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Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants

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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: 16 November 2025 | Viewed by 8416

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yong Ha Rhie

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Guest Editor

Department of Horticulture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Interests: seed dormancy and germination; perennials; flowering manipulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Seung Youn Lee

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Guest Editor

Department of Smart Horticultural Science, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Republic of Korea
Interests: seed dormancy; plant propagation; native plants; ornamental plants
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Prof. Dr. Jongyun Kim

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Guest Editor

Department of Plant Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Interests: controlled environment agriculture; irrigation; garden; ornamental plants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental plants have been used in a variety of indoor and outdoor gardens, and interest in them is increasing for their applications in landscape and horticultural therapy. As the use of new ornamental plants is increasing, it is important to develop propagation methods and understand the flowering of each plant for the use of ornamental plants. Although many studies related to propagation and flowering have been conducted, many questions remain with regard to a variety of plant species. Expanding the use of ornamental plants by controlling various environmental factors, as well as the growth response of plants in natural conditions, will help us to use ornamental plants in indoor and outdoor gardens. Therefore, this SI aims to expand our understanding of propagation and flowering in ornamental plants.

This Special Issue welcomes original and review articles in (but not limited to) the following areas:

Dormancy in seeds and techniques for dormancy breaking
Optimized plant propagation method
Controlling the growth and flowering through light, temperature, irrigation, and other factors
Plant responses in both outdoor and indoor settings
Varied growth and flowering of ornamental plants
Utilizing ornamental plants in garden

Prof. Dr. Yong Ha Rhie
Prof. Dr. Seung Youn Lee
Prof. Dr. Jongyun Kim
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

seed dormancy and germination
perennials
flowering manipulation
garden
native plants

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2824 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cutting Phenological Stage, Chemical Treatments, and Substrate on Rooting Softwood Cuttings of Tree Peony

by Dongli Li, Fangyun Cheng, Xiwen Tao and Yuan Zhong

Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050552 - 20 May 2025

Viewed by 428

Abstract

Tree peony is well-known for its ornamental value, medicine function, oil, and edible use. However, the difficulty in propagating tree peony impedes its cultivation and industrial advancement. Softwood cutting is an effective method to promote the propagation of tree peony. This research investigated the effects of several factors (cultivar, cutting phenological stage, auxin type, polyamine, and substrate) on the rooting of softwood cutting in tree peony. The results showed that rooting ability varied with cultivars and cutting phenological stages, with the highest rooting rates being for ‘High noon’ and ‘Jinghua Qingxue’ during the vigorous growth stage, reaching 50% and 53.33%, respectively. IBA 2000 mg·L⁻¹ was optimal for rooting in ‘High noon’ cuttings, with the maximum root number (5.67) and root length (6.3 cm). Putrescine of 1.0 mM could significantly improve the rooting rate and rooting quality of ‘Jinghua Qingxue’ cuttings, which had the highest rooting rate of 54.17% in the cocopeat/perlite substrate (v:v 1:1). Anatomical observation showed that most adventitious roots were generated from callus meristem nodules differentiated from cortical parenchyma cells while a few came from stem bark, as well as integrated root induction. This study is an innovation in and supplement to tree peony propagation research, and a propagation protocol was primarily established for softwood cuttings in tree peony. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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20 pages, 8981 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Micropropagation Using Different Types of Explant and Addressing the Hyperhydricity of Ballota acetabulosa, a Mediterranean Plant with High Xeriscaping Potential

