ISHS Acta Horticulturae 454: III International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
ACACIAS AS POTTED PLANTS |
| Authors: | Mary A. Parletta, M. Sedgley |
| Keywords: | Acacia, pot plant, flowering, paclobutrazol, benzylamino purine, pruning, temperature |
| Abstract:
The genus Acacia (family Leguminosae) contains over 700 Australian species, many with attractive foliage and inflorescences. Methods to control size, shape and flowering were investigated for 21 species, for commercial production of a flowering potted acacia. Chemical treatments were paclobutrazol, a growth retardant, and the cytokinin, 6-benzylamino purine, to induce branching. Hand pruning was applied to control size and branching. Effective and enduring growth retardation was achieved by paclobutrazol applied as a pot drench, but pruning was ineffective. Benzylamino purine did not stimulate branching. The effect of temperature on flowering was investigated. A temperature regime of 15°C day and 10°C night stimulated strong flowering, while 25°C day and 20°C night inhibited flowering. Future work should combine growth retardation and temperature treatments to produce a flowering potted acacia for key markets such as Mothers Day and Australia Day, and for the northern hemisphere Christmas market. | |
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