Search Results (183)

Horticultural research into the group of plants known as cycads has been deficient, and this includes the study of root growth and function. The form of nitrogen (N) available to plants is known to influence root growth and morphology. The response of cycad roots to N has not been studied to date. Cycas revoluta and Cycas edentata seedlings were grown in hydroponic culture and provided urea, nitrate, or ammonium forms of N. Solutions with all three forms of N increased root growth and branching when compared with nutrient solution devoid of N, with ammonium eliciting the greatest increases. Ammonium increased lateral root length 210% for C. revoluta and 164% for C. edentata. Ammonium decreased specific root length 38% for C. revoluta and 39% for C. edentata. The influence of the N source on stem and leaf growth was minimal. Ammonium increased the root-to-shoot ratio 15% for C. revoluta and 51% for C. edentata, but urea and nitrate did not influence this plant trait. A mixture of nitrate and ammonium generated plant responses that were no different from ammonium alone. The plants supplied with N in the solution produced coralloid root growth that was 14% of the no-N plants for C. revoluta and 22% of the no-N plants for C. edentata. This initial determination of the cycad plant response to the N form indicated that root plasticity was considerable and ammonium stimulated root growth more so than urea or nitrate. Long-term growth studies in mineral soils and nursery container medium are needed to determine if these findings from the hydroponic culture of small seedlings translate to general recommendations for the preferential use of ammonium for cycad culture. Full article

The Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada is among the top ten blueberry producing regions globally. Viral diseases are established in the region and significantly reduce average yields. While testing for two viruses is routine, characterization of all the viruses present in the region is incomplete. We used high-throughput sequencing to obtain an unbiased overview of RNA viruses present in 97 plants collected across the region. In addition to known viruses, we identified four luteoviruses previously unidentified in the region. Two of them matched the blueberry virus L (BlVL) and blueberry virus M (BlVM). recently found in the USA, while the third constitutes a new major variant of BlVM (BlVM-2), and the fourth a new luteovirus, which we named blueberry virus N (BlVN). The genome sequences were ~5 kbp long and contained four open-reading frames similar to other luteoviruses. PCR screening revealed that these luteoviruses are widespread in the region, and that plants typically harbour more than one of these luteoviruses. While luteoviruses are typically vectored by aphids, they were also present in nursery stock, indicating that spread also occurs via vegetative propagation. Full article

Employing rare or threatened species in ornamental horticulture offers a dual benefit by promoting climate adaptation and enhancing species conservation. Kosteletzkya pentacarpos, an endangered halophytic species, holds potential for introduction into the nursery industry, but efficient propagation methods are lacking. The present study investigated the in vitro propagation of the species using nodal explants excised from aseptic seedlings. A two-stage in vitro culture system was tested with thidiazuron (TDZ) promoting shoot initiation at low concentrations, while higher levels induced callus formation. Transferring micro-shoots to hormone free-, Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) promoted the highest shoot multiplication and elongation. The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on in vitro culture was also assessed, with MS media containing up to 5.0 g L⁻¹ NaCl supporting successful culture establishment. Spontaneous rooting was observed during various stages of the culture process. Micro-shoots were rooted at 100.0% on half strength MS medium with or without indole-3-butyric acid, and all plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a peat–perlite substrate (1/1, v/v). Thus, the present protocol provides an efficient system for the large-scale propagation of K. pentacarpos serving as a valuable tool for its conservation and the potential use in the nursery industry. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation levels on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash, and cecal microbiota diversity and composition in nursery piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol (DON). Twenty-four weaned piglets were allocated to four dietary treatment groups (n = 6). The four treatment diets were as follows: (1) post-weaning diet containing 0.3 mg/kg of Se; (2) post-weaning diet without supplemental Se + 3 mg/kg DON; (3) post-weaning diet containing 0.3 mg/kg Se + 3 mg/kg DON; and (4) post-weaning diet containing 0.5 mg/kg Se + 3 mg/kg DON. The native Se levels in the feedstuffs were 0.03–0.06 mg/kg. The Se source was supplemented in the form of selenomethionine. The trial lasted 28 days, with fecal samples collected during the final 4 days for ATTD analysis of crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash. Upon trial completion, cecal digesta was sampled for microbial diversity and composition analysis. The results showed that piglets in the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group had a higher ATTD of crude fat than the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group and a greater ATTD of crude ash than the 0.3 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group displayed increased Shannon and Chao 1 indices compared to the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). Microbial composition analysis revealed higher Firmicutes abundance in the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group than in the 0.3 mg/kg Se + DON group, along with reduced Euryarchaeota abundance relative to the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). The 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group also had higher Selenomonadaceae abundance than the other groups (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between Selenomonadaceae abundance and the ATTD of ash, whereas [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group abundance was positively correlated with the ATTD of ash (p < 0.10). Collectively, dietary Se supplementation at 0.5 mg/kg improved nutrient digestibility in DON-exposed nursery piglets, which was potentially associated with the modulation of cecal microbiota diversity and composition. Full article

