• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.845-853
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to predict the timing of nitrogen (N) demand through analyzing chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF), soil-plant analysis development (SPAD), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which are positively correlated with foliar N concentration in star cluster (Pentas lanceolata). The plants were grown in potting soil under optimal conditions for 30 d, followed by weekly irrigation with five concentrations (0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 mM) of N for an additional 30 d. These five N application levels corresponded to leaf N concentrations of 2.62, 3.48, 4.00, 4.23, and 4.69%, respectively. We measured 13 morphological and physiological parameters, as well as the responses of these parameters to various N-fertilizer treatments. The general increases in Dickson's quality index (DQI), above-ground dry weight (DW), total DW, flowering rate, ${\Delta}F/Fm$', and qP in response to treatment with 0 to 8 mM N were similar to those of SPAD, NDVI, and Fv/Fm. Consistent and strong correlations ($R^2$= 0.60 to 0.85) were observed between leaf N concentration (%) and SPAD, NDVI, ${\Delta}F/Fm$', and above-ground DW. Validation of leaf S PAD, NDVI, and ${\Delta}F/Fm$' revealed that these vegetation indices are accurate predictors of leaf N concentration that can be used for non-destructive estimation of the proper timing for N-solution irrigation of P. lanceolata. Moreover, irrigation with 8 mM N-fertilizer i s recommended w hen leaf N concentration, SPAD, NVDI, and ${\Delta}F/Fm$' ratios are reduced from their saturation values of 4.00, 50.68, 0.64, and 0.137%, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.302-311
• /
• 2018

Using cylindrical paper pot nursery method, three kinds of commercial tomatoes 'Dafnis', 'DOTAERANG DIA' and 'Maescala' were grafted onto a commercial rootstock 'B blocking'. From 10 to 40 days after graft-take, growth traits of seedlings were investigated by 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0S treatments of standard nutrient solution(S) for seedling growth, and top to root ratio(TRR), compactness(CP) and Dickson Quality Index(DQI) were calculated. Two weeks after transplanting of the seedlings under three different night temperature targeting to 10, 15, and $25^{\circ}C$, which were not precisely controlled, the relative growth rate (RGR) was investigated. The quantitative growth traits of grafted seedlings increased with increasing fertilizer concentration, and various range of seedling size could be produced. Compactness and DQI were significantly regressed (Adj $R^2=0.9480$). Short-term RGR after transplanting was higher at 1.0S treatment of standard nutrient solution at the seedling age of 30 days and 40 days after graft-take(DAGT). DQI and RGR were significantly regressed linearly at respective fertigation strength. Specially the diminishing slope of RGR was lower at 1.0S fertigation strength with the increase of DQI than others. The results indicate that DQI could be applied as a quality index of grafted tomato seedlings and the relation analysis between DQI and short-term RGR also could be used to determine the good quality seedlings of grafted tomato grown in cylindrical paper pot.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 2023

Codonopsis lanceolata (S. et Z.) Trautv. is mainly cultivated in Korea and China as a medicinal crop. C. lanceolata is difficult to produce plug seedlings in the summer, because C. lanceolata has a low germination rate and is vulnerable to high temperatures. Cold treatment is effective in breaking dormancy of seeds and increasing the germination rate. Shading cultivation can control the solar irradiance received by plants and reduce the damage by high temperatures and strong light. This study was conducted to examine the appropriate cold treatment period for the improving germination of C. lanceolata, and shading level during the summer seedling period. Cold treatment experiments were conducted for 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks at 4℃ before sowing. In the shading experiment, C. lanceolata was grown for 45 days with 0 (non-treatment), 45, 75% shading levels. Cold treatment for one week significantly improved the germination energy. The plant height, leaf area, and fresh and dry weights of C. lanceolata seedlings were significantly increased under the 45% shading level. Total root length, root surface area, and the number of root tips were significantly higher in shading treatment (45 and 75%) than in non-treatment. The C. lanceolata seedling's compactness and Dickson's quality index were the highest at 45% shading level. Therefore, these results recommended sowing C. lanceolata after cold treatment for one week at 4℃, and 45% shading level could stably culture C. lanceolata plug seedlings during the high temperature period.