Development of a Model Mutagenesis System for Snapdragon

Different uses of snapdragons.

This 4-page document describes the advantages of snapdragon’s elegant transposon mutagenesis system and its connection to plant breeding. Written by Zhaoyuan Lian, Heqiang Huo, Sandra Wilson, and Jianjun Chen, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, August 2020.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep584

Key Plant, Key Pests: Oleander (Nerium oleander)

A polka-dot wasp moth. Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

This series of Key Plant, Key Pests publications are designed for Florida gardeners, horticulturalists, and landscape professionals to help identify common pests associated with common Florida flora. This new 5-page publication, the tenth in the series, helps identify the most common pests found on oleander. This publication provides information and general management recommendations for oleander aphids, oleander caterpillars, sphaerosis gall, oleander leaf scorch, and scale. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Jacqueline Bourdon, Caroline R. Warwick, and Jianjun Chen, and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep574

Key Plant, Key Pests: Chinese Fringe (Loropetalum chinense)

This 3-page document is one in the Key Plant, Key Pests series. It helps identify common pests found on the Chinese fringe. Written by Juanita Popenoe, Caroline R. Warwick, and Jianjun Chen and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, July 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep562

Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’)

‘Bostoniensis’, or Boston fern, is a popular sword fern variety that is one of the most important foliage crops in the ornamental plant industry. This 5-page article describes common Boston fern cultivars, provides guidelines for their culture and interior use, and lists physiological problems that may be encountered during production and interiorscape use. Written by Bill Schall, Heqiang Huo, and Jianjun Chen and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep550

Planting and Propagation of Snapdragons in Florida

Snapdragons are a common plant in Florida landscapes and are one of the top ten fresh-cut flowers in the nation. This 5-page publication, written by Heqiang Huo and Jianjun Chen, explores the planting and propagation of snapdragons in Florida landscapes. Published by the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture, January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep549

Chilling Injury in Tropical Foliage Plants: III. Dieffenbachia

Figure 1. Dieffenbachia ‘Octopus’ showing leaf yellowing from chilling injury. Credits: Jianjun Chen, UF/IFAS

A chilling temperature is any temperature that is cold enough to cause plant injury but not cold enough to freeze the plant. Chilling injury can occur to tropical foliage plants if greenhouses become too cold or if plants are exposed to chilling temperatures outside of the greenhouse during packing and shipping. Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, ranks among the top five most popular foliage plant genera produced and sold in the United States. This four-page fact sheet describes the chilling temperatures of Dieffenbachia cultivars in order to assist growers to better manage greenhouse temperatures. Written by Jianjun Chen and published by the Environmental Horticulture Department.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep530

Commercial Production of Ornamental Tropical Foliage Plants: Micropropagation

Figure 2. Plant tissue is placed into a sterile culture vessel. Credit: J. Chen, UF/IFASFlorida nursery operators need to understand plant propagation principles and techniques so they can grow enough plants for sale. Micropropagation is a way to culture plant tissue to rapidly propagate a large number of plants. This 4-page fact sheet presents an overview of micropropagation to help growers evaluate it as a propagation technique for their own nursery operations. Written by J. Chen and R. J. Henny, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, May 2015. (Photo: J. Chen, UF/IFAS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep520

Florida Foliage House Plant Care: Adenium swazicum

Figure 2. A light pink flowering form of Adenium swazicum in a 10-inch pot. Credit: R. J. HennyAdenium swazicum is a species of desert rose whose gray-green leaves appear folded and are velvety to touch. It is sought after by collectors for its graceful, weeping branches and delicate flowers that occur in various shades of pink. It is a smaller plant with weaker branches and stems compared to other Adenium species such as Adenium obesum or Adenium arabicum. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R.J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2014.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep499

Swirski mite (suggested common name) Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Arachnida: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

Figure 1. Adult Amblyseius swirskii feeding on thrips larvae. Credit: Steven Arthurs, University of FloridaAmblyseius is a beneficial predatory mite endemic to the Eastern Mediterranean region. This species is considered a generalist predator, and readily consumes small soft-bodied pest species as well as pollen or plant exudates. Amblyseius swirskii has attracted substantial interest as a biological control agent of mites, thrips and whiteflies in greenhouse and nursery crops and is currently reared and sold commercially in Europe and North America for this purpose. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Mahmut Dogramaci, Garima Kakkar, Vivek Kumar, Jianjun Chen, and Steven Arthurs, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1001