Container production of landscape plants requires reliably consistent and affordable substrates with properties suitable for a wide range of species. Native plant production often requires additional considerations when determining ideal substrates for species found in precise ecosystems. Thus, the introduction of novel native species, such as garberia [Garberia heterophylla (W. Bartram) Merrill & F. Harper] requires research insight into discerning which type of substrate provides the greatest plant quality in the least amount of time. In this greenhouse study, garberia was container-grown for six months in five substrates. These included two different pine bark-based media (Atlas 3000 and ‘Native mix’) typically used for native plant production, a commercial standard of peat-based medium (ProMix BX), and compost-based medium (COMANDscape) by itself or at a 1:1 compost/native mix ratio. All substrates varied from each other in terms of pH and electroconductivity (EC), with ProMix BX having the most acidic pH (5.3) and COMANDscape having the highest EC (5.2 dS/m). The ProMix BX had the greatest water-holding capacity, while the Atlas 3000 had the greatest bulk and particle densities. After six months, plant heights and widths were similar between treatments. The ProMix BX yielded the greatest shoot and root dry matter values and well-developed root systems that held the substrate the best. Plants grown in ProMix BX or COMANDscape had the greatest SPAD values and very good to excellent shoot visual quality ratings, compared to other substrates evaluated. While garberia was found to be a slow-growing species regardless of substrate, these results demonstrate its tolerance of diverse substrates that are non-characteristic of the soil where it thrives naturally. This knowledge can be useful for nursery practitioners; ultimately contributing to expanded production and the widened use of garberia in landscapes. Full article

Weed management remains a critical challenge in the U.S. container ornamental production industry, where weeds not only compete with crops for limited resources but also harbor pests and pathogens, thereby diminishing plant quality and marketability. The paper explores the economic impact of weed infestations, herbicide resistance development, and the limited availability of selective herbicides for ornamental crops in the United States. This review synthesizes current chemical weed control tactics, focusing not only on both preemergence and postemergence herbicides commonly used in ornamental nurseries, but also organic alternatives and integrated weed management (IWM) approaches as complementary strategies by evaluating their effectiveness, crop safety, and usage. There is a critical need for research in the areas of alternative chemical options such as insecticides, miticides (e.g., Zerotol and Tetra Curb Max), and organic products for liverwort control in greenhouses. Although essential oils and plant-based extracts show some potential, their effectiveness and practical use remain largely unexplored. Full article

