Thesis (M.S. - Plant Sciences)--University of Arizona, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-51).

New hybrid Echinacea cultivars, based on crosses of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench with several other Echinacea species, have generated interest and excitement in the marketplace due to novel flower colors and forms. However, these cultivars vary significantly in their growth habits and requirements from the species. We examined factors in the production of Echinacea hybrid cultivars to provide guidance to growers. Foliar sprays 600 mg·L⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) increased numbers of branches between 19% and 83% in Echinacea cultivars while 400 mg·L⁻¹ dikegulac sodium or 500 mg·L⁻¹ ethephon did not improve branching. Of several height control PGRs applied to E. ‘Marmalade,’ only plants treated with two applications of 5000 mg·L⁻¹ daminozide were shorter (24%) compared to untreated controls although flowering was also reduced by 70%. Echinacea ‘Harvest Moon’ plants were shorter in response to all of the PGRs applied, with the best results seen in plants treated with foliar sprays of uniconazole (one application of 30 mg·L⁻¹ or two applications of 15 mg·L⁻¹ ), two applications of 5000 mg·L⁻¹ daminozide, or 4 mg·L⁻¹ paclobutrazol applied once as a drench. Supplying N at 150 mg·L -1 during the growing season provided Echinacea cultivars adequate nutrition and maximized numbers of branches and flowers and shoot dry weight. In overwintering, fertilization treatments that resulted in low substrate electrical conductivity going into dormancy, 5.0 kg·m controlled release fertilizer 15N-3.9P-10K or 150 mg·L⁻¹ N using 15N-2.2P-12.5K applied using constant liquid feed, resulted in the highest survival rates of Echinacea cultivars. As a monitoring tool, SPAD measurements were not successful in predicting tissue N levels in Echinacea hybrids. Twenty-one hybrid cultivars acquired as stage 3 tissue culture plantlets were grown under one of three photoperiods (10-hour, 16-hour, or 24-hour) for 10 weeks before being transplanted to larger containers and grown under natural daylength until flowering. Providing Echinacea hybrid cultivars with a 16-hour photoperiod during liner production resulted in plants which flowered soonest without negative effects on growth. The need for height control PGRs varied by cultivar; however, overall height control PGRs controlled flower stalk height and increased market rating. / Ph. D.

Plants of Euphorbia pulchenima Wind. 'Gutbier V-14 Glory Annette Hegg Dark Red', and 'Annette Hegg Brilliant Diamond' were treated with 37 iw a.i. of XE-1019 applied in 102, 204, or 408 ml-m⁻² foliar sprays. Half of the plants received overhead irrigation and the remaining received soil-surface irrigations. No spray carrier volume effect or irrigation effect was observed for final plant height, bract canopy diameter, or for days from start of short days to bloom. The results obtained do not support the hypothesis that spray carrier volume or irrigation method affect the efficacy of XE-1019 on poinsettias.

Stem tip cuttings of Calliandra californica were treated, prior to rooting with 0, 4,000, 4000, 12,000 or 16,000 ppm IBA in a talc formulation. Rooting was enhanced by application of 12,000 and 16,000 ppm IBA. Root system fresh weight increased with increasing concentration of IBA. No treatment effected percent survival of cuttings.

Plants of Lilium longiflontm Thunb. 'Nellie White' recei,yed the following treatments during forcing: 1) control; 2-3) gne or two sprays of 50 mg-liter ancymidol 4-9) one or two sprays of 5, la, or 15 mg-liter XE-1019; or 10) one spray of 20 mg-liter XE-1019. All growth retardant treatments reduced plant height compared to controls. Plant height decreased linearly with increasing concentration of XE-1019 for both one- and two-spray treatments. High concentrations of XE-1019 delayed anthesis; ancymidol treatments did not. Individual corolla length was not affected by treatments. Treatments did not affect daughter bulb depletion or new daughter bulb growth. Total leaf area and leaf dry weight decreased as XE-1019 concentration increased; ancymidol treatments did not affect leaf area, but did reduce leaf dry weight. Leaf total soluble carbohydrate decreased with increasing concentration of XE-1019.

XE-1019 (2 foliar sprays of 10, 2Q or 30 mg-liter⁻¹) was applied to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla Ser. 'Rose Supreme' during greenhouse forcing. Doses applied resulted in excessive reductions in shoot elongation and inflorescence diameters and delayed anthesis. Shoot growth was reduced with increasing XE-1019 concentration. Shoot length was reduced 46 %; stem dry weight was reduced 31 %; leaf area per shoot was reduced 44 %; inflorescence height was cut by 45 %; and inflorescence mass was reduced 48% with the 30 mg-liter⁻¹ XE-1019 treatment. Specific leaf weight increased with increased XE -1019 concentration (192% increase with the 30 mg-liter⁻¹ treatment) resulting in thicker leaves at anthesis. XE-1019 is an effective height control agent for florists' hydrangeas, and shows significant activity at very low (less than 0.2 mg a.i. per plant) doses.

Plants of Chrysanthemum moifolium Ramat. 'Ovaro' received 0, 10, 20, or 30 mg-liter ⁻¹ XE-1019 applied as a 204 ml-m⁻² foliar spray. Treatments did not affect time from start of short days to bloom or inflorescence height lunge. Inflorescence height and inflorescence display diameter both were reduced with increasing concentration of XE-1019.

Plant of Chysanthemum morífolium Rymat. 'Ovaio' received 0, 102, 204, 304 or 408 ml-m⁻² of 0, 40, 20, 13.3, and 10 mg-liter⁻¹ XE-1019, respectively. No treatment affected time from start of short days to bloom or inflorescence display diameter. All XE-1019 treatments resulted in shorter plants than controls did. No carrier volume effect on plant height was observed. The inflorescence height range per pot decreased with increasing carrier volume. The greater inflorescence height uniformity achieved with the high carrier volume is beneficial and warrants further investigation.

Floral initiation was successfully stimulated for plants of Hydrangea macrophylla 'Rose Supreme' under non-inductive environmental conditions by spraying plants with XE-1019 or paclobutrazol. Effective treatments were 10 weekly of 5 biweekly sprays of 100 mg-liter ⁻¹ paclobutrazol; 5 biweekly sprays of 11 or 30 mg-liter⁻¹ XE-1019, and 4 triweekly (once every 3 weeks) sprays of 15 or 30 mg-liter⁻¹ XE-1019.

Foliar sprays of XE -1019 at 3, 4 9, 12, 15, l8 and 36 mg a.i. liter⁻¹ were found to be effective in controlling the height of Podroea ricasoliana However, at higher concentrations (greater than 12 ppm), undesirable leaflet curling and reductions in leaflet size were observed All treatments lost effectiveness in controlling internode elongation during week 4 and 5.