Florida Foliage House Plant Care: ZZ Plant

Figure 1. Zamioculcas zamiifolia, commonly called "ZZ plant," performs well indoors. Credit: R. J. HennyZZ plant is enjoyed for its unique appearance, its ability to grow under low light conditions, and its tolerance to drought. ZZ’s naturally glossy leaves are so shiny that the plant appears to have been polished. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, July 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep480

Florida Foliage House Plant Care: Spathiphyllum

Figure 1. Spathiphyllum 'Sweet Pablo' in a 2-gallon container. Credit: Gary HennenMost Spathiphyllum are seen in flower when at market. The attractive white blooms, called spathes, are long lasting. With proper plant care, Spathiphyllum may produce blooms year after year. Spathiphyllum is a very attractive house plant even when not in bloom and adapts well to home and patio environments. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, June 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep477

Florida Foliage House Plant Care: Adenium obesum (ENH1213/EP474)

Figure 1. Adenium obesum 'Blooming Fool' in full flower growing in a 10-inch pot.Adenium obesum and its many hybrids are often seen in retail garden centers. They have vibrant floral displays in shades of red, white, pink, and yellow. Flowers average 2–3 inches in diameter and may be single, double, or even triple. The plants must be stationed in high light, 6 hours or more per day, to maintain flowering during the summer. Adenium obesum makes a dramatic specimen for a deck or patio but should be moved indoors in winter. This 2-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, May 2013.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep474

Using Gibberellic Acid and Ethephon to Induce Flowers on Tropical Foliage Plants (ENH1186/EP447)

Figure 4. Bromeliad growers routinely apply Florel® treatments to induce shiny, colorful inflorescences.Even though they are prized for their beautiful leaves, flowers are induced in tropical foliage plants for breeding and for marketing purposes. This 6-page fact sheet discusses several factors to consider when developing protocols for inducing blooms in tropical foliage crops. Written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, October 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep447

New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Aglaonema ‘Leprechaun’ (ENH1185/EP446)

Aglaonema 'Leprechaun'This dwarf, more highly branched and rounder cultivar of Aglaonema 'Silver Bay' developed as a whole-stem mutation that was found within a large population of Aglaonema 'Silver Bay' plants. This 4-page fact sheet was written by R. J. Henny and J. Chen, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, August 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep446

New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Pothos ‘Pearls and Jade’ (ENH1180/EP441)

Pothos plants are tree-climbing vines native to the Solomon Islands, but they flower seldom and never under greenhouse conditions or in interior environments. As a result, no hybridized pothos cultivars are known to exist. Because of the barriers to hybridization, a program was initiated at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) in Apopka, Florida, to induce mutations in order to develop new pothos varieties. Pothos ‘Pearls and Jade’® (Fig.1) is a mutation selection from a group of ‘Marble Queen’ plants. This 4-page fact sheet describing the new hybrid was written by R. J. Henny, J. Chen, and T. A. Mellich, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, March 2011.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep441

ENH1173/EP434 New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Dieffenbachia ‘Sparkles’

ENH1173, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by R. J. Henny, J. Chen, and T. A. Mellich, describes the origin, description, and availability of this commercial foliage cultivar characterized by bright leaf color, and attractive paisley mottled appearance. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, September 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep434

ENH1168/EP429 Cold Protection of Foliage Plants in Shadehouses and Greenhouses

ENH1168, a 10-page illustrated fact sheet by Robert H. Stamps, Jianjun Chen, Seenivasan Natarajan, and Lawrence R. Parsons, informs ornamental foliage plant growers about various cold protection measures that can be adopted before and during cold events to avoid or minimize losses due to chilling or cold injury. Includes glossary and references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep429

ENH1167/EP428 New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: Aglaonema Moonlight Bay

ENH1167, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by R.J. Henny, J. Chen, and T.A. Mellich, describes Aglaonema Moonlight Bay, a new ornamental foliage plant that is a result of a mutation discovered in the Aglaonema Silver Bay plant — description, availability, and origin. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, July 2010.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep428

ENH1091/EP355 New Florida Foliage Plant Cultivar: ‘Emerald Bay’ Aglaonema

ENH-1091, a 3-page illustrated fact sheet by R.J. Henny, J. Chen, and T.A. Mellich, describes a new cultivar of this important foliage plant which shares many traits of the popular 'Golden Bay', but without the yellow background coloration in the leaves and petioles — its origin, description, performance, and availability. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, February 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP355

ENH1096/EP360 Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of African Violets (Saintpaulia ionantha)

EP1096, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by J. Chen and R. J. Henny, provides guidelines for the commercial production of African violets including propagation, cultural requirements, and common physiological problems. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, February 2009.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP360