Growth Retardants Affect Landscape Performance of Zinnia, Impatiens, and Marigold

Abstract

Various spray rates of paclobutrazol, 5000 ppm daminozide, 200 ppm ancymidol, or drought imposition (visible wilt symptoms for up to 2 hours daily) were applied to three bedding plant species to determine effects on growth in the greenhouse and the subsequent growth and performance of treated plants in the landscape. Seedlings of Zinnia efegans Jacq. `Peter Pan Scarlet' responded to all growth retardants (paclobutrazol at 40 and 90 ppm) and the drought treatment in the greenhouse. However, zinnias treated with paclobutrazol or ancymidol still exhibited reductions in plant height 5 and 7 weeks after transplanting to the landscape, and in plant quality (subjective rating of plant appearance with emphasis on flower cover) at 5 weeks after transplanting. Daminozide or drought controlled zinnia growth in the greenhouse but had no carry-over effect in the landscape. Stem elongation of Impatiens wallerana Hook `Accent Red' seedlings was moderately controlled by 20 ppm paclobutrazol in the greenhouse. There were no other treatment effects in the greenhouse. Paclobutrazol (20 ppm) reduced final plant height and quality (7 weeks postplanting). Treatment with daminozide or drought reduced plant width and quality after 5 and 7 weeks in the landscape. Ancymidol had no effect on landscape performance of impatiens. Shoot dry weight gain and stem elongation of Tagetes erects L. `Papaya Crush' seedlings were reduced by ancymidol or 40 ppm paclobutrazol in the greenhouse. Shoot dry weight gain of marigold seedlings was inhibited during the first week of landscape establishment by prior treatment with daminozide, ancymidol, or drought. Final plant height and width in the landscape were not affected by any treatment; however, 40 ppm paclobutrazol, daminozide, or ancymidol decreased final plant quality. Chemical names used: α -cyclopropylα -(4-methoxyphenyl) -5-pyrimidinemethanol (ancymidol); butanedioic acid mono(2,2-dimethylhydrazide) (daminozide); β -[(4-chlorophenyl) methyl] - β - (1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (paclobutrazol).