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- Author or Editor: Yin-Tung Wang x
Case-cooled bulbs of Lilium longiflorum `Nellie White' were potted on 4 Dec. 1995 and forced to flowering using standard growing procedures. Plants were illuminated from shoot emergence to visible bud with supplemental high-intensity-discharge sodium vapor light at 70 μmol·m–2·s–1 from 1700 to 2200 HR each day. When the first primary flower bud (first initiated flower bud most proximal on the shoot) was 5 to 7 cm long, each plant was treated with 3 ml of either de-ionized water or 500 mg·liter–1 6-(benzylamino)-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine (PBA). Sprays were directed at the flower buds and associated bracts. When the tepals on the first primary flower bud split, plants were placed at 2°C in the dark for 0, 4, or 21 days. After storage, plants were placed in a postharvest evaluation room with constant 21°C temperature and 18 μmol·m–2·s–1 cool-white fluorescent light. The first three primary flowers on PBA-treated plants lasted significantly longer than corresponding flowers on control plants, but there was no difference between flowers at the fourth and fifth positions. Also, the total postharvest life of the five primary flowers on PBA treated plants was 3 days longer than those on control plants. Storage time inversely affected the postharvest longevity of the first three primary flowers, but had no effect on the longevity of the fourth or fifth primary flowers or total postharvest life of the five primary flowers. There were no significant interaction effects between PBA treatment and storage duration on primary flower longevity.
Three experiments were conducted to determine how nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) rate and nutrient termination date would affect the growth of Dendrobium nobile Red Emperor `Prince'. For each experiment, 150 one-year-old liner plugs, each with a single psuedobulb, were potted on 4 Feb. 2005. Each of the factorial experiments had five rates of the nutrient and three termination dates. The rates for N and K were 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg·L-1. P rates were 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg·L-1. Termination dates for all experiments were 1 Sept., 1 Oct., and 1 Nov. 2005. Ten months after planting when plants had ceased growing, data were collected for plant height, node number, number of leaves remaining, chlorophyll readings for the lower, middle, and upper leaves, and pseudobulb width and thickness. With one exception, interactions between fertilizer rate and termination date were nonsignificant for the variables measured. For all nutrients, terminating fertilization on 1 Oct. or 1 Nov. resulted in decreased pseudobulb thickness compared to 1 Sept. Prolonged fertilization with N resulted in slightly thinner pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs grew taller as N rate increased, reaching its peak at 100 and 200 mg·L-1, and declined as N further increased to 400 mg·L-1. Plants had increasing chlorophyll readings in the middle leaves with increasing N rate. All P rates resulted in taller plants with equally more nodes compared to 0 mg·L-1. As K rate increased from 0 to 100 mg·L-1, height and node number increased, but there were no further increases in height at high rates. Number and percentage of leaves remaining increased as N and K rates increased.
Roses are adapted for growth and production on acid to slightly acid soil. When grown on alkaline soil sites, without extensive soil modification and acid forming and/or iron chelate fertilization, growth is reduced and severe iron chlorosis is prevalent. This study screened 24 Rosa rootstock species and selections on one acid and two alkaline soil sites for 2 consecutive years. Plants were observed for chlorosis, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry weight production and overall quality. A final reciprocal grafting study using susceptible and tolerant selections was conducted to assure the scion could realize the adaptability of the rootstock. Overall, the following five selections consistently exhibited greater growth and decreased chlorosis on the alkaline sites: R. odorata, R. canina, R. manetii, R. sp. “Mexican”, R. fortuniana, and R. multiflora selection K-l. All other R. multiflora selections performed poorly. On the acid soil site, all rootstocks grew well. When susceptible selections were budded onto tolerant rootstocks, the scions exhibited a higher degree of tolerance. Tolerant selections budded onto susceptible rootstocks exhibited increased chlorosis and decreased growth.
