Phosphorus Restriction as an Alternative to Chemical Plant Growth Retardants in Angelonia and New Guinea Impatiens

Chemical plant growth retardants (PGRs) are commonly used to produce compact bedding plants. Few PGRs are labeled for sensitive species because of the concern of excessive restriction of stem elongation or phytotoxicity. Growers are therefore presented with a dilemma: produce untreated plants that may be too tall or risk applying a PGR that can potentially lead to irreversible aesthetic damage to the plant. Nutrient restriction, specifically of phosphorus (P), may be used to control plant height. This study was conducted to determine if restricting P fertilization yielded comparable growth control to plants produced with PGRs. Two cultivars each of new guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) and angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) were grown using five fertilizers that varied by P concentration (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ppm). Half of the plants from each P fertilizer concentration were treated with paclobutrazol at 4 and 5 weeks after transplant for angelonia and new guinea impatiens, respectively. On termination of the experiment, data were collected for height, diameter, and dry weight, which were used to determine a growth index (GI). Angelonia GI values were maximized with 7–9 ppm P, whereas new guinea impatiens GI was maximized with 8–11 ppm P. Concentrations of 3–5 ppm P provided similar height control to plants grown with nonlimiting P and a paclobutrazol application. Concentrations of ≤2.5 ppm P resulted in low-quality plants with visual symptoms of P deficiency. These results indicate that a narrow range of P concentrations may be used to control stem elongation and keep plants compact.

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Effect of Plant Growth Retardants on Stem Elongation of Hibiscus Species

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.13.2.0293 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 293-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ryan M. Warner ◽

John E. Erwin

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Stem Elongation ◽

Stem Length ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Chlormequat Chloride ◽

Plant Growth Retardants ◽

Butanedioic Acid ◽

Spray Applications

One-time spray applications [about 6 mL (0.2 fl oz)] of chlormequat chloride [1000 or 2000 mg·L-1 (ppm)], daminozide (2500 or 5000 mg·L-1), paclobutrazol (20 or 40 mg·L-1) and uniconazole (5 or 10 mg·L-1) varied in efficacy in reducing Hibiscus coccineus (Medic.) Walt., H. radiatus Cav., and H. trionum L. (flower-of-an-hour) stem elongation. Chlormequat chloride inhibited stem elongation of all species, with a 2000 mg·L-1 application reducing stem length of H. coccineus, H. radiatus, and H. trionum by 87%, 42%, and 52%, respectively, compared to untreated plants, 28 d after application. Paclobutrazol also inhibited stem elongation of all species. Uniconazole reduced stem elongation of H. coccineus and H. radiatus, but not H. trionum. Daminozide applied at 5000 mg·L-1 reduced H. radiatus stem elongation only. Growth retardants examined in this study did not delay flowering of H. trionum, the only species that flowered during the experiment. (Chemical names used: ancymidol (α-cyclopropyl-α-(4-methoxyphenol)-5-pyrimidinemethonol), chlormequat chloride(2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride), paclobutrazol ((+)-(R*,R*)-beta((4-chlorophenyl)methyl)-alpha-(1,1-dimethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ethanol), daminozide ([butanedioic acid mono(2,2-dimethylhydrazide)], uniconazol-P ((E)-(+)-(s)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pent-1-ene-3-ol)).

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Plant Growth Retardants Affect Growth and Flowering of Achillea × ‘Coronation Gold’

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-26.1.24 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 24-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J.R. Kessler ◽

G.J. Keever

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Growth Index ◽

Plant Size ◽

Growth Retardant ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Shoot Height ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Quality Ratings ◽

