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- Author or Editor: Yin-Tung Wang x
Live oak trees raised from acorns are highly non-uniform and many produce numerous undesirable rhizomic shoots. The objectives of this study were to 1) compare the growth rates between (Quercus virginiana Mill.) trees from seed and cutting in four production systems and 2) determine if trees from cuttings produce rhizomic shoots. Rhizomic shoot cuttings 25–30 cm long were taken from a single tree about 50 years old in late Aug. 1990, rooted, and planted in 2.6-L pots after 2 months. During the same week, acorns were collected from the same tree and germinated. All trees were planted into 13-L pots in July 1991 and then to a field in July 1992. Trees from both sources were planted either directly in the ground, in 36.6- or 45.7-cm-diameter polypropylene fabric bags buried in the ground, or in 13-L pots on the ground. Trunk circumference 10 cm above the soil line was roughly measured yearly between 1992 and 1999. Initially, trees from cuttings grew slightly slower than seedlings, having a smaller trunk circumference, diameter, and cross-sectional area. These differences diminished and all trees had similar circumferences after 1996. In 1992, trees in 36.6-cm bags and pots had more growth than trees in the ground. In 1993, trees in pots had better growth than those in the ground. After 1993, all trees had similar circumferences until the end of this study, probably due to roots extending beyond the bags and pots into the surrounding soil. About one-third of the seedling trees produced rhizomic shoots, whereas none of the trees from cuttings did. The rhizomic shoots of trees in pots were contained within the pot and none from the ground. Another significance of this research is that the cloned trees from cuttings were extremely uniform in growth habit and form.
Uniconazole and paclobutrazol were tested for their effects on greenhouse production of four foliage species. Soil drenches of uniconazole retarded shoot and petiole elongation of Brassaia actinophylla Endl. Paclobutrazol reduced shoot elongation, but required higher doses than uniconazole and did not reduce petiole growth. Foliar sprays with either retardant at 12.5 mg·liter-1 resulted in short stems on lateral shoots of Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume `Karen' after pinching, but soil drenches at low rates were less effective. Soil drenches of uniconazole or paclobutrazol were equally effective in reducing stem growth of Syngonium podophyllum Schott `White Butterfly' and increasing leaf width, but had no effect on the rate of leaf production or blade length. Both retardants induced short petioles in this species. Severe growth reduction occured on Plectranthus australis R. Br. even at the lowest rates of uniconazole and paclobutrazol (0.025 and 0.20 mg/pot, respectively) as soil drenches. Production of lateral shoots was inhibited for P. australis by both retardants. Chemical names used: (E)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethy1-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol (uniconazole); (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-(H-1,2,4-triazol-l-Yl-)Dentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol).
Vegetatively propagated plants (15-cm in leaf spread) of a white-flowered Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kaaladian clone were imported bare-root in late May and planted in a mix consisting of three parts of medium-grade fir bark and one part each of perlite and coarse Canadian peat (by volume) or in Chilean sphagnum moss. All plants were given 200 mg·L-1 each of N and P, 100 mg·L-1 Ca, and 50 mg·L-1 Mg. K concentrations were 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg·L-1. After 7 months, plants grown in moss produced an average of two more leaves than those in the bark mix (4 to 5 vs. 2 to 3 leaves), regardless of K rates. In any given medium, K rate did not alter the rate of leaf production. The K rate did not affect the size of the top leaves when grown in the bark mix. However, plants grown in moss had increasingly longer and wider top leaves as K rate increased. The lower leaves on plants in the bark mix receiving no K showed deficiency symptoms of purple tinting, yellowing, necrosis, and even death. Yellowing and necrosis started from the leaf tip and progressed basipetally. The K at 50 mg·L-1 reduced and 100 mg·L-1 completely alleviated the symptoms of K deficiency. Plants grown in moss and receiving no K showed limited signs of K deficiency. Flowering stems started to emerge (spiking) from plants in the bark mix up to 4 weeks earlier than those planted in sphagnum moss. For plants receiving no K, all plants in the bark mix bloomed, whereas none planted in sphagnum moss produced flowering stems. Overall, at least 200 mg·L-1 K (∼250 mg·L-1 K2O) is recommended to produce quality plants with maximum leaf growth and early spiking.
