Progress 02/01/12 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The studies performed under the project served a wide array of individuals, groups, and market segments. This includes the ornamental, fruit, vegetable, and biofuel plant nursery industry, including nursery owners and growers; the biofuel industry, including companies involved with logistics of fuel storage, transportation and distribution; extension agents and local communities, including plant and orchid societies; undergraduate and graduate students, including undergraduate interns and international visiting students; post-doctoral associates, including international scholars. Efforts included research resulting in a series of publications (refereed and non-refereed); workshops and presentations at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels to scientific meetings, conferences, universities, students, and communities; couses developed at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both live and online. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided a series of opportunities for training and professional development throughout the years. Several graduate students benefited from this project by obtaining specific training on the techniques described and subsequently applying the knowledge acquired to their respective fields, whether academia or industry. The project also provided opportunities for undergraduate students to gain knowledge through internships on specific projects in the areas above described. In addition, the project attracted post-doctoral associates, including a number of international visiting professors (scholars) who contributed to the project progress. International visiting graduate students also gained knowledge through specific projects, mainluy at the Ph.D. level. Workshops, conferences, seminars, academic programs and other activities also provided additional opportunities for training and professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to a variety of communities of interest at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. At the local level, results have been presented in local plant societies, such as, for example, orchid societies in South Florida and/or orchid shows and exhibits. At the state level, results have been presented in the annual conference of the Florida State Horticulture Society. At the regional level, results have been presented in meetings under the Southeastern Conference (i.e., biofuel conference). At the national level, results have been presented at the Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences and the Society for In Vitro Biology. Internationally, results have been presented to various conferences, universities and other research institutions across Central and South America. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The use of advance techniques for propagation of plants have provided the industry with new tools for improving production. Such tools include the use of bioreactors for large-scale in vitro mass propagation of uniform clean plant material for the industry. For example, Florida Crystals has adopted the technology of bioreactors for large-scale production of sugarcane seedlings, which are uniform in size and clean of pathogens (diseases). The company started with a production of 500,000 plants on year one, with a projection of 2 million plants by year three. Cryopreservation techniques involve long-term storage of plant material under ultra-low temperatures. The techniques and protocols developed in this project are assisting with the conservation of endangered orchid species, both at the national and international levels. They also assist growers by providing a means of long-term storage of unique plant material for use in breeding and genetic improvement programs. The use of traditional propagation and breeding techniques allowed the selection of superior cultivars of jatropha for subsequent breeding and the production of jatropha hybrid plants with superior traits. Jatropha is a plant with potential for biofuel production, including biodiesel and bio jet fuel. Genetic improvement programs are needed for jatropha in order to make it commercially feasible as a biofuel crop. In addition, jatropha can provide an alternative to farmers for crops that are subject to major disease pressures, such as citrus in Florida.
Publications
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Vendrame, W.A. and A. A. Khoddamzadeh. 2016. Orchid Biotechnology. In: Janick, J. (ed.). Horticultural Reviews Vol. 44 pp. 173-228.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Santos D.N., J.L. Ferreira, T.A. Setotaw, G.M. A. Can�ado, M. Pasqual, L.C.N. Londe, H.M. Saturnino, and W.A. Vendrame. 2016. Genetic structure from the oldest jatropha germplasm bank of Brazil and contribution for the genetic improvement. An. Acad. Bras. Ciencias. 88(4):2363-2374.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Ara�jo, M.C.R., E.A. Chagas, M.I.R. Garcia, S.T.S. Pinto, P.C. Chagas, W. Vendrame, A.B.M. Filho, and O.M. Souza. 2016. Micropropagation of ca�ari under different nutritive culture media, antioxidants, and levels of agar and pH. African J. Biotech. 15(33):1771-1780.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Pinheiro Costa, A., W. Vendrame, S. Nietsche, J. Crane, K. Moore, and B. Schaffer. 2016. Branching, flowering and fruiting of Jatropha curcas treated with Ethephon or Benzyladenine and Gibberellins. An. Acad. Brasil. Ci�ncias - DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201620140635
