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- Author or Editor: Richard W. Henley x
Abstract
Fertilizer levels of 500-220-400 and 750-330-600 mg/liter N-P-K reduced growth of Brassaia, Chamaedorea and Peperomia when compared to 250-110-200 mg/liter but had no effect on Philodendron and Maranta. As fertilization level increased, pH of the leachate decreased and soluble salts increased. As fertilizer level increased, leachate increased from pots with Brassaia and Peperomia and to a lesser extent from Maranta and leachate from Philodendron and Chamaedorea were similar. Fertilizer of 800-360-680 mg/liter N-P-K reduced fresh weight and root grade of Peperomia and Brassaia. Amount of leachate doubled as fertilizer and volume of water applied increased.
Detailed anatomical observations of the dorsal gland and its development in Ficus benjamina L. (Weeping Fig) leaves are reported. The dark spot on the abaxial surface of Ficus benjamina leaves is a normal morphological feature of the species. It is a highly specialized modified epidermal layer. An investigation of six commercially available cultivars revealed all possessed a glandular dorsal epidermis but not all developed a pigmented gland. The variability in gland thickness suggests that differences exist between cultivars. Based on histochemical tests, we propose that the term “phenolic gland” be substituted for the term “wax gland” found in the literature, as all tests indicated the presence of polyphenols in the glandular epithelium of F. benjamina leaves.
Effects of four shade levels on the growth of Dracaena sanderana hort Sander ex Mast. `Ribbon' were evaluated. The experiment was conducted using model structures providing four shade levels (47%, 63%, 80%, and 91%). Dracaena sanderana exhibited morphological plasticity in growth and development. Under 63% and 80% shade, plants grew faster and achieved greater biomass than those grown in 47% and 91 % shade. The lowest (47%) and the highest shade (91 %) provided supraoptimal and suboptimal light levels, respectively. More leaves with less leaf area, larger internodes, and larger root mass developed in plants grown in 63% shade. Fewer leaves with larger leaf areas, smaller internodes, and smaller root mass developed in plants grown in 80% shade. Plants grown in 47% or 63% shade were less variegated than those grown in 80% or 91 % shade. Maximum leaf variegation occurred under 91 % shade.