Lilium longiflorum Thunb. `Nellie White' plants grown under 1300 μmol·m-2·s-1 maximum photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) in a greenhouse deliberately were completely defoliated when the oldest flower bud was 2, 4, or 7 cm long. Plants were then placed in growth chambers in darkness or in the light (250 μmol·m -2·s-1 PPF, 10 hours) with 25C air, along with intact plants as controls; all were harvested at the completion of flowering. Defoliation at the 2- and 4-cm bud stages resulted in complete flower abortion, with or without light. Plants defoliated at the 7-cm stage and kept in light had 60% of the flower buds develop to anthesis but depleted more scale reserves. Those defoliated at the 7-cm stage and kept in darkness had complete flower abortion; however, bulb weights remained similar to those of the intact plants kept in the light.
Rooted cuttings of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch cv. Gutbier V-14 Glory were planted in 2-liter containers with growth media having 0% to 75% composted cotton burrs (CCB) in combination with sphagnum peat and/or composted pine bark. Leachates from media with 50% or more CCB had higher initial electrical conductance (EC) (3.7 to 4.0 dS·m-l) than that from media with 25% or no CCB (2.8 to 3.0 dS·m-l) 2 weeks after planting. The differences in leachate EC declined after an additional 9 weeks. Media containing CCB produced slightly shorter and narrower plants with 10% smaller inflorescences and less dry weight than plants grown in a medium consisting of equal volumes of peatmoss and bark. Number of branches and bracts, days to bloom, and plant grade after 30 days under 15 μmol·s-l· m-2 photosynthetic photon flux were unaffected by media.
The levels of hydration of several hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels) varied greatly. Starch-based polymers had the fastest rate of hydration (<2 hours), followed by a propenoate-propenamide copolymer. Polyacrylamide materials required 4 to 8 hours to become fully hydrated. Maximum water retention in distilled water varied from 400 to 57 g of water per gram of dry material. All hydrogels retained less water in the presence of metal ions or fertilizers in the soaking solution, with substances releasing Fe+2 being the most detrimental. After exposure to fertilizers and ions, the water-holding capacity of a polyacrylamide with a high degree of cross linkage, but not that of hydrogels of the other structures, was fully recovered by subsequently soaking in distilled water. Pots amended with a polyacrylamide polymer but without Micromax (a micronutrient source) reached maximum water retention after six irrigations, while those with Micromax required 10 irrigations to reach peak water retention. The amounts of water being held in pots decreased after repeated fertilization. Medium volume increased with increasing levels of the polyacrylamide Supersorb C (0, 2, 4, or 6 g/pot). Micromax incorporated in medium amended with Supersorb C caused a depression in volume. Medium bulk density, total water retention, and water retention per unit volume of medium were increased by the incorporation of the hydrogel, regardless of the presence of Micromax. Noncapillary porosity measured at container capacity in medium amended with Micromax progressively decreased as the amount of hydrogel increased, but remained unchanged in medium without Micromax. Repeated drying and dehydration of the medium resulted in reduced water retention and increased noncapillary pore space.
