Abstract
Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is a widely used plant growth regulator applied in the production of horticultural and agronomic crops. Preliminary research reports that drench applications inhibit growth of containerized ornamental plants, though few herbaceous perennials have been evaluated to determine responses to ethephon drenches. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate and quantify the efficacy of ethephon substrate drenches on the growth of 17 species of containerized flowering herbaceous perennials. Plants were transplanted into 12.7-cm or 16.5-cm containers filled with a soilless peat-based substrate. After 10 d, eight single-plant replicates received a substrate drench of 90 mL or 296 mL aliquots of solution, based on container size, containing 0, 125, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 mg·L −1 ethephon. Plants were grown in a glass-glazed greenhouse for 3 to 8 weeks after drench before growth and morphological data, including plant height, plant diameter, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight were determined. The magnitude of growth control varied among herbaceous perennials species and ethephon concentrations. For most species, drenches of 125 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon were effective for controlling plant height and plant diameter without negatively affecting aesthetic ornamental plant quality. For instance, Russian sage ( Salvia yangii B.T. Drew), wandflower [ Oenothera lindheimeri (Engelm. & A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch ‘Siskiyou Pink’], and blanket flower ( Gaillardia aristata Pursh. ‘SpinTop ® Red Starburst’) drenched with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 were 48% to 56% (22.7 to 26.4 cm), 16% to 31% (6.9 to 13.2 cm), and 11% to 14% (2.1 to 2.6 cm) shorter, respectively, than untreated plants and no further height control occurred at concentrations >250 mg·L −1 ethephon. We observed a 22% (9.5 cm) and a 35% (10.5 cm) smaller plant diameter for lobed tickseed ( Coreopsis auriculata L. ‘Leading Lady Iron’) and pincushion flower ( Scabiosa columbaria L. ‘Pink Mist’), respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 125 mg·L −1 ethephon. Root dry weight of lobed tickseed and woodland sage ( Salvia nemorosa L. ‘East Friesland’) were 54% (8.2 cm) and 69% (6.2 cm) less, respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon. Although we did not quantify time to visible bud or open flower, most plants displayed visible buds or at least one open flower by the time data were collected; however, responses varied among species. Our research demonstrates that ethephon substrate drenches were effective in controlling growth of containerized herbaceous perennials, but growers must consider taxa-specific variations in response.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
For most species, 125 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon controlled height and diameter without harming ornamental quality.
- Taxon
- Herbaceous Perennialst0
- Treatment
- drenches of 125 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephone0
- Outcome
- plant height and plant diametere0
- Direction
- controllinge0
- Qualifier
- without negatively affecting aesthetic ornamental plant qualitye0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“For most species, drenches of 125 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon were effective for controlling plant height and plant diameter without negatively affecting aesthetic ornamental plant quality.”
t0“Containerized Herbaceous Perennials”
Claim · model-written summary
Russian sage treated with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 was 48% to 56% shorter than untreated plants.
Verbatim
e0“Russian sage ( Salvia yangii B.T. Drew), wandflower [ Oenothera lindheimeri (Engelm. & A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch ‘Siskiyou Pink’], and blanket flower ( Gaillardia aristata Pursh. ‘SpinTop ® Red Starburst’) drenched with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 were 48% to 56% (22.7 to 26.4 cm), 16% to 31% (6.9 to 13.2 cm), and 11% to 14% (2.1 to 2.6 cm) shorter, respectively, than untreated plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Wandflower treated with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 was 16% to 31% shorter than untreated plants.
Verbatim
e0“wandflower [ Oenothera lindheimeri (Engelm. & A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch ‘Siskiyou Pink’], and blanket flower ( Gaillardia aristata Pursh. ‘SpinTop ® Red Starburst’) drenched with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 were 48% to 56% (22.7 to 26.4 cm), 16% to 31% (6.9 to 13.2 cm), and 11% to 14% (2.1 to 2.6 cm) shorter, respectively, than untreated plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Blanket flower treated with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 was 11% to 14% shorter than untreated plants.
- Taxon
- blanket flower
Gaillardia aristatae0 - Treatment
- 125 and 250 mg·L −1e0
- Outcome
- shortere0
- Direction
- shortere0
- Value
- 11% to 14%e0
- Comparator
- untreated plantse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“blanket flower ( Gaillardia aristata Pursh. ‘SpinTop ® Red Starburst’) drenched with 125 and 250 mg·L −1 were 48% to 56% (22.7 to 26.4 cm), 16% to 31% (6.9 to 13.2 cm), and 11% to 14% (2.1 to 2.6 cm) shorter, respectively, than untreated plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Height control did not increase above 250 mg·L −1 ethephon for the three named species.
Verbatim
e0“no further height control occurred at concentrations >250 mg·L −1 ethephon”
t0“Containerized Herbaceous Perennials”
Claim · model-written summary
Lobed tickseed diameter was 22% smaller as ethephon concentration increased from 0 to 125 mg·L −1.
Verbatim
e0“We observed a 22% (9.5 cm) and a 35% (10.5 cm) smaller plant diameter for lobed tickseed ( Coreopsis auriculata L. ‘Leading Lady Iron’) and pincushion flower ( Scabiosa columbaria L. ‘Pink Mist’), respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 125 mg·L −1 ethephon.”
Claim · model-written summary
Pincushion flower diameter was 35% smaller as ethephon concentration increased from 0 to 125 mg·L −1.
Verbatim
e0“We observed a 22% (9.5 cm) and a 35% (10.5 cm) smaller plant diameter for lobed tickseed ( Coreopsis auriculata L. ‘Leading Lady Iron’) and pincushion flower ( Scabiosa columbaria L. ‘Pink Mist’), respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 125 mg·L −1 ethephon.”
Claim · model-written summary
Lobed tickseed root dry weight was 54% less at 500 versus 0 mg·L −1 ethephon.
Verbatim
e0“Root dry weight of lobed tickseed and woodland sage ( Salvia nemorosa L. ‘East Friesland’) were 54% (8.2 cm) and 69% (6.2 cm) less, respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon.”
Claim · model-written summary
Woodland sage root dry weight was 69% less at 500 versus 0 mg·L −1 ethephon.
- Taxon
- woodland sage
Salvia ×sylvestrise0 - Treatment
- 500 mg·L −1 ethephone0
- Outcome
- Root dry weighte0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- 69%e0
- Comparator
- 0e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Root dry weight of lobed tickseed and woodland sage ( Salvia nemorosa L. ‘East Friesland’) were 54% (8.2 cm) and 69% (6.2 cm) less, respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 500 mg·L −1 ethephon.”
Claim · model-written summary
Most plants had visible buds or at least one open flower when data were collected, with species variation.
- Taxon
- Herbaceous Perennialst0
- Outcome
- visible buds or at least one open flowere0
- Qualifier
- responses varied among speciese0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“most plants displayed visible buds or at least one open flower by the time data were collected; however, responses varied among species”
t0“Containerized Herbaceous Perennials”
Claim · model-written summary
Growers should consider species-specific variation in response to ethephon drenches.
Verbatim
e0“growers must consider taxa-specific variations in response”
t0“Containerized Herbaceous Perennials”