BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AS A PLANT PROTECTION IN GERBERA AND TOMATO TRANSPLANTS PRODUCTION

Današnji trendovi u fitomedicini nalažu upotrebu ekološki prihvatljivih metoda zaštite bilja koje se postižu smanjenjem upotrebe standardnih kemijskih sredstava (pesticidi) u zaštiti bilja te primjenom preventivnih mjera zaštite i najnovijih metoda bioloških mjera. Primjeni bioloških preparata daje se prednost pogotovo kada su u pitanju zaštićeni prostori i organska proizvodnja zbog pojave rezistentnosti patogena i štetnika na pesticide, a posebno kod uzgoja povrća. Kod uzgoja gerbera kroz čitavu godinu primjena insekticida je neizostavna te da bi se smanjila učestalost primjene i inhalacijska toksičnost, posebice u vrijeme visokih temperatura, poželjna je primjena i introdukcija bioloških preparata u suzbijanju patogena i štetnika. U ovom istraživanju korištena je parazitska osica (Encarsia formosa) za suzbijanje štitastog moljca (Trialeurodus vaporariorum) i kombinacija 50% Encarsia formosa i 50% Eretmocerus eremicus u stakleničkoj proizvodnji gerbera, kao i parazitska gljiva (Trichoderma harzianum) za suzbijanje gljivičnih bolesti uzročnika polijeganja presadnica rajčice (Pythium debarianum i Rhizoctonia solani). Upotreba ovih bioloških preparata uspoređena je s upotrebom standardnih kemijskih pesticida. Na kraju ispitivanja, u oba slučaja, najbolji rezultat pokazala je primjena biološkog suzbijanja.The purpose of phytomedicine nowadays is ecologically acceptable protection against plant diseases that is attained by reducing standard chemical plant protection applying preventive protection measures and the newest achievements in biological control. Application of biological products can be given advantage specially in protected areas and in organic production, when replacing chemicals that become inefficient due to the resistance development, and on account of pesticide residues present. In gerbera production the use of insecticides obligatory throughout and to decrease their use and inhalation toxicity, especially during periods of high temperatures, application and introduction of biological pest and disease control is highly recommended. In this investigation predator wasp (Encarsia formosa) for whitefly (Trialeurodus vaporariorum) and the combination of 50% Encarsia formosa and 50% Eretmocerus eremicus in gerbera glasshouse production and parasite fungus (Trichoderma harzianum) for the control of fungus diseases Pythium debarianum and Rhizoctonia solani, agents of seedling lodging in greenhouse tomato production were used and compared with the use of standard chemical pesticides. At the end of the experiment, in both cases, biological control gave the best result

Growing Pelargonium peltatum and Pelargonium x hortum from cuttings

Pelargoniums are plants from the family Geraniaceae, and one of the most popular summer flowering species that adorn balconies and windows of the houses and are present on the market since the 18th century. In Croatia, the most commonly grown are ivy-geraniums (P. peltatum) and zonal (P. zonale) geraniums. They reproduce vegetatively because propagating by seeds is expensive and only large horticultural companies can afford it. Every year new cultivars are produced, but geraniums still have a very simple genotype and are grown very successfully, adhering to a few basic rules for their cultivation. The aim of this study with the species Pelargonium peltatum and Pelargonium x hortorum was to assess the effects of the use of hormones to stimulate root growth when planting cuttings to obtain plants and to monitor the development of cuttings. The cuttings of two different types of pelargonium were treated with Rhizopon hormone to stimulate growth and rooting. Results showed that hormone therapy has no significant effect on growth of these geranium species. Differences between treated and control seedlings were very small, hormone-treated cuttings had faster growth of their roots, although at all stages of measuring the length of P. Peltatum cuttings was significantly higher compared to the P. x hortorum cuttings (p=0.01)

THE ROLE OF LIGHT REGIME AND SUBSTRATE IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS, FREE PROLINE CONTENT AND FLOWER QUALITY OF GERBERA JAMESONII L.

The research of light and substrate role in leaf photosynthetic pigments, free proline content and flower quality indices in two gerbera cultivars (Vino and Ruby Red) showed that flower stems were longer in additional lighting treatment, coco’s peat amended with rice chaff and cultivar Ruby Red. Chlorophyll b concentration was in negative relation to leaf proline content and correlated to longer flower stems. In general, the higher leaf total chlorophyll concentration was related to longer stems, and such stems have had larger flower heads. Flower head diameter did not differ significantly between cultivars; it depended on light regime, substrate and their interaction

ULOGA SVJETLOSNOGA REŽIMA I SUPSTRATA U SADRŽAJU FOTOSINTETSKIH PIGMENATA I SLOBODNOGA PROLINA TE KVALITETI CVIJETA KOD DVIJE SORTE GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII L.)

The research of light and substrate role in leaf photosynthetic pigments, free proline content and flower quality indices in two gerbera cultivars (Vino and Ruby Red) showed that flower stems were longer in additional lighting treatment, coco’s peat amended with rice chaff and cultivar Ruby Red. Chlorophyll b concentration was in negative relation to leaf proline content and correlated to longer flower stems. In general, the higher leaf total chlorophyll concentration was related to longer stems, and such stems have had larger flower heads. Flower head diameter did not differ significantly between cultivars; it depended on light regime, substrate and their interaction.Istraživanje uloge svjetla i supstrata u sadržaju fotosintetskih pigmenata i slobodnoga prolina u listu; kao i pokazatelja kvalitete cvijeta kod dvije sorte gerbera (Vino i Ruby Red); pokazalo je da su cvjetne stapke bile duže u tretmanu s dodatnim osvjetljenjem; supstratu na bazi kokosa s dodanim rižinim pljevicama te kod sorte Ruby Red. Koncentracija klorofila b negativno je korelirala sa sadržajem prolina u listu i pozitivno s duljinom cvjetnih stapki. Općenito; viša koncentracija ukupnih klorofila bila je povezana s dužim stapkama i takve su stapke imale krupnije cvjetove. Promjer cvijeta nije se značajno razlikovao između sorata; a zavisio je o svjetlosnome režimu; supstratu i njihovoj interakciji