Plant Growth Retardants

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of several widely used plant growth retardants on plant size and flowering of Achillea × ‘Coronation Gold’. Plants in 10 cm (4 in) pots were grown in a greenhouse and treated with B-Nine at 0, 2550, 5100, or 7650 ppm; Cycocel at 0, 767, 1534, or 2301 ppm; B-Nine/Cycocel at 0, 1275/1534, 2550/1534, or 3825/1534 ppm; Sumagic at 0, 11, 22, 33, 44, or 55 ppm; Bonzi at 0, 32, 64, 96, 128, or 160 ppm; or Cutless at 0, 40, 80, or 120 ppm as a spray 1 week after vernalization. B-Nine, Cycocel, B-Nine/Cycocel, Sumagic, Bonzi, and Cutless reduced shoot height and growth index by 36 and 26%, 39 and 27%, 61 and 41%, 75 and 52%, 52 and 36%, and 75 and 51%, respectively, with the highest rate of each. B-Nine, Cycocel, B-Nine/Cycocel, and Sumagic, but not Bonzi or Cutless, increased the number of days to open inflorescence by 3-5 days with increasing rate. Sumagic, Bonzi, and Cutless reduced inflorescence diameter by up to 15, 18, and 14%, respectively but not B-Nine, Cycocel, or B-Nine/Cycocel. The highest quality ratings of 2.8 to 3.0 were found with B-Nine/Cycocel at 3825/1534 ppm, Sumagic at 22 and 33 ppm, and Bonzi at 64 ppm. Differences between the results in this study and earlier studies implicate the possible impact of differences in experimental environments, container size, or stage of development when the plant growth retardant treatments were applied.

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HEIGHT CONTROL OF HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS FORCED USING NIGHT-INTERRUPTED LIGHTING UNDER NURSERY CONDITIONS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.3.893f ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 893f-894

Author(s):

Gary J. Keever ◽

J. Raymond Kessler

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Height ◽

Control Plant ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Natural Control ◽

Height Control ◽

Herbaceous Perennials ◽

Quality Rating ◽

Plant Growth Retardants ◽

Outdoor Nursery

In previous studies, night-interrupted lighting (NIL) promoted earlier flowering of summer-blooming herbaceous perennials grown under outdoor nursery conditions in the southeastern U.S. However, NIL promoted excessive plant height, thus reducing product quality. Our objective was to control plant height of Coreopsis grandiflora `Early Sunrise' (ES) and Rudbeckia fulgida `Goldsturm' (RG) grown under NIL with plant growth retardants (PGR) without offsetting earlier flowering promoted by NIL. Treatments under NIL were three rates of daminozide, daminozide plus chloromequat, flurprimidol, uniconazole, and NIL and natural controls. Plant height was reduced 3% to 38% in ES and 8% to 31% in RG and time to visible bud was unchanged by all PGR treatments compared to the NIL control. Time to visible bud was unchanged in RG by all PGR treatments and flurprimidol in ES, but the remaining PGR treatments increased time to visible bud compared to the NIL control in ES. Only ES plants treated with daminozide and daminozide plus chloromequat at the two highest rates and all rates of uniconazole were similar in height to the natural control. RG plant heights with the two highest rates of flurprimidol and uniconazole and the highest rate of daminozide plus chloromequat were less than the natural control; heights of plants in the remaining PGR treatments were similar to the natural control. Quality rating was unchanged in RG but was increased in ES by all PGR treatments compared to the NIL control.

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Paclobutrazol or Ancymidol Effects on Postharvest Performance of Potted Ornamental Plants and Plugs

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.50.9.1370 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (9) ◽

pp. 1370-1374 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Iftikhar Ahmad ◽

Brian E. Whipker ◽

John M. Dole

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Stem Elongation ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Growth Control ◽

Foliar Spray ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Potted Plants ◽

Plant Growth Retardants

Effects of paclobutrazol and ancymidol on postharvest performance and growth control of potted sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) and marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida Vilm.) plugs, respectively, were studied. Paclobutrazol was applied as a drench at 0, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg of a.i. per 15.2-cm pot for sunflower and 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg per 12.5-cm pot for zinnia, while ancymidol was applied at 0, 40, 80, and 160 mg·L−1 with a volume of 0.21 L·m−2 as a foliar spray for marigolds or petunia plug crops. With an increase in paclobutrazol dose or ancymidol concentration, plant growth (plant height and diameter, shoot fresh or dry weight) was controlled for all species tested. Use of 1.0–2.0 mg paclobutrazol per pot produced 21% to 28% shorter plants with 12% to 15% smaller plant diameter, 13% to 19% less shoot fresh weight, 15% to 21% less dry weight, and darker green foliage color for potted sunflower than nontreated plants. Treatment with 1.0–4.0 mg paclobutrazol per pot delayed first wilting by 0.7–1.4 days compared with nontreated plants. For zinnia, 0.5–1.0 mg paclobutrazol controlled plant growth, produced dark green foliage, and extended shelf life by delaying first wilting by 2.6–3.9 days and second wilting by 1.4–2.0 days than nontreated plants. For marigold and petunia plugs, 40–80 mg·L−1 ancymidol provided ample growth control with darker green foliage; however, postharvest longevity was extended only when plugs were sprayed with 160 mg·L−1 ancymidol. During simulated storage and shipping, plant growth retardants maintained darker green foliage for potted sunflower, zinnia, and marigold plugs and prevented postharvest stem elongation of petunia plugs. In summary, use of plant growth retardants effectively controlled excessive plant growth and extended shelf life of potted plants and plugs.

