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- Author or Editor: Sharad C. Phatak x
A sterile (nonflowering) mutant pepper plant (Capsicum sp.) with large, purplish-green, leathery leaves and purplish-green stems was observed during a hybridization program for ornamental peppers. Propagation of this mutant was investigated using cuttings rooted in the greenhouse and in vitro cultures. The most suitable treatment for rooting of cuttings involved the use of two-node cuttings, 2 to 4 mm in diameter, treated with Rootone and rooted in Promix inside a humidity chamber kept in 60% shade. With this treatment, 40% of the cuttings had rooted after 8 weeks. Two-node shoot tips callused when cultured in vitro in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4.9 or 9.8 μm IBA or 8.8 μm BA, but 60% had rooted after 8 weeks in half-strength MS medium without growth regulators. Chemical names used: 1 H -indole butyric acid (IBA), N -(phenylmethyl)-1 H -purin-6-amine (BA).
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L., cv. Hiline) were planted following over-wintering cover crops. In replicated field trials, stand development for 7 different cover crops and their effects on incidence of weeds, insects, diseases, and nematodes was assessed. Effects of cover crops on yield and quality of cantaloupe were evaluated. Cover crops evaluated were rye, crimson clover, lentils, subterranean clover, `Vantage' vetch, mustard, a polyculture of all cover crops and control-fallow. No insecticides were applied and only two applications of fungicides were made. Fertilizer applications were significantly reduced. No differences among cover crops for any of pest nematodes were observed. Significant differences in populations of beneficial and pest insects were observed. Polyculture had the highest plant vigor rating. The highest marketable yield occurred following crimson clover.
Abstract
Three herbicides, cycloate, alachlor and lenacil, gave acceptable weed control in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), while 7 other herbicide combinations did not Cycloate, alachlor, lenacil, prometryne and chlorpropham + PPG 124 significantly increased the NO3-N concentration of both spinach blades and petioles by as much as 3-4 times over weeded and non-weeded checks. DCPA significantly increased NO3 in the petioles. Cycloate, alachlor and lenacil significantly increased total Ν concentration in the petioles, while none of the herbicide treatments affected total Ν in the blades. Lenacil significantly increased fresh weight of blades and petioles compared to a weeded check, while plant fresh and dry weights from cycloate and alachlor treatments were not less than the checks.
Abstract
In field experiments with cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) on both sandy and clay loam soils (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) at 125 or 250 ppm applied twice to the foliage was more effective in promoting pistillate flowers and yield on ‘Wisconsin SMR 58’, a monoecious cultivar, than granular ethephon applied at various rates as a sidedress at planting, placed directly on the seed at planting, or applied as a sidedress in the first true-leaf stage. Foliar sprays on ‘Pioneer’ were effective in reducing the number of staminate and increasing the number of pistillate flowers. However, ethephon applied by any method did not increase yields in ‘Pioneer’, a predominantly pistillate cultivar.
Abstract
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), ‘Bounty’ and ‘Premier’, were grown at 8 population densities ranging from 50,000 plants per ha (46 × 46 cm spacing) to 850,000 plants per ha (10 × 10 cm spacing). Sections of the field were harvested once-over on 2 sampling dates. Yields as dollars per ha and as tons per ha increased with increasing plant population at densities of 50,000 to 100,000 and 250,000 to 500,000 plants per ha. Over the common commerical populations, 100,000, 150,000, 200,000 and 250,000 plants per ha, yields did not increase as population increased. Delay in harvest for 4 days did not affect dollars per ha yield but doubled the tons per ha produced. Fruit sizing was slower in higher plant populations (250,000 to 850,000 plants per ha) than in the lower plant densities (50,000 to 200,000 plants per ha). The number of fruit per plant decreased with increasing plant population. Length to diameter ratios of ‘Premier’ were lower at the lowest plant population, 50,000 plants per ha. L:D ratios of ‘Bounty’ were unaffected by plant population. Varying plant populations did not affect the percent off-shape fruit, or fruit color (green quality and uniformity) of either cultivar.
Abstract
Ethephon and chlorflurenol were applied to hybrid pickling cucumber Cucumis sativus L. cvs. Pioneer and Pickmore to study the use and effectiveness of the chemicals on promoting fruit yields and quality in a once-over harvest system. Ethephon was applied either at the first or the fourth true-leaf stage of growth. Chlorflurenol was applied at 0, 50 or 100 ppm when 6-8 female flowers reached anthesis. Dollar value per ha was increased by approximately 14% when ethephon or chlorflurenol was used alone. However, when these 2 growth regulators were used in combination, yields were increased by as much as 68% in ‘Pioneer’ and 40% in ‘Pickmore.’ Chlorflurenol significantly increased the number of fruit per plant and reduced the length to diameter ratio. Fruit shape and L:D ratio were significantly improved when ethephon was applied in the fourth true-leaf stage regardless of chlorflurenol usage. Chlorflurenol slightly reduced the fresh quality of ‘Pioneer’ but had no such effect on ‘Pickmore.’ Salt stock quality was improved slightly by chlorflurenol. To obtain best yield, fruit shape, fresh salt stock quality, ethephon should be applied twice, 1 week apart commencing at the fourth true-leaf stage, followed by a 50 to 100 ppm spray application of chlorflurenol when 6-8 female flowers have reached anthesis.