Maturation plants

Abaca. The abaca fiber is obtained from the leaves of the banana-like plant (same genus) Musa textilis (banana family, Musaceae). The fiber is also called Manila hemp from the port of its first shipment, although it has no relationship with hemp, a bast fiber. The mature plant has 12—20 stalks growing from its rhizome root system the stalks are 2.6—6.7 m tall and 10—20 cm thick at the base. The stalk has leaf sheaths that expand iato leaves 1—2.5 m long, 10—20 cm wide, and 10 mm thick at the center the fibers are ia the outermost layer. The plant produces a crop after five years, and 2—4 stalks can be harvested about every six months. 

The planflets are grown up to give genetically engineered mature plants. 

The problem with the economic analysis as presented in Example 10-1 is that it considers the plant to be operating at full capacity (a mature plant). Often it takes a couple of years, after the plant begins producing, for the sales volume to equal the plant capacity. During this time the return on the investment is less than that calculated for the mature plant. This is shown in Example 10-2. 

The sales costs are generally greater for plants not running at capacity than for mature plants. It is easier to keep a customer than it is to attract new business. Assume that the total sales costs remain the same, so the cost per pound increases. 

The R.O.I. analysis fails to take into account any startup expenses or to consider how long it will take the plant to reach full capacity. It ignores the fact that research and development costs, marketing expenses, and engineering expenses, are all made at different points of time. It considers only the mature plant. 

In determining profits for this case, no depreciation is included in the expenses. It is not necessary to assume a mature plant or to ignore startup expenses when using this method. Example 10-3 shows how to calculate the payout period for a plant that does not reach full production until the fourth year of operation. 

The problem with the payout period is that it does not consider the timing of the payments or the profits earned by the plant after the payout period is over. To illustrate the importance of the former, suppose a plant has the same prestartup expenses as the one in Example 10-3. Assume it has a profit of 5,000,000 per year for the first 5 years and from then on earns 7,000,000 per year. The payout time for this plant is 5 years, the same as for the plant in Example 10-3. The return on investment of the two mature plants is the same. Yet this proposed plant has a definite advantage over the one in Example 10-3. This is illustrated in the following example. 

This is the after-taxes return on the investment and assumes a mature plant. 

Several papers have reported that, during germination, new LOXs are synthesized in the seedling and the cotyledons the LOX mRNAs synthesized during germination can also be found in the mature plant. Their levels were increased by the application of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid, or by stress such as wounding, pathogen infection, or water deficit (Porta and Rocha-Sosa 2002). 

Increased yields of various crops occur when copper salts are added to fertilizers at 300 to 800 mg Cu/m3 (NAS 1977). In com (Zea mays) and other vegetables, younger plants are more sensitive to copper deficiency than mature plants in all cases, copper-deficient vegetables show chlorosis, reduced growth and reproduction, and low survival (Gupta 1979). 

Vermiculite seems to be the best medium for coca germination, fine grade if possible. Styrofoam cups are OK, but I prefer small plastic pots, 2"diameter, with holes in the bottom. Seeds should be planted no deeper than one inch. Pots should be raised so as not to saturate the medium. Coca, whether as a seedling or a mature plant, never likes to have wet feet. I think it is better to start them in small pots rather than flats, so there is less damage to the root system when they are transplanted. Forget the hot pad - 1 think it is completely unnecessary. Seedlings usually come up in 2 to 4 weeks if they are viable. 

Perennial vegetables such as globe artichokes and rhubarb crop much more quickly if grown from divisions or "offsets" taken from a mature plant (see also Herbaceous Plants, p.J93) rather than seed. Asparagus should not be harvested until plants are in their third year, so one-year-old plants, known as crowns, are usually planted (see above, far right). Jerusalem artichokes are grown from tubers, like potatoes, and seakale from sections of fleshy root known as "thongs."... 

Symptoms Young seedlings can be killed. The first sign of attack on mature plants is often a reddening of the foliage and stunted growth. The roots have rusty-brown irregular tunnels eaten away just below the skin. Larvae may be visible. 

Symptoms Adults and larvae chew holes in foliage. Their feeding can kill small plants and reduces the yields of mature plants. 

Symptoms Seedlings and young plants may collapse and die. Mature plants grow poorly where infestation is high. Plants in soilless potting mix are more... 

Figure 6. b. Mature Plants of Ifloga spicata Sampled from the Artemisia -free Plot (left) and from the Undisturbed Plot (right). 

The mature plant dies within a brush fire. 

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