Experiments were conducted to determine how nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) rate and fertilizer termination time affect the growth and flowering of a Dendrobium nobile Lindl. hybrid, Dendrobium cv Red Emperor ‘Prince’. Nitrogen, P, and K were tested in separate experiments as a factorial combination of five rates and three termination dates (1 Sept., 1 Oct., and 1 Nov. 2005). Nitrogen and K rates were 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg·L−1. Phosphorus rates were 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg·L−1. Levels of the nutrients not being tested were held constant. For all nutrients, ending fertilization on 1 Sept. resulted in greater or similar pseudobulb thickness compared with ending fertilization on 1 Oct. or 1 Nov. Pseudobulbs grew taller as the N rate increased, peaking at 100 and 200 mg·L−1. There were interactions between the N rate and fertilizer termination time on all reproductive characteristics. For all fertilizer termination times, flower number increased once N was applied. When ended on 1 Nov., 200 and 400 mg·L−1 N caused a delay to reach anthesis. All P rates resulted in taller plants with equally more nodes when compared with 0 mg·L−1. As the K rate increased from 0 to 100 mg·L−1, plant height increased, with no further increase at higher rates. The number of leaves remaining increased as N and K rates increased up to 200 mg·L−1. Total flower number and flowering node number increased as the K rate increased to 100 mg·L−1 (terminated on 1 Sept.) or 50 mg·L−1 (terminated on 1 Oct. or 1 Nov.). In the fourth experiment, only N was ended at four termination times, whereas all other nutrients continued to be supplied until flowering. Control plants received all fertilizer elements until flowering. The duration of N application did not affect vegetative or flowering characteristics. No aerial shoots were observed as a result of prolonged application of N at all rates. In summary, 100 mg·L−1 N, 25 mg·L−1 P, and 100 mg·L−1 K are recommended for optimal vegetative growth and reproductive development of Dendrobium cv Red Emperor ‘Prince’.
Seedling transplants produced for early fall and spring establishment of commercial vegetable crops in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley rapidly develop excessive shoot growth if field plantings are delayed. Therefore, several varieties of pepper, watermelon, muskmelon, and tomato transplants were treated at the 2-3 leaf stage by foliar spray with 0, 4, 8, or 12 ppm of the triazole growth retardant, uniconazole. The seedlings were field transplanted 3 weeks later. Total heights taken at the time of transplanting indicated significant varietal differences in responses to the treatments. After 60 days in the field, one of the 5 pepper varieties continued to express retarded growth. However, the uniconazole treatment stimulated early fruiting in 2 of the varieties. Tomato seedlings appeared to overcome the stunting within the first 60 days after transplanting while muskmelon and watermelon remained slightly dwarfed. Additional data on total growth and yield in response to the growth retarding treatments will be presented for each of the vegetable varieties.
The effect of drought on the growth and gas exchange of six bedding plant species—agastache [Agastache urticifolia (Benth.) O. Kuntze `Honeybee Blue'], dusty miller (Cineraria maritima L. `Silverdusty'), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida `Wave Purple'), plumbago (Plumbago auriculata Lam. `Escapade'), ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum L. `Black Pearl'), and vinca [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don `Titan']—was quantified under greenhouse conditions. Seeds were sown in January and seedlings were grown in the greenhouse until 18 Apr., when two irrigation treatments—drought (D, ≈18% volumetric moisture content at reirrigation) and control (C, ≈25% volumetric moisture content at reirrigation)—were initiated. Leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) were determined in response to a range of substrate moisture content (from ≈5% to 30% by volume) and temperature (from 20 °C to 40 °C). Dry weight of agastache, ornamental pepper, and vinca was unaffected by drought, whereas that of other species was reduced. Leaf area of plumbago and height of plumbago and vinca were reduced by drought. As substrate moisture content decreased from 25% to 10%, Pn, E, and gs decreased linearly in all species except petunia and plumbago. Leaf net photosynthetic rate of all species declined as leaf temperature increased from 20 °C to 40 °C. In contrast, E of all species, except petunia, increased as temperature increased. Transpiration rate of petunia increased as temperature increased from 20 °C to 30 °C, and then decreased between 30 °C and 40 °C. Although petunia had the highest Pn among the tested species, its Pn and gs declined more rapidly compared with the other species as temperature increased from 20 °C to 40 °C or as substrate moisture content decreased, indicating that petunia was most sensitive to high temperature and drought.
Cuttings of Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) Bunt. were soaked for 5 seconds in 5% Folicote or Stressguard antitranspirant solution, planted immediately or after 6 hours, and misted or not misted during the daylight hours for 2 weeks. Neither antitranspirant affected the growth of misted cuttings. However, in nonmisted cuttings, Folicote resulted in delayed first leaf unfolding and small plants. Misting improved shoot growth relative to not misting. In a second experiment, Stressguard sprayed on leaves of stock plants resulted in slow growth of cuttings taken from them, while Folicote had no effect. Water stress induced by delayed planting resulted in water loss and slow lateral shoot growth in both experiments. Application of uniconazole at the four-leaf stage at 0.05 to 0.4 mg/0.5-liter pot reduced stem elongation, leaf count, and the length of nodal roots. Uniconazole increased individual leaf size on the main shoot and promoted the growth of basal lateral shoots. While stem and total plant dry weights were reduced, total leaf dry weight was not affected by uniconazole. Uniconazole continued to provide good control on the elongation of newly emerged lateral shoots and promoted the production of more and larger leaves when evaluated 4 weeks after the main shoot was severed above the fourth basal node. Chemical name used: (E)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-trizol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol (uniconazole).
The flowering time and flower quality of three hybrid Dendrobium nobile cultivars in relation to light intensity during cooling and duration of vernalization were studied in the first experiment. Mature Dendrobium Red Emperor ‘Prince’, Den. Sea Mary ‘Snow King’, and Den. Love Memory ‘Fizz’ plants were vernalized at 10 °C under 300 to 350 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) (12-h photoperiod) or darkness, each with four cooling durations (2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks). Plants were forced in a greenhouse after vernalization. At least 4 weeks of 10 °C cooling in light was needed for complete flower initiation of Den. Red Emperor ‘Prince’, whereas Den. Sea Mary ‘Snow King’ and Den. Love Memory ‘Fizz’ only needed 2 weeks of 10 °C cooling regardless of light. For all three cultivars, darkness during vernalization slightly delayed flowering and resulted in fewer but larger flowers. Longer cooling duration delayed flowering, decreased flower longevity, and produced more and larger flowers. In a second experiment, Den. Love Memory ‘Fizz’ plants were vernalized at 15 °C for 4 weeks under a 12-h photoperiod and PPF of 0, 50, 100, or 200 μmol·m−2·s−1. Compared with 200 μmol·m−2·s−1, low PPF at 50 or 100 μmol·m−2·s−1 did not affect flowering time or flower qualities; however, darkness delayed flowering and reduced flower qualities except flower diameter.
Sphagnum moss has been used as the major substrate for cultivating Phalaenopsis spp. in China, Japan, and Taiwan. With a lengthened duration of cultivation, the pH of the moss gradually declines. It is not understood what causes this decline in substrate pH. Using the vegetatively propagated Phal. Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’, this study investigated if substrate, fertilization, light, and plant roots could be the cause of pH decline in the substrate. The results showed that, although increasing fertilizer concentration resulted in a low initial pH (pH measured by the pour-through technique at first fertilization), fertilization itself was not the primary cause of the long-term pH decline. Regardless of whether the sphagnum moss was fertilized, the pH of the substrate without plants increased as time progressed, whereas the pH of the substrate in which living Phalaenopsis plants were growing declined with time. Although the magnitude and course of pH decline were different in various substrates, the pH of sphagnum moss, artificial textile fiber, and pine bark substrates in which living plants were growing declined with time. Whether the substrate was exposed to light (clear pots) or not (opaque pots) had no effect on substrate pH, indicating that algae were not a factor in pH decline. Therefore, the roots of Phalaenopsis may be the major contributor to substrate pH decline during production.
Abstract
Ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata L.) were grown in three media having similar water holding capacities but different porosities, under 70%, 50%, or 27% full sunlight and fertilized with each irrigation or once every three irrigations. Plants grown in media with lower porosities grew more than plants in a peat-lite medium but required more frequent irrigation. Plants grew less under 27% full sun than at the two higher light levels. Frequent fertilization did not increase plant size but decreased pH and increased electrical conductivity of the growth medium leachate substantially. Plant acclimatization increased with decreasing production light intensity and noncapillary porosity of the medium.