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Santos D.N., J.L. Ferreira, M. Pasqual, A.L. Generoso, T.A. Setotaw, G.M. A. Can�ado, and W.A. Vendrame. 2016. Population structure of jatropha and its implication for the breeding program. Gen. Mol. Res. 15(1): DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15017770
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Tian, W., D. Paudel, W.A. Vendrame, and J. Wang. 2016. Enriching genomic resources and marker development from transcript sequences of Jatropha curcas for microgravity studies. Int. J. Genomics.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Cardoso, J., J.A.T. da Silva, and W.A. Vendrame. 2016. Impacts of deforestation on some orchids of S�o Paulo State, Brazil. Natureza & Conserva��o Brazilian J. Nature Conserv. 14:28-32.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:This project includes studies that serve a variety of individuals, groups, and market segments. Studies with sugarcane have provided the sugarcane industry with relevant information to start their own facilities for mass clonal propagation of clean plant material for the industry. Efforts included mass clonal propagation of sugarcane using bioreactor technology. Studies with bioreactors also included orchids, bromeliads, and bananas, serving undergraduate and graduate students, local communities, minor and major growers, orchid societies, and orchid shows. Additional efforts included research performed by international graduate and undergraduate students, presentations delivered to orchid societies and at orchid meetings, and horticultural society conference. A full semester online course on orchid biology and production was delivered, including innovative video techniques e activities. Studies with fruits served fruit growers nationally and internationally, including banana growers in Homestead and camu-camu farmers in Brazil. Such efforts provided opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students including learning experience on new technologies, through research projects and internships. Changes/Problems:Our only problem was the limited responses obtained during the project with micropropagation of camu-camu, a Brazilian medicinal plant. The species showed to be recalcitrant and very difficult to propagate. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project allowed me to supervise training opportunities for high school and undergraduate student interns during summer, including two international visiting undergraduate students and an international visiting professor. Professional development was obtained through participation in two international conferences by invitation, one state conference, and several local meetings/seminars. These included the Florida State Horticultural Society, the Brazilian Symposium on Orchid Culture, and the Brazilian Conference on Plant Tissue Culture and Ornamental Plant Production. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were presented at different national and international events, as listed below: International (2) Vendrame, W. A. 2015. Cryopreservation of Orchid Seeds, Protocorms and Pollen. II Brazilian Symposium on Orchid Cultivation. March 2-6, UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil. (Invited) Vendrame, W. A. 2015. Cryopreservation of Orchids. Brazilian Conference on Plant Tissue Culture and Floriculture. September 7-11, ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. (Invited) National (1) Vendrame, W. A. 2015. Cryopreservation of Orchid Seeds, Protocorms and Pollen. Annual Conference of the Florida State Horticultural Science, June 1-4, St. Augustine, Florida. Local (3) · Vendrame, W.A. 2015. In Vitro Propagation of Pitaya. Pitaya Workshop, Miami-Dade Extension Office, April 14, Homestead, Florida. (Invited). · Vendrame, W.A. 2015. History of Orchids and Research Program at TREC. Ft. Lauderdale Orchid Society Meeting, April 13, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. (Invited). · Vendrame, W.A. 2015. Orchid History and Research at TREC-University of Florida. Tamiami International Orchid Festival, Jan. 18, Miami, Florida. (Invited). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have proposed sponsored program agreements to address the following research projects: Olive tree production using bioreactor technology, in collaboration with a private grower. Field trials of BAM-FX with tomatoes and jatropha, a bioavailable mineral solution for enhanced plant growth and yield. Field trials with IQ-Forte, a biofertilizer used to improve plant growth and yield. Micropropagation of Fiji Dwarf coconut using bioreactors. Micropropagation of hybrid orchids using bioreactors. As for educational materials, we are proposing the development of a stand-alone online orchidology course at the graduate level, therefore separating it from the current hybrid undergraduate/graduate system. Currently, 3 papers have been accepted for publication in 2016, with another 6 papers submitted and under review. Results of research projects should be presented at different conferences, including ASHS and FSHS.