by Georgia Vlachou and Maria Papafotiou

Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040390 - 6 Apr 2025

Viewed by 595

Abstract

Ballota acetabulosa (L.) Benth. (syn. Pseudodictamnus acetabulosus (L.) Salmaki and Siadati), f. Lamiaceae, the Greek horehound, is a compact evergreen small shrub native to Greece, with hairy grey-green leaves, that bears small pink-purple flowers with green conical calyxes along its erect stems in late spring. The species stands out for its high resistance in xerothermic conditions and therefore it is advisable to promote its use in xeriscaping. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of B. acetabulosa for introduction into the horticultural and pharmaceutical industries. Shoot tip and single node explants derived from in vitro seedlings were cultured on MS medium with various cytokinin types and concentrations. Explants responded at almost 100% to produce high number of shoots on a medium with 1.0 mg L⁻¹ zeatin or 6-benzyladenine. However, there was intense hyperhydricity in the cultures, which was addressed in further experiments by increasing agar concentration from 8 to 12 g L⁻¹, preserving high multiplication indices (92% response, 10.2 shoots per explant). Microcuttings with 2–3 visible nodes, either from the apical part, including the apical meristem, or from the basal part of microshoots, as well as microshoot clusters, rooted 100% on full- or half-strength MS medium, respectively, regardless of the addition of indole-3-butyric acid (ΙΒA, 0.5–4.0 mg L⁻¹) in the rooting medium. However, middle level concentrations of IBA increased the number and length of roots produced, while the higher its concentration, the more and longer axillary shoots developed in the microcuttings during the rooting period. The acclimatization of all plantlets was completely successful (100%) in ex vitro conditions on peat/perlite substrate (1:1, v/v). Thus, efficient methods of producing propagation material to promote Ballota acetabulosa as a horticultural and medicinal plant were developed. In particular, rooting of microshoot clusters or microcuttings without the shoot tip, in the presence of 1.0 mg L⁻¹ IBA, leads to a plant of suitable shape for the floricultural market, without the need for further manipulation (pruning) in the nursery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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15 pages, 10863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flowering Responses to Vernalization and Photoperiod in Minuartia laricina (L.) Mattf., a Perennial Herb in the Korean Peninsula

by Dong Gyu Lee, Suejin Park, Chae Won Kim, Jae Hui Kim and Seung Youn Lee

Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020188 - 10 Feb 2025

Viewed by 915

Abstract

This study investigated the flowering physiology of Minuartia laricina (L.) Mattf. to provide fundamental information for the development of flowering control techniques. A phenology test was conducted in an open field, where M. laricina overwintered from December to February. Flower buds began to form in late March as temperatures and photoperiods increased. Flowering started in late April and continued until mid-June, with seeds maturing in capsule-shaped fruits by mid-August. In a greenhouse experiment, M. laricina was subjected to cold treatments at 5 °C for 0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks, followed by photoperiod treatments of 9/15, 11/13, 13/11, 16/8, 24/0 h day/night photoperiod, or night interruption (9 h + 4 h). Plant growth and flowering were measured during the photoperiod treatments. The results showed 100% flowering with 8 weeks of cold treatment and under 16 h or longer photoperiod conditions. However, without cold treatments flowering was not observed across all photoperiods. These findings align with outdoor conditions, where M. laricina flowers experience a cold winter and under long photoperiods. Thus, M. laricina is classified as an obligate vernalization and long-day plant, requiring at least eight weeks of cold and a 16/8 h photoperiod to flower. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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18 pages, 3742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity Analysis of 18 Ornamental Strawberries

by Chaocui Nong, Jiayi Hou, Jin He, Yanju Zheng, Shugen Yang, Lai Jiang, Qian Xie, Wei Wang, Jinghua Wu, Qingxi Chen and Lixiang Miao

Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121364 - 19 Dec 2024

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Abstract

The red-flowered strawberry is a novel ornamental plant. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity among ornamental strawberry germplasm resources. In this investigation, 17 red-flowered strawberry germplasms and 1 white-flowered strawberry germplasm were analyzed for genetic diversity and genetic relationships using a combination of phenotypic data, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and conserved DNA-derived polymorphism (CDDP) molecular markers. The results indicated that the 18 strawberry germplasms exhibited significant variability and genetic diversity at both phenotypic and molecular levels. The clustering results revealed notable differences between phenotypic clustering and molecular marker clustering, while the ISSR and CDDP markers grouped into broadly similar clusters. We further consolidated the ISSR and CDDP marker data to conduct the cluster analysis and population structure analysis of the 18 strawberry germplasms. The cluster analysis classified these germplasms into four clusters at a genetic similarity coefficient of 0.77. The population structure analysis categorized the germplasms into three groups, with 88.89% exhibiting a Q value ≥ 0.6, and 11.11% demonstrating a Q value < 0.6. This finding suggests that the genetic background of the 18 strawberry germplasms is relatively homogeneous. Notably, ‘Summer Breeze-Rose’ and ‘Summer Breeze-Cherry’ possess relatively complex genetic backgrounds (Q < 0.6). Furthermore, the floral, foliar, and plant traits of both germplasms display significant ornamental value and can serve as vital resources for the development and utilization of ornamental strawberries, as well as for the selection and breeding of new varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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12 pages, 12136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of AGAMOUS Ortholog and Promoter from the Ilex verticillata (Aquifoliaceae)

by Jiayi Li, Yalan Su, Xiangjian Chen and Zhixiong Liu

Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101058 - 3 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1055

