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  • Author or Editor: Roy A. Larson x
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Abstract

Plants grown in small containers often show limited growth due to low levels of aeration and water holding capacity in the medium. These levels can be changed by management practices such as medium compaction, medium wetness at time of container filling, container height and volume, peat : vermiculite ratio, particle size, and the use of a wetting agent. A modified equilibrium capacity variable model was applied to an investigation of media-container interactions for short containers (<5 cm tall). Predicted volume percentages for total porosity (TP), container capacity (CC), air space (AS), unavailable water (UW), and available water (AW) were developed from measured moisture retention data and container geometry. AS increased with: 1) increased particle size, 2) increased media moisture at time of container filling, 3) decreased medium compaction, 4) increased wetting agent concentration, 5) decreased ratio of peat : vermiculite, and 6) increased container height. Increased percent AW resulted from smaller particle size, increased media moisture at time of container filling, decreased container compaction, decreased wetting agent concentration, increased ratio of peat : vermiculite and decreased container height.

Open Access

Abstract

Mechanically bent petioles of potted poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima Klotzsch ex. Willd., cvs. V-14, Eckespoint C-1 Red, Annette Hegg Diva, Annette Hegg White, and Annette Hegg Hot Pink) produced 3 to 70 times as much ethylene as petioles from unstressed plants. The Annette Hegg cultivars which were most susceptible to leaf epinasty after being sleeved for 24 hours showed the greatest enhancement of ethylene evolution after being mechanically stressed for 24 hours. Exposure to 10 ppm ethylene in air produced the same cultivar dependent pattern of epinasty in 4 hours as was produced by 24 hours of mechanical stress. Spraying with 250 ppm AgNO3, an antagonist of ethylene synthesis and action, reduced the severity of epinasty in ‘Annette Hegg Diva’ plants sleeved for 24 hours. The less susceptible ‘Eckespoint C-1 Red’ and ‘V-14’, produced less stress ethylene and were less susceptible to ethylene-induced epinasty.

Open Access

Abstract

Low light intensity caused an increase in size and a delay in flowering of gloxinias (Sinningia speciosa Benth and Hooke cv. Dwarf Delight and Royal Frosted Red). The growth regulators succinic acid-2,2-dimethyl hydrazine (SADH) and (αcyclopropyl-α-(4 methoxyphenyl)-5-prymidinemethanol (ancymidol) decreased plant size and delayed flowering. ‘Dwarf Delight’ showed damage in response to ancymidol at 250 mg/liter and higher but ‘Royal Frosted Red’ showed no damage. SADH caused a noticeable increase in anthocyanin content of the inflorescence and chlorophyll content of the leaves.

Open Access

Abstract

Two poinsettia cultivars, ‘Annette Hegg’ and ‘Eckespoint C-l’ were grown at 60° and 65°F night temperatures, and subjected to growth retardant treatments. 2-ChloroethyI trimethyl ammonium chloride (CCC) soil drenches resulted in the shortest plants, but effective height control was achieved with combination spray applications of CCC and succinic acid 2,2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH), or CCC and N-pyrrolidinosuccinamic acid (F 529) applied once, or 2 foliar applications of CCC applied 3 weeks apart. Date of flowering was not appreciably affected by the growth retardants, but was affected by temperature. Flowering was accelerated at the warmer temperature, but plant heights and bract diam were similar at both temperatures.

Open Access