scholarly journals Comparing Effects of Container Treatments on Nursery Production and Field Establishment of Trees with Different Root Systems

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
Ursula K. Schuch ◽  
Dennis R. Pittenger ◽  
Philip A. Barker

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of container volume, container shape, and copper-coating containers on root and shoot growth during nursery production and after establishment in the field. Liners of ficus (Ficus retusa L. ‘Nitida’), a fibrous-rooted species, and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi.), a coarse-rooted species, were grown in regular or tall #1 containers in a glasshouse and were subsequently transplanted to the field or into #3 or #5 regular or tall containers. During the nursery phase, copper-coated containers improved rootball quality of ficus and pepper, but biomass production was not affected consistenly by copper coating. Tall, narrow versus regular containers restricted pepper growth throughout the nursery phase and field establishment, but had little effect on ficus. Biomass production of pepper trees was greatest in regular-shaped containers, and tall containers reduced growth consistently. Container shape did not affect shoot growth of ficus. The larger container volume of the #5 yielded greater total biomass of pepper and root dry weight of ficus during nursery production than did #3 pots. In the field, shoot dry weight of ficus was greatest when previously grown in #5 containers, and total biomass of pepper was greatest in both regular #3 or #5 containers.

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1318-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Ruter

The long-term effects of paclobutrazol applied to container-grown `Mojave' pyracantha (Pyracantha ×) and `San Jose' juniper (Juniperus chinensis L.) were investigated. Paclobutrazol was applied as a drench to container-grown (2.8 liter) plants at the rates of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg a.i./pot in June 1991, and plants were transplanted to the field in Feb. 1992. Pyracantha plant height, shoot and root dry weight, and total biomass (shoot dry weight + root dry weight) decreased quadratically as rate of paclobutrazol increased during nursery production. Paclobutrazol had no effect on plant height or shoot dry weight of Juniperus, although width indices were reduced. Ratings for root quality for Juniperus in containers increased as rate of paclobutrazol increased. After 9 months in the landscape, paclobutrazol still influenced plant height, width, and shoot dry weight for Pyracantha but had no effect on Juniperus. As rate of application increased, fruit retention on Pyracantha increased. Paclobutrazol applied as a container medium drench at 5 mg a.i./pot was excessive during nursery production of Pyracantha and Juniperus. Chemical name used: [(2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-yl)penten-3-ol] (paclobutrazol).


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 481c-481
Author(s):  
Ursula K. Schuch ◽  
Dennis R. Pittenger

This study was designed to determine whether trees growing in tall, narrow containers versus regular containers of equal volume, or trees growing in containers coated with cupric hydroxide versus no coating would have a better quality root system, less circling roots, and more biomass production. Ficus (Ficur retusa L. `nitida') and pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi.) liners were grown for 6 months in the greenhouse in one-gal. containers. Cupric hydroxide coating prevented matting of roots on the side of the root ball in both species and root circling at the bottom of containers in ficus. Pepper trees growing in regular-shaped containers had a higher biomass production versus trees growing in tall containers. Subsequently, trees were transplanted to 3 or 5 gal. containers with shape or coating as described above. For pepper, cupric hydroxide coating versus no coating reduced circling and matting of roots, trees in regular versus tall containers had increased above ground biomass, and trees in 5-gal. versus 3-gal. containers grew more medium and small-sized roots and produced more total biomass.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 220-222
Author(s):  
Kathryne J. Jernigan ◽  
Amy N. Wright

Abstract Research was conducted to screen four landscape shrub taxa for tolerance to repeated flooding events. Plants of Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Mt. Airy’ (dwarf witchalder), Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ (winterberry), Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ (summersweet), and Viburnum nudum Brandywine™ (possumhaw) were flooded repeatedly over six weeks for 0 (non-flooded), 3, or 6 days with a draining period of 6 days between each flooding event. The experiment was repeated for a total of two runs. With the exception of F. × intermedia ‘Mt. Airy’, all taxa showed good visual quality and no reduction in root growth in either run, and effects on shoot growth were minimal. Size index of Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ was 27% higher in plants flooded for 0 or 3 days than in plants flooded for 6 days in run 1 only. Shoot dry weight of Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ was actually 11% higher in plants flooded 6 days days than in plants flooded for 0 or 3 days in run 2. Size index of Viburnum nudum Brandywine™ increased with increasing flood length, and plants flooded for 6 days had a 9% higher SI than plants flooded for 0 days in run 1. With the exception of Fothergilla × intermedia L. ‘Mt. Airy’, all taxa appeared tolerant of and even thrived during flooding and would be appropriate shrub selections for a southeastern United States rain garden.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wallace G. Pill ◽  
James A. Gunter

