Physiologic aspects, propagation and growing management of
ornamental plants under protection for cut flower, pot
and garden plant production. Valuation
of the adaptability and ornamental value of shrubs and herbaceous
plants under low maintenence conditions and in special systems
(es.soilless colture and green
roofs). Agronomical suitability of compost and water
superadsorbers for the use as growing media: effects on plant
quality and environmental conseguences. Use of artificial
lighting to control growth and canopy shape of tropical plants for
indoor landscaping (CO2 assimilation, athocianins production,
canopy architecture modification).
- study of physiology, propagation and breeding of flower bulbs
for cut flower growth planning (agapanthus, amaryllis, eucharis,
freesia, gloriosa, lilium, nerina, tulip) and pot plant production
(zantedeschia, nerina), bulb management and naturalization
(tulip, allium).
- propagation, breeding and control of flowering time in orchids
for cut flower e.g. Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum.
- valuation of the influence of carbohydrate content in
rootstock, length of pre-rooting phase, leaf surface in scion and
IBA dose on rose vegetative propagation by ‘stenting'. The
researches has been carried out in collaboration with the
staff of the Wageningen University.
- morpho-physiological effects of growth regulators (retardants
e.g. ancymidol, flurprimidol, daminozide, paclobutrazol,
uniconazole and prohexadione-Ca) on ornamental pot plants
(herbaceous as nerina, philodendron, syngonium, dianthus,
lysianthus, chrysanthemum; semi-woody plants as hydrangea,
gardenia, kerria, lagerstroemia, viburnum, fucsia). At once, she
developed a research to define the influence of GA3 on flower
induction in Araceae.
- cultivar selection, propagation and valuation of agronomic
techniques for cut foliage (eucalyptus, viburnum), and dried flower
production..
- valuation of the adaptability and ornamental value of shrubs
under low maintenance conditions. Several species of pot plants
(e.g. poinsettia, pelargonium and fucsia) and shrubs (350 cvs of
ornamental shrubs and 400 cvs of old and modern groundcover
roses) have been analyzed.
- quali-quantitative characterization of essential oil in
flowers of old European roses.
- management of protected cultivations and technological
innovations greenhouse energy saving (efficiency of new films used
as screen) and reduction of salt leakage by zeolites in mediafor
pot plants.
- agronomic evaluation of several composts made from sewage
sludge and/or green woody wastes and determination of their
environmental impact by heavy metal leaching.
- valuation of the adaptability to high temperature and dried
conditions of spontaneous and garden-selected species of sedum,
dianthus, allium and tulips, for the development of a
self-sustainable plant mix for extensive roof greening.
- use of LEDs as light source to control growth, photosynthetic
activity and athocyanin synthesis in ornamental plants for indoor
landscaping.
- Valuation of growth and ability of ornamental deciduous
(lagerstroemia, rosa, forsythia) and evergreen shrubs ( es.
Arbutus unedo, Eleagnus ebbingei, Laurus nobilis,
Ligustrum spp., Photinia fraserii, Pittosporm tobira,
Viburnum spp.) to remove and accumulate heavy metals (es. Pb,
Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Al) from multicontamined soils in urban
environment.
-Use of water-superadsorbers in substrates to increase the water
efficiency use and reduce the maintenance costs during growing
ad use of pot plants.