Vaccinium oldhamii, a blueberry species native to Korea, is a deciduous shrub in the Ericaceae family. Its fruit possesses various pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory effects and potential for treating osteoporosis. This study evaluated the effects of five fertilization concentration levels using Multifeed 20 (N:P:K = 20:20:20) on the growth and physiological characteristics of one-year-old V. oldhamii container seedlings. Treatments included 0 g·L⁻¹ (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g·L⁻¹. Increases in stem thickness, root length, and total dry weight were observed in the control, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g·L⁻¹ treatments, whereas growth declined at 2.0 g·L⁻¹. Mortality rates exceeded 15% at concentrations above 1.0 g·L⁻¹. Photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll content increased with fertilization. However, while growth improved with increasing fertilizer up to a certain level, it declined at the highest concentration. A fertilization rate of 0.5 g·L⁻¹ proved to be the most economically and environmentally efficient for producing healthy seedlings. This study provides the first fertilization threshold for V. oldhamii, offering practical guidance for nursery production and forming a foundation for future domestication strategies. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary hydroxytyrosol (HT) addition on piglets during the nursery phase across two experiments. In the first, 72 weaned male piglets (~26 days old, 7.3 ± 0.5 kg) were assigned to one of four diets containing 0, 5, 10, or 50 mg HT/kg feed. Growth performance, serum biochemistry, histological and behavioral parameters, and meat lipid profiles were assessed. In the second study, the apparent digestibility of diets containing 0, 25, or 50 mg HT/kg feed was evaluated using 15 male piglets (21.5 ± 1.5 kg) through total excreta collection. Results revealed that HT influenced serum glucose and gamma-glutamyl transferase, histological inflammation, and active behaviors. HT modified lipid profiles, reduced capric, lauric, linolenic, arachidonic, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic fatty acid concentrations, and increased the nervonic acid profile. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, energy, and protein increased with HT use up to 50 mg/kg of feed. These findings demonstrate that HT positively impacts piglet efficiency, changing the fatty acid profile with increased nervonic acid, highlighting its potential as a dietary additive for improving nursery pig production. Full article

Phenolic compounds, which are a large group of plant pigments, are recognized as important antioxidants. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), particularly the pigmented varieties, could be a source of natural anthocyanins for producing dietary foods. In this study, we analyzed forty potato specimens from our germplasm collection and breeding nurseries using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and second-order mass spectrometry to identify anthocyanins. We found seven main anthocyanins in potato tubers: delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Two anthocyanins were found in potato inflorescences: peonidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside and cyanidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside. On average, varieties from the group with red-purple inflorescences contained 187.6 mg/kg of anthocyanins. Genotypes with white corollas had an anthocyanin content below 0.5 mg/kg or between 1.3 and 3.6 mg/kg. Two potato varieties, Vasilek (605.2 mg/kg) and Fioletovyi (501.1 mg/kg), with blue-purple corollas, had the highest total anthocyanin content. Studying the anthocyanin profile of leaves allowed us to identify eleven anthocyanins. The highest anthocyanin content (331.3 mg/kg) was found in varieties with purple or blue-purple tubers, while the lowest content (an average of 15.1 mg/kg) was found in varieties with yellow or cream tubers. Genotypes with purple and blue-purple tuber skin had an average anthocyanin content of 190.7 mg/kg. The group with yellow and cream tubers had an insignificant anthocyanin content (1.2 mg/kg). Varieties from the group with pink tubers had an average anthocyanin content of 43.2 mg/kg. Thus, this study identified diagnostic traits that could be used to assess the morphological characteristics of potato genotypes. Full article

The use of preemergence herbicides is the primary method of controlling weeds in container-grown ornamental plants, but it may cause injury to common popular ornamentals. The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of overhead irrigation to reduce phytotoxicity in ornamental plants. Dimethenamid-P and flumioxazin were applied at standard label rates to container-grown coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), lady fern (Anthyrium filix-femina), and blue plumbago (Plumbago auriculata). Plants were subjected to one of four irrigation regimes at the time of herbicide treatment, including receiving 1.3 cm of overhead irrigation before treatment, immediately after treatment, both immediately before and after treatment, and no irrigation until the next irrigation cycle resumed at 4 h after treatment. For all three species, irrigation timing had minimal effect on visual injury ratings following treatment with dimethenamid-P, as injury was minimal overall. Severe injury was observed following treatment with flumioxazin, but significant recovery was noted in both lady ferns and echinacea when irrigation was applied immediately after treatment. The results indicate that irrigating plants immediately after treatment could improve crop tolerance to preemergence herbicide applications and should be further investigated as an injury management strategy for container-grown ornamental plants. Full article

