No abstract

Height control is often required in order to obtain bulb plants that are proportional to their pot size and to reduce post-harvest stem elongation. Plant growth regulators afford an effective means of controlling plant height. In this study, paclobutrazol (Pbz) was studied for use in the chemical dwarfing of potted Lilium plants -the hybrids "Ercolano" and "Royal Respect"- for marketing. Their bulbs were dipped in the growth regulator (0, 50, 100, and 150 ppm) for 10 min before planting. Plant height (measured at 7 day intervals), the duration of the different stages of the growth cycle, the number of flower buds formed, and the number of open and aborted flowers were recorded. The average day and night air temperatures were 25 and 13 deg C, respectively. Increasing Pbz dose progressively reduced the height of the "Ercolano" hybrid by between 29% (46.2 cm; 50 ppm) and 45% (35.3 cm; 150 ppm) compared to control plants (64.4 cm), however, neither the duration of flowering nor the number of flowers was modified. The "Royal Respect" hybrid responded with a marked shortening - by 45% (20.8 cm; 50 ppm) to 59% (28.2 cm; 150 ppm) in comparison with the average control height (51.1 cm), but in this case both the duration of flowering and the number of open flowers was reduced at the highest concentration. The feasibility of cultivating these Lilium hybrids for marketing in pots is demonstrated. However, the concentration of paclobutrazol should be adjusted according to the hybrid grown.

The effects of paclobutrazol on the height of Petunia × hybrida hort. ex E. Vilm. were studied. An experiment on 'Bravo F1' was performed at the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), San Pedro Agricultural Experimental Station (33º4' S, 59º4' W), Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, in the spring of 2006. Treatments consisted of three colours of flower (white, red and blue), four concentrations of paclobutrazol by irrigation (0, 5, 10 and 15 mg L -1 and three application times (at 10-12, 18-20 and 26-28 leaves). Height at 45 d after transplanting (dat), days to appearance, opening and fall of the first flower and number of flowers at 21 and 45 dat were registered. Differences between control plants due to flower colour were detected, and would indicate the need of a differential management: at 45 dat, the height of red-flowered plants (22.3 cm) was less (P < 0.05) than white-(25.2 cm) or blue-flowered plants (26.4 cm). Paclobutrazol allowed for reducing height in all treated plants. The minimal concentrations that induced maximum effects were: 10 mg L -1 for blueflowered plants (56% shortening), 5 mg L -1 for whiteflowered plants (40% shortening) and 10 mg L -1 for redflowered plants (38% shortening). In order to minimize the slightly deleterious effects detected in the number of blue and red flowers at 45 dat, early application would be advisable (10-12 leaves) for blue-flowered plants and more delayed (at 18-20 leaves) for red-flowered plants.

Because of the increasing and diversified demand for potted plants, there is interest in Argentina in commercial iris production (Iris x hollandica Tub.). Two experiments were performed at the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), San Pedro Agricultural Experimental Station (33º41' S, 59º41' W), Buenos Aires Province. The effects of increasing concentrations of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and combinations of PBZ and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) were compared. Height, length of the cycle and rate of flowering were registered. Experiment 1: the bulbs were subjected to immersion in nine concentrations of PBZ: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 mg L-1 for 24 h. Experiment 2: the bulbs were immersed in three concentrations of PBZ: 0, 10 or 20 mg L-1 for 24 h and then in BA solutions: 0 or 5 mg L-1 for 24 h. In both cases, the cultivars evaluated were `Casablanca´ and `Professor Blaauw´. The bulbs were planted immediately after the treatments in 1 L capacity and 12 cm height pots, on 22 July 2008. PBZ allowed for reducing height in all treated plants. A concentration of 20 mg L-1 would be sufficient to achieve harmonious plants with the containers used: 33 cm tall, average reduction of 41 to 44% compared to the respective control (57 cm). For this concentration, the delay in the duration of the cycle was minimal: 3 to 4 days. There was no effect of BA on the variables. The rate of flowering was not affected by the treatments.

To study the effects of shading on the growth, development, dry matter partitioning, and plant architecture of broccoli, 'Legacy' hybrid plants were grown in pots in a greenhouse under black shading meshes to generate different levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The average incident PAR was 23 mol PPF m -2 d -1 under control conditions, 15.2 under a 35% mesh, and 6.7 under a 70% mesh. The air temperature was within the range 15-22°C. As shading increased so did the duration of the growth cycle and the leaf area (LA). Shading did not affect the number of leaves, although the upper ones were more erect. The stem length and the accumulated intercepted PAR (IPAR) were negatively related. Inflorescence diameter and commercial fresh weight decreased only with the 70% mesh. Shading did not affect stem dry weight (DW) but altered dry matter allocation in the root and spear. The DW of the leaves maintained an average 45.7% of the total DW despite the greater LA developed under shade. The net assimilation rate diminished with the reduction of IPAR, and the LA increased; the plant relative growth rate was therefore practically constant. With increased shading, the leaves and the stem became the dominant photosynthate sinks. The commercial fresh weight achieved with 15.2 mol photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) m -2 d -1 was equivalent to that obtained with 23 mol PPF m -2 d -1 , but the cycle was extended for 4.5 days. With 6.7 mol PPF m -2 d -1 , yield diminished because of the lower DW produced in a cycle extended by 15 days, and because more dry matter was allocated to the stem than to the spear. Based on these results, broccoli could be considered a shade-tolerant plant.Additional key words: Brassica oleracea var. italica, dry matter allocation, leaf area, shading, source-sink, yield. ResumenPlasticidad vegetativa y reproductiva del brócoli ante tres niveles de radiación fotosintéticamente activa incidente Para determinar los efectos del sombreado sobre el crecimiento, el desarrollo, la partición de materia seca y la arquitectura de la planta de brócoli se cultivaron plantas del híbrido 'Legacy' en macetas, en un invernadero con mallas de sombreado para generar diferentes niveles de radiación fotosintéticamente activa (PAR). El promedio de PAR incidente fue 23 mol PPF m -2 día -1 (testigo), 15,2 (malla del 35%) y 6,7 (malla del 70%). Las temperaturas estuvieron dentro del rango 15-22°C. A mayor sombreado, aumentó la duración del ciclo y el área foliar (LA). El sombreado no afectó al número de hojas, pero las superiores adoptaron una posición más erecta. La longitud del tallo y la PAR interceptada acumulada (IPAR) se relacionaron negativamente. El diámetro de la inflorescencia y el peso fresco comercial sólo disminuyeron con la malla del 70%. El sombreado no afectó al peso seco (DW) del tallo, pero alteró la distribución de materia seca entre raíces y pella. Las hojas mantuvieron una proporción promedio del 45,7% del DW total, a pesar de la mayor LA desarrollada con el sombreado. Con la disminución...