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Abstract

Schlumbergera truncata (Haw.) Moran ‘Christmas Charm’, ‘Lavender Doll’, and ‘White Christmas’ were grown under an 8 hr natural photoperiod or an 8 hr natural photoperiod plus 4 hr of incandescent light from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am and treated with single sprays of BA at 100 and 200 ppm, GA at 25, 50, and 100 ppm, BA at 100 and 200 ppm plus GA at 25 or 100 ppm, calcium carbide at 2910 ppm, ethephon at 100 and 1000 ppm, daminozide at 5000 ppm, ancymidol at 132 ppm, and chlormequat at 1000 ppm in 2 experiments. No flower buds were initiated from any plants grown under the 8 + 4 hr photoperiod. BA applied at 100 and 200 ppm increased the number of phylloclades on ‘Christmas Charm’ plants grown under the 8 + 4 hr. BA at 200 ppm applied to plants grown under the 8 hr photoperiod caused an increase in flower bud number and earlier flowering in all cultivars tested. BA + 100 or 200 ppm 100 ppm GA applied to plants grown under the 8 hr + 4 hr photoperiod stimulated the growth and elongation of phylloclades. Applied to plants grown under the 8 hr photoperiod, BA plus GA caused the growth and elongation of phylloclades, initiation of lower buds, and induced the development of lateral phylloclades and flower buds. Ancymidol at 132 ppm and 1000 ppm chlormequat sprays produced earlier flower bud initiation and increased flower number to flower bud ratios on ‘Christmas Charm’ plants. Chemical names used: N-(phenylmethyl)-H-purin-6-amine (BA); gibberellic acid (GA); (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon); butanedioic acid mono(2,2-dimethylhydrazide) (daminozide); α-cycloproply-α-4-methoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidinemethanol) (ancymidol).

To investigate the effects of light treatments on the growth morphology and chemical constituents of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. plants, red (R), blue (B), far red (Fr), and white (W) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were configured to provide different combinations of light spectra and photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs). In Expt. 1, five light spectra of red/white (RW), red/white/far red (RWFr), red/white/high-intensity far red (RWFrD), red/blue (RB), and red/blue/far red (RBFr) were set up in two 3-layered racks with circulating hydroponic systems. In each light spectrum treatment, the distance between the LED lamps and the transplanting board was regulated to provide low PPFD and high PPFD treatments. In Expt. 2, the effect of Fr was further investigated in plants in the early and late growth stages. RWFr light was modified by covering the Fr lamps to become red/white without far red (RW−Fr) light during the early growth stage, and then removing the covers to provide the Fr spectrum red/white with far red (RW+Fr) during the later growth stage. This study suggested that high PPFD was not beneficial for promoting plant growth in any light spectrum treatment. Among light spectrum treatments at a PPFD of 215 ± 15 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, RW light produced higher vegetative growth. In the late growth stage, RW and RB combined with Fr light promoted reproductive growth, antioxidant activities, and secondary compounds, such as phenolic compounds, pinitol accumulation, and betacyanins. Therefore, RW (227 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), RW−Fr (162 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), and RB (162 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) are suggested for the early growth stage to promote vegetative growth. Then additional Fr light can be applied in addition to RW for secondary metabolite induction in the late growth stage.

Abstract

Chamaecereus silvestri (Spreg.) Britt & Rose ‘Peanut cactus’, Mammillaria elongata D.C. ‘Gold Star’, and Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.) Pfeiff. ‘Bunny Ears’ were grown on an 8-hr natural photoperiod (short) or an 8-hr natural plus 4-hr incandescent light from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am photoperiod (long) and treated with single sprays of growth regulators. Ethephon or the long photoperiod increased shoots on Opuntia. Gibberellic acid alone or BA alone increased Mammillaria and Chamaecereus shoot number linearly, whereas GA plus BA reduced shoot number. Chamaecereus and Opuntia plants grown on a long photoperiod produced more shoots than plants grown on the short photoperiod. Ethephon reduced the dry weight of all cacti tested. Dry weight of untreated Mammillaria and Opuntia plants exceeded that of growth regulator-treated plants. Opuntia plants produced more dry weight on the long photoperiod than on the short photoperiod. GA increased the growth of glochids on Opuntia and Mammillaria. Chemical names used: A-(phenylmethyl-1H-purin-6-amine (BA); (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon); and gibberellic acid (GA).