scholarly journals Effects of Night-Interrupted Lighting on Growth and Flowering Duration of Herbaceous Perennials Grown Under Nursery Conditions in the Southern United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
J. Raymond Kessler ◽  
James C. Stephenson

Staggered starting dates for night-interrupted lighting (NIL) were evaluated for accelerated sequential flowering of herbaceous perennials with different photoperiod requirements outdoors in a southern nursery setting. Plants evaluated were black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), an obligate long-day (LD) plant; obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss Manners’), a facultative LD plant; and Stokes' aster (Stokesia laevis ‘Peachie's Pick’), a facultative intermediate-day plant. With all species, the dates of first flower and maximum flower number occurred sooner under LDs from incandescent (INC) and fluorescent (FLU) lamps than under natural photoperiod (NP). Mean and maximum flower numbers were greater under NIL than under NP for black-eyed Susan and Stokes' aster but not for obedient plant. Time in flower increased in Stokes' aster, but either decreased or was not affected by NIL for black-eyed Susan and obedient plant. Flowering periods of black-eyed Susan and obedient plant exposed to different NIL timings overlapped extensively while leaving a gap in flowering between plants exposed to NIL and those under NP. This gap in flowering suggests that the intervals between NIL start dates could be longer to lessen the flowering overlap of plants under NIL, and that the interval between the start of the last NIL treatment and the onset of an inductive photoperiod be reduced to maintain sequential peak flowering until the natural flowering period. With Stokes' aster, flowering overlapped for plants in the different NIL timings and under NP, resulting in continuous sequential blooms from first flowering of plants under NIL until the plants' natural flowering period under NP in late May. Flowering periods of Stokes' aster exposed to NIL beginning on different dates overlapped extensively, suggesting that at least one NIL start date could be omitted and the intervals between the start of NIL increased without sacrificing continuous sequential peak flowering. NIL from INC and FLU lamps promoted growth in plant height compared to that of plants under NP, although the increase in plant height was less under FLU lamps.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
J. Raymond Kessler ◽  
James C. Stephenson

The effects of bulking duration on growth and flowering of ‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida Ait. ‘Goldsturm’) and ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata L. ‘Moonbeam’) forced into flower under nursery conditions were evaluated as part of a system for the accelerated production of herbaceous perennials requiring long days to flower. Bulking duration treatments were established by a factorialization of potting date (September 24, October 13, December 2, and December 14, 2009) and night-interrupted lighting (NIL) start date (February 1, February 22, and March 15, 2010). Leaf counts of black-eyed Susan at the beginning of NIL increased linearly with progressively longer bulking durations based on potting date and NIL start date, although the effect was more pronounced when compared across potting dates. Based on leaf counts, black-eyed Susan potted in December were still in the juvenile phase when NIL was begun on February 1, 2010. Stem counts of black-eyed Susan at first flower followed a similar pattern as leaf counts. Black-eyed Susan given NIL flowered 40 to 59 days before plants under natural photoperiod (NP). Flower plus flower bud counts of black-eyed Susan at first flower increased linearly with increasing bulking duration based on potting date: by 325, 268, and 243% when NIL was begun on February 1, February 22, and March 15, respectively. Flower counts also increased linearly approximately 46% with increasing bulking duration based on NIL start dates, but only when plants were potted in December. At first flower, plant height of black-eyed Susan given NIL increased linearly as bulking duration increased based on potting date, but did not differ when trended across the NIL start dates. Days to flower of coreopsis decreased with increasing bulking duration, while stem counts increased with bulking duration, and the number of marketable plants was greater when plants were repotted on the three earliest dates compared to those bulked the shortest duration. Effects of bulking duration on flower plus flower bud counts and height of coreopsis were inconsistent.


2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-196
Author(s):  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
J. Raymond Kessler ◽  
James C. Stephenson

Abstract A study was conducted to determine if limited inductive photoperiod (LIP) initiated in late winter could be used to control stem elongation in ‘Goldsturm’ coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’), ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’), or ‘Early Sunrise’ coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Early Sunrise’), grown outdoors under nursery conditions in the southern United States, without negating the benefits of earlier flowering from night-interrupted lighting (NIL). Treatments were NIL beginning on February 1 and ending on February 15, March 1, March 15, or April 1,2002, plus a natural photoperiod (NP) treatment. The experiment was repeated in 2003 with the inclusion of an additional NIL treatment ending on April 15. LIPs of at least 15 to 30 days, 30 to 45 days, and 30 to 45 days promoted earlier flowering of ‘Early Sunrise’ coreopsis, ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis, and ‘Goldsturm’ coneflower, respectively. Flower counts and quality ratings of the three cultivars that received LIPs were similar to or higher than those of plants under a NP, except for a reduction in flowering and quality ratings of ‘Goldsturm’ coneflower exposed to LIPs ending on March 1 and March 15, 2002, and on March 1, 2003, and later. LIP effects on plant height were mixed, although there was at least one duration of LIP that resulted in earlier flowering of the three cultivars and plants similar to or shorter than plants under a NP.


