Qiansheng Li

Atlanta Botanical Garden · Southeastern Center for Conservation

Seed germination is among the most crucial and vulnerable stages in plant life cycles. Quercus marlipoensis is a critically endangered sclerophyllous oak. Only one population has ever been found worldwide in the tropical montane cloud forests of southeastern Yunnan, China, and it has shown difficulties with regeneration. However, its seed biologica...

Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca, synonym Luffa cylindrica) is a tropical and subtropical climbing plant belonging to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), natively cultivated in South and Southeast Asia. There are two main species of luffa grown in Florida: smooth luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.), primarily grown in small gardens and angled luffa (Luffa acuta...

Seed germination is among the most crucial and vulnerable stages in plant life cycles. Quercus marlipoensis is a critically endangered sclerophyllous oak endemic to the tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs) of southeastern Yunnan, China. Only one population has ever been found, and it has shown regeneration difficulties. However, its seed biologic...

Main conclusion The pistillate flowers of Lithocarpus dealbatus show two pollen tube (PT) arresting sites (the style-joining and micropyle) within the pistil during the postpollination-prezygotic stage. The PT, arrested at the pre-ovule stage, enhanced PT competition allowing the most compatible PTs to enter the ovary to ensure the highest fertiliz...

Nitrogen status in potato vines plays an important role in potato production. Leaf greenness meters (SPAD-502) and portable petiole sap Cardy meters are two types of convenient and affordable handheld meters for nitrate-N testing to monitor nitrogen status. Two years of field trials were conducted to compare the feasibility and reliability of the t...

Aeschynanthus longicaulis is a gesneriad that can be grown as a hanging basket or indoor pot plant. Fertilization practice is rarely researched in relation to the genus Aeschynanthus cultivation. This pot experiment is conducted on soilless media to optimize the best NPK ratio for the vegetative growth of A. longicaulis. Four fertilization levels (...

In angiosperms, during the double fertilization process, a series of delicate interactions between male and female gametophytes have a great impact on plant adaptation and evolution. Though the genus Quercus is notorious for interspecific hybridization, little is known about the associated physiological mechanisms. In this study, we observed the po...

Main conclusion Extensive histology of pistillate flowers revealed two pollen tube arresting sites (the style-joining and micropyle) within the pistil of Quercus acutissima during the postpollination–prezygotic stage, which reflects a unique female and male gametophyte recognition/selection mechanism. Abstract Sexual reproduction is among the most...

Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), a native species, has the potential as a blueberry rootstock due to its broader adaptation and less yield loss during mechanical harvesting. However, propagating sparkleberry on a large scale is difficult and little information about its seed germination can be found. To improve sparkleberry germination rate, a ge...

Quercus rex Hemsley is a gigantic tree up to 50 m tall in section Cyclobalanopsis. It grows in typical humid forests and co-occurs with other evergreen species in different genera of the family Fagaceae (Lithocarpus and Castanopsis). In SW Yunnan, only three isolated populations are known. The acorn is oblate and large with a diameter up to 5 cm an...

Vaccinium arboreum is adapted to soils with low organic matter and high pH. It is considered as a potential blueberry rootstock. The objective of this research was to establish a rapid mass propagation protocol of V. arboreum through axillary shoots proliferation with minimum somaclonal variation. Nodal segments from cuttings were cultured on Drive...

Biochar (BC) has the potential as a peat moss alternative for container plant growth. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of mixed hardwood BC, compost types, mycorrhizae, and fertigation on container-grown tomato and pepper growth. In experiment 1 (Exp1), BC at 50%, 70%, and 90% (vol.) were mixed with 5% vermicompost (VC) with...

Biochar (BC) has the potential to replace bark-based commercial substrates in the production of container plants. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of mixed hardwood biochar (HB) and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) to replace the bark-based commercial substrate. A bark-based commercial substrate was incorporated with e...

To investigate the potential of biochar as a propagation mix component, three experiments were conducted. A phytotoxicity test was conducted with water extract of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB), SBB mixes (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% SBB with 30% perlite (P) and the rest being peat moss (PM); by vol.), mixed hardwood biochar (HB) mixes (10%, 30%, 50%,...