Abstract This study was conducted to determine whether treating seeds of ‘Sensation Mixed’ cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.) and ‘Bonanza Gold’ marigold (Tagetes patula L.) with paclobutrazol (PB) could suppress seedling growth. Seeds were soaked in solutions of 0, 500 or 1000 mg PB/liter (ppm PB) for 16 hours at 25C (77F) or they were primed [−0.5 MPa (−5 bars) for 7 days at 20C (68F)] in Grade 5 exfoliated vermiculite moistened with 0, 500 or 1000 ppm PB solltuions. Soaked and primed seeds were dried for 1 day at 19C (65F) and 25% relative humidity. These seeds and control (non-treated) seeds were sown into plug cells containing peat-lite. Increasing PB concentration decreased cosmos shoot height at 32 days after planting (DAP), but decreased emergence percentage, responses that were more pronounced with priming than with soaking. A 1 ppm PB growth medium drench [30 ml/cell(0.2 mg PB/cell)] and, to a greater extent a 10 mg PB/liter (ppm PB) shoot spray [2 ml/shoot (0.02 mg PB/shoot)], both applied at 10 DAP, resulted in greater cosmos shoot height suppression at 32 DAP than treatment of seeds with 1000 ppm PB. Soaking marigold seeds in 1000 ppm PB failed to decrease shoot height below those of plants from non-treated seeds at 32 DAP. However, exposure to 1000 ppm PB during priming of marigold seeds resulted in a similar shoot height suppression (13%) as the growth medium drench, and similar shoot dry weight reduction (21%) as the shoot spray. Suppression of shoot growth by this seed treatment was short-term since by five weeks after transplanting into 15 cm (6 in) pots, only marigold plants that had received the growth medium drench or shoot spray were smaller than those of control plants. Treating marigold seeds with 1000 mg ppm PB used about one-fifth the PB used to drench the growth medium.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-141
Author(s):  
Bruce R. Roberts ◽  
Chris Wolverton ◽  
Samantha West

The efficacy of treating soilless substrate with a commercial humectant was tested as a means of suppressing drought stress in 4-week-old container-grown Zinnia elegans Jacq. ‘Thumbelina’. The humectant was applied as a substrate amendment at concentrations of 0.0, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2% by volume prior to withholding irrigation. An untreated, well-watered control was also included. The substrate of treated plants was allowed to dry until the foliage wilted, at which time the plants were harvested and the following measurements taken: number of days to wilt (DTW), xylem water potential (ψx), shoot growth (shoot dry weight, leaf area) and root growth (length, diameter, surface area, volume, dry weight). For drought-stressed plants grown in humectant-treated substrate at concentrations of 1.6 and 3.2%, DTW increased 25 and 33%, respectively. A linear decrease in ψx was observed as the concentration of humectant increased from 0.0 to 3.2%. Linear trends were also noted for both volumetric moisture content (positive) and evapotranspiration (negative) as the concentration of humectant increased. For non-irrigated, untreated plants, stress inhibited shoot growth more than root growth, resulting in a lower root:shoot ratio. For non-irrigated, humectant-treated plants, the length of fine, water-absorbing roots increased linearly as humectant concentration increased from 0.0 to 3.2%. Using humectant-amended substrates may be a management option for mitigating the symptoms of drought stress during the production of container-grown bedding plants such as Z. elegans.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Keever ◽  
J.R. Kessler ◽  
G.B. Fain ◽  
D.C. Mitchell

A study was conducted to determine how seedling development stage at transplanting from plug flats into small pots affected growth and flowering of two commonly grown bedding plants. Seeds of Showstar® medallion flower and ‘Las Vegas Pink’ globe amaranth were sown in 392-cell flats on five dates for each of two experimental runs before transplanting into 8.9 cm (3.5 in) cubic pots. At transplanting of both species, plant height, node count and shoot dry weight increased as days from sowing to transplanting increased and there was no visible cessation in shoot growth due to root restriction. Time to first flower from transplanting decreased linearly with both species in both runs, except with medallion flower in the second run, as time from sowing to transplanting increased. In contrast, time to flower of both species from sowing increased linearly as time from sowing to transplanting increased. However, the magnitude of the increase or decrease in time to flower differed between the two runs indicating that other factors, most likely light intensity and duration, besides node counts were affecting time to flower. Globe amaranth height and growth index and medallion flower growth index at first flower decreased as time from sowing to transplanting increased, whereas medallion flower height was not affected by time from sowing to transplanting.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Flax ◽  
Christopher J. Currey ◽  
James A. Schrader ◽  
David Grewell ◽  
William R. Graves