Intestinal diseases in nursery pigs harm health and performance and drive antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated whether early probiotic inoculation helps piglets to cope with weaning-related gut challenges. The probiotic, containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Enterococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and Bifidobacterium breve, was given orally to newborn piglets daily until day 4 and then every other day until weaning at day 28 (at 4 × 10⁹ CFU/dose). The control piglets received a placebo. The results showed that the probiotic pigs had reduced fecal alpha-diversity on day 7 but greater Shannon diversity on day 28 (feces) and day 23 (intestinal contents) compared to those of the control pigs. Beta-diversity analysis showed microbial differences between the groups on day 35. Most zOTUs (zero-radius operational taxonomic units) found to significantly differentiate the two treatment groups were found pre weaning. Bifidobacterium breve, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, as well as Clostridium ramosum were significantly more abundant in the feces of the probiotic pigs more than once. The probiotic pigs had higher expression levels of mucin 2 (MUC2); solute carrier family 5, member 8 (SLC5A8); and interleukin 8 (IL-8) post weaning. In the early post-weaning period, the probiotic pigs had less diarrhea as well as lower cadaverine levels in digesta than the control pigs. In conclusion, early probiotic inoculation may induce lasting immunomodulation via microbial antigen changes, enhancing resilience during challenges, like weaning. Notably, the effects persisted beyond weaning and probiotic cessation. Full article

Replacing peat with biochar in nursery growing media could help offset carbon emissions and reduce environmental degradation caused by mining wetlands for peat. However, the effects of replacing peat with biochar on CO₂ emissions are little known. In this study, we measured CO₂ flux rates in growing media with varying proportions of biochar (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% levels) as a replacement for peat. Overall, we found that higher biochar levels (≥75%) in growing media resulted in a reduction in CO₂ fluxes compared to pure peat (0% biochar), approaching near-zero emissions. In contrast, lower biochar levels (≤25%) had little to no effect on CO₂ fluxes. When the growing media was fertigated or irrigated, we observed a decrease in CO₂ fluxes in mixes containing 25%, 50%, and 75% biochar, though this effect was absent in mixes that were pure peat or pure biochar, suggesting that irrigation and fertilization regimes could be strategized to enhance biochar’s carbon emission impacts. Our study offers insights into the development of sustainable growing media to reduce the carbon footprint of horticulture and forestry nursery production systems and may help balance productivity with environmental conservation. Full article

Under nursery conditions, various organic and inorganic growing media can be used for plant propagation. However, a common fertigation program may have varying effects on plant performance. This study evaluated alternative growing media under the same fertigation scheme in three indigenous Cypriot grapevine cultivars (Xynisteri, Maratheftiko, Giannoudi). Rooted cuttings were grown in pots containing soil, perlite, river sand, peat, and cocosoil. The plants were fertigated with a hydroponic nutrient solution with an electrical conductivity of 2.4 dS/m and a pH of 5.8. Xynisteri grown in peat and cocosoil accumulated minerals such as N and P while showing reduced levels of Na, total phenols, antioxidant capacity, and total flavonoids in the leaves. Additionally, plants exhibited low hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, indicating a non-stressful growing environment. Maratheftiko cultivar accumulated N in perlite, K in cocosoil, and P in peat and cocosoil media. When grown in soil, Maratheftiko showed higher phenol content and increased antioxidant capacity, which is correlated with elevated oxidative stress (higher MDA). Giannoudi appeared to be more adapted to soil and/or cocosoil media, as evidenced by its lower MDA content, total phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity, compared to plants grown in perlite, sand, and peat. Chlorophyll and total carotenoid levels were increased in Giannoudi grown in soil. In conclusion, both growing media and fertigation practices should be tailored to optimize plant performance under nursery conditions. Full article

