Veronica L., the largest genus in the family Plantaginaceae, is widespread in various habitats. Due to their long-blooming flowers, Veronica species have high horticultural value as indoor potted, garden, and landscape plants. Furthermore, Veronica plants are extremely important owing to their notable diversity in habitat usage, ploidy level, and evolution. Several native taxa, which are of key interest in breeding programs and phylogenetic studies, have been identified in Korea. The genome sizes and chromosomal characteristics are basic cytogenetic features of all taxa, and their knowledge is a prerequisite when commencing genome sequencing projects. It can provide essential information for cytogenetic, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and evolutionary studies. Thus, cytogenetic analysis and genome size estimation of seven Veronica taxa native to Korea were conducted in this study. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) karyotype analysis and chromosome counting was conducted using metaphase chromosomes probed with 5S and 45S rDNA. Nuclear DNA content and genome size were determined using flow cytometry. FISH karyotype analysis revealed a common number of 5S loci and varying 45S signals that create distinctive rDNA distribution patterns in each taxon. The results indicated that the seven investigated Veronica taxa have calculated genome sizes (1C values) ranging from 517.1 to 862.0 Mbp. This study is the first to report the chromosome number and karyomorphology of seven Veronica taxa native to Korea, as well as the use of rDNA markers for identifying individual chromosomes. These findings contribute to the crucial understanding the genomic characteristics of species within the genus Veronica, serve as a basis for studying Veronica phylogeny and evolution, and provide valuable information for future breeding programs.
We investigated the effect of habitat environment and colony characteristics on floral bud development in Rhododendron brachycarpum native to Ulleung Island of Korea. Two habitats were considered. Habitat B had a remarkably higher altitude and steeper slope than habitat A. Therefore, fewer types of trees existed on the upper layers, and the density was low. Hence, the degree of light transmission within the community was higher in habitat B. Additionally, flowering ratio of shoots was higher in habitat B, and the amount of light was also relatively higher. The lower the amount of light, lesser the floral development, the higher the leaf area and the specific leaf area, lower the dry weight and chlorophyll content. The total carbohydrate (T-C) and nitrogen (T-N) in shoots are more important than the relative T-C and T-N ratios per leaf. Finally, this study revealed that the floral bud development and flowering of native rhododendrons are strongly associated with the degree of assimilate accumulation in shoots, and that sufficient assimilate accumulation in shoots is essential for stable flowering.
This study aims to determine the difference in preferred horticultural plants, horticultural activities, and stress-coping strategies based on Enneagram centers of intelligence in middle-aged women. Data from a convenience sample of 206 middle-aged women were analyzed using IBM SPSS (V. 25.0). The results indicated a statistically significant difference in preferred horticulture plants depending on the Enneagram centers of intelligence. The results also suggested that head- and heart-centered respondents preferred body-centered respondents preferred “foliage plants.” The second most preferred horticultural activities showed no statistically significant difference among the head, heart, and body. However, all three centers showed the strongest preference for “enjoying” among various horticultural activities, and the second most preferred activities differed as “harvesting” among head- and body-centered respondents, and “decorating” among heart-centered respondents. Moreover, a difference in stress-coping strategies was also observed. The head-centered respondents used the “problem-focused” strategy, heart-centered respondents used “hopeful thinking,” and the body-centered respondents used “pursuit of social support.” Thus, these results can be used as baseline data for developing therapeutic horticultural activities while considering the attributes of middle-aged women.
This study aims to investigate the proper mixing treatment concentration of ozone (O3) and sucrose to preserve and extend the vase life of the cut rose flowers ‘Dominica’. The vase solution was prepared using tap water, 3% sucrose, ozone 5.5 mg L-1, and 3% sucrose with ozone 5.5 mg L-1. The vase life was the highest in the tap water and ozone treatments at 16.3 and 16.1 days, respectively. The vase life of ozone with sucrose treatment was 6.9 days, which was 9.4 days lower than that of the control. Compared to a single treatment, the vase life termination symptoms for ozone with sucrose treatment decreased petal wilting and increased bent necks. Relative fresh weight and vase solution uptake increased up to 4 days after treatment and decreased from 2 days before vase life termination. The rate of change in petal color was high in L*, a*, and b* for the sucrose treatment than after harvest, and low for the ozone treatments. The maximum relative flower size increase rates after treatment were 195% in the control, 186% in the sucrose treatment, 171% in the ozone treatment, and 155% in the ozone with sucrose treatment.
Iris laevigata, which belongs to the Iridaceae, is now designated as an “endangered” (EN) grade by Korea Forest Service because it does not have many natural sites known for its reckless development and damage to its natural habitats. This study was carried out to establish the propagation protocol from seed to restore the native habitat of the I. laevigata and to utilize it for ornamental purposes. Basically, the appearance and internal structure of seeds were observed and imbibition experiments were conducted. Germination rate was measured by cold stratification experiment, after warm followed by cold stratification experiment, and GA3 treatment experiment. The seeds had underdeveloped embryos, which had grown to about 25% of those of fully matured seed before germination. In the controlled laboratory experiment, after cold stratification at 5°C for 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks, the seeds germinated to 0, 11.7, 43.4, or 51.7%, respectively, after 4 weeks of incubation at 25°C. After warm stratification (25°C, 8 weeks) followed by cold stratification for 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks, the seeds germinated to 0, 51.7, 85.0, or 88.3%, respectively, after 4 weeks of incubation at 25°C. GA3 treatment did not overcome the dormancy. Our study determined the dormancy type of I. laevigata seed. Imbibition experiments showed that there was no physical dormancy, and it was also found that there was an underdeveloped embryo when it was observed that the embryo was growing according to the period of incubation. A nd t he e m bryo grew a t relatively w arm temperatures. It is concluded that the seeds of I. laevigata have morphophysiological dormancy (deep simple MPD). This is the first report to determine the dormancy type in seeds of this valuable ornamental plant.