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Effects of Plant Growth Retardants and Application Timing after Shearing on Growth and Flowering of Coreopsis verticillata `Moonbeam'

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.522a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 522a-522

Author(s):

J. Raymond Kessler ◽

Gary J. Keever

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Height ◽

Growth Index ◽

Market Quality ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Application Timing ◽

Quality Rating ◽

Plant Growth Retardants ◽

Herbaceous Perennial ◽

Short Days

Coreopsis verticillata `Moonbeam' is a herbaceous perennial that may grow too tall in small containers under greenhouse conditions for market acceptance, and therefore may benefit from plant growth retardants. Rooted terminal cuttings produced under short days were given a terminal pinch and transplanted to 10 cm pots. Cuttings were sheared to 6 cm above the pot rim 4 weeks later. Growth retardant treatments consisting of ancymidol drench at 0, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.375 mg a.i./pot; paclobutrazol drench at 0, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.375 mg a.i./pot; daminozide spray at 0, 2550, 5100, or 7650 mg·L–1; paclobutrazol spray at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 mg·L–1; or flurprimidol spray at 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 200 mg·L–1 were applied 10 days after shearing. Night-breaking lighting using incandescent bulbs was started the same day. The highest rate of ancymidol, paclobutrazol drench, daminozide, and flurprimidol decreased plant height compared to controls by 36, 30, 21, and 36%, respectively. Paclobutrazol sprays were not effective. A market quality rating of four or higher (good, salable) was given to plants treated with daminozide at 5100 or 7650 mg·L–1 or flurprimidol at 150 or 200 mg·L–1. A second experiment was conduced to determine application timing. A daminozide spray at 0, 2550, 5100, or 7650 mg·L–1 was applied 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 days after shearing. Plant height, growth index and lateral shoot length were least and market quality rating highest when 5100 or 7650 mg·L–1 of daminozide was applied between 6 and 9 days after shearing.

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Plant Growth Retardants Reduce Peduncle Length of Achillea × `Coronation Gold'

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.4.602f ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 602f-603

Author(s):

J. Raymond Kessler ◽

Gary J. Keever

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Growth Index ◽

Market Quality ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Foliar Sprays ◽

Quality Ratings ◽

Flower Diameter ◽

Plant Growth Retardants ◽

Peduncle Length

Vegetative offsets of Achillea x `Coronation Gold' were rooted under mist for 3 weeks and potted into 10-cm pots in a greenhouse. Plants were grown under short photoperiods for 6 weeks before being vernalized for 6 weeks at 6 °C. Plants then were provided long photoperiods from night-break lighting. Foliar sprays of daminozide at 0, 2550, 5100, or 7650 mg·L-1, chlormequat at 0, 767, 1534, or 3201 mg·L-1, daminozide + chlormequat at 0, 1275 +, 2550 + or 3825+1534 mg·L-1, flurprimidol at 0, 40, 80, or 120 mg·L-1, paclobutrazol at 0, 32, 64, 96, 128, or 160 mg·L-1 or uniconizole at 0, 11, 22, 33, 44, or 55 mg·L-1 were applied as a spray 1 week after vernalization. Highest market quality ratings were achieved with paclobutrazol at 96 or 128, uniconizole at 22 or 33, daminozide + chlormequat 3825 + 1534, chlormequat at 2301 or flurprimidol at 40 mg·L-1. Peduncle length and growth index decreased linearly for daminozide, chlormequat, and daminozide + chlormequat, and decreased quadratically for flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and uniconizole with increasing rate. Time to flower increased most in treatments receiving high rates of daminozide. Flower diameter was reduced by the highest rates of flurprimidol and paclobutrazol.

