Growth, yield and quality responses to gibberellic acid (GA3) of Wax apple Syzygium samarangense var. Jambu air madu fruits grown under field conditions

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) on the growth and development of the red jambu air madu fruits (Syzygium samarangense). Various horticultural parameters were monitored during two seasons of fruit growth between December, 2008 to December, 2009 with the application of three concentrations of GA3 at 20, 50 and 100 mg/L. It was observed that the application of GA3 at 50 mg/L increased fruit length and diameter. Furthermore, it enhanced faster fruit growth and color development in addition to increasing fruit number, weight and yield. It also decreased premature fruit dropping. However, spraying with 20 mg/L GA3 increased the number of buds and fruit setting and reduced bud dropping before anthesis. With regard to fruit quality, the application of GA3 at 50 mg/L increased total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar, total biomass and total flavonoids content in the fruits by 112, 97, 45 and 92% compared with the control treatment. In addition, anthocyanin content, total phenol and antioxidant activity was higher in GA3 treated fruits. From this study, it can be concluded that spraying with 50 mg/L GA3 once a week results in better yield and quality of jambu madu fruits under field conditions.Key words: Gibberellin, growth, quality, wax apple, yield

Physiological responses of avicennia marina var. acutissima and Bruguiera parviflora under simulated rise in Sea Level

Climate change components such as increased in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and rising sea levels are likely to affect mangrove ecosystems. Healthy mature propagules of A. marina var. acutissima and B. parviflora were subjected to two tidal treatments; shallow and deep; for six months. Shallow treatment mimicked the current tidal fluctuations and deep treatment simulated future tidal conditions under rise in sea level. Deep treatment decreased Amax of both species and significant two way interactions between tidal treatments and species were observed. A400 was significantly reduced in the deep treatment in B. parviflora but not in A. marina. Carbon dioxide compensation point was not affected by the tidal treatments but varied significantly between both species. The ratio A400/Amax was significantly lower in the shallow treatment in B. parviflora indicating higher carbon sink potential at moderate tidal flooding whereas A400/Amax of A. marina was less variable between tidal treatments. Chlorophyll conductance was insensitive to tidal flooding but was significantly higher in B. parviflora than in A. marina. Carbon sequestration of B. parviflora was substantially reduced in the deep treatment while the difference between tidal treatments was much less in A. marina. These results indicated that these two species responded differently under tidal flooding where A. marina was less sensitive to tidal. Thus, A. marina is better adapted to the projected climate change than B. parviflora

Growth and anatomical responses in Xanthostemon chrysanthus as influenced by Paclobutrazol and Potassium Nitrate

A study was conducted to determine the effects of a plant growth regulator (paclobutrazol, PBZ) and commercial fertilizer (Krista-K Plus) as a source of potassium nitrate (KNO3 ) on the growth of Xanthostemon chrysantus. It was also attempted to investigate the anatomical changes in the leaf and stem after the treatment. Nine treatments, i.e. control (no PBZ and Krista-K Plus application), 0 PBZ gL-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0 PBZ gL-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus and 0.25 PBZ gL-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, were tested. PBZ was soil drenched at the commencement of the study while Krista-K Plus was applied at three-month intervals. Plant growth performances such as tree height, diameter at breast height, canopy diameter and leaf area were recorded monthly throughout the study period. Stem and leaf samples were collected before the application of treatments and after six months of treatments for anatomical observation by using electron microscope. Plant height, diameter at breast height, crown diameter and leaf area were significantly reduced with the application of PBZ. Palisade parenchyma thickness was increased by 33.83% with 0.25 PBZ gL-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, while only 2.44% increment recorded in the control tree. Xylem thickness in the stem was reduced by 21.81% after treated with the highest dosage of PBZ, while the control tree only had 1.78% increment. Spongy parenchyma thickness in the leaf was unaffected. However, palisade parenchyma was found the thickest after combined treatment with 0.25 PBZ gL-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus. Micrograph images of the cross-section of leaf lamina and stem showed that the cells were tightly arranged in response to the application of PBZ

Impacts of shading on flower formation and longevity, leaf chlorophyll and growth of bougainvillea glabra

Bougainvillea plants were exposed to artificially reduced light intensity to capture different Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD), 0% (direct sunlight), 30, 50 and 75% shading and to observe the effects of shading on flower formation and longevity, leaf chlorophyll and sugar content and quality of plants. Plant attained the greatest leaf size with maximum branching when seedlings were grown in 30 and 50% shading, whereas 0% shading showed the lowest value. Growth parameters related to the plant characteristics such as branch initiation, branch growth and potassium content increased under high shading treatments. Plants exposed to 0% shade showed the highest sugar content and the sugar content decreased by increasing shading. The low light intensity that results in decreased sugar and chlorophyll contents may be attributed to the reduction of flower initiation and in turn to the acceleration of flower abscission. In addition, more than 30% shading led to stop up flower initiation completely. Hence, it is suggested that 0% shading can be applied to maintain frequent flower initiation and flower longevity. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Phenological Growth Stages of The Golden Penda Tree (Xanthostemon chrysanthus)