Our objectives were to quantify the growth and quality of herbaceous annuals grown in different types of bioplastic-based biocontainers in commercial greenhouses and quantify producer interest in using these types of biocontainers in their production systems. Seedlings of ‘Serena White’ angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) and ‘Maverick Red’ zonal geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum) that had been transplanted into nine different (4.5-inch diameter) container types [eight bioplastic-based biocontainers and a petroleum-based plastic (PP) (control)] were grown at six commercial greenhouses in the upper midwestern United States. Plants were grown alongside other bedding annuals in each commercial greenhouse, and producers employed their standard crop culture practices. Data were collected to characterize growth when most plants were flowering. Questionnaires to quantify producer perceptions and interest in using bioplastic-based biocontainers, interest in different container attributes, and satisfaction were administered at select times during the experiment. Container type interacted with greenhouse to affect angelonia growth index (GI) and shoot dry weight (SDW), as well as shoot, root, and container ratings. Container type or greenhouse affected geranium GI and shoot rating, and their interaction affected SDW, and root and container ratings. These results indicate that commercial producers can grow herbaceous annuals in a range of bioplastic-based biocontainers with few or no changes to their crop culture practices.


1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-116
Author(s):  
Shahrina Akhtar ◽  
Jalal Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Abdul Hamid ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam

A study was conducted to evaluate 100 chickpea genotypes to explore their genetic diversity in respect of emergence and growth attributes. A high genotypic variation was observed in the characters studied. The highest positive correlation corresponded to the root mass and total plant biomass of the seedlings. Seedling biomass production was highly subjective to seedling vigor. Using discriminant function analysis, the first two functions contributed 46.2 and 39.0%, and altogether 85.2% of the variability among the genotypes. Function 1 was positively related to dry weight of root and total plants. The character with the greatest weight on function 2 was seedling emergence rate. The total dry weight of seedlings played the most dominant role in explaining the maximum variance in the genotypes. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Each cluster had specific seedling characteristics and the clusters 5 and 6 were closely related and clearly separated from clusters 1 and 4 for their higher amount of root and total biomass production, and vigorous seedlings, where as, the genotypes in cluster 2 and 3 were intermediate. The genotypes in cluster 5 followed by cluster 6 appeared to be important resources for selecting and developing chickpea variety. Keywords: Chickpea; genotypes; seedling; quality DOI: 10.3329/agric.v8i2.7584 The Agriculturists 8(2): 108-116 (2010)


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvaze A. Sofi ◽  
Iram Saba

The present study was undertaken to assess the response of common bean under drought in respect of root traits and biomass partitioning in fifteen common bean genotypes. The basal root whorl number and the number of basal roots was highest in case of WB-185 and lowest in case of SR-1, whereas, the basal root growth angle was highest in case of WB-258 and lowest in case of WB-249. Rooting depth measured as the length of longest root harvested was highest in case of WB-6 (66.2) while as lowest value was recorded for WB-112 (20.4). Dry root weight was highest in case of WB-216 (0.45) and lowest value was recorded for WB-341 (0.22). Similarly leaf biomass was highest in case of WB-6 (0.58) followed by WB-216 (0.58) and the lowest value recorded for WB-1186 (0.12). Shoot dry weight was highest for WB-6 (0.55) followed by WB-216 (0.44) and the lowest value recorded for WB-1186 (0.118). Pod dry weight was highest for WB-489 (2.28) followed by WB-216 (2.19) and the lowest value recorded for WB-83 (0.68).489. Root biomass proportion was highest for WB-195 (18.34) and lowest for WB-489 (10.00). Similarly leaf biomass to total biomass was highest in case of WB-83 (23.19) whereas lowest value was recorded for WB-1186 (7.60). Highest stem biomass proportion was recorded for Arka Anoop (19.19) and the lowest value was recorded for WB-1186 (7.591). Biomass allocation to pods was highest in case of WB-489 (69.92) followed by WB-1186 (68.69) whereas lowest value was recorded for WB-83 (45.40).


1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-169
Author(s):  
G.J. Keever ◽  
C.H. Gilliam ◽  
D.J. Eakes

Abstract Ilex x meserveae ‘China Girl’ plants were sprayed with a single application of different rates of Cutless (flurprimidol) during container production. Growth index, shoot length and shoot dry weight decreased with increasing rates of Cutless. Growth index of plants treated with 500 ppm Cutless was about 17% less than that of control plants 120 days after treatment, but were similar after the spring flush the following year. Growth inhibition persisted for at least two growing seasons when plants were treated with rates of 1500 to 2500 ppm; foliage of these plants was smaller and more cupped than that of control plants. Treated plants were noticeably more compact and uniform, and foliage was darker green than that of control plants.


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