flower whenever it is Lipschitz cohomologous to a constant on that flower. The space of Lipschitz functions which can be flattened on a given $p$-flower is shown to be of codimension $p$ in the space of all Lipschitz functions, and the linear constraints determining this subspace are derived explicitly. If a Lipschitz function $f$ has a maximizing measure $S$ which is Sturmian (i.e. is carried by a 1-flower), it is shown that $f$ can be Lipschitz flattened on some 1-flower carrying $S$.Comment: Accepted for publication and confirmed for december 200

A Petunia homeodomain-leucine zipper protein, PhHD-Zip, plays an important role in flower senescence.

Flower senescence is initiated by developmental and environmental signals, and regulated by gene transcription. A homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor, PhHD-Zip, is up-regulated during petunia flower senescence. Virus-induced gene silencing of PhHD-Zip extended flower life by 20% both in unpollinated and pollinated flowers. Silencing PhHD-Zip also dramatically reduced ethylene production and the abundance of transcripts of genes involved in ethylene (ACS, ACO), and ABA (NCED) biosynthesis. Abundance of transcripts of senescence-related genes (SAG12, SAG29) was also dramatically reduced in the silenced flowers. Over-expression of PhHD-Zip accelerated petunia flower senescence. Furthermore, PhHD-Zip transcript abundance in petunia flowers was increased by application of hormones (ethylene, ABA) and abiotic stresses (dehydration, NaCl and cold). Our results suggest that PhHD-Zip plays an important role in regulating petunia flower senescence

Cold treatment breaks dormancy but jeopardizes flower quality in Camellia japonica L.

Camellia japonica L. is an evergreen shrub whose cultivars are of great ornamental value. In autumn, after flower bud differentiation, dormancy is initiated. As in many other spring flowering woody ornamentals, winter low temperatures promote dormancy release of both flower and vegetative buds. However, warm spells during late autumn and winter can lead to unfulfilled chilling requirements leading to erratic and delayed flowering. We hypothesized that storing plants at no light and low temperature could favor dormancy breaking and lead to early and synchronized flowering in response to forcing conditions in C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’. Plants with fully developed floral primordia were stored at dark, 7∘C, and RH > 90% for up to 8 weeks. To monitor endodormancy release during the storage, we evaluated the content of abscisic acid (ABA) in flower buds and the expression profiles of five putative genes related to dormancy and cold acclimation metabolism in leaves and flower buds. In addition, the expression of four anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes was profiled in flower buds to assess the effect of the treatment on flower pigment biosynthesis. At 0, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of cold treatment, 10 plants were transferred to the greenhouse and forced to flower. Forced plant flower qualities and growth were observed. The ABA content and the expression profiles of two dormancy-related genes (CjARP and CjDEH) suggested that dormancy breaking occurred after 6–8 weeks of cold treatment. Overall, plants treated for 6–8 weeks showed earlier vegetative sprouting, enhanced, and homogeneous flowering with reduced forcing time. Prolonged cold treatments also reduced flower size and longevity, anthocyanin content, and pigment biosynthesis-related gene transcripts. In conclusion, the cold treatment had a promotive effect on dormancy breaking but caused severe drawbacks on flower quality

Flower Facts

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide.  Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ILRF_Flower_Facts.pdf: 141 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Characterization of Cynara cardunculus L. flower from Alentejo as a coagulant agent for cheesemaking

The cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a mandatory vegetable coagulant for certain Protected Designation of Origin Portuguese cheeses. It grows wild in Portugal and is used without any type of control regarding flower picking or extract preparation, representing some uncertainty in cheese manufacture. The variability in technological properties, in the context of traditional cheese manufacture, of cardoon flower ecotypes from the Alentejo region was evaluated, including milk clotting and proteolytic activities, coagulation properties and potential cheesemaking yield of flower extracts. Multivariate statistics highlighted the variability of flower properties for cheesemaking, but allowed the aggregation of the ecotypes into five groups under the major influence of milk clotting activity and effect on gel firmness and micellar aggregation rate, followed by proteolytic activity. These differences may have an impact on cheese properties and therefore can allow the selection of cardoon flower for the manufacture of different types of cheese

Seed production in dianthus (Dianthus plumaris L.) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Seed Technology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Stigma receptivity, method of pollination and seed production under glass house and field conditions of ten Hammett Dianthus (Dianthus plumaris L.) cultivars were investigated in this study. All of the cultivars had very low or nil receptivity to pollen at the time of flower opening. Stigma receptivity peaked on the third or fourth day after flower opening, and continued until the sixth day after flower opening before declining. However, the period of highest stigma receptivity was not affected by difference in pollen source (i.e. self or cross pollen). All the cultivars produced highly viable pollen, suggesting that this was not a factor to causing low seed set. However, seed production potential was greatly affected by the pollen source; i.e. cultivars showed very high male selectivity. Cv. Crossover for example, produced 65 seeds per flower (57.8 % ovule fertility) in its best crossing combination (Crossover (♀) X Far North (♂), whereas the same culltivar produced only 16.6 seeds per flower (14.8 % ovule fertility) in its poorest crossing combination (Crossover (♀) X Spot On (♂) and 29 seeds per flower ( 26 % of ovule fertility ) following self pollination. Seed production of the ten cultivars under field conditions was very low, and no cultivar produced even a gram of seed per plant. However, hand pollination treatments (both cross and self) under glasshouse conditions produced significantly higher numbers of seeds than natural pollination. Although honey bees, bumble bees, and some flies were observed visiting the field trial, the accepted natural pollinators of Dianthus were not found. The implication of these variables in relation to the potential for commercial Dianthus seed production is discussed

Control of Alternaria alternata, Causal Agent of Dead (Dormant) Flower Bud Disease of Pear

Dead (dormant) flower buds of pear are an important phenomenon in pear production in the Netherlands. Vigourous or unbalanced tree growth and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (P.s.s.) are mentioned as likely causes of dead flower buds. Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae was occasionally isolated from diseased flower buds. However, Alternaria alternata was nearly always isolated from diseased buds and also often in symptomless flower buds. By identifying the causal agent of dead flower buds disease, an effective control strategy can be developed. In field trials it was proven that fungicide treatments can reduce disease incidences significantly

Circular 59

This list of recommended annual flower varieties includes information on several hundred annual flower cultivars. The recommended varieties were selected from flowers grown in 1985 and 1986 at the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Farm at the University of Alaska- Fairbanks. While this is by no means a complete listing of varieties suitable for Interior gardens, it does reflect many years of experience in annual flower production at the AFES farm. The methods used to evaluate the flowers and definitions for terms used in the listing can be found under Data Collection.Introduction -- Methods: Bedding Plant Production, Field Conditions, Weather Conditions, Data Collection -- List of Recommended Annual Flower Varieties -- Photo Section -- Appendix 1. Seeding Information -- Appendix 2. Flower Varieties by Color: Blue, Purple; Red, Pink; Red, Pink and White Mixes; White; Yellow, Orange, Gold; Mixed Colors; Foliage Only -- Appendix 3. Bloom Period: Early Season, All Season, Midseason, Late Season, Frost Resistant -- Appendix 4. Plant Heights: Short Varieties, Medium Varieties, Tall Varieties -- Appendix 5. Flowers for Special Purposes: Hanging Baskets, Light Shade, Walls, Rock Garden, Background -- Appendix 6. Seed Source