Biologishe Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical Industry (BBCH) scales are a system for the uniform coding of phenologically similar growth stages of plants, using a two-digit decimal code. This paper describes the phenological growth stages of a landscape tree, Xanthostemon chrysanthus using the BBCH-scale. Detailed descriptions of principal growth stages for bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, maturity or ripening of fruit and seed, and other secondary growth stages are provided. The developed scale will be of great help to landscape managers and researchers for better communication, more efficient planning of management practices and experiments of flowering trees

Growth, Yield and Quality Responses To Gibberellic acid (GA(3)) of Wax Apple Syzygium samarangense var. Jambu Air Madu Fruits Grown Under Field Conditions

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on the growth and development of the red jambu air madu fruits (Syzygium samarangense). Various horticultural parameters were monitored during two seasons of fruit growth between December, 2008 to December, 2009 with the application of three concentrations of GA(3) at 20, 50 and 100 mg/L. It was observed that the application of GA(3) at 50 mg/L increased fruit length and diameter. Furthermore, it enhanced faster fruit growth and color development in addition to increasing fruit number, weight and yield. It also decreased premature fruit dropping. However, spraying with 20 mg/L GA(3) increased the number of buds and fruit setting and reduced bud dropping before anthesis. With regard to fruit quality, the application of GA(3) at 50 mg/L increased total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar, total biomass and total flavonoids content in the fruits by 112, 97, 45 and 92% compared with the control treatment. In addition, anthocyanin content, total phenol and antioxidant activity was higher in GA(3) treated fruits. From this study, it can be concluded that spraying with 50 mg/L GA(3) once a week results in better yield and quality of jambu madu fruits under field conditions

The effects of naphthaleneacetic acid and gibberellic acid in prolonging bract longevity and delaying discoloration of bougainvillea spectabilis

In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of NAA and GA3 on bract longevity under exposed sunlight conditions and six months of observation. Bougainvillea bracts at four different stages of bract development were sprayed with gibberellic acid (100 ppm GA3), naphthaleneacetic acid (50, 100 and 150 ppm NAA) and mixed GA3 (100 ppm) and NAA concentrations (50,100 and 150 ppm). Bract longevity was found to be almost 10 days longer in NAA (50, 100 and 150 ppm) than in the water control and in GA3 (100 ppm) treatment. In the case of GA3 and NAA (50, 100 and 150 ppm) treatment on alternative days, bract longevity was 30 days longer when compared with the water control. It was also observed that a delay in discoloration and stomata conductance were increased in the presence of GA3 with low a concentration of NAA. The results indicated that the prolonging effect of low concentrations of NAA at the initial budding stages was more effective compared with its application at other stages of development and at higher concentrations. Maximum bract weight and shoot length were observed in the GA3 and GA3 plus NAA treated flowers

An Evaluation of The Nutritional Quality Evaluation of Three Cultivars of Syzygium samarangense Under Malaysian Conditions

A study was carried out to selected physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syzygium samarangense for their physiological and biochemical characteristics at Functional Food Laboratory, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Various physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored during two seasons of fruit growth between October, 2009 to August, 2010 with the 'Giant green', 'Masam manis pink' and 'Jambu madu red' cultivars of S. samarangense. Ripened fruits of the different cultivars were collected from the experimental field of Banting, Selangor and analyzed for selected physiological parameters namely chlorophyll fluorescence, quantum yield, fruit weight, total yield, number of seed per fruit, seed weight and dry matter content and some biochemical parameters that is, juice content, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), glucose, fructose, inverted sugar, ethanol, total flavonoids, phenols and anthocyanins content. It was observed that highest chlorophyll fluorescence, maximum quantum yield (0.79), fruit weight, seed number (4) and seed weight per fruit (4.56 g) were in the 'Giant Green' cultivar while total yield, glucose (9.83%), fructose (9.9%), inverted sugar (9.57%), ethanol (20.5%), flavonoids (914.1 mg/100g) and phenols (326.67 mg GAE/100g) were in the 'Masam manis pink' cultivar, and the highest juice content (76.33 ml), highest total soluble solids (8.76 degrees Brix) and anthocyanins (2.78 mg/L) were in the 'Jambu madu Red' cultivar. From this study, it can be concluded that 'Masam manis pink' and 'Jambu madu red' cultivar are comparatively better than 'Giant green' cultivar under South Asian conditions