The impact of foliar dikegulac and Asahi SL sprays on the shoot production of highbush blueberry nursery plants

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of dikegulac (2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-Lxylo-2-hexulofuranosonic acid) and Asahi SL (sodium ortho- and para-nitrophenolate, sodium 5-nitroguaiacolate) in production of highbush blueberry nursery plants. The experiment was carried out on three cultivars of highbush blueberry: ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Brigitta blue’ and ‘Darrow’. Pot plants were treated two times with dikegulac (0.1%) or/and Asahi SL (0.2%) foliar sprays in the late spring. The reaction of blueberry clones to the tested chemicals was different. Dikegulac-treated plants developed significantly more shoots making them a good and efficient source of cuttings when using the traditional propagation. Dikegulac limited the shoot elongation of two studied cultivars (‘Bluecrop’, ‘Darrow’). It also reduced the size of leaf blades but generally did not change the fluorescence and the relative content of chlorophyll. The influence of dikegulac in the applied dose was much stronger than the impact of nitrophenolates. The application of Asahi SL, alone or together with dikegulac, did not give any spectacular and advantageous effects.

Melatonin strongly enhances the Agrobacterium- mediated transformation of carnation in nitrogen-depleted media

“…It has been shown in several studies that melatonin has auxin-like activities [ 47 – 49 ]. In highbush blue berry melatonin could replace indole butyric acid (IBA) in vitro and enhanced shoot morphogenesis [ 50 ]. The higher shoot regeneration and transformation rate obtained in our study in melatonin treated calli could also be due to its auxin–like activity which may enhance organogenesis and shoot regeneration.…”

The Biosynthesis, Mechanism of Action, and Physiological Functions of Melatonin in Horticultural Plants: A Review

“…Studies have demonstrated that melatonin can boost shoot growth and regulate shoot development by influencing numerous physiological processes [67]. Exogenous application of melatonin, for example, has been shown to improve shoot growth and amplify the expression of genes involved in shoot development in vitro in blueberry [68]. Increased production of shoots has been observed for exogenous melatonin application in mimosa, pomegranate, and blueberry [68][69][70].…”

“…Exogenous application of melatonin, for example, has been shown to improve shoot growth and amplify the expression of genes involved in shoot development in vitro in blueberry [68]. Increased production of shoots has been observed for exogenous melatonin application in mimosa, pomegranate, and blueberry [68][69][70]. Melatonin has also been associated with differential patterning of branching and leaf production [24,71].…”