Quercus arbutifolia, a native and vulnerable species of section Cyclobalanopsis with only five known populations in China, is suffering severe decline in population size. To increase the number of individuals for further conservation, a micropropagation protocol is investigated. Nodal segments were cut from 2-year-old-seedling shoots as explants fo...

Quercus aliena Blume, also known as the oriental white oak, is a widespread species in temperate forests of East Asia with significant ecological and economical importance. Establishing an efficient vegetative propagation system is important for its germplasm conservation and breeding program. Protocols of micropropagation from shoot tips and nodal...

A new species of Quercus (Fagaceae), Q. pseudosetulosa is described and illustrated from Dawanshan Island in Guangdong, China. The new species belongs to the Q. setulosa morpho-complex with glabrous leaf abaxial surface and acuminate tip, but it differs from other related species by its leaf with long petioles, large, thickly leathery, glabrous, th...

Aeroponics is a relatively new soilless culture technology which may produce food in space-limited cities or on non-arable land with high water-use efficiency. The shoot and root growth, root characteristics, and mineral content of two lettuce cultivars were measured in aeroponics, and compared with hydroponics and substrate culture. The results sh...

Aeroponics is a relatively new soilless culture technology, which may produce food in space limited cities or non-arable land with high water use efficiency. The shoot and root growth, root characteristics, mineral contents of two lettuce cultivars were measured in aeroponics, as compared with hydroponics and substrate culture. The results showed t...

Seven media amended with 30% to 75% (by volume) of spent mushroom compost (SMC) were trialed on two oak tree species to evaluate the possibility of using SMC for oak tree container seedling production by comparing the physical and chemical properties of media and assessing the plant growth of oak seedlings. The high electrical conductivity and pH o...

Leaf epidermal features are useful for elucidating the taxonomy and systematics of oak species. Quercus Group Ilex has a wide distribution mainly in subtropical areas of Eurasia with rich fossil records since the Oligocene, but no comprehensive study has ever been conducted on its diversity of leaf epidermal features. We compared the leaf epidermal...

Quercus lineata is native to Malaysia and Indonesia. During our studies on herbarium collections and field collections, two new distribution records of Q. lineata were found in Hainan island, South China and Central Vietnam. All the key diagnostic features of the specimens from China and Vietnam were consistent with the specimens collected from Mal...

Leaf architecture and epidermis features are useful to reveal the taxonomic identities of species in Quercus s.l.. For many years different opinions have existed on the taxonomic status of Quercus tungmaiensis, either as a synonym of Q. lanata or as an independent species. In this study, we compared the leaf epidermal features, leaf architecture an...

Leaf epidermal features are important taxonomic features in Quercus. We studied leaf epidermal features of 91 species and one forma of Quercus subgenus Cyclobalanopsis using light and scanning electron microscopy. Trichome terminology in oaks was assessed and clarified, aiming to score the epidermal features accurately for genus-wide comparison. Ni...

Natural hybridization is known to be a potential threat to rare and endangered species due to the risk of extensive genetic swamping or assimilation. However, hybridization may also beneficial for rare species by increasing their genetic variation and adaptive potential. Quercus austrocochinchinensis is an endangered oak species that overlaps geogr...

Aeschynanthus longicaulis plants are understory plants in the forest, adapting to low light conditions in their native habitats. To observe the effects of the high irradiance on growth and physiology, plants were grown under two different light levels, PPFD 650 μmol·m(-2) ·s(-1) and 150 μmol·m(-2) ·s(-1) for 6 months. Plants under high irradiance h...

Leaf epidermal features offer excellent diagnostic characteristics for genera of Fagaceae. The survey of leaf epidermal and acorn features of Quercus patkoiensis A. Camus, Quercus semiserratoides (Y.C. Hsu & H.W. Jen) C.C. Huang & Y.T. Chang, Q. semiserrata Roxb. and Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun revealed that the type material of Q. patkoi...

