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Two pot experiments were carried out during two successive winter seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 in a private commercial nursery located at Damanhour City, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of two synthetic cytokinins: benzyl amino purine (BAP) at 50 and 100 ppm and 6-furfuryl-aminopurine (kinetin) at 25 and 50 ppm, each alone, on the growth performance, yield and quality of three varieties (pulchella, Mesa Yellow and Lorenziana) of gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella). The experiment was designed as a split-plot design containing three replicates. The obtained results of the two seasons, generally, revealed that Gaillardia pulchella var. pulchella had the highest plant and flowering growth parameters, (viz. number of inflorescence per plant and flowering duration). While, Lorenziana variety showed the best diameter, longevity, fresh weight and dry weight of inflorescence per plant. Spraying gaillardia plants with BAP and kinetin significantly enhanced vegetative, root and flowering parameters compared to the control treatment. From that, BAP at 100 ppm or kinetin at 25 ppm recorded the highest mean values of the most recorded data and might be considered as optimal treatment for the production of high yield and quality of gaillardia plants under the environmental conditions of El-Beheira Governorate and other similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive plant species diminish ecosystem integrity and limit restoration success when they compete with reintroduced native species. The invasive annual forb halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus (M. Bieb.) C.A. Mey. [Chenopodiaceae]) is increasing in abundance on disturbed lands and energy extraction sites in the Intermountain West. Successful seedings in the presence of halogeton in the past relied on competitive nonnative forage species. Because disturbance increases nutrient availability in otherwise stressful environments, we hypothesized that annual native species may be more competitive at the seedling stage than are perennial natives. We hypothesized that annuals would increase aboveground growth in the presence of the exotic while perennials would increase allocation to root growth. We documented growth and survival of halogeton in the presence of 10 species native to the western North American basin shrublands and in monocultures. Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray (Poaceae), Gaillardia aristata Pursh (Asteraceae), and Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae) reduced survival of halogeton (< 30%). Sporobolus and Gaillardia had greater biomass while Helianthus grew taller in the presence of halogeton than when grown with conspecifics. Halogeton aboveground growth was less when grown with H. annuus and Cleome serrulata Pursh (Capparaceae) (2 annual forbs). Annuals that demonstrated rapid biomass production also limited survival of halogeton. In general, perennials did not differ in aboveground tissue allocation in competition with halogeton. We suggest reclamation seedling establishment may be improved by including native annuals with the potential for rapid aboveground growth on arid land restoration sites where halogeton seedbanks persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postemergence herbicides may facilitate weed control in native wildflower seed production fields. In a greenhouse study, we assessed the impact of 4 postemergence herbicides (linuron, halosulfuron, imazapic, and pendimethalin) on 4 wildflower species: white prairie clover (Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. [Fabaceae]), blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata Pursh [Asteraceae]), silverleaf phacelia (Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm. [Hydrophyllaceae], and prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. [Asteraceae]). Pendimethalin applied at 1 .9 kg ai/ha (1 .69 lb ai/ac) caused the least seedling injury across all species and therefore may help weed management in wildflower production systems. Although linuron applied at 0.56 kg ai/ha (0.5 lb ai/ac) appeared to be a promising alternative for weed control, oven-dry biomass for G. aristata was reduced by this herbicide. Imazapic and halosulfuron applied at 0.14 kg ai/ha (0.125 lb ai/ac) and 0.048 kg ai/ha (0.042 lb ai/ac), respectively, caused severe damage on wildflower seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reports on a study which was done regarding the impact which herbicides may on wildflowers which have been grown from seed. The article discusses a study which took place that looked at the growth of wildflowers grown in soil treated with herbicides. The impact herbicides had on different types of wildflowers are discussed.

Focuses on roadside wildflowers in Texas. History of highway beautification in Texas; Maintenance and management of Texas highways; Seeding rates and mixtures for wildflower seeding; Benefits of roadside wildflowers for the state; Texas Department of Transportation's wildflower hotline and internet site.