Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 The conflict of landscape aesthetic preferences with sustainable green space in arid regions 1 12 FA Zahra Karimian Department of Ornamentals, Research Centers for Plant Sciences. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Iran. zkarimian@um.ac.ir Y 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.1 One of the social and citizen demands increasing in developing countries, is the expansion and rehabilitation of urban green spaces. In this case, population growth and lack of sustainable water resources is one of important challenges facing the arid regions. Change in style and paradigm of landscape design in arid areas with regard to the priority of reducing water consumption, can lead to social discontent caused by xeriscaping and creation of low input green spaces. Rising visual demand in society towards green spaces in recent decades as a result of improper selection of landscape design patterns, especially in dry areas, is the main background for a possible conflict between aesthetic preferences and sustainable green space in this region. In xeriscaping, integration of effective factors in aesthetic perception with relevant variables in planting design less has been considered. Effective factors in aesthetic perception are nine visual concepts include coherence, disturbance, stewardship, imageability, visual scale, naturalness, historicity and ephemera. Seven fundamental principles of xeriscaping are plan and design for water conservation, improve the soil, limit turf area or select alternatives, irrigate efficiently, select appropriate plants and hydrozone plants, mulch to reduce evaporation, maintaining a xeriscape. Despite researches showing that xeriscaping could usually reduce landscape water consumption by one-third however, many people were initially reluctant to substitute it for conventional landscaping. A common perception was that xeriscape were drab and barren and featured nothing more than rocks and some succulent and cacti. In this paper, on the one hand the aesthetic preferences of landscape and green space and also options of design in arid regions of Iran have been explored and on the other hand, the reasons of possible confrontation between these two major issues and suitable strategies for reducing the conflict, has been discussed and analyzed. Among of nine concept of aesthetics that affect social preferences, the concepts of complexity, coherence, imageability and ephemera in green spaces of arid regions, are faced with more challenges than other concepts. Since in the xeriscaping, use of drought-resistant plants is one of the principles so, for low diversity in ornamental plant species and partial removal of lawns and water element in the landscape, aesthetic preferences of citizens, will not be fulfilled completely. Social awareness toward the water crisis in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, ornamental plant domestication and import of drought resistant species as alternatives and also creativity and innovation in designing of xeriscaping, can decrease the possible dissatisfaction of the citizens from the sustainable and rational development of green spaces in dry climates. Aesthetic landscape, Green space Management, Xeriscaping http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-146-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-146-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 Studying the effect of phosphorus on flowering and vegetative traits of zinnia (Zinnia sp.) in vermicompost medium 13 25 FA Fatemeh Rahmani Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Sari University, Sari, Iran. fatemehrahmani60@gmail.com Y Amirali mohammadi Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Sari University, Sari, Iran. fatemehrahmani60@gmail.com N Hossein Moradi Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Sari University, Sari, Iran. fatemehrahmani60@gmail.com N 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.13 Zinnia flowers have long flowering period and used as ornamental pot plants and cut flowers and also outdoor in landscape. In a greenhouse, the effects of phosphorus spray, and adding vermicompost to the medium on the characteristics of vegetative and flowering traits in zinnia were studied. Treatments consisted of phosphorus at three levels (0, 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1) and vermicompost at three levels (0, 10 and 20% vol). The experiment was factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Plants grown in greenhouse conditions for two months. The plants were then cut off from the crown and the leaves and stems were separated. Some of the traits measured included dry weight of the plant, chlorophyll content, vegetation index, root length, flowering stalk, and flower diameter. The results showed that the use of phosphorus and vermicompost at higher percentages had a significant effect on the measured traits compared to control. The highest diameter of flower was 5.5 cm and the maximum length of flowering stem was 32.5 cm in treatment of 1 mg kg-1 phosphorus and 20% vermicompost. Furthermore, chlorophyll a and b (SPad), fresh and dry weights, and vegetation index were observed at levels of vermicompost of 20% and phosphorus of 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1. The results showed that adding vermicompost to the medium with foliar application of phosphorus improves vegetative and reproductive traits of zinnia flowers. Culture Medium, Flower Diameter, Yield, Chlorophyll, Greenhouse http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-147-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-147-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 Importance of qualitative and quantitative traits in the F1 superior genotypes of Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. Amsterdam 26 37 FA Mohammad Hossein Azimi Department of Genetic and Breeding, Ornamental Plants Research Center, Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mahallat, Iran. m.h.azimi58@gmail.com Y 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.26 In order to produce superior genotypes through self-pollination of Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. Amsterdam, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in 2015 to 2018 at the Ornamental Plants Research Center in Mahallat city of Iran. Analysis of variance among genotypes showed significant differences in all traits studied. The results showed that superior genotypes were oprc46 in size of floret and oprc45 in vase life (10.33 days). The highest height of plant observed in oprc49 (176.00 cm) and the highest number of florets in the parent (16.5), respectively. The color range of flowers was orange, red, pink, peach and varied combination were observed in different genotypes. In most genotypes, the color of perianth tube (main color of macule) composed of spots and included white, red, and orange, these items indicated that the trait is dominant in genotypes. Evaluation of qualitative traits in genotypes showed that the most arrangement of floret in spike was one row and the most shape in front view of floret was star-shaped. The results showed that major of diversity in traits was due to genetic factors and the effect of environmental factors was less. The superior genotypes have the ability to be introduce as