Based on a survey of literature and specimens, the lectotype of Quercus brandisiana Kurz is designated here. Information on its distribution, taxonomy and leaf epidermal features is given. Features that distinguish Q. brandisiana from closely related species are given and a key to their identification is provided.

The lectotypes of Quercus acuta Thunb. and Q. glauca Thunb. are designated. The fine details of leaf epidermal features of the two species are elaborated for future comparison with other closely related species.

Leaf epidermal features are considered to be taxonomically important in Fagaceae. In this study, we examined and compared leaf epidermal features of 112 specimens, representing 105 species and one variety of Lithocarpus from China and adjacent areas and Notholithocarpus densiflorus. As a result of the different interpretations of terms in previous...

The gesneriaceous perennial plant, Lysionotus serratus, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. It also has a great development potential as an ornamental plant with its attractive foliage and beautiful flowers. An efficient propagation and regeneration system via direct shoot organogenesis from leaf explant was established in this study. Hi...

This study evaluated the potential of cowpeat (composted dairy manure) for use as peat substitute in horticultural substrate for foliage plants seedling production. Cowpeat had larger size particles compared with Canadian peat, 38.2% particles with diameter between 0.85 to 2.83 mm. The bulk density and electric conductivity (EC) of media showed a l...

The name Quercus arbutifolia Hickel & A. Camus is lectotypifed. In addition, leaf epidermal features of Q. obovatifolia C. C. Huang, Q. arbutifolia and four other closely related species, Q. daimingshanensis (S. K. Lee) C. C. Huang, Q. merrillii Seemen, Q. litseoides Dunn and Q. tiaoloshanica Chun & W. C. Ko, were studied and compared using herbari...

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume, commonly known as crotons, are among the most popular ornamental foliage plants cultivated for either landscaping or interior-scaping. Currently, more than 300 cultivars are available; each has a distinct phenotype, particularly in leaf morphology. Thus far, there is no information regarding their genetic relationshi...

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume is one of the most popular ornamental foliage plants. It encompasses more than 300 recognized cultivars valued by their wide range of leaf shapes and vivid foliage colors. Thus far, only limited information is available regarding the genetic basis of their leaf morphological variation. This study investigated the chro...

Pachira aquatica Aubl. has recently been introduced as an ornamental foliage plant and is widely used for interiorscaping. Its growth and use under low light conditions, however, have two problems: leaf abscission and accelerated internode elongation. This study was undertaken to determine if production light intensity and foliar application of pac...

This study evaluated the potential for using cowpeat, a composted dairy manure, as a component of container substrates for foliage plant propagation. Using a commercial formulation (20% perlite and 20% vermiculite with 60% Canadian or Florida peat based on volume) as controls, peat was replaced by cowpeat at 10% increments up to 60%, which resulted...

This study evaluated the potential for using cowpeat, a composted dairy manure, as a component of container substrates for foliage plant propagation. Using a commercial formulation (20% perlite and 20% vermiculite with 60% Canadian or Florida peat based on volume) as controls, peat was replaced by cowpeat at 10% increments up to 60%, which resulted...

This study evaluated chilling sensitivity of eight popular Dieffenbachia cultivars. Tissue culture liners were potted in 15-cm diameter pots using Vergro Container Mix A and grown in a shaded greenhouse under maximum photosynthetically active radiation of 285 mu mol center dot m(-2)center dot s(-1) for 5 months. After determining growth indices, th...

Coal fly ash has been proposed to be an alternative to lime amendment and a nutrient source of container substrates for ornamental plant production. A great concern over this proposed beneficial use, however, is the potential contamination of surface and ground water by heavy metals. In this study, three fly ashes collected from Florida, Michigan,...

A simple and effective method for quantification of leaf variegation was developed. Using a digital camera or a scanner, the image of a variegated leaf was imported into a computer and saved to a file. Total pixels of the entire leaf area and total pixels of each color within the leaf were determined using an Adobe PhotoShop graphics editor. Thus,...