Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
3.1
Journals
Horticulturae
Special Issues
Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants
share announcement

Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Floriculture, Nursery and Landscape, and Turf".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2024) | Viewed by 7446

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Beatrice Nesi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CREA Council for Agricultural Research and Economics- Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Via dei Fiori 8, 51012 Pescia, Italy
Interests: breeding; ornamental plants; hydrangea
Dr. Marco Savona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CREA Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Corso degli Inglesi 508, 18038 Sanremo, Imperia, Italy
Interests: morphogenesis; differentiation; in vitro culture; breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The breeding of ornamental plants has a specific and focused aim since it involves a numerous and heterogeneous group of genera, species and cultivars. In fact, flowers are not cultivated to meet nutritional or industrial needs; their role is to satisfy aesthetic needs and the desire for beauty and novelty. The interest of the market in the continuous search for flowers with a variety of shapes and colors, with high productivity, has had effects on the breeding techniques applied to ornamental species. At present, the varieties of the main cultivated flowering species are derived from crossings between disparate species, even from different continents. As a result of this activity of inter- and intraspecific crossings, carried out randomly and for several centuries, modern varieties have a very complex genome, with a strong genetic impact and with different level of polyploidy, as well as with a high level of heterozygosity. Breeding programs for ornamental species are often complicated since it is even difficult to cross varieties of the same species, in particular due to different chromosomal sets of parentals that often cause problems of chromosomal pairing during meiosis phases.

In the frame of current challenges, such as climate change and energy savings, it is strongly recommended that the breeding of ornamental species be focused on strategies aimed at selecting varieties that require low productive inputs and are better adapted to high temperatures, while maintaining the standards of beauty required by the most demanding consumers.

This Special Issue welcomes studies on the breeding of ornamental species, via traditional breeding and technological approaches (NBT), aimed at the selection of new genetic materials with good aesthetic characteristics, but resistant to stress linked to climate change, for use in low-input production systems.

Dr. Beatrice Nesi
Dr. Marco Savona
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • new varieties
  • crossing
  • incompatibility barriers

