subsequent assessments of regrowth after harvest. Therefore, the ability to estimate flower number as a primary component of yield before harvest via rapid, nondestructive, and reproducible means would be beneficial as a research tool. Digital image analysis
). We were interested in assessing the heritability of heat stress tolerance traits—number of flowers, number of fruit per cluster, and fruit set (measured as a percentage)—in two tomato populations derived from crosses between heat-tolerant and heat
and flower number on the following scale: 1 = poor; 2 = fair; 3 = saleable; 4 = good; 5 = excellent. Expt. 2. Fifty-four liners of A. obesum ‘Red’ (7 to 9 cm in height) were potted from 72-cell trays into 1.25-L (15.2 cm diameter) containers filled
25 Mar., 20 May for plants planted on 25 Apr., and 15 June for plants planted on 25 May based on the equal dose and sequence with 4, 8, 12, 12, 8, and 4 g/pot at a 20-d interval. Blooming time and flower number were recorded once every 1 or 2 d. Data
is favored by Chinese customers; as a result, it is one of the three most popular lily cultivars in China ( Yamagishi and Akagi, 2013 ). The flower quality is mainly related to plant height, flower number per plant, and flower diameter ( Lindsay et al
New guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) (NGI) `Pure Beauty Rose' (PBR) and `Paradise Orchid' (PO) were grown in full sun, 55% shade, or 73% shade and fertilized with a controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) [Nutricote Total 13-13-13 (13N-5.7P-10.8K), type 100] incorporated at rates of 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 and 32 lb/yard3 of growing media (1.2, 2.4, 3.6, 4.7, 7.1, 9.5, 11.9, 14.2, 16.6, and 19.0 kg·m-3). Plant quality rating, shoot dry weight, and flower number were measured at harvest and substrate samples were collected to analyze final substrate pH and electrical conductivity (EC). For both cultivars, light intensity and fertilization rate interactions were different for shoot dry weight and flower number, but there was no difference in plant quality rating between the light levels. Quality ratings of both PBR and PO plants increased as CRF rate increased to 12 to 16 lb/yard3 above these levels quality was not improved. Shoot dry weight of PBR plants grown in full sun increased as CRF rate increased to 28 lb/yard3 and then decreased, while shoot dry weight of plants grown with 55% and 73% shade increased as CRF rate increased to 20 and 16 lb/yard3, respectively, with no further increases. Shoot dry weight of PO plants grown in full sun and 55% shade increased as CRF rate increased to 28 and 24 lb/yard3, respectively, with no further increases, while shoot dry weight of plants grown with 73% shade increased as CRF rate increased to 24 lb/yard3 and then decreased. Flower number of PBR plants grown in full sun, 55% shade, and 73% shade increased as CRF rate increased to 24 lb/yard3 and then decreased. Flower number of PO plants grown in full sun increased as CRF rate increased to 28 lb/yard3 and then decreased, while flower number of plants grown in 55% and 73% shade increased as CRF rate increased to 24 lb/yard3 and then decreased.
The effect of cool temperature treatments on flowering of Osteospermum ecklonis Norl. cv. Nairobi was evaluated. Plants vernalized at temperatures from 4 to 15 °C for 4 to 6 weeks exhibited increased flower numbers, more synchronized flower development among individual plants, and reduced forcing times. Part of the increased flower number observed in the vernalized plants could be attributed to a small increase in branch numbers from 2 to 3. However, a longer period of vernalization slowed flower development, and therefore increased overall production times. Vernalization also reduced stem growth, primarily through a reduction in the number of nodes produced by each branch.
Four sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] cultivars responded differently to growth regulator application for number of flowers produced, percentage capsule set, and number of seeds produced. Gibberellic acid, 2,4-D, and BA application resulted in the highest number of flowers by `Jewel', `Shore Gold', and `Vardaman) plants, respectively. Application of GA3 to `Jewel', 2,4-D or ethephon to `Shore Gold', and BA to `Vardaman' produced the highest number of seeds. Grafting to rootstock of Z. carnea Jacq. spp. fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D. Austin increased flower numbers, percentage capsule set, and number of seeds in all cultivars. The effects of growth regulators and grafting were additive for flower numbers, percentage capsule set, and number of seeds. Chemical names used: N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (BA), (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid (2,4-D), (2-chloroethyl) phosphoric acid (ethephon), and (1α, 2β, 4a α, 4b β, 10)-2,4a,7-trihydroxy-1-methy1-8-methylenegibb-3-ene-1,10-dicarboxylic acid 1,4a-Iactone (gibberellic acid; GA3).
Abstract
Gibberellic acid (GA3) was applied to Zantedeschia elliottiana (W. Wats.) and Z. rehmannii (Engl.) (yellow and pink calla lily) at 0, 50, 100, 500, or 1000 ppm, either as a preplant rhizome 10-min soak or as a foliar spray. Soaking rhizomes in 500 ppm GA3 prior to planting increased number of flowering shoots and flowers per shoot. Leaves on treated plants were narrower, but length was unaffected. Flower height was not affected. Foliar sprays did not alter any measured parameter. A preplant GA soak may be useful in the production of Zantedeschia as flowering potted plants. Chemical name used: (1α, 2β, 4aα, 4bβ, 10β)-2,4a,7-trihydroxy-1-methyl-8-methylenegibb-3-ene-1,10-dicarboxylic acid 1,4a-lactone (GA3).
Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of two granular systemic insecticides, acephate (Pinpoint 15G) and imidacloprid (Marathon 1G), against western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) on Transvaal daisy (Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus ex. Hook. f). These studies were arranged in a randomized complete-block design with four blocks and four treatments per block. Two rates of acephate (0.75 g/16.5-cm pot and 1.0 g/16.5-cm pot) and one rate of imidacloprid (1.3 g/16.5-cm pot) were used in two studies. Plants were artificially inoculated with five adult western flower thrips at the prebloom stage. Plants were evaluated each week for flower quality (1 = complete injury or flower distortion to 5 = no injury), thrips density per flower, and number of plants flowering in each plot. Both studies showed that the acephate treated plants had the best flower quality, lowest numbers of thrips, and greatest number of plants flowering compared to imidacloprid and the check. These studies demonstrate that granulated acephate exhibits some activity in flower tissue and may assist growers in managing western flower thrips in floricultural crops.