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Most commercial markets require growers of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch.) to produce plants within strict height specifications. Plant growthretarding chemicals (PGRs) are commonly used to limit internode extension, but in some countries, growers are being pressured to reduce chemical use. Recently, a photoselective film was developed that specifically reduces the transmission of far-red light [(FR), 700 to 800 nm], offering an alternative strategy for height control. Two complementary trials, one in the United Kingdom and one in the United States, showed that plants grown under the FR film for 10 to 12 weeks were ≈20% shorter than control plants growing under neutral density (ND) films transmitting a similar photosynthetic photon flux as the FR film. In the United Kingdom trial, the FR filter delayed time to 50% bract color and first visible cyathia by 6.0 and 3.5 days, respectively, but did not influence time to final harvest. In the United States trial, plants under the FR film had an average of 25% more axillary branches than those under the ND film. In addition, the effects of reduced red [(R), 600 to 700 nm] and blue [(B), 400 to 500 nm] light on internode length, plant biomass, and axillary branching were determined using other photoselective plastics. Compared with plants under the ND film, internode length was 9% or 71% greater in plants grown under environments deficient in B or R, respectively. Our results indicate that poinsettia is highly sensitive to the R: FR ratio, and that spectral manipulation has potential for height control of commercial poinsettia crops.

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A model has been developed that can be used to determine the phases of sensitivity to photoperiod for seedlings subjected to reciprocal transfers at regular intervals between long (LD) and short day (SD) conditions. The novel feature of this approach is that it enables the simultaneous analysis of the time to flower and number of leaves below the inflorescence. A range of antirrhinum cultivars were grown, all of which were shown to be quantitative long-day plants. Seedlings were effectively insensitive to photoperiod when very young (juvenile). However, after the end of the juvenile phase, SD delayed flowering and increased the number of leaves below the inflorescence. Plants transferred from LD to SD showed a sudden hastening of flowering and a decrease in leaf number once sufficient LD had been received for flower commitment. Photoperiod had little effect on the rate of flower development. The analysis clearly identified major cultivar differences in the length of the juvenile phase and the photoperiod-sensitive inductive phase in both LD and SD.