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Controlled Water Deficit as an Alternative to Plant Growth Retardants for Regulation of Poinsettia Stem Elongation

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.50.4.565 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 565-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Peter Alem ◽

Paul A. Thomas ◽

Marc W. van Iersel

Keyword(s):

Drought Stress ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Height ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Stem Elongation ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Target Height ◽

Height Control ◽

Plant Growth Retardants

Production of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) often involves intensive use of plant growth retardants (PGRs) to regulate height. Height control is necessary for visual appeal and postharvest handling. Since PGRs do not always provide consistent height control and can have unwanted side effects, there is interest in alternative methods of height control. Since turgor potential drives cell expansion, and thus stem elongation, drought stress has potential for regulating plant height. Through soil moisture sensor-controlled irrigation, the severity of drought stress can be both monitored and controlled. The objective of our study was to compare poinsettia ‘Classic Red’ height control using PGRs (spray, mixture of daminozide and chlormequat at 1000 mg·L−1 each and drench, 0.25 mg·L−1 paclobutrazol) with the use of controlled water deficit (WD). Graphical tracking of plant height, using a final target height of 43.5 cm, was used to determine when to apply PGR or controlled WD. In the WD treatment, substrate volumetric water content (θ) was reduced from 0.40 to 0.20 m3·m−3 when actual height exceeded the expected height. PGR applications (spray or drench) reduced poinsettia height to 39 cm, below the final target level of 43.5 cm. WD resulted in a height of 44.5 cm, closest to the target height, while control plants were taller (49.4 cm). There was no effect of PGR drenches or WD on bract size, while spraying PGR reduced bract size by ≈ 40%. Bract chroma was unaffected by WD or PGR treatments. There was no difference in shoot dry weight between PGR- and WD-treated plants. Lateral growth was reduced by the PGR treatments, but not by WD. These results indicate that controlled WD can be used to regulate poinsettia height.

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The Dwarfing Effects of Different Plant Growth Retardants on Magnolia wufengensis L.Y. Ma et L. R. Wang

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Xiaodeng Shi ◽

Siyu Chen ◽

Zhongkui Jia

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Control Group ◽

Growth Retardants ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Node Number ◽

Plant Growth Retardants ◽

One Year ◽

Prohexadione Calcium ◽

Magnolia Wufengensis

The effects of varieties, concentrations, and number of applications of plant growth retardants (PGRs) on the morphological, physiological, and endogenous hormones of Magnolia wufengensis L.Y. Ma et L. R. Wang were assessed to obtain the most suitable dwarfing protocol for M. wufengensis and to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the cultivation and promotion of this species. One-year-old M. wufengensis ‘Jiaohong No. 2’ grafted seedlings served as the experimental materials. In the first part of the experiment, three PGRs (uniconazole, paclobutrazol, prohexadione calcium), three concentrations (500, 1000, 1500 ppm), and three applications (one, three, and five applications) were applied in dwarfing experiments to perform L9 (34) orthogonal tests. In the second part of the study, dwarfing experiments were supplemented with different high uniconazole concentrations (0, 1500, 2000, 2500 ppm). Spraying 1500 ppm uniconazole five times achieved the best M. wufengensis dwarfing effect, related indicators of M. wufengensis under this treatment were better than other treatment combinations. Here, M. wufengensis plant height, internode length, scion diameter, and node number were significantly reduced by 56.9%, 62.6%, 72.8%, and 74.4%, respectively, compared with the control group. This treatment increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 66.0%, peroxidase (POD) activity by 85.0%, soluble protein contents by 43.3%, and soluble sugar contents by 27.6%, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents by 32.1% in leaves of M. wufengensis compared with the control. The stress resistance of M. wufengensis was enhanced. The treatment also reduced gibberellin (GA3) levels by 73.0%, auxin (IAA) by 58.0%, and zeatin (ZT) by 70.6%, and increased (abscisic acid) ABA by 98.1% in the leaves of M. wufengensis. The uniconazole supplementation experiment also showed that 1500 ppm was the optimal uniconazole concentration. The leaves exhibited abnormalities such as crinkling or adhesion when 2000 or 2500 ppm was applied. Given the importance of morphological indicators and dwarfing for the ornamental value of M. wufengensis, the optimal dwarfing treatment for M. wufengensis was spraying 1500 ppm uniconazole five times.

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