Effect of light, temperature, and different pre-treatments on seed germination of Campanula glomerata L. subsp. hispida (Witasek) Hayek (Campanulaceae)

The study was undertaken to determine the effects of different pre-treatments, temperature regimes, and light on the germination of Campanula glomerata L. subsp. hispida (Witasek) Hayek collected from nature. In the first experiment, the effects of a total of 20 different treatments including gibberellic acid (GA3), stratification, and control groups were investigated. The germination test was carried out at +20°C under photoperiod (12/12 h dark/light) conditions. The second experiment was a germination test on seeds treated with 1000 mg l-1 GA3 under 4 different temperature regimes (15°C, 20°C, 25°C, and 10/20°C) and two different light periods (continuous darkness and photoperiod). Germination was quantified as final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), and germination index (GI). Control seeds had final germination 13.5%, mean germination time of 15.2 days, and germination index value of 0.4. The most successful germination results were obtained from exposure to 750 mg l-1 GA3 (FGP: 73.0%, MGT: 7.8 days, GI: 4.8) and 1000 mg l-1 GA3 (FGP: 76.0%, MGD: 8.0 days, GI: 5.2) for 24 h. When different temperature regimes and light periods are examined, the highest germination percentage was obtained at 20°C under photoperiod and continuous darkness conditions (88.0% and 76.5%, respectively).112O060the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project No: 112O060). -

Effects of different storage methods and periods on vase life of cut narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L. ‘Karaburun’)

Improving storage performance of cut flowers is particularly useful for flowers that are short-lived, and whose display period in the field is brief. Here we report on factors affecting postharvest performance of Narcissus tazetta L. ‘Karaburun’, which is a field-grown narcissus in Turkey. A factorial experiment was performed, in which the cut narcissi were held dry in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) or wrapped paper at 0±0.5°C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks, and were pulsed with 0.25 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) or distilled water (control) either before or after storage. Vase life of 7 days was reduced with increasing storage duration. The degree of the decrease in vase life depended on the type of storage treatment imposed. At 5 weeks of storage, wrapped paper was as good as MAP for maintaining vase life (4.7-5.6 days), when a pre-storage pulsing treatment was applied. However, at 6 weeks of storage, the MAP-stored flowers had a better vase life (5.3 days) than those stored in paper (4 days). The vase life of the 6-week paper-stored flowers was even less (2.1 days), when the pulsing treatment was applied after storage. By contrast, at 6 weeks of storage, the vase life of the MAP-stored flowers was the same (4.9-5 days), regardless of the time of application of the pulsing treatment pre- or post-storage. In conclusion, the best treatment for N. tazetta L. ‘Karaburun’ was MAP storage, combined with STS pulsing, applied either pre- or post-storage. © 2019 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved

Remarks using the sem method species seeds of Gentiana occurring in turkey [Observações utilizando o método SEM de sementes de espécies de gentiana ocorrentes na Turquia]

Seeds of eleven perennial Gentiana collected from Turkey were analyzed using the SEM method. Other species excluding G. septemfida, G. boissieri, G. gelida were studied for the first time. They were identified and compared in terms of seed characteristics and surface ornamentations. Major characteristics including the outer periclinal walls of testa, sculpting of inner periclinal walls, seed shape, seed and testa cell, wing cell size, thickness of testa wall and seed shape have been proposed for Turkey Gentiana. They are divided into different types, such as no wing, chalazal wing, incomplete discoid wing, complete discoid wing according to the outer periclinal walls of testa. Considering primary sculpting of seeds, irregularly striate and shallowly reticulate type is observed. Anticlinal walls of G. olivieri, G. boissieri and G. gelida are curved, while others are straight. G. lutea has the largest mean seed (4.20 x 4.40 mm), while G. cruciata (0.67 x 0.60 mm) and G. olivieri have the smallest mean seeds (0.67 x 0.67 mm). Seed micromorphology can be used together with morphological character to form classifications in studied specimens for Gentiana genus. © 2017, Sociedade Brasileira da Ciencia das Plantas Daninha. All rights reserved.112O060Herbarium samples from which seed materials were obtained were supplied by TUBITAK (Project no 112O060). -

A survey on cut flower preferences and expectations

Turkey has great potential in cut flower production. Export is the main activity to accelerate the production. Domestic consumption has also great importance in this improvement. Therefore, it is important to know consumer preferences. In order to determine consumer's trends and expectations, a public survey was conducted in different regions of Turkey between the years 2005 and 2006, with 1141 interviewees. The survey group consisted of 427 females and 714 males in different age and income groups. Fourty percent of the interviewees were in the medium and low income group (385-770 USD month-1). Fifty eight percent of the consumers mentioned that they bought flowers only on special days and their purchasing frequency did not depend on cut flower prices. Only 31% of the consumers stated that they bought flowers for themselves. Flowers were the most preferred gifts (39.7%) compared to other choices. The priorities of the consumers in flower purchase were freshness (21.7%), colour (17.8%), other quality parameters (17.6%), scent (14.3%) and price (10.3%). Rose with 70.3%, narcissus with 8% and carnation with 6% are the cut flower species which are mostly preferred. Red, white and yellow are the primary colour choices of the consumers