Sprouts are expected to be a promising crop for closed plant factories that use artificial light, because of the fact that sprouts can be grown using only freshwater and low-light conditions. Therefore, we focused on Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.), which has high nutritive value and is currently uncultivated as a sprout for industrial or commercial purposes. This study aimed to understand the effects of imbibition time and water temperature on germination and growth of Tartary buckwheat sprouts. The effects of imbibition time and water temperature on seed germination were evaluated by measuring variations in the coefficients of uniformity, days of germination, and germination rate. The study utilized two imbibing conditions. First, the seeds were imbibed in tap water and maintained at 25 ℃ for various durations (1, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hr), leaving some seeds untreated as a control (0 hr). Secondly, the seeds were imbibed in water of various temperatures (4, 16, 20, 25, and 30 ℃) for 3 hr, leaving some seeds were not imbibed in water as a control and to measure the coefficients of uniformity, days of germination, and germination rate. As a result, the coefficients of uniformity and days of germination of the seeds were improved by the imbibing treatment consisting of a water temperature of 25 ℃ for 3 hr compared to the control. Furthermore, hypocotyl length and fresh weight of the sprouts tended to increase when an imbibing treatment was used in comparison to the control. On the other hand, the germination rate and dry weight of the imbibed seeds were not significantly different from those of the control seeds. Thus, our results suggest that imbibing of seeds could be effective for promoting germination and growth in Tartary buckwheat sprouts.

We compared the effects of intermittent low temperature storage and short day treatment on the growth, flowering, and plant form of Begonia X hiemalis Fotsch. ‘Netia’ during forcing culture targeting the harvesting of flowers in mid-September and mid-October. Intermittent low temperature storage was conducted using young potted plants and comprising four cycles of 4-days refrigeration at 10 ℃ in the dark followed by 3-4 days in greenhouse conditions. Short day treatment was conducted by shading of the whole cultivation space from 15:00 to 19:15 for 14 days. When intermittent low temperature storage and short day treatment were applied about 2.5 and 1.5 months before the targeted flowering time, respectively, the plants from the treatments flowered successfully. The ratios of plant height and plant diameter to pot height in forcing culture aiming for flowering in mid-September were 1.55 and 2.32 after intermittent low temperature storage and 1.94 and 2.70 after short day treatment, respectively. Those in forcing culture aiming for flowering in mid-October were 2.07 and 2.81 after intermittent treatment low temperature storage and 2.55 and 2.90 after short day treatment, respectively. It was shown that both ratios were improved by intermittent low temperature storage for both growth timeframes. These results showed that growers can adjust flowering schedule and produce high-quality potted flowers of Begonia X hiemalis Fotsch. ‘Netia’ by applying intermittent low temperature storage.

This study investigated conditions for the isolation and culture of mesophyll protoplasts of common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea). Sterile seedlings of three genotypes on the 10th day after sowing in vitro were tested. Leaf blades of in vitro seedling plants were treated with isolation enzyme solution containing 1 % Cellulase Onozuka R-10 and 0.3 % Pectolyase Y-23 yielded 6.3 × 10⁶ - 9.2 × 10⁶ protoplasts g^-1 of fresh leaf blade. The isolated protoplasts were cultured at an initial density of 1 × 10⁵ protoplasts ml^-1 in a modified LS liquid culture medium. First cell division occurred in 2 - 3 days. An initial division frequency of 26 % was obtained in culture medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin. Colony and microcallus formation from these protoplast were achieved. Some of the calli transplanted onto regeneration medium produced adventitious roots.