Veterinary Science Collected Works - Theses

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Start date: 1990 × End date: 1999 × Subject: Burnley Campus × Author: Pantzopoulos, K ×

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    The effect of Bonzi (Paclobutrazol) on height and flowering of the paper daisies Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp.rosea and Rhodanthe manglesii
    Pantzopoulos, K ( 1994)
    The pink paper daisies Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp.rosea and Rhodanthe manglesii are Western Australian wild flowers bush harvested as cut flowers. They produce numbers of showy, long lasting inflorescences at the tips of 50 to 60cm tall stems in spring. The growth retardant Bonzi(R) (paclobutrazol) was applied to both species as soil drenches or whole plant sprays alone or combined seed soaks and drenches. The retardant was applied at various concentrations and times, to determine if plant height could be reduced for pot plant production. Growth was measured weekly and recorded on a graph of maximum/TinimuT desired height (20-30cm). After initial treatments on week 4, all treatments were applied using Graphical Tracking techniques, that is, when actual growth deviated above the maximum height line. Plant height was suppressed with all applications of Bonzi(R) (paclobutrazol). Increasing both the rate and number of applications of BonznK)(pac1obutrazo1) led to an increase in shoot suppression, flowering time and number. The combined seed soak (400ppm Bonzi(R)) and multiple drench application (Bonzi(R) 4mg ai/pot x 3) was most effective in suppressing shoot elongation of R.chlorocephala subsp.rosea with plants 41% shorter than untreated plants. lowering was delayed and numbers reduced, but the compact plants had sufficient numbers of flowers at the end of the trial period to appeal to consumers. Bonzi(R) caused very noticeable delays in flowering in all treated Rhodanthe manglesii plants. The 4mg drenches, (4mg ai/pot x 3) gave the most satisfactory result producing plants 38% shorter than untreated controls but some pots had not flowered by the termination of the trial. The best results, in respect to height, were again the combination seed soak plus drench, with only a single 4mg drench application required to reduce height by 48%, but germination was suppressed excessively and flowering was unacceptably delayed. Although growth was suppressed significantly by whole plant sprays none were saleable due to the unsightly chlorotic foliage effects on both species.