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The main objective of this project is to address important issues related to the propagation of plants using traditional (macropropagation) and advanced (micropropagation) techniques. Specifically, the project aims at improving propagation techniques, therefore allowing the production of improved plant material quality. We also aim at providing new plant material to industry, developing protocols for the preservation of genetic material for breeding programs using advanced preservation techniques (cryopreservation), elucidating environmental factors that affect plant growth and development, establishing breeding programs for new cultivar development, and evaluating the performance of plants propagated under different techniques. This project serves a wide audience, including local plant nursery growers, large national and international plant growers, plant breeding companies and growers, micropropagation laboratory facilities, conservation and preservation units (i.e., botanical gardens), and biofuel plant growers and biofuel companies (i.e., jatropha improvement). During the past year, protocols for the in vitro propagation of orchid, bromeliads, sugarcane and banana were developed and improved using bioreactor technology, through the process of temporary immersion. Through this system, explants and culture medium are placed in separate containers. Using an online program system provided by the bioreactor company, we allow the medium to be inserted into the container with explants, therefore providing periods of immersion into the liquid medium containing nutrients and plant growth regulators. The periods of immersion vary from 3 to 5 minutes, with 5-6 immersions per day (24-h period). Cultures are maintained under controlled temperature (25 +/- 2 C) under LED lights with wavelength light emissions selected specifically for the photosynthetic process, therefore optimizing growth. Using this system, we obtained high rates of multiplication in vitro at rates of 6X for orchids, 8X for bromeliads, 9X for bananas, and 10X for sugarcane plants. This led us to an agreement with a company for the production of 20,000 sugarcane plants and transfer of technology to the industry for commercial application. By the end of the year, a new project was initiated with bioreactors for the production of lethal yellow resistant Fiji Dwarf coconut plants. Cultures are currently being established in traditional in vitro systems for the subsequent transfer to bioreactors.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Nietsche, S., W.A. Vendrame, J.H. Crane, and M.C.T. Pereira. 2015. Variability of reproductive traits in Jatropha curcas L. accessions during early developmental stages under warm subtropical conditions. Global Change Biology-Biotechnology. 7(1):122-134.
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Takane, R.J., S. S. Yanagisawa, and W.A. Vendrame. 2015. Cultivo moderno de orqu�deas: Phalaenopsis e seus h�bridos. Express�o Gr�fica e Editora, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. 200 pp. (In Portuguese)
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The studies performed under the project serve a wide array of individuals, groups, and market segments. Studies with jatropha serve the biofuel industry and the market for sustainable alternative energy. It also serves the nursery industry by providing guidelines for the selection and improvement of jatropha for biofuel production. Efforts included work performed by a graduate student to elucidate the effects of microgravity on differential gene expression in jatropha. Studies with orchids serve undegraduate and graduate students, local communities, local growers, including minor and major growers, orchid societies, orchid shows. Efforts included research performed by an international graduate student, presentations delivered to orchid societies and at orchid meetings, horticulture society conference and cryobiology/in vitro society conference. Additional efforts included the development of a full semester online course on orchid biology and production, with innovative video techniques e activities; and an orchid short course delivered over a two-day period which provide experiential learning opportunities on orchids to undegraduate students from different minors and majors. Studies with fruits served the fruit growers in the region, as well as outreach to growers in other countries. The study with camu-camu provides a graduate student with learning experience on new technologies, such as bioreactors, and will provide the student with training capacity for applying her knowledge upon her return to her home country, Brazil. Studies with bioreactors serve the local nursery industry by providing new technology for the micropropagation of plants. Efforts included the production of sugarcane, bananas, orchids, bromeliads, and jatropha. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project provided training opportunities for high school and undegraduate student interns, under my mentorship. It also provided professional development for graduate students, including one international visiting graduate student. Professional development was also obtained through two international conferences, one national conference, and three local meetings/seminars. These included the American Society for Horticultural Science, Florida State Horticultural Society, the Society for In Vitro Biology, the Society for Cryobiology, local presentations in Florida, and International Conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations were performed, mostly by invitation, whereby results from this project were disseminated. These are listed below: International (2) Vendrame, W. A. 2014. Cryopreservation of Orchid Seeds, Protocorms and Pollen. 