new cultivars. Self-pollination, Gladiolus, Breeding, Floret http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-148-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-148-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 Introducing the criteria of good acorn producer identification (Case study: Poldokhtar forests, Lorestan province) 38 46 FA Mehdi Pourhashemi Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangeland, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran pourhashemi@rifr-ac.ir Y 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.38 Sexual regeneration is one of the important topics in silviculture that is based on seed production. Seed production is very important in oak, because oak seeds (acorns) are main source of food for animals and human. Zagros forests located along the Zagros mountains in western and southern Iran are covered with different species of oak and Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) is the dominant species of these forests. Since acorn production ability of different oak trees is different due to differences in genetic structure and other influential factors such as site and climate, identification of good acorn producers is very important. In this research, 30 Brant’s oak trees were selected in a part of Poldokhtar forests in Lorestan province, Iran, and their acorn production were studied during 4 years (2014-2017) using crown count method. For sample trees, trunk and crown health characteristics, maturity, single-stem, minimum diameter of 15 cm and no touching of adjacent crowns were considered and their quantitative variables were measured. Two criteria were used to identify good acorn producers: trees that produce acorn each year and their average acorn production were higher than the average acorn production of the stand. Based on the results, the mean number of acorns of sample trees in 4 years was 476.6 and the lowest and highest acorn produced was 0 and 5696, respectively. Also, only one tree had the characteristics of the good acorn producer. The results of this study showed that even with 3 years of acorn production monitoring in Brant`s oak trees can be identified with acceptable accuracy of native good acorn producers. In this research, good acorn producers of Brant`s oak were identified in a part of the forests of Lorestan province and the necessary recommendations for their conservation is discussed. Acorn production, Brant`s oak, Good acorn producer, Lorestan province, Zagros forests http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-149-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-149-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo culture of three cultivars of African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha H. Wendi.) 47 61 FA Mahmoud Fatahi Faradonbe MS.C student, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ardakan University, P.O. Box 184, Ardakan, Iran mdehestani@ardakan.ac.ir N Maryam Dehestani Ardakani Assistant Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ardakan University, P.O. Box 184, Ardakan, Iran, Medicinal and Industrial Research Institute, Ardakan, Iran mdehestani@ardakan.ac.ir Y Kazem Kamali Aliabad Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, I.R. Iran. mdehestani@ardakan.ac.ir N 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.47 African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha H. Wendi.) is an important ornamental plant due to its diverse colors and shapes. The present study was conducted to compare in vitro and in vivo propagation of this plant. In in vitro culture, effect of five types of explants (leaf blade, petiole, petiole without epiderm, whole inflorescence and flower without petals) in three cultivars (‘Cool Blue’, ‘Rondita’ and ‘Knight Rider’) on MS culture medium contained 0.1 mg/l NAA and 1 mg/l BA were investigated. In in vivo culture, leaf cuttings of three cultivars were cultured in wrapped plastic dishes contained 70% peat-moss and 30% perlite. Finally, length of propagation time and number of buds in both methods were investigated. Results showed that in each cultivar, type of suitable explants for propagation is different. In cv. ‘Cool Blue’ none of five explants did show significant difference in regeneration percentage, bud production and number of leaves. In cv. ‘Rondita’ leaf blade 91.66%, petiole 91.66% and petiole without epiderm 83.33% of explants and in cv. ‘Knight Rider’ leaf blade, whole inflorescence, flower without petals and petiole explants 100% of explants showed the highest regeneration percentage. By leaf cutting propagation method, cv. ‘Cool Blue’ showed the maximum (8.25) number of plantlets. Comparison of growing period length of in vitro and in vivo methods showed that in all the cultivars, period of culture to flowering time in in vitro culture method was longer (180 to 230 days) than in vivo culture (120 to 140 days). However, the number of produced buds in in vitro culture were significantly higher than in vivo culture. Proliferation, Explant, Leaf cutting, Flowering, Plantlet http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-151-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-151-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 4 1 2019 10 1 Improving the growth characteristics of Ficus benjamina cv. Starlight by mushroom compost media 62 73 FA Fatemeh Bidarnamani Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Zabol f.bidarnamani65@uoz.ac.ir Y Zeinab Mohkami Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Zabol N Mehdi Shabanipoor Department of Entomology, Agricultural Science, Islamic Azad University Branch of Arak N 10.29252/flowerjournal.4.1.62 Application of suitable substrates is important for growing ornamental plants. Mushroom compost is considered as a waste in mushroom production. An experiment was done on completely randomized design by treatments containing 50% cocopeat + 50% mushroom compost, 50% compost from forest trees+ 50% mushroom compost, 50% perlite+ 50% mushroom compost, 50% leaf compost+ 50% mushroom compost and control substrate (70% agricultural soil+ 20% leaf compost+10% rice husk) in 4 months April, May, June and July to evaluate the effect of mushroom compost in mixing to other substrates on growing characteristics of Ficus benjamina. The result showed that the effect of substrate was significant on factors such as new leaf number, length and width of leaves while it wasn't significant for factors such as height, stem diameter and chlorophyll content. Also, the effect of time was significant on new leaf number, height, length and width of leaves, and stem diameter. The interaction of substrates and time were significant on stem diameter, new leaf number, length and width of leaves too, but they weren't significant on plant height. Evaluation of results showed that the best substrates for mixing to mushroom compost were cocopeat, perlite and compost from forest trees. Furthermore, growing characteristics were better in June and July than other months, while addition of stem diameter was more in May. Therefore, substrates such as perlite, cocopeat and compost from forest trees were recommended in combination with mushroom compost. Cocopeat, Growing, Mushroom Compost, Perlite, Substrate http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-157-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-157-en.pdf