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 2500 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Replacing Peat with Sugarcane Bagasse on the Growth of Cut Flowers and Bulbs of Lily
by Guangfen Cui, Wenwen Du, Qing Duan, Xiang Li, Lan Ma and Jihua Wang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111132 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 752
Abstract
In order to evaluate the feasibility of using sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a substitute for peat in lily cultivation, this study examines the effects of replacing different amounts of peat (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) with SCB on the physical and chemical [...] Read more.
In order to evaluate the feasibility of using sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a substitute for peat in lily cultivation, this study examines the effects of replacing different amounts of peat (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) with SCB on the physical and chemical properties of the substrate. The impact on the growth of cut flower and bulbs of the oriental lily variety ‘Siberia’ was investigated. The results show that the pH value, organic matter content, and reducing sugar content of the substrate were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when peat was replaced with SCB. Moreover, the bulk density, permeability porosity, water-holding porosity, and EC value, as well as the contents of hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable calcium, and exchangeable magnesium were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The bulk density (0.15–0.17 g·cm3), total porosity (64.2–69.6%), and water-holding porosity (41.0–48.4%) of the mixed media were in a suitable range. The addition of SCB led to shorter plant height, a thinner stalk, and a smaller leaf and flower diameter. The contents of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b in leaves, as well as the activities of sucrose synthetase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthetase (SPS) decreased with the increase in SCB in the substrates at different growth stages of lily cut flowers. The correlation analysis showed that, except for bulb height, other quality traits of cut flowers and bulbs were significantly negatively correlated with the pH, organic matter, and reducing sugar content of substrates. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf length and width, flower diameter of cut flowers, as well as the fresh weight, starch content, the activities of SS and SPS of bulbs were significantly positively correlated with the bulk density, total porosity, water-holding porosity, and hydrolyzed N content of substrates (p < 0.05). The load factors of the principal components indicated that the diameter of stem and flower, leaf number, the content of chlorophyll a and b, and total chlorophyll of cut flowers and SPS activity in bulbs could be used as the core indicators for evaluating the suitability of lily cultivation substrate. In conclusion, when the proportion of peat replaced with SCB was lower than 50%, the quality of cut flowers and bulbs was the same as that found with whole peat. Thus, SCB has broad application prospects in the soilless cultivation of lily plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2745 KiB  
Article
Studies on Distant Hybridization Compatibility between the Azalea (Rhododendron × hybridum hort.) and the Rhododendron decorum Franch. Native to China
by Ziyao Hao, Yefang Li, Yingying Yang, Jie Song, Jing Meng and Wenling Guan
Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101089 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 837
Abstract
Rhododendron resources are abundant in China, and hybridization breeding technology is the primary method for cultivating Rhododendron varieties. In order to optimize the utilization of wild Rhododendron resources for distant hybridization, this study took three horticultural varieties of Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi and the [...] Read more.
Rhododendron resources are abundant in China, and hybridization breeding technology is the primary method for cultivating Rhododendron varieties. In order to optimize the utilization of wild Rhododendron resources for distant hybridization, this study took three horticultural varieties of Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi and the Rhododendron decorum Franch. of the subgenus Hymenanthes as the research objects, and the cross-compatibility between subgenera was analyzed from the aspects of pollen tube growth and ovary and seed development. At the same time, the statistics of ovary swelling rate and fruit bearing rate, numbers of capsule seeds, 1000 seed weight of hybrid seeds, germination rate, green seedling rate, and other indexes were analyzed to comprehensively evaluate hybrid fertility. The results showed that there was obvious pre-fertilization and post-fertilization barriers existing in the hybridization of Rhododendron × hybridum hort. and R. decorum. During the growth of pollen tubes, a large amount of callus appeared, which led to the entanglement, distortion, and abnormal development of the pollen tubes; only part of the pollen tubes entered into the ovary or ovule. The pre-fertilization barriers can be overcome by early pollination and delayed pollination. According to the observation of the ovary paraffin section, 45 d after pollination, the seed was shriveled and developed abnormally. The comprehensive evaluation of hybrid fertility showed that ‘Sima’ × R. decorum was fertile, ‘Yin Taohong’ × R. decorum was a weakly fertile, and ‘Little Taohong’ × R. decorum was sterile. This study provided a scientific basis for intergeneric hybridization breeding between the subgenus Tsutsusi and the subgenus Hymenanthes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 10945 KiB  
Article
Protocol for Pre-Selection of Dwarf Garden Rose Varieties
by Tijana Narandžić, Ljiljana Nikolić, Branka Ljevnaić-Mašić, Biljana Božanić Tanjga, Olivera Ilić, Milana Čurčić and Mirjana Ljubojević
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 996; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090996 - 20 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 831
Abstract
Ornamental plant breeding enables the selection of cultivars with desired features from numerous genotypes; however, this process is time-consuming and resource-demanding. Aiming to establish a pre-selection protocol that can facilitate the selection of dwarf rose varieties, the connection between anatomical and histological characteristics [...] Read more.
Ornamental plant breeding enables the selection of cultivars with desired features from numerous genotypes; however, this process is time-consuming and resource-demanding. Aiming to establish a pre-selection protocol that can facilitate the selection of dwarf rose varieties, the connection between anatomical and histological characteristics and the vegetative growth of rose cultivars was examined. To assess the adaptive potential of the studied cultivars, intra-annual cambial dynamics were explored relative to the observed meteorological fluctuations during the growing season. The investigation included six garden rose cultivars from the ‘Reka’ and ‘Pixie’ collections, bred under semi-arid open-field conditions in Serbia. Plant height ranged from 20 to 68 cm, with differing growth habits and types. Vegetative growth was significantly correlated with the xylem/phloem ratio, the proportion of total vessel area relative to cross-sectional and xylem areas, vessel-related features, and porosity (correlation coefficients up to 0.78). Regeneration via cambial activity and the formation of false rings were observed in five of the six cultivars studied, with meteorological analysis suggesting that precipitation and temperature triggered cambial reactivation. This approach effectively targets key parameters in the selection of dwarf and climate-resilient rose cultivars, facilitating the development of reliable pre-selection criteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4963 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Varying Wavelengths of LED Light on the Development, Physiology Response, and Metabolism Activities of Micropropagated Dendrobium Hybrid ‘Shuijing’ Plantlets