2014 World Forum on Biology – Joint Meeting of the Society for In Vitro Biology and the Society for Cryobiology, May 31 – Jun. 4, Savannah, GA. (Invited) Vendrame, W. A. 2014. Advances in Jatropha Research at the University of Florida. II PanAmerican Workshop of Innovation for the Sustainable Production of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas), Mar. 11-13, San Jose, Costa Rica. (Invited) National (1) Vendrame, W. A. 2014. Cryopreservation of Orchid Seeds, Protocorms and Pollen. Artificial Seed and Cryopreservation in Horticultural Crops Workshop, Annual Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science, July 28-31, Orlando, Florida. (Invited) Local (3) Vendrame, W.A. 2014. Orchid Tissue Culture and Cryopreservation. Fourth Annual Cattleya Symposium, Sunrise Orchid Society. Aug. 9, Fort Pierce, Florida. (Invited). Vendrame, W.A. 2014. Orchid Short Course at the University of Florida. Boca Raton Orchid Society Meeting, Feb. 13, Boca Raton, Florida. (Invited). Vendrame, W.A. 2014. Orchid History and Research at TREC-University of Florida. Tamiami International Orchid Festival, Jan. 25, Miami, Florida. (Invited). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will continue performing additional experiments to accomplish the goals proposed in the project. Studies to be performed include: 1. Finalization of gene expression studies on jatropha cultures submitted to microgravity, including manuscript preparation by Ph.D. graduate student, Ms. Wenlan Tian. 2. Publication of manuscript on the jatropha transcriptome sequencing, as part of the Ph.D. program for graduate student, Ms. Wenlan Tian. 3. Improve in vitro clonal propagation of jatropha through several trials on different media composition and the utilization of bioreactors. 4. Evaluation of jatropha hybrid plants in the field, with subsequent plant patenting and release, pending funding availability. 5. Expand studies with bioreactors to other plants, including orchids, bromeliads, and ornamental foliage plants. 6. Establish a viable and complete protocol for the in vitro propagation of Camu-Camu by evaluating somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis using traditional in vitro systems, and bioreactors. 7. Initiate additional cryopreservation studies for orchid seeds and ornamental cactaceae seeds in collaboration with a visiting international scholar, Dr. Roberto Jun Takane, from the Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project addresses major issues related to the propagation of plants using traditional (macropropagation) and advanced (micropropagation) techniques. The project aims at improving propagation techniques, therefore improving plant material quality and/or providing new plant material to industry, developing protocols for the preservation of genetic material for breeding programs using advanced preservation techniques (cryopreservation), elucidating environmental factors that affect plant growth and development, establishing breeding programs for new cultivar development, and evaluating the performance of plants propagated under different techniques. This project serves a wide audience, including local plant nursery growers, large national and international plant growers, plant breeding companies and growers, micropropagation laboratory facilities, conservation and preservation units (i.e., botanical gardens), and biofuel plant growers and biofuel companies (i.e., jatropha improvement). Experiments with Jatropha curcas were performed to optimize a protocol for the micropropagation of jatropha plants from explants that were exposed to microgravity. In vitro plantlets were developed with healthy roots and shoots and are currently undergoing acclimatization for transfer into the greenhouse. The genetic variability in reproductive traits was identified in jatropha accessions. This allows the selection of superior genotypes based on just a few reproductive traits, making it a faster process for the selection of superior trees and their utilization in breeding and genetic improvement programs. Results have been published, as indicated in publications. Hybrid jatropha plants were generated through crosses performed between selected parents. Plants are currently in the field for field performance evaluations. Cryopreservation protocols were elucidated and currently are being utilized in Brazil and other countries for the preservation of endangered orchids. Results have been published, as indicated in publications. Plant growth regulators were evaluated in potted orchids and results show that certain levels of selected plant growth regulators can assist in regulating height in potted orchids attending market demands. Results have been published, as indicated in publications. Studies showed that the length of pollen storage and flowering stage directly affects pollen viability, fruit set and fruit quality in Annona and Atemoya. Results have been published, as indicated in publications. A protocol was developed for the first time for the disinfection and in vitro culture establishment of camu-camu, a plant of high medicinal importance in the Amazon, with a vitamic-C content 50 times higher than in citrus. The utilization of new bioreactor technology was evaluated to assess the large scale in vitro propagation of clean plant material for the industry. A total of 2,000 plants of sugarcane and about 800 plants of banana were produced within a period of 6 months, showing feasibility of the technique and new technology.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Teixeira, J.A., S. Zeng, R.F. Galdiano Jr., J. Dobr�nski, J.C. Cardoso, and W. A. Vendrame. 2014. In vitro conservation of Dendrobium germplasm. Plant Cell Rep. 33:1413-1423.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Vendrame, W., R.T. Faria, M. Sorace, S.A. Sahyun. 2014. Orchid Cryopreservation Review. Ci�nc. Agrotec. 38(3):213-229.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Galdiano Jr., R.F., E.G.M. Lemos, R.T. Faria, and W. Vendrame. 2014. Seedling development and evaluation of genetic stability of cryopreserved Dendrobium hybrid mature seeds. Applied Biochem. Biotech. 172(5):2521-2529