1969 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Raúl Abrams

Seed of the commercial pigeonpea varieties Kaki, Saragateado, and Florido were soaked overnight in solutions of gibberellic acid containing 0, 20, 30, 40, and 50 p.p.m., in order to determine the effect of the acid on plant height, flowering period, and yield of this crop. The following results were obtained: 1. There were no significant differences in plant height between the three commercial varieties that could be attributed to the gibberellic acid treatments. 2. Varieties differed in their flowering periods, but this could not be attributed to the gibberellic acid treatments, as such differences are of genetic origin. 3. Gibberellic acid had no effect on the yield of green peas.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik S. Runkle ◽  
Royal D. Heins ◽  
Arthur C. Cameron ◽  
William H. Carlson

Six long-day species of herbaceous perennials were grown under six night-interruption (NI) photoperiod treatments to determine their relative effectiveness at inducing flowering. Photoperiods were 9-hour natural days with NI provided by incandescent lamps during the middle of the dark period for the following durations: 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hours; 6 minutes on, 54 minutes off for 4 hours (10% or 6/54 cyclic lighting); or 6 minutes on, 24 minutes off for 4 hours (20% or 6/24 cyclic lighting). For five species, the experiment was repeated with more mature plants; for the sixth, Rudbeckia fulgida Ait. `Goldsturm', following a cold treatment of 8 weeks at 5 °C. The species generally showed a quantitative flowering response to the NI duration until a saturation duration was reached; as the length of the uninterrupted night break increased, flowering percentage, uniformity, and number and plant height increased and time to flower decreased. Minimum saturation durations of NI were 1 hour for Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet `Early Sunrise' and Hibiscus moscheutos L. `Disco Belle Mixed', 2 hours for Campanula carpatica Jacq. `Blue Clips' and Coreopsis verticillata L. `Moonbeam', and 4 hours for unchilled R. fulgida `Goldsturm'. Echinacea purpurea Moench `Bravado' flowered similarly across all lighting treatments. The 6/24 cyclic lighting regimen induced flowering comparable to that under a continual 4-hour NI for four of the six species and the cold-treated R. fulgida `Goldsturm'. Flowering under the 6/54 regimen was generally incomplete, nonuniform, and delayed compared to that under saturation duration treatments. Three of five species flowered earlier when more mature plants were placed under the NI treatments. Cold-treated R. fulgida `Goldsturm' flowered more rapidly than unchilled plants and the saturation duration of NI decreased to 1 hour.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ezzat ◽  
L. Amriskó ◽  
G. G. ◽  
T. Mikita ◽  
J. Nyéki ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was the estimation of blossoming of 14 apricot cultivars in Boldogkôváralja in 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. And this will help growers to select appropriate varieties to their weather conditions. For this target the blooming period of 19 apricot varieties of different origin was observed in three subsequent years. There was no large difference in the beginning of blooming in the different years, and the greatest variation between the start date of flowering was about 1 to 3 days as the place of experiment site near to northern border and also, length of flowering period of apricot trees is also inversely related to date when blooming started. The little differences in flowering dates and flowering periods due to the high temperature through the three seasons of study.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-144
Author(s):  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
J. Raymond Kessler ◽  
James C. Stephenson

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effects of night-interrupted (NI) lighting initiated at different times in late winter on several herbaceous perennials produced outdoors in a southern nursery setting. Treatments were NI lighting beginning February 1, February 15, March 1, March 15, and a natural photoperiod. NI lighting accelerated flowering in ‘Goldsturm’ coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida Ait. ‘Goldsturm’) 26–46 days in 1999 and 51–75 days in 2000, and in ‘Coronation Gold’ yarrow (Achillea x ‘Coronation Gold’) 2–9 days in 1999 and 2–11 days in 2000. Flower and flower bud counts increased 82–100% in ‘Coronation Gold’ achillea in 1999, 44–51% in ‘Butterfly Blue’ scabious (Scabiosa columbaria L. ‘Butterfly Blue’) and 100–151% in ‘Alaska’ shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum Bergmans ex. J. Ingram ‘Alaska’) compared to counts of plants under natural photoperiod. With few exceptions, plant height increased under all NI lighting treatments, but in only ‘Goldsturm’ coneflower did it reduce plant quality. Clump verbena (Verbena canadensis L.) was minimally affected by NI lighting, and speedwell (Veronica spicata L. ‘Sunny Border Blue’) was not affected at all.


HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 719A-719
Author(s):  
Richard L. Harkess ◽  
Robert E. Lyons

A study was undertaken to determine the rate of floral initiation in Rudbeckia hirta. R. hirta plants were grown to maturity, 14-16 leaves, under short days (SD). Paired controls were established by placing half of the plants under long days (LD) with the remainder left under SD. Beginning at the start of LD (day 0), five plants were harvested daily from each photoperiod group for twenty days. Harvested meristems were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde - 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.0) for 24 hrs, dehydrated in an ethanol series, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 8 μm. Serial sections were stained with Methyl-green Pyronin, with adjacent sections treated with RNase for nucleic acid comparison. All events of floral initiation were identified, The results of limited inductive photoperiod indicate that 16-18 LD were required for flowering.


1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Ison ◽  
LR Humphreys

Seedlings of Stylosanthes guianensis var. guianensis cv. Cook and cv. Endeavour were grown in naturally lit glasshouses at Brisbane (lat. 27� 30' S.) at 35/30, 30/25 and 25/20�C (day/night), and were sown so as to emerge at 18-day intervals from 18 January to 11 June. Cook behaved as a long day-short day plant, with seedlings emerging after 5 February flowering incompletely or remaining vegetative until the experiment was terminated in mid-October. In the 25/20�C regimen flowering was incomplete in Cook; in Endeavour flowering was delayed but a conventional short-day response was observed. At 35/30�C Endeavour flowering was inhibited in the shortest days of mid-winter, suggesting a stenophotoperiodic response, but short days were confounded with low levels of irradiance. Minimum duration of the phase from emergence to floral initiation was c. 66-70 days in Cook and c. 40-45 days in Endeavour; the duration of the phase floral initiation to flower appearance was linearly and negatively related to temperature.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Dong Kang ◽  
Hai Jeong ◽  
Yoo Park ◽  
Byoung Jeong

The effects of the quality and intensity of night interruption light (NIL) on the flowering and morphogenesis of kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) ‘Lipstick’ and ‘Spain’ were investigated. Plants were raised in a closed-type plant factory under 250 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD white light emitting diodes (LEDs) with additional light treatments. These treatments were designated long day (LD, 16 h light, 8 h dark), short day (SD, 8 h light, 16 h dark), and SD with a 4 h night interruption (NI). The NIL was constructed from 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 or 20 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD blue (NI-B), red (NI-R), white (NI-W), or blue and white (NI-BW) LEDs. In ‘Spain’, the SPAD value, area and thickness of leaves and plant height increased in the NI treatment as compared to the SD treatment. In ‘Lipstick’, most morphogenetic characteristics in the NI treatment showed no significant difference to those in the SD treatment. For both cultivars, plants in SD were significantly shorter than those in other treatments. The flowering of Kalanchoe ‘Lipstick’ was not affected by the NIL quality, while Kalanchoe ‘Spain’ flowered when grown in SD and 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD NI-B. These results suggest that the NIL quality and intensity affect the morphogenesis and flowering of kalanchoe, and that different cultivars are affected differently. There is a need to further assess the effects of the NIL quality and intensity on the morphogenesis and flowering of short-day plants for practical NIL applications.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Gary J. Keever ◽  
J. Raymond Kessler ◽  
James C. Stephenson

Abstract Night-interrupted lighting (NIL) outdoors in a southern nursery setting was evaluated as a system for accelerated production of herbaceous perennials requiring long days to flower. Treatments were NIL beginning February 1, February 15, March 1, or March 15, and a natural photoperiod control. Compared to plants under the natural photoperiod and depending upon initiation of NIL treatment and year, NIL accelerated and increased flowering of ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata L. ‘Moonbeam’) 7 to 36 days and 20 to 244%, ‘Early Sunrise’ coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet. ‘Early Sunrise’) 3 to 20 days and 26 to 64%, ‘Sunray’ coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet. ‘Sunray’) 6 to 13 days and 21 to 44%, ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum x ‘Autumn Joy’) 26 to 57 days and 200 to 300%, and ‘Blue Queen’ salvia (Salvia x superba Stapf ‘Blue Queen’) 7 to 12 days and 56 to 83%. Flowering of ‘Red Beauty’ obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. ‘Red Beauty) was accelerated 20 to 54 days; however, inflorescence counts decreased 38 to 46% in one year and was not affected by treatments in the second year. Plants of all cultivars, except ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum and ‘Red Beauty’ obedient plant, were taller when exposed to NIL than when grown under the natural photoperiod, however plant quality rating of all cultivars was as high or higher under NIL.


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