by Jiaran Huo, Qiongyu Lin, Liwen Mo, Lifang Zheng, Xinya Meng, Xiqiang Song, Jinfeng Liang and Tiangang Chen
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080774 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1352
Abstract
Dendrobium hybrids have a significant role in the present floral sector. The aim of this research was to evaluate how various light qualities affect the physiological and biochemical traits of Dendrobium ‘Shuijing’. In order to determine the optimal light quality for in vitro [...] Read more.
Dendrobium hybrids have a significant role in the present floral sector. The aim of this research was to evaluate how various light qualities affect the physiological and biochemical traits of Dendrobium ‘Shuijing’. In order to determine the optimal light quality for in vitro cultivation of Dendrobium plantlets, we examined the correlations between growth, antioxidant capacity, and nutrient and chlorophyll levels, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence. The growth rate was compared by using different light qualities emitted by the LED light source. These included red light (R), blue light (B), and three ratios: 8R:2B, 7R:3B, and equal proportions of both colors, known as white, fluorescent light (CK). The combination of 7R:3B resulted in noticeable enhancements in leaf count, root length, root activity, fresh and dry weight measurements, antioxidant capability, as well as chlorophyll content and fluorescence. Specifically, the mixture of red and blue LED lights at a ratio of 7R:3B led to increased leaf number, root length, root activity, fresh and dry weight measurements, antioxidant ability, and chlorophyll content with improved fluorescence. In order to explore the effect of light quality on the growth and development of Dendrobium, the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of plants under all light quality conditions were analyzed by using a linear regression model with other physiological and biochemical indexes. A significant correlation between non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and leaf length was also observed. The content of chlorophyll b showed significant correlations with both root number and leaf number. Furthermore, chlorophyll a, along with its ratio to chlorophyll b, significantly correlated with root length. Chlorophyll b and the relative electron transport rate of PSII (ETRII) significantly correlated with root activity and the free proline content (FPC) and catalase (CAT) activity. The photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) significantly correlated with total soluble sugars content (SSC) and peroxidase (POD) activity. The correlation between the quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was found to be significant. Similarly, the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) showed significant correlations with fresh weight, dry weight, soluble protein content (SPC), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity. Through a principal component analysis (PCA), it was observed that plants cultivated under the 7R:3B light treatment achieved significantly better comprehensive scores compared to those grown under different light treatments. In conclusion, growth achieved under an LED emitting a ratio of 7R:3B light yielded the most robust Dendrobium hybrid plantlets within a controlled environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4206 KiB  
Article
Influence of Mineral Liquid Fertilization on the Plant Growth of Perennials on Sheep’s Wool–Coir–Vegetation Mats
by Susanne Herfort, Virginia Maß, Amelie Hüneburg and Heiner Grüneberg
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080773 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1111
Abstract
Perennials are usually pre-cultivated on vegetation mats consisting of coconut fiber (coir), which require weather-dependent irrigation and regular fertilization with fast-acting fertilizer to achieve a saleable condition as quickly as possible. In the pre-cultivation of sheep’s wool–coir–vegetation mats, nitrogen (N) is already sufficiently [...] Read more.
Perennials are usually pre-cultivated on vegetation mats consisting of coconut fiber (coir), which require weather-dependent irrigation and regular fertilization with fast-acting fertilizer to achieve a saleable condition as quickly as possible. In the pre-cultivation of sheep’s wool–coir–vegetation mats, nitrogen (N) is already sufficiently contained in the vegetation mats due to the natural nitrogen content of the sheep’s wool fibers, so that additional liquid fertilization during pre-cultivation can be dispensed with if necessary. In this study, sheep’s wool–coir–vegetation mats of 4.5 kg/m2 were pre-cultivated with 16 perennial plants (8 species) in 2018. Variant 1 (V1) received regular fertilization with mineral liquid fertilizer (total 8.7 g N/m2) during pre-cultivation. Variant 2 (V2) was not fertilized during pre-cultivation. In spring 2019, all pre-cultivated vegetation mats were lifted and laid on an area prepared with topsoil. No additional fertilization was applied after laying. The overall impression, plant height, number of flowering perennials, and plant coverage were examined in the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, with only minor differences observed between V1 and V2. The number of flowers, biomass, and nitrogen content were determined for the two aster species used. There were differences between V1 and V2 in 2018, but not in 2019. The coverage of perennials of 50%, which is the prerequisite for the saleability of the vegetation mats, was already achieved on both V1 and V2 after 4 months of pre-cultivation. The overall impression of the perennials on both V1 and V2 also did not differ during pre-cultivation nor in the following year. Therefore, liquid fertilization is not necessary during the pre-cultivation of perennials on sheep’s wool–coir–vegetation mats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 3978 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and Pigment Analyses Provide Insights into Carotenoids and Flavonoids Biosynthesis in Camellia nitidissima Stamens
by Yi Feng, Kunkun Zhao, Jiyuan Li, Minyan Wang, Hengfu Yin, Zhengqi Fan, Xinlei Li and Weixin Liu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040420 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1575
Abstract
Camellia nitidissima is famous for its golden flowers. Its flowers are rich in secondary metabolites, and they have ornamental, medicinal, and edible value. Pigment composition and regulation has been studied in the golden petals, but there has been little research on pigment composition [...] Read more.
Camellia nitidissima is famous for its golden flowers. Its flowers are rich in secondary metabolites, and they have ornamental, medicinal, and edible value. Pigment composition and regulation has been studied in the golden petals, but there has been little research on pigment composition or the molecular mechanism underlying yellow stamens in C. nitidissima. To explore the molecular mechanism of yellow stamen formation, three developmental stages (S0, S1, and S2) were used for transcriptome and pigment analyses. Pigment analysis showed that the flavonoid content increased sharply from the S0 to S1 stage and decreased from the S1 to S2 stage, and the carotenoid content increased sharply during yellow stamen formation (from the S1 to S2 stage). RNA-seq analysis showed that a total of 20,483 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. KEGG and heatmap analyses showed that flavonoid and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways were enriched, and we identified 14 structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and 13 genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation. In addition, the expression of carotenoid- and flavonoid-related genes was consistent with carotenoid and flavonoid content. In addition, correlation network analysis indicated that the WARYK, MYB, bHLH, and AP2/ERF transcription factor families were screened for involvement in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and carotenoids. In this study, we describe the pathway associated with color formation in the stamens of C. nitidissima. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop