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- Author or Editor: Paul A. Thomas x
Perennial growers experience marketing difficulty when the stem length, or height of their perennial stock is excessive. Both wholesale and retail outlets desire to keep height to a minimum, while still promoting the production of flowers. The objective of this study was to screen containerized, spring-planted perennials for response to the growth retardants Sumagic, Bonzi, and B-Nine. Each perennial variety used was treated with B-Nine (Daminozide at 5000 ppm Bonzi (paclobutrazol) at 240 ppm, and Sumagic (uniconizole-P) at the following rates: 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 ppm.Pre-cooled plugs of cultivars were selected from the genera Achillea, Coreopsis, Echinaceae, Digitalis, Gaillardia, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Alcea, Veronica, and Monarda. A randomized complete block design was implemented. Eight of the nine cultivars were responsive to Sumagic, with a 12% to 79% range of reduction in height. Seven cultivars were responsive to Bonzi with a 20% to 61% range of reduction. Only one cultivar was responsive to B-Nine, requiring two applications of 5000 ppm, to yield a 22% reduction in height at 4WAT. Based upon growers' desire for up to 50% height reduction, a 30% height reduction assessment point was established as a minimum rate for production, and a 50% to 60% reduction was established as the maximum landscape rate (based upon in-landscape persistence).
Nine perennial bedding plants were screened for responsiveness to the plant growth retardant, Sumagic (uniconazole-P). Two weeks after planting, plugs were treated with one foliar spray of Sumagic at 0, 40, 80, 120, or 160 ppm at the label-recommended volume. Plant growth of Gaillardia grandiflora `Goblin' was not reduced by Sumagic. Height of Achillea × `Moonshine' was reduced 8% to 12% at 4 weeks after treatment (WAT), and the reduction persisted through 8 weeks after planting (WAP) to the landscape. Phlox paniculata `Joliet' responded linearly to increasing Sumagic rate with a maximum height reduction of 32% at 160 ppm. Coreopsis grandiflora `Sunray', Rudbeckia fulgida var. Sullivantii `Goldsturm' and Monarda didyma `Blue Stocking' responded significantly to Sumagic with 30% to 60% height reductions at 4 WAT, but no persistent effects at 8 WAP. Height of Veronica alpine `Goodness Grows' was reduced 32% to 68% at 4 WAT, but all Sumagic rates resulted in persistent reductions in plant height at 12 WAP. Plant height of Alcea rosea mix and Echinacea purpurea were excessively reduced (up to 79%) at 4 WAT, but there were no persistent effects on height of Alcea in the landscape. All rates of Sumagic resulted in persistent reductions in height of Echinacea at 8 WAP, but only plants treated with 120 and 160 ppm Sumagic were still significantly shorter than controls at 12 WAP
Annual vinca [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don] is intolerant of high fertility, cool temperatures, and wet soil conditions, making vinca difficult for growers to produce alongside other, more tolerant bedding plants. Our objective was to develop better recommendations for producers. Growth of `Grape Cooler' vinca was compared using different production inputs, including type of media (with or without bark), form of micronutrient source, and form of N. Optimal root and shoot dry weights occurred in peat-lite media with either sulfated or chelated micronutrients adjusted to pH 5.5. Root and shoot dry weights were greatest when high nitrate-N to ammonium-N ratio fertilizers were used. Root and shoot dry weights were negatively affected by high levels of ammonium-N in the fertilizer solution. Root development is the critical factor in the production of high-quality vinca. Our data suggest that root development may be optimized by using fertilizer products that have a high nitrate to ammoniacal nitrogen ratio. Micronutrients in the sulfate form also seem to enhance growth when medium pH is maintained near 5.5. Use of high-porosity, peat-based mixes appears to provide an optimal root growth environment.
Brushing 2-week-old `Sunny' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings, grown in a commercial production greenhouse, for a period of 5 weeks reduced transplant growth and improved plant appearance. Brushing reduced stem length 37% and leaf area 31% relative to nontreated control plants. Plants were darker green in color, stockier, easier to handle, and tougher (exhibited less breakage) than nontreated plants.
Nutrient uptake by `Apache', `Jersey City', `Peoria', and `Philadelphia' snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus L.) was compared at three developmental stages: Stage I, vegetative to bud initiation; Stage II, bud initiation to visible bud; and Stage III, visible bud to anthesis. Significant differences in uptake occurred between one or more developmental stages for all nutrients tested:
Franklinia alatamaha Bartr. ex Marshall represents a monotypic genus that was originally discovered in Georgia, but is now considered extinct in the wild and is maintained only in cultivation. Although Franklinia is very ornamental, with showy flowers and crimson/maroon fall foliage color, it tends to be short lived when grown as a landscape tree and is known to be susceptible to a variety of root pathogens. Schima argentea Pritz is an evergreen tree that is native to Asia and is valued for its glossy foliage, late-summer flowers, and broad adaptability in mild climates. Hybridization between these genera could potentially combine the cold hardiness and desirable ornamental characteristics of F. alatamaha with the greater adaptability, utility, and genetic diversity of S. argentea. Controlled crosses between F. alatamaha and S. argentea resulted in new intergeneric hybrid progeny. A morphological comparison of parents and the progeny is presented. ×Schimlinia floribunda Ranney and Fantz (mountain schimlinia) is proposed as the name for these hybrids and is validated with a Latin diagnosis.
Abstract
Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 5 and 10 ppm hastened flowering of cyclamen Cyclamen persicum Mill., but 10 ppm caused flower abnormalities. The phthalimides AC-99524 and AC-92802 at 30 and 100 ppm stimulated an increase in flower number on all cultivars except ‘Gypsy’.