Navigation Links
For African violets, 'hands off' means healthier
Date:11/3/2009

STILLWATER, OKAfrican violets have a mixed reputation. Their delicate, colorful flowers and furry, soft leaves make them a favorite among home gardeners and growers. But the striking plants are often regarded as temperamental: a precise recipe of light, moisture, warm temperatures, high humidity, and fertilizer is required to encourage african violets to grow and flower.

A recently published study by scientists Julia C. Brotton and Janet C. Cole from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Oklahoma State University (in a recent issue of HortTechnology) could provide african violet enthusiasts with important care information about the finicky flower.

Because of their brightly colored flowers and hairy leaves, people are attracted to african violets and often want to touch the leaves and flowers. But how does all this attention affect the plants? The research team set out to determine the effect of "brushing" african violet leaves on plant growth and quality. Cole explained, "Because (african violet) growers work in conditions that can contribute to the development of dry, irritated skin, many growers use body lotions to help soothe and moisturize their dry skin. Many consumers also use these products. Our study researched whether touching or "brushing" african violet leaves causes damage, particularly when body lotion or other skin care products have been applied to hands before touching the plants."

Although previous studies have investigated the effect of various methods of mechanical conditioning, including brushing, on the growth and quality of vegetable and bedding plants, this was the first reported study of the results of plant response to tactile mechanical stress, or "thigmomorphogenesis" on african violets.

Plants of two cultivars of african violet (Saintpaulia ionantha), 'Michigan' and 'Gisela', received five brushing treatments during the study: no brushing, brushed for 30 sec
'/>"/>

Contact: Michael W. Neff
mwneff@ashs.org
703-836-4606
American Society for Horticultural Science
Source:Eurekalert  

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Despite risk, older African-Americans more likely than others to avoid flu vaccine
2. East African cichlid fish offer new understanding of genetic basis of sex determination
3. Google Earth aids discovery of early African mammal fossils
4. Going bananas for sustainable research -- scientists create fuel from African crop waste
5. Difference in fat storage may explain lower rate of liver disease in African-Americans
6. Cleaning the atmosphere of carbon: African forests out of balance
7. Ancestral genome of present-day African great apes & humans had burst of DNA sequence duplication
8. African-Americans aware and accepting, but often do not receive, the HPV vaccine
9. Nutritional supplementation program helps prevent weight loss among children in African country
10. African thicket rat malaria linked to virulent human form
11. Ancient African exodus mostly involved men, geneticists find
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
For African violets, 'hands off' means healthier
(Date:5/16/2013)... Access to Research Careers) Program has announced the ... 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA from ... promote the entry of students, postdoctorates and scientists ... basic science community and to encourage the participation ... Meeting. , Awards are given to poster/platform presenters ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... at MIT may someday eliminate the need for ... their blood-sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin. ... levels in the body and respond by secreting ... function of pancreatic islet cells, which are destroyed ... type of system could ensure that blood-sugar levels ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... has discovered an ancient extinct creature with ,scissor hand-like, ... honour of his favourite movie star. , The ... (pronounced Koo-ten-ee-che-la depp-eye), which is a distant ancestor ... Johnny Depp for his starring role as Edward Scissorhands ... an unfinished creation, who has scissors for hands. ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes 2Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes 3Actor Johnny Depp immortalized in ancient fossil find 2
... been listed as impaired by the state due to high counts ... in the late 1990s, but from whom, what and where the ... are located in a landscape that is predominately rural and agricultural, ... E. coli are livestock related, said Dr. June Wolfe, ...
... engineers at Johns Hopkins have developed a new liquid material ... in restoring damaged soft tissue relatively safely and durably. The ... under the skin, then "set" using light to form a ... a mold. The researchers say the product one day could ...
... amassed the largest data set to date on greenhouse ... in the online version of Nature Geoscience, ... the carbon dioxide and methane previously attributed to them. ... cautioned that hydroelectric reservoirs could be a significant and ...
Cached Biology News:AgriLife Research 'genetically fingerprinting' E. coli from watersheds 2AgriLife Research 'genetically fingerprinting' E. coli from watersheds 3AgriLife Research 'genetically fingerprinting' E. coli from watersheds 4New composite material may restore damaged soft tissue 2New composite material may restore damaged soft tissue 3Greenhouse gas impact of hydroelectric reservoirs downgraded 2
(Date:5/17/2013)... RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., USA (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 ...     Green Globes Certified for sustainability , ... drought and insect pressures , Syngenta ... grand opening celebration today at the company’s RTP Innovation ... Crop Lab allows company researchers to simulate any agricultural ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... PALO ALTO, Calif. , May 17, 2013 ... that it has achieved 50% enrollment of the ... trial to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy ... Progenitor Cells) therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). To ... Effect (SAE) reported. The Phase I ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... May 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Aridis is pleased ... with Switzerland -based Kenta Biotech ... monoclonal antibody (mAb) products, and technologies. This asset ... for treatment of infections by common pathogens including ... , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Acinetobacter baumannii ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 Men’s skin is ... La-roche Posay ) and has been known to react ... some men may be far from puberty, other acne causing ... pores, causing breakouts, and threatening skin with unsightly acne scars. ... from Men’s Health on how to reduce and ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Syngenta Opens Unique $72 Million Advanced Crop Lab 2Syngenta Opens Unique $72 Million Advanced Crop Lab 3Cellular Biomedicine Group Achieves 50% Enrollment Milestone in Phase I Clinical Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis 2Aridis Pharmaceuticals Announces Acquisition of Monoclonal Antibody Products and Technologies From Kenta Biotech 2Aridis Pharmaceuticals Announces Acquisition of Monoclonal Antibody Products and Technologies From Kenta Biotech 3Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares New Insight on Why Men’s Skin Scars from Acne and How to Prevent It 2
... - Diagnostic Imaging,International Corp. (OTCBB: DIIG) announced today ... acquire Canadian Teleradiology Services,(CTS)., CTS specializes in ... and X-rays. This service allows hospitals in remote ... 24hrs per day. In,large population centers, CTS can ...
... Exceeds Expectations, MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 10 ... focused on oncology, announced today that its,third ... the company continues,to experience banner growth. "The ... consistently exceed client expectations, and we are,ahead ...
... Pharma, Inc., a,diversified specialty pharmaceutical company, announced ... issues in the treatment of moderate to,severe ... dry eye medication Lacrisert(R),(hydroxypropyl cellulose ophthalmic insert), ... helps to retain,moisture, stabilize the tear film, ...
Cached Biology Technology:Diagnostic Imaging - Enters Purchase Agreement to Acquire Teleradiology Company 2ACORN CRO Continues Growth in Strong Third Quarter 2Dry Eye Survey: Ophthalmologists Cite Treatment Limitations/Gaps in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Dry Eye 2Dry Eye Survey: Ophthalmologists Cite Treatment Limitations/Gaps in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Dry Eye 3Dry Eye Survey: Ophthalmologists Cite Treatment Limitations/Gaps in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Dry Eye 4Dry Eye Survey: Ophthalmologists Cite Treatment Limitations/Gaps in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Dry Eye 5
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) mouse anti-human IFN-alpha2 25 tests...
Dog polyclonal to Porcine Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans Cells ( Abpromise for all tested applications). Antigen: Tissue / cell preparation (Pig): Sonicated crude membrane fraction of porcine p...
Rabbit Anti-melatonin (different linkage) Polyclonal Antibody...
Anti-Cohesin (Scc1/Rad21) Monoclonal Antibody Research Focus: signal transduction Storage: -20C Shipping Temperature: +4C...
Biology Products: