Foliar Silicon and Titanium Applications Influence Growth and Quality Characteristics of Annual Bedding Plants

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of foliar Si and Ti applications on annual bedding plant growth and quality in soilless media. The five annual plant species selected were geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum 'Elite Cherry'), impatiens (Impatiens walleriana 'Accent White'), pansy (Viola x wittrockiana 'Delta Premium Marina'), petunia (Petunia x hybrid 'Celebrity White') and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Montego Purple'). Sodium silicate (NaSiO 3) supplied foliar treatments of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg Si•L-1 and Ti-ascorbate (Tytanit ®) supplied foliar treatments of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg Ti•L-1. Silicon treatments affected plant height for all five species, while Ti treatments only affected plant height for geranium, petunia and snapdragon. Snapdragon plant height increased linearly in response to Si and Ti treatments. Plant height increased, then decreased quadratically for geranium with Ti treatments and pansy with Si treatments. The number of days to flower for petunias exhibited a linear decrease with Ti treatments while impatiens exhibited a linear increase with Si and Ti treatments. Geranium responded with a quadratic decrease, then increase for the number of days to flower with increasing Ti treatments. The chlorophyll SPAD content of impatiens exhibited a linear decrease in response to Ti treatments, while geranium had the same response to Si treatments. Silicon and Ti supplementations were found to affect growth and quality characteristics of annual bedding plants. However, this response was species specific and further research is needed to assess the specific impacts of Si and Ti on additional annual crop species and varieties grown in soilless media.

The Influence of Silicon and Multinutrient Fertilizer On the Quality and Chemical Composition of Gazania Rigens ‘Kiss Yellow’, Salvia Farinacea ‘Fairy Queen’ and Verbena ‘Obsession Lilac’ Plants

“…At the same time, these authors noted a significant decrease in the flower diameter in other plant species as Lobelia erinus, Sutera grandiflora and the number of inflorescences of Argyranthemum frutescens as compared to plants that did not receive Si supplementation. The experiments by Whitted-Haag et al (2014) showed that the same biometric parameters in five tested plant species were positively affected by various Si doses (up to 200 mg·dm -3 ). However, the results of studies by Mattson and Leatherwood (2010) showed that certain species and cultivars of ornamentals did not respond to Si supplementation.…”

Effects of Foliar Application of Titanium on Seed Yield in Timothy (Phleum pratense L.)

“…The shortest plants were harvested from the control plots, whereas the highest from the plots treated with Ti at a dose of 6.8 g · ha -1 . Contrasting results were obtained by Jaberzadeh et al [19] and Whitted-Haag et al [16]. Jaberzadeh et al [19] reported that higher concentration of Ti (0.03%) in Triticum aestivum contributed to decreased plant height and improved biomass yield and seed parameters.…”

“…Jaberzadeh et al [19] reported that higher concentration of Ti (0.03%) in Triticum aestivum contributed to decreased plant height and improved biomass yield and seed parameters. According to Whitted-Haag et al [16] Ti supplementation (at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg · dm -3 ) in annual bedding plants (geranium, impatiens, pansy, petunia, and snapdragon) only slightly affected plant height but significantly changed stem diameter. In Impatiens walleriana stem diameter exhibited a linear decrease as Ti concentration increased (from 8.9 mm in control to 7.4 mm in the plants treated with Ti at 100 mg · dm -3 ).…”

“…Ti accelerates the growth of leaves, strengthens plants against mildew infection and acts as an antibiotic [13,14]. Investigations on plant fertilization with Ti are focused mainly on vegetables and crop plants such as rape, winter wheat or sugar beets, and recently also on annual bedding plants [15,16]. Mitigating effects were observed in Ti-fertilized plants exposed to disadvantageous meteorological circumstances eg low temperature and high precipitation rate that decrease the activity of pollination insects.…”

Effects of Foliar Applied Titanium (Ti) on Quality and Nutrient Uptake Of Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis Stolonifera) on Professional Golf Course Greens

“…Chlorophyll content in previous research has varied from plant-to-plant. (Whitted-Haag et al, 2014) found Ti applications to have linear increases and decreases in chlorophyll content, depending on the plant. The results were inconsistent.…”