ISHS Acta Horticulturae 515: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 5: Culture Techniques with Special Emphasis on Environmental Implications Chemical, Physical and Biological Means of Regulating Crop Growth in Ornamentals and Other Crops
PLANT HEIGHT AND FLOWERING OF NERIUM OLEANDER IN POTS AS AFFECTED BY PACLOBUTRAZOL AND SUPPLEMENTARY LIGHTING |
| Authors: | T.D. Syros, A.S. Economou |
| Keywords: | Nerium oleander, flowering, growth regulator, irradiance, light, ornamentals, paclobutrazol, pot plant |
| Abstract:
Young plants of oleander (Nerium oleander L.) 3 weeks after pinching received various applications of Paclobutrazol as foliar sprays or as soil drenches. The treatments were repeated 3 times more at weekly intervals. From the end of Paclobutrazol treatments, oleander pot plants were subjected to natural daylength (late October and thereafter) which was extended to 16h with the application of supplementary lighting from high pressure sodium vapour lamps at irradiances of 50 or 100 W/m2. Plant height was measured on the 4th and 8th week after paclobutrazol treatment and supplemental lighting application, while flowering was evaluated on the 12th and 16th week. Paclobutrazol as foliar spray reduced the height of the plants 4 weeks after applications, whereas, on the 8th week both control and treated plants had the same height. Paclobutrazol application to soil reduced significantly the height of oleander plants as compared to nontreated plants. Oleander plants had short size and remained still short at the flowering stage. The supplementary lighting of 50 W/m2 did not affect flowering of oleander, whereas, at irradiance of 100 W/m2 it enhanced flowering. On the 12th and 16th week after the supplementary lighting application, more than 25% and 60%, respectively, of the plants had well formed inflorescences with pea size flower buds. | |
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