PRELMNARY COMMUNCATON Research regarding cultivation of some ornamental grasses species in asi area, Romania Chelariu Elena Liliana 1, Draghia Lucia 1 1 Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and eterinary Medicine aşi, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley 3, aşi, Romania (liliana_ch2001@yahoo.co.uk) Abstract The current paper present the preliminary results of a study regarding the behaviour in crop, in aşi area, Romania, of 5 cultivars belonging to 2 species from botanic family of Poaceae (Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Pennisetum alopecuroides ). Were made phenological studies and quality bio-metric determinations. The obtained results show that the studied species have a good adaptability to the crop environment conditions from the studied area, keeping their ornamental value. Key words: ornamental grasses, aşi, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides ntroduction Generic name of ornamental grasses or decorative grasses join together not only the species from Poaceae botanic family, but also species belonging to families Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Typhaceae and less to those ones belonging to other botanic families. n Romania, ornamental grasses are less utilised in landscape designs. Species Miscanthus sinensis and Pennisetum alopecuroides have ecological requests similar to the ones meet in the NE area of Romania, fact which was a good argument for choosing those species for our research. Material and methods Studies were carried out during 2011-2012, in the experimentral field of Floriculture Discipline from UASM aşi, having as research material 5 cultivars belonging to 2 species of Poaceae botanic family (table 1). Table 1. Decorative period of the studied species Name of specie / variety / cultivar Rusticity area Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus (5)6 Miscanthus sinensis (5)6 Miscanthus sinensis (5)6 Pennisetum alopecuroides 5 Pennisetum alopecuroides 5 Multiplication material Fragments resulted from division of bushes Date of planting 02.05.2011 Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus (maiden grass) have the aspect of a compacted bush (Picture 1). Cultivar could reach the height of 1.2-1.8 m. Flowers are grouped in digital shape panicule, with a brown purple colour. t blossom from August till (Ardle J., 2007; Chelariu Elena Liliana, Draghia Lucia, 2011; Qian Sun, et al., 2010; Taylor N., 1994). Miscanthus sinensis (silvergrass). Foliage is green, blade width is 2.5, 150-200 in height. Flowers August through frost, 200-250 (Picture 2) (Ardle J., 2007; Chelariu Elena Liliana, Draghia Lucia, 2011; Qian Sun, et al., 2010; Taylor N., 1994). 48. hrvatski i 8. međunarodni simpozij agronoma Dubrovnik Hrvatska 407
egetable Growing, Ornamental, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Miscanthus sinensis (zebra grass) is a deciduous, clump-forming, perennial grass, with a height of 180-200. t has upright or arching bluish-green leaves with pale yellowish horizontal bands across them. Maroon-purple leaves appear in autumn complementing the rest of the plant, which turns a russet colour. n autumn, it may carry awned, hairy, pink-white spikelets in fan-shaped panicles. Floriferous stems could have a length of 180-200 (Picture 3) (Chelariu Elena Liliana, Draghia Lucia, 2011; Qian Sun, et al., 2010). Pennisetum alopecuroides (fountain, foxtail) have an aspect of high bush, 70-90, forms a low, mounded, fine-leaved clump, above which long stems of pinksh-brown, hairy, foxtail-like flowers rise in late summer (Picture 4) (Ardle J., 2007; Taylor N., 1994). Pennisetum alopecuroides (dwarf fountain grasses, chinese pennisetum) have an aspect of globular bush with the height of 25-40. Leave are dark green coloured. Flowers which have a white-green colour are grouped into a spike shape inflorescence. t blossom from July-August till October (Picture 5) (Ardle J., 2007; Chelariu Elena Liliana, Draghia Lucia, 2011; Qian Sun, et al., 2010; Taylor N., 1994). Picture 1 Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus (original photo) Picture 2 Miscanthus sinensis (original photo) Picture 3 Miscanthus sinensis (original photo) Picture 4 Pennisetum alopecuroides (original photo) Picture 5 Pennisetum alopecuroides (original photo) The proposed methodology for evaluation of the analysed taxons was based on: phenological studies for establishing the vegetation period; quality bio-metric studies (analysis of phenotipic expresion by using morphologival indexs of the plant and flowers, waist and diameter of the plant, aspect, compactness, number of flowers per plant etc.). 408 48 th Croatian & 8 th nternational Symposium on Agriculture Dubrovnik Croatia