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Pereira, M.C.T., J.H. Crane, W. Montas, S. Nietsche, and W.A. Vendrame. 2014. Effects of storage length and flowering stage of pollen influence its viability, fruit set and fruit quality in Red and Lessard Thai sugarapple (Annona squamosa) and Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola � A. squamosa). Sci. Hort. 178:55-60.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wanderley, C.S., R.T. Faria, M.U. Ventura, and W. Vendrame. 2014. The effect of plant growth regulators on height control in potted Arundina graminifolia orchids. Acta Sci. 36(4):489-494.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Nietsche, S., W.A. Vendrame, J.H. Crane, and M.C.T. Pereira. 2014. Variability of reproductive traits in Jatropha curcas L. accessions during early developmental stages under warm subtropical conditions. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy. 7(1):122-134
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience includes: a. Undegraduate student interns who performed some limited work in the laboratory b. Graduate students who performed research work related to the project c. Undregraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and company representatives who attended talks, seminars and/or conferences where the results of the project were presented, including national and international audience d. Visiting graduate students and researchers from other countries who performed research in the laboratory Changes/Problems: 1. Using a different approach to the in vitro propagation of jatropha to improve multiplication rates and rooting of produced shoots. This has been a challenge due to technical difficulties. 2. Documentation of jatropha selections for future cultivar registration and release. This has been delayed due to the delay in the current private sponsor in renewing the research agreement, which resulted in lack of funding What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has allowed training and professional development of several individuals, as follows: 1. Visiting international graduate students 2. Visiting international research scholars (faculty from international universtities) 3. Graduate students (UF) 4. Undegraduate student interns (UF) 5. High school interns 6. Laboratory assistant biologists How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results have been disseminated through presentations at conferences and meetings: 1. Regional conferences - Florida State Horticultural Society, SEC Symposium 2. National conferences - American Society for Horticultural Sciences, American Society for Gravitational and Space Research 3. International conferences - I Brazilian Orchid Smposium (Brazil), International Biofuels Symposium (Peru) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? 1. Continue development of optimized protocol for in vitro clonal propagation of jatropha 2. Continued evaluation of field performance of jatriopha hybrids 3. Documentation of characteristics of jatropha selections for future cultivar registration and release 4. Continue involvement of students, interns and visiting scholars in related projects
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1. and 6. Breeding of jatropha has been progressed with the planting of hybrids, resulting from crosses performed in the previous years (2011/2012). Hybrids are currently being evaluated for field performance and characteristics of interest for future cultivar registration and release. Also, accessions were selected and evaluated for a number of phenotypical descriptors, resulting in two publications. 2. A protocol for micropropragation of jatropha ir currently being oprimized aiming mass clonal propagation of hybrids (reported in 1.) 3. Cyropreservation of orchid seeds and protocorms were performed with evaluation of specific protocols and cryoprotectants, aiming at improved recovery and regeneration of plants. The results were successful and resulted in two publications. 4. Jatropha cuttings were evaluated in the greenhouse for growth and development, with successful results. 5. For all experiments involving micropropagation and cryopreservation, environmental aspects were evaluated. Specifically for jatropha in vitro cultures that were submitted to microgravity studies, environmental conditions of spaceflight hardware were evaluated resulting in a publication.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Nietsche, S., W.A. Vendrame, J.H. Crane, and M.C.T. Pereira. 2013. Variability of reproductive traits in Jatropha curcas L. accessions during early developmental stages under warm subtropical conditions. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Guimar�es, J.F.R., S. Nietsche, M.R. Costa, G.B.R. Moreira, M.C.T. Pereira, W. Vendrame. 2013. Genetic diversity in sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) by using RAPD markers. Revista Ceres. 60(3):301-305.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Vendrame, W.A. and A. Pinares. 2013. Characterizing parameters of Jatropha curcas cell cultures for microgravity studies. Advances in Space Research. 51:2069-2074.