The weaning period is a critical phase for nursery pigs that is characterized by rapid growth and alterations in the intestinal microbiome associated with nutrient utilization. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of halquinol, when used as an antibiotic (ABO), on the growth performance, diarrhea incidence, coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), fecal volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and microbiota in pigs. A total of 210 healthy weaned pigs with an average initial weight of 6.9 kg and aged 28 ± 2 days were assigned to five treatments (six pens/treatment) in a complete randomized design, including a control group (T1, CON; feed with no ABO), a colistin group (T2, CLT; feed containing 120 ppm colistin), and three halquinol groups (T3 to T5, HAL; feed containing 180, 240, and 360 ppm halquinol, respectively). The experiment period lasted for 10 days. Field recordings, observation, and feces collection were performed on D1, D5, and D10. CATTD and VFA assessments were conducted on D10. The composition of the fecal microbiota was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing using the Illumina Miseq platform. The results demonstrated that the in-feed ABO groups exhibited a significantly lower ADFI (p < 0.01). Pigs fed the T3 and T4 diets had the lowest FCR (p < 0.01) on D5 and D10 and, thus, had reduced ADFI (p < 0.01). A quadratic contrast was found in ADFI and FCR on D5 and D10, indicating a negative correlation with HAL concentration (p < 0.01). Pigs fed CLT and HAL had significantly reduced levels of coliform (p < 0.01) and E. coli (p < 0.01). Moreover, pigs receiving ABO also had a lower fecal score compared to those on the CON diet (p < 0.01). Dietary in-feed ABO had no effect on all the parameters of the CATTD on D10 (p > 0.05), except for fat digestibility in pigs that received T4 (p < 0.01). Pigs fed the T4 and T5 diets had higher propionate concentrations and lower A/P ratios than pigs fed T1, T2, and T3 (p < 0.01). The microbial diversity shifted quickly through the early weaning period. The relative abundance of beneficial Enterococcus microbes increased in pigs fed in-feed ABO, whereas the relative prevalence of pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia and Klebsiella, decreased. Escherichia and Bacteroides were negatively correlated with carbohydrate digestibility and butyric and valeric acid production (p < 0.05). Overall, the appropriate HAL dosage was 240 ppm (T4), and this antimicrobial can potentially be characterized as an in-feed colistin replacer that improves feed efficiency and fat digestion, enhancing VFA production, alleviating post-weaning diarrhea, and protecting ABO-resistant piglets. Full article

The piglet nursery phase is one of the critical moments in production, especially in the first few weeks after weaning. Growth-promoting antibiotics have always been used in this phase, but the world is banning or limiting the use of antibiotics for this purpose, which has led researchers to seek alternatives, with an emphasis on organic and natural ones. As a result, this study aimed to evaluate whether a combination of organic acids and their derivatives (ammonium formate, formic acid, ammonium propionate, and acetic acid) and yeast wall (mannan oligosaccharides and beta-glucans) in piglet feeding during the nursery phase has positive effects on the SCFA profile in feces and animal health reflected in greater weight gain. A 40-day experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design containing three treatments, each with nine replicates and three piglets per replicate: negative control (NC: without additives), and a combination of organic acids and yeast wall at doses of 1 and 2 kg/ton (AO+YW-1 and AO+YW-2, respectively). Animals received four diets: pre-starter 1 (d1–7), pre-starter 2 (d8–14), starter 1 (d15–25), and starter 2 (d26–40). The animals were weighed on the day of the diet change. Blood and feces were collected on days 14 and 40 of the experiment. Piglets from the AO+YW-1 group showed more significant weight gain than NC. Feed intake was higher in piglets from the AO+YW-1 group considering the first 25 days of the experiment compared to NC; there was no treatment effect on feed conversion. Piglets from NC had higher levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin, while AO+YW-2 had higher levels of interleukin 10 and lower levels of TNF-α. A greater quantity of SCFA was observed in the feces of piglets on d40, related to the changes in propionic, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids. Therefore, the combination of organic acids and yeast wall used at a dose of 1 kg/ton proved to be an additive option for the diet of piglets in the nursery phase to enhance weight gain and reduce the number of doses of injectable antibiotics. Full article