International Journal of Horticulture, 2015, Vol.5, No.19 1
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bryophyte-derived products are also easier, and
disposal costs are lower than conventional products.
Some of these bryophyte derivative materials does not
absorb water, i.e. ‘hydrophobic’ and can absorb oil
(oleophilic), makes them particularly useful for oil
spill outs on water stream. In addition, benzene, diesel
fuels, toluene, gasoline, ethyl ether, ethyl benzene, oil
base ink, kerosene, jet fuels, butanol, methanol,
chloroform, tetrachloroethane, xylenes, carbon
tetracholoride, paraffin oils, styrene, motor oils, oil
based paint, cutting oils, corn oils, acetone, vinyl
acetate etc., can be absorbed by the bryophyte-derived
products (Chen et al., 1992; Chen and Chang,
2001a,b).
Peat moss is an outstanding stuff for delivery of fresh
vegetables, plants and flowers.
Sphagnum
is also in
use for hydrophonics crop growing, and for
commercially important bulbs and roots storage.
Sphagnum
has remarkable insulation property, hence
also used in the buildup of insulator expanse for
dwelling. In France moss industries construct carpets
of moss in a range of sizes. They are uncomplicated to
fix along the desired area. The saleable production of
peat moss has been running for over 150 years in the
United States of America. In Asia, Sri Lanka
manufactures
an
extensive
array
of
environment-friendly products like cocopeat (coir
fiber pith ), coir pots, hanging wire baskets, basket
liners, moss sticks etc., by the use of different species
of bryophytes (Glime, 2007).
Air Layering
Nature has always been a teacher to horticulturists,
and invariably provides imperative instructions. in
natural conditions, bryophytes especially mosses
endow with appropriate media for practice of air
layering of higher plants like
Calluna
spp. and yet
various tropical trees, hence obviously they are used
more or less fully for air layering as a propagation
method of selected plants. The moss is enveloped all
over the area where roots are to be promoted,
frequently held in place with fabric mesh, wire, or
gloomy plastic. Several moss taxa offers a unremitting
supply of moisture and promotes the expansion of
adventitious roots while checking the growth of fungi.
Once the plant attains appropriate maturity with
formation of sufficient roots, the stalk can be cut
underneath that point and the explant can be used to
grow into a new plant (Scandrett and Gimingham,
1991; Macdonald et al., 1995). In western Himalayan
regions of India, Pant (1989) reports comparable
utilization of mosses for grafting many fruit trees.
Pot Culture
In potted plant culture, mosses are known to promote
better growth. Pant (1989) highlighted few examples
where mosses are utilized to take apart the humus-rich
topsoil from the bottom soil, that promotes more
profusely bud and flower formation in case of
Fuchsia
and
Begonia
in pots. Family Ericaceae, especially,
benefit from the vital acid production of
Sphagnum
and other mosses, like
Hypnum plumaeforme,
Leucobryum bowringii
,
L. neilgherrense
, and
L.
scabrum.
The
fragments of these mosses are used,
mixed with soil or sand, to cultivate
Rhododendron
shrubs (Ando, 1957).
Sphagnum
is vital for culturing juvenile seedlings in
forestry. Heiskanen and Rikala (2000) established that
use of
Sphagnum
(peat) is superior compared to peat
with perlite or fine sand, the former resulting in more
stronger seedlings as a consequence of the higher
water retention of the medium. Besides this,
Sphagnum
is also supportive and effective in the
inhibition of plant pathogens (Miller, 1981). However,
in case of seedlings of coniferous plants, use of
mosses is not recommended because they can compete
for nutrients, choke young seedlings, and repel water
(Haglund et al., 1981)
Mushrooms & Other Fungi
For cultivation of mushroom (
Agaricus bisporus
),
Sphagnum
peat is the substrate of preference as
sheathing/casing medium (Beyer, 1997). Companies
like Sungrow and Campbell had a multi-million-dollar
contract for the improvement in mushroom culturing
using a
Sphagnum
mix (Miller, 1981). However, in
those places where there is no peat, certain substitutes
are necessary for mushroom culture. The demand for
peat replacements led to analysis other substrata and
evaluate, but peat gave the maximum yields compared
to 8 other resources (Eicker and Greuning, 1989).
In an effort to make additional enhancement in
mushroom accomplishment, Beyer (1997) required
ways to diminish the consequence of built up