n the experimental field were made phenological observations and bio-metric determinations which enlightened the crop behaviour in the conditions of aşi County, România. Area in which the observation took place (aşi County, Romania), is placed in the rusticity area 5 in according with Hardiness Zone Map of Europe, characterized by minimum annual temperatures between -29 0 C and -23 0 C. (http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/europe/hze7.html). Local climate from aşi area is continental type with an excessive shade. Annual average of air temperature is of 9.6 0 C, and the amplitude of monthly avearge is 24-25 0 C. Results and discussion Results regarding phenology of studied species are shown in table 2. Studied cultivars had a normal rhythm of growing. Differences between species appeared only at the plants starting in vegetation in the spring of 2012. So, cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis started in vegetation earlier (in the third decade of March) then cultivars of Pennisetum alopecuroides (second decade of April). Blossoming and fructification took place earlier with one-two decades in the second year of study in comparison with the first year, function of specie and cultivar, due to the time moment of starting in vegeation. Table 2. Phenologic observations made during 2011-2012 period Date of planting 2011 Starting in vegetation 2012 (decade/ month) Growing rhythm Blossoming (decade/month) Fructification (decade/month) 2011 2012 2011 2012 02.05 /03 normal /08 /08 /09 /09 02.05 /03 normal /08 /08 /09 /09 02.05 /03 normal /08 /08 /09 /09 P. alopecuroides 02.05 /04 normal /07 /07 /08 /08 P. alopecuroides 02.05 /04 normal /07 /07 /08 /08 Regarding the morphologic aspects the obtained results after realised measurements are presented in table 3. At species of Miscanthus sinensis mean height of plants were between 92.2 at cultivar and 198.4 at, and the diameter of the bush between 46.3 at and 84.5 at. Dimenssions of the leave (length/width) varied from 51.3/0.7 at to 65.8/2.9 at. At cultivar of mean lenght of inflorescence was of 21.3, at 24.8, and at 25.1. At specie Pennisteum alopecuroiedes mean values of plants height varied between 30.4 and 83.2, and bush diameter between 28.7 and 50.6. Dimenssions of leave (lenght/width) were between 16.2/0.5 and 23.7/0.5. nflorescences length recorede values of 8.9, respectively 11.2. Morphologic aspects recorded during study period, in the conditions of aşi County, Romania, are in according with the data found in the literature. 48. hrvatski i 8. međunarodni simpozij agronoma Dubrovnik Hrvatska 409
egetable Growing, Ornamental, Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Table 3. Morphlogic determination made during 2011-2012 period Mean Mean Mean Diameter of Mean length of height of length of width of bush inflorescences plant leave leave 92.2 46.3 51.3 0.7 21.3 198.4 77.9 64.2 2.8 24.8 197.6 84.5 65.8 2.9 25.1 P. alopecuroides 83.2 50.6 23.7 0.5 11.2 P. alopecuroides 30.4 28.7 16.2 0.5 8.9 The studied cultivars could assure for a long period of time, the décor in the landscape design. n the research period, May 2011-October 2012, we observed that Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sinensis, could decorate all the year as follows: from early spring till late autumn, through leave and port; from August till October-November, through flowers; from November till Marchearly April through dry flowers (Table 4, Picture 6, Picture 7). Table 4. Décor period of the studied species P. alopecuroide s P. alopecuroide s Little 2011 2012 Bunny Decorative through leave and port Decorative through dry flower Decorative through flowers and port Dry floriferous stems are cut in spring, before starting in vegetation for a new season. Pennisetum alopecuroides, Pennisetum alopecuroides decorates through leave and port from early spring till late autumn and through flowers from July to October (Table 4). 410 48 th Croatian & 8 th nternational Symposium on Agriculture Dubrovnik Croatia
Picture 6 Miscanthus sinensis February 2012 (original photo) Picture 7 Miscanthus sinensis and February 2012 (original photo) Conclusions Studied species have a long decorative period, cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis decorate all the year and the ones of Pennisetum alopecuroides from April till late autumn. n crop conditions from aşi County, Romania, studied cultivars are keeping their phenologic and morphologic features. Due to the ornamental features, long decorative period and their adaptability at the pedo-climatic conditions of aşi County, the studied cultivars could be recommended for using in landscape designs from this area. Acknowledgement This work was co-funded from the European Social Fund through Sectorial Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013, project number POSDRU/.89/1.5/S62371,,Postdoctoral School in Agriculture and eterinary Medicine area References Ardle J. (2007). Bamboos and Grasses. Royal Horticultural Society, Ed. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. Londra, U.K., SBN 978-1-4053-1683-5. Chelariu Elena Liliana and Draghia Lucia (2011). Ornamental grasses with cultivation potential in the pedo-climatic conditions of aşi county. Lucrări ştiinţifice USAM aşi, seria Horticultură, vol. 54 (No. 2): 257-262 Hardiness Zone Map of Europe, http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/europe/hze7.html Taylor N. (1994). Ornamental grasses: Bamboo, Juncaceae, Cyperaceae. Word Lock Press, London, pp.96, SBN 0706372395. Qian Sun et al. (2010). A taxonomic revision of Miscanthus s.l. (Poaceae) from China. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, olume 164, ssue 2, pp 178 220, available to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/boj.2010.164.issue-2/issuetoc 48. hrvatski i 8. međunarodni simpozij agronoma Dubrovnik Hrvatska 411