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Galdiano Jr., R.F., E.G.M. Lemos, and W. Vendrame. 2013. Cryopreservation, early seedling development, and genetic stability of Oncidium flexuosum Sims. Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture. DOI 10.1007/s11240-013-0304-4.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Nietsche, S., W.A. Vendrame, J.H. Crane, and M.C.T. Pereira. 2013. Assessment of reproductive characteristics of Jatropha curcas L. in south Florida. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy. DOI 10.1111/gcbb.12051.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Experiments were performed on the assessment of jatropha curcas for biofuel production and its development as a feasible bioenergy crop. Experiments included; 1) the evaluation of variability in floral, fruit and seeds traits in jatropha accessions under warm subtropical conditions; 2) the use of plant growth regulators to induce branching and flowering in jatropha; 3) assessment of pollination and reproductive characteristics in jatropha accessions; 4) assessment of the genetic diversity in jatropha using molecular markers; 5) assessment of flight hardware for microgravity studies with jatropha in vitro cultures; 6) evaluation of differential gene expression in jatropha in vitro cultures exposed to microgravity; 7) development of an in vitro propagation protocol for jatropha. Additional experiments included; 1) the evaluation of cryoprotectants for the cryopreservation of orchid seeds and Protocorms; 2) induction of polyploidy in orchid hybrids; and 3) clonal propagation of hybrid dragon fruit. Events: Results from all experiments have been presented at different conferences, such as those for the American Society for Horticultural Science, Florida State Horticultural Society, American Astronautical Society, and local presentations at IFAS research centers in Florida, such as TREC and EREC. Services: Undergraduate and graduate students, both local and international, visiting scientists and interns were mentored for different projects involving jatropha Products: Two graduate students received their Master's degrees under this program, while another student continues working towards a PhD degree. Dissemination: Presentations to orchid societies, research centers and other groups were performed, whereby results from this project were disseminated. Collaborative efforts with faculty statewide, as well as the private sector were established for continued research efforts with jatropha in the state of Florida. PARTICIPANTS: Costa, Anne P. - UF M.Sc. graduate student - jatropha and plant growth regulators Galdiano Jr., Renato F. - Visiting Ph.D. student from UNESP, Brazil - orchid cryopreservation Condon, Warren - M.Sc. graduate student - clonal propagation of hybrid dragon fruit Nietsche, Silvia - Visiting Professor from UNIMONTES, Brazil - morphologic, phenotypic, and genetic variability in jatropha Crane, Jonathan - UF Professor, Co-PI and collaborator on various jatropha projects Wilkie, Ann - UF Professor, collaborator on evaluation of jatropha Moore, Kymberly - UF Professor, collaborator on evaluation of jatropha TARGET AUDIENCES: Internships were provided to UF undergraduate students, as well as for high school students PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Outcomes and impacts of this program are related to different experiments: 1) Morphological, phenotypic and genetic variability were identified in jatropha accessions, which has great impact for selection of superior genotypes and their utilization in breeding and genetic improvement programs. Superior genotypes were identified and selected, and utilized in crosses to generate hybrids. 2) Plant growth regulators seem not to affect branching and flowering as expected. As a result, efforts for increasing flowering and/or seed production are being redirected towards flower physiology and synchronous flowering for increased yields. 3) Flight hardware assessment allowed the proper design and successful utilization with jatropha in vitro cultures for microgravity experiments. 4) Differential gene expression was observed in jatropha in vitro cultures exposed to microgravity. Such changes can contribute to the genetic improvement of jatropha as a commercial biofuel crop in Florida. 5) Orchid seeds were successfully cryopreserved using a low toxicity cryoprotectant, phloroglucinol, with excellent results. The work has direct impact for orchid production and preservation. 6) Hybrid dragon fruit plants were successfully cloned and propagated in vitro. New dragon fruit hybrids can provide new fruit cultivars to the market, including larges fruits with improved taste.
Publications
- Galdiano Jr., R.F., E.G.M. Lemos, R.T. Faria, and W. Vendrame. 2012. Cryopreservation of Dendrobium hybrid seeds and protocorms as affected by phloroglucinol and Supercool X1000. Scientia Horticulturae. 148:154-160.
- Vendrame, W.A., and A. Pinares. 2012. Optimizing parameters of Jatropha curcas cell cultures for microgravity studies. Submitted to Advances in Space Research.
- Costa, A.P., W.A. Vendrame, S. Nietsche, J.H. Crane, K. Moore, and B. Schaffer. 2012. Effects of ethephon and benzyladenine plus gibberellins on branching, flowering, and fruiting in jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.). Submitted to Crop Science.
- Nietsche, S., W.A. Vendrame, J.H. Crane, and M.C.T. Pereira. 2012. Floral display and mode of reproduction in Jatropha curcas L. in south Florida. Submitted to the Agronomy Journal.
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