Abstract

Arabidopsis AGAMOUS (AG) plays a crucial role in specifying stamen and carpel identities, floral meristem identity determination, and repression of the A-function. Ilex verticillata (Aquifoliaceae) is a dioecious shrub, whereby an individual plant has either male or female flowers with vestigial organs of the opposite sex. The molecular mechanism of male and female organ development in I. verticillata remains unknown. In order to identify the possible roles of AG-like genes in regulating floral development in I. verticillata, AG ortholog (IlveAG) and its promoter (pIlveAG) from the male and female flowers of I. verticillata were separately isolated. IlveAG is highly expressed in stamens, pistils, and sepals of male and female flowers. Moreover, obvious GUS staining was observed in the inflorescence and sepals, stamens, and pistils of mature flowers in pIlveAG::GUS Arabidopsis. The 35S::IlveAG Arabidopsis showed obviously early flowering. Moreover, IlveAG could substitute for endogenous AG to rescue the stamen and pistil in the Arabidopsis ag-1 mutant. In addition, expression of IlveAG can inhibit the development of sepals and petals (two outer whorls of floral organs) in wild-type and ag-1 Arabidopsis. Our findings suggest that IlveAG has a conservative C-function and plays key roles in determination of reproductive floral organs (stamen and carpel) identity and meristem determinacy. Our results provide more details to understand the role of AG orthologs in the development of male and female flowers in woody plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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14 pages, 3444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Classification of Vase Life Day Based on Petal Colorimetric Data in Cut Lisianthus Using AutoML

by Hye Sook Kwon and Seong Heo

Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101033 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1490

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of petal colorimetric data to classify vase life stages in cut lisianthus flowers (Eustoma grandiflorum). We analyzed the changes in the petal color space over time, focusing on the b* value as an indicator of senescence due to increasing yellowing caused by copigmentation. A comparative analysis was conducted between two cultivation methods: soil (S) and hydroponic (H) cultivation. The objective was to evaluate the performance of machine learning models trained to classify vase life stages based on petal color data. Automated machine learning models exhibited better performance in H-cultivated cut flowers, effectively distinguishing days within the vase life stages from Days 1 to 14 for H cultivation. Cut flowers cultivated under S conditions showed less variation in the color space from Days 1 to 9, maintaining a relatively uniform color range. This made it more difficult to distinguish the vase life stages compared to H cultivation. These findings demonstrate that petal color metrics can serve as reliable indicators of cut flower senescence and potentially facilitate nondestructive methods for classifying vase life stages. This technology holds promise for wider applications in the floriculture industry, improving quality control, and extending the vase life of various cut-flower crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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12 pages, 2971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolomic Analysis of Lycoris radiata across Developmental and Dormancy Stages

by Xueru Jiang, Xuying Wei, Hua Cheng, Xin You and Junhuo Cai

Horticulturae 2024, 10(6), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10060636 - 13 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1371

Abstract

The Lycoris radiata (L’ Herit.) Herb. is a perennial bulbous plant characterized by its high ornamental and medicinal value, exhibiting a unique growth rhythm where the flower and leaf do not coexist and a period of summer dormancy. However, its metabolic response to various developmental stages remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a non-targeted metabolomic analysis spanning six developmental stages of L. radiata. The results showed that most differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) demonstrated enrichment predominantly in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism pathways, with the former being more active during vegetative growth and the latter during reproductive stages. The proportion of DAMs categorized under “quaternary ammonium salts”, “tricarboxylic acids and derivatives”, “fatty acids and conjugates”, and “pyrimidine nucleotide sugars” was notably higher in comparisons between the flowering and dormancy stages than in other comparative groups. Furthermore, DAMs involved in the KEGG pathways of C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism and lysine biosynthesis were uniquely identified during the transition from Dormancy to Flowering. The proportion of DAMs associated with “linoleic acids and derivatives” and “pyridines and pyridine derivatives” was notably higher in the leafing out versus flowering comparison than in other comparative groups. Furthermore, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway was uniquely enriched by DAMs during this phase. This study provided an in-depth view of metabolite changes in L. radiata over its annual growth cycle, enriching our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing its development, dormancy, and flowering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Propagation and Flowering of Ornamental Plants)

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