The Contribution of Plant Improvement to the Color Change of Flowering Ornamental Plants Throughout History

Fatema Abdrahman*(1) and Mohammed Hisham AlNasan(1)

(1). Department of Applied Science History, Institute of Arab Scientific Heritage, Aleppo University

(*Corresponding author: Fatema Abdrahman. E-Mail: fa573507@gmail.com).

Received: 13/11/2018                                Accepted: 01/01/2019

Abstract

The research aimed to highlight the important aspect of agricultural science in the books of Arab agriculture in the period studied, namely, changing the color of flowers and obtaining new colors using simple, easy and inexpensive methods that can be applied. These methods were: Saffron and Nile or change the PH value of the soil by adding acid or by hybridization and obtain a new color different from the color of the parents. It was noticed that there were only five scholars of agriculture interested in this subject viz. Ibn al- Awam al- Andalusi and his book is: Alfilaha Alandalusia, Anonymous author and his book is: Miftah Alrraha Li Ahl Alfalaha, Radi Aldiyn Alghazi and his book is: Jamie Fawayid Almilaha Fi Jawamie Fawayid Alfalaha, Abdul Ghani Al Nabulsi and his book: Elim Almilaha Fi Elim Alfilaha and Alhusayni and his book: Misbah Alfalah Fi Altib Walziraea. It was found that Ibn- al- Awam was a forerunner in this field compared to the other of the agricultural scientists aforementioned, and as he was the only one who was unique in the method of hybridization, and Arab agricultural scientists had preceded the modern science in changing the color of flower, and developed the principles of the science of improvement and hybridization, and they built the foundation on which genetics was based.

Key words: Flower color, Plant improvement, Arabic farming books plant, Botanic heritage.

Full Paper in Arabic: Word