The levels of gibberellin-like substances in developing fruits and in developing inflorescence buds appear to have no relationship to abscission of the latter and consequent alternate bearing in pistachio ( Pistacia vera L.).

Rising costs of container substrates and increased interest in use of native wildflowers for landscapes necessitates the continued evaluation of production methods. The composition of a container substrate can directly affect not only propagation success but also future growth, development, and establishment. Thus, a number of container substrates have been formulated and marketed for improved drainage, root distribution, and plant growth. We evaluated performance of 9 wildflower species native to Florida in 4 commercially available substrates. Within each substrate treatment, plants were evaluated in the greenhouse for 20 wk prior to an additional 40-wk landscape evaluation. Survival, performance, and flower duration varied by treatment and species.

Published by the UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant College Program, this manual provides an overview of the coastal ecosystems along the Florida Panhandle and shows how dunes can be restored and enhanced in this region of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In addition to direct experience acquired over many years of field work and experimentation, authors Chris Verlinde, Mack Thetford, and Debbie Miller consulted peer-reviewed academic journals, government documents, and various online resources to create the manual. Undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Florida and local professionals worked together with the UF/IFAS researchers to develop and test practical restoration techniques for Florida’s dunes. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg156

Paronychia erecta (Chapm.) Shinners (squareflower [Caryophyllaceae]) is a perennial with attractive square-like inflorescences. We collected seeds from 3 locations (provenances) in northwest Florida including Navarre Beach (NB), Pensacola Beach (PB), and Perdido Key (PK) and subjected the seeds to seed fill tests (X-ray analysis), viability tests (tetrazolium staining), and germination experiments. In experiment 1, we determined effects of provenance (NB, PB, and PK) and temperature regimes (33/24, 29/19, 27/15, and 22/11 °C [91.4/75.2, 84.2/66.2, 80.6/59.0, and 71.6/51.8 °F] under a 12-h photoperiod) on germination speed and final germination proportion. In experiment 2, we determined effects of provenance (NB and PK) and photoperiod (0 or 12 h of light) on final germination (after 28 d). Seeds were 90 to 99% filled and 63 to 91% viable. In experiment 1, interactions of provenance × temperature were nonsignificant for final germination (P = 0.052) and germination speed (t50) (P = 0.3129), indicating the effects of provenance were similar across temperatures. Germination was high (94–99%) at 22/11, 27/15, and 29/19 °C and was reduced (27%) at 33/24 °C. Germination speed (t50) was quicker for 27/15 and 29/19 °C (10.3 and 11.0 d) compared to 22/11 °C (13.1 d). Seeds dry-stored for 21 d imbibed and germinated to 50% by 9 d, indicating a lack of physical and intermediate or deep physiological dormancy. Experiment 2 results revealed a significant provenance × photoperiod interaction (P < 0.0001) with 81 and 65% germination in light and 16 and 26% germination in dark for NB and PK, respectively. Results show promise for successful P. erecta seed propagation at average winter, spring, and fall Florida temperatures.