A study was initiated to determine the effect of GA3 as a counter measure to restore the growth of over-retarded poinsettia. Euphorbia pulcherrima `Sonora Red' plants were treated once foliarly with paclobutrazol at 40 or 80 mg·L-1 one week following pinching. Four weeks later, plants receiving the 80 mg·L-1 rate were treated once foliarly with GA3 at 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40 mg·L-1. The effect of GA3 was visible within 3 days of application. GA3 between 10 and 40 mg·L-1 caused long internodes, excessive stem elongation, as well as small leaves and bracts, resulting in unmarketable plants. Plants receiving 10 mg·L-1 GA3 were nearly twice the height of the over-retarded plants (31 vs. 17 cm), with increasingly taller plants at higher concentrations, up to 30 mg·L-1. In a second experiment, single-stemed plants were treated with one foliar spray of 50 or 150 mg·L-1 paclobutrazol two weeks following the beginning of short days. After another 3 weeks, the overdosed plants were then foliarly treated once with 0, 3, 5, 10, or 15 mg·L-1 GA3. GA3 at all rates promoted stem elongation and resulted in large bracts and much increased inflorescence diameter. The 15 mg·L-1 GA3 rate resulted in undesirable long internodes on the upper stem. Plants that received 3, 5, or 10 mg·L-1 GA3 were of excellent quality, with their heights and inflorescence sizes similar to those of plants receiving 50 mg·L-1 paclobutrazol (26 cm). Parallel experiments using `Burgundy Cortez' had similar results.
Vegetatively propagated Phalaenopsis Atien Kaala `TSC 22' plants 10 cm in leaf spread were potted in a medium that consisted of either 100% fine grade Douglas fir bark or a mixture of 70% fir bark and 30% sphagnum peat. Plants were fertigated at each irrigation with 10N-13.1P-16.6K (10-30-20), 20N-2.2P-15.8K (20-5-19), 20N-8.6P-16.6K (20-20-20), or a 2N-0.4P-1.7K (2-1-2) liquid fertilizer at a common N rate of 200 mg•L-1. After 1 year in a greenhouse, plants grown in the bark/peat medium produced more leaves and had heavier fresh weights and larger total leaf areas than those in 100% bark. In the bark medium, the 20N-2.2P-15.8K fertilizer resulted in best plants, despite its low P concentration (22 mg•L-1). When grown in bark/peat, the two fertilizers (20N-2.2P-15.8K and 20N-8.6P-16.6K) containing urea as part of their N source (10% and 52%, respectively) resulted in plants with 40% to 50% heavier shoot fresh weight and 40% larger leaf area than the other fertilizers. With any given fertilizer, plants had similar root weights in both media. Media and fertilizers had limited or no effect on the concentrations of minerals in the second mature acropital leaves except P, the concentration of which nearly doubled in leaves of plants grown in 100% bark. Water extracts from the bark/peat medium had lower pH, higher EC, and elevated levels of NH4-N, Ca, Fe, Na, Cl, B, and Al than those from 100% bark. Exacts from the bark medium did not have detectable levels of NO3-N, whereas extracts from the bark/peat medium all had similar levels of NO3-N, regardless of which fertilizer was applied.
Drench paclobutrazol or uniconazole applications (0.1-1.0 mg/0.5-liter pot or 0.05-0.2 mg/pot, respectively) were effective in suppressing stem elongation of golden pothos [Epipremnum aureum (Linden & Andrè) Bunt.]. Although the leaf production rate was reduced by both retardants, treated plants produced larger leaves than the controls, resulting in greater total leaf areas. Response to foliar paclobutrazol or uniconazole applications (0-200 and 0-100 mg·liter-1, respectively) was similar to the soil drench patterns, except that the leaf production rate was unaffected. Following 10 weeks in an interior environment, plants previously treated with either retardant produced shorter stems, fewer but larger leaves, and lower fresh weights than the nontreated plants. Cuttings collected from stock plants previously treated with a paclobutrazol or uniconazole soil drench (0.1 or 0.05 mg/0.5-liter pot, respectively) produced longer stemmed shoots, more and larger leaves, and heavier shoot fresh weights than cuttings from the nontreated plants. Foliar paclobutrazol application (0-200 mg·liter-1) to stock plants resulted in cuttings producing larger leaves and heavier shoot fresh weights than controls. Chemical names used: (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,-4-dlmethyl-2-(l,2,4-trizol-l-yl)pentin-3-ol (paclobutrazol);(E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,-4-timethyl-2-(1,2,4-trizol-l-yl)l-penten-3-ol (uniconazole).