ISHS Acta Horticulturae 618: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Environmental Stress and Horticulture Crops
CAN ANTITRANSPIRANTS EXTEND THE SHELF LIFE OF TABLE-TOP CHRISTMAS TREES? |
| Authors: | M.W. Duck, B.M. Cregg, F.F. Cardoso, R.T. Fernandez, B.K. Behe, R.D. Heins |
| Keywords: | Moisturin, Wilt-Pruf, NuArbor, Picea, Abies, VPD |
| Abstract:
In this trial, we compared the effect of antitranspirants on extending the shelf life of live table-top Christmas trees. We selected Black hills spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss var. densata), Serbian spruce (P. omorika (Pancic) Purkyne), and noble fir (Abies procera Rehd. 'Frijsenborg Blue') as the plant species to be studied due to their performance as table-top Christmas trees in previous trials. Whole-plant water use was determined by periodic weighing. Per unit leaf area transpiration rates were determined by gas exchange measurements with a Li-cor LI6400 Portable Photosynthesis System. Significance of main effects differed depending on measurement method. Analysis of whole-plant water loss data indicated that Wilt-Pruf reduced mean water loss of Black hills spruce under two growth chamber conditions, whereas Serbian spruce and noble fir were not affected by antitranspirant treatments. Gas exchange measurements indicated that under chamber 1 conditions, NuArbor significantly reduced transpiration rates of Serbian spruce. Antitranspirant treatments were not effective on any other species regardless of chamber conditions. | |
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