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Feeding preference of melon thrips, Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was evaluated on 21 Dendrobium cultivars and the bamboo orchid Arundina graminifolia (D. Don) Hochr. Pigmented flowers resembling the morphotype phalaenopsis from Phalaenanthe sections were preferred over nonpigmented phalaenopsis, Phalaenanthe × Ceratobium hybrids, and bamboo orchids. This study suggests the separation of susceptible cultivars from preferred cultivars as a pest management strategy for melon thrips control.
Frangipani (Plumeria hybrid `Donald Angus') cuttings immersed in hot water (49C for 10 min) followed by 0.8% indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) basal treatment (hot water + IBA) had greater root length and weight compared to the nontreated control, hot water, or IBA treatment alone. Greater percentage of rooting and number of roots per cutting were observed for hot-water-treated + IBA-treated cuttings compared to the non-treated control and hot-water treatment alone. In a second study, Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl. `Massangeana', D. deremensis Engl. `Warneckii', D. deremensis Engl. `Janet Craig', D. marginata Lam., and cape jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) cuttings displayed results similar to those observed with Plumeria cuttings. In addition to enhancing rooting, hot water + IBA also stimulated the number of shoots per cutting on anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum Andre `Marian Seefurth'), croton [Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Blume var. pictum (Lodd.) Mull. Arg.], D. marginata, D. fragrans, Plumeria, and ti (Cordyline terminalis `Ti') cuttings.
Abstract
Leaves of ‘Mountain Snow’ chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.), sprayed with 10 mm NAA or 10 mm NAAEE, exhibited severe epinasty after 24 hr, while leaves sprayed with 5 mm ethephon did not. Treatment with 100 μm AOA 24 hr before application reduced ethylene production rate of leaves, but not epinasty. Localized application of NAA to adaxial, abaxial, or both leaf surfaces resulted in similar amounts of leaf epinasty. Epinastic leaves had enlarged adaxial epidermal cells. Size of abaxial epidermal cells was unchanged. This study provides evidence that leaf epinasty of chrysanthemum following NAA application is not the result of auxin-induced ethylene production. Chemical names used: (aminooxy)acetic acid (AOA); 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); 1-naphthaleneacetic acid ethyl ester (NAAEE); and (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon).
Postharvest treatments significantly reduced or eradicated pests on various tropical cut flowers and foliage. Immersion in water at 49° C for 10 minutes killed armored scales on bird of paradise leaves, Strelitzia reginae Banks, as well as aphids and mealybugs on red ginger, Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. Vapor heat treatment for 2 hours at 45.2° C provided quarantine security against armored scales on bird of paradise leaves. A 5 minute dip in fluvalinate combined with insecticidal soap eliminated aphids and significantly reduced mealybugs on red ginger. A 3 minute dip in fluvalinate, a 3 minute dip in chlorpyrifos, or a 3 hour fog with avermectin-B significantly reduced thrips on orchids, Dendrobium spp., without injury to the flowers. No postharvest treatment was both effective and nonphytotoxic on all commodities.