Growth inhibition of potted begonia via ethanol treatment

Abstract

Abstract The application of plant growth regulators is a viable tool to produce potted plants, but its use is limited due to the risk of toxicity. Alternative treatment with ethanol has shown potential in restricting growth, but its morphological effects on ornamental plants are not yet well-explored. This study evaluated the application of different concentrations of ethanol (0, 2%, 4% and 6%) on the growth of potted Dragon Wing Begonia, a hybrid of great ornamental potential that presents vigorous growth, seeking to select the best concentration to reduce plant height. The experiment was conducted in a 2x4 factorial scheme, with two varieties, ‘Red’ and ‘Pink’, and four concentration levels of ethanol treatment. Plant growth and development aspects were evaluated. Ethanol showed great potential to reduce plant size, as it linearly restricted all growth variables (height, diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot, and root dry mass) and flowering variables (dry mass and number of flowers and buds). The highest concentration (6%) caused phytotoxic symptoms and senescence in plants. On the other hand, treatments with concentrations of 2% and 4% resulted in compact plants with great market quality. In conclusion, ethanol treatment can be a viable alternative to reduce the growth of potted ornamental plants.